Dress code: Regional chic

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Traditional South-Indian lungis to Nauvari saris of Maharashtra and rich Jamdani saris of Bengal are getting a contemporary twist as Bollywood divas add a dash of glam to them. Be it Deepika Padukone’s lungi-babe look in her upcoming movie Chennai Express or Sonakshi Sinha’s Bengali touch for Lootera or the sexy Gujarati chaniya-choli for Rambo Rajkumar; traditional dressing style is surely getting trendier.

Bollywood fashion designer Pria Kataria Puri points out, “Fashion evolves in circles. What was prevalent in the 80’s is back again with a bang. When it comes to our Bollywood beauties, one trend that seems to be raging is a modern-looking ethnic chic look. Regional-styled appearances in Bollywood movies work wonders as it builds an instant connect with the audience. While sporting the traditional outfits, one needn’t necessarily stick to the old-styles. For example, an expensive Patola sari from Gujarat can be teamed with a modern well-embroidered blouse or a traditional Chanderi silk blouse jacket can be given a modern twist by wearing it with a flowing lehenga-skirt.”
To go deep into a character, the clothing, accessories and the overall look are vital. Bollywood makeup expert Puja Taluja shares, “Regional fashion sense has a wide scope for playing around with the makeup. I personally recommend that if you want that perfect look, then just zoom in on any one part and highlight it well and keep everything else minimal. So if you are going for the smoky kohl-laden eyes, then keep the rest of the makeup simple and let the costume speak for itself. Amrita Puri’s backless ghagra-choli in Kai Po Che while Rani Mukherjee Nauvari saris in Aiyyaa were perfect examples of regional dressing becoming trendier.”
Fashion designer Nikasha Tawadey, who has been designing for many Bollywood actresses, says, “Filmmakers are now very particular that the costumes in the movie are relevant to their movie set-ups. Sonam Kapoor’s sharaaras and chand bala earrings in Ranjhanaa were such a treat to the eyes. Seeing our Bollywood beauties in regional avatars elevates Indian fashion from different cultures high on the global fashion spectrum.”