100 years of Indian cinema. 100 years of heroes chasing heroines to win their hand in marriage. The Fashion Orientalist breaks down four different typical Bollywood looks for you to try.
Modest beauty
The modest beauty is often portrayed in films as the traditional type. She is respectful, polite, smart and witty with a childlike innocence and wisdom beyond her years. To recreate the look it is best to go for a (cotton) Salwaar Kameez with fitted top and baggy trousers. There are many ways to drape the dupatta (scarf): tie it loosely around your neck and throw both ends over your shoulders or drape it over one shoulder and tie both ends together cross body. Finish the look off with simple ballerina shoes and tie up your hair into a ponytail or create a long braid. Keep your make up simple. Create a natural beauty look by opting for soft pinks, peaches and brown tones for the eyes combined with a simple nude lip color. Choose one or two pieces of jewelry, a set of simple bangles and chunky earrings should work magic.
Movie: Priyanka Chopra plays different characters in Teri Meri Kahaani, one of which is a modest beauty , it also stars handsome actor Shahid Kapoor.
Dance Diva
Bollywood is popular for the perfectly choreographed dance scenes. You need to be careful with this look as you do not want to take example from Bollywood’s item girls. As appealing as they look most ‘item songs’ are danced by attractive actresses who (often) portray a lady of the night.
In the more respectable dancing scenes actresses are flirty, sexy, confident and in control. Go for a colorful lehenga choli with a mid-riff bearing top and full length skirt. Tie the dupatta cross body so you can dance freely and opt for fabrics you can move easily in. Heavily embroidered skirts might weigh you down when strutting your stuff on the dance floor. Either tie your hair up or let it loose. Go for comfortable flats or sandals with a short heel. Keep your jewelry light and go for modern pieces. When it comes to make-up go for a glamour look and dare to experiment with color.
Movie: Deepika Padukone shows off her dance moves in Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani alongside Ranbir Kapoor.
Glamorous Screen Siren
The glamorous screen siren is a confident woman who knows what she wants, a sight for sore eyes who makes heads turn. The type all women want to be and all men want to be with. Kareena Kapoor is the perfect embodiment of a screen siren. Get her look by going for a stylish sari with an embroidered border a la Manish Malhotra or Sabyasachi. Beautifully embroidered classic gowns with a touch of silver or gold also fit the part. Go for a bold or dark lip color combined with simple eyes or go for a smokey eye look with nude lips. Tie your hair up in an elegant knot or create extra volume for a sultry loose hair look. Get your expensive high heels out and wear your most expensive set of jewels. It is your time to shine!
Movie: Kareena Kapoor plays the role of a famous Bollywood star in the film Herione alongside actor Arjun Rampal.
Blushing Bride
Bollywood weddings are extravagant and colorful. In an awful lot of Bollywood films the bride is not happy during the engagement or right before the wedding and secretly dreams of another man than her soon to be husband. Most of the times her real lover is at that same wedding, stunned by her beauty and eager to take the bride away from her luxurious wedding. The bridal look: beautiful henna decorations on hands and feet. Heavy ethnic jewelry with gems, stones or diamonds, heavy make-up, regal updo (hair). The bridal gown is a heavily embroidered lehenga choli finished off with designer heels. One tip: avoid the melodrama and go for the right man to marry when sporting this look.
Movie: Katrina Kaif wears a stunning wedding gown in Singh is King, a comedy starring Akshay Kumar.
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