Taking a leaf out of the latest red carpet looks of Bollywood ladies Vidya Balan, Deepika Padukone and Kareena Kapoor, the vintage fashion of high-neck blouses are once again making inroads into the Indian fashion scene, designers say.
From short, traditional koti to a mid-sleeved tailored jacket to a kameez, the fashion runway has seen many a trend emerging. But high-neck blouses are the latest to grab the fashionistas' attention.
They are not only subtle and sexy but also easy to match with any attire - Indian or Western. Also, what better time than the chilly winter to carry off the look?
"High-neck blouses are back in fashion, they are easy to match with any attire, one can team them up with different types of lowers such as cigarette pants or pallazos or one can also wear them under jackets. They easily suit almost all body types," designer Kapil Arora told IANS.
Designer Pria Kataaria Puri said that "such blouses have a very Victorian look and project a very vintage image. Also, they can be worn on formal and informal occasions and they look very sensuous and stylish."
No wonder then that India's celebrities chose the style statement for some high-profile events.
Deepika sported a stylish high-neck blouse and minimal jewellery with an Anamika Khanna sari for Sanjay Leela Bhansali's birthday bash, while Kareena had also opted for a high-neck blouse with a net sari for the inauguration ceremony of an annual business conclave last year.
Who can forget Vidya's look at the Cannes International Film Festival in 2013? She made several heads turn with her Sabyasachi Mukherjee attire - a high-neck brown blouse with an ivory sari.
Nargis Fakhri, Sridevi and Dia Mirza too followed the trend.
The beauty of the six-yard wonder is that its sensuality remains intact whether one wears it with a cleavage-baring blouse - as Vidya did in "The Dirty Picture" - or with a more conservative yet stylish blouse - as at her Cannes appearance.
It's however better to be careful of certain factors before you choose to go for such a blouse.
"If you have short height, then try and go for shorter high neck collars as that will accentuate your height and for tall people, any width is suitable," said Mmonika Arora, who designs with her husband Kapil.
Puri said the choice of material is equally important.
"Blouses which feature high necks look wonderful with an exquisite lace trim and give a hint of romance. High necks look best in light weight, thin, soft and silky material," the veteran designer told IANS.
If you're on the heavier side on the upper portion of your body, nail the look with the right accessories.
"To take the gaze away from your bust, use short pendants that end above the bust. You can wear a good heavy bracelet to perk up the look. Scarves tied in a vertical knot and shawls and stoles are another great idea to cover up," Puri said.
There are other ways to style up the look too.
"One can try a fitted high-neck blouse with full sleeves, three-fourth sleeves or cut sleeves which will look very trendy. Zari embroidery or stone work around neck will always add that something extra to the attire," said designer Poonam Bajaj.
You can reach out to your local tailor to get one as cheap as Rs.500 or go in for an exquisite designer one for much more.