Experiment with colours this party season

The air is chilly, bright colours and parties are on everywhere! Are you ready for it?
Winter is kicking in. And that literally translates into a couple of dry months that give you freedom to indulge -in food and drinks, bright clothes, seductive makeup and unbridled partying. So, how could we possibly not help you decide what's cool this season? We spoke to some experts and came up with just the stuff that can help you survive and thrive on the party circuit as well as on the streets this winter.Interested? Well, read on...
MUSIC AND DANCE MOVES
The current playlist boasts highenergy numbers.“The focus is on beats rather than melody . Tracks like Dance Basanti, Bang bang, Tu tu meri, Pyar mein dil pe, Abhi toh party shuru hui hai, Devil song, Nacho sare G phadke, Lovely, Ping pong, Countdown, Animal, Who's ready to jump, Party on my level, Freaks are sure to be played. Listen to it in the car on your way to the party to get in the groove,“ said DJ Akash Rohira. DJ Vicky adds that the other songs on the floor would be Alcoholic, Love dose, I could be the one, Alive raise your hands mashup, Ten feet tall revive mix and A sky full of stars. “To get your limbs moving and get the groove right, you can join a zumba or salsa class. Show some belly dance steps like shimmying on the dance floor to grab the spot light. Girls can work on whacking ala Beyonce and twerking like Miley Cyrus. For men, grinding is in. But keep it sexy and subtle. It can get vulgar if you don't get it right. So, practise your moves beforehand. There are plenty of videos on YouTube that you can follow,“ said choreographer Amit Shaw.
CLOTHES, SHOES AND ACCESSORIES
Women can go for shades of blue and grey with dashes of bright yellowredorange. “This season is the right time to show your inners.Grab different loud printed fitted tops, leggings or socks and throw in a translucent dressskirtjacket on top. A nice Fedora hat will make the look super interesting. Matching jackets and skirtstrousers is another hit for both men and women. The idea is to go all bold with the colours and prints. For people like me who like androgyny over feminine, it's time to wear your boyfriend jeans again -ripped, washed or torn.Wear a cropped top and an oversized jacket or shrug,“ said actor-stylist Neha Panda.
For men, there's a lot to do this season. “Men are ready to throw on a lot of big shawls of different textures and prints. This is very bold and should only be followed by few who know how to carry it off. Wearing long printed crumpled socks over your denims or your chinos can be a great. Try knit shirts and pull a cardigan over it,“ Neha advised.They can also wear those hand-knitted woollens with ripped denims.
Go for nice warm capshats.Stylish and comfortable. Sunglasses are also a must. However, stay away from bright, summery frames.
RUSTLING UP A SPREAD
The must-try drinks this season are twisted margaritas, smoked cocktails and warm sangria. “This winter, simple and sophisticated cocktails -with a twist of undiscovered tastes -are back internationally. I twist the traditional margarita with ingredients such as wasabi and jaggery . The other recipe is to infuse jalapeño and cheddar cheese with salty and buttery notes of popcorn,“ Mixologist Irfan Ahmed said.
The sangria, too, has got its own share of twist. “The twisted Scorpions sangria warmer is a slightly stronger version of the original sangria, but fortified with flambéed dark rum poured over a zesty orange peel and served warm,“ Irfan added.
The other must-try this season is smoked cocktails, wherein the glass is smoked with flavours such as cigar, applewood, jasmine or earl grey tea and cinnamon to lend that smoky flavour.
As for food, no one really has a full meal when they are out to party . So, your go-to option is bitesized food full of cheese. Think small pizzas, fondues, tarts and cheese balls. “Cheese fills you up instantly , keeps your body warm, lines your stomach before you go on a drinking binge. What else do you need? Just remember, the smellier the cheese, the better,“ recommended chef Megha Jhunjhunwala.
MAKE-UP AND HAIR
Eyes are in focus this season and so are glitter eyeliners.“Forget smoky eyes for some time. Put nude eye shadow, go for a nice winged eyeliner and top it with a glitter liner matching with your outfit. Some kajal on the inner rims, two coats of mascara, and your eyes are ready . Go for red, orange or peach lips,“ said makeup artist Abhijit Paul. As for the hair, the messier the better. You can go for interesting hairdos so that the hair doesn't get sweaty and in your face while you rock that dance loor.
Also, if you are having a bad hair day and don't have time to go to the salon for that blow dry, don't fret. Get hold of dry, don't fret. Get hold of some party props like Santa elves hats and boppers to cover your mane and rock the dance floor. “This apart, hair extensions in funky colours like electric blue, pink and red are much in demand. They add that extra dimension to your look,“ said Swati Siotia of a party props store in the city. The men can continue with their Movember beards and flaunt it if they have it. Let us tell you, girls love that stubble. Go with unruly hair on the head. Lastly , smell good.