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Fashion Lite Blogs

Fashion sense, a sign of mental health

Fashion is an enemy of the environment. I shall not list the statistics, we should all be aware of them and know by now that fashion is the second most polluting industry…writes Sujata Assomull.

I have missed dressing up, just wearing an easy summer dress putting on some mid heels (am not ready for those towering stilettos as yet, and I am not sure if I ever will be again), layering on a few necklaces and pulling out my favourite envelope clutch is such a treat.

Fashion brings joy to many of us, you feel good when you wear something that makes you feel good. As renowned Professor of psychiatry Raphael Bonelli said, “An interest in fashion and personal appearance is a sign of mental health. Psychiatrists are able to infer changes in mood from changes in their patient’s clothing.” It is a scientific fact– fashion is therapeutic!

It is this very feeling that many fashion brands bank on, and it’s the reason ultra-fast fashion has gained such momentum as we come out of lockdowns. Our time at home should have taught us, the never ending trend cycle is putting too much pressure on us and on the earth. It was back in 2015, that Anna Wintour declared that “Trend is an Ugly Word”.

There is no denying that the very nature of fashion is cyclical but the whole process had gone on “speed”. Fashion is an enemy of the environment. I shall not list the statistics, we should all be aware of them and know by now that fashion is the second most polluting industry.

Hopefully, now we understand the need to be more conscious. The never ending cycle was also hard work, keeping up with trends meant your wardrobe always needed an update. It was an exhausting process. But on the flip side is the joy that dressing up brings. So how does one balance them both?

Thirty eight-year-old Delhi based Amrita Thakur is a fashion designer and also fashion influencer says, “I know I will now make smart choices when I shop.” She says during this time she has made develop a penchant for jewellery, and currently has her eyes on a dainty emerald necklace she can wear on a daily basis. “It does seem like you can have a longer partnership with jewellery than a dress.” As a designer, the lockdown made her realise that she needs to have a “seasonless” approach to fashion. “I have missed dressing up but I know I want beautiful things I can wear every day, that do not date. A client does want to buy something, and then find that just a few months later as things are opening up that piece no longer works.”

Sanjana Rishi, 30, a lawyer by training and a well-known conscious clothing advocate, is happy to admit that she loves fashion. “This time has made me aware of what I already own, to cherish the things I have bought already that are in my cupboard. I look forward to wearing them again. They could be pieces from H&M or Zara, but they are pieces I bought and I love, so I cannot wait to wear them again.” Rewearing and Restyling will be her new mantras and one of her top tips is to take dupattas or scarves and turn them into fun tops for the summer.

A strong ‘vocal for local advocate’ any future fashion choices will come from homegrown brands that take a conscious and ethical approach to fashion. “It is important to support our local brands now. Be it a Tarun Tahiliani or a Doodlage.” And says her next buy will be an investment one. “Something that is hand embroidered may be a chikan lehnga, a piece I can wear again and again and that also speaks of this country’s craft heritage. Honestly I cannot wait to dress up again.”

It’s time to ditch the word trend from our fashion vocabulary and perhaps replace it with the word timeless. Not only will this make sure we are more sustainable in our approach to clothing, but it will make our fashion choices more about our personal style than industry diktats.

The writer Sujata Assomull is an IANSlife columnist. Assomull is the author “100 Iconic Bollywood Costumes” and was the Founding Editor In Chief of Harper’s Bazaar, India.

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It’s time for switch to Monsoon wardrobe

The floral prints are a forever favourite of the fashion lovers and these floral dresses are perfect for the monsoon season.

Seasons have fashion trends and some trends are fixed for certain seasons. Monsoon is all about bright, happy colours and comfortable clothes. From ‘work from home’ meetings to cozy coffee dates, dress up according to the season to impress. Ashima Sharma, celebrity fashion designer and founder of Ashima S Couture shares some monsoon trends to follow this season.

1. Bold colours and dark shades are in trend: black and single colour pants can be worn with contrasting shades of tops and shirts.

2. Jeans are a classic but this year trend is of bell bottoms in denims that imitates the classic retro look.

3. Ruffles are again seen trending this monsoon with ruffled skirts and tops.

4. Monochrome shades are trending again this season, monochrome pants can be seen worn by many influencers and have gained popularity largely this monsoon.

