Steal These Signature Ethnic Looks From Iconic Indian Divas

Last time we discussed how you can rock a high-fashion look in ethnics with the simplest of tips. For this post, as promised, we’re going to confer on how you can ace the conventional ethnic look with similar easy ideas. South Asia being that vivid mix of vibrant cultures that it is, gives you a plethora of ways to style a varied range of traditional looks. However, this excess of choice sometimes can get overwhelming for you to make one pick. This is why we have taken help from our most iconic ethnic divas, who have nailed an all-embracing ethnic look that incorporates the quintessential elements of all the varied styles worn across the length of the subcontinent. Not only that, the classy components they have picked for their signature styles are quite timeless as well; meaning they are as relevant and admirable today, as they’ve been in the past, and will stay as contemporary for a foreseeable future. So without further ado, let’s decode these signature ethnic styles now-

Maharani Gayatri Devi: Epitome of Effortless Regality

The regal persona of the dignified Maharani consort of Jaipur has found patrons from across the globe. Often titled as one of the most beautiful ladies around the world, her highness was a classic example of beauty with brains. With her kindness and generosity, she easily stole people’s hearts, and true to her royal bloodlines, she demonstrated a true regal sense of style throughout her life that earned her respect from fashion connoisseurs everywhere. Mostly seen in simple but understatedly regal attires, her signature style included soft-shaded chiffon sarees, elegantly draped around in the nobly modest manner with long-sleeved, and equally simple blouses. To complement this simple look, she often used to wear elegantly simple necklaces and earrings, often made in pristine pearls. For makeup, she consistently relied on the dainty touch of a simple small red bindi on the forehead, and deep red-tinted lips. Keeping in line with her modest look, she’d often only wear minimal kohll for her expressive eyes keeping her hair short in bobbed style with cascading waves. Since her overall look has always remained minimalist and simple, you can adopt some elements from her signature look if our tastes lean more towards that.

Points to Steal

• Ideal for rocking a truly minimal and understated regal look.
• Light-weight fabrics in a pastel palette for a dainty touch
• Simpler Makeup looks achieved with red-tinted lips and kohl to bring attention to the natural beauty of the face.
• Neat uncluttered hair for a palpable classy look
• Minimal but visibly elite accessories for a distinct noble effortlessness.

Rekha: Personification of Feminine Grace

The epitome of elegance and femininity, Rekha is the true timeless diva of Bollywood. Ever since her debut in the Indian cinema, she has successfully stolen millions of viewers’ hearts with her versatile and often memorable roles. As she grew more mature, her roles and sense of style too kept on becoming more graceful and resplendent. These days, her trademark style includes a silk woven saree often with traditional Kanjivaram and Banarasi motifs. The glistening golden undertone of her woven sarees gives her ensemble a glowy resplendence. And to match that effervescence of the attire, she accessorizes heavily with polki, and beaded golden jewelry. Apart from accessories, she also impeccably highlights her face in warmer colors, shining like a goddess on earth that she is, donning her inky hairdo with a jasmine garland. To top it all, she never forgets to elegantly carry a potli bag on her arms, which apart from being a utilitarian artifact, also aids in portraying a truly elegant posture. Now while it’s not easy for everyone to pull off the epitome conventional Indian look as Rekha does, you can easily steal some key points to outshine everyone at your next wedding party.

Points to Steal

• Ideal for wedding ceremonies celebrations
• Authentic Kanjivaram and other traditional woven silk sarees for true ethnic diva vibes.
• Complement the gilded ambiance of the saree with makeup in warm highlights
• Don’t forget the quintessential ethnic Indian elements like Bangles and traditional necklace set with maang tikka.
• Don’t shy away from bold deep red for lip tints and visible bindi on the forehead
• Look absolutely traditional with a beautiful jasmine gajra.

