Fashion and wellness conundrums, deciphered and explained by fashion designer Shyma Shetty.

Now that things are slowly opening up, what fashion trend would gain back the momentum?

I think it’s time to indulge in luxurious and creative fashion. The time for lazy, lowkey basics is over. Pull out your statement accessories and your luxe fabrics, embrace fresh and unexpected colours like hot pink and lime green; pick unusual silhouettes, ingenious details, and layer your separates in a unique way that screams you. It’s a time to be fearless about your body, and go all out with your expression through fashion.

This year, for the party season, I wish to experiment with sequins. Where should I start, and how to style sequins?

Sequins scream a joyful mood — do it your way. If you want to embrace maximalist fashion, you can do a tonal, fully sequined suit. You can also team a loud and sequined basic with a single-coloured fuss-free basic like a turtleneck. The trick is to keep the attention to the sequins, and tone down everything else that can be distracting, like layers or accessories.

What two colour combinations should be a must-wear for the year-ending holiday season?

Saturated colours are great this season. Pick unusual colours that aren’t in your wardrobe already — a minty mango, bright lime green, hot pink, lavender, rust. We all love our trusty blacks for the season but why not elevate it to other dark colours — emerald green, chocolate brown, velvety charcoal? Play.

I wish to invest in a leather jacket that will serve its purpose all year round. Where should I get one?

Leather jackets can be heirloom pieces that will stay in your wardrobe forever, so pick one that can take you through many seasons, and not a shape that’s trendy. Celine and the Row have classic basics I love, Acne and Balenciaga have interesting cuts in biker jackets, if that’s your style. If you’re looking for something warmer, I suggest picking one with shearling details. India is not very leather friendly all year round if you’re not travelling, I would suggest investing in products with leather detailing mixed with softer, more breathable fabrics, instead of all leather.

I want to buy some statement accessories for the wedding and holiday season. What homegrown brands have the best accessories?

I absolutely love handcrafted jewellery from young homegrown brands. For everyday pieces, Gigai (@gigai.in), for stunning statement jewellery, Studio Metallurgy (@studio.metallurgy) and Meesho Designs (@misho_designs), for accessories that always spark conversation whenever I wear them, The Olio Stories (@the.olio.stories) and for jewellery rooted in the cultural generosity of India, Anu Merton Jha (@anumerton).

This winter, I wish to wear more plaid and tweed outfits. What are the different ways to style them?

There are many ways to wear these warmer fabrics. You can never go wrong with an oversized plaid shirt teamed with jeans, leather pants, or just boots. We have a fantastic plaid shirt with handmade details in Huemn’s new collection. If you want to do jackets, pick a newer silhouette like a cropped jacket that you can team with high waisted, wide-legged trousers.

I have bought a patchwork jacket but have a hard time styling it. How would you recommend styling this statement piece and for what occasions?

Patchwork jackets can have lots of colour stories that you can play with. Instead of playing safe, I would pick a complementary colour story and style it based on the shape of the jacket. A shorter cropped jacket with wide-legged trousers in an unexpected colour, or a longer or oversized jacket with neutral fitted inner layers. Keep attention to the jacket, and work all your layers around it.