5. The floral prints are a forever favourite of the fashion lovers and these floral dresses are perfect for the monsoon season.

6. Culottes are the perfect and trending monsoon look for the office-goers as it gives comfort along with style. This is a choice opted widely by working women with an active lifestyle.

7. Crop tops are an ultimate fashion favourite for the fashionistas this year. Especially in monsoon, crop tops are a raging trend. They can be teamed up with shorts, jeans and skirts to give a trendy look.

8. Short skirts were out of trend since long but this year they are back in trend, this year many celebrities have been seen donning this look in their events and hence they are popular again. It is also a comfortable option for monsoons.

9. Free fitting clothes are in trend this monsoon. Due to the comfort factor and the fact they can easily be worn on a daily basis, the casual look is an ultimate favourite of the youth and free fitted clothes give the perfect casual look this monsoon.

10. Shrugs are a fashion favourite for the monsoons as they offer a perfect blend of casual and trendy look. They can be paired up with almost anything; like jeans, shorts, skirts etc. They provide the perfect trendy look for the monsoon season.

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Food Lifestyle

‘C’ the advantage!

Why Plum Mandarin & Vitamin C serum should be your holy A greater absorption of skin is possible with the use of vitamin C in serum-based formulations…writes N. Lothungbeni Humtsoe.

Our foods can make wonders on our health and of course on skin too. Whether you are a skincare fanatic or have just started your journey towards creating your own beauty regime, you would have come across a multiplicity of ingredients on skincare product labels that often leave you wondering what’s a good fit for you. The most versatile yet tricky amongst those is Vitamin C.

Most people get a fair dose of this vitamin from the food, fruits, and vegetables they eat. It is a legendary supplement required to keep our immune system robust and fortify our bodies against diseases. It has also played a crucial part in our fight against Covid-19.

With countless benefits internally, the vitamin has equal, if not more, dermatological advantages. Arushi Thapar, Senior Marketing Manager, Plum, PurePlay Skin Sciences Pvt Ltd. shares more on the new ‘in’ natural additive.

C the advantage! : Vitamin C is a potent antioxidant that can neutralize free radicals, but what does that mean for your skin? Vitamin C is known to be a difficult ingredient to develop and work with owing to its fragility and photosensitivity. With advancements in research, we know that the potent L- Ascorbic acid or also known as the most stable form of Vitamin C which can effectively reduce dark spots, protect from sun damage & treat dull skin. With age and due to sun exposure, collagen synthesis in the skin decreases, leading to wrinkles- once again Vitamin C is the only antioxidant proven to stimulate the synthesis of collagen, minimize fine lines, scars, and wrinkles. Therefore, its important to understand the make of such a potent concoction with multifold benefits. Many skincare products on the market today, deep dive into the skincare science and highlight the vitamin C derivatives, which is an important part for consumers to understand and choose the right Vitamin C serum. Products with the right concentration, formulation and other mix of ingredients like Japanese Mandarin and Kakadu plum that boost the performance of the Vitamin C, are important factors to take into consideration before purchasing a Vitamin C serum.

Why Plum Mandarin & Vitamin C serum should be your holy A greater absorption of skin is possible with the use of vitamin C in serum-based formulations. The concentration grail: Make sure your Vitamin C serum checks these boxes before purchasing or using them. should be between 10-20% with the sweet spot at 15%- any higher nullifies the benefits and could damage your skin. Another important aspect to pay attention to is the pH value. Human skin tends to have a pH value between 4-5 hence, the serum should have a similar value to be effective. Other factors to consider while adding Vitamin C to your beauty shelf include packaging, colour, and smell. As mentioned before, Vitamin C is photosensitive; i.e its properties change with exposure to light. It is, therefore, important for the serum to be packaged in a dark or amber coloured bottle. Store away from sunlight and in a dry environment. Be mindful of the colour and smell- ideally any skincare product should be free of artificial colours & fragrances. A change into a yellow, orange, or brown colour means it has oxidised; a sour or rancid smell means the product has lost stability and its use must be discontinued.

