Yale Fashion House
OCTOBER 23, 2018
Today I’m interviewing my friend Yashu, a sophomore in Trumbull College. She has wonderful style, blending Western and Indian elements. She is also a talented dancer, and is learning Chinese.
How would you define your style?
Most important to me is comfort, and also what looks good on my body type. I’m petite, so I like fitted things, or garments that flare from the waist.
How does your background inform your style?
I’m from Delhi, India. I think my style is a dichotomy of western and Indian clothing. I love Indian fabrics. When I’m at home, I often wear kurtas, which is a sort of long tunic. It goes with tights or palazzos - super comfy and airy. Because it’s so hot in Delhi, you can’t really wear jeans. I love being able to go home and wear Indian clothes. In the more traditional Indian wear, I really like lehengas, which are short blouses - kind of like a crop top - with a coordinated long skirt. I think the only time I could wear kurtas at Yale is early fall, because it would look ridiculous to wear it with a down jacket! For special occasions or Indian festivals celebrated here, I might pull out Indian clothing. But it’s really more about weather than culture for me. Back home, I dress conservatively because it’s sort of a safety issue. But I dress ultimately for myself.
Who are your favorite designers?
My favorite Indian designer is Manish Malhotra. I definitely want to wear him for my wedding one day! Indian weddings are huge affairs. I think about it often – not for the guy it will be with, but for all the festivities. I will definitely wear red, which is typical. For some functions I may wear Indo-Western clothing, such as sari gowns, but I will mostly go traditional.
Do you think there is an ideal Indian female look?
I would not say that there is, because there are so many of us, and we’re so diverse. Look at the North and the South of India, it’s completely different. There are different languages and dialects in the North and South, which, for the most part, are mutually exclusive. For instance, in the North we speak Hindi, but in the South people speak Tamil, which I as a Hindi speaker do not understand. Similarly, people across India dress in their own unique ways, incorporating elements from their distinctive cultures, which have been passed down generations. I love that people keep traditions alive through their dress and style.
Who is your style inspiration?
My mom - she has amazing style. She’s so beautiful – She looks like she could be my youngersister. She’s a Kuchipudi dancer, as am I. We share clothes, as we’re basically the same size. We mostly wear kurtas and half-saris to dance practice as it shows our movements and figure and movements well. My mom often wears Indian clothing, but she also has a Western influence, and thus she mixes and matches Indian and Western elements into her style. I think atYale, being fashionable is not my utmost priority; However, I do try and put in effort when I’m not being lazy – I need to try harder!
What is your style staple?
I think investing in quality shoes makes sense (whether they’re sneakers, heels, boots, or any other kind of shoes) because they are a necessity and being comfortable in footwear is of utmost importance – especially while walking long distances.
