If, like me, you love a little Bollywood nostalgia in your wardrobe: A practical reader guide

If, like me, you love a little Bollywood nostalgia in your wardrobe: A practical reader guide

Samarpita Yashaswini is a Content Producer for Fashion (HT Shop Now) at Hindustan Times Digital. She has five years of experience in lifestyle writing, specialising in fashion, beauty, and trend-led commerce content. She covers everything from seasonal must-haves and wardrobe essentials to brand reviews and styling edits that make everyday dressing easier and more exciting.

If, like me, you love a little Bollywood nostalgia in your wardrobe: A practical reader guide

Over the years, she has interned with Times Internet and Desi Martini, and worked with Pinkvilla and Schbang, building a strong foundation in digital storytelling and audience-first content. At HT Digital, she writes and creates fashion affiliate content for both the website and social media, blending trend awareness with shopping practicality. Her work sits at the intersection of style and strategy combined with equal parts aesthetic and analytics. A self-confessed fashion enthusiast, Samarpita has a sharp eye for colours, prints, silhouettes, and textures. She notices the fall of a fabric, the mood of a palette, and the difference a good cut can make. Her expertise lies in translating trends into wearable, relatable style and helping readers shop smarter, not louder. She later completed a Postgraduate Diploma in Advertising and PR from MICA, Ahmedabad. Samarpita believes fashion content doesn’t need to be complicated or overly eloquent. It should be simple, fun, and genuinely helpful, guiding readers through daily style decisions with confidence and joy. I am someone who is incredibly filmy, and I was recently rewatching Sridevi’s Chandni and was in complete awe when I saw her in an all-white outfit. I knew I had to recreate it. So, for one of the Durga Puja pandals, I decided to wear a similar kind of all-white look. Since farshi salwars are trending like crazy right now, I decided to give them a shot and paired mine with a white chikankari kurta. I completed the outfit with silver jewellery, including jhumkas and a nose ring, and went for smoky eye makeup to add some oomph. Silver Kolhapuri sandals tied the whole look together. Was I heading to a Durga Puja pandal or auditioning for a slow-motion entry in a Yash Raj film? Honestly, a little bit of both. The first thing I noticed about this outfit was how lightweight it felt. I had expected the farshi salwar’s generous silhouette to feel like a lot of fabric to manage, but the outfit was surprisingly breezy. In fact, it felt almost like wearing my pyjamas, which is not a comparison I make lightly when talking about festive dressing. I did not have to adjust it even once. No repeatedly pulling at the fabric, checking whether the bottoms had shifted or interrupting what I was doing to fix my outfit. The silhouette stayed manageable throughout my outing, making the experience much more comfortable than I had anticipated. That is a big plus for an outfit you plan to wear to a Durga Puja pandal, where you may be walking around, standing for a while and moving between different areas. Looking dressed up is lovely; being able to enjoy the occasion without constantly fussing over your clothes is even better. Absolutely. My favourite part of this outfit was how comfortable it felt despite looking put-together. The lightweight, breezy feel reminded me of my PJs, and I did not have to adjust the salwar even once. For an outfit worn to a festive gathering, that is a pretty good combination. The only thing I was conscious of was keeping the white fabric clean. But that small worry did not take away from how much I enjoyed the look. If, like me, you love a little Bollywood nostalgia in your wardrobe, an all-white farshi salwar suit is one way to channel that mood without dressing head-to-toe like a film character. Add a chikankari kurta, silver jewellery and smoky eyes, and you have a look that feels classic, personal and just dramatic enough. Hindustan Times has an affiliate partnership, so we may get a part of the revenue when you make a purchase. The products listed in this article are in no particular order of priority.

She began her writing journey in 2020, but her love for fashion started long before that. She studied at Delhi Public School and graduated from Miranda House, University of Delhi in 2019, where she also wrote for the college magazine. Banarasi, Chanderi, Bandhani or Ajrakh: 4 Indian fabrics I’m exploring I bought 2 black flared bottoms for dance workshops and would wear them again I Tried Ananya Panday’s red sequin saree look: Why it works for festivities Disclaimer: At Hindustan Times, we help you stay up-to-date with the latest trends and products. We shall not be liable for any claim under applicable laws, including but not limited to the Consumer Protection Act, 2019, with respect to the products.

My verdict on comfort: This was a win. The lightweight, breezy feel and the fact that I did not need to adjust the outfit made it feel easy to wear, rather than like a high-maintenance festive ensemble. My one concern was the colour. An all-white outfit looks elegant and makes a statement without needing much embellishment, but it also makes you acutely aware of every surface you sit on and every accidental brush against a wall or table. I did find myself worrying about getting the outfit dirty. When you are wearing white to a crowded festive gathering, it is difficult not to think about dust, spills and the general chaos that comes with being out and about. The irony is that the very thing that makes the outfit look so striking is also what makes you a little more cautious while wearing it. Still, I would not let that put you off trying an all-white ethnic look. Just be a little mindful of where you sit, keep an eye on the hem around dusty surfaces and check the care label before washing a chikankari garment. If you are someone who tends to worry about stains, carrying a small stain-removal wipe for emergencies may offer some peace of mind, although you should always test cleaning products carefully and follow the garment’s care instructions. My verdict on the colour: White is worth the effort for the overall effect, but this is one outfit where you may find yourself being more careful than usual. I chose a white chikankari kurta to complement the farshi salwar. The delicate embroidery added texture to the monochromatic outfit, while the longer kurta kept the overall look traditional. I liked that I did not need to introduce another colour to make the outfit interesting. Silver jhumkas and a nose ring added a little edge to the softness of the white ensemble. The silver Kolhapuris continued the metallic theme while keeping the footwear in step with the rest of the outfit. The chikankari brought the detail, the farshi salwar added volume, the silver accessories gave it personality and the smoky eyes delivered the oomph. It felt inspired by the dreamy world of Chandni without being a direct costume recreation. Based on my experience, I would recommend trying the silhouette if you enjoy traditional Indian wear but want something different from the usual straight pants, churidars or palazzos. My outfit felt light and breezy, and I did not have to adjust it during my outing, which made the style feel practical as well as visually interesting. However, comfort can vary depending on the fabric, cut, length and fit of the particular set you buy. Before purchasing one, check the measurements and look closely at how the bottoms are constructed. Make sure the hem works with your footwear and that the fabric does not drag on the ground. If you are drawn to the trend but prefer understated dressing, a simple kurta in the same colour can help balance the volume. You can then personalise the look with jewellery, footwear or makeup rather than relying on heavy embellishment.

Because i wanted the look to have some drama, i also chose smoky eye makeup. Because each element had a purpose, for me, the styling worked.