5 looks from Vidya Balan’s Indian wear wardrobe that will inspire you to upgrade your own

Despite the slowdown due to the coronavirus outbreak, Vidya Balan has been on a roll. The actor has been actively using her time for the virtual promotions of her recently-released film Shakuntala Devi on Amazon Prime Video. In the biographical drama, she portrays the mathematical genius to perfection, and presents a wardrobe to match her individualistic style. Her outfits in the movie essentially feature a host of saris, be it weaves or chiffons. This is why for the e-promotional journey, Balan has not only stuck to traditional wear, but also championed lesser-known homegrown labels. From kurtas made with natural fibres to co-ord sets accented with much-loved crafts, the star’s stylists Shounak Amonkar and Pranay Jaitly have carefully curated ensembles in line with the movie’s aesthetic. And for style watchers, Balan’s wardrobe has served as the perfect festive wear inspiration. Her most recent look saw her dressed in an ivory angarkha-style kurta. “Even for her post release promotions, we wanted to speak #VocalForLocal. This angarkha is a classic and Vidya loved it in a heartbeat,” reveal the stylists. If you missed this ensemble, keep reading to check it out.

Vidya Balan’s kurta came with pretty floral designs

Vidya Balan’s three-piece set was from Chennai-based label Shireen Shahana, and comprised a flared kurta, palazzo pants and a lightweight dupatta. The kurta featured an angarkha silhouette with a wrap yoke and a flared skirt. The hand-block-printed top brought together three different motifs—beautiful floral designs in soothing shades of blue and green all over the fabric, micro polka dots accenting the yoke, and stripe detailing on the palazzos. “We styled the look keeping the makeup simple and hair pulled back in a ponytail, and accessorised it with a silver necklace that complemented the outfit well.” And for footwear, Balan relied on metallic Kolhapuri wedges from Aprajita Toor to go with her look.

Be it a small Ganesh Chaturthi puja or an intimate family get-together for Diwali, a kurta set like Vidya Balan’s will be right up your alley in the upcoming. The breathable fabric and fuss-free silhouette combines style and comfort in equal measure. Why not consider investing in a similar set like hers? Shop via our edit below to recreate her look.

Apart from the extraordinary character Vidya Balan has played on-screen most recently, her fashion choices off-screen have become significant of late as well. While promoting her latest biopic Shakuntala Devi online, the actor has been dressing up at home on a regular basis, and her wardrobe has been showcasing more sustainable, homegrown fashion labels, often spoken about on her Instagram page with the hashtag #VocalForLocal. One of her recent looks truly stands out as a perfect combination of Indian crafts and innovation in design. The actor picked a handwoven red silk sari by studio Medium, which “takes on a fun twist to the saree with traditional tie dye,” the star wrote. Entirely handcrafted and naturally dyed, the same ensemble in bottle green has also been worn by Dia Mirza previously. See what her entire outfit looks like and find out how you can recreate it.

Vidya Balan’s silk sari featured a shibori sleeve designed to keep your hands free

Without any frills or sequinned borders, Vidya Balan’s Medium sari makes an impact for a seemingly simple detail. It featured a unique outlet at the pallu which served as a sleeve, decorated with a statement shibori motif. This allowed the actor to use her hands freely without having to pin up her pallu t the shoulder. Balan paired the drape with a basic red blouse, and amped up the look with dull gold jewellery by Aaharya By Rhea Hirani. A clean bun, bold eyes and bright red lip rounded off her look.

If you’re a risk taker when it comes to your wardrobe, Vidya Balan’s choice is a great pick. From a cocktail celebration to a lockdown mehandi, you can wear it just about anywhere. Here, we’ve listed the exact same piece, along with similar jewellery options you can add to your cart right away.

Any Indian wear wardrobe is incomplete without heritage weaves. Whether it’s your mother’s sari passed down to you or your bridal lehenga, traditionally-made textiles always lend a classic touch. If you’re looking to add a piece with an old-world charm to your collection, look no further than Vidya Balan’s latest pick. For the virtual promotional round for her biopic Shakuntala Devi, the actor has been championing homegrown labels under the hashtag #VocalForLocal by opting for outfits made exclusively by local brands. Among her breezy maxi dresses and lightweight woven saris, her recent ensemble stands out for its striking jewel tone. Featuring an intricately embroidered zari border and blouse, Balan’s royal purple chanderi silk sari by Deep Thee added a luxurious touch to her promotional wardrobe. Keep scrolling to see her entire look and ahead, find similar options to recreate it.

