Safe, but nothing less than spectacular is Lata Madhu’s signature style, amply reflected in everything from her sartorial choices to the immaculate white interiors of her boutique store. “These days when I enter a mall I know exactly which stores I am going to spend time at. I don’t have the necessity anymore to browse through every store and outfit”, she begins. Amazed by her almost strategic approach toward fashion and her unmistakably sensible wardrobe choices, I ask her if she has ever in all these years had one of those ‘what was I thinking?’ moments and she assures, “Yes I have. There are some things that I have worn back when I was in college that I thought worked for me at that time but actually did not.” I refuse to believe, so she goes on, “Like a shirt with shoulder pads that had print in patches. I picked it up about fifteen years ago when I was leaving to the U.S and when shoulder pads were quite big. My family never spared me comparisons to the most ridiculous of historical figures”, she laughs.
A kaftan by Nikasha Tawadey is one of the most recent additions she has made to her closet. Bright red she agrees is a move away from her sensibility but says she gave in because “It was a truly gorgeous line of oranges and reds. You can say I wear five colours at all times. There are some colours like fuschia or turquoise that I would never wear.” She then explains the absence of dresses and her ‘just bought’ pair of True Religion jeans. “I never wear dresses because I don’t have the legs for them and True religion is a brand that I think makes the best fitting jeans for Indian women”
Her love for and understanding of brands and labels is obvious throughout the conversation but again she clarifies she is no fashion victim. “I never pick up anything directly off the ramp because the designs definitely are made to look a little more edgy. They look fabulous on 5’8” models but I usually like a sleeve, a cut or a length and prefer customizing the outfits to my taste.” What do I look for next? Nostalgia, an element without which no wardrobe is complete. “My mom’s Gypsy rose kurta, which I don’t wear much these days but always reminds me of how glamorous she used to look in it. It was quite a thing back then when she was a regular in the party circle”
She confesses a weakness for fancy footwear which explains a covetable six inch high pair of gladiators by Nine west. “But these days I make sure that out of every three pairs I buy, two are sensible. I spend a lot of time on my feet and there are some shoes that look gorgeous but in which I can never walk the stairs of ‘The Park’ for example.” To conclude, a wardrobe resolution, I ask. “I never feel guilty when I splurge especially at this stage of my life when I am not answerable to anyone for what I spend. Maybe I should change that”, she laughs. Now that’s one resolution we never want this shopaholic to make.
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