Your budget is limited, but the love for your family, friends and 'kachchi' is not. So, instead of falling prey to the classic trap of 'I-have-nothing-to-wear,' why not use these tricks to make the most of your outfits? 

CONSIDER THE CROWD

Did you wear your favourite red anarkali at a family event where none of your friends were present? Then, why not wear that to your school friend's wedding!

The guest list is crucial when it comes to picking outfits. So, before repeating outfits, check how much guest crossover there will be at different weddings. It's probably not wise to wear the same thing to each of your cousin's weddings. But consider a family event and an office event with totally different crowds — in such cases, it's perfectly fine to opt for the same look.

ACCESORISE DIFFERENTLY

A lot of what makes or breaks an outfit is in the details. Why not take advantage of that and tweak the details for an entirely new look! Accessories can change the overall effect of a dress to such an extent that no one will even notice that you are wearing the same sari at both your neighbour's reception and your sister-in-law's engagement party.

Go for a bold colourful necklace one time, and the next time over, pick out minimalist pieces. The trick is to opt for versatile pieces when you are out accessory shopping so that you can wear them with a few different attires.

ALL ABOUT HAIR AND MAKEUP

In fact, the easiest way to revamp your style is through hair and makeup. To alter the appearance of your outfit, go for polar opposites look for different events. If you have gone to your colleague's reception in a cream sari with bouncy beach-waves and a bold red lipstick, opt for a bun with sultry, smoky eyes the next time you wear your cream sari. You do not even need to take a trip to the salon every time for this. With a bit of hair spray and hair mousse, and YouTube — there are plenty of easy hairdos that can be done at home. 

CHOOSE RIGHT WHILE SHOPPING

Some clothing pieces are much easier to play around with than others. While shopping, make sure you are buying clothes that you can mix and match. If you are buying a shalwar-suit for a holud, consider if you could pair the kameez with a skirt for a mehendi function. With saris, just change the blouse and you have a different outfit. Alternatively, try adding new, spotlight-grabbing components to your old existing attires.

A fancy cape or gorgeous coatee often does the trick. In either case, opt for solid colours as certain prints are hard to pair with other things. That way, you will always have something to wear no matter what the function, or the crowd.

Another basic trick in terms of picking clothes is to remember the three Cs: colour, combination and comfort. If the high heels are killing you and you have another event the next day, skip them and opt for platform heels instead. Don't be afraid to experiment with colours and various combinations of the same outfit. Yes, it is okay to repeat. No one expects you to have thirty different wedding outfits. For the men, if you are tired of wearing the same suit over and over again, opt for something different. The hack is to wear a sweater inside and match it with a chic blazer.

Even though we know that with the chilly winter wind comes the aroma of the blissful kacchi, biryani, and morog polao.  It is still apparent that we do not exhaust ourselves in trying to be present in all the weddings. The basic trick here, is to only attend a party – that is absolutely necessary and the rest can be referred to other members of the family. 

There you go! This simple and basic suggestion reduces the challenge of wedding dress-ups to half. Now there's less shopping and definitely lesser stress on the wallet and the mind.

Photo: LS Archive/Sazzad Ibne Sayed