#SummerBlooms: Style it with grace

Kolkata’s many gardens and flower markets are alive with vibrant and fragrant seasonal flowers. Be it Rongon (Jungle geranium), Jui, Bel or Rajnigandha. Leading ladies from different fields of expertise take this opportunity to style their favourite blooms in unique ways for an exclusive shoot with CT. Here’s how you can add them to your summer lookbook too.

A stylish lookbook with seasonal flowers to add elegance and drama to your wardrobe for your morning and evening soirees
I have always been fascinated with Rongon flowers. They are colourful, dramatic and add vibrance to a even a simple summer look
– Gargee RoyChowwdhury


Bel phool is a heavenly white pearl drop blooming in sultry months. Our mali dada would bring home the buds and I’d wait eagerly for them to bloom in the evening – Madhuboni Chatterjee

I love Jui or jasmine, specifically for its magnificent fragrance, which is non-negotiable when you choose any flower. Jasmine also accentuates all other colours– Dr Rupali Basu

Dr Rupali Basu

The beautiful jasmine has de-stressing properties, enhances mood and reduces anxiety

How to style Jui
Tie your hair up in a loose bun, use the Jui garlands in collinear stripes to cover it entirely
Amp up your potli strap just like Rupali by throwing in some jasmine garlands
Pair the blooms with a resplendent organza Banarasi sari in bright yellow or maroon

Madhuboni Chatterjee
How to style Bel
Just like Jui, Bel too is known for its distinctive fragrance and can act as a natural perfume during summers
Use it on your hair, be it a braid, or half-do to add grace to your summer look
Bel looks best when paired with a white cotton sari
One can also use it in their living room to infuse some natural fragrance in the air

Bel phool is also known as Mallika. Rabindranath Tagore composed a love song about this flower: “Amar Mallika boney jokhon prothom dhoreche koli” says Madhuboni

Gargee RoyChowdhury
How to style Rongon
Pair the bright red Rongon with a colourful sari in warm hues
Use loose Rongon flowers on your hair or throw in a garland with your outfit to be a head turner
If you wish to look dramatic, drape a Rongon garland around your blouse so that it looks as though you are wearing a blouse made of flowers

Of all the summer flowers, Rongon is my favourite because of its rich colour. I somehow feel it has a very strong presence. The richness of this flower can make the mundane summer look beautiful – Gargee RoyChowdhury

The vibrant colours of Rongon can stimulate your vision. It is also widely used in skin and hair care products for its benefits

Pics: Anindya Saha
Gargee's makeup and hair: Nabin Das; outfit: Arnab Sengupta
Dr Ruplai Basu's makeup: Amit Karak