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Ditch that clutch!

After Hrs debates the relevance of minaudières on the red carpet

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Why do actresses need a clutch on the red carpet? Especially when they're accompanied by an entourage - manager, stylist's assistant, make-up and hair person, etc. "Honestly, the last couple of red carpet appearances that I have styled have been sans bag! Most of the time actresses bring along with them, only their phones and a lipstick (which is safely tucked away with their managers)," says stylist Archana Walavalkar.

The clutch cheerleaders would argue, but more often than not, a wrong clutch ends up ruining the whole ensemble and at times makes the overall look quite busy. 

Last week at Golden Globes, Amal Clooney, Julianne Moore and Jennifer Lopez accessorised their gowns with a statement clutch. However, the actresses who actually turned heads were the ones without it - be it Emma Stone, Amy Adams, Heidi Klum, or Katie Holmes, to name a few. Perhaps our desi actresses can take a lesson or two from their Hollywood counterparts on how to keep things simple yet striking! 

In India, women tend to feel incomplete without a handbag when they're stepping out. Also, a bag is considered the sign of having arrived in life. To carry or not to carry - that's quite a dicey scenario. It may work wonderfully well at times and totally backfire other times. Of late, actress Huma Qureshi wore her burgundy Amit GT gown with a mini Dior bag which looked totally unnecessary and took away from the look. However, Shraddha Kapoor's pick of a blue clutch worked well with her red Atsu gown. Lisa Haydon clearly seems to love her minaudieres since she carried them on all the occasions of late - with the one-shoulder Gauri and Nainika dress, with a sequinned Cue outfit and with an Indo-western Tarun Tahiliani outfit. Recently, Deepika Padukone carried a clutch with her Jade sari though we weren't a fan of the look so the lesser said the better! Anushka Sharma who was recently in Australia to support beau Virat offset her monochrome dress with a yellow Bottega Veneta knot clutch. Priyanka Chopra almost never carries a clutch at awards show. "We don't really consider clutches on the red carpet and focus more on make-up, hair and jewellery," says Priyanka's stylist Ami Patel. 

We speak to stylists to the stars if the clutch figures on their mood-board...

Allia Al Rufai
It's not true that internationally stars don't carry clutches, maybe not for events like amfAR. If an actress is wearing a dark shade of lipstick then she needs to touch it up and obviously, needs a minaudiere. Also, a clutch doesn't fit a lot - a lipstick and a couple of tissues. Also, when they go on stage and need to hold the mike then you have someone holding the clutch. It depends on the comfort level.
Sometimes you do want to carry it.

Archana Walavalkar
Young Bollywood does not follow rules, they make their own! Practical, utility wear is top of their list, opting for the bare necessities while picking a look.
The accessory just gives them the freedom to indulge in more important things like meet-n-greet, strike the classic hand-on-hip pose, give interviews, and manage their trails.

Ami Patel
We tend to avoid the clutch because it can make or break a look. It's definitely not a red carpet must. We did it for IIFA last year. If you carry the wrong clutch, it can completely kill the outfit. You definitely want to carry your lipstick on yourself and maybe your compact if your skin gets oily. Internationally, they have completely stopped carrying clutches. I only carry it, if it's a perfect fit. 

Rick Roy
Women like to carry a bag. Period. It's hard not to see a girl without a handbag. People are of the notion that they definitely need to accessorise an outfit with a bag. Most of the time it's unnecessary. Also, most actresses get accompanied by an entourage of staff, I don't think it makes sense. Why should one add more things to a look and make it appear busy? You don't have to scream - 'I have a clutch'. More often than not, people end up carrying the wrong clutch. The lesser elements you add to the look the better. In fact, focus more on the make-up and jewellery.  

Pria Kataaria Puri
Honestly, I think a clutch is a great accessory if it is well coordinated with an outfit. A phone looks ugly to carry on the red carpet and in our country, we are obsessed with our phones like it's a national treasure so phones are great to put in a clutch. A clutch is a necessity as it is perfect to carry your phone which you don't necessarily hand to your assistant. Abroad, celebs don't cling to their phones. Also, a wrong clutch may kill the outfit.  

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