Chic 2012: The Bollywood Fashion Story

Chic 2012: The Bollywood Fashion Story

In the movies

Cocktail’s three lead actors’ looks, all styled by Anaita Shroff Adajania, were a major part of the pre-release publicity blitz. Everyone wanted to know about Diana Penty’s jumpsuit and Deepika Padukone’s skirt. And no one really asked much about Saif Ali Khan, because he looked too old to be in the movie.

Cocktail Fashion

No one cared much about the clothes in Ishaqzaade, though I found the costumes in the movie to be among the most intelligently designed in recent Bollywood history. I can’t imagine Parineeti Chopra’s character without the black waistcoat over a fitted kurta.

Parineeti Chopra-Ishaqzaade-8

The fashion in Jab Tak Hai Jaan and Student of the Year fell flat after high expectations. But where one lacked charm and romance, the latter’s mantra was “Brands, brands, brands” without a sensible story to tell.

Student of the Year

On the covers

The surprise fashion mag cover girl find of the year was Kalki Koechlin (Women’s Health in November and Vogue the following month), while editorial favourite Sonam Kapoor appeared in Roberto Cavalli yet again on the cover of Grazia. (Yawn).

Kalki-Koechlin-Vogue-India-1-786x1024

On the small screen

Amitabh Bachchan’s jackets and bandhgalas on Kaun Banega Crorepati were superbly elegant and finely tailored by Rohit Bal. Karan Johar donned casual- dressy blazers on Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa, while Salman Khan’s Bigg Boss wardrobe was confusing (too many colours and styles).

Madhuri Dixit and Karan Johar in Jhalak Dikhla Ja

Most people loved Madhuri Dixit’s Jhalak Dikhla Jaa clothes and jewellery, and her stylist made it a point to dress the actor in outfits from various Indian designers. No bodycon dresses for her!

Surprise style icon

Sridevi had been under the fashion watchers’ radar for a while now, but in 2012 she surprised everyone with a new-found, elegant look, wearing Manish Malhotra and Sabyasachi. She wowed everyone when she walked for the latter in Delhi, a far cry from her stumbling ramp appearance in an ugly silver-grey gown for Neeta Lulla couple years ago.

Sridevi for Sabyasachi Couture Week 2012

Not (yet) an icon

Alia Bhatt may have had a big debut with Student of the Year, and appeared on two covers (Vogue and Grazia), but her personal style quotient was quite blah. The problem? She tried too hard to look cute.

Alia-Bhatt-in-Amit-GT-on-Grazia-India-December

Magazine Update: Dior, Diesel steal covers in November

Magazine Update: Dior, Diesel steal covers in November

Dior gets three

Dior has made it to three fashion magazine covers this month- a good hit rate (and well-thought strategy). So you see Dior cover Vogue ( on Shweta Nanda), GQ (Ajay Devgn), and Marie Claire (Soha Ali Khan).

Soha Ali Khan in Marie Claire Nov 2012

I could imagine Shweta Nanda in Dior. Maybe even Soha Ali Khan (she’s got royal blood). But never Ajay Devgn- he’s too rugged, too massy and too unfashionable for high fashion, right?

Ajay Devgn in GQ Nov 2012

But Vijendra Bhardwaj, who’s styled Devgn on the cover and photo feature, has got the actor looking surprisingly at ease comfy in designer wear. Or maybe it was Devgn’s best-kept fashion secret or he’s a brilliant actor. Nevertheless, Vijendra’s done an excellent job in this shoot.

Vogue goes social?

Meanwhile, I am surprised with Vogue’s choice of cover girl- they had earlier made a shift from top models to Bollywood stars. Are they moving to the high-class social circuit now? It’s highly possible, given that Bollywood is quite devoid of classy and fashionable folks and that the Bollywood-loving audience may not be the ideal (or real) Vogue reader. Wait and watch!

Shweta Nanda on Vogue India

Roberto Cavalli for Sonam Kapoor– again!

A couple years ago, Sonam Kapoor shot a spread for Vogue with Roberto Cavalli at his mansion in Italy, wearing only the designer’s creations. In November’s issue of Grazia, Sonam’s done a repeat (though not at the Cavalli mansion). Sonam dons Cavalli on the cover and in the photo feature. Too bad there’s no mention of any exclusive contract or deal.

