Fashion that defies customs

Since time immemorial, there were certain things that defined the look of a married woman -sindoor on the forehead, mangalsutra on the neck, wedding band on finger ring, toe ring on both, feet among others. But now, young girls don't seem to be in the mood to wait till they have a man they call theirs to sport these anymore. The symbols of a married woman have now been given a fashion twist.
SINDOOR ON THE FOREHEAD
The red sindoor on a woman's forehead is first applied by her husband after he ties the mangalsutra. “But who wants to wait till that? The sindoor gives the face a certain definition," says Pooja Malhoitra, a make-up artist. “There are so many styles in which sindoor can be applied on the forehead -just at the beginning of the partition in a flame-like shape, as a dot with sindoor or red bindi or ink, or the way most Bengali women apply it. Apart from the sindoor, many also use stone-based designs. Most women love to wear the sindoor while attending weddings and other traditional events because it looks good with their attire."
MANGALSUTRA
The ultimate representation of a married woman, it seems the mangalsutra is worn by single girls to protect themselves from unwanted attention more than as a fashion accessory. Dhivya Chawla, a 24-yearold marketing professional, says, “I've to meet a lot of new people for my work, and at times, I end up getting more male attention than I want. So, to send out a clear signal, I started wearing a mangalsutra.Though my mother has to answer a lot of people, she understands why I have to do it." Agreeing with her is Nikesha Shah, a travel consultant.“Every time I take a trip, I wear a mangalsutra. While it doesn't exactly discourage hooligans, I pretend my husband is just a street away.This way, mangalsutra is a life-saver for me," she says.
TOE RINGS
During Hindu wedding ceremonies, either the husband or a married woman from he husband or a married woman from the girl's side slips toe rings on the second toe of both feet of the bride.
“There's a myth that Sita flung her toe rings down so that Rama could identify the path through which Ravana has taken her. The toe ring, and every other symbol associated with marriage, have a reason behind it. But now, it has become a fashion statement and girls, as young as 14, are seen wearing them,“ says Smriti Unni, a professor of sociology and culture. The toe ring has now found a permanent place in a girl's jewellery box. Asha Gilani, a student of mass com, says,“Toe rings accentuate your feet and are a great accessory to wear with sandals and flip flops. You can wear them in silver, black metal and even gold. They come in various shapes and sizes, with embellishments."
WEDDING BAND ON RING FINGER
Wear a rock on the ring finger and the first thing that people ask a girl is -are you engaged to be married? “That question is so old fashioned,“ says Srishti Kumar, a fashion stylist and a young entrepreneur. “My mom gifted me a huge emerald ring for my 16th birthday and I've been wearing it on my ring finger since then. Why do I need a man in my life to wear a ring on my finger? I work in the fashion industry, and the norm has been to break all traditions and do what you like," she adds. She's also quick to defend her decision, saying “Most of us here are not exposed much to the ring-on-the-finger concept associated with marriage. It's a tradition that's followed in the West."
THE NINE-YARD SARI
Traditionally speaking, the first time a nine-yard sari is worn by a woman (mainly in the Brahmin community) when she is tying the knot. But this kind of drape has become a favourite among designers and models, who want to showcase the beauty of silk saris.
BANGLES
According to scriptures, bangles symbolise femininity and the strength of a marriage. While chooda (a set of red and white bangles), and shakha and paula (white and red bangles) made of conch shells, are worn by brides in Punjab and West Bengal respectively, the Maharashtrian brides wear green chooda. These bangles are supposed to be worn only on the day of the wedding, but young girls wear them even when they are single, as it makes for a pretty picture.
KARVA CHAUTH
Fasting for Karva Chauth and the likes have become a style statement. While young girls insist they are following the tradition for their fiancés, there's no denying they also love dressing up for such occasions.