Dear films on fashion: Where’s the sweat?

The trending show The Bold Type provokes resentment and recoil

RBy Eshaa Amiin

ecently, I binge-watched Netflix’s The Bold Type, about three girls in the fashion and glamour industry. Everybody loves glamour and at certain instances I could relate to Sutton Brady, the stylist played by Meghann Alexandra Fahy – aside from her OTT work attire and the fashion closet at the magazine she works with, which Sutton and her friends are free to raid for designer pieces for work and personal outings post that.

That is so not reality

Certain scenes in the show resonate with me. The way Sutton handles blunders, bad decisions and temperamental clients reminds me of how crazy and overwhelming the behind the scenes work can get. But there’s a huge difference between reel and real life and The Bold Type, although meant to show what goes on at any fashion magazine, is not real.

The silliest thing I have seen in any fictional work based on stylists is that they all over-glamourise the images of people in the industry. If you were to believe what you saw on screen, you would think being a stylist would be effortless. But that is far from true.

Stylists in movies and shows wear expensive designer brands, live and work in luxury, rub shoulders with celebs, attend red carpet events and parties. But ‘all that glitters is not gold’ stands true. Many Indian stylists agree.

Vox populi!

SHIRAZ SIDDIQUE (stylist to Varun Dhawan): The on-screen life of fashion stylists does not reflect the reality. We don’t just sit in fancy offices — the practical and functional aspects are never accurate.

ISHA BHANSALI (stylist to Ayushmann Khurrana): It looks glamorous as it’s our job to make artists look like a million bucks. But it’s crazy hard work, chasing people and dealing with last minute changes. AKSHAY TYAGI (stylist to Hrithik Roshan): I hate how shows and films don’t show the hustle.

ROCKY S (designer and film stylist): The industry is glitzy, but works just like a business. NACHIKET BARVE (designer & film stylist): The way shows like this feature stylists running around in vertiginous heels and impeccable blow drys is frivolous. Most stylists are in sneakers.

NITASHA GAURAV (stylist to Ranveer Singh): What most movies get wrong is the prep that goes into styling shoots and celebs. NEETA LULLA (designer and film stylist): Fiction includes perception and experience. An over-the-top aspect may be added to create drama. brunchletters@hindustantimes.com Follow @Htbrunch on Twitter and Instagram Eshaa is a Bollywood celebrity stylist, fashion director, wardrobe and wedding stylist, who has styled Ishaan Khatter and Karisma Kapoor amongst others

mumbaipolice A special message for 4:20 #Hoshmeinaao

IBy Karishma Kuenzang

f you follow social media handles for information with humour, then the official Twitter and Instagram handles of Mumbai Police should be on your list. Take this post from April 20: the meme where they asked people to celebrate 4/20 by waking and baking a cake, not by getting baked. With more than 1m likes, the post is a classic example of how to enforce laws with humour.

Meme central

“Getting baked” is what you call a cannabis high, and the meme spreading awareness against drug abuse went viral. Since their debut on Instagram in April 2020 and on Twitter years earlier, they’ve put out plenty of witty, punny memes to raise awareness on laws.

But who’s the brain behind this creativity? A team helmed by Suchika Pandey, founder mumbaipolice Shoes are fine, but it’s a ‘sin’ to forget your mask behind, Cinderella.

and CEO, HAT Media, which took over the in 2015. But, most suggestions come from the police themselves! The first #Hoshmeinaao post about drug abuse awareness – “If you roll, we’ll weed you out” – was suggested by the then police commissioner, Ahmed Javed. “I ‘m proud to be associated with a hard working, creative and dedicated bunch that has arguably done quite a bit for the image of Mumbai Police and our bond with the city and its people,” says S Chaitanya, DCP Operations, Mumbai Police. “They are witty and give us great suggestions. The cops told us 420 was coming up. Young officers know all the current trends and lingo,” Suchika adds. A witty reply to the guy asking if he could meet his girlfriend was by a constable. They also have a Whatsapp group to brainstorm.

Fans galore

mumbaipolice An insight that has been passed down for generation - wear a helmet for your protection.

(Top) S Chaitanya,

DCP Operations, Says Mumbai-based stand-up comic Mumbai Police, and

Abbas Momin: “Knowing this is (above) Ahmed Javed, former Mumbai Police not a robotic interaction gives the Commissioner establishment some humanity.” Mumbai baker Anandita De says, “Because the content is so catchy, it’s reposted and retweeted, increasing awareness.” She feels secure knowing that the cops are active online as they’ll respond quickly.

karishma.kuenzang@hindustantimes.com Follow @kkuenzang on Twitter and Instagram

Who should be the next HT Brunch Social Media Star Of The Week? Nominate using the hashtag #Brunchsocialmediastarotw or email htbrunch@hindustantimes.com

OUT OF THE BOX The viral Instagram meme from April 20 (extreme left), and others that the handle puts out, doling out advice with a sense of humour

“THE CONTENT [ON THE MUMBAI POLICE SOCIAL HANDLES] IS SO CATCHY, IT IS REPOSTED AND RETWEETED, INCREASING AWARENESS” —ANANDITA DE, BAKER AND MUMBAI RESIDENT