The meteorological department forecasts a hot and cold monsoon this season, but your style doesn’t have to be. If monsoon’s making you rethink styling this season, a windcheater may be the best thing to keep your aesthetic intact. Easy to add or subtract—not the fluorescent kind you wore on school trips—it complements your look without taking away from it. The new generation of technical jackets has risen to become one of fashion’s most utilitarian offerings—light enough to throw on and forget about but interesting enough to build a look, even before you smell that petrichor.
Capris are having a comeback and the smartest thing you can do for your wardrobe is embrace their awkward length. A cropped shell jacket worn with slim pedal pushers creates a look that would toggle seamlessly between paddle and neighbourhood cafe crawls. Add ballet flats and oversized sunglasses, and you have a winning look on your hands.
Balenciaga Cropped taffeta jacket, Mytheresa,₹20,2901
Bershka Capri trousers with hem vents, ₹2,050
Prada Women Acetate Sunglass, ₹34,290
MM6 Maison Margiela, Le Mill, ₹ 71,300
With the bubble skirt fast approaching the tail end of its trend cycle, now many be a good time to dabble in it if you have not already. Pair a technical jacket with a voluminous bubble skirt for a combination that is—albeit whimsical—practical and stylish. Adding sleek sandals will lend sophistication to the look to keep it from appearing childish. Move from a gallery opening to an impromptu picnic seamlessly in this look.
Acne Studios, Loose Fit Zip-Front Bomber Jacket, Ajio Luxe, ₹27,600
Liah Headband Butter Yellow, My Libi, ₹2,413
Zara Balloon Mini Skirt, ₹ 2,350
Invisible Thong in Patent Leather, Alaia, ₹88,200
Turn to this combination when denim and a white T-shirt stops feeling exciting. A bright red anorak adds colour, shape and pizzazz to an everyday look. A neck stack of delicate gold accessories deepens the palette and they elevate the basics instinctively. Throw on a pair of red jellies to make it wet weather-apropos and tie it all together.
Volume silk-blend anorak, Róhe, ₹47,710
Red Rain Bucket Pants, Graine, ₹ 28,000
Mellow Mary Jane Jelly, Tory Burch, ₹28,161
Le Damier de Louis Vuitton Medium Necklace, Yellow Gold and Diamonds – Short, ₹59,00,000
Givenchy Voyou Medium Leather Shoulder Bag, Mytheresa, ₹2,56,094
Tsavorite T-Bar Chain, Tamannaah, ₹ 6,94,000
Magic Alhambra long necklace, 1 motif, Van Cleef & Arpels, Price on Request
There is something deeply satisfying about pairing clothes that seem to disagree with one another. A printed technical windbreaker paired with a striped cotton draped polo tee thrown on over a pair of satin pink shorts will work as look despite the unlikely mix. The proportions are playful, the attitude is relaxed and the overall effect lands somewhere between New York bodega and fashion week.
Feline’ Windbreaker, Kapoor 2.0, ₹10,000
Corinna Top in Cotton Stripe, Proenza Schouler, ₹87,300
Off-White Sat Jacq Ow text piping pajama shorts, Farfetch, ₹39,609,609
Chloé Banana Leather Hobo Bag, Selfridges, ₹1,58,430
Adidas Originals Tokyo, Supplier Colour/ Core White-off white, VegNonVeg, ₹ 9,999
Turn to this when you’re anticipating a downpour but not quite ready to surrender your summer wardrobe. While a crisp cotton dress remains the obvious choice brunches, adding a lightweight, colourful windcheater is insurance against precipitation. The outfit strikes a useful balance between optimism and preparedness—which is really what dressing in the monsoon is all about.
Chazery Jacket, Moncler, ₹1,21,908
Staud Christos large leather-trimmed embroidered bead-embellished canvas tote, ₹65,675,679
Tove Solene cotton poplin midi dress, Reversible, ₹5,4906
Christopher Esber Women’s Transparent Baja ballerina flats, Stylemi, ₹24,665
Comète Chevron bracelet, Chanel, ₹ 17,61,300
Oyster, 36 mm, white gold and diamonds, Rolex, ₹ 95,79,000
Please Hold The Line scarf 90, Hermes, ₹62,372
Fashion thrives on dissonance that comes from pairing a technical jacket layered over sheer floral embroidery and voluminous culottes. The interplay of textures and proportions takes centre stage without competing for attention. For those rainy days, rely on a head-to-toe black look to do the heavy-lifting. Sleek rain boots can add an element of punk that’s welcome with a look like this.
CBAisha Jacket, Cecelie Bahnsen, ₹1,90,200
Cropped trousers black, Toteme, ₹44,972
Sunglasses B, The Row, ₹61,427
Max Mara, Monogram rain boots, Mytheresa, ₹36,836
Styling an ergonomic rainwear with Indianwear is the trickiest. The key is let colour combinations take precedence while the prints can clash. Add simple flats and understated jewellery and let colours brighten a grey day. A lightweight, printed windcheater layered over a colorful salwar kameez creates exactly that dialogue: modern utility meeting traditional craftsmanship.