Sonam Kapoor in Grazia Nov 2012

Diesel cares about Women’s Health

Women’s Health is not exactly a fashion magazine, but it’s certainly aspiring to be seen as a upscale one, with focus on intelligent content and an appealing layout. Diesel seems to be taking it seriously- since it’s everywhere in the magazine this month. Kalki Koechlin wears Diesel on the cover and the photo feature inside, the inside cover two-page ad is Diesel, and there’s a special photo feature dedicated to a jacket’s multi-tasking ability. That jacket is, of course, a Diesel.

Kalki Koechlin in Women's Health Nov 2012

India International Jewellery Week 2011 starts today, Sonam Kapoor to inaugurate

India International Jewellery Week (IIJW) is set for a grand opening show today with Gitanjali presents ‘Beti’, a presentation in association with Beti, a campaign against female foeticide. Dozens of celebs are expected to walk the ramp for the post-noon show. Sonam Kapoor, the brand ambassador for the event, will kickstart the show.

Below: Glimpses of IIJW collections of Anmol Jewellers and Gehna Jewellers.

Anmol Jewellers at IIJW  Gehna Jewellers at IIJW 

The jewellery designers and design houses scheduled to showcase at the five-day event include:

  • Gitanjali Group
  • Khyati (Eekani Jewels)
  • Sangam Chains
  • Amrapali
  • Gehna Jewellers
  • C Krishniah Chetty & Sons
  • Tanishq,Rosily Paul
  • Vijay Golecha (Golecha’s Jewels)
  • International Gemological Institute
  • Johara Jewels by Divya Ahuja
  • Scintillating Jewellery
  • Kays Jewels Pvt. Ltd
  • CVM Exports
  • GIA India
  • Dipti Amisha
  • Jewels Emporium
  • YS 18
  • Sawansukha Jewelllers Pvt. Ltd
  • Manubhai Gems Pvt. Ltd
  • Dwarkadas Chandumal Jewellers
  • Anmol Jewellers
  • Surana Gems & Jewellery
  • Laxmi Jewellery Exports Pvt. Ltd
  • Kashi Jewellers
  • Alpana Gujral
  • Birdhichand Ghanshyamdas

Below: From Eekani Jewels at IIJW, Dwarakadas Chandumal Jewellers at IIJW.

Eekani Jewels at IIJW 2011 Dwarakadas Chandumal Jewellers at IIJW

And if there’s jewellery, there’s bound to be glamour, high fashion, page three celebs and Bollywood. So fashion-watchers will see Sonam Kapoor, Kangana Ranaut, Bipasha Basu, Malaika Arora, Hema Malini, Zarine Khan, Kalki Koechlin, Zeenat Aman, Amrita Rao, Perizaad Zorabian and Feroze Gujral walk the ramp over the next few days.

IIJW will run from July 31 to August 4, 2011 in Mumbai. The event is organised by the Gem and Jewellery Promotion Council (GJEPC), and Sonam Kapoor is the brand ambassador for this edition of IIJW.

Chic Interview: Arjun Bhasin takes Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara on a fashion trip

For costume designer Arjun Bhasin,  Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara (ZNMD) was perhaps a mammoth project. It’s a movie with five carefully-etched leads that demand diverse looks—clothes, accessories, the works. What’s more, the cast is fashionable and near the top of the Bollywood ladder—Hrithik Roshan, Farhan Akhtar, Abhay Deol, Katrina Kaif and Kalki Koechlin.

Currently working on Life of Pi, Arjun Bhasin talks to Speaking Chic Costume designer Arjun Bhasin for Zindagi Na Milegi Dobaraabout working with Farhan and Zoya Akhtar, and shares the various fashion stories playing in the movie.

You have worked on earlier movie projects with Farhan and Zoya Akhtar as well as the actors. How different was the experience with them this time?
For ZNMD, the entire setup was different—we were shooting in Spain, and working with a smaller crew. Hence a  lot of the work and styling was much more organic– we were all grabbing things and working at a completely difference pace. But Zoya and I know each other well and I know exactly what she wants. As for the lead actors, I’ve worked with three of them earlier [Hrithik Roshan, Farhan Akhtar, Abhay Deol], and I wanted to put new spins on them, especially Farhan and Hrithik.

The three male lead actors Hrithik Roshan, Farhan Akhtar and Abhay Deol are all stylish in their own way. Hrithik, for instance, is a style icon, How difficult was it for you to try something new with them?
Not at all. Actors like to change and try different things–hair style, clothes, looks etc. Also, I always let the script and characterisation dictate what an actor should wear. So if the same character would be played by another actor, I would keep the same clothes/ look.


