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A star is a trendsetter. He or she breaks a path and hundreds of fans follow suit. Let's do a quick flashback. Remember Rajesh Khanna’s guru shirts? A short kurta with a stand-up collar? In the seventies’, every tailor worth his salt was stitching guru shirts by the dozens. Not just for the front benchers of cinema theatres but also for the hoi-polloi.

Next: Remember Sadhana and her famous Sadhana cut, the hair flopping over the forehead in a sexy fringe? Even now small town beauty parlors in India are besieged with requests for “Sadhana Cuts”.

More recent is the example of Madhuri Dixit and the purple and gold extravaganza that she wore while singing “ Didi tera devar Deewana” in Hum Aapke Hain Kaun. To date, years after its release, Indianised Barbie dolls are still being made to wear miniature versions of the saree. In short, star fashions become trendsetters. Whether it is Madhuri Dixit's cholis, Kajol's Kuch Kuch Hota Hai bustier and Jackie Shroff's bandhni shirts, each of them has contributed to contemporary fashion, though not always in the positive sense!

We choose a few hot stars to talk about their styles and their designers. Our criteria? Someone who turns heads and who is as comfortable in their clothes as in their skins!

Aishwarya Rai

She defines 'perfect beauty' for men from 8 to 80 years. From her
skin-tight skirts in Aur Pyaar Ho Gaya to her even tighter kurtas in Taal - Ash is known for her 'dignified' style of dressing, on and off the screen. She prefers dressing down. When she isn't all dressed up in chiffons, dancing around the trees, then, she's happiest in jeans and a shirt.

Designer Statement:

Neeta Lulla: "She looks cool in anything, from baggy overalls to slinky gowns. But Aishwarya prefers the more sedate look, a little sophisticated one, when she is not acting. Her personal style is very subdued."

In her own words:

Style Statement: "It's simplicity and elegance. I was always easy about dressing. Comfort is the main criterion. My clothes are never extravagant. I like to believe I'm multi-faceted and each outfit at each place has to reflect a different aspect. I like a very minimalist look, with minimum accessories. My favourite colours are white, red and blue."

Favorite Designers

Neeta Lulla. "Neeta makes me look good, always! I like her Indian clothes --- very ethnic and at the same time, very glamorous. Her chaniya cholis and her sari blouses always make me drool." Shahab Durazi: "For his perfect cuts and fittings. Shahab's western outfits makes me feel like a modern day princess, it fits so well. I particularly like his Indo-Western outfits where he has combined his minimalist kurtas with beautiful pants."


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