The one common factor uniting stylish women we admire is this—in a sea of uniformity each of them has a unique identifier. Whether it’s sexing up the dress (like our April 2016 cover star does so seamlessly!) or mixing prints; favouring indie designers or playing with exaggerated silhouettes; opting for monochrome or investing in couture—Vogue singles out the defining quality of the country’s best dressed:
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Priyanka Chopra
Actor; Best For: Sexing Up The Dress
India’s greatest export has brought her exotic appeal to Hollywood’s biggest nights.
Label love: Zuhair Murad, Versace, Self-Portrait
Spring lust list: Denim separates from Ashish and luxe track pants from Chanel
Off-duty style: Sportswear—she’s most likely to be found in easy cargoes, sneakers and tees.
Image: Getty
Priyanka Chopra
Image: Getty
Priyanka Chopra
Image: Getty
Smita Khanna
Architect; Best For: Contemporary Chic
When it comes to her clothes and her designs, she stays true to a contemporary aesthetic.
Label love: “Junya Watanabe for redefining clothing and Erdem for keeping it ultra-feminine.”
Work basics: “MM6—clean, simple and with Margiela’s restrained funkiness.”
Ultimate fashion invention: “Brogues—comfortable and androgynous.”
Image: Montse Garriga
Kulsum Shadab
CEO, Hothur Charitable Trust; Director Indian Arab chamber of Commerce; Best For: Power Dressing
She revitalises 9-to-5 style with a leaning towards structure.
Style staples: “Leather jacket, Breton shirts and the ultimate feminine power-dressing tool—the skirt suit.”
Work basics: “Balmain, Brunello Cucinelli and Altuzarra jackets and suits, white shirts from Anne Fontaine, Equipment and Helmut Lang and Gianvito Rossi nude heels.”
Off-duty style: “Bright colours, combat boots and cross-body bags.”
Fashion obsession: “Hats! Berets, fedoras, wide-brims—from Regine Chevallier, Philip Treacy and Maison Michel.”
Image: Tiana Kamte
Kangana Ranaut
Actor; Best For: Experimentation
Bollywood’s most outspoken star never plays it safe.
Label love: The chameleon plays no favourites—from Burberry to Sabyasachi, she wears them all.
Style hits: Her mix of Dior and Amrapali, her take on secretary chic and polished airport style.
Travel look: Denim, statement sunglasses and a topknot.
Shoe obsession: Brogues in all colours.
Image: InDigital Media
Kangana Ranaut
Image: Getty
Kangana Ranaut
Image: Viral Bhayani
Sanaya Vyas
Creative Head, The Space at 9/2 and Finefttele.in
The Kolkata resident ticks all the boxes of a fashion classicist.
Style hashtag: #awhiteshirtisalwaysagoodidea
Style staples: “A bohemian neckpiece in jadau or silver, a shirt or trench dress.”
Off-duty style: “Separates from Isabel Marant, Divya Sheth and Acne Studios.”
Image: Samir Rana
Bhawna Sharma
Model; Best For: Casual Cool
Anti-fit is the fit of choice for the runway star who prefers comfort over trends.
Style staples: “Korra straight-fit blue jeans, Zara white shirt, Anamika Khanna long black dress.”
Style investment: “Givenchy tote.”
Fashion destination: “The boutiques in the Marais in Paris and Oxford Street in London.”
Recent purchase: “A Comme des Garçons bag.
Image: Samir Rana
Isha Ambani
Director, Reliance Infocomm and Reliance Retail Ventures; Best For: Soft Femininity
For a corporate heiress, the elusive Ambani daughter is surprisingly girly.
Label love: Anamika Khanna, Alexander McQueen and Azzedine Alaïa.
Style staples: Easy shirt dresses and classic-cut blouses.
Wardrobe stars: Mother-daughter share a shoe size, often swapping their favourite Christian Louboutin, Manolo Blahnik and Jimmy Choo pairs.
