Sports in India are reasons for massive celebrations. A win in cricket can bring hundreds out on to the streets and the recent Olympics medals brought with them an almost festive atmosphere. It’s in that very spirit that we cherish our champions. We splash their photos on front pages, we stick their photos on our walls for inspiration and yes, consumer brands make a beeline for their endorsement. Why not? They are some of the most recognised faces on our streets.
Which is why many wonder why the few who were responsible for India’s most thrilling moments from Rio appeared either staid or showy back home.
Sports stars don’t often have to go out of their way to look glamorous — a simple outfit that reflects their personality will do the trick. They are already fit, toned and possess a sense of personal calm that’s attractive. And it’s true, unlike Bollywood stars and their often awkward antics, sportstars just need to turn up to awe the crowd.
Srikanth Kidambi looks dapper in this look. But he could do with a little help from a stylist.
Indrakshi Pattanaik, a celebrity stylist, says, “I think P.V. Sindhu can do better. There is so much scope to style a sports person. Comfort fashion and sport luxe fashion is in these days and they should make the most of that.”
“I don’t really like the crop top and skirt look that she wore recently. They don’t need to look like movie stars who are new to the industry, when they are actually bosses in their own fields. They should own their style by being themselves. Sure, they do need a few fashion tips, but ultimately, their dressing should reflect their personality. They don’t need to be dolled up to look good,” she says, adding that she had styled Saina Nehwal keeping her ‘sporty’ personality in mind.
Sindhu’s stylist, Shravya Varma, who has earlier styled many Tollywood stars explains her thought process behind styling the Olympic silver medallist.
“Styling movie stars is very different from styling sports persons. Styling Sindhu was a real challenge for me as people are very territorial about her right now. I chose from a lot of Indian clothes and tried to play it safe. I am being a little more liberal about her clothing and you can see the result in her recent look where she sported a crop top.”
About retaining Sindhu’s personality in the way she is dressed, Shravya says, “If you keep her splendid achievement aside, she is just another 21-year-old who loves dressing up. That’s her personality. Even though she doesn’t wear some styles outdoors, she loves to try out all kinds,” she says.
When it comes to men, Shravya says the popularity of a certain sport decides how much attention the players pay to their appearance. “Take Virat Kohli for example. He understands that he gets a lot of media attention and that he needs to dress fashionably. Badminton is gaining popularity only now. As the media attention grows, players will start giving more importance to the way they look,” she says.
Rick Roy, another celebrity stylist, says, “They must not wear something just because it is trendy, and then end up feeling awkward. They should keep their body structure in mind and retain a style statement of their own.”
Another point that he makes is that they must dress for the occasion. “Their style shouldn’t really matter because they are sports persons first. All that is required of them is to look presentable and their fashion must be in tune with the occasion.”
