Go trendy this Karwa Chauth: Culture & Tradition

Go trendy this Karwa Chauth: If you are one of those who love to add a dash of chic to everything traditional, then why stop being your stylish self on Karwa Chauth? So, this year, how about going for a super glam look while keeping the traditions intact. Ditch the reds for the fuschias and corals, the Benarasis for the netted saris, lehengas and anarkalis, the flowy drapes for more fitted silhouettes and the bejewelled look for a more subtle and classy appearance.

“The fusion look is in, and could well suit for such occasions,” says designer duo Anjalee and Arjun Kapoor. Designer Reynu Taandon says that you can look glamorously traditional if you choose the right outfit, makeup and hairstyle. “Ethnic look never goes out of fashion, but you can always add some drama with statement accessories. But keep your makeup subtle,” she suggests.

Go trendy this Karwa Chauth:

What to wear

With a whole day of fasting, it may get a little cumbersome and tiring to manage heavy outfits. “If you are not comfortable in sari, you can go for an embellished straight cut suit or anarkali, with some detailing on the neckline and a heavy border instead. This will be stylish yet comfy,” says designer Reynu Taandon. If you still want to go for a sari or lehenga, give the Banarasis and the heavy silks a miss and go for something more trendy.

“Drape a lehenga or sari with ornate work. Since it’s the only day after your marriage that you can dress up like a bride, make the most of it. However do not go overboard,” suggests designer duo Anjalee and Arjun Kapoor. If you are wearing a heavy outfit, go subtle with jewellery. “Wear either statement earrings or a statement neckpiece with loads of matching bangles to complete the look,” suggests Taandon.

Makeup and hair

The makeup and hair will entirely depend on the colour of your outfit. “Karwa Chauth makeup should be a revival of bridal, but not entirely bridal. It should be minimal as it is not as festive but symbolic. Avoid cakey over-the-top look. Opt for a nude look with bright glossy lips as a contrast. Don’t go for cooler darker tones, try to stay on the warmer sides of red, or darker sides of orange. You can line your lips but do not go over your natural lipline,” says hair and makeup expert Shival Ghai.

Go for a funky braid

Braids are surely in and you can try out this braid even with your ethnic wear:

1. Isolate your back and front hair. Take the front hair on one side and pin it up. Use hair spray to hold the hair.
2. Tie the hair back into a ponytail. Using a thread or rubber bands, tie the hair at a distance of 1.5 inches till you cover the whole length of your hair.
3. Pop in small plastic tennis balls or black cotton balls between these spaces, and hide them in the braid.
4. Cut Swarovski strings in desirable sizes, and use hair glue to stick it to the places where you tied them with the thread, between each cotton ball.

By hair and makeup expert Aashmeen Munjaal, Star Salon

The right hues

Be it your outfit or lipstick or blush, let the hues be warm. “Ditch the regular red and the maroon. What tops the charts these days, are warmer shades such as fuchsia, burgundy, crimson, carrot, coral and plum,” say Anjalee and Arjun Kapoor. “Fuchsia and pinks along with subtle gold and silver work and detailing is what’s in fashion and will give you that chic look,” agrees Reynu Taandon.

Get this look

• Makeup: Apply an illuminating liquid based foundation over the face, in swift strokes. Take a bronze shimmer-based eye shadow, and pat it onto the lid, blending it upwards, to the socket. Now, with a liquid-based liner, apply a straight line, slightly higher at the corners of your eyes. A touch of kajal on the lower rim should be enough. The lip colour is a bright pinkish red.Use a lip balm before applying the lipstick. Don’t forget to line the lips with a pencil. You can touch up with some tinted gloss. Finally, powder your face well with compact powder. Use a light pink blush powder in the apples of your cheeks, diagonally upwards.
• Hair: Isolate the back and front hair. Tie your back hair into a low ponytail, backcomb the ponytail, and scrunch it into a bun. Now, place your front hair in a middle parting, back comb it and neatly pin it backwards towards the bun. Take the excess hair and tease it into a messy way onto the bun. This will add a touch of modernity by giving a chic contrast to the neat slick bun with traditional middle parting. Finally, pin a few white chrysanthemums on one side of the bun.
• Outfit and jewellery: While the fuschia-tinted net sari with pink and white stone work in paisley patterns, gives it a nice traditional touch, the sleeveless sheer back blouse with a short Chinese collar completes the look with a smart elegance. Since the blouse is heavily-patterned from the back and front, heavy jewellery is best avoided. The hanging swarovski-studded earring and matching bangles complete the look.

Deck up your sieve: Go trendy this Karwa Chauth

The sieve or chalni forms an important part of the Karwa Chauth thali. It’s through this that the bride sees the full moon and then her husband, so the sieve has to look special. With the following easy steps, you can turn an ordinary sieve into a beautiful piece:

1. Paste a bright red ribbon or a strip of non-embroidered gota on the inner border of the sieve.
2. Now, stick border strips from an old traditional sari on the outer boundary of the sieve to give it a rooted look.
3. For a richer look, glue stones on the boundary, and then fasten kaleerein or any other stringy beads on the borders.

By Manju Agarwal, founder and creative head, Nimantran

Nail art over Mehendi

While mehendi is certainly traditional, make your Karwa Chauth more stylish by opting for a decorative nail art instead. You can in fact do it at home, yourself. Take two shades of nail paint that matches your outfit and apply them either horizontally or vertically. Now paste stones of your choice in a particular pattern. Apply a base coat on top of these for the stones to stick well. Try and experiment by using stones in contrasting shades with the nail paint colour. You can also use pretty sequins or ornamental printed stickers. If you only want to draw miniature patterns, you can get a fine brush or a clean eye liner brush at home and dip it in white or pearl nail paint and make a flower pattern over French-manicured nails.

By makeup and nail art expert Shikha Taneja

Healthy Fasting: Go trendy this Karwa Chauth

Fasting can be a grueling experience and you don’t want to look tired and washed out in the evening, when the actual ritual happens. However, the best thing about Karwa Chauth is that one is allowed to eat something before dawn break so make sure this meal is good enough to prepare you for the day. This food item should be one that’s slowly absorbed by the body, thus releasing energy at a gradual pace (not a burst of energy as released by sugary drinks). A bowl of porridge made with whole grain that is roasted in a little fat and cooked in milk is ideal. A light vermicelli kheer is therefore ideal. To go along with it, a bowl of juicy fruits such as orange, pineapple or pomegranate is perfect. After the entire day, when you break the fast, it is best to have a light meal. Start with a glass of coconut water or barley water with honey and lime followed by some barley flour chapatti and daliya khichri. Avoid anything deep-fried.

By nutritionist Neelanjana Singh, Heinz Nutrition Foundation