Neeta Lulla has her fingers in too many pies. But this is no surprise because she has always been a master in multitasking. Apart from her regular share of work, the celebrity designer has been roped in to design ‘desi’ outfits for The Chainsmokers — American DJ duo and music producers, who have released phenomenal hit tracks like Closer, Paris, This Is All We Know, and a collaboration with Coldplay titled Something Just Like This, among others, who will be travelling to India to headline the Road to Ultra music festival in Mumbai in September.
She also recently designed Esha Deol’s baby shower outfit to show off her baby bump in the most gorgeous way possible. Quite the sought-after fashion designer for Bollywood films, Neeta has been busy with research and coming up with outfits for Kangana Ranaut, who will be playing Rani Laxmibai in the upcoming historical drama Manikarnika: The Queen of Jhansi. But since she has to be tight-lipped about the project for now, we chat up Neeta about her work in two new genres of fashion we see making their way into the Indian market.
Designing for The Chainsmokers
“The outfits are quite the limited edition piece in creating an Indo-Western trend,” says Neeta. She shares that she was approached by Karan Singh of Percept Live, the event management company organising the music festival, who wanted to put together a special ‘welcome’ hamper for the DJ duo. “I believe they wanted a blend of contemporary wear with a touch of Indian motif to create a quirky fusion look that they could take back home. It’s always important that a global artist takes back home a memory and a message from India that somewhere highlights our tradition and hence I have fused traditional prints and modern cuts for the souvenir. The design is very fresh and modern but it also has an Indian touch to it with Warli art which is earthy and tribal.
Lord Ganesha is a symbol of prosperity and success and is more like a goodwill gesture. The holographic background gives a very psychedelic vibe that resonates with dance music. A lot of electro pop colours have been used since The Chainsmokers are performers and play for arena shows and colour is always required to stand out,” she describes.
Considering how the culture of dance music festivals is growing with every passing year, Neeta feels that the youth is much evolved when it comes to dressing up and they are in sync with the latest trends. “I love the headgear I see at most of these festivals and how pop colours are so beautifully used,” says the designer.
Glam up your pregnancy
Neeta shares that it’s great that women of today are showcasing how motherhood is a matter of pride and honour, and not being coy about it. “It’s great that women are comfortable in their own skin and are no longer judging themselves for those extra kilos. Many women believe that, as their pregnancy progresses, the answer to their clothing dilemma is simply to wear XXL clothing-like their husband’s T-shirts or sweat pants. Don’t adopt this style statement. You deserve to look great during your pregnancy, and wearing clothes not designed to flatter your new body structure won’t give you the confidence you need to embark on this new phase of your life,” she says.
Giving tips on how pregnant women can style themselves, Neeta shares, “Always carry your bump confidently. Hiding your tummy in oversized pants or shapeless shirts won’t disguise your figure — it will only make you look larger than you already are. It’s a contradiction, but figure-hugging clothes won’t make you look bloated when you’re expecting; they’ll make you look slimmer and sassy.”
She adds that one can opt for darker shades as it makes you look slim and pick silhouettes that cover the thighs, buttocks, belly and focus on the legs instead. “Blousons, frocks, cardigans and tunics are great picks. You can opt for cold shoulders or off shoulders instead of sleeveless, and try embroidery or printed designs in case you don’t like plain colours,” she says.
Coming to accessorisation, she feels that chandelier earrings and lariat necklaces de-emphasise fullness in your face. “Wear a patterned scarf in your hair, put a jewelled cuff on your wrist, or carry a large handbag. If you’re not going to be on your feet all day, throw on some fun open-toe sandals or sling-backs. Sexy shoes can instantly perk up practically any outfit,” says Neeta, who believes that India is still very conservative when it comes to maternity wear but with the advent of time and technology, the scene will rapidly evolve. “India needs to be more experimental and men need to respect the fact that it is okay to be fashionable when you’re pregnant and absurdly overweight,” says she.
The modern bride
The designer has worked on ensembles for brides in three different, though all very popular, television serials — Ishqbaaaz, Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai and Iss Pyaar Ko Kya Naam Doon — which will showcase the weddings soon.
Since the characters are quite different, Neeta had to come up with totally different outfits for each bride, but the common strain through all of them was that they were modern brides.
“The modern bride is someone who values traditions, upholds legacy and yet is up-to-date with current trends. She blends tradition and modernity seamlessly. The modern bride doesn’t leave her trousseau to her parents to pick, she has a mind of her own and knows exactly what she is looking for,” says Neeta, who feels that fashion is a bespoke industry.
Her regular work process involves cultivating a personal bond with her client to ensure the outfit reflects the wearer’s persona. “The whole idea is to make the outfit bring out the showstopper in the wearer. We don’t restrict a bride’s personality and give her the creative freedom to choose what best suits her personality. I always create designs that make my customer stand out rather than make an outfit that screams the name of my brand. I generally take personalised sessions with all my clients and don’t leave it to my team of stylists. I understand the event requirement and a little about the history of the bride and then mix the two to create the outfit,” says Neeta.
