Street Style : Kathyusha Kariyawasam 

If you see someone carrying off a maxi dress, smoky eyes, nude pink or red lips topped off with glamour curls you have just met Kathyusha, a business woman and entrepreneur with a great sense of style. 

She says one can never go wrong with a maxi dress and the key is to dress it down with a pair of flats or change it up with a great pair of stilettos. As the owner of ‘Kathyusha’, an exclusive women’s clothing line, this week she gives us a look into her style persona with a few outfits from their new collection. 

LOOK 1 : Maxi Dress 

Many women associate long dresses with dressy, formal occasions. However it's all changing now - and it has become acceptable and stylish to wear a maxi dress without hurting your fashion repertoire. A long dress is elegant, comfy and chic! However, to look stylish in longer hems without projecting any signs of frumpiness, is solely dependent on how you style it. 

You also need to work extra on selecting the right style for your body figure, scale and height. With the right accessories, you can go from sleek and classy to trendy and chic. I personally keep things simple when it comes to accessories. I prefer letting the simplicity of the dress speak for itself. 

LOOK 2 : Peplum Dress or Top 

Everyone has to try an effortless sleek peplum dress. The dress is always figure flattering and you can wear it with strappy heels for a trendy work outfit. 

LOOK 3 : LWD (Little White Dress) 

Everyone looks for the perfect LBD (Little Black Dress) right? But to me every girl needs a LWD - it’s a must have. You can have a white dress with endless combinations. You can play with layers, have white on white, dress it down with sneakers or loafers or strappy stilettos or you can add an edge by pairing an edgier piece of studded heels with a sweet, lacy number or, my favourite, add a pop of colour like a neon element like a purse or shoes and then maybe keep things simple with red nails and lip colour to make your LWD more playful. 

Style Role Model : I don’t have one, there are a few I would consider as role models. With time you see a lot of women who inspire you in different ways. I have always loved Jennifer Lopez; she has evolved the past few years and her red carpet styles have gotten better. Taylor Swift is definitely becoming a fashion icon by mixing and matching unusual styles. Jennifer Lawrence (J-Law) when it comes to her fashion she sports glamorous colourful dresses, pencil skirts and adorable strapless tops. Then you get the classic style icons like Audrey Hepburn and Jackie Kennedy Onassis who have inspired so many trends. So for me the ideal role model is any woman who has the ability to be themselves and own it. 

Favourite Colours to Pair : I like to keep to the simple colour pairings like Pink and White, Red and White, Brown and Orange, Green and Gold, Pink and Blue, Mint Green and Grey, Silver and Rose, Pink and Yellow, Peach and Wine. 

Go To Outfit : Definitely a Maxi Dress. I prefer letting the simplicity of the dress speak for itself. 

Style Must Have’s? 

- Maxi Dress 
- Classic Bag 
- Good Pair of go-to sunglasses 
- Little Black Dress (LBD) and a Little White Dress (LWD) 
- White Top (Shirt or T-shirt) 
- Dark Denim 
- Statement Necklace 
- Comfortable stylish flats 
- Good pair of Jeggings 
- Red or Nude Pink Lipstick 
- Waterproof eyeliner and mascara 

Style Tips: 

- Manage Your Closet : Use hangers to see which items you never wear by hanging everything up with the hooks facing one way. Flip the direction when you wear a piece. After two months, sell or donate the pieces that you still haven't worn. 

- Stop Your Jewellery From Tarnishing : Store your jewellery in a zip lock bag to keep it from getting scratched or tarnished. 

- Stop a Button from Falling Off : Paint a layer of clear nail polish over the threads to keep a loose button from falling off. 

- Banish Water Stains on Leather : Spray the stain with a mixture of cold water and vinegar, then rub gently. 

- Test Jean Fit : If you don't have time to try on a pair of pants, wrap the waist of the jeans around your neck. If you can touch the two ends together around your neck, the jeans will likely fit. 

- Stretch Shoes That Are Too Small : If your shoes are too tiny, try wearing a pair of thick socks with the shoes and then heating the tight spots with a blow dryer. 

Like what you see? You can see Kathyusha’s collection at www.facebook.com/KathyushaExclusiveWomenswear. 

By Panchali Illankoon 
Photographs by Aki Peiris