Skin care (IANS)

Once you have the ideal Vitamin C infused serum you can mix it up with your existing AM/PM regime- As a base alongside sunscreen is basic but an absolute must-have for glowing skin. It can also be used with Hyaluronic acid for hydration; combined with peptides making it a specialist for mature skin, or mixed with Vitamin E for ultimate nourishment for your skin! Ingredients such as niacinamide, chemical exfoliants, and retinol should not be applied together. Vitamin C with Niacinamide could be potent, with exfoliants causing destabilization, and combined with retinol becomes too much for the skin to handle at one time.

Now that you know all there is to know about Vitamin C, add one to your cart that suits your skin the best. Go ahead, #CtheGlow for yourself!

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Fashion Lite Blogs

Keep your jewels always precious

These items are prone to developing scratches due to their fragile properties. To avoid any such occurrence, one must store different gems in separate boxes…writes Puja Gupta.

Jewels are considered as one of the greatest assets .Did you know that the heightened humidity during the monsoon season has detrimental effects on your precious jewels? Be it gold ornaments, delicate silver, precious pearls or sparkling diamonds, all need to be handled with care during the rainy season. Moisture hampers the quality of numerous metal alloys and tarnishes their original lustre.

Here are some tips shared by experts at Reliance Jewels on how to protect your various jewellery pieces:

Diamond

Since diamonds are least prone to any damage, individuals tend to wear them frequently. However, daily usage exposes them to moisture and dirt, eventually reducing their shine. It hampers the overall look and feel of diamond jewellery, which typically costs one a fortune. To protect your prized items, you should gently clean your pieces using a mixture of soap and water or wipe them with a soft damped cloth.

Silver

Silver is very prone to oxidization and tarnishing. Oxidization often turns silver jewellery black in colour, simultaneously robbing them of their charm. Due to the increased humidity in the atmosphere during the monsoon season, these items face a greater risk of corrosion. You can use toothpaste to clean your oxidized silver jewellery. You can even use a soft cotton cloth. Individuals can also apply ‘silver dip’ to safeguard the shine of their silver items. However, irrespective of the protection technique, the cardinal rule remains to avoid any contact with water.

Gemstones

These include pearls, coral, amber and many more. Gemstones are characterised by their organic and delicate nature. During the monsoons, if you plan on wearing jewellery items made of gemstones, then make sure they are not directly exposed to perfumes or sprays of any kind. Such contacts might lead to irrevocable damage. Hence, adequate care and precaution need to be taken while using gemstones. Further, these items are prone to developing scratches due to their fragile properties. To avoid any such occurrence, one must store different gems in separate boxes.

Gold and platinum

In moist conditions, gold jewellery is bound to get dirty and dusty. The same happens in the case of platinum as well. Being neutral metals, they do not demand additional attention. However, completely neglecting their condition during the rains can cost you the quality of your precious jewels. To protect their lustre, make sure gold and platinum pieces are thoroughly cleaned, using a mixture of mild soap and water.

A general factor to consider for your entire collection is its proper storage. Individuals should opt for boxes that have hard exteriors and soft interiors. One must compartmentalise their jewellery based on their type. Silica gel pouches should be placed inside the boxes, to absorb any excess moisture.

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Fashion Lite Blogs

Experimental textiles curate ‘fashion beyond’

Ekaya collaborates with young designer, Aarohi Shah, from the Fashion Institute of Technology New York, to create a range of experimental textiles. Reports… Asian Lite News.

Fashion is just like we read a book multiple times, as we get new and different kinds of meanings. Fashion always work with experiments and makes a great number of new styles and trends.

The Arohi X Ekaya SS’21 collection is a modern and versatile selection of handwoven saris, chic suits, bias-cut skirts, and pop-coloured organza co-ord sets inspired by contemporary art, bold colour play, and clean construction.

Ekaya collaborates with young designer, Aarohi Shah, from the Fashion Institute of Technology New York, to create a range of experimental textiles and silhouettes keeping in mind the ever-growing demand for easy to wear, modern saris, and ready to wear, combining craftsmanship and attention to detail.

