KALIYON KA chaman jab banta hain... the song addresses you as you jostle your way up to the dance floor. The pulsating music makes it difficult to hear what your friend is trying to tell you, hysterically pointing at something glittering. And the cannot-miss-your-eye shimmer makes you really curious.
As psychedelic lights hit you and the shiny disco ball highlights your shimmering belt, you finally get to see what the girl in red spaghetti is wearing... Something glittering around her navel. Amid arguments of what it could be, you realise it is a glue-on, something like a bindi, that could be stuck on to suit one's fancy.
What you get here is a peek at a way of life, a culture and a style statement. Look around, and you will notice that the girl in red is not the sole soul wearing these once unheard of adornments to highlight largely ignored body parts. Her friend in black jeans and tank top has two bichoo (scorpions) tattoos around her waist. The third girl turns around, and you notice her eyebrows are strangely shimmering. Certainly part of the upwardly mobile crowd, the trio sport the latest trends in fashion accessories with a `devil may care' attitude to match.
And there are hordes of others (both girls and guys) — awaiting your attention — who are flaunting their arms, waist, lower neck, collarbone, lower back or navel with accessories like tattoos, stick-ons or junk jewellery. "Bracelets, thread-based bead chains and ethnic-looking stuff is in and moves fast with teenagers, vouches Pradeep Pillai of Shoppers' Stop. "The low-segment jewellery and funky items are making inroads into teen fashion. What was once considered to be Adivasi stuff and hence unfashionable, has made a dramatic comeback now," he says.
Fashion accessories are not just about "navel highlighters". It incorporates a whole range of things that are fast catching up particularly in discs, pubs and college parties. At Lifestyle, Begumpet, one can check out the mind-boggling range of products available under the `teen accessories' category.
Tikkas, earrings, ear/navel-highlighters, arm bands, waistbands, tattoos - all stick-ons - and what have you. "There are also transparent bra-straps which go well with sleeveless/ spaghetti tops. These move pretty fast with teenagers," says Virginia, who looks after the junk jewellery section at Lifestyle. "Masks and dragons find a place in youngsters' accessories in the form of chains and bracelets," adds Ajit, her colleague.
"Oh! I enjoy making up myself in junk jewellery and stick-ons," says 18-year-old Shamira, a B.Sc. student. And where do teenagers find the time to dress up with all those practicals and lessons taking up almost an entire day?
"Never mind, we get to meet up at some place, party or get-together. Then of course, we have occasions like birthday bashes, college dos and discs, besides Rose Day, Friendship Day and Valentine's Day," says Shayantana, giggling.
And, how would they accessorise themselves? "The three Js - jeans, junk and jewellery - make an ideal combination when coupled with stick-ons. And you get separate things for each part - eyebrows, ears, forehead and arms," says Padma, an intermediate student. Sometimes, the glue-ons come with an adhesive, which makes it last a little longer.
Asif and Anwar, who own a bangle store in Abids, have to place fresh orders for accessories, almost every week. "Our stock gets over within a week and some girls come back requesting for the same piece, and we find it little difficult to get as the stuff is sourced mainly from Mumbai and Kolkata," they say.
Whatever be the problems of shopkeepers in trying to supply what is in demand most, youngsters do not really give a second thought about what they are sporting as long as they are `in' with it, without price (though starts at Rs. 65 each) and what-will-others-think concepts coming in the way. Now, what are you waiting for?
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