The Look Of 2003

Hair Ditty: Women are being told to lock away their hair-straightening gels and flattening irons and bring out the curlers. Says Jojo: "Chiselled, structured, rigid hairstyling has given way to a texturised look and styles with movement. There's an individual natural feel, yet stylised." Verma explains, "Wavy hair is making waves. It's a very romantic, feminine, windblown look, not contrived, more on the gentle, soft perm side." Like the '70s Charlie's Angels or what Britney Spears has been sporting recently, elaborates Tikari.

Jewellery: Diamond and pearl sets aren't enough any longer to make a statement. Ramji Bharany of Bharany's Curio House, Tarun Tahiliani's favourite jewellery provider for shoots and shows (recently done one for Tatler magazine) and patronised by Oscar De La Renta, tells us that classic emerald sets, your mum's pride of joy, are boring and out. Chunky jewellery with beads and coloured stones is getting bigger by the day. People are experimenting more with colour like lemon quartz, blue topaz, amethyst. What's really in are thick ruby, sapphire, or turmoline beads, twisted like a rope close to the neck. Or long necklaces and strings in rows. Also, bajubandhs are coming back in gold and silver, as are tagadis, or belts, in silver and gold.

Shoes With a Lift: Very feminine shoes, painfully feminine, sexy, giddy stilettoes, that's what Malini Ramani recommends. Also wedge heels and flat sandals, "down to earth yet very contemporary in design, with buckles and leather cutouts, should be a hit," she says. No signs yet of the platforms re-emerging.

Men's World: Internationally speaking, the effeminate look continues or what's considered effeminate, according to Jojo's partner Yatan, while for women, the anorexic look has given way to the 'fuller' look. In men's hairstyling, two styles predominate: for the younger men, it's spiky, textured and messy. For the older, more mature lot, the style's still textured though with a smoother classic finish, worn short. And Jojo says that men are heading for hair colouring in a big way, in the same patterns and tones as women.For the verdict on men's shoes, Yatan again takes over: while everything else is matte, the shoes are patent black, pointed in the front.

Fish scale texture, faux crocodile skin texture, and for sporty kinds, white pvc shoes are big. Colourwise, lavender is hot for men too, along with burgundy and wine, red and orange, soft lime green. Prints in men's shirts are the next big thing.

Disclaimer: This by no means pretends to be a comprehensive fashion victim's guide to the look of 2003. Outlook does not accept responsibility for fashion decisions taken by the readers on the basis of information provided herein. In other words, don't blame us later.