One thing common to Priyanka Chopra’s ensembles and Samantha’s bridal gown at her recent wedding, is that both the actresses were styled by Ami Patel. The clientele of this Mumbai-based ace stylist includes divas such as Alia Bhatt, Kangana Ranaut, Madhuri Dixit, Kajal Aggarwal, Parvathy and Athiya Shetty. The former director of L’Officiel and creative director of Harper’s Bazaar, Ami’s journey in the field of fashion and styling extends over 18 years. We caught up with the celebrity stylist, who was in the city this week for a Style Masterclass, and a preview of the Autumn/Winter collection at H&M, Phoenix MarketCity. Excerpts from the interview:
What do you think is trending for the fall this year?
Metallic and suede. I would love to work on suede pants and jackets and when it comes to metallics, it would be more of skirts and jackets.
How did you prepare for a career in the field of styling?
Styling people, products or anything for that matter, is all the same to me. There was a point in time when I made a shift from art to fashion, and the journey has now been continuing for 18 years.
How do you respond to fashion critics on their negative comments?
When you know what you’re doing, and give your best, it shouldn’t affect you much, especially when they don’t know the back-end of work that goes on into the styling process. It has never bothered me.
What amount of inputs do the actors have in choosing what they like during the styling process?
We mutually decide on both sides, on preferences. The minute you start working with a particular person, you try getting into their DNA, and understand their personality. A garment looks different on a hanger, but how you look and feel after wearing
it is more important.
What are your future projects?
There is no ‘what next’ in the life of a stylist. Priyanka will be flying down to India this December, so I will be busy with her.
Designers you would like to work with?
Sabyasachi Mukherjee and Manish Malhotra.
How do you see Chennai’s fashion industry progress in the near future?
The last time I came to visit was almost a year ago. Kanjivaram weaves are something that I always look up to. I like the fact that people in Chennai are not running after trends. They are quite happy and comfortable with their heritage staples.
Fashion mistakes one must avoid.
Never try hard to stand out. Just be as effortless as you can. That helps you both at a personal as well as a professional level.
A success mantra that you follow?
I have always been into spirituality and yoga. Meditation is something that I have been following for the past 15 years, to maintain my calm, and balance my life.
Glam-up
• My styling kit will always have glue drops, fashion tape and a sharp pair of scissors — these are my must-haves.
• Wardrobe essentials— A trench coat from Burberry, as they are so versatile and of course, a pair of
good jeans are an essential.
• Up-and-coming brands that I like are Raw Mango and Madhurya and on the international front — Dolce & Gabbana.