Stylish

Given the way fashion has been trending in the sporting world lately, it is hard to tell the difference between a sports star and a Bollywood celebrity. Donning designer outfits, walking the ramp with confidence and working on their style quotient regularly — the country’s sports personalities are certainly giving B-town celebs and models a run for their money! From Virat Kohli to P.V. Sindhu and even the Phogat sisters, many sportspersons are often spotted at fashion shows, in TV commercials and at star-studded parties these days. So, what is it that makes them a hot favourite? “The age of the supermodel is long gone, post which actors and actresses took over the ramp. But now, the situation is that you only have a handful of A-listers but many designers. Also, some actors are not allowed to walk for certain designers due to prior contracts. So, automatically the next choice is sports stars because they embody the idea of health and fitness, which is what the fashion world is all about now,” explains fashion choreographer Lubna Adams, who has groomed many models including Sushmita Sen, Aishwarya Rai and Diana Hayden. She further adds that the evolution of fashion in sports can be credited to Indian sportspersons performing extremely well internationally — which is how the young crowd also relates to them.

Resonating Lubna’s thoughts, well-known designer Neeta Lulla says, “The young generation is inspired by these sports stars as they want to be like them. People want to know more about them and style and fashion are things that speak a lot about a person. Also, these sports stars have a massive fan following and hence taking them is a good thing for a designer or production house.” Interestingly, Neeta recently announced that ace shuttler Saina Nehwal will be the showstopper for her upcoming fashion show. “My collection, Edwardian Elegante, is about a woman who lives life on her own terms and is very confident. She is an achiever and has vibrant dreams. And I think Saina is the right person for this,” she explains.

When it comes to cricket, many players have been spotted walking on the runways in the past. However, it looks like these days successful players from other sports are ruling the roost in showbiz. “It’s not always that you find someone who has achieved a lot, brought laurels back home and is goodlooking. But when people find someone like that, they don’t so they bring in a very want to lose the opportunity special element of bonding of being associated with with the masses there. them,” explains ad guru Another thing to consider Prahlad Kakkar. He further here is that sports personalities states, “Sports personalities are also good looking. like Sania Mirza have walked Take Virat Kohli, Vijender for so many fashion shows Singh, Ashwini Ponnappa because they have been and the likes for instance, playing really well and are they are so well groomed. also very good-looking.” Therefore, it becomes an At the same time, signing iconic representation of a sportsperson for a what the Indian youth wants fashion show or TV to be like.” commercial also And finally, after reaching means spending the apex in their respective less. “Bollywood sports, the players, too, seem stars charge a to enjoy all the attention and bomb for walking paparazzi coming their way. the ramp as Recently, many people saw a show-stoppers. hidden glamorous side of the So, the designers Indian women cricket team’s would end up captain, Mithali Raj, after she paying somewhere was featured on the cover of between a famous fashion magazine. `25 to 50 lakhs Ace shuttler Jwala Gutta, just for one who has walked the ramp evening. Sports many times, and is considered stars do not one of the most stylish demand such sports personalities, also high prices,” feels that the idea of fashion explains in India is changing. “This fashion guru culture of sportspersons Prasad walking the ramp has always Bidappa. been there in the West. Anna Prasad Kournikova and Serena adds, “Also, Williams are examples of most sports stars who play well sports and at the same time are style stars have icons. But the same thing a connection doesn’t happen in India as with much, maybe because we the audience think that sports stars should only stick to their sports. But because I am glad that things are of their changing now,” opines Jwala. achievements,