Partying and party clothes have somehow always been associated with the heydays of youth, and women who always seem to be standing in a witness box — charged guilty of their grey hair, wrinkles and changing bodies, what science calls normal and what is often considered salt-and-pepper mature sexy for their male counterparts — almost begging to be pardoned for no sin they committed, have it particularly tough. They are judged and ridiculed for choosing to accept, embrace and be themselves.
So, when stylist and designer Neha Gandhi Binjrajka brainstormed this shoot with t2, we decided to go for muses who bring the heft of their personalities to the table. Esha Dutta of Priya Entertainments Pvt. Ltd and artist and choreographer Pinky Kenworthy. Strong women with a solid core. They rocked pieces from Neha’s label NGB and left us with a dose of motivation.
Neha, let’s start with your rocking muses, Esha and Pinky...
Neha: I wanted women who can make these garments their own. And, they (Esha and Pinky) complemented each other so beautifully. They both have distinct styles and I couldn’t imagine doing this shoot with anyone else. They completely rocked the shoot.
I did push Esha aunty to go a little bit out of her comfort zone, which I am very glad I did. With Pinky, I knew she would make the garment her own. Overall, I have gone with styles they would be comfortable in.
Pinky and Esha, what did you like about the looks?
Pinky: I loved both the looks. I also don’t distinguish between work clothes, meeting clothes and going-out clothes. I’ll just add accessories or change the shoes and my handbag and put red lipstick on. Neha’s clothes are that kind of clothes. I could go for a day thing or a night thing. The bit of the drama queen in me won’t mind wearing red and going to a meeting. I was hoping that someday somebody would make clothes that could transition from day into night, work to going out. Thank God, there wasn’t too much shimmer and glitter! (Laughs)
Esha: Bling looks nice, but it is very occasion specific...
Pinky: And, bling can be done in a way that it’s not blingy. I love the structure of the tops and loved the fact that it was all organza and it was all flying in the breeze. Since she is a stylist, being a designer is a natural transition. Most designers can create a garment but not style it.
Neha: Thank you so much. That was the whole idea behind starting the label.
Esha: My preferred style is a bit understated, what I normally wear to all events and parties. I love classic silhouettes and both these conformed to a T. I like a bit of a structure and a silhouette. Initially, I had my reservations, but later I realised what I spoke about earlier, the versatility of her garments. I am a bit conscious about what I wear for my age and would not be very comfortable in all kinds of dresses and lengths and cuts. To be fair, I may not have bought this off the rack had I seen it, thinking maybe I should dress my age because I am a bit more conservative that way, but today after this, maybe I am feeling a little braver (laughs), especially the white ruffled top! It was beautifully designed and it had so many layers. Neha’s style aesthetics are very clued into mine.
Dressing up a certain way has almost always drawn the flak of ageism...
Pinky: The younger people don’t know how to yet own their personality and get their garment into it. It needs to go more seamlessly. It’s more about us (partying) and we are the ones who spend and have more fun. I don’t care about age. I think everything should go with everything in today’s world of fashion.
Esha: All my batchmates, we all dress. We are not probably what our parents’ generation would do at our age...
Pinky: I love her (Esha) and always tell her she is the most elegant and wears the most beautiful jewellery. She knows exactly what she is wearing and never goes overboard with anything.
Do you think women have it harder with age-shaming?
Esha: Absolutely, very true, but I think as a society we have evolved. We are more accepting that people from 40 onwards too can dress a little boldly. Everybody is not going to have the same body which you had in your 20s. That also changes. I may be personally conservative, but that’s my choice, but I admire people who can carry it off with confidence. That’s the main thing. I am in my late 50s, and I have no reservations saying my age too. I am so happy when someone says, you don’t look it... now we have the confidence to go where we want and wear what we want. I can’t imagine our parents’ generation living the same life that we do now. Pinky rocks any outfit and I am not a professional model, but I think we carry our clothes pretty well.
Pinky: I differ from her on the fact that it’s difficult, maybe because of my transition from a model to staying in fashion has not made me feel it’s difficult. As for age, I think, I have aged better than younger women are ageing. I’ll be 49 in March. The other day some lady told me that she hadn’t seen me since I stopped modelling and that I had gained a little bit weight. I said yes and I am perimenopausal and I am supposed to change. And, nobody talks about menopause as if it doesn’t exist, like nobody talks about periods. I told her that my agenda at 48 is not to be thin but to be strong. When I was modelling, it was a different time. That was my profession and I am thin by nature. If this I how I look and I am size 12, I am very happy.
Esha: I think the younger generation tries too hard also. We have stopped trying. We wear what is comfortable for us.
