With more women becoming confident and independent, it is now a norm to see that reflected in their dress, says Yashodhara Shroff.

"Don't be into trends. Don't make fashion own you, but you decide what you are, what you want to express by the way you dress and the way to live." Thus advised the late Gianni Versace, celebrated fashion designer of the eponymous Italian fashion house. The thought certainly captures the essence of New Age fashion, which focuses on concepts of individuality and self-expression.

In recent times, many noted female personalities have begun to play a key role in transforming the way people perceive women's fashionwear globally. Whether it is a classy and conventional look, or bold and over the top, contemporary women are not afraid of experimenting with their appearance or changing their style. This is evident in the way celebrities dress during award shows. This new-found comfort in wearing what one desires, irrespective of societal judgment, is gradually encouraging many women to ditch the norm and create their own fashion statement.

The 59thGrammy awards in February 2017 proved this. While the men looked dapper as always, women took dressing up to a whole new level. Be it Lady Gaga's unconventional and dramatic look or Chrissy Teigen's Gothic look, the ladies certainly made sure that bold is the way to go.

Let us explore the best fashion picks inspired by the unique dresses at the 2017 Grammy Awards.

  •       Shades of emerald: Emerald green made its presence. Even British singer Adele, who won the most awards, sported the colour. The popularity of this shade is in alignment with the colour of the year, 'greenery', announced by Pantone Color Institute. According to some fashion experts, emerald green suits almost all skin tones. Emerald and black is one of the best pairings and looks extremely sophisticated and charming. Pair emerald attire with gold or platinum jewellery to complete the look. While it is advisable to wear light make-up, one can opt for bold, red lipstick to add a dramatic effect.

  • Elegant, feminine gowns: Jennifer Lopez's pastel Ralph & Russo gown was one of the best dresses at the event. The multi-talented celebrity looked stunning. She paired it with diamond rings by Butani, heels by Christian Louboutin and a silver clutch. Feminine gowns are perhaps the most common and classiest dresses in fashion wear. They are also preferred by most as they accentuate the form, giving a soft, feminine and graceful look. A feminine dress is timeless and can upgrade one's style quotient without much effort.
  • Flower power: Floral prints ruled the red carpet at the Grammys this year. Such ultra-feminine prints tend to give a light and playful, yet elegant look. Women looking to follow this trend can take cues from Malina Moye's simple black gown with floral patterns, or Kelsey Ballerini's full-fledged floral gown with a train, for a princess look.

Although these trends were the most noticeable at the 2017 Grammy awards, no matter which style one follows, remember to add a bit of uniqueness to each look, to set one apart from the crowd.

About the author:

Yashodhara Shroff is director and founder of Styletag.com. She has completed her BSc in Economics from Calcutta University and studied further at the Art Institute of Chicago and at Northwestern University, USA.

With over 25 years of entrepreneurial experience in fashion retailing, Mrs Yashodhara Shroff has offered a platform for showcasing and nurturing some of India's fashion pioneers. Apart from being the founder and director of Styletag.com, one of India's leading online fashion curating specialties, she founded ffolio, the first ever multi designer store in South India which has acted as a launch pad for several of India's leading fashion personalities such as JJ Valaya, Jason Cherian, Anamika Khanna, Priyadarshini Rao and Ashish Soni to name a few.