In a bumbling metropolis, it is often preferable to sacrifice personal comfort for the sake of all other conveniences public transport offers. While it’s a great way to save the environment, and cut down costs, commuting via public transportation comes with its own set of challenges, especially how it limits dressing up for work.
For starters, sharp and fitted outfits are impractical, as are many fabrics. And then, of course, jostling among the crowds is better done in sensible footwear, which means wearing your favorite stilettos to the office remains a pipe dream. However, commuting doesn’t mean you need to sacrifice your personal style or dress up dowdily when heading to work.
Here are a few hacks to keep your style quotient high, while being comfortable:
- Ethnic wear remains the most comfortable option for formal dressing. Flowing kurtas in the soft, breathable fabric are easy to handle when switching between suburban trains and city buses, without any worry. You can also switch up your workwear wardrobe by opting for mid-thigh length tunics and fitted trousers. Keep an eye out for cotton-blend items that are often high on the design element or ask a personal stylist to help you pick items that are breathable.
- Stylists suggest that fitted shirts may not be practical to wear when slugging it out among the masses in the sweltering heat. However, if your workplace requires you to wear western formals, you can always wear a jacket over your light-colored shirts to protect them. Opt for linen or cotton jackets that keep the heat at bay.
- If you cannot do without high heels in the office, it’s always a safer option to either carry a pair in your bag or leave one in the office, say most stylists. While commuting, stick to a pair of short heels or comfortable footwear and make the switch when you reach your office.
A tip to remember: Always dress according to the mode of public transport you choose. You can alter or update your outfit once you reach your place of work, but be pragmatic about dressing up for the commute.
You could also take a personal style quiz from StyleNook, your fashion stylist in Mumbai, to get new and interesting ideas for commuting.
“There is a little bit of plus in all of us”
Last weekend a fit woman complained about how her thighs are too large. Eyebrows were raised, but then she explained that she always has to go up one size for pants just due to her thighs.
Brands address the ‘plus issue’ by introducing extended sizing. However, the real problem is that brands assume perfect symmetry in our bodies. The most glaring example — clothing sets are available only in one size, whereas many women are one size on the top and another size on the bottom.
How many women get impacted due to this expectation of perfect symmetry?
– 60% of Indian women have significantly larger hips than expected
– 43% of Indian women have a much larger bust line than expected
– 27% of Indian women have larger arms than expected
– 52% of Indian women have a larger waist than expected
At StyleNook, an online personal stylist service, we actually look at body dimensions and proportionality aspects of a person’s body — we then classify the user into one of 60 body shapes to determine what kind of fits work. And yea we break clothing sets to cater to the real woman!
While we have solved one piece of the puzzle, we are now working with brands to solve the next piece — design elements that consider the real woman.
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