There's a quiet guilt that comes with an expensive co-ord set worn exactly once. It goes to the one event it was bought for, gets photographed, and then waits in the back of the closet for the next 'big enough' occasion. If that sounds familiar, the fix isn't buying less — it's styling smarter.
A well-made co-ord set, like our Chanderi or Poplin pairs in the Eshal, Anouk, and Meraki lines, is really three or four outfits hiding inside one. The top and bottom don't have to stay married to each other, and the whole set doesn't have to stay married to one kind of event. Here's how to get five distinct looks out of a single set.
1. The Desk-to-Dinner Switch
Wear the set as intended through the day, then swap flats for heels and add a statement earring before heading out in the evening. Structured co-ords like Anouk's poplin silhouette hold their shape well enough to move from a chair to a restaurant booth without looking rumpled.
2. The Separates Play
Break up the set. Pair the kurta top with straight-leg trousers or well-fitted denim for a fusion look that reads more casual and modern. The bottoms, in turn, can go under a plain fitted shirt or a solid-colored blouse for a completely different silhouette.
3. The Layered Look
Add a long jacket, a cropped bandhgala, or even a tailored blazer over the set for cooler evenings or office-appropriate coverage. This works especially well with muted tones like Muted Lilac or Misty Jade, which take structure without looking busy.
4. The Dressed-Down Weekend Version
Skip the dupatta, roll the sleeves, and swap heels for comfortable juttis or sandals. Add a tote instead of a clutch. The same set that felt formal at a lunch can feel completely at ease at a Sunday market or a casual family gathering.
5. The Festive Upgrade
When an occasion does call for more, layer on jewelry — jhumkas, a statement cuff, a maang tikka if the neckline allows — and let the fabric do the rest. Chanderi and Dupion silk sets are already built to catch light, so they rarely need much else to feel festive-ready.
Building a Wardrobe That Works Harder
The real value of investing in fewer, better-made pieces is versatility, not scarcity. A single co-ord set styled five different ways does more for a wardrobe than five separate outfits worn once each.
- Choose solid or subtly textured co-ords over heavily embellished ones if versatility matters to you
- Keep one structured layering piece — a blazer or jacket — on hand at all times
- Invest in two or three styling elements (jhumkas, a good clutch, comfortable juttis) rather than new outfits
- Don't be afraid to separate the top and bottom of a set — they were made to coordinate, not to be inseparable
Next time a set comes out of the closet, try styling it a way you haven't before. Chances are, it has more outfits left in it than you think.