The textiles of this collection comprises experimental and youthful saris exuding an artful sense of texture and pattern along with timeless cord sets with fluid silhouettes and vivid colours. It features 25-30 pieces, including colourways, priced between Rs 15,000 to Rs 40,000 and is available at Ekaya stores.

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Unique Indian Textile In The Pandemic Era

The textile sector is one of the biggest contributors to the national economy and a large employment generator… Avinash Mane interacts with Puja Gupta.

Pandemic tried to put a full stop for most of our industries, but the continuous effort and support of technology really helped such to come back. Clothes are one of the basic needs of human existence, which is why even during lockdown, the apparel industry witnessed a steady demand. Demand from Western markets helped the Indian Textile sector stay afloat, says Avinash Mane, Commercial Director, South Asia, Lenzing Group.

Mane shares his views on the challenges the Indian textile industry faced due to the pandemic and what role technology has to play in the future of the apparel industry.

Avinash Mane, Commercial Director, South Asia, Lenzing Group.

How has the Indian textile industry responded to the challenges experienced by Covid-19 over the past year?

The textile sector is one of the biggest contributors to the national economy and a large employment generator. India’s textile sector is unique with it being one of the finest in the world producing around 15 per cent of total industrial production and contributing around 30 per cent to total exports.

The sector did face its share of challenges over the last year. While the domestic retail went on pause last summer, the export orders from European and American region also dried. But despite the issues, the industry has kept afloat. Specially post the first wave when orders from western countries started flowing in. The recovery, which was export driven, was visible from early this year. Clothes are one of the basic needs of human existence, which is why even during lockdown, the online apparel industry witnessed a steady demand.

According to a recent report by the Indian Ratings and Research agency (Ind-Ra), the non-availability of inputs such as fabric, yarns etc due to lockdown related restrictions may cause a short-term impact on the finished output in the sector, however it is unlikely to impact the Indian textile sector.

As mentioned, demand from western markets helped the Indian Textile sector stay afloat. Ind-Ra stated that due to strong export markets, the first quarter of the current financial year may not be a ‘lost quarter’ for the textile sector. Covid-19 and lockdown has also been a deep learning experience for the textile industry who responded with agility by working out adequate inventory and we believe will help the sector bounce back sooner than expected.

Recently, Lenzing announced its business results for first quarter. The group has seen good growth for its TENCEL lyocell and modal fibers as well as LENZING ECOVERO viscose fibers. The Indian region has been a key contributor to this.

The sector has also received promising support from the government through innovative schemes such as planned mega textile parks, giving it the necessary impetus to become competitive, attract large investments through the creation of world-class infrastructure.

Do you feel that the Indian textile industry has fared better than other regions in terms of business? If yes, why?

The Covid-19 pandemic also put a spotlight on the untapped textile potential of South Asian region. It has given an opportunity to countries like India, Bangladesh, Indonesia to become a potential global centre for textile and clothing exports. Availability of abundant and cheap labour, water and other raw materials for textile manufacturing processes, large production of cotton, nearness to growing markets have further helped this.

Covid-19 has given rise to a new type of consumer thus pushing products and services to recreate themselves. Do you believe this is true for textile ad apparels as well? Please elaborate.

The Covid-19 crisis gave rise to a more conscious consumer. There has been a significant change in consumer attitudes and shopping behaviour and most of these are expected to remain post-pandemic. The lockdown forced consumers to analyse their shopping habits, including cost consciousness, preference for local products, evaluating the impact of their purchases, which ultimately leads to making sustainable choices.

Consumer preferences sharply realigned away from lifestyle to health, hygiene and personal care. Value of hygiene increased significantly thus paving the way for products that promote hygiene thus assuring consumers with greater safety from the virus.

What is interesting to note that fibre features such as microbial resistance became a key focus for the textile manufacturers and brands. These were earlier considered as add-on features, the use of which was restricted to special segments like sportswear.

Apparel brands grew their portfolios to add masks as they became a staple product. Demand from the medical industry increased demand for non-woven textile significantly. These are key ingredients in creating masks, wipes and PPE kits. We foresee this demand to sustain in the near future and contribute to the sector.

Do you believe that technology will have a greater role within the textile industry in a post Covid-19 era?

