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Journalism of Courage
“She’s an icon. She’s a legend. And she is the moment,” an American media personality Wendy Williams once said, which permanently changed the Internet’s vocabulary for describing a non-pareil star. And no other words seem to fit the celebrity of Rekha. The enduring star has long held a prized position in the hearts and minds of this Bollywood-loving country.
While navigating the treacherous terrains of the film industry, Rekha herself may have changed, but her style has remained uniquely singular. A Kanjeevaram sari, a gajra, and her trusted sindoor have become her everlasting companions and are synonymous of her personal style. On her 69th birthday today, we take a look at the star’s fashion legacy and how her style — in all its idiosyncracies — still manages to be relevant today.
Stylist to the stars Isha Bhansali tells me the most distinctive thing about Rekha’s style is that it has stayed the same over the years.
“We can always trust Rekha to be flaunting a strong red lip, flirtatious curls and a Banarasi silk sari draped immaculately, with no crease in sight,” says Sheefa Gilani, a stylist with a roster of A-lister clients.
This is what makes her “timeless and irreplaceable,” according to Eka Lakhani, a celebrity stylist, who was also the costume designer on Mani Ratnam’s Ponniyin Selvan.
Bhansali believes Rekha’s style is the best example of how classic any element of Indian fashion can be. Designer Shilpi Gupta deems Rekha’s seamless blending of traditional styles with contemporary silhouettes an inspiration for every fashion lover.
So, how did Rekha manage to create this inimitable fashion legacy, without a thousand stylists and image curators in tow? One part of it is, of course, her dedication to herself. The star has never shied away from being her own person, which defies any inclination to not make a statement — not for any conscious effort on her part. “I have always lived like an Indian princess, not that anyone is privy to it. I live like that because I feel it. It’s not just a state of mind, but the state of my life,” she told Vogue Arabia earlier this year.
“Rekha ji inspires every woman to wear what makes them feel like themselves,” says Gupta. That is just the movie-star appeal she’s always held.
Rekha has said in interviews before that her Kanjeevaram saris are a memento from her mother. “When I wear a Kanjeevaram sari, I feel like I’m engulfed in her love,” she said at an award show earlier this year. Her unsurpassable appeal is because of her authenticity to not just herself but also the viewer.
The first and foremost thing is to, of course, remain authentic and whatever you choose, “own it”, says Bhansali. The reason Rekha’s style is inimitable is because it’s her own.
Gilani recommends choosing one item that represents you, like a unique accessory or a specific clothing item as Rekha’s Kanjeevaram sari. “Focus on accessories, shoes, and grooming to add a personal touch to your outfits,” she adds.
Stylist Anshika Verma advises being consistent with that item to establish it as your signature, and wearing it with confidence to enhance your overall look.
“You make a fashion statement your signature by making new choices, inventing your own style, repeatedly being seen in that style and proudly owning it. That makes it your signature,” perfectly surmises Lakhani.
Don your confidence like armour and your clothes with an adaa and you’ll have your own signature style in the making.
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