The best and the badly dressed Netas
From
crumpled clothes to designer sarees, from peep-toe heels to plain chappals,
India truly is a mix of the modern and traditional when it comes to how our
politicians dress up. While Mamata Banerjee sticks to her Bengali sarees, young
guns like Jyotiraditya Scindia like to look more savvy. Then there is Rahul
Gandhi’s trademark white kurta-pyjama and Navjot Singh Sidhu’s colourful
shirts. Here’s our list of the best-dressed and some badly dressed netas.
Best
dressed netas:
1. Gone are
his days of wearing a simple kurta-churidhar. BJP’s prime-ministerial candidate
Narendra Modi looks like he is gearing up for the country’s top job especially
through his clothes. While the Gujarat chief minister has always been a
stickler for well-fitted, crisp and ironed outfits, his recent public
appearances show that he is definitely going all out.
Today Modi has moved away from dull kurtas to bright fabrics like linen and
prefers half-sleeves. He is even seen wearing the Nehru jacket quite often.
Modi’s clothes are all reportedly sourced from a couture store - Jade Blue - in
his home state. Bipin Chauhan, who has been Modi’s personal tailor for many
years now, runs the store.
While the BJP hotshot is most
comfortable in traditional Indian wear, we hear he does have a selection of
suits in his closet.
For his improved dressing, trimmer
beard and of late impeccable style, Narendra Modi tops our ‘best dressed’ list.
2. You
can’t really go wrong with your dressing if you happen to be pretty much
running the country. Congress president Sonia Gandhi is No 2 on our ‘Best
dressed’ list because she always seems to get it right. While her style is
simple, elegant and sophisticated, it works well for this Italy-born
politician.
A young and newly wed Sonia Gandhi
saw her in some interesting Western outfits. But over the years, she has moved
away from that image. While she once had straight, silky hair, she now likes to
keep it short. Sonia Gandhi is today seen in
traditional Indian wear that includes sarees and salwars. Sonia Gandhi gets a
thumbs-up for colours, style and just the way she carries herself.
3. She
is referred to as India’s ‘Dream Girl’ for a reason. Former MP and BJP member
Hema Malini is one of those politicians who turns heads. In a good way.
She doesn’t look anywhere close to
65, and is as glamorous and stylish as she was as a young actress on-screen.
Whether it’s kanjeevarams, chiffons or tussar silks, Hema Malini looks
stunningly beautiful. Add to it some gorgeous pieces of jewellery.
4. We
wonder how our netas got their work done when she was in Parliament. There is a
dying breed of those who wear the elegant south Indian veshti. Finance Minister
P Chidambaram is one of those who swears by it. This suave and articulate
gentleman is probably one of the few people who can even carry it off with
ease.
But even as this top Congress leader
is largely seen in this trademark attire, he does shed the look for
international events and goes for the suits.
For his simplicity and unique style.
5. Being
the Prime Minister of India is probably reason enough for Dr Manmohan Singh to
be on this list.
A man of few words he may be, but Dr
Singh’s personal style speaks volumes. While he largely plays it safe both with
colours and outfits, it’s non-fussy and practical. He dresses for the occasion,
mixing it up with traditional Indian clothes, western attire and sometimes even
a suitable mix of the two.
Badly
dressed netas:
1.
She may belong to royalty. But
Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje doesn’t exactly portray the ‘royal’
image. Some of the sarees she wears are best worn behind closed doors and not
for public events.
While we don’t expect her to pile on
a few diamonds and wear outrageously expensive sarees, she could simply start
paying more attention to what she wears.
Given that her home state Rajasthan
produces some amazing work on fabric, Raje needs to rejig her wardrobe a
little.
2.
She is a five-time MP and the first
woman Speaker in the Indian Parliament. Meira Kumar has a tough job. But her
style statement doesn’t elude any toughness. Her drab sarees and boring
maroon-coloured lipstick make her look older than she probably is.
This
power woman can easily up her style sense and bring in some pizzazz to her
closet. Take a cue from your party leader, Madam Speaker.
3.
RJD chief Laloo Prasad should be
thankful for his sparky sense of humour.
With
the hairy ears and ‘son of the soil’ image, Laloo is one politician who takes
the style out of style statement.
4.
She is fierce and rebellious. BJP
leader Uma Bharati is known for her powerful oratory skills. But when it comes
to dressing up, this former Chief Minister ranks quite low.
5.
Always dressed in saffron robes
because of her pledge to sanyas, Uma Bharati seems to be carrying her saffron
ideology through her clothes as well. Her unkempt look is so not cool. And for
that she finds herself on the 'Worst Dressed' list
All this and you always see Rahul
Gandhi in a white kurta-pyjama, with sleeves rolled up. For someone who tries
to project a ‘Young India’ image, it would help his cause to actually try and
look young.
We get the whole ‘serious’, ‘I’m one
of you’ look. But we are also kinda tired of it.
Up until a few years ago, the Gandhi
scion at least made an effort to dress for the occasion. Be it suits, printed
shirts or jeans. Today it looks like he owns just one type of clothing, all in
the same colour.
While we agree that it’s probably
comfort that Rahul is looking at, he can afford to once in a while roll back
his sleeves (not literally please, Rahul, you’re doing enough of that already)
and try on some different clothes.
Take a cue or two from mom and sis,
Rahul.