ZNMD is your first movie project with Kalki Kechlin and Katrina Kaif. What are the distinct looks have you created for them?
Kalki Koechlin plays a spoilt rich girl who’s into high fashion. Kalki has such an amazing fashion body—she can carry off jumpsuits with heels, and short dresses. I wanted her to be a bit free, while being a bit overdressed. Her dressing is also a kind of tongue-in-cheek joke on fashion.

Katrina Kaif is an island girl and loves to mix and match. So she could combine a long dress from a street market with a blazer and boots, or carry off a sadhu necklace at a beach.

ZNMD actors- Hrithik Roshan, Farhan AKhtar, Abhay Deol

Which brands are the actors wearing in the movie? Being a stylish movie, which clothes and accessories should fashion lovers look out for (such as the Lady Dior in Aisha)?
The brands in the movie are chosen because they met our specific clothing and accessory needs.
For instance, Hrithik is wearing Tod’s and Bottega Veneta. He has an amazing look with lots of supershort cropped shirts, and especially when he lands at Barcelona airport—chambray shirt, trench coat and lace-up shoes.

Farhan’s character is a bit different, so he could be wearing Dior sunglasses and a kurta from Mumbai’s Managaldas market. Abhay (as Kabir) plays with colours so he’s got a lot of Paul Smith, which he pairs with slim pants from Etro.

Even though Kalki’s character Natasha is into high fashion, I’ve used a lot of high street wear and made it look like high fashion. Her clothes are from brands like Miss Sixty, and she’s wearing a Diesel jumpsuit. But her bag is from Tod’s, and you’ll also see her Hermes Kelly bag (which has a character of its own in the movie!).

Zindagi na milegi dobara poster

Which are your favourite looks from the movie?
I absolutely love Farhan and Katrina’s looks in the movie, since the are closest to my personal style, it’s kinda hippy. For example, Farhan wears kolhapuris with a suit!

Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara releases July 15, 2011.

Chic Interview: Arjun Bhasin takes Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara on a fashion trip

For costume designer Arjun Bhasin,  Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara (ZNMD) was perhaps a mammoth project. It’s a movie with five carefully-etched leads that demand diverse looks—clothes, accessories, the works. What’s more, the cast is fashionable and near the top of the Bollywood ladder—Hrithik Roshan, Farhan Akhtar, Abhay Deol, Katrina Kaif and Kalki Koechlin.

Currently working on Life of Pi, Arjun Bhasin talks to Speaking Chic Costume designer Arjun Bhasin for Zindagi Na Milegi Dobaraabout working with Farhan and Zoya Akhtar, and shares the various fashion stories playing in the movie.

You have worked on earlier movie projects with Farhan and Zoya Akhtar as well as the actors. How different was the experience with them this time?
For ZNMD, the entire setup was different—we were shooting in Spain, and working with a smaller crew. Hence a  lot of the work and styling was much more organic– we were all grabbing things and working at a completely difference pace. But Zoya and I know each other well and I know exactly what she wants. As for the lead actors, I’ve worked with three of them earlier [Hrithik Roshan, Farhan Akhtar, Abhay Deol], and I wanted to put new spins on them, especially Farhan and Hrithik.

The three male lead actors Hrithik Roshan, Farhan Akhtar and Abhay Deol are all stylish in their own way. Hrithik, for instance, is a style icon, How difficult was it for you to try something new with them?
Not at all. Actors like to change and try different things–hair style, clothes, looks etc. Also, I always let the script and characterisation dictate what an actor should wear. So if the same character would be played by another actor, I would keep the same clothes/ look.


ZNMD is your first movie project with Kalki Kechlin and Katrina Kaif. What are the distinct looks have you created for them?
Kalki Koechlin plays a spoilt rich girl who’s into high fashion. Kalki has such an amazing fashion body—she can carry off jumpsuits with heels, and short dresses. I wanted her to be a bit free, while being a bit overdressed. Her dressing is also a kind of tongue-in-cheek joke on fashion.

Katrina Kaif is an island girl and loves to mix and match. So she could combine a long dress from a street market with a blazer and boots, or carry off a sadhu necklace at a beach.

