Luxury maven Michelle Poonawalla opens up on her personal style and the icons she admires
Artist, businesswoman, aesthete, wife and mother — Michelle Poonawalla straddles the worlds of art, fashion, business and society with effortless élan. When I met her a few months ago, I couldn’t help, but notice her towering Saint Laurent logo heels. She looked impossibly flawless and uber-chic in a chambray top accessorised with a Chloe tote and her signature fringed mane, which added to the great finish. Soft-spoken and attentive, the sophisticate spoke to me passionately about the dynamism of fashion and her undying love for the arts.
One look at her social appearances and you can vouch that she’s a style risk-taker who isn’t afraid of high-octane sequins, off-kilter silhouettes and print clash. From Anthony Vaccarello’s va va voom accessories to Surily G’s Coachella-esque nomad dresses — she pulls off every piece with ease and polish.
We got in touch with the fashionista to speak at length about her personal style, her take on the sartorial ecosystem and how much her travels have influenced her overall tastes and personality. “Style is a way you live, a way you dress. Style is confidence. Style is also unique. I like to dress and be who I am. I like to dress for the occasion and not for the sake of trends. One can be classic, as that never goes out of vogue. Timeless style is the confidence to be you. Be yourself and the rest will follow. I also believe in investing in classic pieces, because they never go out of style. A handful of such items in one’s wardrobe, and you can effortlessly put together a look,” she says.
FASHION IS FUN
Just take one look at Mrs Poonawalla’s Instagram feed and you’d see her flirtations with new shapes as well as silhouettes, besides her brush with bold colours and statement-making patterns. “Fashion is fun and elegance. It’s what suits you and who you are. As I said earlier, it’s what you make of it and not feel succumbed to it. The more fun you have with it and embrace it, the less it will stress you,” says the lady, who loves the Renaissance period in fashion history, besides the exuberant ‘70s and ‘80s, which were the game-changers in their own ways. “From boho chic to classic, those decades had it all,” she adds.
Michelle’s closet is a cornucopia of Indian and international designers and her sartorial picks depends on what suits her. “I support designers, who are international as well as Indian. I like to wear what suits me. And is in sync with my style. Be it Indian designers or global ones, the clothes have to suit my frame. While sustainable fashion is now a trend, I have always felt that one must know where the clothes stem from and now most brands give you the back story, which makes fashion even more interesting. I admire the cuts and drama of Falguni and Shane Peacock and of course, the classic vibe of YSL. A combination of British-European and Indian brands is my ideal ensemble,” she points out.
STREET-STYLE INSPO
Michelle grew up in London, so her style has always been pan-global reflecting her multi-layered personality and a polished upbringing. “London street style and fashion is always an influence. In the English capital, people are fearless to express themselves and one can see all different forms of fashion — from the elegant to the fearless. It’s a cosmopolitan city and there are communities from all over the world with their own style. Having said that, Milan has a chic-ness to it while Paris is elegance personified. Every destination or travel is etched in memory and it does influence one’s style journey,” she shares.
FASHION FAUX PAS
When we ask her to spell out any sartorial mistakes women make, she cautions, “People need to dress according to their body types and not follow trends/ friends blindly. Be comfortable and know what suits you. Embrace your curves and that leads to empowerment. Personally, I dress as per my shape, and this ensures that I am always comfortable in what I wear and this leads to confidence, the most important accessory for every look.”
ACCESSORY LOVE
Michelle has a penchant for classic pieces. “I like the style of ‘stacking’ a couple of chains and bracelets. I choose classic pieces even in jewellery because they tend to complement any type of outfit. If I have one quirky accessory, then I will not add more to the look in order to balance it out,” she adds.
ICONS I ADMIRE
“I admire any woman from a girl walking down the street to an actress... Audrey Hepburn, Maharani Gayatri Devi, my grandmothers, I greatly admire their personal styles,” she states.
RAPID FIRE
- Vintage or runway - Runway
- Maximalism or minimalism - Medium
- Black or navy - Black
- Leather or lace - Leather
- Lamé or velvet - Velvet
- Gown or pantsuit - Gown
- Precious or costume jewellery - Precious
- Tote or clutch - Tote
- Rock n roll or hip-hop - Rock n roll
- A night in or a night out – A night in
- Town or country - Town
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 "Michelle Poonawalla")
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