Rachel in dungarees is me: Ileana D’Cruz

Ileana D’Cruz radiates an earthy, girl-next-door vibe when she visits our office. Over the years, she’s shown a liking for a style, which is comfort-driven and has a schoolgirl vibe to it. I meet her a couple of weeks later for a promotional party of her latest release, she cleans up rather well — looking sensational in a beaded Payal Singhal outfit. Over to the shoe junkie who owns 150 pairs...

Do you have a shoe fetish?

Christian Louboutin made me a lovely pair, which the customs lost. All I have is a picture of them now. They were lovely silver slip-on shoes ideal for a beach outing. He also sent me a pair of wedges and a pair of flats. I love wearing heels, but I want to take them off most of the time, when I’m sitting. Having said that, I’m most comfortable in sneakers. Of course, I like my dungarees, sneakers and tiny tops inside. Rachel in dungarees is me.

How do you interpret style?

Style is an extension of who you are. You can follow stuff that you see online — it’s good as a guideline, but I think it should be a reflection of who you are. 

You need to be comfortable. Eventually you need to own the outfit and it should be a part of you. You can explain, who you are in a way. Once you start working out, it becomes an addiction and you feel odd when you don’t go.

Do you take inputs from your stylist?

I do take inputs from my stylist but I have a mind of my own. There are certain times, if it doesn’t work, like today, I’m wearing this simple pretty dress and I wanted to tie my hair up. I was like, I don’t want to be this pretty girl with lovely hair. I’m quirky and weird and it works for me.

Any fashion faux pas, which you feel Indian women make?

VPL (visible panty lines) — I know they are comfortable, but make sure that you don’t have your lines showing. You can get underwear or briefs, which are seamless. Look for them and you’ll get them. Be comfortable and make your own statement.

Any style icons you admire and why?

I loved Audrey Hepburn — she’s the epitome of beauty for me. I don’t idolise anyone. I find inspiration in so many ways. I don’t have one particular person who inspires me. I loved how she carried herself. Everyone just talks about her beauty, but there was so much more to her. I love My Fair Lady and she was amazing in that.

Tell us about your relationship with Louboutin?

I love him to bits and he’s a darling. I have a massive love for Christian and I loved the shoot he did with me a while ago. I love the Yves Saint Laurent tasselled bag. I saw this bag and I blame Sanam (Ratansi, stylist). She got me a Stella McCartney, which I carry everywhere because she told me, ‘You need to have one stylish bag’. I went to the YSL store and it was really expensive. I came back to the hotel and got nightmares. I wanted that bag and it’s never happened to me. I went online looking for that bag, but it wasn’t available anywhere, but at that store. I was like, I’d cherish it for the rest of my life. I have a 150 pairs of shoes, despite giving them away. I am very good at getting good shopping deals. I am a big online shopper. Victoria’s Secret is so awesome to shop online. I have got amazing stuff. I have gotten shoes for $7 and even got bikinis.

How often do you shop? 

I am a huge shopper and make a shopping list online. I take screenshots. I love shopping abroad. Recently, I bought a pair of jeans online, which was a big risk, but the good part is when you have sisters, they fit someone or the other. They fit me so well and I ended up buying seven pairs.

Which Indian designers do you admire?

I like Masaba. Tarun Tahiliani is great with ombre  colours. I am not very brand-conscious except for the stupid bag purchase I did.

Do you admire street style anywhere?

I spend a lot of time in Melbourne and I like how men dress up there — quirky and hipster. Men wear skinny jeans and sport bushy beards and the man buns. In fact, guys are more fashion forward there than women. My boyfriend Andrew (Kneebone) is very old world classic and that check shirt look really works on him. He looks super sexy with his shirt tucked in his jeans and his sleeves rolled up. I don’t know what it is about that look. There’s something about a guy coming after work, sleeves rolled up and, ‘What’s up baby?’ More men should dress like that.