Image: Fotocorp
Isha Ambani
Image: Viral Bhayani
Haseena Jethmalani
Designer; Best For: Ladylike Versatility
This mother of three is as much at ease in Chanel as she is in eclectic Indian weaves.
Fashion destinations: “Vintage flea markets in Europe.”
Ultimate fashion invention: “Hollywood tape.”
Wardrobe staples: “Blue jeans, white shirt and black blazer.”
Style investment: “Vintage Indian saris that I am passing on to the next generation.”
Image: Viral Bhayani
Gayatri Bhatia
Features Director, Deccan Chronicle; Best For: Modern Ethnic
The newly-wed is putting her own spin on the journalist dress code with Abraham & Thakore’s polished dresses and Nachiket Barve’s minimal kurtas.
Label love: “Anushree Reddy, Shivan & Narresh, Rahul Mishra, Hemant & Nandita, Diane von Furstenberg.”
Style staples: “Bright lipsticks, distressed jeans and my engagement ring.”
Off-duty style: “Distressed jeans with floaty blouses or off-shoulder tops.”
Inspiration: “My mother Manju Reddy who is effortlessly elegant and my dad Ram Reddy. There is nothing boring about his wardrobe, even his collection of socks!”
Image: Viral Bhayani
Shalini Nopany
Co-founder, Lansdowne; Best For: Re-imagining Tradition
This Kolkata-based mother of two is also a photographer and entrepreneur.
Inspiration: “Coco Chanel. It’s mind-blowing to see how her legacy has evolved.”
Talent spotting: “I am always on the lookout for young designers with edgy sensibilities. I have a particular soft spot for designers from Kolkata.”
Natasha Poonawalla
Director, Serum Institute of India; Best For: High-octane Glamour
The second-time mum didn’t let her recent pregnancy slow down her fashion game.
Label love: Balmain, Moschino, Pucci, Christopher Kane, Dior, Manish Malhotra.
Style hashtag: #goglamorgohome
Pregnancy style: No maternity dresses here! Pleated minis, knee-high lace-ups, and stilettos saw her through the trimesters.
Image: Viral Bhayani
Natasha Poonawalla
Image: Fotocorp
Kiran Rao
Producer and Director; Best For: Indie Choices
This star wife is the perfect muse for the new wave of young Indian designers.
Label love: Bodice, Eka, Péro, Anavila, Lovebirds, Rashmi Varma, Raw Mango
Style hashtag: #indiecool.
Signature accessory: Quirky eyewear.
Off-duty style: Backpacks and brogues.
Fashion no-no: Stilettos.
Destination: Vintage and thrift stores in London, New York and Berlin.
Image: Viral Bhayani
Kiran Rao
Image: Viral Bhayani
Pernia Qureshi
Entrepreneur, actor and dancer; Best For: 24/7 Glamour
She has a wardrobe to match her multifaceted life.
Red carpet go-to: “Namrata Joshipura for her variety, and Gaurav Gupta for dramatic silhouettes.”
Summer must-have: “The entire Proenza Schouler collection. I love those pretty, dreamy clothes.”
Online haunt: “Victoriassecret.com”
Style hashtag: #classicwithatwist
Beauty secret: “Concealer. It’s my saving grace.”
Image: Gulshan Sachdeva
Pernia Qureshi
Image: Samir Rana
Anupama Sukh Lalvani
Founder and Director, En Inde; Best For: Monochrome
In her signature off-duty look of ripped jeans and white shirts, this fashion entrepreneur describes her style as part Dolce Vita, part boyish punk.
Label love: “Alexander Wang, Celine, The Row.”
Style staples: “En Inde shell bangles, sunglasses and stacked heels.”
Inspiration: “Phoebe Philo and Yoko Ono.”
Image: Hormis Antony Tharakan
Cecile D’ascoli
Designer; Best For: Breezy Layers
You’ll find her at vintage stores or raiding textile designer husband Peter’s collection of prints.
Style staples: “Kaftans and khadi separates for summer, and jamewar shawls for winter.”
Signature scent: “L’Artisan Parfumeur.”
Fashion obsession: “A mad mix of prints that some might think clash!”
