Repeat value, writes Raveena Tandon Thadani

There's too much pressure to look perfect these days. In the 90s, actors making casual appearances were accepted, but now, with styling going to a different level, we're all on our way to becoming fashionistas first. 

There was a time where if we had to attend an event and we were shooting non-stop, we would even attend in basic jeans and a shirt. But now, God forbid, if even one hair is out of place or you have repeated an outfit. However, I am all for repeating my outfits after a break. I mean, what kind of example are we setting here? The size zero is already driving young girls to malnutrition, bulimia, and anorexia nervosa while their immense wardrobes are getting their parents bankrupt! They just cannot be seen repeating their clothes to college or to a friend's party.

I think to a certain extent, our media is responsible for pushing these waif-like starved models in our faces, with their mannequin-esque bodies with hollowed cheeks and deathly pale looks. Only if they knew what the after-effects of starving yourself can lead to, later in life -- hair loss, bad skin, lack of calcium. When one is young, you take your body for granted. This is especially true of young actresses, with their gruelling schedules, erratic hours, non-stop shoots and then starvation to look lean.

I've seen a lot of young to-be mothers depriving themselves of essential healthy fats when pregnant in the fear of gaining too much weight. In fact, it was shocking for me was to see a niece's friend, who had just delivered a baby girl starting to diet as soon as she got back home from the hospital after the birth of her baby! She barely nursed the child, which is literally the magic potion that you can gift your baby , to create his or her strong base, and went on a stringent dal ka paani diet to knock off the extra pounds! 

An unhealthy precedent -- the media wasn't too forgiving after my friend Aishwarya had her baby. They went on and on about her baby weight! What gives!?? I remember I'd just gotten over and through the same treatment when they started on her! How unjust is that! I mean... give the women a break! Our body has just gone through the beautiful process of creating and developing a whole new life and bringing it safely into this world! And some cads don't even give you that breathing space to be when you just want to be and enjoy the moment! 

I looked like a cow for about a full year after each of my babies was born because I nursed them as long as I could and couldn't be bothered or cared what the world thought of me or what the fashion sites thought of my clumsy maternal dressing! For me, it was my baby and its health first! And I would work on myself when I thought I was ready! Not when the fashion sites or critics would tell me!  

Thankfully, a little bit of awareness is now seeping into the fashion world where size 10 is now being considered normal and accepted on the ramp.  So many times, in my interviews, I've questioned the fashion critics about the precedent are they setting for their young readers when they post pictures or write about models and actresses who according to them are "caught red-handed" repeating their outfits! Do those sitting behind their desks writing or passing judgements have a magic wardrobe with a never-ending flow of garments  and accessories ? Do they realise what each designer outfit costs these days? A cool couple of lakhs!

In fact, I think fashion magazines and sites should encourage the girls to learn to use the same outfit and just probably mix and match and accessorise it differently. Recently, I did just that. I wore a jacket that I loved to an event and then repeated the same with different pants and different earrings shoes etc. Luckily, I wasn't panned by the regular fashion sites and in fact one fashion site (sensible editor, must be having teenage daughters) kind of encouraged my move. So, some things have repeat value...