Priyanka Chopra’s quirk and drama at MET Gala

Well, well, well… it seems as though our desi gal knows all about making a stunning debut. Sporting a trench coat dress with a super exaggerated train from Ralph Lauren, silver smokey eye and raisin coloured lip and hair pulled into a tight top knot, Priyanka Chopra became the talk of the town beating Rihanna and Katy Perry as she attended Rei Kawakubo/Comme des Garcons: Art Of The In-Between Costume Institute Gala at Metropolitan Museum of Art on Monday night in New York City.

Even though the Indian fashion circuit gasped a mixed bag of reactions to her sartorial choice, all agreed unanimously on one thing — Priyanka is a head turner.

Deepika Padukone looking beautiful in a Tommy Hilfiger white dress.

Deepika Padukone too made her appearance at the MET Gala but unlike Pee Cee, she chose a much safer option — a white Tommy Hilfiger gown.

Celebrity stylist, Rishi Raj elucidates that when the subject and honoree of fashion’s biggest night, the Costume Institute’s Met Ball, is the trailblazing individual and avant-garde proponent Rei Kawakubo and her label Comme des Garcons, the most supreme fashion risks are expected. “After all, Kawakubo has always been about exaggerated volumes, deconstructed construction, challenging silhouettes and unexpected layers. As for our Indian beauties and their debuts, all I would like to say is that while Deepika under-whelmed, Priyanka overwhelmed with her choice. If you would ask me whether the silhouette did anything good to enhance her (Priyanka’s) figure, I’d say… it was not a good choice. But since the MET Gala stands for over-the-top, grand and crazy statement-making choices, one should aim to ‘stand out’ (which Priyanka stunningly attempted) rather than blend in (Deepika’s case).”

Rihanna was the perfect embodiment of the theme in her Comme des Garcons dress that looked like layers and layers of mixed fabrics cut like petals juxtaposed with an armor panel on the side.

 Agreeing with Rishi, designer Urvashi Kaur shares, “Firstly, it’s wonderful to see such great Indian representation at a legendary event like the MET Gala. Having said that, I too was a little under-whelmed by Deepika’s look. It was way too safe and tame at an outing that celebrates fashion in its truest sense.” She adds, “Priyanka, on the other hand, made a little more effort but the exaggerated trench and boots were a bit off-key and didn’t quite come together completely.”

A critical Siddartha Tytler found Priyanka’s look too boxy and structured while appreciating Deepika for her simple yet stunning entry.

But for noted fashion blogger and writer, Arie Purushu, Priyanka was among the few out there who could think beyond glamour and made a relevant and intelligent style statement. “A trench coat gown with the longest trail is a quirky tribute to the great designer who bridged boundaries between art and design. Not that Deepika didn’t look great but people will get it if Priyanka grabs all the headlines for herself. Padukone was playing it mainstream in what’s arguably the biggest avant-garde platform, where one has every freedom to experiment, especially with Comme des Garcons being the theme.”

Designer Archana Kochar, lastly, attributing Priyanka’s confidence as her major strength, says, “Yes, what she wore was over-the-top but she  proved that confidence takes you a long way. I simply loved her bold avatar.”