Passionate globetrotter Manna Narang gives us a peek inside her cosmopolitan wardrobe.
By Christy Lau
As she’s always on the go, Manna is in need of outfits that speak to her travel-filled lifestyle. Her Zara ensemble works day and night, and looks both presentable for a client appointment and glamorous for evening social get-togethers. Her transparent heels let us know she isn’t afraid to mix business with pleasure.
Manna takes a page from the fun-loving 1920s with this fringed Sweat & Splash jumpsuit, great for spending happy hour with a few girlfriends. Easy to wear, it adds movement to her outfit as she travels around town. She decorates her slender fingers with glittering Swarovski rings. The final touches for her outfit are a pair of silver heels from Footwork and a choker from Christian Dior.
For a classy dinner date or cocktail function, Manna turns to an ankle-length Warehouse dress with a bold zebra print, that is both comfortable and flattering. For some head-turning shine, she adds a variety of accessories like a Rolex watch, a teardrop-shaped ring from Diamond Forever and dangling earrings from online shop @jr_passion_for_jewelry.
“Every woman should own a blazer because it’s a quick way to elevate any outfit from casual to classy,” Manna Narang declares as we take a seat together in her elegant living room to discuss her inspired style choices. For her first look, this issue’s It Girl is dressed in a stunning jewelled blazer and shorts combo that lends her an alluring dose of glamour.
The charismatic mother-of-two is always on the move, whether for work or leisure, and to suit her jet-setting lifestyle, she often chooses outfits that can instantly take her from business meeting professional to club chic.
“When I travel, I like to divide my time equally between work and play,” she reveals. “I would define my style as comfortable and chic. I do my best to incorporate key pieces and accessories, which may be in trend, while maintaining a level of comfort to suit an active style of living, where I can move directly from a work function to sundowners with friends.”
Self-employed in a tailoring business she runs with her husband, Manna often meets with clients around the world for consultations, and while she enjoys touring the new places she travels to, she equally enjoys watching how different people around the world dress.
She tells me, “My fashion is very much inspired by my travels. No matter what country I visit, I’m always observing the local style, and taking note of the distinct differences. For instance, I’ve noticed Parisian fashion incorporates a lot of feminine prints, skirts and hats, while the US style is more laid-back, and includes a lot of jeans and T-shirts.”
The latter style is something Manna personally loves wearing, especially during her leisure time on trips abroad. Her secret to make a basic tee and jeans sophisticated is using a few well-placed accessories. “I love necklaces, earrings, and rings because they’re very feminine and add instant elegance.”
She purchases most of these embellishments, as well as most of the rest of her clothing overseas, and particularly loves shopping in the UK. River Island, New Look, Next, Miss Selfridge, and Topshop are some of her favourite brands, but she is also fond of browsing through online stores, and checking out local street markets. And while her wardrobes are filled with all manner of clothing, she’s not one to get rid of things once she’s worn them a few times.
“Unless it’s scruffy or completely worn out, I don’t throw anything away,” she says. “You never know when something could come back in fashion, so I keep clothes just in case.”
Before ending the interview, I ask her whether she looks up to any famous style icon. “No, not really,” she says. “I just like seeing how other people dress in general, and the way they carry themselves; that speaks to me more. The best style icons are those who are confi dent, understand that less is more, and try to remain authentic.”
