Gen Z's 7-day style cycle

Who needs a party dress in 30 minutes?

- Pooja Singh

yesha Kathuria, 19, is sizing up my "very millennial" outfit—oversized white shirt and printed black ankle-length skirt. Red-and-white crew socks would have made my outfit "pop," as would a light blue bodysuit, is her verdict.

We are meeting in a fast-fashion store in a south Delhi mall. Kathuria pulls a pair of cropped trousers from a rack, and says, "This lavender pink screams 'me'. And this red top... I follow trends but mould them... My style is trends meets chaotic customization." The college student is referring to the notion of following a trend but pushing personalization to an extreme. "It's self-expression at its best. It's my thing."

Kathuria is as serious about finding the next trend as she is about her engineering exam the following week. Her hunt for a style worth experimenting with begins with an Instagram scroll to see what influencers, celebrities and their stylists are wearing. She goes to a mall every three weeks to see how other people are dressed, to sift through the latest collections, and try on clothes for the touch-and-feel experience. Browsing Pinterest moodboards in between helps her make an informed decision. And then comes the act of shopping, on the phone—using her architect mother's credit card.

"Real fun starts after that," Kathuria says, opening the Notes app on her iPhone. It has a list of theme-based outfits she will wear through the week.

The day we met was Neon Monday: Kathuria wore a sleek bun to highlight her green eyeliner and kohl-lined brown eyes. She'd paired a crisp corset-like white shirt with bright yellow cargoes and light blue slip-ons. Hoop earrings and a one-string silver chain made her look fashionable while seeming like she didn't care about fashion at all—just the vibe she was going for.

Tuesday: Daisies and lilies. Wednesday: Cool-girl workwear.