Flea-style divas

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Contrary to the popular belief, not every Bollywood actress or a celebrity is a walking mannequin for those high-end fashion brands. There exists a crop of leading ladies who prefer comfort and style over labels. It does not matter to them if their clothes do not come from those expensive labels as long as they meet their style sensibilities.

Recently actress Richa Chadda said she is fashion-conscious but not crazy about brands. The Gangs of Wasseypur actress said that she recently wore a churidaar with a short kurta that her mother used to wear in college. She admitted she is not crazy about brands.
Just like Richa, Kalki Koechlin, known for her amazing sense of styling, confessed that she maintains her unique style by picking up non-branded clothes from all over. “I’m not brand-conscious. I often shop at flea markets in Pondicherry, Khan Market in Delhi, Camden and Portobello Market in London and vintage shops all over the world. I like non-branded stuff because they are usually single piece garments and so there are no replicas of the design. Also they come really cheap,” says the actress.
Sameera Reddy is another actress who loves to pick stuff from flea markets. “I’m all for finding eclectic treasures and good bargains and really what is a better place than a flea market? You could try Hill Road in Bandra and Sarojini Nagar in Delhi. In London the vintage stores are a reservoir for fantastic finds,” says Reddy. Sameera adds, “If I choose to patronise a brand, it is simply because I appreciate that particular sensibility; I’m not for adorning a brand simply because it’s the ‘in’ thing to do.”
Shenaz Treasuryvala prefers independent boutiques over brands. “I prefer to shop at little independent boutiques and stay away from brands. The more obscure and unknown the label, the more I like it. I feel buying branded clothes requires no imagination; all you need is money for that. I prefer using my imagination, mixing a garment from a flea market in Australia with shoes from a small boutique in Spain to a top from Iran. For me, every piece of clothing has a story and the travel junkie that I am, I pick up clothes from different parts of the world and when I wear them I’m wearing all these personal stories from my adventures,” says she.
Model Nayanika Chatterjee wants variety in her wardrobe. “I actually don’t follow any trend or look for branded stuff. I go for them only when I want something to last longer or any classic piece that will hold in good. But at times when I am price-conscious, I simply pick up stuff from markets like Sarojini Nagar. The clothes would last for 2-3 months but it is not a bad bargain for the money. I rate comfort above all else. I would probably pick up chappals from a flea market, but look for heels at a better place,” says Chatterjee.