We believe technology will play a key role in reviving, rejuvenating, and reinvigorating the Indian textile industry. Undoubtedly, technology’s support is vital to any sector but when it comes to textile, it becomes even more important.

Consumers are keen to know about the origin and journey of their products. This is driving up the demand for traceability by brands and consumers alike which is further driving the increasing use of AI and IoT within the sector. To address this demand Lenzing collaborated with TextileGenesis and introduced a brand-new blockchain-enabled supply chain traceability platform in 2020.

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Smart ideas for rocking crop tops

A plain crop top with a long skirt and a stole. This is how you can go out in the indo-ethnic appeal which is sure to be like no one else…writes Puja Gupta.

Some kinds of fashion continue for long periods. Crop tops are the trendsetters for the season because of their snug and voguish styles ruling the fashion market today. Women can try out this apparel in all styles for redefined comfort and style. Shivam Soni, CEO & Founder of Beyoung Folks Private Limited, suggests some ideas for rocking crop tops:

A Classy Makeover:

However cool and chic a woman may be, sometimes it is all about class. With a minimalist approach yet an overload of fashion, a crop top can be a classic attire to pick. Simply wear a bold colored crop top say red, yellow, or black with a palazzo and a stole if you like to carry.

For That Badass Look:

The first thought coming into mind while wearing a crop top is the party at night. So, you go girl! Wear a crop top with a tight skirt or shorts, let your hair loose with smokey eye makeup. This is how you end up fashionably slaying the party. Also, if you feel like it, then you can also put on a leather jacket.

For A Funky Comfy Addition:

A crop top is not just about fashion, but it is also about the level of comfort for a woman as she can feel airy and breezy, which is hard to come by in tight tank tops. Considering this, you can wear a crop top with a pleated skirt for a style statement. Walk on the floor like Rachel Green with a bun and fashion fun for getting compliments.

With Formals:

Your crop top can also be your accomplice for formals, if only you know how to wear it right. For instance, wear a pencil skirt with a plain crop top and button a blazer on it. it can be a quick and easy solution for getting the formal look effortlessly.

With Traditional:

A plain crop top with a long skirt and a stole. This is how you can go out in the indo-ethnic appeal which is sure to be like no one else. And a jhumka is a must to get your perfect party looks without any extravagant doings. Just pure fashion and pure tradition.

When Out Of Stock:

When you are unsure about to wear, whether it is for a party or just an evening walk, then comfort is what you must choose. The perfect synonym of comfort is crop tops for being both fine and cozy. There are certainly options of printed as well as plain crop tops.

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Professional Vs Fashionable

But this never stopped Justice KK Usha, the first Malayali female judge of the Kerala High Court and subsequently it’s Chief Justice from becoming a champion of women’s rights throughout her career…writes Sujata Assomull.

Law practicing is a classy profession for all, especially for women. Vidhi by Save The Loom, is a collection of saris made for female lawyers, whose strict dress code reflects how professional India still needs to become more female-friendly.

Claire Huxtable (‘The Cosby Show’), Helen Gamble (‘The Practice’) and ‘Ally McBeal’, were just some of television’s fictional legal women who were my style icons growing up. It was about more than their sharp sense of style; it was the fact they were fearless and stood out in a man’s world.

While their wardrobes were full of colour, in India, all lawyers are restricted to wearing black, white and grey. It’s a monochrome uniform that has pretty much been around since the days of the British Raj. The coat that lawyers need to wear over their own clothes, can mean wearing a sari feels cumbersome, especially in the Indian climate conditions. The history of the ‘Black Coat’ dates back to 1327 when King Edward III stipulated costumes for judges based on the “Dress Code” for attending the “Royal Court”.

But this never stopped Justice KK Usha, the first Malayali female judge of the Kerala High Court and subsequently its Chief Justice from becoming a champion of women’s rights throughout her career. She passed away at the age of 81 in October 2020. She wore her woven saris with her signature red bindi. “Vidhi by Save the Loom” is a range of saris made in handloom cotton for lawyers– Justice Usha inspired and initiated the idea.

