If a wave of anxiety washes over you as the weekend draws to a close, know that you are not alone, it is a researched problem and there are simple ways to tackle it.

It is actually a fairly basic translation of “for every reaction, there is an equal and opposite reaction.” Sunday Evening Syndrome is indeed the flipside of Friday’s characteristic euphoria.

What are the signs of Sunday Evening Syndrome? Well, very simply, it is identified by a distinct sinking feeling associated with Sunday Evening. It emerges from the fact that a whole week of work awaits you but more often than not, you will not be able explain why you’re feeling anxious, sad or jaded. Researchers say that often Sunday Evening Syndrome may start as early as when you open your eyes on a Sunday.

Why does it occur? Because Sunday marks the end of the “fun times” just as surely as Friday marks the start of them. However, the intensity of Sunday Evening Syndrome spirals upward drastically if you have chores leftover, if you’ve taken off leaving tasks incomplete on Friday or – believe it or not – if you haven’t got something fun planned for Sunday. The fact that tough economic times have most of us overworked and stressed isn’t helping things.

What’s worse is the outcome – Sunday Evening Syndrome results in binge drinking, insomnia and general unpleasantness. This is turn has a bearing on how Monday, and consequently the rest of the week, comes along.

However, fear not! Once recognized, Sunday Evening Syndrome can be dealt with fairly easily. A few simple moves can help alleviate the sadness associated with bidding goodbye to the weekend.

Fix it on Friday

Indeed, everybody gets charged on Friday and there is a tendency to put tasks off until Monday. However, resist temptation and finish what you have scheduled for the day so that you aren’t overburdened on Monday. Also, creating a task-list for Monday will allow you to tell yourself “I have everything charted out for tomorrow” should you begin fretting about the rigorous week ahead on Sunday.

Clean your work station before you leave the office on Friday. That way, when the thought of Monday pops into your head on Sunday, you’ll envision a clean, peaceful zone rather than a cluttered and therefore more stressful desk.

Spend a few minutes listing chores to be completed over the weekend before you embark on the partying, movies and socializing.

Be prepared to tackle the blues

First and foremost, finish the worst of your chores on Saturday. Don’t leave them for what some refer to as the ‘Sunday Witching Hours’ i.e. between 6pm and 10pm. Laundry, grocery-shopping, banking/ paperwork and anything remotely chore-esque should not be relegated to these rather delicate hours of the weekend’s close.

Don’t give into temptation. Drinking on a Sunday evening pretty much emerges from a need to extend the weekend. Recognize this inherent, rather childish need and say no. It will only worsen things on Monday morning. Also, don’t over-indulge… an ice-cream or chocolate binge will only add guilt to the whole equation.

Instead line up an interesting activity for Sunday evening. Plan ahead: remember that it is families’ day out so you might not be able to get movie tickets if you wake up from your Saturday night hangover and decide to turn up at the theatre. A dinner plan might call for a prior reservation. Whatever it is don’t sit alone and allow yourself to be blue. Theatre, music and comedy gigs, getting outdoors, catching up with family (online or in person) are great ways to keep your mind occupied.

Sunday Evening Syndrome is often more intense among singles – a feeling of loneliness is said to set in as the humdrum of the previous two nights fades away. If you’re in this group make sure you book time with other single friends on Sunday evening, or get hold of a really gripping book (no self-help tomes here; pick one with a plot that will hold your attention) or find a hobby that will keep you occupied every Sunday. If nothing else works out plan and prepare an elaborate dinner for yourself. Or pamper yourself and book a massage. You can also use the spare time to exercise. This option offers triple benefits: You avoid an idle mind (be sure to line up a playlist with your favorite, positive music for company), you stay fit and you release adrenaline which is a sure-shot mood-booster.

Last, make sure you sleep early. Staying up is yet another pointless bid and avoiding Monday and only results in a groggy, foul-tempered start to the week. And it’s a window of opportunity for negative thoughts.

You could also plan and look forward to a quick, fun activity on Monday. For instance, most TV shows run Monday to Friday, so you could always get yourself to look forward to your favorite soap or sit-com.

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The next couple of months hold weddings and their trail of pre-wedding functions, Diwali, Navratri, Christmas and New Year, besides of course, a host of thank God it’s Fridays and party-feverish Saturdays. No matter what the dress code, we scoured The Dressing Room – held in Mumbai – to bring you eight unique pieces of clothing and accessories that are sure to grab eyeballs for being on-trend and yet distinctive. Plus, tips on how to wear them.

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Let’s face it – sometimes you could use a little help in getting the look you want.

