Rishi Raj

Raj has styled Spanish tennis player Arantxa Sanchez Vicario, cricketer Shikhar Dhawan and actors Rakul Preet Singh, Sobhita Dhulipala and Sunny Leone. His tip: “When playing with proportion, understand the wearer’s body type.”

On the red carpet

Bling never goes out of fashion. Metallics and sequins are always a good choice when there are cameras involved. Like Zendaya’s Armani Privé black and pink sequinned gown at the 2024 Oscars. “We’ll see it in slightly subdued colours such as dusty pink or a rose gold, which work for Indian skin tones.”

Bridal-inspired fashion. “White gowns have stepped out of the chapel and on to the red carpet. “Turn it up a notch,” suggests Raj, like Michelle Yeoh did at the Met Gala in 2024. Rahul Mishra and Siddharth Tytler have paired the lehenga with bomber jackets. The maatha patti sets off a brocade tux. A fitted achkan looks good with a sheer churidaar or cigarette pants.

Torso armour. Gaurav Gupta showed metal plated bustiers at Couture Week. Raj recommends styling it “with a shirt or jacket, with just a hint of the metal plate inside”. Accessorise with headgear or gloves. “It will be uncomfortable, but it’s what makes a statement.”

IRL trends

Denim on denim. A lot of ’90s styles are returning, says Raj. Look to Rihanna for inspiration.

Luxury athleisure. Think of how Hailey Bieber dresses. Mix premium and luxurious pieces but aim to look casual. “Pair joggers with high-fashion items, or designer sneakers with track pants,” he suggests.

Sheer. We’ve seen them in evening gowns, but they’ll show up in shorts, track pants, fitted skirts, panelled shirts and jackets. Miley Cyrus does a lot of casual sheer, he observes.

Avoid

Platform shoes. It makes feet look like hooves under elegant gowns, says Raj.

Loud logos. “It now reeks of tackiness.”

Distressed denim. Not even patches. “Think soft, supple but classic with denim. Leave shredded jeans for memes.”

Nandita Kohli

Kohli, who has styled actors Daisy Shah, Amyra Dastur and Dolly Singh and content creator Sejal Kumar focuses on sustainable dresses, even for red-carpet events.

On the red carpet:

Haute pieces. How else to stand out in a sea of pretty gowns on the red carpet? It shows that the wearer isn’t afraid to take risks. “Just make sure it works with your body type and the theme of the event, the way Kendall Jenner wore a Givenchy Haute Couture dress in tulle embroidered with black and brass beads and sequins for the 2024 Met Gala.” says Kohli.

Power suits. A well-tailored and well fitted suit can make you look slimmer, taller, fitter and more dramatic. Kohli loved Elle Fanning’s plunging black Saint Laurent suit at the 77th Annual Tony Awards, and Kate Winslet’s all-white ensemble to the Munich Film Festival 2024. “Avoid bold patterns and wear it with polished dress shoes.”

Big drama gowns. Nicole Kidman wore a black-and-white Balenciaga gown for the 2024 Met Gala. “It had tiers of feather detailing which adds structure. It’s not a mermaid tail design, which is a go-to for gown today,” says Kohli.

IRL trends

Bold graphics and streetwear. Pair them with sneakers, like Ranveer Singh often does. “You can even personalise the logos and graphics,” says Kohli.

Relaxed-fit shirts. “Pick bold colours, add statement jewellery, pair with fitted pieces, the way Alia Bhatt and Deepika Padukone do.”

Printed sundresses. “Go bold with accessories or statement shoes if it is subtle.”

Avoid

Branding. “It now attracts the wrong kind of attention. Ranveer Singh’s love for Gucci is one example of overdoing brand logos,” Kohli says.

Outrageous shapes. Like Eva Green at Cannes this summer. Kohli says that the print just took away from Green’s shape and beauty.

