6 Easy dressing tips to win that Independence Day dressing contest!

All you need to do is be a little patient and have some really simply items like basic paints, glue and coloured clothes.

Independence Day is almost here and each year, invariably, there are a host of competitions around this time. One of the 3 national holidays of India, Independence Day is celebrated on the 15th of August every year. This year, it will be India’s 70th Independence Day and the celebrations just feel that much more special. With everyone all around gearing up for celebrations, the colours of the Indian national flag decorating every mall, store-front and even offices, recipes being made in the three colours and there being a festive cheer everywhere, why should you be left behind? The day is special and you want to feel special too!

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Also, with the entire nation celebrating, and schools and offices often having contests, you most often than not just act lazy, throw on a white kurta with a white bottom and be done with it. Or alternatively, you just wear one of the colours of the Indian tricolour and hope everyone’s forgotten and you’ll clinch the prize. But no, make no mistakes. There’s no way you’ll win the prize for dressing if you don’t experiment. And no, to stand out and yet make sure you confirm to the colours of tricolour, you needn’t do much. All you need to do is be a little patient and have some really simply items like basic paints, glue and coloured clothes. Oh and whatever that new Amazon advert tells you, buying is never as much fun as making your stuff!

So then, if you’re ready to clinch that prize, here you go! Psst: We’ve designed these bearing in mind that it is the monsoon season and at times, the rains might wreak havoc with your clothes, especially if you use public transport. So just get your creative juices flowing and follow these tips!

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1. The tri-colour turban

Now, one of the major grouses people have are that men don’t have too much to experiment with. Well, for all you dear men, there’s just no making it any more interesting and Indian than a turban. Take 3 sarees – one each of saffron, white and green. If you do not have plain sarees, sarees with slight prints will work too. Knot all three at the top and with the resulting three portions, tie a long braid. Now, use this tri-coloured braid to tie your turban. You’ll simply rock the look!

Image Credit: Mirraw

2. Tri-colour belts

This can be used by men as well as women. For both, take any old and frayed belt (avoid those that are too precious to you) and grab some acrylic colours. Mark equal length stripes (keep each atleast 2 inches wide) and fill in each stripe with orange, white and green colours in that order. You can also paint over the buckle and give it a blue colour to resemble the Ashoka Chakra. Wear this over your kurta and you’ll stand apart like no one else, we promise!

3. Glam up those shoes!

While we understand that your shoes are precious, you can simply use basic, fun additions to them to glam them up and make them interesting. If you have white or navy blue shoes, great or you can work these on even white shoes. Take some spare buttons (it won’t matter even if your buttons are different sized) and paint them in the Indian tri-colour shades. Once they dry, simply use some fevibond (or fevicol) to stick these on your shoes in neat rows. It’ll make your shoes look quirky and yet give you that independence day look! For the ladies, you can even take a tri-coloured satin ribbon, make a bow and tie it or stick it on your heel like a shoe accessory! But make sure you do not make the exact Indian flag as having a flag below the waist is now allowed in India!

Image Credit: www.esdac-consortium.eu

4. Jazz up your saree!

Take a plain white saree and wear it the traditional way. Now take 2 dupattas in orange and green and fold them length-wise and make them narrow enough to fit on your pallu. Simply pin these length-wise on your saree pallu leaving a thin white strip in between. If you have a neck-piece with a blue pendant, then great. Alternatively, you can take a long chain and just string a blue bangle through it to make it look like the Ashoka Chakra. Wear this with your colourful pallu and that prize will be yours, guaranteed!

5. Tri-colour tikka

Skip the bindi and go the traditional tikka way. Indian men can try this too! Simply take orange, white and green body paint (make sure you aren’t allergic to it in any way) and make a large tikka on your forehead with the three colours. Indian women can also use coloured kohl and use green on the waterline and red or orange on the eye-lids. Silver eye-shadow works great too! Pair it with an orange lipstick and you’re good to go!

6. Watch it!

The last but not the least, decorate your watch too. Simply buy a cheap watch for Rs 100 (you’ll easily get it by the roadside) and make sure that it has a white dial. Paint one side of the strap orange and the other side green. And there, you’re completely dressed in the colours of the flag! Women can also wear blue danglers, tri-colour bangles to accentuate the look.

Image Credit: Snapdeal

Which of these will you try this Independence Day? Let us know in comments!