While a host of celebrities including Shahid Kapoor, Pooja Hegde, Radhika Apte, Ayushmann Khurrana and Irrfan Khan looked stunning at the GQ Fashion Nights 2017, the one who stole the show was Deepika Padukone. The Padmavati actress looked ravishing in a black and gold Sabyasachi sari with a plunging neckline. She completed her look with drop earrings by Sabyasachi.

While the fashion industry may be in awe of Deepika’s look, one wonders if such a sari can be worn by ordinary people too. According to experts, the clothes models and actresses wear on the ramp and on the red carpet are not ordinarily wearable as they are too revealing. Designers say that when customers order a similar outfit, it will be customised for the person wearing it. 

Samantha Akkineni at her wedding reception.

Apparently, such clothes (like Deepika’s) are intended to make the star stand out on the red carpet or the ramp and get noticed. Sabyasachi himself says that celebrity outfits can be modified for customers. “Firstly, not all the ramp or celebrity garments make it to regular production. Secondly, the ones that do (like Deepika’s outfit for GQ) can be made to order by clients from any of our flagship stores in India,” says Sabyasachi. Ace celebrity designer Archana Kochhar, who has designed for Nargis Fakhri, Jacqueline Fernandez and Bipasha Basu, says that the outfits that a model or an actress wears can definitely be worn by a normal person if they have the body and confidence to pull it off. “They should pick looks and silhouettes that suit their body type,” she says.

Aishwarya with Abhishek at a wedding

“Take for instance, the sari that Deepika wore for the GQ Fashion Nights — it is stunning and looks fierce on her as she has the right body and attitude for it. But for a normal person, this look can be customised with a hint of change,” Archana adds. Interestingly, celebs wear subtler outfits when not on the red carpet. Take for instance, Samantha Akkineni, who opted for a simple yet beautiful Falguni and Shane Peacock number during her wedding reception. Celebrity designer Nachiket Barve says, “If a person has a body like Deepika, they can wear such an outfit at any occasion. However, we often modify and alter celeb outfits for ordinary customers. People take inspiration from celeb outfits and alter it according to their body type.” 

Kareena Kapoor Khan at the Ambani bash

Ace designer Anamika Khanna, whose outfits have been worn by the likes of Sonam Kapoor, also says that it depends on how fit a person is. “Most of the times, such ravishing outfits are altered to suit an ordinary customer,” she admits. Meanwhile, Deepika’s outfit has also attracted unsavoury remarks on social media. One Instagram user even called the sari “very exaggerated, revealing, completely unnecessary and totally disastrous”. 

Designer Shravan Kumar says that there is a thin line between sensuality and obscenity. “Deepika’s outfit may be revealing, but she looks gorgeous and not vulgar. But when we get orders for such outfits, we replicate the piece at our studio and not provide the exact piece. While her shoulder width is 1 inch, others may want it to be at least 3 inches,” he shares.