Fashion Bombay: Stylish ankles will make you look sexy

Just as we’d begun to take in the 70s style this season with colour blocking, wide leg pants and round-rimmed glasses, the 1940s decided to make a sneaky comeback on global runways and in our closets. High street brands are already swamped with skinny belts, pleated skirts and earthy browns and pinks, but the fashion focus for today will remain the ‘mid-calf conservative hemlines’.

This season, sensuous ankles and toned calf muscles will make you fashionable. Polka-dotted dresses for the day, halter styles for the night and structured styles with brogues for the serious fashionista is what we predict. Even the maxi skirts and dresses have gone shorter to reach below the knee.

Pale coloured georgettes in moss greens and blush pinks and tones of brown are a good choice to begin with. The pleated dress worn with a thin belt and Mary Janes, or a monochrome blouse and skirt, worn with a blazer to add a pop of colour, and matched with pointy-toed ballerinas make a great look. If prints are your idea of fun fashion then mix up patterns with polka dots and stripes, checks and florals or a plain cream blouse with a loud shout of a heavily printed skirt. If high street is not your style, you can scrounge the streets for great one-off buys. The 40s style also wore a lot of skirt and blouse matching sets, so these you can find in thrift shops and antique stores in old Mumbai.

If you don’t want to spend money, turn your old skirt fashionable by getting your local tailor to model the length to a below-the-knee style. For people who like making their own clothes, old silk saris with a slight sheen can make beautiful, flouncy mid-calf length skirts that you can carry off with high-heel pumps or wedges for the evening.

Use a statement neckpiece or oversized hair band to complete the look.

— Jasleen and Sonu are fashion writers, stylists and co-founders of Fashion Bombay, an everyday fashion blog