10 rules of style: meghna khanna

Meghna Khanna talks about her personal style statement. Meghna Khanna, whose little store Levitate brightens up many a Bangalorean’s shopping plans, talks about her personal style statement.

Some cool ideas to pick up from here for sure… 1. Vibrant, bright, happy colours make my day. And I am so happy that the latest trend in apparel is “colour blocking” where in you can get

away with a hot pink skirt with a bright orange top and a bunch of purple green and blue bracelets and bangles — if you like! 2. I love, absolutely love old Indian jewellery, just love the

antique, chunky feel of old silver... almost revere it as a lot of it comes from people who had to sell it during hard times. 3. It’s your decision whether to push the envelope, or hover on

the edge or go slightly over the top. Everyone has their own style. I like to mix it up, though I usually have a whole muddle of crazy jewellery and accessories, I suggest you  try to have

at least one ‘item’ on your person that’s a talking piece. 4. There is something refreshing about something made by hand. I am quite jaded with the standard mass-manufactured bling that

comes out of large-scale factories. Look out for something interesting; something hand-made — be it hand-twisted wire or hand-blown glass jewellery or hand-stitched shoes. 5. I love the

muted shades of dull gold and antique bronze shades. A feel-good black top can be teamed with a silver neckpiece for an effortless and eternal fashion statement. 6. Instead of going for yet

another ‘safe brown leather handbag’, make it a statement piece in an embroidered carry-all. We Indians need the western world to love our Indianness before we can embrace it as part of our

style! Go for an elaborately embroidered Boho hold-all bag with your pair of sober black pants to immediately spruce up your look as well as your day! 7. My personal style is a mix of biker

chic and village belle. I can wear my motorbike jacket with embroidered jootis or my heavy mirror worked jacket with my riding boots! 8. I get a lot of customers, who come in looking for

‘the exact same thing as my friend’ and all I can say to that is ‘why don’t you look around and find your own style, instead of just borrowing your friend’s taste?’  9. I also recycle a

lot... the best way I know how is to give away clothes to friends — that helps the guilt factor of continued shopping and consuming. If you don’t feel like simply giving away a bunch of

clothes, organise an exchange programme amongst your friends... another fantastic trend is the “shop or swap” where you work out a barter system! 10. strive against homogeneity in fashion,

so my take is always to find something different. If it’s already a bandwagon, it’s too late to climb on it. Try and find your own balance of comfortable and in-vogue. _As told to

Priyadarshini Nandy_