http://www.vogue.in/content/payal-khandwala-rethinks-festive-dressing/

Its confession time: the older I get, the less great I look in short skirts.  In my twenties, I was a runner, and my legs looked fabulous.  I ran nearly every day, wore short shorts and above-the-knee skirts.

And now I’m in my late thirties . . . and let’s just say, everything has changed.  I still hit the pavement, but as a jogger, not as a runner.  10 mile runs are a thing of the past – I’m down to 4 miles.  Sometimes 6 mile runs happen, but usually not.  After a severe bout of plantar fasciitis (which I finally kicked after 3 years) and an ugly case of right foot tibial tendonitis, my run days are pretty curtailed.

With fewer runs, my legs look less fabulous, and I’m far more inclined to cover them up.  Enter my interest in lehengas.  Lehengas are ethnic wear at its best – but that usually means that you can’t wear them to work.  Or maybe we can?

Check out the above beautiful lehenga by Payal Khandwala.  One of my favorite designers, she’s taken the lehenga forward drastically and fused it with modern needs – by adding pockets!!  As she said to Verve India, “I’m not a big fan of carrying a clutch and worrying about where I’ll have to keep it if I’m dancing, then worrying if it might get stolen before the end of the night, or simply trying to negotiate a plate of food or a drink and in my case a daughter and a bag!”

I’m in full agreement Payal!  What an absolutely excellent addition to the traditional lehenga!  It also makes it more convenient for work.  Depending on the design, which would have to be more subtle than the example above in order to qualify as work wear, you could hide anything from small notepads to a few spare pens and pencils in there!  I probably would use my pockets for lip balm, hand lotion, and money.

Let’s take a look at more of Payal Khandwala’s amazing designs, first pictured in Vogue India:

http://www.vogue.in/content/payal-khandwala-rethinks-festive-dressing/

I love this red skirt.  I think the pairing of it with the white shirt makes it all the more elegant.  I would definitely wear a slimmer version of this skirt to work.  When I say “slimmer”, I mean a version that does not have the side ruffles, and that is shorter.  That makes it more work appropriate – and admittedly less artistic – but still beautiful.

As a side note, I love seeing Indian designers who incorporate traditional Indian design into contemporary looks.  That, to me, is the true definition of Indian fashion fusion.  Nothing breaks my heart more than seeing an Indian designer trot out stuff at Lakme fashion week that looks as if it could have been from an American designer in New York or a French designer in Paris.  Don’t get me wrong – those designs are good, but since I already am American, and grew up in jeans, I really want to have some genuine Indian design in my everyday work wardrobe.

http://www.vogue.in/content/payal-khandwala-rethinks-festive-dressing/

This is a beautiful work of art, and an absolutely stunning photo, but I have to be honest here – I’m not feeling the fluorescent green.  It is lovely, but it’s just not a color I would wear.  Especially not to work.

But, on another note, the design of the outfit is nice.  Like I said, I’m getting older here, and a bit of camouflage is always nice.  I like draping outfits.  With the sample above, I could see myself wearing a version of this to work, with the following changes: 1) more sober background color (not fluorescent green!); 2) shorter dress length (to the knees or slightly lower); 3) buttons in the front to hide my cleavage at work; and 4) I might remove the triangular brass decoration in the front.

I love the color of the lavender (silk?) fabric!!  I would totally wear this to work.  Here are my edits to make this a work item: 1) turn it into a dress, not pants; 2) shorten to the knees or just below; 3) remove the brass front decorations; and 4) remove the bright blue vest and wear a black blazer – maybe an ivory blazer would work too?

http://www.vogue.in/content/payal-khandwala-rethinks-festive-dressing/

I love it all!  I would wear it all to work . . . separately.  The fuchsia skirt won me at the first glance – I have no changes to make.  I would wear it with a black long sleeve shirt.  The red-gold silk top is adorable.  I would probably pair it with a black skirt or pants, and wear it to work – probably without a blazer, which is daring, but it’s fabulous, so why not?

http://www.vogue.in/content/payal-khandwala-rethinks-festive-dressing/

And another winner – twice over!  I don’t need to elaborate, but I clearly would have plenty of use for the shirt and the beautiful skirt.  Great work Ms. Khandwala!

http://www.vogue.in/content/payal-khandwala-rethinks-festive-dressing/

Again, the lovely brick red skirt and fuchsia top are perfect style notes for a Western work day (though I would wear them separately).

http://www.vogue.in/content/payal-khandwala-rethinks-festive-dressing/

And last but not least – another winning skirt!

My only final thought on lehengas and the Western work place – Indian designers, take note: we want subtler lehenga designs for work, and we want pockets!