Indian Designer Reimagines Benazir Bhutto’s Style Statement

From Madhubala, Benazir Bhutto to Princess Diana, Indian designer reimagines style statements of iconic women of the 80s.

Team HNH Style Team HNH Style May 29, 2020 11:52 0

Indian Designer Reimagines Benazir Bhutto’s Style Statement
Indian Designer Reimagines Benazir Bhutto’s Style Statement

Former prime minister of Pakistan Benazir Bhutto’s style has inspired many looks in pop culture over the years with celebrities immaculately trying to adorn her style statement.

It hence, came as no surprise that Indian fashion designer Torani featured the late prime minister’s power clothing in their ‘Yun Hota Toh’ series that he recently launched.

Torani posted the picture of Benazir Bhutto re-imagined in his classic designs opposite the picture of the original dress on the designer’s official Instagram account.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

???????????? ???????????????? ???????????? | ???????????????????????????? ???????????????????????? ???????? ???????????????????????? {Watercolor on paper 18.2 x 22.8 cm} — Most people can remember the exact moment they heard the news of Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto’s death. You didn’t have to be a Pakistani to feel the blow. You didn’t have to be a woman to feel the pain. Her death rocked the world... And with over a decade to her passing, all sorts of tributes to her legacy have been made. Some paint her as a great leader, others as a brave and courageous woman. — Yet it is not the politics that her legacy is limited to. For me, she will be remembered for her unapologetic attitude to womanhood. It was Benazir’s acceptance being a woman, along with an elected leader that had many in a flux. In the 1980’s, at a time when hyper masculinity was the norm for women making into a man’s world, she took on politics on her own terms.. actualising the phrase - “women can have it all” by giving birth while also being the prime minister of Pakistan. — While there was much to get inspired by, her impeccable sense of style didn’t get unnoticed. A blazer style kurta with lapels & puffy shoulders were her staple, a scarf over her head at all times and the classic rose tinted cheeks. I’d never seen before a reserved sense of power and glamour in such close parallels. — On her: Nagma aari waraq kurta paired with a Mastani cheent odhani & chakora Jhallar shawl — Illustration: @rhythmapal_ #YuhHotaToh #BenazirBhutto #ToraniIndia

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While describing the former PM, Torani wrote “While there was much to get inspired by, her impeccable sense of style didn’t get unnoticed. A blazer style kurta with lapels & puffy shoulders were her staple, a scarf over her head at all times and the classic rose tinted cheeks. I’d never seen before a reserved sense of power and glamour in such close parallels.”

Other iconic women featured in the series are Princess Diana, Madhubala, Jaya Bachchan and Rekha to name a few.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

???????????? ???????????????? ???????????? | ???????????????????????????????? ???????????????????? ???????? ???????????????????????? {Watercolor on paper 18.2 x 22.8 cm} — Self admittedly - I am a history geek. From the bed time stories of myths and fantasies in Ramayana; to the battles of Mughals I grew up learning in school. Stories from a certain era always had a lasting impression on me. However they all followed a similar pattern, succumbing to the stereotypes of patriarchy and unjust rules in society. Until I learnet about Diana’s life. Her story was different.. she was different. — From the outside looking in, her life appeared equal parts fabulous and tragic. She was and in many ways still remains one of the most famous woman in the world. Transforming from a shy 20-year-old school teacher to the People’s Princess, She was a self-possessed person who endeared herself to her adoptive subjects through iconic style and charitable works. When her death arrived two decades ago, she was divorced and hounded by the press, just beginning her new life outside the confines of Buckingham Palace.. — While she broke many glass ceilings becoming an icon of self conviction and strength, She was in equal parts compassionate and tender.. During her international tours to India and Pakistan, she wore many indian looks as a mark of respect for the tradition in the nations. For the series “Yuh hota toh”, I re-imagined her in a traditional Sindhi poshak, replacing the royal crown with a Sindhi Topi. — On her: Champa Makhmal Choga and a Sindhi Topi Illustration: @rhythmapal_ #ToraniIndia #PrincessDiana #YuhHotaToh

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???????????? ???????????????? ???????????? | ???????????????????????????????????? ???????? ???????????????????????? {Watercolor on paper 18.2 x 22.8 cm} — My obsession with Madhubala has been no secret. From “Kala Pani” to “Chalti ka naam gaadi” I scouted many old dvd stores to find her movies and watch them as a college student. — From a particular scene in the legendary film Mughal-e-azam, before Akbar (played by late Shri Prithviraj Kapoor) sends her off to trick Saleem into believing in their false marriage celebration. He coronates Anarkali / Madhubala with a crown made for “Mallika-e-Aliya” - (Queen of the universe). She is dressed in a pristine white sheer veil that made her look every bit of a goddess that she is. — That surreal visual is still fresh in my mind and flashes before me every time I think of her. She has been a muse for me ever since and I always wished To have born in her prime so I could dress her in one of our looks. It became a personal love letter to Madhubala and that long cherished dream. — On her: Kafoori Ela hand embroidered, scallop organza sari with hand cut & embellished 3d florals. — Illustration @rhythmapal_ #ToraniIndia #Madhubala #YuhHotaToh

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???????????? ???????????????? ???????????? | ???????????????? & ???????????????????? ???????? ???????????????????????? {Watercolor on paper 18.2 x 22.8 cm} — Indian fashion has always been a reflection of Cinema in the ongoing times. And every true Hindi movie-buff knows that a “Yash Chopra heroine” was a brand in itself. Think Sridevi in Chandni and Lamhe, Madhuri & Karishma in Dil To paagal hai Pagal Hai & Rakhee in Kabhie Kabhie... from figure hugging churidaar-kurtas to sensuous chiffon sarees, he gave women an elevated fashion status, making their way through Switzerland or Holland and turning heads everywhere. — But long before fashion was fashion for me, there was Rekha in Silsila. The movie is one of those underrated gems that still holds a unique place in my heart. Sporting one incredible look after another. She took the Yashraj leading lady’s style quotient to iconic levels. But what set apart Rekha’s style was Jaya Bachchan’s withdrawn looks. While Rekha was glamorous and poetic, Jaya was reserved & limiting. It made me understand how delicately their looks defined - what their characters were. — Though much was written and spoken about their personal life during the film, I continue to remain fascinated with the mystery they both exuded in their scenes. It became important for me to reimagine this one with them both in the frame. — On Jaya: Nisha Chakora boota ghunghroo sari On Rekha: Nalini saanjh sari — Video: Silsila (1981), Yash Raj Films Illustration: @rhythmapal_ #YuhHotaToh #Rekha #JayaBachchan #ToraniIndia

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Launching the campaign ‘Yun Hota Toh – Re-imagining our past through fashion, art and stories’ on May 23, the designer wrote “A large part of fashion for me is dreaming and making other people live my dreams vicariously, through the clothes we make or the stories we present.”

“Sometimes those dreams revolve around muses or artists that have collectively inspired us to shape our narrative. I often wonder how different our journey would be if we actually got to work with them. What if I got to dress Madhubala or print a newspaper ad for Torani in the 70’s instead of photo stories that we release on Instagram. Many such wishful ideas gave birth to our new series – ‘Yun Hota Toh’ (What if it were like this), a string of reimagined narratives drawn by various artists for Torani,” he continued.