Vidya Balan accessorised her look with stud earrings and an emerald ring

Look carefully, and you’ll notice how the gold border on Vidya Balan’s sari was inspired by traditional Mughal motifs. For a classic monochrome look, the violet Chanderi sari was paired with an all over hand-embroidered blouse adorned with more zari work. She added vintage-inspired gold studs and a similar emerald cocktail ring by Razwada Jewels. A micro bindi in the same purple hue, bright red lipstick and a neat bun topped off with fragrant gajra completed her beauty look.

Have you got some intimate at-home wedding functions lined up for the rest of 2020? Let Vidya Balan’s classic look inspire you to invest in a statement silk sari. This one can be worn everywhere from a roka to a mehendi and even an at-home sangeet. We’ve got similar options listed for you below.

There are certain styling trends that can seem tricky to carry off with confidence. Print-on-print is surely one of them. But with her latest look, Vidya Balan has shown her followers how to master it with ease. The actor, currently promoting her upcoming biopic Shakuntala Devi through her social media accounts, has been relying on homegrown brands that champion sustainable and ethical practises of late. Her most recent choice was a printed kurta by Mumbai-based Label: Anushree. The mix-and-matched ensemble came with an A-line kurta and straight-leg pants, both of which were crafted using silk. Balan’s multi-panel, multi-hued top was decorated with block prints against a navy blue background, while its ivory sleeves were hand-painted with Kalamkari art featuring floral and fauna designs. “#VocalForLocal is wearing our heritage on our sleeves—literally,” she cheekily captioned her photo.

In the new post, Vidya Balan’s kurta was rounded off with silk pants in shades of green and ochre. Speaking about the thought process behind the look, stylist Pranay Jaitly of Who Wore What When said, “Since the start, Vidya was sure of promoting her movie by wearing native brands and crafts. This fell in line with our beliefs; as a styling consultancy, we never source from international labels. Her outfit has a number of craftsmanship techniques that seemed like the perfect choice for the last leg of the movie promotions.” Keep reading to check out how Balan accessorised her separates, and where you can buy similar options online.

Vidya Balan wore jhumkas with her silk kurta

“Vidya loves jhumkas, so we completed her traditional look with statement gold options from Motifs By Surabhi Didwania,” added Shounak Amonkar. Since Balan’s kurta was eye-catching in itself, she stuck to makeup in neutral tones and kept her lightly blowdried hair open.

“A versatile kurta set like Vidya’s could work well for upcoming Raksha Bandhan celebrations. You can also wear it for an intimate mehandi party or family brunch in the future,” recommends Jaitly. Want to invest in a similar ensemble? Shop via our edit now.

Living in India, it’s easy to appreciate the magic and traditions of local textiles and crafts. And there has never been a better time to support homegrown labels, which can not only safeguard weavers and craftsmen, but also empower them. Vidya Balan seems to agree. “Weavers are their best designers. They know the limitations of the humble loom and hence make innovations within those limitations. Support artisans who actually herald our country’s textile tradition,” she said in one of her recent Instagram posts. The actor, who has been virtually promoting her upcoming biopic Shakuntala Devi, has also been making a case for going #VocalForLocal by opting for outfits by native labels. From sustainable dresses to kurtas made with natural fibres, she’s worn them all of late. Go through her recent posts, and you’ll notice that handloom saris, like kora cotton, mul mul and even chanderi, have been her go-tos. Her latest snap sees her dressed in a black and red drape. Keep reading to take a closer look at her OOTD and how she styled it.

Vidya Balan wore statement earrings with her black sari

In her latest post, Vidya Balan revealed that she bought her half-half sari directly from a weaver. The upcycled piece came with a red cotton checkered base that made up the pleats, and a black chiffon section accented with a gold border that made the pallu of the sari. She rounded off her outfit with a black sleeveless blouse. A pair of chunky earrings with kundan work and a matching ring served as the perfect add-ons to her traditional look. Her hair was combed in a sleek bun, with finishing touches coming in via winged eyeliner and red lipstick.

With the humble sari working its way to the top of trend charts, a selection of elegant drapes shouldn’t be overlooked when building your collection of versatile festive pieces. Be it a friend’s intimate roka ceremony or a family get-together in the future, a classic number like Vidya Balan’s will serve you well. We know where you can buy a piece similar to hers online.