The rules of silver-screen fashion and styling always keep changing with time but for some years now, our Bollywood-hungry, cinema-struck country is starved for fresh and innovative style statements. Whatever happened to trends that tend to strike a chord with the audience to remain at the pinnacle of fashion, at least for a while? Nothing extraordinary has come out of the last decade as most Bollywood trends were either retro-inspired or Hollywood-infused.

Agreed that trends worldwide are all about going back to classics, protecting values and workmanship from yesteryears, holding on to and even moulding vintage work in a contemporary way but in the process, what we get out of our movies is actually a few styles put together from different eras. Add to that LBDs and denims. The result: every celebrity looks almost alike.

Even Bollywood plots that seem to be shifting towards realism, leave no room for creative designs. So unless it’s a period film, actors on screen (and off it too) are wearing the same, regular clothes, defeating the very concept of signature styles and the fabulousness of being a star — bell-bottoms, drain pipes, white shirts — it doesn’t matter what’s popular, everyone’s doing the mix-n-match. But the fact of the matter is: if you are a superstar, why not dress like one? Or is it that too much television drama killed celebrity style icons? As we reflect on this metamorphism, the search for innovative trendsetters is still on.

On the loss of innovative style icons
Designer Anna Singh
“It saddens me that there are no trendsetters anymore. There is no Manisha Koirala with her 1942, A Love Story look or Madhuri Dixit with her demure style. Now, everyone looks the same with their jeans and T-shirts, their little black dresses. Setting trends seems to be on the threshold of becoming extinct. If this continues, I may have to look for a new career!”

On where do costume designers get their inspiration from?
Designer Shabina Khan
“When I work on a project, my focus lies on creating a look for that movie. I research, study and refer to scores of things to come up with something unique. And before you know it, some element of that movie has become a huge rage. It’s never planned or meant to be that way; these things just happen.”

VERVE REMEMBERS
The 1950s Golden era: Meena Kumari’s printed chiffon saris with borders in Baiju Bawra.

The romantic 1960s:
Madhubala’s Anarkali suits in Mughal-e-Azam.
Sadhana’s fringe in Mere Mehboob.
Mumtaz’s fitted kurtas and hairbands in Pathar ke Sanam.
Sharmila Tagore’s knotted cholis and extended eyeliner in Pyaasi Shaam.
Asha Parekh’s bouffant in Jab Pyar Kisi Se Hota Ha .
Babita’s go-go earrings in Farz.
Saira Banu’s crochet sleeved kurtas in Jhuk Gaya Aasman.

The colourful 1970s:
Dimple’s polka dotted blouse in Bobby.
Zeenat Aman’s sexy sarongs in Qurbani.
Hema Malini’s black sari with turquoise border in Johnny Mera Naam.

The flashy 1980s
Sridevi’s blue sari in Mr. India.
Rekha’s Khoobsurat two plaits.
Shabana Azmi’s ethnic blouses in Arth.

The full-of-life 1990s:
Madhuri Dixit’s purple chaniya choli in Hum Aapke Hai Kaun. Urmila Matondkar’s halter necks in Rangeela.

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