Just Keep It Casual

Who killed skinny jeans? Are blazers fitted or oversized? How big should a tote be? A quick style update before you step out

- Noor Anand Chawla

Casual chic has become chicer since we all emerged from pandemic exile. Those in the know seamlessly pair their lived-in Levi's 50ls with an of-themoment T-shirt. Trendy summer dresses are setting off Nikes so vintage, they were acquired at auction. It's everyday wear made special. Experts weigh in on what's in, out and in again.

Bottoms up

"Jeans at the moment are still mom style which means they are neither skinny, nor boot-cut flare. They're wide," says entrepreneur Tarini Manchanda, Instagram's favourite fashionista. Shivalli Jaggi Bhatia, founder of trendy and affordably priced fashion label Pink Soda Edit, says that skinny or body-shaping bottoms are best left back in the cupboard. Instead, pull out the culottes, flared bottoms, and baggy, barrel-shaped jeans, with hemlines that sweep the floor, or denims with lots of cuts and rips.

Low-rise is back. But fashion folks are fighting it. "On the runway, they're all the rage. In real life people won't be giving up on high-rise jeans so soon because of the extra coverage and tummy control they provide," says stylist Riza Rizvi.

Full coverage

Even the most casual of dressers now slips into a blazer when the occasion calls for a more formal, put-together look. This season's blazers are bright, and fun. As for the cuts, experts are divided.