Bollywood: It’s so colourful, loud, musical and beautiful. If you are a rom-com lover, you have not fully experienced the genre until you have seen a rom-com Bollywood film. My favourite era of Bollywood is the 90s and early 2000s. Looking through my mum’s pictures from that time, and seeing how much Bollywood influenced Indian pop culture and people’s fashion choices is amazing. Over the last few weeks, I have been collating my own fashion inspiration on Pinterest and found myself saving so much from 90s Bollywood. So, here are the best fashion lessons from 90s Bollywood...
Subscribe to Maximalism (and this is how...)
A lot of conversation around high fashion trends has often been associated with minimalism. Minimalistic choices tell you to buy pieces that all look and feel the same. Perhaps this has been overturned by the pandemic and our need to be more playful with what we have, but careful maximalism is on the rise in western societies. Vogue Runway is becoming increasingly flooded with over the top glamourism. Interestingly, Bollywood fashion has always embraced maximalism. It could not be any far from minimalism.
Clothing and fashion in Indian cultures are very closely knitted with gifting rituals. Young children are gifted new clothes on Diwali or partners gift their counterparts with new clothes on special occasions. People pick out the most colourful, bold and unique pieces of clothing because it's a gift. Because let’s be honest, wrapping up a plain grey t-shirt for a gift (no matter the brand name) does not have the same impact. People choose intricately designed sarees, all beautifully crafted by local Indian artisans who know nothing but maximalist fashion culture. This sort of consumer behaviour is not only reflected but amplified in Indian cinema. In Bollywood, we start to see that influence on ‘western clothing’ as well. In Indian cinema, young women of society wear more western clothing (i.e. jeans, skirts and dresses) in their day-to-day, but this doesn’t mean they have lost their eye for maximalism as seen in traditional Indian attire. Subscribing to maximalism is by far the best fashion lesson Bollywood has taught us. This means embracing loud colours, trying daring materials and feeling like a maximalist.
It's a common misconception to think that maximalism is synonymous with unsustainability.
In fact, it’s quite the opposite. Ironically, maximalism allows your wardrobe and your style to look inspired, colourful and bold - with less. Rather than getting bored of a minimalist style approach, where your wardrobe looks like 50 shades of brown and grey. Keep your capsule wardrobe bright and wonderfully ‘maximalist’ by opting for fun patterns, colours and styles.
Dress Up Your Hair
Curl or straighten? This is the extent to which we think about our hair’s part in fashion. Dressing up your hair may seem small but, without a doubt, a mighty change to your style. It can transform your outfit ensemble drastically. It’s all about the details. Beyond Bollywood, hair is an important part of Indian culture. It has been a symbol of beauty, strength and virility since the start of time. I think this has played a major part in how hair is worn in Indian cinema. Whilst Hollywood may focus heavily on makeup and accessorising, hair has all been at the forefront of Bollywood fashion.
Whether it's weddings or day-to-day, hair health has received the same importance as skincare in India. Bollywood is no exception. Accessorising your hair can also be a healthy distraction. Instead of putting your hair through heat torture from straighteners and curlers, be kinder to your hair and go for heatless styles. This includes satin scarfs, statement headband and, of course, hats!
Bigger the Better (how to style oversized layers)
One thing fashion trends always change between is tight vs oversized. This tandem of well-fitted crop tops and oversized t-shirts may not only confuse us but may push us to make unsustainable fashion choices in order to keep up with changing trends. Well… Bollywood to the rescue. I personally LOVE oversized clothing. However, taking that to the next level is to use your oversized pieces to layer. Don’t throw away what you have. Pair up your crop tops with oversized shirts. Or, contrast your wide-legged trousers with a body-hugging blouse.
It’s all about the yin and yang. Find the balance.
If you are struggling to figure out this balance, then work outwards in. This means the largest and most oversized pieces should be the outermost layers i.e. jackets, cardigans and jumpers. Then contrast these with staples like crop tops, mini skirts or smart shirts.
I hope you enjoyed this Bollywood inspired blog! Let me know if you try any of these tips, and tag @ensemblemagazineuk on Instagram. You can read other fashion, interior design, wellness and activism content from Ensemble in my collection of magazines here.
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