Wardrobe star: “Collection of Hermès scarves from my mother.”
Latest purchase: “Another pair of ‘Salomé’ ballet flats from Repetto.”
Image: Sagar Ahuja
Indrani Dasgupta
Model; Best For: Streamlined Sophistication
With her beauty, it’s little wonder that she keeps her look simple.
Label love: “Sabyasachi and Issey Miyake.”
Fashion inspiration: “Coco Chanel, my husband’s wardrobe, street style.”
Signature accessory: “My Rolex and Tag Heuer watches.”
Mira Rajput
Homemaker; Best For: Ladylike Grace
You have to give her credit—Shahid Kapoor’s wife has burst onto the scene in the most stylish way possible.
Label love: Self-Portrait, Arpita Mehta, Anita Dongre, Nikasha.
Stand-out look: Old-world glamour in a sheer sari.
Beauty basics: Dewy skin and pink lips.
Style hashtag: #modernelegance
Image: Viral Bhayani
Mira Rajput
Image: Viral Bhayani
Mira Kulkarni
Founder, Forest Essentials; Best For: Timeless Elegance
It’s no surprise that this ageless beauty cites Maharani Gayatri Devi as her inspiration.
Label love: “Raw Mango for saris and Muzaffar Ali for summer kurtas.”
Style staples: “Mostly linens in white, beige or khaki, and fi ne cotton for both on- and off -duty dressing.”
Signature fragrance: “Rive Gauche by Yves Saint Laurent.”
Style investment: “My Hermès tote bag, which was an impulse buy.”
Signature accessory: “Rose gold Cartier watch.”
Dipali Goenka
CEO & Joint Managing Director, Welspun India Ltd; Best For: Corporate Chic
The mother of two and high-powered entrepreneur favours tailored pieces.
Shopping destinations: “Saks New York, Barneys New York and Harvey Nichols London.”
Ultimate fashion invention: “Issey Miyake shirts and YSL Tribute shoes.”
Label love: “Chanel, Givenchy, Rohit Bal and Stella McCartney.”
Image: Kedar Nene
Aditi Rao Hydari
Actor; Best For: Exaggerated Silhouettes
She is slaying red carpet competition with her fairy-tale fitness and always-dewy skin.
Red carpet rule: “To look effortless, be yourself and feel good.”
Go-to designers: “Gaurav Gupta and Anand Kabra.”
Style staples: “Glowing skin, clothes that fi well, and comfortable shoes.”
Ultimate fashion invention: “Double-sided tape!”
Image: Viral Bhayani
Anjali Mody
Furniture and interior designer; Best For: Handwoven Separates
We’re anticipating a boho twist at this carefree beauty’s upcoming wedding.
Label love: “Self-Portrait.”
Work basics: “Comfortable trousers or bright maxi dresses and a large bag.”
Inspiration: “Kelly Wearstler for classic comfort”
Style investment: “A Shanghai Tang leather jacket.”
Image: Samir Rana
Shriya Bhupal
Designer; Best For: Flirty Dresses
It was her time at Parsons New School of Design that revolutionised this Hyderabad designer’s idea of fashion.
Style staples: “Helmut Lang leather trousers, Shriya Som fringe cape and Manolo Blahnik pumps.”
Off-duty style: “Azzedine Alaïa dresses.”
Signature accessory: “Stacking Cartier bracelets and Hermès cuffs.”
Image: Samir Rana
Maithili Ahluwalia
Owner, Bungalow 8; Best For: Mixing Prints
The eclectic boutique owner has mastered the art of mixing vintage finds with contemporary basics.
Work basics: “Unstructured trousers and jumpsuits, androgynous shirts and floaty dresses from our label, paired with a piece of vintage jewellery.”
Signature accessory: “A bold lip and my old-school Dior shades.”
Wardrobe valuables: “Hand-me-downs from my grandmother, like a 1940s Piaget watch, 1960s Paco Rabanne bag and a South Indian temple necklace.”
