Of late, our desi gal, actress Priyanka Chopra’s sartorial choices have been coming under the spotlight for all the wrong reasons. First, it was her MET Gala garment for which she became an object of trolls, now it’s the “leg-baring” dress, which she wore to her meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Berlin. The controversy began after Priyanka, who stars in the new Baywatch film and in the US television series Quantico, posted a picture with PM Modi, thanking him “for taking time out from his packed schedule” to meet her. It didn’t take long though, before the “disrespectful” dress became the topic of conversation, with many commenting on how it “insulted” PM Modi and his “pious followers”.
So, even though, we as a nation, have been singing praises for all that Priyanka has achieved in the West, when it comes to her dressing sense, we just can’t seem to let her sit in peace.
“A dress code is a set of rules specifying the garb or type of clothing to be worn by a group or by people under specific circumstances,” explains retired lieutenant Rita Gangwani, who is an image consultant and enhancer. “Before we speak, our image speaks. And yes, there’s always a protocol when you meet a dignitary. Lots of things are taken into consideration before picking out a dress for such a formal occasion — the profile of the dignitary, culture, age, etc. I found Priyanka to be very casually dressed and my only conclusion is that she probably rushed straight from her shooting or event, in excitement, without giving her attire a second thought. It happens to most of us. Ultimately, it’s her right to wear whatever she wants.”
The unapologetic actress responded by posting a picture of her mother and her, wearing short dresses, captioned “legs for the day”. Priyanka is not the first Indian actress to face the flak for her choice of attire. Other Indian actresses too have faced anger over their choice of attire. Deepika Padukone once publicly called out a leading Indian newspaper in 2014 for tweeting a picture of her cleavage. “YES! I am a Woman. I have breasts AND a cleavage! You got a problem!!?? (sic)” Deepika tweeted to the paper.
There’s nothing wrong with the concept of a dress code, given it solves a specific social or functional need and not just the purpose of “morals,” which are highly subjective to an individual’s values, asserts fashion watcher and blogger, Arie Purushu. “The Indian Constitution doesn’t specify any particular length of the dress and our civil laws guarantee Priyanka Chopra the freedom of choice to wear what she wore. Some time ago, a Chhattisgarh IAS officer was pulled up for wearing sunglasses during the PM’s visit. That might still have a justification, given it’s a formal meeting with outlined guidelines, but taking on Priyanka Chopra for wearing a short dress, in what looks like an informal meeting between two public figures, only throws light on the dark side of having a democratic platform to voice one’s opinion. “A culture is nothing but a reflection of lifestyle of a society. Culture evolves, clothing evolves and it’s important for our minds to evolve accordingly,” Arie says.
Zohra Chitalwala, etiquette expert and image consultant, also agrees with Arie, but feels that the way the picture was taken, exposing Priyanka’s legs, may not be deemed fit by viewers. “I agree that her sitting posture could’ve been better, she was sitting with her legs crossed.”
“Usually, when you are in a formal set up and you are wearing a skirt or a dress, it is always advisable to knot your ankles and lock them. Her neckline wasn’t plunging, and she was wearing a full sleeved dress, which was ideal for that setup. What should also be noted is that Priyanka was in Berlin and not in India. It is always safe to dress conservatively in a setup where you are meeting dignitaries, and not showing skin always helps. Priyanka isn’t dressed inappropriately at all and the outrage is unjustified,” Zohra says.
Our Prime Minister doesn’t go in a dhoti kurta to address climate change in Antarctica, remarks, Leepakshi Ellawadi, costume designer, celebrity stylist and wardrobe consultant. She states, “The so-called matter of ‘disrespectful dress’ by Priyanka Chopra in front of the Prime Minister is actually making me laugh instead of fretting over the mediocrity of our so-called progressive nation. How can something so non-essential even become an issue and people find time to disrespect and troll someone’s choice of clothing and relate it to her courtesy and value quotient. It’s a changing and evolving world.”
Kangana Ranaut drew flack for the outfit she wore at the National awards in 2016
Explaining the guidelines on the appropriate dress code, Rita shares, “It is always better to be over-dressed than dressed down. When meeting with a high-level personality, it’s best to mirror what he or she will wear, which will in all probability be a tailored suit and power colours instead of casual prints. A conservative look is often the best choice for such meetings, regardless of gender. If one wears a skirt it’s best to double-check the length of the hem. One must remember that on such occasions there will be other dignitaries or media personnel in attendance. Expect that there will also be lots of pictures taken, and so it’s always better to let the head rule the heart. What I mean is, instead of going with one’s personal choice, its best to go ahead with the choice of clothing that will be well received by the public. Another thing to keep in mind is whether you are meeting the dignitary at their residence or in a foreign land, where they themselves are trying to follow a certain dress code.”
Ekta Shah, celebrity stylist, agrees, “The intention behind a business meeting is to establish connections and to make an impression. Thus it is very important for us to be at our best. Before deciding on what to wear, it is essential to know whether there are any guidelines on the dress code for the meeting. If not, use your judgment on what would be the most appropriate outfit for the meeting.” She adds that it is definitely not appropriate to show up wearing shorts, flip-flops or a hoodie. A suit is the best corporate attire for business meetings. Ekta adds, “Women flashing a lot of skin during a meeting is likely to be misinterpreted and can distract attention, which is one of the reasons why Priyanka received such a lot of criticism. While there was nothing specifically indecorous with her attire, and given that there is no dress code to meet the PM, Priyanka’s dress was her style statement. As she was representing a position with specific power, people expected her to be more covered but that doesn’t confine Priyanka to only suits or Indian clothes. However, it’s also important to carefully consider your audience and dress accordingly,” she said.
Sheena Agarwal, etiquette expert says, “We come from a land where the saree is the national dress. In a place like Rajasthan, wearing a backless choli with a ghagra is the norm. So I really don’t understand the hue and cry. If the belly button is fine, why is the length of the dress a problem? I am sure, even if Priyanka Chopra turned up in a salwar kameez, a bunch of fashion bloggers would have a problem with how the dress was boring. It’s really sad that they are happy to have Priyanka represent India on an international platform, but yet will haul her over the coals on her choice of outfit. I don’t think there would have been such an issue if a male celebrity were to meet the PM clad in jeans and T-shirt.”