Nita Ambani: Exuding Affluence in the Air

Being the wife of India’s richest man, Neeta Ambani often draws many eyeballs to her. Her dressing sense, keeping in line with her elite status is filled with the most lavish of styles. From lehengas and sarees in luxe embroideries, mesmerizing, vivid, and classy colors, to opulent Kundan jewelry sets, all parts of her ethnic ensembles emanate affluence. Never aiming for a reserved look, her sense of style bespeaks abundance, and if this is something you want to portray in your ethnic look then begin with lush silhouettes. You can either pick a saree, lehenga, or even a suit, but if exuding affluence is your aim, never go for a fitted silhouette. Like her, you can easily pick some of the more ornately styled ethnic outfits that bring extra volume to the entire ensemble. Other than the dress, your accessorizing with equally opulent accessories is important. There is plenty of imitation Kundan necklace sets available in the market that can guarantee you a similar look without drilling a hole in your pocket. For makeup, you can go for a traditional Indian look, choosing the intensity of it on the basis of the occasion at hand.

Points to Steal

• Perfect for multiple occasions, so long as the theme is luxurious
• Don’t shy away from heavy outfits that exude prosperity.
• Go for traditional regal colors, whether they be in jewel tones or in the pastel palette.
• Accessorize unreservedly with either genuine or destination jewelry, picking elite works like Kundan and Polki.
• Choose flared and more relaxed silhouettes to further enhance the elite feel of the look.
• Pick your makeup style on the basis of the occasion’s significance.

Hema Malini: Manifesting Aesthetics of Absolute Grace

Dream girl Hema Malini has been stealing her admirers’ sleep with her natural beauty and a regal dressing sense for decades. Nurtured in a culture-rich classical environment of a brahman Tamilian family, all her movements have been endowed with a historic grace. Being an excellent Bharatnatyam dancer, her tastes in aesthetics are truly unparalleled, and it is something that her dressing sense clearly reflects. Her foremost choice for nailing a traditional ethnic, is the epitome of elegance- a saree. However, unlike most veteran divas, she does not stick to only the traditional styles in saree. She easily pulls off every saree trend, be it of heavily embroidered nets, or revolutionary ruffles. Not only that, she accessories each style of saree in the most immaculate manner as well. That is why despite her apparent love of gold temple jewelry, it is not rare to spot her sporting a kundan, diamond, stone, or even pearl necklace sets. In a nutshell, her sense of styling is simply classy, and if this is something that you’d like to pull off, here are some tips.

Points to Steal

• Be comfortable and feel confident in trying new trends.
• Drape your saree like a true lady.
• Know your fashion statement, and accessorize tastefully
• Play around with your hairstyles while keeping them ladylike
• Use bindi to emphasize the symmetry of your face and emanate pride for your culture
• Hold onto clutches or any other choice of bags to naturally look like you mean business.

Aishwarya Rai Bachchan: Incarnating Universal Beauty

A beauty so mesmerizing that its parallels are still considered non-existent. With such exemplary gorgeousness, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan never fails to turn heads with her sheer beauty. And that’s when she hasn’t even expressed her thoughts, which when you hear them are equally spellbinding. Crowned as former Miss World, Aishwarya has created a huge mark in the Indian cinema industry with her untainted professionalism, tear-jerking performances, and an impeccable sense of styling. Being graced with a natural beauty, she looks majestic in almost all the ethnic womenswear styles. However, whenever she is sporting an ethnic look for personal celebrations, she’s almost always witnessed in the fluid silhouettes of traditional lehenga choli and Anarkalis. And we have nothing to complain about. The modest couture and flares of both these styles give her a distinct princess-like look that make her frame look even more pleasing to the eyes. To further accentuate the mesmeric effect of her ethnic look, she amply embellishes her eyes with liner and shadows. Other than that she openly experiments with accessories, wearing them as and when they match with the overall aesthetics of her attire. All in all, she has a freestyle approach to ethnic fashion, her tastes leaning a little towards fluid silhouettes.

Points to Steal

• Know your body type and pick the silhouette that accentuate it in the best manner
• Experiment with colors and see which palette brings out the best glow from your complexion
• Use accessories as per the ensemble and the occasion at hand
• Choose your makeup look based on the color and style of your outfit.
• Wear a pleasing and confident smile, always.