Fashion and style conundrums deciphered and explained, by celebrity stylist Isha Bhansali.

I wish to experiment with boots this season, but not sure how to pull them off. How would you recommend styling them?
If you are new to boots, the best way to start is with ankle-length boots as they pretty much go with everything, and are safe. I think the main thing to keep in mind when wearing boots is that they are
comfortable, and you need to make sure that you get a good pair of boots. It should be a good investment and have long-lasting durability.

What colour palette should be experimented with during the transitional season?
The transitional season is neither here nor there. You need to get fabrics, silhouettes, and colours, which are also neither here nor there. It should be in between. I think tertiary colours, sombre, and powdered hues of pastel colours make a great palette for transitional wear because these shades are somewhere in summer, but you are getting warmer. Even with your olives and browns, you are not going fully black, as it isn’t that cold yet. So this palette is where you are adjusting to the little nip in the air.

I am new to layering, and wish to inculcate more of it in my everyday routine. What are the basics and what would you suggest?
If you are new to layering and it is something that adds character to your overall look, start with overshirts. If jackets are too heavy for you and scarves feel like you’re going overboard, always start with
a shacket. Even in summer, you can take a translucent mulmul shirt, then move to denim or suede overshirt.

I wish to invest in pop-coloured accessories. What homegrown brands would you recommend?
When it comes to pop accessories, I really like what Dhruv Kapoor has dropped this season. It is quite cool and pop. For footwear, I like what Aprajita Toor is doing, they have pop colours with a little contemporary touch.

Crochet is new to menswear. In what ways would you style it? Please share three looks.
If you are new to crochet, the best way to do is by having accents of it and not going for entire crochet. Get a shirt with a crochet pocket, and I am sure one can do a lot of DIY for this. That’s the best start. The other item that can be added is a nice white vest layered with an overshirt.

I want to buy cool sweatshirts and knit. Which brands and labels would be the best fit?
I think for cool sweatshirts, you can look at Sahil Aneja. He has done a lot of printed sweatshirts as well. Bhaane also does cool knits, otherwise, for knits, believe it or not, I really like United Colors Of Benetton.

With everything back to normal, what are some experimental styles of workwear one can go for?
Do something transitional, going from home to work. I did a lot of looks with Ayushmann Khurrana for Anek, where I made him wear a vest T-shirt, which was tucked in with pleated trousers and a matching blazer instead of doing a typical shirt, so it is like a transitional look, where we are going from WFH to going to the office.