City rocks high boots & coats as weather lets revellers bring out their western best
Times of India | 2 January 2026
Kolkata: At year-end parties, the little black dress and high heels receded into the background as the chill reshaped the city's party wardrobe. Revellers traded bare legs for stockings and boots, slipping into long coats, and layering hoodies.
Kolkata's winter party fashion, known for combining tradition with layered styling, shifted further towards western wear this year. Women pairing shawls, jackets, and jumpers with sarees, and men pairing blazers or shawls with panjabis, were less visible. The dominant look featured overcoats, boots, and denim with structured layers.
Fashion designer Chandrani Singh Flora attributed this interest to increased accessibility of western wear in Kolkata. "Earlier, only a select few who travelled abroad owned such wardrobes, but now, major international brands offer affordable western wear at city malls, apart from online stores," she said.
Chandrima Saha, who partied at Eastern Metropolitan Club, chose an overcoat she picked up from a mall. "Winters in Kolkata are usually pleasant. In previous New Year celebrations, the thought of wearing an overcoat sounded bizarre. This year, it was easy to wear my long coat with my boots," Saha said.
Fashion designer Abhishek Dutta said he observed a shift in winter wear among middle-class Kolkatans. "Party animals of Kolkata are embracing Delhi-centric fashion. Many wore long trench coats and teamed them with LBDs. Long jackets with thigh-high boots are also in fashion. Women are also going for layering," Dutta said.
Headgear, like fur-lined hats, was important too, and puffer and lapel jackets were widely spotted. "Neon-coloured puffer jackets emerged as a notable choice this year. They are affordable, practical, and available with or without hoods. While black puffers are common, neon shades were used more this season," Dutta said.
"I spotted some wearing artificial mink capes as well. This is pleasantly surprising," said Hamburg-based Satyam Bagchi, who is visiting the city.