It’s a fashion jamboree
21 January, 2017, Jaipur: Over the years, the JLF acorn has grown into a mighty oak. The stupendous growth of the event has extended its boundaries beyond authors, books and reading sessions. The world’s largest free literary festival hosts sessions of well-known historians, authors, actors, poets and literati. Not only is it in vogue to be present at JLF, but also being there in style is important. For many, the Litfest provides a five-day opportunity to make fashion statements.
In fact, many aptly call it a ‘fashion jamboree’ where fashion trends in apparel and accessories draw as many eyeballs as fest’s core literary activities. It would not be out of place to say that fashion takes on a new meaning during the five Litfest days thereby presenting a colourful panorama of ethnic and modern fashion trends. The ambiance of the Diggi Palace provides just the right backdrop for the young brigade to put their best fashion foot forward.
With the young brigade clad in colourful and chic scarves, shawls, Nehru jackets, overcoats, boots, leather jackets, beautifully complemented with chunky accessories like psychedelic glasses, bowler hats, dangling earrings, choker neckwear and a variety of bracelets, one gets an eyeful.
I was surprised when my friends from Kolkata, and even a few from London, visiting the JLf for the first time wanted to know what clothes they should bring for the Festival and they did not refer to the cold weather. They were more interested in making a style statement. The strategically located selfie points and photo booths also play a role in reflecting the kind of fashion trends at the fest. The sheer variety of dresses adds to the pageantry.
The regular visiting authors also have their own styles. Shashi Tharoor dons smart Nehru jackets with matching pocket squares and his shirts have eye-catching cufflinks. Gulzar and Javed Akhtar wear their trademark long kurtas and pyjamas. Javed is usually seen in a Modi jacket and a shawl flowing down from his shoulders. William Dalrymple loves wearing trousers with short kurtas. Sanjoy is seen with ethnic printed shirts and sleeveless jackets. Navtej Sarna loves wearing overcoats given the January Jaipur winter.
The current JLF is also about high fashion and also a show ethnic sartorial display. Funky trinkets, ethnic apparels, upbeat eyewear, colourful headgear and so on.
My designer friend Rohit Kamra, for sure, gets inquiries from Jaipurites on the fashions trends doing the rounds at the Litfest and who to wear. It could be for the event or for the dinners or the grand finale, something that would differentiate you from the crowd.
On a personal note, I prefer to wear my trademark kurta and pyjamas which stick to me like a uniform and even makes it easier for my friends and acquaintances to spot me in the milling crowd.
ess bee