Image: Samir Rana
Sridevi
Actor; Best For: Red Carpet Grace
The on-screen goddess maintains her off-duty glamour with the help of an enviable wardrobe.
Label love: Hermès, Gucci, Theory, Balmain, Sabyasachi.
Style staples: Manish Malhotra saris and well-fitted trousers.
Beauty basics: Fresh skin and stylish updos.
Image: Fotocorp
Isheta Salgaocar
Programs advisor, Sunaparanta Goa Centre for the Arts and Editor-At-Large Huffington Post India; Best For: Printed Dresses
The revival of the sneaker has changed this Ambani heiress’s life.
Heirloom: “My grandmother’s chikankari sari by Abu Jani Sandeep Khosla.”
Beauty basics: “Benefit lip tint, Chantecaille Le Camoufl age Stylo, and a hair-tie.”
Style hashtag: #classicwithatwist
Style staples: “Black dresses by Carven, Roland Mouret and Helmut Lang, bespoke white shirts, and statement shoes by Miu Miu, Aquazzura and Charlotte Olympia.”
Image: Andrew Pegado
Dia Mehta Bhupal
Photographer; Best For: Couture Buys
Work keeps this mother of two in sneakers and T-shirts, and play in Valentino Couture.
Label love: “3.1 Phillip Lim, Alexander Wang, Hermès.”
Signature accessory: “My Leica camera.” Style staples: “Backpack, boyfriend T-shirts and stilettos.”
Style hashtag: #gypset Fashion destination: “Boutiques in Los Angeles.”
Image: Samir Rana
Shaana Levy-Bahl
Producer and Creative Consultant; Best for: Ethnic twists
If that sunny smile doesn’t catch your eye, her feminine style will.
Label love: “Stella McCartney—I love her ethos, her clothes and accessories—and Sabyasachi, Anamika Khanna and Ali Xeeshan, my new find in Pakistan.”
Style hashtag: #kohlapuriswitheverything
Instagram inspiration: @annadellorusso, @whowhatwear, @oliviapalermo.
Fashion obsession: “Swiss handmade, one-of-a-kind jewellery by Ernst Loosli.”
Image: Samir Rana
Shalini Bhupal
Executive Director, Taj and GVK Hotels and Resorts; Best For: Vintage Touches
She mixes up luxurious weaves from Garhwal and of-the-moment Prada creepers with the ultimate ease.
Work basics: “Tailored separates and a statement neckpiece.”
Off-duty style: “Anything monochrome. White tailored blouses from Rag & Bone; Derek Lam for trousers; Roland Mouret, Prabal Gurung and Shriya Som for the evenings.”
Wardrobe star: “Shoes from Dolce & Gabbana and Prada.”
Image: Samir Rana
Kareena Kapoor Khan
Actor; Best For: Regal Elegance
In a sartorial turn of events, the star is now more sophisticated, less siren.
Label love: Nina Ricci, Diane von Furstenberg, Issa, Roberto Cavalli, Sabyasachi, Manish Malhotra.
Style standouts: Dev R Nil sari with a Christian Lacroix jacket and silver Amrapali necklace, floral Osman dress, brocade Payal Khandwala kurta and skirt with a Suhani Pittie necklace Travel style: Sweatshirt, jeans and boots.
Beauty trademark: Kohl-lined eyes and glowing skin.
Image: Viral Bhayani
Kareena Kapoor Khan
Image: Viral Bhayani
Kajol
Actor; Best For: Sexing Up The Sari
She’s had her share of misses, but of late the actor is lighting up the red carpet as she does the screen.
Label love: Manish Malhotra, Sabyasachi, Bungalow 8, Rohit Gandhi + Rahul Khanna, Pankaj & Nidhi .
Red carpet rule: “Comfort, confidence and a great smile.” Inspiration: “I dress according to my mood. Even what I am reading can inspire me–Harry Potter will make me feel like wearing a cape; if it’s Hunger Games you will see bow and arrow motifs on me!”
Style signature: “Simple clothes with quirky accessories and minimal make-up.”
Image: Getty
Lisa Haydon
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