Shrawan’s Sartorial Elegance

Kathmandu, July 21: Shrawan is here! Nourished by the fresh monsoon showers, nature adorns itself in a verdant hue, and fashion follows suit, embracing the allure of green that has, for long, symbolised this Nepali month.

“Tis the season for green outfits, especially for women,” said fashion student Francis Maskey. “Perhaps, no other month in the calendar holds as strong an association with a colour as Shrawan does with green.”

In addition to being a display of culture, Maskey, who presently resides in the United States, believes that green clothes can be a vivid statement of fashion if paired with the right colours.

In the case of green Saris, gold blouses create a cute contrast and an eye-pleasing combination, shared tailor Bipana Gurung. “Mustard yellow or pink would do justice too,” she added, saying that dark green blouses would also go well with Saris which are a lighter shade of green.

Those seeking to sport a green Kurti this season may match it with neutral colours like white or earthy colours like brown. “It depends on the persona one is trying to represent,” Gurung said.

For accessories, it is safer to go with colours that match the central scheme of the attire. So, one should prefer green bangles and Bindis when wearing green dresses, suggested Aisha Shakya, a beautician and cosmetics shop owner. 

“For bangles though, if one finds all-green too monotonous, they may choose to break it up with some gold,” she said. “Golden bangles are truly a godsend. They pair well with almost any shade of green which makes them great wristlets for Shrawan.”

Shakya said that going modern would also make a bold statement. A green crop top with a yellow skirt would be a unique look that would help women stand out and open up avenues for new and stylish combinations that break from the conventional “Shrawan look”.

Meanwhile, men need not stay out of the fashion game. “There is nothing that says men cannot look good in green,” Maskey quipped. 

He recommended casual cotton olive green shirts for men to look dapper while staying comfortable. “If full green is not your style, you can opt for green-patterned shirts too. They look incredible with shorts and glasses.”

However, Maskey urged everyone to ‘find their style’ and go with whatever made them feel confident. Not denim though, because they are not the ideal monsoon wear. “They bring down the whole appearance when wet. Plus, they do not dry fast,” he cautioned.

As we are in the middle of the rainy season, Gurung also asked people to balance fashion with practicality. As it can pour anytime, it would be good to invest in water-resistant outerwear like trench coats or rain hoodies to fend off the water.

Umbrellas can also tie the whole outfit together. Solid bright colours can complement the green clothes and add an extra dimension to the look, Maskey added.