Genelia Deshmukh’s festive wardrobe is among the most coveted in the industry. The actor doesn’t skimp on traditions, and commits all the way to looking the part for her festive appearances. You can see it in her recent-most look, where she was accompanied by Ritesh Deshmukh for a Janmashtami celebration. Dressed in a red short, embroidered kurta and matching half patiala-style salwar pants from New Delhi-based designer Reynu Taandon, the actor hinted at the return of the bottoms from the early aughts.
The full-sleeve short kurta with a menswear-inspired panelled neckline features a wide array of heritage embroidery styles used to create on the yoke and the heart-shaped designs that inundate the kurta otherwise. Age-old handicraft techniques like zari, zardozi and marodi have been used to embellish the red kurta, a custom creation that is an extension of the designer’s festive collection called Sindoori, which means ceremonial vermillion in Hindi. Deshmukh wears a contemporary version of the traditional patiala salwar that features fewer pleats and appears more streamlined compared to the orthodox style. Once a pop culture phenomenon, thanks in part to its ubiquitousness in 2000s Bollywood movies like Jab We Met and Bunty Aur Babli, the patiala—perfect for those who like their salwar bottoms to be comfortable and airy—can turn to Deshmukh for inspiration to wear them again.
Celebrity stylist Priyanka Castelino took a maximalist approach with the accessories. XXL shoulder dusters from New Delhi-based jewellery brand Amama’s festive collection made an appearance on Deshmukh’s ear lobes while adjustable, multi-finger rings with faux-polki and enamel work from Mortantra were used as hand jewellery. Her black juttis were from footwear brand Juliet Rose. For makeup, a fresh-face, clean skin approach with a crescent-shaped bindi and a voluminous blowout for hair completed the look.
From the Vogue desk:
“The heavily-embroidered kurta set is perfectly offset with the half-patiala salwars and a simple dupatta. This could become the go-to look for the upcoming festivals such as Ganesh Chaturthi and Navratri for those who want to keep their looks feeling ceremonial without feeling like a wedding guest,” says Ashwini Arun Kumar, Vogue India fashion features editor.
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