Summer urban bohemian

The heat’s up, the fabrics are changing and yet, there’s a thin line between sleaze and chic. We pair up with one of Bangalore’s prettiest faces to unravel a summer look that anyone would love to carry off.

What defines summer, we ask Sheetal Sharma, our bohemian muse for this week’s look, and pat comes the reply — “summer is all about being light, dressing like the breeze and being really funky. It’s my favourite time of the year, when I can finally bring out all my light fabrics, get into my favourite prints and show off my much-loved summer colours. To me, a summer look in Bangalore is about being carefree and free-spirited and who doesn’t love experiencing such freedom?”

Summer looks are all the rage right now and why not? The temperatures are slowly rising, the sun’s brighter and spring is slowly making way for warmer and happier days. Summer is the best time for people to dress relaxed and yet it always calls for more individual style. Unlike the solid and structured looks of winter, summer dressing allows for self-expression and a sense of casual that can still be chic and classy. We decided to shoot a summery look — picked, styled and put together by choreographer Sheetal Sharma at the equally summery Park Hotel on MG Road and here’s what came out of a laughter-filled shoot.

L’il add ons

When a dress is so light and free-spirited, the best way to add more detail and character is through a well-chosen set of accessories. Sheetal loves accessorising, but is careful not to over-do it. For this look, she fished out her favourite clutch — a faux snake-skin patterned clutch by Malani Ramani that she picked from her store in Goa. She also accentuated her neckline with a string of bright orange beads that were also picked up at a flea market in Goa. Her shades, which she says are something she’s very particular about, are a pair of brown Gucci’s she picked up in London.

Dress me up

Sheetal decided to show us her summery style and wore a dress that she designed on her own. “I’m in love with big and bold prints and green is one of my favourite colours. Also the kaftan dress is like a woman’s best friend — light, breezy, flowy and often hides areas you don’t particularly want to be showing off,” she tells us. Sheetal’s kaftan dress does her idea of summery fashion complete justice and she finishes off her look with a pair of orange and faux snakeskin heels. “My look is all about being funky, and that, according to me, is the definitive character for any summer look,” Sheetal concludes.

Colour me pretty

“It’s all about the nudes,” says Sheetal describing her summer look. Sheetal prefers to follow a thumb-rule when it comes to make up for a summery day. She chooses between an accentuation of the eyes or the lips. Not both. For the eyes, she prefers simple kohl or eye-liner or maybe even some kajal. She also likes to play around with mascara and blush — all in muted tones. If she’s concentrating on her lips however, it’s almost always about coral. Sheetal loves coral-related shades and if, just in case, she had to try another colour, it would be an orange for a summer evening out.

Tress pass

Sheetal believes in being natural during the summer and is definitely one of those people who hates product. She decided to simply wash, condition and blow-dry her hair, finishing it off with some structuring with a brush to make it look more voluminous. “Healthy hair is all about keeping it simple. There’s nothing more to it. Keeping it clean and a healthy diet are all it really requires,” she tells us.

About the model

Sheetal Sharma is one of the city’s most popular faces, once a ruling queen on the ramp — Sheetal decided to settle, get married, have a son and continue looking fabulous as Bangalore celebrated her beauty. After almost a decade in modelling, Sheetal moved on to being a choreographer and today she’s more popularly known as one of the city’s finest choreographers. Yet, the model in her comes alive the moment the lens is around and this picture stands testament to her impeccable style and attitude.