Return of 90s 'fashion' spirit

Let’s start on a serious note. Are you a child of the ‘90s?  If yes, then most often than not, you must be reminiscing about the ‘good ol-days’. Good ol’ days? Those were like ages ago, you say. Well yes, we are in 2013 and yes, we are getting old. I’m sure the kids born in the millennial generation thinks we are maybe ‘antiques’. As much as the truth hurts, but we, the kids of 90s, sure had our own share of fun, fashion and entertainment at that time - we had masala packed films full of melodrama (no realist tomfoolery that took over Bollywood in 2010 and 2011), Michael Jackson and Backstreet Boyz’s music internationally and the likes of Alisha Chinoy, Baba Sehgal, Lucky Ali and Shaan ruling the roost at home. We also had Byomkesh Bakshi and Captain Vyom as our desi heroes, and slam books instead of confession pages to pour our hearts out. But most importantly, 90s was the time when we started experimenting with fashion.

The 90s marked a shift in fashion for both men and women as India opened its doors to international brands like GAP, DKNY, Dolce & Gabbana and Levis through its new economic policies. No more casual or over the top dressing - with designers like Manish Malhotra and Surily Goel designing for Bollywood stars, clothes in 90s became charming, sexy, and street as in Rangeela; feminine minus the garishness as in Raja Hindustani and breezy and fresh as in Dil To Pagal Hai. In fact Kuch Kuch Hota Hai took college fashion to a whole new level with young boys and girls sporting sweatshirts and ultra minis respectively.

Whatever it was, 90s fashion did leave an impact on our generation. And I'm glad that some of those trends are back. Here are some of those trends that have risen from the 90s fashion list...

Crop em' up ladies: Miley, Selena and Gwyneth show off their slender waistline

Tank and crop tops and hot pants

Urmila Matondkar became an overnight sensation sporting a mix of what can be best called a mix of desi belle meets femme fatale outfits in Rangeela. Her wardrobe consisted of thigh high boots, miniskirts and floral dresses - all of which have made a comeback in today’s fashion scene. What’s more, the good ol’ Dungarees or the overalls as they are sometimes called have also managed to sneak back in with the likes of Selena Gomez and Zoe Saldana sporting them off and on.  

Chiffon saris

Made famous by Karisma Kapoor in Raja Hindustani and Madhuri Dixit in Dil Toh Pagal Hai, chiffon saris have become a must for your summer wardrobe. Solid or pastel, neon or net, pick any colour, but the mantra of wearing them still remains the same as it was in the 90s - minimalistic accessories and simple hairstyle.

Actresses Deepika Padukone, Katrina Kaif and Priyanka Chopra go grunge. Pic: metromela.com

Grunge

Remember the grunge look Rani Mukerji sported in Bichhoo? Be it her leather minis or jackets, lofty oversized shirts and even the neck chokers or seed beads - it is all back. Ripped jeans too are an important part of grunge dressing - the more tattered and torn the better, and with stars like Anushka Sharma, Deepika Padukone and Priyanka Chopra sporting the look, we can safely say that grunge is in.  

Miley in hot high waisted shorts. pic: celebitchy.com

High Waisted Shorts

Miley Cyrus can single handedly be credited for bringing this trend back in fashion. It wouldn't be wrong to say that high-waisted shorts have become a part of her signature style, as she is often clicked roaming around in them. Though Piggy Chops (in her Exotic video) and Dippy (in the movie Cocktail) have tried to ooze their sex appeal in these shorts, youngsters back home are yet to take a fancy to this garment, but like everything else, it is just a matter of time before the trend catches up.  

The kurtis and the Anarkalis

Designer duo Abu Jani and Sandeep Khosla first introduced the Anarkali in 1988, while the kurtis made their ramp debut in 1998 through designer Monisha Jaising. While Anarkalis have become a staple for every women be it on television shows, social functions and even red carpet appearances, when it comes to traditional wear, kurtis on the other hand have seen various adaptations and modifications to remain in trend. Popular in the 90s as an embroidered light garment, kurtis have evolved to kurti dresses, tunics and kaftans.

Jelly'like': Jelly sandals come in really nice and vibrant colours

Jelly sandals and bellies

Katy Perry, Anne Hathaway, Katie Holmes - international celebs have been rocking this trend for some time now, and with the desi junta back here following suit, flip-flops and jelly sandals have made a comeback in vibrant colors. These are not just perfect for a monsoon day out but also helps brighten up your day by adding colour to your outfit. Recently actress Aditi Rao Hydari of Murder 3 fame launched a whole new monsoon collection for a big footwear company aimed to ‘beat the monsoon doldrums with vibrant colored footwear’. In fact, if I might add this in this section - platform flip-flops too have made a comeback. As ugly as they look, they are back on the display windows - Sad, but true.

While there are many other items too that have or are on the verge of bursting upon the fashion scene, we think these five trends are here to stay. What say!