Pinky: My biggest supporters are my mum, my husband (chef Shaun Kenworthy) and my brother. Even if I were to wear the tiniest of things now and show them my photo, they would say, you just look amazing! I don’t give a damn about what people say. I will do what I want because I am confident, I know how to dress, I have a mind of my own and who’s going to tell me anything and how dare they? I am very unapologetic about wanting to look hot or a certain way. Why should I get apologetic? Why should women be apologetic at a certain age and beyond a certain age about how they want to look?
Women, however, beat themselves up way too much. Don’t you think so?
Pinky: They do, as I see it every day and I have to be their advisor sometime. It doesn’t matter. You be who you are. I have never compared myself to anyone. I wasn’t brought up that way. I was always a confident kid and teenager. My parents told me I could do anything I wanted to. I was conditioned to believe that anything was achievable and that I was the best. In my modelling years, I always knew I was better, not because of the way I looked, but maybe because I was well-read, well-informed and I had manners and etiquette. I could have a conversation with a 20-year-old or an 80-year-old or a teenager. That gives you a lot of confidence. I never took my looks seriously and I still don’t do it because I think I have a great personality.
Esha: We are tough on ourselves. I think men are much more relaxed about everything else. I think that’s the way their DNA works. We are tougher on other women too and a little bit more judgmental and I am hoping that changes. It is to a certain extent. A man won’t criticise another man or a friend on what they are wearing....
Neha: Speaking about myself too, I think I am way tougher on myself on a regular day, even though you are trying to play so many roles and you want to do everything perfectly. Hearing these lovely ladies today also makes me believe that we are way more stronger than we actually believe.
Esha: A lot has to do with how you are conditioned since childhood. The roles are very specified and unfortunately or fortunately, we (women) are saddled with more roles to play. A man still has a limited role to play. And, we are in India, let’s face it. We may want things to change, but it is going to take time. Maybe because we are saddled with more roles to play on the work and home front... that’s why we keep getting tough on ourselves and try to set the bar higher.
Pinky, what are your parties like now?
Pinky: I used to party Monday to Monday and the city was much safer then.... When I was partying, I didn’t consume alcohol and would order black coffee. I used to love partying because I liked to dance. I like going out, but I don’t like very noisy places now where there is no dancing. I don’t like house parties...
Which is exactly what Esha likes!
(Everyone goes ROFL) Esha: I am the opposite.
Pinky: When I feel confined within a small group of people, I almost feel claustrophobic. If there is a great conversation, it’s fine, but sometimes, I am like, what is my escape plan because I get bored very fast.
Esha: When I was younger, I partied a lot and have done my bit, sneaked out, lied to parents... we were three sisters and very sheltered.... I abhor noise and I don’t drink, and everyone’s partying is equated with alcohol... I have started appreciating solitude. Maybe, Covid had something to do with it, I love my own company. If it is, however, a close friend’s party and in a small group, I love it. That’s more of my comfort zone.
Pinky: I am a solitary person and in real life, I am a hermit. For days, I can be on my own and I love it and I am very happy chilling by myself.
Let’s pack up with our eyes set on 2024!
Neha: I am looking to grow the brand and watch Samarth (son) grow up and balance life as much as I can.
Pinky: I would like to get fitter and I’d like to do more because I know I can do it and have fun while doing it.
Esha: I am a very today person and don’t make too many lists for the future. I am a big fatalist and wherever life takes me, I am happy to go there but for the past three years, I have cut down on travel. So, next year for sure (I will travel more). I have a long list. I have taken on a little more work as of December, working with some more social causes and I want to get deeper into that and the past two weeks have been the most gratifying for me, more than everything I have done in my entire life.
Hair and make-up: Abhijit Paul
Assisted by: Sananda Mondal Laha
Jewellery: Nura Jewellery by Tripti Singh
Location: Scrapyard, South City Mall
(From left) Pinky Kenworthy was smoking hot in a red organza top by NGB, which she paired with a short skirt and boots. The eyes had a hint of shimmer and we are crushing on the messy curls.
Esha Dutta was a total boss lady in her lovely ruffled top, teamed with smart black pants. The nude brown lips added to the simple elegance.
Pinky was edgy pretty in her organza jacket that was teamed with a slip dress. The bright red lips added to the mood. "I love monochromes and you cannot have enough of black or white," said Neha.
Esha looked elegant in a fresh purple organza NGB dress. "It had a really interesting neck, a scarf sort of a vibe, which I thought was elegant, classy and cocktail-dinner sort of vibe, which is Esha aunty's vibe too," said Neha.
Neha Gandhi Binjrajka