Underrated fashion icons

Right from my childhood I was always surrounded with great reading material. Because of my dad's profession we used to receive a lot of magazines at home. I used to read a lot of magazines ever since I was 7 years old. I would love browsing through fashion magazines. The glossy pages and the scent of the magazine was always fascinating to me.

Once I was going through the magazines to see which one I should read. I stumbled upon a fashion magazine. I stopped immediately. Not only because I loved fashion, but this one specifically caught my attention. On the cover page I did not see a beautiful young model. I saw an elderly woman. She had wrinkles on her face. Her hair was White like snow. She was wearing a simple plain saree. Yet that simple saree looked luxurious. She was wearing a pearl chocker. She was wearing nothing fashionable but she looked heavenly. She look like the most beautiful women I had ever seen. Hairstyle was timeless and efforless. She looked regal and elegant. She was elderly but no young model good ever be able to match her beauty. Then I glanced at her name. She was Maharani Gayatri Devi.

She was a royal woman and it was so evident. Her face, skin, poise quietly told that she was a royalty. She was a revolutionary. She had used her power to do something good for the society. Her beauty came from her good deeds rather than her fashion sense. The more I read about her the more I got impressed with her work.

Her style was so simple and classic. Whatever she wore she always looked elegant. Her beauty was unmatched. We always say simplicity is the ultimate sophistication. Maharani Gayatri Devi had shown that with her own example. Her chiffon sarees were her classic style. Her sari drapping was sophisticated, elegant, and royal.

Not only for her style she gained recognition. It was because of her work, she also worked to empower women and girls. She founded Girls Public School in Rajasthan to promote education for a girls.

Long before the modern fashion became all about quiet luxury and effortless elegance Maharani Gayatri Devi was ahead on the curve. Long before the minimalist stylr became a Pinterest board, Maharani Gayatri Devi herself was the aesthetic. Once upon a time, biggest fashion magazines had mentioned her as one of the top most beautiful women in the world. Her royal style bridged the gap between traditional Indian Heritage and European sophistication. When Royal dressing was all about showing of the wealth, Maharani Gayatri Devi reduced it to simplicity. Her style was all about the fluid fabrics, breathability, and simplicity. She not only was the queen but she also became a fashion royalty. She was a minimalist even before minimalistic became a trend and fashion. Even today if we can take one ounce of her fashion sense, our the fashion game would completely change.

Today if someone ask me who is my favourite fashion icon it would be none other than Maharani Gayatri Devi. Style naturally came to her she did not have to try hard to look amazing.

She was known in the music industry for her versatile methods of singing. She could sing a bhajan and make it sound peaceful. She could sing an energetic dance number. She could sing a love song making the generations to fall in love with it. She could sing a song and make it sound sensuous. She had the strong vocals and she became a music legend. Her name was Asha Bhosle. At the same time I feel that as a fashion icon she is not celebrated enough.

Since my childhood I was drawn to music. I would listen to all songs that were being played in my household. I would listen to bhajans with my grandmother, Bollywood music with my mother, and rhymes with my sister. What I did not know what that the singer for all these genres was the same - Asha Bhosale.

I remember I saw Asha Bhosle's first performance of my life on the TV. It was a new year special program. I saw an elegant women walking on the stage barefoot. She was wearing a saree. Her hair tied in a bun. She was wearing a rose flower in her bun. She was carrying her Pallu in her left hand and mic in her right hand. She gracefully walked to the centre of the stage. Bowing down to the stage first and then bowing down to the audience. A simple graceful gesture by the legendary Asha Bhosle. When she started singing the entire atmosphere changed. It did not matter that I was not in the auditorium but watching it from my home. The magic still continued.

But another thing that caught my attention was her outfit. She was wearing traditional Indian attire. It would be much similar to what my mother or my aunts used to wear. He had effortlessly worn everyday clothes but she made them look so sophisticated. It was a simple attire but she made it look like a show stopper's outfit. It made me question whether it was the outfit or the aura of this legendary woman?

Even in the music videos if Asha Bhosle featured she would easily outsine the actress and the model. Her elegance would be unmatched. She had a elecrifying screen presence. Her pleasant smile would light up the entire TV screen.

I would always watch Asha bhosle's concert on YouTube and I would observe her outfits. Simple saree, simple slack back low bun, simple makeup, and lots of elegance. Asha Bhosle was the "clean girl" before the clean girl aesthetic became a Pinterest Trend.

In the world where celebrities would wear heavy accessories, legendary Asha Tai would stay away from them. She would always step on the stage barefoot because she considered the stage to be the God. In the era where the quiet luxury became a social media trend, Asha Bhosle had already aced it. When the fashion world decided that Indian clothing can be presented at the international stage, Asha Bhosle had already done that decades ago.

A few months back we said our goodbye to our favourite music icon and fashion icon. Asha Bhosle's songs and fashion sense will always keep her alive in the hearts of her fans.

I was in school at that time - maybe in Grade 2. My friend Pooja came to me excited. Pooja was the one who would always be on top of every entertainment piece. Pooja was telling me about a new music video that she had seen. It was called "Made in India". She told me that it is a video that should not be missed. She described so much about that music video that even made me eager to watch.

At that time video platforms such as YouTube were not available. In 90s we had to wait for the weekly program "Chhayageet" to watch the songs. That evening I was waiting to watch Chhayageet. I knew in my heart that the new song is going to appear and it did.

Just how Pooja had told me this song was magnificent. The visuals, costumes, and the set design of this song was amazing. The music too was great. The song was melodious enough to bring my mother and grandmother from the kitchen to the living room to watch that song. But the last 20 seconds of the song were something I had to highlight. In the last 20 seconds it is shown that a box arrives. On the box "Made in India" is printed in bold red letters. When they open a box a man appears from it. The man is wearing a traditional white silk dhoti. The man looks athletically fit. He has the face and complexion of a typically Indian man. He looks regal and majestic. He walks gracefully like a leopard. No wonder that the man was exceptionally handsome but the way he carried himself was something extraordinary. I wondered who this man was. I asked my elder sister and she told me the man was a supermodel, Milind Soman.

Since that time I had been a fan of Milind Soman. Every advertisement he appeared on he would look impeccable. He was considered to be one of the best ramp models of 90s and definitely it is something he deserved. He would walk as if he owned the ramp. He would maje ordinary clothes look stunning. He had done many ramp walks and commercials. His commercial campaign for Tuff Shoes was something that was considered "scandalous" in the 90s. Despite that his modelling and acting ventures continued.

In the recent past Milind Soman became a voice and icon for fitness. Even at the age of 60 he looks amazing. He is extremely fit and participate in various marathons. His passion for running and swimming helps him maintain his health and fitness even at this age. At the age of 60 he is still considered to be a desirable man.

What I like about him is his love towards Indian culture. Even today we see that at many national and international ceremonies he wears Indian clothing. And of course he looks marvelous in those clothing pieces. On his social media he advocate practicing yoga and meditation. While most celebrities are showing sponsored content he focuses mainly on fitness and exercise. Even at the age of 60 he its still considered a youth icon, a fitness icon, and undoubtedly a fashion icon.

Though I still believe he is an underrated fashion icon. I would like him to see back on the ramp representing Indian fashion designer and Indian traditional attire. I know he will do justice to that.