Red carpet report card: Deepika Padukone needs a fashion lesson from Priyanka Chopra
It’s award season and the red carpet always has a host of surprises and faux pas to both delight and entertain style aficionados. While some celebrities opt to play safe, there are also a few risk takers who go out on a lark and come out tops. Usually, last season’s style winners end up on the bottom of the list while an underdog comes up with a winning number. That being said, the fashion police has a field day with the bloopers and needless to say, that it’s always fun to see what trends, styles and celebrities are a hit.
At the recent Screen Awards and the Star Guild Awards, there were many bombshells that gladdened us with their ensembles. However, it was clearly evident that the ladies who are used to getting fashion accolades and applause have sort of fallen into a fashion stupor. Some red carpet stalwarts have taken their ruling status for granted and it shows in their lacklustre ensembles. Take for instance actress Deepika Padukone, who has been topping the celebrity style quotient season after season. This time, her red carpet appearances showed a lackadaisical attitude. The poised to perfection fashionista might be bored of the neverending fashion circus, and here we can’t blame her, but nonetheless this was really not the moment to let her hair down.
Her picks for both evenings fell rather flat. A nude gown embellished with gold embroidery and embellished with gold floral motifs by designer Amit GT did nothing to highlight her style prowess, her svelte figure, or her pretty face. Not only did the dress fall flat but also one cannot imagine it on a fashion debutant let alone Deepika. The styling was a miss, as was the jewellery from Mahesh Notandass. The slick hair and shiny make up only aged this youthful star. Her traditional look was nothing to talk home about as well. The black lehenga sari by Mumbai-based designer Jade with its thick plain border and half-embroidered looked like an amateur take on top designer styles. One can hardly call her a trendsetter this season unless she does a complete turnaround.
However, in a surprising turn of events, it was none other than LBD favourite Priyanka Chopra who upped the ante with some colour and pop. Piggy Chops is renowned for her body-hugging short dresses that teeny boppers pick to look sexy and older than their years. But better sense has finally prevailed, maybe exposure to the international glamour industry or just a better stylist — who knows — but she finally seems to have put her scary fashion sense behind her.
She all but shocked us with her ability to play both the feminine damsel and the pop icon with equal grace and confidence. Her whimsical Toni Maticevski in popping neon orange paired with a metallic Mawi necklace and sparkly Louboutins were an instant hit. A ponytail and dark lips just added to the quirkiness of it all…it’s not often that one sees a look as experimental as this on the desi red carpet and kudos to her for pulling it off. Next, a pale pink Gauri and Nainika gown with ruffle detail, smoky eyes and a vintage do, ensured she looked fabulously glamourous and not too OTT. For fashion critics like myself, who wrote her off years ago, she finally has come up with something to shut us up. Young fashionistas like Alia Bhatt and Shraddha Kapoor also wowed in their gowns. Shraddha looked lovely in two consecutive red options by Atsu and Marchesa and Ms spunky Bhatt kept it stylish in Prabal Gurung.
We can compare, judge and debate who outshone who at the Indian red carpet but the styles pale in comparison to their international counterparts. This might sound like prejudice but check out the fashion styles at the Golden Globes Awards and you’ll see what I mean. Take for instance, Jennifer Lopez or Kate Hudson in their daringly low-cut Zuhair Murad and Versace dresses respectively; I reckon it will take more than a few years into the making till we see a fashionista who can try to pull those glamourously cheeky styles back home. The Indian red carpet has only just started its experimental phase and it will be a while before it comes to appreciate understated and refined styles.