 

Indian culture through Bollywood's lens

Picturesque locations, sprawling spaces, grand sets, colourful decorations and women decked up in all their finery and accessories – this is how Bollywood celebrates the traditional Indian festivals. In fact some of the festivals that were only celebrated as age old traditions have become glamorised and are more keenly celebrated than ever – such as Dahi Handi and Ganesh Chaturthi, and the big factor behind this change is our Hindi cinema. While Diwali and Holi and sometimes Karva Chauth used to be the only few festivals that our earlier generation of film lovers got to see, the filmi kaleidoscope, over the years, has expanded much broader to now include lesser known festivals such as Durga Puja (in the film Kahaani), Ganesh Chaturthi (in films like Don remake and Agneepath remake) and Navratri (in the recent release Kai Po Che). All these festivals have time and again found space in Hindi movies once in a while, if not frequently, in the form of either a theme, scene, song or a reference point. Here’s a sneak peak at how Bollywood celebrates some of the most popular Indian festivals in true blue filmi style…     

Diwali song from Mohabbatein

Diwali

While there were films like in the 1940s and 50s like Diwali in 1940 , Ghar Ghar Mein Diwali in 1955 and Diwali Ki Raat 1956 that had Diwali as its central theme, it was Karan Johar’s Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham that gave Diwali a glamourised twist. The image of Jaya Bachchan waiting for her son played by Shah Rukh Khan, with a puja ki thali in her hand, as the entire household breaks into a song and dance routine is something that’s etched in most of Hindi film lovers’ minds.
Other than K3G, movies like Mohabbetein, Chachi 420, Aamdani Athhanni Kharcha Rupaiya used Diwali to bring in either the climax or to take the story forward.  

Holi

Deepika and Ranbir celebrate Holi in style in Yeh Jawani Hai Deewani

Bollywood's relationship with Diwali is not as deep as with Holi. From playful Holi songs to climaxes happening because of Holi to our hero and heroine falling in love with colors splashing in the background… Holi has been a part of Bollywood from ages. Filmmakers' have always welcomed a chance to sprinkle the screen with colour - be it through Amitabh Bachchan and Rekha's bhang induced Rang Barse from Silsila or Dharmendra and Hema Malini’s masti in Holi Ke Din from Sholay or Rajesh Khanna’s flirtious Khelenge Hum Holi with Asha Parekh from Kati Patang.
Holi definitely brings people closer to one another - be it friends, relatives or lovers. No wonder, our film directors, time and again have used Holi celebrations as a perfect occasion to either make friends with your rutha yaar (Aaj Na Chhodenge from Kati Patang), or to find your khoya pyaar (Rang Di from Dhanwaan), and if everything else fails then do thodi ched chaad (Ang Se Ang Lagana from Darr).
The last movie to have a full-fledged Holi song was Action Replayy in 2010 where Aishwarya Rai Bachchan unleashed her mischievousness in a fun song Jali Toh. Now, the hot and happening pair of Ranbir Kapoor and Deepika Padukone are all set to make a huge Holi splash in their forthcoming film Yeh Jawani Hai Deewani with the song Balam Pichkari.  

The famous Karva Chauth song, Leja Leja, from K3G

Karva Chauth

Karva Chauth as a festival used to be a very private affair with ladies observing a full day fast for the long life of their husbands, but thanks to Bollywood, Karva Chauth too has got a glamourised makeover and is celebrated by all and sundry.  Just like Holi and Diwali, the festival of Karva Chauth too gives our filmi people a chance to showcase grand sets, grand decorations and even grander emotions.
The credit for projecting Karva Chauth as a larger than life festival goes to Sooraj Barjatya and his cult film Hum Aapke Hain Koun that showed the entire family participating in the festivities. After that came Shah Rukh Khan and Kajol starrer Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge. The film took the popularity of this festival to an altogether different level, with people from all over India beginning to celebrate the festival. Such was the popularity of the film and the Karva Chauth sequence that keeping Karva Chauth fast became a symbol of true love.
The trend was carried forward by films like Judaai, Biwi No.1, Raja Hindustani, Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham, Baaghban, Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam and many more.

Hrithik Roshan celebrating Ganesh Chaturthi in Agneepath

Ganesh Chaturthi

Whether it is on account of Bollywood being located in Mumbai or just the love of devotees for Lord Ganesha, his towering presence is seen off and on in Hindi films. The elephant God who is a symbol of good luck and prosperity keeps making his presence felt either through faith of the characters, through narrative and even through happy endings – but most of all through songs as a symbol of love and strength. The recent example being that of Karan Johar’s Agneepath, where a complete song, in the form of an Aarti, Shri Ganesha Deva, was dedicated to lord Ganesha. Incidentally the song also served as a major turning point for the film. Ditto with the original Agneepath starring Amitabh Bachchan and Mithun Chakraborty, where the duo sing Ganpati Apne Gaon Chale.
If Amitabh Bachchan has done it, how can Shah Rukh Khan not do it? Following Big B’s footsteps in the remake of Don, SRK even went a step ahead and danced to Mourya Re, inviting Ganpati bapa’s blessings. Similarly Salman Khan danced to Mera Hi Jalwa in his film Wanted and since then Sallu bhai has been spreading his jalwa in the form of back-to-back hits.
Deva Ho Deva Ganpati Deva from the movie Hum Paanch is another classic that one can listen too across pandals and on streets during and around Ganesh Chaturthi.