Being too on-trend. It just shows that you have no opinion on how you dress. “Prioritise classic pieces,” says Kohli. Aishwarya Rai Bachchan’s looks at Cannes and at wedding receptions have been off the mark lately.

Zainab Shakir

Shakir has styled actors Ali Fazal, Kunal Khemu, Tripti Dimri, Kritika Kamra and Karishma Tanna. His tip for the coming months: “Do a flash photo test for an outfit before stepping out, especially in sheer looks.”

On the red carpet

Corsets. But not the Victorian kind. Jahnvi Kapoor’s diamond-studded Tarun Tahiliani ensemble at the Ambani-Merchant wedding was a great way to get a Western style into an Indian outfit. The silhouette and fabrication of corset work are key, says Shakir. Even a well-fitting one can have the wrong shape for the outfit or the wearer’s body.

Dramatic cutouts. Tyla’s 2024 Grammys outfit showed off her belly button piercing, says Shakir. “A lot of designs are cut or shaped in a way that give the illusion of a cutout.”

Small doses of velvet. “Not an entire outfit because velvet is thick and ageing. Incorporate a bit on your bag or heels.”

IRL trends

White shirts. Get one with a corset incorporated into it. Shakir also recommends wearing an oversized style with a bralette. “Wear it off one shoulder or with sleeves rolled different lengths.”

Crochet. “Wear an open-weave dress over a bikini,” suggests Shakir. Ananya Panday makes crochet pants look comfy.

Floral appliqué. Roses are huge. Shakir has styled actor Harshita Gaur in florals even though Mirzapur (in which she plays Dimpy) was a dark season. She recommends model Gigi Hadid’s recent floral look in black crochet.

Avoid

Going too bright. “I will style two neutrals with one bold shade or a neutral with a bold one, not two bold colours,” she says.

Skinny jeans. If they’re low-rise too, burn them, he says. “It’s no longer chic. Flared jeans look better and are more versatile.”

Sequinned hems. They just distract from the outfit and seem like an amateur craft project.

Pranay Jaitly

Jaitly has styled Natasha Poonawala, Vidya Balan, Kubbra Sait, Genelia Deshmukh and Babil Khan. He hosts Who Wore What When with Shounak Amonkar. He believes that buttercup yellow, burnt orange, lavender, and pink will be trending this year.

On the red carpet

Androgynous looks. And not just pantsuits. “Think oversized styles,” says Jaitly. He put Kubbra Sait in shorts and a jacket for a recent awards ceremony.

Saris with a trail. Alia Bhatt’s Sabyasachi sari at the Met Gala had it. Rahul Mishra’s Couture Week designs had it too. “At the Ambani-Merchant festivities, Natasha Poonawalla draped two saris together, Genelia D’Souza wore a shawl dupatta over her sari.”

Sheer kurtas. “Add a jacket or drape on top like Tarun Tahiliani or Abu Sandeep’s recent designs.”

IRL trends

Sheath dresses. They’re on Ananya Pandey, Janhvi and Khushi Kapoor, and Bella Hadid. “They’re monotone, fall at the knee, skim curves and add length to your look.”

Coord sets. Matching top and bottom prints is still going strong, pyjama references be damned. “Make it fun by trying crochet. Babil Khan wore a crochet shirt recently. It works because it’s the right amount of dressy for a casual event.”

Print on print. Not like British grannies did. Try a bigger print on an oversized garment or a bigger body type. Busy, small prints cover leaner bodies better. “Harry Styles does this often.”

Avoid

Trends that don’t suit your body. “Monotone is in for men, but using two shades from the same family gives the look more length,” says Jaitly.

Showing too much skin. If it’s a tube top, wear something that is fuller at the bottom.

High choli necklines. New designs go 10 to 12 inches deep. At Cannes this year, Shahana Goswami wore an Abu Sandeep sari with an 11-inch neckline, says Jaitly.

Read Also: Radhika Merchant, Anant Ambani visit temple while honeymooning in Panama; she rocks a minimal co-ord printed look