Designer Nandita Mahtani makes a case for glamazon sexy while style maven Roohi Jaikishan roots for cerebral sexiness...
The fashion set loves tags. On one end of the style spectrum, there’s the quintessential glamazon aesthetic, which can never look dated and on another hand, one sees the evolution of the magpie, who’s glamourous no doubt, but always stands out thanks to her unique take on sexiness. Labels like Balmain, Versace, Mugler, David Koma, Julien Macdonalds, Monisha Jaising, Falguni & Shane Peacock and Nandita Mahtani have saluted the classic glamazon season after season. She’s someone who loves her bling, remains unapologetic about her body-con style and dangerously high hemlines. On the other hand, there is an exciting place in fashion, which is nerdy, fun, playful and cerebral at the same time. Think Gucci, Erdem, Eka, Pero and Celine. Perhaps she’s a poet, who enjoys the charming chaos of sequins, doesn’t shy away from oversized eyewear and to her sexy isn’t always about showing a thigh-high slit. Since both aesthetics have their own significance in the fashion history and one can’t decimate their roles in shaping up our collective canvas of sensibilities, we get two arbiters to indulge in a fun debate, arguing the two affable and distinctive styles of dressing...
Glamazon sexy
Nandita Mahtani
I like bling but in a way that’s aesthetically done and not loud and in-your-face. I have always been drawn to embroideries. You feel beautiful when you have a beautifully, handcrafted creation on you. It makes you feel glamourous and you ready for the party. As a designer, a plain garment doesn’t do justice to my aesthetic and my client expect heavy embroidery which could be either on the border or on the neckline. My idea of glamour is about the sun-kissed tan and gorgeous women. I make them feel sexy in my creations. From Gisele Bundchen to Jennifer Lopez to Kate Moss; several generations of women have epitomised glamazon sexy. I often get inspired by beach parties. There’s always a hint of Miami in my moodboard.
Glamazon sexy can never go out of style and will always be significant. Why can’t glamourous women be thinkers too? There are a lot of super hot, glam women who have it all. It’s a full package. Being an intellectual doesn’t necessarily mean mean you need to be dressed conservatively. Sari itself is so glamourous. It can compete with any gown in the world. Sari is something in which you can see a woman’s figure. A low-waist lehenga teamed with a tiny blouse is super sexy. Whether it’s streets or red carpet, you can be glamourous without showing skin. Glamour isn’t about flashing skin.
When I think of glamazon sexy, I can’t help but think of labels like Balmain and Roberto Cavalli. However, my personal favourite is Saint Luarent which is primarily black. I love Anthony Vaccarello and I have always been biased towards YSL. I even like Hedi Slimane’s work at the French label. I just bought a suede skirt from it and it makes you feel so good.
I’d like to underscore that being glamourous isn’t totally dressed up or a blinged out look. You can look glam even in a pair of jeans and a T-shirt with trainers. It has to be you. As much as I like glamazon sexy, once in a way, it’s good to change your look, if you are experimental enough.
Cerebral sexy
Roohi Jaikishan
It’s all about reusing, reducing and recycling. Clothes should be used as resources and not just ‘waste’. More part of a circular economy where you close the loop, so to speak. It means we should wear our clothes longer. To wear fashion from the companies that adhere to these practices is heartening. As a buyer and consumer, it’s important to support and wear brands that adhere to sustainability. Sustainable and recycled clothing can be extremely wearable. The H&M Conscious collection is a testament to how aesthetics and fashion meet. A part of the Erdem collection was made from sustainable materials.
Gucci has been extremely forthcoming with Kering’s sustainability framework. It has joined the fur-free alliance, committing to reducing environmental impact, supporting and ensuring traceability of 95 per cent of its raw materials.
Sustainable and recycled clothing can be as beautiful and extremely wearable. Designers are creative and curious beings and it’s up to the companies, who have the resources to support such practices. Our oceans are ridden with billions of tonnes of plastic. There are companies that are driving innovation to create polymers into threads that can be used in lycra and fabrics.
The way we look at fashion has to change. Alessandro Michele is more or less the Godfather of newage Maximalism, it’s refreshing to have no rules, Gucci, Prada and Missoni print on print craziness is allowable.
Salma Hayek embodies brains with beauty. Icons like Florence Welch, Mickey Boardman, editor, Paper Magazine, Natalia Vodianova,Shweta Nanda, Chikki Sarkar, Shah Rukh Khan, Twinkle Khanna and Shruti Malhotra are the metaphors for cerebral sexiness.
Inclusivity is the key word — be it shape, size and gender. Clothes are an expression of yourself. I believe you should wear whatever you choose to. There is nothing more sexy or fabulous than being you.
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