Style File: Decoding Sara Ali Khan’s style evolution

She’s one of those debutantes, who seem to have it all — goddess-like looks, incredible confidence for a newcomer and an unsurpassed style carriage. In the run-up to her debut vehicle Kedarnath, she was seen in a panoply of uber-chic and comfy Abu Jani Sandeep Khosla salwar kameezes, patiala salwars and sharara pants — all of which complemented her Indian face and porcelain skin. Pristine whites, pastels and festive prints were her go-to picks and she accessorised them with boho bags and Kolhapuris. On the red carpet too, she picked floor-length Manish Malhotra lehenga skirts and Masaba’s printed twin-sets channelling her inner desi girl. The overall vibe being girl-next-door, who prefers classic pieces with a contemporary touch.

However, in the months she promoted her next film Simmba, she threw the style arbiters off-kilter in abstract animal printed disco separates and bold bright colours, offsetting her co-star Ranveer Singh’s style shenanigans. A brand new Sara emerged — draped in colour-blocked sequins, screaming cat prints and tactile tassels. At the Simmba success bash, she looked like straight out of the Studio 54 in a shine-on Primark number and channelled a retro vibe in an animalistic jumpsuit from River Island. At another do, she didn’t shy away from a come-hither leopard print romper, which she teamed with a pair of killer Louboutin heels. Give her a Coachella-esque Hemant and Nandita dress or a beaded Topshop mini and she’s proved that she can do justice to it with an effortless ease. While her contemporaries like Janhvi Kapoor come across as stiff in front of the camera, Sara is always ready to roll and it’s never about what she’s wearing, but what she does to the ensemble.     

EFFERVESCENCE PERSONIFIED  

Sara’s already proved her acting mettle in both of her films and her off-duty style, too, merits an analysis. Whether she’s snapped in gym separates or in a denim shirt-dress, she manages to work everything to her advantage. Stylist Isha Bhansali observes that from her first movie to the next one — her fashion metamorphosis is quite interesting. “While she was promoting Kedarnath, her appearances were mostly in her favourite Abu Sandeep and of late, she’s moved to eclectic pieces, which match the hyper-stylised persona of her co-star Ranveer Singh. Having said that, she is capable of toying with many more looks since she’s such a cool girl. She’s effervescent and has a great on-screen presence, so it’d be great to see her experiment in future,” says Isha.  

(Left to right): Sara Ali Khan in a tasselled dress, in a desi pleated ensemble, in a printed twin-set by Masaba and an animal printed jumpsuit

A FUN, YOUTHFUL VIBE 

Bubbly, athletic and bold, Sara’s sartorial picks make her the ultimate muse for many stylists. Eshaa Amiin hails her as someone, who’s “fun, young and colourful vibe. Her spontaneity comes through her clothing — she makes a surprising transition from being a simple girl-next-door to someone impossibly elegant with a hint of power. There’s a dash of dynamism about every appearance — that’s more her personality. Even if she rocks a pretty lehenga, there’s something about her body language and the way she carries it,” says the stylist.