These soft saris, fall perfectly without starching; they have a feel of fashion but look very professional. They are woven to ensure that female lawyers look cool as they battle it out in the courtroom. It took much time and research for these pieces to be designed and launched on May 4, 2021, which is the 116th birth anniversary of Justice Anna Chandy, the first female advocate in India.

“Save The Loom” is a social impact agency that has been working with weavers of Kerala ever since the floods of 2018 and was the brainchild of journalist and former consultant to the Fashion Design Council of India, Ramesh Menon. This collection may be designed for lawyers, but women with an appreciation for handlooms may want to add one of these saris to their collection. Menon tells more about this range of handloom saris:


I believe Justice KK Usha was the inspiration-she seems to have a trademark style with her large red bindi and silk saris

She had a motherly charm and energy, a vibrant and gracious personality, someone who spoke for women rights and for the underprivileged. Justice Usha during her long career and travels found a great love for crafts and handlooms and handed over many of those narratives to us during the many meetings. We unfortunately lost her last year in October, and Vidhi — our line of sarees and textiles was born as a tribute to her legacy and community work done by her in over six decades.

How has the response been from lawyers?

We spent a good six months last year talking to women lawyers across the country and analysed their feedback to develop a line. Once the first lot of designs were woven, we went to lawyers of all age groups — the seniors who revere the saree, and the young who have never woven, took their feedback, and incorporated that as well. The dress code is sacrosanct, even though there is a large debate on its relevance in its current form which has been a hand over from the British era.

Do you expect female lawyers from all regions of India to buy Vidhi?

We have ventured into a space that can provide regular work to weavers, not just within Kerala but elsewhere too. We are a small unit and are not geared to cater to a larger demand. We are hopeful that Vidhi can set out as a trend and the artisan community elsewhere can take off from there.

Would this sari work well for women in other professions too?

The premiere cotton sarees and fabric in yardage are not restricted to a profession, but rather it’s a ‘court appropriate attire’ if I may bracket it so. Anyone who loves to wear sarees or wishes to acquire the yardage will find it a luxury product. A continuity line with the same aesthetics but in ‘colour’ variants are in the pipeline as we have been receiving demands on that front as well.

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Books COVID-19 Fashion

Global battle reflects on fashion magazine covers

Baishali Chatterjee, ex-Managing Editor of Femina, India believes that magazines today are taking this “bold” step to cater to the changing perspective of the consumers…writes Puja Gupta.

The whole fashion world is stuck with Covid, but the efforts to boost it back are on the way by the people in the field. Glossy and glamorous — this is how we usually describe a fashion magazine cover that was until last year. Traditionally, a fashion magazine features a supermodel or a celebrity face — most often a Bollywood, Hollywood, or sports star dressed in sensational clothes, with hair and make-up on point.

But ever since the world was affected by the Covid-19 pandemic, things have changed. The global battle against the virus has been overwhelming mentally, physically, emotionally and has taken a toll on frontline workers in every nook and cranny. Popular magazines like Vogue, GQ, Cosmopolitan, Vanity Fair and Harper’s Bazaar among many, chose to the unconventional route — they became more inclusive with their covers and echoed the sentiments of the people.

Most recently, the cover of British Vogue’s July 2021 edition features Pakistani activist Malala Yousafzai. For the all red cover, the world’s youngest Nobel Prize laureate, Malala, is styled in a red shirt dress and headscarf by Stella McCartney.

“Fashion has long been a reflection of the times. Be in personal, political or economic,” says Nonita Kalra, former Editor of Harper’s Bazaar, India. Adding, “The pandemic has not just highlighted this, it has also brought into sharp focus the fact that all communication must be sensitive to the current environment.”

Here’s a look at all the covers we can’t get enough off, which are from tone deaf in these tough times:

In April 2020, Vogue Italia released a blank white cover that imD,,Nagined a life in a post pandemic world. Similarly, Vogue Portugal in the same month released a cover of two models kissing while wearing face masks to represent life in the times of social distancing.

In August 2020, all 26 editions of Vogue united to release the Hope Issue. Interpreted in their own way, it focused on the future of the world.

This month, Cosmopolitan India introduced ‘The Hope’ issue on Instagram, it features a series of six covers dedicated to real-life heroes who have shown tremendous courage and kindness during these difficult times.

