2 weeks Ago By Vogue Staff
“Here’s our take on a sculpted corset—made out of a solidified traditional Kanjeeravam. Blending the modernity of the West with the traditional intricacies of our land,” said stylist Manisha Melwani in her Instagram post explaining the thought behind Sanya Malhotra's latest look. Photographed against a wall full of graffiti for the Indian Film Festival of Melbourne, Sanya Malhotra has no inhibitions in adorning a sculpted gold breastplate intricately crafted by Samesisters with a vintage sari by Shanti Banaras ; a world of opposites seamlessly dovetailed to explore the infinite potentialities of ethnic Indian silhouettes.
Stylist Manisha Melwani talks about how for her, the look was an attempt to explore the concept of a new term and zeitgeist. Chaat Couture is an allusion to the pervasiveness of Indian street food and by extension a sartorial version of its hard-to-find ability to create a varied mixture of aesthetics, and moods. Combined with Samesisters ’ vision to explore the place Indian wear holds in an increasingly global world, the breastplate strives to give the revered Kanjeevaram a more solidified appeal, transforming it into a modern heirloom with a unique inclusion of a historically Western silhouette.
The transcendental feel of the gold from the Kanjeevaram breastplate is paired with a vintage sari from Shanti Banaras delicately woven through golden and silver threads over a classic Banarasi tissue tying in seemingly distant worlds and periods into a soft, appeasing embrace. While the look feels maximalist at its core, experimenting with the deft additions of Sahara earrings from Shri Paramini and a hair accessory crafted out of metallic flowers from Kavya Potluri, its ethereal simplicity is palpable from afar. The neck is left bare and the glam is strategically kept to a minimum, allowing for Malhotra’s natural tresses to peek through the updo.
Breastplates, Kanjeevaram, and Banarasi saris are far from new to the world of fashion. Yet, a novel attempt to rework old-world motifs into contemporary settings is worth a conversation. Also read: 20 labels that are experimenting with Kanjeevaram saris right now Janhvi Kapoor swaps a blouse for a hand-painted breastplate by Rajesh Pratap Singh What goes into the making of a pure gold zari sari?.