ZNMD actors- Hrithik Roshan, Farhan AKhtar, Abhay Deol

Which brands are the actors wearing in the movie? Being a stylish movie, which clothes and accessories should fashion lovers look out for (such as the Lady Dior in Aisha)?
The brands in the movie are chosen because they met our specific clothing and accessory needs.
For instance, Hrithik is wearing Tod’s and Bottega Veneta. He has an amazing look with lots of supershort cropped shirts, and especially when he lands at Barcelona airport—chambray shirt, trench coat and lace-up shoes.

Farhan’s character is a bit different, so he could be wearing Dior sunglasses and a kurta from Mumbai’s Managaldas market. Abhay (as Kabir) plays with colours so he’s got a lot of Paul Smith, which he pairs with slim pants from Etro.

Even though Kalki’s character Natasha is into high fashion, I’ve used a lot of high street wear and made it look like high fashion. Her clothes are from brands like Miss Sixty, and she’s wearing a Diesel jumpsuit. But her bag is from Tod’s, and you’ll also see her Hermes Kelly bag (which has a character of its own in the movie!).

Zindagi na milegi dobara poster

Which are your favourite looks from the movie?
I absolutely love Farhan and Katrina’s looks in the movie, since the are closest to my personal style, it’s kinda hippy. For example, Farhan wears kolhapuris with a suit!

Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara releases July 15, 2011.

Chic Insider: Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara looks decoded!

Hrithik Roshan, Abhay Deol, Farhan Akhtar, Katrina Kaif and Kalki Koechlin—the cast of Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara (ZNMD) have been rocking the promos and we’re enjoying what we see (fashion-wise)—from Farhan’s hats, Kalki’s sleek bangs, to Katrina’s free-spirited vibe.

Zindagi na milegi dobara poster

Curious about the five looks, we spoke to the styling team of ZNMD for a better perspective on the characters and how their traits translate into their screen persona. Arjun Bhasin, the costume designer for ZNMD explained the fashion looks while Osh Bhabani, Avan Contractor and Walter Dorairaj (the b:blunt stylists), told us the story behind the hair styles.

Here’s what the experts tell us (Fashion by Arjun Bhassin, Hair by b:blunt team):

Abhay Deol as Kabir
Fashion: Kabir is a funky rich kid with a sense of humour, so his personality and clothes are colourful!
Hair:  Being a rich guy, Kabir’s look is strong and edgy. So we’ve given him a lot of texture that’s fashionable, classy and tasteful.

Hrithik Roshan as Arjun
Fashion: Hrithik (as Arjun) is a chic London investment banker who’s bit of a control freak so his clothes are tailored,controlled, crisp and perfect.
Hair: Arjun’s character starts off almost straitjacketed. He’s a perfectionist which reflects in his style, though he becomes more relaxed after he meets Laila (Katrina). His hair style goes from smooth and and sophisticated to casual.

Farhan Akhtar as Imraan
Fashion: Imraan’s a bohemian, eclectic, romantic poet. So he’s bit of a hippy  and that reflects in his wardrobe—so he wears a kurta from a local market with designer sunglasses.
Hair: Imraan is effortless, fresh and lively, so the hair style is boho-inspired and has got a boyish feel. We’ve played with Farhan’s natural movement and texture, going from wavy to curly.

(Below: b:blunt stylist Avan Contractor working on Farhan Akhtar’s hair on the sets of Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara).

Farhan Akhtar hair style in Zindagi na milegi dobara

Kalki Koechlin as Natasha
Fashion: Kalki is a super spoilt rich girl from Mumbai, hot on the trail of designers with kickass bags and shoes.
Hair: Natasha is very chic and classy. Totally inspired by designer outfits, her look just screams expensive!

(Below: b:blunt stylist Walter Dorairaj styling Kalki Koechlin’s hair while shooting for Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara).

Kalki Koechlin hair stylie in Zindagi na milegi dobara

Katrina Kaif as Laila
Fashion: Katrina Kaif as Laila is a bohemian traveller and an island girl. She buys beautiful clothes everywhere and mixes them up. She’s not a designer girl—she more casual and sexy, and has a got a “Kate Moss” vibe.
Hair: Laila is a free spirit  and “live in the moment”  kind of girl. Since she has born and brought up abroad, she is very modern and boho, which translates into her hair style through beautiful movement, textured feel and the longish length.

Which look do you like the most?

Coming soon: In-depth look at the fashion in Zindagi na milegi dobara with costume designer Arjun Bhasin.