Celebrity stylists on the changing face of fashion and style in Bollywood amidst the coronavirus pandemic | Hindi Movie News

Lockdown 5.0 has eased certain restrictions and while things have slowly started to resume back amid the pandemic, there are a lot of things we would need to get used to in the post-pandemic scenario. It would specifically be challenging for the fashion stylists to adapt to this new normal.
Shedding some light on the same, celebrity stylist Leepakshi Ellawadi said, “This pandemic will mean a lot for the fashion in Bollywood because this has pushed us in a corner to evaluate things, our expenditure, our intake or consumption – all those that we were blindly doing. I feel sometimes you need to be pushed in the corner so that you take that moment to think about your actions that have a major impact. So in a sadistic way, I am happy that this pandemic has pushed us in a corner to think again that what is this fast-moving fashion, why can’t fashion last longer and why is there so much need to throw things and buy new every season.”

Talking about how things will change post-pandemic as far as fashion is concerned, Salman Khan’s stylist Ashley Rebello stated, “People are no longer going to buy designer clothes. I think designers need to get more into their head and make clothes which are more affordable, comfortable and more homebound also by using fabrics which are lighter, easy and making matching masks with them. I do hope post-pandemic a lot of celebrities bring down their guard and be more simple and ready to wear. I feel a lot of them overdress even to an airport. I just hope that starts becoming a lot less dramatic.”

Elaborating further, Leepakshi added, “Post pandemic, I hope that we all act a bit more responsibly and that we are more conscious of what we are doing in terms of fashion. I hope we are using biodegradable and recyclable things. I hope celebs take that leap forward of repeating clothes or bringing vintage back or using one accessory or clothing or that pair of jeans or shoes again and again. I also hope we do not have fashion police pounding them. If something looks good, you should wear it again. You don’t discard jeans just because you wore it once. I hope more real fashion comes out. I hope celebs come out and say yes, we do not want this fast-moving fashion and this use and throw attitude when it comes to fashion and style.”

Parineeti Chopra, Pooja Hegde and Kriti Sanon at the airport

Speaking about masks as a necessary accessory in the near future, Leepakshi averred, “Face masks are mandatory and have also become the need of the minute. A lot of fashion brands internationally have come together and brought a little colour to the face that all humanity is going through. They have come up with coloured and floral masks. A lot of Indian designers have also done it. But it is more like a charity. But I hope this is not here to stay and this does not become a very mandatory accessory of our clothing.”

Further adding to the same, Ashley added, “I would definitely do a line of masks. In fact, just as the pandemic started, I did one and I think it went off really well. I think every designer would be doing that.”

Leepakshi, who was looking forward to some upcoming fashion events, said, “I was looking forward to the fashion weeks. That is also going to see a major change that was due for a really long time internationally. People were re-looking at fashion shows, the expenditure they were incurring and brands that were spending on them, that were they worth it, or is there any other way people could look at it.”

Kangana Ranaut and Deepika Padukone at Cannes 2019


Ashley Rebello too expressed his disappointment at the Cannes Film Festival getting cancelled this year. “A lot of events have been cancelled. I was even looking forward to Cannes. This time I was planning to go to the Cannes Film Festival. Many other award shows and fashion events have also been cancelled,” he added.

Lastly, the celebrity stylists expressed their opinions on celebrities slaying it at home with their casual looks. “I like Alia Bhatt’s posts where she looks so casual and carefree. That is what I like about her. And also I like Salman’s casual style at home even though I am not styling him now because he is just at home doing nothing,” Ashley averred.

Although Leepakshi did not name any celeb, in particular, she stated that looking at celebs in their home clothes without make-up is a refreshing break. “I don’t know if someone is slaying it or not but it is very refreshing to see celebs posting pictures of their workouts and eating well and of their faces without any make-up. It is just nice to see that side of them. It is a good break from seeing them all dolled up for this or that event. It is a refreshing break. I like to see more real faces and what they really do besides what they do on camera so it is really nice,” she concluded.