It is either because of the wave of international trends that has hit the shores of Indian fashion, or the exposure that our fashion aficionados have received to international markets. Either way, the Indian fashion scene today is in its most unconventional phase. Thanks to the new crop of fashion enthusiasts, stylists et al, not only are Indian trends making it big abroad but international fashion trends are fast penetrating Indian markets. One such international fashion fad is Fashion Feng Shui®. Yes, you heard that right—Fashion Feng Shui® is a thing, and here is all the information on how it works.

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Fashion Feng Shui® is an innovative transformational dressing technique and a process of image management, based on the premise that you live a happier, healthier life when your living and working environs are harmonious. The concept is inspired by ancient feng shui philosophy and was developed by Evana Maggiore, who then preached the same to her students, one of whom is Serena Rayani. Serena Rayani is an internationally trained Image, Etiquette and Protocol Consultant and the only licensed Fashion Feng Shui® practitioner in India. Excerpts from our conversation with her...

BB: Tell us about the philosophy behind Fashion Feng Shui®?

Serena Rayani: Fashion Feng Shui® enables me to really understand a person's essence. It enables me to nourish their spirit and create the correct balance between the person they pretend to be and the person they truly wish to be.

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BB: But what does fashion have anything to do with it?

Serena Rayani: Once you understand what your core essence is, what you truly want in life, I teach you to capture all that positive energy and reinforce it through your clothes. I had a client who was a banker but she never really felt comfortable in that role. One day she decided to quit and do what she always wanted: become a dancer. But years of being in banking had left her body language stiff and her clothes severe and professional. She knew how she wanted to look and feel and she was naturally attracted to certain clothes and colours but she could not fathom how to make the necessary changes to her boring wardrobe of business suits and shift dresses in neutral colours, which I think is a problem with so many people.

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BB: As a Fashion Feng Shui® stylist, what’s your role?

Serena Rayani: That's when I came into the picture. After an in-depth and soul-searching chat, a questionnaire, some personal shopping and body language sessions, she finally felt free and comfortable in her skin. Occasionally, she does feel unsure about her wardrobe choices and sends me pictures before buying, but the transformation has been unbelievable. It's like a whole load has been lifted off her shoulders. Fashion Feng Shui® and image management can be used for everyone, from CEOs to housewives and college students.

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BB: Exactly how does this function?

Serena Rayani: Fashion Feng Shui® teaches you how to dress with mindfulness and intention so that your clothes express your authenticity and attract your desires. We use the energetic language of nature's five elements—water, wood, fire, earth and metal—to describe physical appearance, preferences and goals, lifestyle, and clothing design elements. Fashion Feng Shui® elevates what was once a mundane routine to a mindful ritual, so that getting dressed becomes easy, fun and empowering.