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STAYING STYLISH
From perfect red carpet looks to breaking the internet, stylists play an integral part in celebrity styling. HT City finds out what you need to be a stylist in Bollywood
Arecent post read ‘Keep calm and call a stylist’. This statement holds true today when social media plays ‘fashion police’, and for every look a celebrity sports, there is a meme waiting for them. While stars face the wrath, it also becomes a challenge for their respective stylists to safeguard their clients from becoming fodder for critics.
“You can’t take these things seriously. We are here to do our job, and have fun while we are doing it. People have started taking fashion or a certain look very seriously, like, ‘Oh my God, why is her hair not perfect’. It’s all about having fun, and fashion is fun. People will comment. You need to take criticism in a positive way and move on, or else you won’t be able to work in the industry,” says stylist Aastha Sharma.
On the other hand, social media is all about instant gratification and information. “When we see a post of a celeb wearing a certain outfit, we all want to know who they are wearing, and who helped them put the look together. So, I have to say that social media has definitely helped give stylists a platform to get their work out there,” says fashion stylist Sanjana Batra.
A STYLISH JOB?
According to celebrity stylist Rupa Chourasia, main point to keep in mind is that all the glamour that you see on the screen or on social media demands a lot of hard work. So, if being a stylist is what you want to do, be ready to be on your toes. It is important to love what you do, but you must also be resourceful, because the job demands it.
Today, there are multiple courses in reputed colleges in India and abroad that have dedicated courses in styling. Sharma, who did her masters in fashion, shares that she learnt styling on-the-job. “What I studied was more about business in fashion. It did help me a lot. But today, you have colleges such that have styling courses. I learnt it on the job,” says Sharma.
Making someone look good is just one part of a stylist’s job. It goes much beyond that. “That’s one of the reasons why a stylist is as much an image manager as a sartorial specialist. It can be challenging. Right from sourcing the appropriate garment or accessories to making sure the look is comfortable, the challenges are as diverse as the timelines,” says celebrity stylist Maneka Harisinghani.
BOLLYWOOD CALLING
For some, a fashion or celeb stylist may be just a mediator between a fashion designer and the celebrity, but for some they are the fairy godmother they never had. “I think the emphasis on fashion and personal style in Bollywood has increased significantly in the past five years,” says Batra.
Be it film promotions, public events or an international film festivals, celebrity styling has gained recognition in all these sections. “The role of a stylist continues to evolve with every passing year. The volume of public events, press interactions and movie promotions we have today make it essential for every actor to have a personal stylist who will help them curate looks and bring out their personal style,” says Batra.