Finished rifling through your wardrobe and still wondering what to wear this Diwali? Why not get inspired by Bollywood’s fashion choices to rustle up your best ethnic look. Resort to the classics with reds or white and golds or dare to dazzle with royal purples and turn up the heat with some bold metallics.
Here’s a look at some impeccable festive fashion choices of the stars. Which is more your style?
Paint it purple:
Purple spells regal, spiritual and vibrant — the perfect hue to make an elegant yet eye-catching style statement. Here’s Tamannaah Bhatia, Sanya Malhotra and Triptii Dimri to inspire your Diwali wardrobe with their striking purple ensembles that perfectly blend traditional and modern elegance. Glam up in a Tamannaah-inspired floral-embroidered kurta or lehenga, go for a brocaded but comfy look in a stylish kurti like Sanya's or try Triptii’s style of draping a purple six-yard paired with a corset-fit blouse that will turn up the heat. For accessories, consider classic floral studs or vintage-looking pieces to add an old-world royal touch. And whether you tie your hair into a sleek bun or let it fall free, we love Sanya’s jewelled headband for that extra ethnic appeal.
And if all purple seems too purple, feel free to mix and match pastel hues for a stylish look. Look at Madhuri Dixit’s green pleated skirt paired with a pink embroidered blouse and a purple dupatta, to sketch out your own ideas.
In the mood for metallics:
Add a touch of zing to your bling by going metallic and sparkly this Diwali! If recent pre-Diwali bashes are anything to go by, traditional outfits with bold metallic sheens are a crowd favourite. Alia Bhatt’s bronze sari paired with a richly embroidered metallic gold blouse is an effortlessly chic option for a busy festive day. Amplify the traditional sparkle with Ananya Panday’s stunning golden-girl look — multiple finger rings and a chic box clutch are the perfect addition to such a show-stopping ensemble. For those a little more experimental, take inspiration from Janhvi’s champagne-hued bandeau blouse and mermaid-cut skirt to up your glam quotient or be a stunner like Shilpa Shetty in a sheer, metallic-hued shimmery sari-gown.
Dear men, we’ve got you covered too. For a sharp, contemporary look, draw inspiration from Arjun Kapoor. Opt for a monochromatic suit with metallic accents and a broad waistband that adds a striking pop of colour. You can even extrapolate this western look to traditional gear by replacing the suits with kurtas and the waistbands with metallic-finish dupattas.
Glam up in white and gold:
You can’t get more traditional or more elegant than donning white-and-gold. Ladies, we trust that you already know your way around this classic combo, so this is one’s dedicated to you gents. Take a cue from Bollywood's leading men — Shahid Kapoor, Ranveer Singh and Sidharth Malhotra — to stand out at any event. Go for Shahid’s simple look with trousers or Ranveer’s bold aesthetic with quirky shades and a gold chain. And Sidharth proves you can slay just as efficiently in loafers as traditional nagras and moccasins.
Reign in red:
When in doubt, opt for classic reds. It is afterall, the festive colour. Embrace elegance like Kareena Kapoor Khan in a rich red and gold bandhani-print salwar suit paired with layered danglers in her ears or adopt Suhana Khan’s minimalist approach by draping a vibrant red sari over a sweetheart-neckline blouse and little else accessory-wise. Genelia Deshmukh’s red sari with a contrasting white pallu, an elbow-length blouse and a single statement gold choker also adds up for a unique look.
For the men, Karan Johar sets the bar high in a three-piece red sherwani featuring a richly embroidered jacket, an embellished kurta, and matching trousers. Also, don’t shy away from accessorising with a statement ring on your finger or a chain around your neck.