One look at squash champion, Dipika Pallikal and it is easy to understand why she is considered one of the most stylish athletes in India. At only eighteen not only has she won several international squash tournaments but is also considered a style icon. However this rising star doesn't take her style too seriously. “I think style differs from person to person. I never follow fashion trends too closely. For me comfort comes first”.
Changing times
Commenting on the state of the sports, she feels that there has been a paradigm change in the way athletes are looked upon by the general public. “Today the world of sports is definitely more glamourous than it used to be, especially in India. But I believe that a glamourised athlete is good for any sport, because it brings that particular sport under the spotlight and gives it more prominence,” she muses.
Coming back to the topic of style Dipika says that style is not so much about the clothes that a person wears but rather about the person wearing the clothes. “As long as you are comfortable in your skin, you will be able to carry off just about anything. If you are confident and comfortable then you will naturally make a style statement.”
As for her own personal style, Dipika says that it is based on comfort. “Usually for a night out with my friends I slip on a pair of jeans and a T-shirt. I add a little extra “oomph” by wearing a really nice pair of stilettos. But if it is a special function or occasion I go all out and wear a nice dress and again my ensemble is completed by a pair of stilettos”
Travelling
Splitting her time between England and India, she says that she buys clothes according to the season. “It is really cold this time of the year in England and therefore I just went shopping for the fall season. I bought boots and coats and other accessories perfect for fall. For spring, I usually stack my wardrobe up with vibrant colours to celebrate the season.”
As far as makeup is concerned, Dipika asserts that less is more. Kajal and some lip balm and I am good to go anywhere,” she says. As far as a beauty regime is concerned she says that her practice schedule doesn't leave her with much time for anything too indulgent. “While in England, I usually only get my nails done but when I am in India, I come here (Naturals Spa) and get my hair massaged and love the feeling of being pampered.”
But at the end of the day, Dipika says that squash is her only priority. “I don't think I would care if I had a particularly bad hair day but I would be very upset if I had a bad game. I have realised that if you are marketed well based on your looks you get some endorsements and attention but everything eventually comes down to your talent. Because how you are at what you do speaks volumes more than how you look and what you wear and it is what gets you places”.
Aishhwariya is a Final Year student of MMC at Symbiosis Institute of Media and Communication.
