I’m always surprised by Chennai: Anam Mirza

“Chennai always has a surprise in store for me. We try to bring designers who haven’t been here before so, they’re initially hesitant and ask if this city really has a market. Only when they come here do they see how unexplored fashion here is. Chennaiites are hungry for the latest trends because they don’t get to see or buy these labels readily so it’s a huge platform and we act as the medium to bridge the gap,” says Anam. 

Thanks to people like her, it looks like the city can finally shake off the general perception that Kanjeevaram sarees are the only thing women here find fashionable. “Keeping people’s taste in mind, we’ve hand-pick designers and want to showcase all the latest festive trends,” she adds. Speaking of trends, she tells us what to look out for — “Sarees draped in different forms like pants or dhotis are really in since a tinge of modern with traditional is what a lot of people are opting for.”

The most important aspect of styling a person is to know their body type, she says. “A dress might look stunning on Person A but might not suit Person B because their body structures or skin colour would differ. For example, Anarkali cuts, midi dresses, layering… look great for pear-shaped bodies but might not suit someone else, so understanding these subtle differences is vital,” she shares.

I’ve heard a lot of people say fashion is about being comfortable in but I beg to differ. Stepping outside the box is the best way to discover new styles or experiment. Even if it makes you a little uneasy, try it, because as a popular quote goes, ‘A comfort zone is a beautiful place but nothing ever grows there.’

Another thing I truly believe is that you can never go wrong with ripped denims — you can pair it with practically everything be it a T-shirt or kurta.

Third, keep the cloth as light as possible so opt for organic fabrics. This holds good for those staying in sultry climates like Chennai. Also, people are not looking for fast fashion anymore, they want their clothes and textiles to have a background.

Pregnancy is finally being celebrated in the fashion industry, right from Blake Lively to Kareena Kapoor and of course, Sania Mirza. On being her sister’s personal stylist, Anam says, “I’ve always loved styling her and her pregnancy is something special and amazing to all of us. Her and my team picked out all her outfits with love; we even chose materials carefully according to the feel and flow, so that it would improve her overall look.”