A million-watt smile, an amicable wave, a perfect pout, the right angle, a trend-setting dress and of course, that news-making sound-bite  for the camera — all happen on the red carpet before a gala commences. To grab the headlines flashbulbs go crazy. But things can also go wrong. Any minor snag- a slip of the tongue, a wardrobe-malfunction, a bad hair-day,  wrong sartorial choices, flats instead of high heels — all come under the scanner instantly and social buzz both online and offline,  begins across the town.   

However, “Often outrageous fashion works to one’s advantage,” points out fashion choreographer Shakir Shaikh. “For example, Rihanna the  singer-songwriter, gets it bang on when she walks down the red carpet. Sure, she’s a little bit outrageous but whatever avatar she has assumed so far, it has fetched her a coveted attention, be it the omelette dress or anything bold, revealing and sexy.”

On the home-front, Sonam Kapoor leads the a la mode brigade. She carries off her stuff elegantly and possesses a keen fashion sense that is widely admired. A lot of credit also goes to her team for enhancing her looks.

Dressing for the occasion is definitely a must-count quality on the red carpet. “You just can’t be a wide-eyed wannabe suddenly hogging the limelight out of the blue. You are expected to inculcate a certain level of restraint in your social behaviour and approach. Moving in the glitterati circles should come with responsibility too,” says Shaikh. 

In case of an after-party demeanour, he comments: “One needs to know it’s a commemoration of something in a celebratory mood and not a privately owned affair. A word of caution for the newbies: don’t overstep limits of civility and treat every social do as a rave party where one may spiral out of control and get sloshed to suffer the hangover till next morning.”

Delhi based designer Ridhi Arora says:  “The outfits are turning grander by the day in terms of cuts, forms and shapes but minimalistic in terms of embellishments. Ivory, nudes and pastel shades are still in vogue for the women-wear section, while fiery red or cherry, royal blues and evergreen black largely dominate the palette if the ladies opt for a bolder look."

On male fashion, she says: “For the men ideally, the most sophisticated red carpet outing will be in a traditional tuxedo with modern cuts and fine tailoring. Steel grey, black and navy  blue spell out the seasonal chromes for the suit fabric.”        

Sparkling on a runway or the red carpet and be clicked as the next pin-up girl or a poster boy is every debutante’s dream. But it’s not the attire alone. Jewellery and accessories go a long way to enhance the aura. 

“Red carpet jewellery prompts the  latest fad and inspires hawk-eyed fashionistas. To fill in the women’s caskets, innovative ear cuffs, cuffs and multiple finger rings are in great demand. The only mandate is that the pieces should consist of a relatively large diamond, a girl’s best friend. Also regularly seen are long neck chains with eclectic pendants. Some even pick up tiaras to adorn their hairdos. The preferred metals are white and rose gold,” comments Aakash Barmecha, CEO, Yoube Jewellery Ltd.

As for  the fashionable  man’s wardrobe, he observes: “Men’s flamboyance is also getting reflected in their accessories. They frequently don sleek rings with unique shanks, featuring square and baguette shaped diamonds besides wrist straps in leather or alternative materials with a single motif worn alongside a flashy watch as well as bracelets in white/rose/yellow gold or a fusion set with diamonds.”

With the advent of a powerful social media and under constant scrutiny, celebs have to be on watch constantly. Thus image building is an imperative exercise in today’s times. In the ongoing intolerance debate, both the perfectionist actor Aamir Khan and matinee idol Shah Rukh Khan with a fine gift of the gab were drawn into the dragnet of criticisms for  speaking out their minds.

It only takes a fraction of a second for the internet to go viral with trolls, memes and tweets on such issues. “We are being constantly judged on how we present and project ourselves and what we say or do on a daily basis. The masses have become highly sensitive. So it’s vital to take an expert’s opinion and PR guidance whenever necessary to manage one’s image,” believes image consultant Prachi Mishra from Pune.  

She votes for Big B Amitabh Bachchan as the best example of always being impeccably dressed and speaking articulately. “He has millions of followers on the networking sites and he connects beautifully with his fans. The megastar wins hands down as a respectable citizen and a brand ambassador.”

Mishra finds actress Kangana Ranaut holding her own with confidence too. “She has a great personal style and is remembered for an impressive body of work and wearing the heart on her sleeves.”      

 Image: Angelina Jolie courtesy hdfinewallpapers