Her style statement has been in the making for eight years. Ever since she made her debut in Gangster, Kangana Ranaut has been on an upward fashion curve. She’s improved with each experience, she’s faced her share of scathing criticism and she’s enjoyed the laurels just as much. Today, she’s one of the definitive style icons in the country. When she sets foot on a red carpet or a ramp, it spells instantaneous magic. She takes international brands and fashion names and adds her own quirk to their flawless creations. That’s Kangana’s secret. She’s learnt the hard way but she knows how to appease the fashion brigade with her sense of inimitability. She can take risks and pull them off when no other fashionista will even dare to consider the same. Her whimsical approach to style makes her ever endearing. If there ever was a self-made fashion icon, it’s this small-town girl turned diva.
2006
‘Curly-locks’. That’s how we recognised her. Her unruly tresses in her debut Gangster conveyed her bohemian vibe. Her plunging necklines, knitted dresses and casual skirts further established her radical image. Though criticised for her accent, Kangana shut the critics up with her stellar performance and won the Filmfare Best Debut Award that year. Her next film, Woh Lamhe failed to make much of an impact. As for her personal style, it was too early for us to get a fix on it.
2007
Soon we discovered a whole new Kangana in the movies. Her long curly-wurly locks had undergone a makeover. Her hairdo was that of an officegoer’s in Life In A… Metro. Her styling was about pin-striped suits, baby pink shirts, geeky frames and short straight strands with a delicate fringe. Her clean look made us notice her sharp features.
2008
Fashion happened to Kangana Ranaut. Pun intended. Besides working on her diction and histrionics, this movie provided her an understanding of fashion too – her role being that of a top shot model. That she has an eye for style only helped. This in spite of hailing from India’s small town Mandi in Himachal Pradesh. Her dressing was not as avant-garde as it is today but it was stylish.
2009
Her fashion research was paying dividends on and off screen. Her role in Raaz – The Mystery Continues showcased style over substance. Even her photo shoots became snappier. Her experiments had begun. Check out her pink dress and print-on-print tee and shorts number to know what we mean.
Raaz - the mystery continues
2010
Until now you saw Kangana go all out with her hair styles only for her movies. This year she broke that norm. When in traditional attire, she left her strands straight and loose. For chic dresses, she opted for messy buns. Back combing was chanced upon at photo shoots. The word classy made way into her closet. Another revelation was her vintage take in Once Upon A Time In Mumbaai celebrating the bouffant and wardrobe of the ’70s.
Once Upon A Time in Mumbaai
2011
By now, she had an edge above her contemporaries fashion wise. Tanu Weds Manu didn’t portray that. But her bikini act in Rascals certainly did. Her make-up got bolder. The brands went international. And her confidence sky rocketed. She even went ahead and chopped her locks.
Tanu Weds Manu and Rascals
2012
Dior, Vivienne Westwood, Chanel, Lanvin became everyday affairs. She spoke the fashion lingo. She questionsed stereotypes. She once wore a Sabyasachi lehenga with an embellished hair band sans make-up or jewellery. She excelled the classic Audrey Hepburn look often. And was one of the first few to endorse the
cat-eyed frames and faux Bob.
Tezz
2013
She worked the plain Jane vibe in Shootout At Wadala. But Krrish 3 was a whole new ballgame with her futuristic avatars. At Rakesh Roshan’s party, she went for blonde eyebrows with thick, black kohl eyes. Something even fashion experts tagged as a revelation. Going Gothic, traditional, androgynous, feminine, edgy, classic, retro, flirty… she was unstoppable, she’d become fashion’s encyclopedia.
Shootout At Wadala and Krrish 3
2014
When in doubt, turn to Kangana. This year she undoubtedly became the Queen of fashion - at the red carpet and the movies. Designers win half their battle when they get Kangana as their muse. Coco Chanel once claimed “I don’t do fashion, I am fashion.” Kangana reminds us of that zest. Cheers to the rebel with a cause!
Queen and Revolver Rani
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