Is White the new Red? Cracking the curious case of why the colour is suddenly everyone’s favourite

Cracking the curious case of why white is suddenly everyone’s favourite.

Listen to this article

Is white the new red? Cracking the curious case of why it’s suddenly everyone’s favourite

x

Alia Bhatt created waves last week when she wore her white Sabyasachi wedding sari to receive her National Film Award from the President of India. People couldn’t stop talking about how the actor’s style is a masterclass in sustainability and how to re-wear your clothes, especially your wedding trousseau. Even we jumped on the bandwagon to share our opinion on the matter.

But, for me, what popped out in the sea of homogenous fashion at the National Film Awards was the utter lack of colour. Almost all the recipients, including Allu Arjun, Kriti Sanon and even Pankaj Tripathi donned muted shades of ivory and white. This waxed-out pallor has become the unofficial thappa of Bollywood, whether it is their weddings or any major jaunts.

All the colour has been wrung out like their clothes were left out too long in the June ki garmi. The runways seem to be reflecting this obsession. Fashion designer Nupur Kanoi believes this transition of wearing white to weddings and important gatherings (when it has been traditionally associated with funerals and deaths) reflects a shift in fashion and cultural norms.

There is, of course, the obvious reason that white provides essentially “a blank canvas for experimentation,” celebrity stylist Rishi Raj noted. The shades provide versatility, explained Kanoi, allowing them to be paired with bold colours or used as a monochromatic statement.

But, other than that, Raj also attributes this rise to the growing emphasis on minimalism and elegance: “White and ivory exude simplicity and sophistication, making them a popular choice.” Kanoi added that it reflects a desire for classic and sophisticated looks that never go out of style.

Another reason is the globalisation of fashion, according to Raj. He credited the explosion of white to continued exposure to Western bridal trends, “where white is symbolic of purity and new beginnings.”

Celebrities are trend-setters, intentionally or not, and play an important role in reshaping the public’s perception. New-age celebrities like Kriti Sanon, Alia Bhatt, and Mahira Khan by choosing colours like white are showing that it doesn’t necessarily carry the same connotations the colour once did. In their quest for uniqueness though, they have ended up looking the exact same. As it is evidenced by the barrage of similar bridal lehengas, jewellery and colours all of them seem to be wearing (remember the most recent ‘white wedding’ in Udaipur?).

View this post on Instagram

Anuradha Chandrashekar, cofounder of ICH NEXT, an Indian wear forecasting firm, pointed out the most compulsive rationale behind this obsession with pallid beiges and whites — the emergence and growing popularity of quiet luxury.

Advertisement

Did you know white was original a favoured (non) colour of the Nawabs? Chosen to be worn on auspicious occasions and festivals, it was symbolic of paying one’s respects during worship, and to not distract from one’s purpose during these religious festivities, Chandrashekhar tells indianexpress.com

Most Read

1
Kangana Ranaut fumbles as she fires arrow at Delhi’s Dussehra celebration, fans recall when she compared herself to Tom Cruise. Watch

2
Leo box office collection day 7: Thalapathy Vijay’s blockbuster passes Rs 500 crore global gross in one week; Jailer’s record in sight

“While still opulent, it provided the royalty a statement of understated elegance,” she said.

The quiet luxury trend has given way to the rise of ivory and white as they are emblematic of this royal grandeur. Especially now that Indian and Pakistani designers like Sabyasachi, Anita Dongre, Arjun Dugal and Sana Yasir are diving into historical archives to recreate these purist moments of the past, Chandrashekhar thinks this transference of the colour was bound to occur.

View this post on Instagram

She explained that the trend is expected to stay on the rise for another season, at the least. Though Raj is of a slightly different opinion. “It is unlikely to replace hues of red entirely, as they hold deep-rooted cultural and emotional significance. White might coexist and even gain popularity as a complementary colour or as a statement piece in bridal attire,” he said.

Also Read

Advertisement

ALSO READ Twitter

Leave a Reply