Susanna Myrtle Lazarus
There’s a lot to learn from Neha Dhupia when it comes to couture. Plunging necklines, asymmetrical silhouettes, vibrant colours, casual chic, monotone, uber traditional, androgynous: she has carried off all these looks and more. Her wardrobe is fascinating and she manages to stand out for her sartorial choices, be it on the red carpet or the sets.
But in the summer, it’s all about the basics, she says. “I love whites — an oversized white shirt and blue jeans are my favourite easy look. I keep my make-up minimal and make sure I’ve got a good pair of sunglasses. Keep it simple.”
Dhupia also has an eye for the eclectic, and has sported several lesser-known, quirky and interesting designers over the years. As the days turn longer and the temperature soars, she picks three designers who are keeping her cool in their latest collections.
Lovebirds
Lovebirds was started by Amrita Khanna as a vintage store where she collected and curated clothes from all over Europe. When Gursi Singh met her, they started a collection together about three years back.
Singh says that their collections are for women who “prefer efficient clothing and want to refute the idea of girly, fitted clothing.” Their pastel and colour-blocked summer line is a fine mix of these two ideals. “The outfits are functional, and go from day to evening wear with ease. About 80% of our collection is cotton, and we use a cellulose-based fabric called Tencel as well,” he says. The most popular are the asymmetrical shift dresses, long dresses with gathers at the waist and a cotton suit with wide pants and a belt on top of the jacket.
Dhupia’s travelling and adventurous side best reflects Lovebirds’ ethos, says Singh. “She’s a free-spirited, carefree sort of a personality. She’s full of life and that’s what goes with us as a brand.”
Chola by Sohaya
Sohaya Misra has styled Dhupia for over nine years now, and last year, launched her own label. The summer collection was inspired by the organic cotton fabric she had found. “I was looking to jazz it up and make it more fun. While flipping through a book, I came across a picture of a fabulously dressed Victorian woman, with organza and net frills down her neck. I wanted to mix the organic feel of the cotton with the drama of the frills,” explains Misra. These statement accents feature on shirts, dresses, jumpsuits, jackets and shirts in white, black, deep blue and burgundy, with stripes and quirky prints as well. She describes Dhupia as “unapologetic, unafraid and bold”. “She is pretty much the kind of woman I design clothes for. She has the spark and personality and chutzpah, and I love dressing her up and bullying her into wearing my clothes as much as possible!”
Bodice
Ruchika Sachdeva founded her brand in 2011, after graduating from the London College of Fashion and believes in clothing based on the foundation of longevity and simplicity.
This is reflected in the summer collection, which showcases the seasonal staple, white. “We don’t really follow trends, but this colour is timeless, which led us to include it. We also have a lot of airy, light cottons and linens this season,” says Sachdeva, adding that she is drawn to natural fibres, especially the varied characteristics of cotton, wool and silk. This includes pleated skirts, jackets and dresses. Dhupia has been spotted wearing the brand several times. Sachdeva says, “Neha has a very simple yet striking sense of fashion. She is a very secure and confident woman and is looking for clothing that helps her express herself in the same manner. I feel that the values of Bodice match with Neha’s.”