Nandini Bhalla, Editor of Cosmopolitan, India tells: “Our decision to break the mould was driven by a need to amplify the real heroes around us: the ones who are making a difference, driving change, and inspiring millions of women and men. At its core, Cosmopolitan is a fashion, beauty, and lifestyle magazine for young women. But it has also always been a magazine that champions equality, courage, and kindness.”

She adds: “Last year has been devasating for many of us, and at this time, what we want to feel is a sense of hope. A light at the end of this dark tunnel. Cosmo India’s illustrated covers come with this message of hope… a reminder that there is goodness in the world, through these voices that help restore our faith in humanity.”

The six covers feature: India’s healthcare workers, Harteerath Singh from the Hemkunt Foundation who provided ‘oxygen langars’ and assistance to thousands of people, ASHA workers in rural India and good samaritans — from auto rickshaw drivers who converted their autos into makeshift ambulances, to police officers, teachers and animal-rights workers.

Baishali Chatterjee, ex-Managing Editor of Femina, India believes that magazines today are taking this “bold” step to cater to the changing perspective of the consumers.

She says: “When I was working in the magazine three years ago, Bollywood was still a big seller no matter what content we wanted to do. We had to cater to what our audiences wanted. But now, maybe the pandemic has shifted people’s perception, and made people realise that it’s the people who are actually making a difference. So people like Malala are finding themselves on the covers of magazines. And people are realising that their idols need to shift from just Bollywood and entertainment to the real people who are making a difference and saving people’s lives.”

Chatterjee adds: “I think that it is very brave for magazines to be taking the stand and showcasing this change. This speaks well of us as an audience. It’s like a vicious cycle of foresight, we create the kind of content that audiences want, and then audiences stream the kind of content that is given to them.”

Also, the whole digital revolution that print media has undergone gives the opportunity to play around and experiment. “You reach so many more people, your audience is far more diverse. One single outlet can have multiple covers in one month, unlike earlier when we had to close the magazine cover three three months in advance,” she says.

Asked if this is going to be the future, Kalra, who is currently serving as Editor-In-Chief, Tata CLiQ Luxury, answers: “Going forward, I think covers will have to be symbols of solidarity, messages of hope, and signals of optimism. Largely because the reader wants to be treated with sensitivity and intelligence.”

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Bollywood Fashion Lite Blogs

B-town stars with ‘twinning trends’

Priyanka wore the figure-flaunting dress worth Rs 4 lakh for her photoshoot as the cover face of fashion glossy Vogue Australia…writes Puja Gupta.

To pick the best costume or attire is a difficult task, not for the common people but for the celebs too. Celebs put in a lot of effort to finalise their look and deciding upon their OTT outfits. But there have been several instances when celebrities were spotted wearing the same outfit. The most recent one: Priyanka Chopra Jonas and Anne Hathway wore the same black bodycon by designer Alexandre Vauthier black for different photoshoots.

Priyanka wore the figure-flaunting dress worth Rs 4 lakh for her photoshoot as the cover face of fashion glossy Vogue Australia. The silk embellished-trim maxi silk dress had gem embellishment, slim cut, square neck, and spaghetti straps and is from the French label’s SS21 collection. On the other hand, Anne wore the dress for her shoot for CR Fashion Book China.

PeeCee’s look was also compared to one of Deepika Padukone’s old pictures in which she was wearing a black, floor-length Tom Ford gown. The comparison did not go well with Priyanka’s mother Madhu Chopra and lashed out at a media outlet who asked its followers on social media for which actress pulled off the black gown better. Madhu reacted to the tweet by writing, “Only a blind will think they are wearing same outfit. Besides Pri always carries Haute couture better.”

Actresses Alia Bhatt and Shraddha Kapoor were clicked by the paparazzi wearing the same Zimmerman dress. Shraddha styled the white and pink floral mini with plunging neckline and bell sleeves with a pair of off-white strappy heels and kept her makeup neutral and left her brunette mane down in soft waves.

Alia chose to do a bohemian braided hairdo that added extra oomph to her look. She then opted for glowy makeup while sticking to strappy heels and accessorised it with a cross-body sling.

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