Tania Roy chats up Priyanka Bhansali who just kicked off her Personal Shopping Service to offer women dressing advice

When women wear lycra leggings and try to team them up with a short top it looks outrageous. It’s worse when the leggings are nude colour. Leggings are in fashion but everybody cannot sport one, which women must realise. Also, one should know what to wear leggings with. For instance, a long top can be a better bet than a short one,” says 23-year-old Priyanka Bhansali, who recently started her Personal Shopping Service through her Facebook page. For women who find dressing a pain, Priyanka offers styling tips.

“From 26-to 50-year-olds, I can offer fashion tips to working professionals, homemakers or those wanting dressing tips for special occasions. I have always had an inclination towards fashion and have been offering style tips to my family and friends. Also, I have been observing fashion trends and writing about them for a website. However, now with Personal Shopping Service, I am exploring a new avenue through which I want to offer my professional expertise,” says the young entrepreneur who has always aspired to start something of her own.

After completing fashion marketing and communication from FAD (Fashion, Art, Design) International, Pune, Priyanka worked for a fashion online store for almost one-and-a-half years. After which, she started freelancing on fashion, lifestyle and beauty for a website. “I chose to freelance so that I could start my own venture some day,” says the enterprising youngster.

But are Pune women really looking forward to a personal shopping service and, more importantly, are they willing to spend? “I thought of exploring this opportunity here because Pune, unlike Mumbai, Delhi or other big cities, does not offer such a service. I am sure women here would like to know more about the intricacies of dressing and understand how they could play around with the neck, sleeves or length of their clothes,” she explains.

A fast evolving industry, fashion requires you to be constantly updated and Priyanka makes sure she keeps herself abreast of what’s in vogue. Reading and scanning fashion magazines, fashion websites and fashion blogs is part of her everyday learning. “You must keep up with trends, but once again I am reiterating that you can’t ape every fashion trend. Finding your own style statement and wearing what blends with your culture and environment are equally important. Women must also dress according to their body type, personality and profession,” she shares.

For Indian women who tend to overdress on weddings or parties, Priyanka has this advice: “You should know how to balance it out. For instance, you can wear an elegant jewellery set, but if you are wearing a stunning, big neckpiece then team it up with bangles. Or, if you are flaunting big, dangling earrings, then avoid a neckpiece. Also, remember not to go overboard with your make-up.”

Sharing more style tips, Priyanka says women must refrain from wearing casual denims with long, rich kurtas. They don’t gel. Wear churidars instead. “Denims go well with casual kurtis, shirts or T-shirts but not with ornate long kurtas. Another accessory that women can avoid is oversized footwear like Crocs. I am not against the brand, but it is unfeminine. If you are looking for comfort, which is an important factor when it comes to choosing footwear, go for flats or ballerinas,” she says.

Ask her which celebrities impress her with their sense of clothes and Priyanka replies, “Bollywood celebrities Deepika Padukone and Shilpa Shetty dress well. They get the entire amalgamation of clothes, accessories and make-up right. Among international stars, Blake Lively and Jennifer Aniston are impressive.”

To know more about Priyanka’s project, log onto: https://www.facebook.com/StylistthePersonalShopper.