Personal shoppers are a small investment to perfect your appearance. Don’t confuse them with fashion stylists who tweak or sometimes alter your style for a given effect – say a big event, or to provide you with a makeover to make you look younger, slimmer and so on. Personal shoppers on the other hand, take notes on your own style and the pieces of attire that you wish to buy, match that up with current trends and help you get hold of what you have in mind. They will also tell you how to wear a product. You want a neon green belt embellished with studs to keep up the psychedelic and S&M trends? Your personal shopper will help you source it and give you suggestions on what to wear it with – she might suggest adding it to an otherwise classic fawn outfit to bring it up to date, for example. Their profile also makes them an effective gift-shopping service.

You can choose between an independent individual – such as Neha Kapil Pathak, Tania Tapel or Parul Shukla – or go with a personal shopper agency such as XY Personal Shoppers or Persona Stars.

1. Your style is a little behind

If you feel that your ensembles are a little passé and do not want to undertake a big time wardrobe replacement exercise, a shoppeuse, as they are sometimes referred to, might be able to catch you up. They have a great network with brands and standalone stores in their given geography.

2. You have frequent wardrobe malfunctions

Clothing mishaps are the product of either the wrong fabric or the wrong fit for a certain body type. Shopping assistants are expected to have a clear understanding of fabrics and cuts, together with what these do to various body types.

3. You need an appropriate new look

Do you have a new job that demands a different kind of dressing – a power job and you’re not used to corporate clothes? Or a creative job and you’re not quite aware of how to bring fun to your power suit? Or one that demands a sudden switch-over to ethnic clothes? Or are you getting married? A personal shopper is an ace when it comes to getting a new wardrobe. The assistance of personal shoppers for big budget weddings is already seeked out more often than not. Neha Mahajan is one of India’s famous wedding shoppers.

4. You’re often criticized for being badly turned out.

If your friends and colleagues snigger about mistmatched ensembles, much too quirky ones or a generally OTT or the reverse – boring – wardrobe, you might want to consider assistance. For instance, if you have your eye set on a tribal-print dress, your personal shopper will help you get a print-size, fabric and silhouette that will suit your frame and social environment. Or if you only wear drab suits, you will be aided in experimenting with fabrics and hues.

5. You’re lazy. Or too busy

The thought of shop-hopping, rummaging, making choices and trying on a whole lot of garments is not just annoying, but daunting for some. Rigorous routines which relegate shopping to the weekend make the process even less enjoyable for busy pursuants. Personal shoppers, who by virtue of their work know just what to get where, can cut into the time and effort spent. They will create a time-efficient itinerary and also fix appointments with designers where necessary.

6. For things you have no expertise on

One occasion when you could really use assistance is when you have friends and relatives visiting the country and they want to buy handicrafts. Personal Shoppers India (www.personalshoppersindia.com) can come to your rescue.

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Take a trend-check and throw in the big hits of the season. Add these to your peplum skirts, leather-embellished garments, and sheer and lacy fabrics from the last few seasons.

Printed pants
Not the hippie kind but the sophisticated, well-fitted ones that you can wear with a sheer blouse or a cropped top. Take cues from Mango’s Hawaiian printed shorts (price Rs 990). If you don’t want a leg-full of brightly printed denim, Levis has a somber option: its flock jeans combine two shades of blue (price Rs 3,990). 

Old-school shorts
These are for the hour-glass body type only. High waist shorts will hang on the too-skinny and be unflattering on those who have a few extra pounds. However, the other avatar of old-school shorts is the ultra-girly one with floral prints and in flowing shapes. Mango has a suave pair of black high waist shorts (price Rs 1,190) and a more relaxed, body-accommodating pair of pleated shorts (price Rs 1,790).

Boyfriend shoes
Not my favourite trend, this one takes some confidence or really long legs. The kind of shoes sophisticated men would wear to work. Zara hits the nail on the head with its black bluchers (price Rs 3,790). Or, you can opt for a more effeminate alternative with a silver pair of patent bluchers (price Rs 3,990).

Body-suits
They’re an old-school strategy to getting a fits-like-a-glove silhouette, while keeping your upper neatly tucked into your bottoms very effectively. Forever 21 has a decent set, such as its faux leather trimmed bodysuit (price US$ 19.80). They went unexplainably redundant for sometime but have returned to fashion circuits of late. Don’t wear it like Lady Gaga and Beyonce. Please add on some pants.

Ripped denim
This trend returns every two or three years and it’s refreshing to see it back. This year’s take on ripped denim is mild with little or no skin show. It’s got to look worn, not skanky. Levis has just the right amount of rip in a few skinny pairs (price Rs. 2,990).

