Flaunt those anklets
Your jewellery collection is not complete if you don’t own a pair of anklets,
says Homai Sagar

Fashion pundits have given their verdict on the 2010 festival season wardrobe — and for one, hemlines are crawling up with determination. If it is a season for flashing well-toned legs, then it is also time to look for the perfect accessory for those ankles. The good news is that there are loads of them around — anklets, payals and toe-rings — and they are flying off the shelves like hot property.

They may have been around for ages, but now they have emerged in new avatars for the summer. Ever thought the grace and charm that luxury anklets can bring to your feet? These dainty looking pieces of jewellery can be teamed perfectly well with your casuals. Be it gold, silver or beaded anklets, they will bring a dash of elegance to your attire. Wear them with capris or skirts, and they surely will not go unnoticed!

The anklets look very smart, and are apt for a day out at the beach. They make a bold statement with any outfit, be it a salwar-kurta, trousers or skirts.

So take a look at what’s on offer before you upgrade your festival wardrobe. Before we proceed further, in case you are wondering, anklets are not the same as payals, as they are the ones that come without bells and are usually more delicate.

Traditionally, women chose to wear flexible type anklets known as pajeb and jhanjhar, which also produce tinkling sound. Take in the splendid ghagra payal from Rajasthan, its 7.5 cm.-deep flared silver layers held in place by intricate panels, easy to imagine on a swaying village belle. Or the hollow kada that locks into place, its surface rich with geometric planes or intertwined vines. Or the Punjabi rajwadi pajeb of fine strands linked to a row of bells, similar to treasures, which once graced royal ankles.

They are not only trendy, but also make your legs look better than they really are. So find out as to what’s the right pair for you.

From the delicate crystal anklets to the chunky stone- studded ones, ornamental anklets can steal the show. These anklets are dressy enough to be the only piece of jewellery on your body; so make sure that you don’t over-accessorise your look. Extremely feminine, chain anklets look very delicate on the legs. For a more formal look, opt for chain anklets with small stones and intricate designs. Make sure the colour of the anklet chain matches the one around your neck; that’s if you are wearing one.

All you rocker wannabes out there, leather is the thing for you. One look at your ankles and everyone knows that you are not the "girly" type. However, we suggest that you don’t wear very broad leather anklets because they look too loud and spoil the look of your get-up.

Bead anklets can be worn with just about everything. But you need to be careful enough to match the colour of your beads with the colour of at least one item in your ensemble. You will be screaming for attention if you over-accessorise. Going by current trends, the hottest numbers are single strings of beads and threads woven together. That apart, strands of iridescent beads, Swarovski crystals and chains studded with coloured gemstones like pink tourmalines, orange onyx and blue turquoise are popular.

Fashion maestro Nalini Sanyal points out that threaded anklets are also catching up in popularity for their tribal look. "Threaded anklets are basically like friendship bands and woven in different patterns. While coloured threads are common, one can also find these in jute and coir."

Then there are options like bead anklets in various colours, woven in different ways with wires or in a bangle form. Silver anklets in a thin chain formed with charms shaped as hearts, bells or stars, as well as the regular leaf and mango motifs are also in for a casual look.

What has, however, taken many designers by surprise is the mounting popularity of anklets in gold, a metal Indians have traditionally regarded as auspicious (representative of goddess Lakshmi), and would not normally allow their feet to be in touch.

But then, with the rising demand for Swarovski crystals, diamonds and such other precious stones, anklet designers are left with no other metal that can match the dignity of gold. Some like Poonam Soni and Rima Singhal had experimented with silver for a while, but have now reverted to gold. Leading jewellery retailer Tanishq has a royal range in anklets that are made in 22-karat gold. Specially made on order, their prices largely depend on the kind of material used. In fact, many are using white gold rather than silver.

"I have done fitted anklets, which are bands of gold with stones suspended," informs Mumbai’s celebrity jewellery designer Prashant Zaveri. " Usually, they are diamonds. These are worn a little low so that they can be visible. Besides, we have worked on anklets of hand-woven gold, which look like lace and cover the feet."

Other than gold, it is sterling silver which is a top favourite of many women while picking up anklets. Silver can be teamed up with anything and, hence, is a preferred buy. For a modern look, go for beads and crystals. And if you want to be that casual chic, then tattoos or silver anklets in a thin chain with charms shaped as hearts, bells or stars look quite neat. In the case of bead anklets, colour is the main attraction, especially when woven in different ways or in a bangle form.

Your jewellery collection is not complete if you don’t own a pair of anklets in your personal collection. It doesn’t matter whether they are made in gold, silver or copper — all have a distinct quality about them. So put your best foot forward, and flaunt your anklets as your most fashionable style accessory. — MF