12 party shirts for your every need

Figure hugging or flowy to flatter yourself or an interesting another, here’s a list of the best tops for men and women

The classic white shirt

(Vaibhav) Suit, shirt and necktie, Rohit Gandhi + Rahul Khanna; pocket square and cufflinks, Hackett London; velvet shoes, Christian Louboutin. Styling by Shamali Singh; Art direction: Amit Malik; Make-up and hair: Vidya Tikari Studio; Models: Sitara, Sonal and Saad from TSS Talents India, Nathalia from Auraa models and Vaibhav; Location Courtesy: Lord of the Drinks (Shivangi Kulkarni)

Wear it at: “A formal dinner, a cocktail or a reunion,” says fashion designer Nachiket Barve.

Wear it with: “A bejewelled jacket and statement denims to dress down,” he says.

Jazz it up with: “Svelte brogues,” he adds.

From Left : (Nathalia): Shirt and skirt, Forever 21 shoes, Melissa; earrings, MangoXMyntra. (Sitara): Knotted shirt, Forever 21; Bralet, H&M Flared denims, Zara; Shoes, Melissa Earrings, MangoXMyntra. (Sonal): Off-shoulder shirt, Forever 21; denims and neckpiece, MangoXMyntra; boots, Christian Louboutin

The breeze-easy blouse

Wear it at: “A casual coffee date or an informal meeting,” says celebrity stylist Rick Roy.

Wear it with: “A slightly long knee-length fitted skirt for a meeting and with shorts for a coffee date,” he says.

Jazz it up with: “Block colour accessories,” he suggests.

Tie the knot shirt

Wear it at: “An evening beach party or a nightclub,” says stylist Rick Roy.

Wear it with: “Jeans would be perfect and comfortable for clubbing. You can pair it with a long gypsy skirt for the beach party,” he suggests.

Avoid: “Pairing it with anything formal, like trousers. It will kill the gypsy flower power vibe,” he says.

Jazz it up with: “Big hoops and maybe a body chain,” he says.

The off shoulder shirt

Wear it as: “The perfect Sunday casual top. It’s light and summery and ideal for any summer do,” says designer Sanya Suri.

Wear it with: “A sequinned skirt or the all-time favourite denim look,” she says.

Avoid: “Going overboard and keep it minimal!” she says.

Jazz it up with: “Tassel earrings or a bold neckpiece,” adds Sanya.

(Saad): Shirt and denims, The Collective; wristband and neckpiece, stylist’s own; belt and boots, Christian Louboutin

The print genius

Wear it as: “With the right accessories and pants, this shirt transitions from a brunch to a fun cocktail event,” says Sanya Suri, fashion designer of The Pot Plant.

Wear it with: “Solid colour linen or cotton pants,” she suggests.

Avoid: “Print on print. The shirt makes a statement so let it shine!” she says.

Jazz it up with: “Pocket squares in solid hues or a sleek watch,” says Sanya.

(Sonal): Long shirt, bralet and pants, Forever 21; neckpiece, stylist’s own; sunglasses, Carrera from Safilo; shoes, Melissa. (Nathalia): Shirt, Rohit Gandhi + Rahul Khanna; pants, MangoXMyntra; sunglasses, Jimmy Choo from Safilo; earrings, Loupe; shoes, Melissa

The sleeveless white top

Wear it at: “The sleeveless white top for a formal brunch or a casual dinner. The long shirt is perfect for a day out at a resort,” says celebrity stylist Esha Amin.

Wear it with: “The sleeveless shirt with jeans or shorts. The long shirt can even be a shirt dress if it’s buttoned down,” she says.

Avoid: “Uncoordinated shoes,” she says.

Jazz it up with: “A neckpiece with the sleeveless shirt, and sunglasses with pointed pumps for the long shirt,” she suggests.

(Sitara) Shirt and palazzo pants, Zara; earrings, Loupe; shoes, Melissa

The 9 to 5 ruffle

Wear it at: “An event that requires a day-to-night look,” says Nachiket Barve.

Wear it with: “A big polka-dot skirt for a more vintage look,” he suggests.

Avoid: “Making it too grunge by wearing ill-fitted pants,” he says.

Jazz it up with: “A nice belt! Let the look be polished,” he says.

The shirt dress

Wear it at: “An office soiree or a day shopping spree,” say fashion designers Shivan and Narresh.

Wear it with: “A pair of matching crisp tailored trousers or culottes,” they suggest.

Avoid: “Letting the accessories overpower the outfit,” they say.

Jazz it up with: “A sleek metallic belt or a bold-printed scarf,” they suggest.

(From top left, Saad): Shirt, Blackberrys; waistcoat, Hackett London; denims, The Collective; necktie, Cue; watch, Rado. (Nathalia): Shirt, H&M; trousers, MangoXMyntra; shoes, Christian Louboutin. (Vaibhav): Shirt and corduroy pants, The Collective; watch, Rado; boots, Christian Louboutin. (Sitara): Embellished shirt, Rohit Gandhi + Rahul Khanna; tights, H&M; heels, Christian Louboutin. (Sonal): Shirt dress, Zara; earrings, MangoXMyntra; Shoes, Melissa.

The button down

Wear it at: “An evening coffee date or even a formal dinner,” says fashion designer Nida Mahmood.

Wear it with: “A sharp-cut blazer for a formal event and a pair of straight pants for a fun look,” suggests Mahmood.

Avoid: “Over-accessorising and taking away from the frills of the shirt,” she says.

Jazz it up with: “Big silver hoops and a delicate neckpiece,” she says.

The shirt with shine

Wear it at: “A night club,” says fashion designer Kanika Goyal.

Wear it with: “Black denims, leather pants, or a short skater skirt. It can also be combined with frayed denims to make the look a bit edgy,” she suggests.

Avoid: “Mixing and matching too many bright colours,” she says.

Jazz it up with: “A nice pair of contrast earrings to make a cool statement,” she says.

The polka dotted statement

Wear it at: “An evening cocktail event or a casual Friday plan,” say Shivan and Narresh.

Wear it with: “Light-hued crisp tailored trousers or resort shorts for the day and dark-hued alternatives for an evening,” they suggest.

Avoid: Pairing it with printed blazers, trousers or ties,” they say.

Jazz it up with: “A sharp

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From HT Brunch, June 10, 2018

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