Anything with studs and spikes
On everything from headbands and hairbands to jackets, rings belts, collar necklaces and even as accents to tees and trousers, these toughie symbols continue to be a rage. Leather perfects this trend. Manish Arora for Amrapali has a beautiful black ring punctuated with spikes. It is also available in gold.

Cuffs
For men and women alike, the cuff – which grabbed eyeballs as part of last year’s stacked wrists trend – is a must-have accessory. For men, the look is obviously very masculine – the cuff itself in a dark shade, preferably crafted from leather with braiding or add-ons like viola – studs and spikes. Women can opt for anything from grunge-chic to shaadi-sufficient.

Bring sexy back
Sensual is no longer about plunging necklines, ladies. Exquisitely tailored backs are the centre of attraction at the moment – it’s not about a plain, very open back either. It’s all got to do with design and creativity. Cutouts, therefore, are the big favourite – they’re now being seen on midriff sections and sleeves as well. Forever 21’s Capsule 2.1 cutout leopard print mini-dress (price US$ 19.80) and its daring cutout dress (price US$ 22.80) are a good example.

Tribal and oriental influences
The broad belt emerges from oriental influence, but we’re talking about prints here. For any fabric, garment or accessory, all you’ve got to do is look for a tribal print. Or, something flowery and oriental; like the kind you would expect to see on a kimono. The trick is that the silhouette stays modern – only the print is ethnic. Take cues from Forever 21’s breezy tribal t-shirt (price US$ 17.80) or its sequined southwest mini skirt (US$ 32.80).

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Given that your mobile is more than capable of letting you know the hour of day, the wristwatch holds more weight as a style statement than an accessory. They must complete the picture created by your clothes, lifestyle and personality. Read on to know which of the common watch styles suits you.

FOR HER

Bracelets
The delicate bracelet watch is seen everywhere from Fast Track to Swarovski, Breguet and Gucci. Cartier, of course, with its bejewelled timepieces takes premier position when it comes to bracelet watches. They can be narrow or broad with artsy or simply blingy dials and are held together either by regular watch-like links or by a bracelet-style strap. Some, called ‘secret watches’ go all out and have an ornate cover over the dial; Piaget has some.
Why choose this style: If your style is either traditional or is more feminine with lots of blouses and a trim or frill seen often on your attire. Or, if you are a working woman with collars and cuffs representing a good section of your wardrobe, opt for this style. It blends well with ethnic ensembles and girly garb, and brings a touch of effeminacy to a crisp corporate look.

The Androgynous classic
It takes oodles of attitude to pull off watches that give off the unisex look. But it’s a good style to have at the moment, given that everything from handbags to moccasins has taken on a distinct look of androgyny. Think metal links or leather for the strap and a neat, masculine, chunky dial. You can also use it to catch up with the hottest motorcycle chic look buy picking a piece with studs or anything S&M-esque.
Why choose this style: You should get this one if you’re already a true fashionista. The best examples come from Omega. Your style should be minimalist, chic and classic if you’re going to pull this off.

Sporty
Colourful straps – most often crafted from rubber – and quirky dials dominate this style. While it’s slightly juvenile to sport one of these, this style offers the benefit of a number of colour options (if you’re the kind who colour co-ordinates every little detail on your ensemble). Depending on your budget you can get a basic Fast Track or you could spend more on a Guess piece.
Why choose this style: If you’re most often seen in a tee or in sweatshirts over jeans or shorts – irrespective of whether it’s the itsy-bitsy type or boy-shorts – pick this style. It also works with some bohemian, hippie looks.

FOR HIM

The classic
If you’re looking for a classy look, it’s always advisable to take cues from your dads and grand-dads. A few decades ago, gentlemen wore accessories that boasted craftsmanship and class. Think silver or golden dials, uncluttered and often fitted with roman numbers to mark the hour. Straps are broad and are either made from a matching metal or from leather. The most on-trend avatar of this is a circular gold dial with a very broad leather strap crafted from crocodile skin. Longines, Rolex and Breguet will give you the look. You can also go retro and try a pocket-watch as long as you’ve got your suit and tie.
Why choose this style: Well, because it brings a lot of class to any look, whether you’re wearing Vans, shell-toes or Hush Puppies on your feet.

The gizmo
There’s the section of super smart watch options, fitted with compasses, chronometers, multiple time-zone display, underwater capabilities and a whole lot more. They’re most often silver or black with smart straps that are usually oversized and chunky. Take cues from Vacheron Constantin and Patek Philippe. Police has a new dual-dial range.
Why choose this style: It goes well with just about any dress code that you can think of. However, given that hi-tech features add to the cost, they’re good for status symbols or if you’re likely to use these features. Globetrotters, these are made with you in mind.

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