Blue has been a perennial favourite. After all this was the seventh time that a shade of blue was chosen to be the colour of the year. Thinking about the Pantone colour of 2020, Classic Blue, the first thing that comes to the mind is the calmness and the scenic beauty this shade holds. There are umpteen ways we can incorporate this colour in our wardrobes and everyday style-game. “This shade of blue has a classic richness. The serene colour holds a great scope for versatility that makes it the most used colour in the entire world along with black,” avers designer Uzair Parvez Khan.
The significance
“When it comes to classic or ‘Royal blue’, the colour is representative of royalty, and its shade Indigo was the hardest dye to extract obtained from sea snails. Hence, only the upper class was able to afford it,” explains Uzair. “Classic Blue is a profound statement-making colour so one should be careful while accessorising it. Even the make-up should be minimalistic or else one could look garish,” says designer Shruti Sancheti. The thumb rule is to use it smartly. Blue is a prominent colour and the royals and aristocrats were called blue blooded and were regarded highly in society, thus it is a powerful and noble shade.
Celebs in blue
It is a fact that fashion, especially in our country, trickles down from Bollywood, Hollywood and even the television industry. The colour is certainly regal, restrained and boundless. However, it can also be edgy, since the shade comes in a variety of tonalities and variations. A few celebrities from Bollywood have donned the colour like a boss.
“The tinsel town diva Kareena Kapoor Khan slays in the colour. Doing justice to the shade the actress had shared a picture recently where she was seen in a slit cut blue dress with sequins detailing. Even without any accessories, I believe no one could have done it any better,” says designer Anand Saraf.
Aditi Rao Hydari and Malaika Arora have also rocked the shade of royalty. “We still couldn’t get over the breath-taking powder blue gown that Aishwarya Rai Bachchan worn at Cannes in 2017 - that was no less than magic,” points out Uzair. Kim Kadarshian’s blue denim structured top and leather pants were a talking point for media, and to be honest was a very risky combo that she carried with graceful ease. “Robert Pattinson wears this shade often and nails it every time,” Uzair further adds. And no list is complete without Ranveer Singh!
Styling tips
It was earlier believed that blue is the colour for men but little did we know that it is considered as a colour of women empowerment in certain areas of Rajasthan. “This is a colour that suits all skin tones and can be worn day and night depending on the hues and tints used. Royal blue looks amazing on Indian skin tones,” explains Uzair. Stylist Maneka Harisinghani recommends going monotone head to toe with this colour for a standout look. She further says, “Pairing the classic blue with orange is also an eclectic way to wear this colour right.” Pairing a beautiful bright blue with a classic animal print is another sure way to grab attention. A blue tuxedo with a formal shirt or a casual white tee are some really great options. “Depending on the tone of the suit, one can experiment with the colour of the underlying piece,” shares Uzair.
During the day one can use hues and tints of azure and for evenings one can progress towards shades of cobalt. “One can wear casual co-ords or colour blocked casual separates or go totally glam and wear glittery shiny evening wear,” advises Shruti. “I personally feel that blue and indigo look stunning when there is any hand block printing work done. It can also be styled with whites and beige hues which would look fabulous,” says designer Shipa. Apart from clothes, there are interesting blue stones that can be used for accessorising your outfit in earrings, bracelets, lockets, rings and more. “Boys can also get a decent pair of imperial or navy blue sneakers to style their look,” suggests Uzair.
