We’re waiting for Aishwarya Rai Bachchan to bring her A-fashion game. But for how much longer?

I am not alone. Tanima Khosla, stylist and content manager at Nykaa, too felt Aishwarya was “an icon in every way possible”.

So, it is exceedingly disappointing to see this multi-hyphenate star being done a disservice when it comes to her fashion now.

Because Aishwarya has been one of the most conventionally beautiful South Asian faces out there, traditionally, her natural beauty has always been the focus of discussion, as opposed to her fashion choices, according to stylist Rishi Raj.

But as you age, your body changes and so do your features. And the 49-year-old star is no exception to that rule. Except even the tiniest of those changes are magnified considering her celebrity.

If you’re a curvier woman in Indian society, as I am, you will know that the common consensus seems to be that you must hide yourself under bulky garments rather than celebrate your body as it is. And, according to Raj, Aishwarya has time and again fallen prey to that thought process. “I feel Aishwarya often sits on the fence, sometimes leaping into the extreme, and at other times staying super safe and boring,” he told me.

Let’s be honest. The societal pressure on women to look beautiful is anyway humongous but when you’re at the stature Aishwarya is, it multiplies every microsecond to become your own personal Everest. So, I tried to not take it personally when she was always dressed in clothes that made her look lumpy and hideous, but till what point, are stars allowed to not be held accountable for their decisions?

The answer is not black and white. We often observe glamourous stylist collaborations between celebrities and their fashion gurus, assuming the stylist is the sole creator and curator of that celebrity’s image. However, the reality is much more complex.

Raj explained that with brand directives, changing body shapes, and personal tastes in play, “the stylist’s role can become constrained, rendering them a sort of ‘Dress Dada,’ who selects and hangs garments for the celebrity to choose from.”

Both Raj and Khosla agree that understanding your body’s shape is imperative to dress better, whether you’re a star or a regular person, which is what the former Miss World is lacking at the moment, they think.

“Being a broad-built women, I like to wear clothes that balance my body out by creating an hourglass shape,” said Khosla, adding that Aishwarya also has a similar body shape so “A-line silhouettes will work best for her as they will accentuate the smallest part of her waist.”

You don’t necessarily have to wear something body-hugging to look or feel good. And Aishwarya must be free to make her choice. But being a global icon, it is heartbreaking for the star to be so publicly at odds with her image. Especially when there are a myriad of young people looking up to her.

“We, as women, are always undergoing some change, or the other over the years, and it is inevitable. What can be done is understanding your body and choosing silhouettes that look flattering,” said Khosla.

Though, it may be Aishwarya’s Everest, rest assured, we’re waiting for her at the base camp.

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