Colours of Navaratri - Day 8: Purple, with a touch of old-school charm

For singer Swarathmika, Navaratri is a time when she gets to embrace her love for silk saris, temple jewellery and flowers. As she celebrates Day 8 in purple, she talks about why she gravitates towards the colour, her old-school approach to dressing, the singers whose style she admires and her plans to squeeze in kolu visits between a busy schedule of concerts.‘Whenever I wear purple, I feel very calm and composed’Wearing purple provides Swarathmika with a sense of calm. “When I wear purple, I feel very calm and composed. When I wear purple to concerts, I feel I look very presentable. It’s a colour that makes me look bright and suits me well. It also makes me more confident and brave,” she explains.‘My Navaratri fashion is 100 per cent traditional’A traditionalist at heart, Swarathmika believes a well-woven silk sari is a must-have in her Navaratri wardrobe. “My Navaratri fashion is 100 per cent traditional. I’m very old-school. Mostly, I will be in saris during the festival. I don't overdo anything. I love keeping it simple and elegant. Generally, I prefer no makeup and keeping the jewellery very minimal. A gold chain and minimal earrings are more than enough for me," she says. If she had to accessorise a purple sari, she would go for either temple jewellery or kemp jewellery. “Some kemp jewellery comes in purplish shades, so I'd pair it with that. I'd also wear a big necklace and a bunch of glass bangles. And, of course, flowers.”When I wear purple, I feel very calm and composed. It’s a colour that makes me look bright and suits me well. It also makes me more confident and brave‘I like pairing my saris with antique, gold-ish colours’Gold takes precedence over silver when it comes to her jewellery choices. “Since I wear a lot of temple jewellery, I like pairing my saris with antique, gold-ish colours. Almost 99% of my collection is temple jewellery. I wear silver jewellery, but I don't feel it has the completeness of gold,” she says. While she usually keeps her accessories minimal, Navaratri is a time when she wears more bangles. “As I can’t wear many bangles during concert time, I wear a lot of glass bangles during Navaratri,” she says.‘I love wearing flowers, especially purple-coloured flowers’For Swarathmika, no look is complete without flowers, especially if they are purple in colour. “I love wearing flowers, especially purple-coloured flowers. I recently went to the US for my first tour. Even there, I got myself a bunch of artificial flowers. Flowers are very important to me. I don't feel complete unless I keep flowers for all my concerts. Actually, purple reminds me of the December flowers,” she says.‘I admire MLV amma's dark lipstick and makeup; MS Blue and MS Green are iconic’Among the musicians whose style she admires are MS Subbulakshmi and ML Vasanthakumari. “MS Blue and MS Green are iconic. MS amma looked so beautiful even without makeup. I also admire MLV amma's dark lipstick and makeup. She used to light up any place she was in,” she says.STYLE FILEThe silk sari: A purple sari paired with a mustard-yellow blouse, gold jhumkas, jasmine flowers and a traditional bun is a timeless combination.The lehenga: A lilac lehenga with a silver-embellished blouse, pearl accessories, a delicate maang tikka and soft curls will be pretty, dreamy and festive.The churidar: Go for a lavender or deep plum churidar, a delicate silver-embroidered dupatta, oxidised silver jhumkas, and embroidered matching bangles. Add a soft braid with flowers and a small bindi for that effortless, traditional Navaratri vibe.The office look: Opt for a purple crop top with sharara or dhoti pants, a mirror-work jacket, chunky silver earrings and metallic juttisDon't feel like you have to match everything just because you're wearing purple. Play around with mustard yellow, lime green, hot pink, silver or antique goldBEAUTY FILEBase: Hydrating natural base with soft peachy mauve blush makes the look feel fresh. Eyes: Soft brown with lilac or shimmery lavender with a smudged wing will be the best option for eye makeup.Lips: Mauve nude with a plumper glossy lip would work well with a purple sari.Finishing touch: Go for a half-moon bindi with a hydrating finishing spray for a fresh and dewy makeup finish.Pair with a royal purple outfit, antique gold jewellery and an elegant hairstyle for a natural grand look that also gives a traditional feelGet the latest Bollywood & Entertainment News, and more. Download the TOI app.Give your child the gift of confidence! Claim your exclusive TOI Masterclass spot today!