The Diva Maker

Her journey from a typical intellectual Bengali family in Kolkata to the glamour industry in Mumbai may not sound very unfamiliar, but what is extraordinary is her innate belief.Trip or na Majumdar knew that fashion was her calling, which convinced her to leave her chartered accountancy studies and march towards Mumbai to follow her dreams. More than her humility and her effervescent spirit, it’s her ability to defy failures that makes her stand out. Can ’ thardly wa i t When Triporna Majumdar got the assignment to style Kajol for a television interview, she was on her annual break in her hometown Kolkata. She hopped right on to a plane back to Mumbai the same evening to be on time for the shoot the next morning. That was her first rendezvous with the talented actress. Later, she got a call from Kajol’so ff ice to style her for another event. And the rest, as they say, is history. That Kajol’s reinvented style is getting a thumbs-up from fashion critics has only strengthened the bond between the actress and her stylist. “I know I made a couple of mistakes, but Kajol is generous enough to look beyond those—her belief in me is very encouraging,” says Triporna, who has a strong understanding of fabrics, silhouettes and cuts. “Idon’t blindly follow trends,especially when it comes to western silhouettes as I understand that the European body type is leaner while Indian women are curvaceous.” It was her confidence to go against the fashion trends of the season and create ensembles based on body type,which touched a chord with Kajol’s sensibilities.“Iam guided by what looks visually appealing on a particular person,” she says. “Whether it is the ‘it’ item in fashion magazines doesn’t matter much. Wear styles that flatter your body and personality rather than blindly stocking up on the season’s must-haves.”

The stylist and I “She has the ability to look at regular things differently and also the patience to convince me about her ideas, which has worked for me time andagain,”says Kajol of her Trip or na.“Alookis not always about the clothing.Sometimes simple clothes, when teamed with a great hairstyle or an interesting accessory build the overall look—Trip or na understands this very well.”The actress, who is all praise for the stylist and her sensibilities, adds, “I never try to follow trends, so she creates styles that are unconventional yet identifiable.With a keen eye for detail,Triporna’s sense of style is edgy and chic.” Pa intityellow Triporna recalls the cover shoot for a film magazine (Filmfare) when she chose a radiant yellow gown for the actress. “Initially hesitant, Kajol laughed and said she didn’t want to look like a cupcake, but she was very happy with the final picture,” she reveals. “And now, yellow is one of her favourite colours!” The stylist truly believes that no colour is unflattering— you just need to pick out the right shade for your complexion. “While growing up I hated orange, but now I love corals,” says Triporna, who would love to see people experimenting a bit more with accessories. “Work with one or two interesting elements instead of trying too many things at the same time. An over the top or a busy look is not at all appealing. There is a stylist in each one of us waiting to carve our signature style—listen to that voice!” Dress like the stars 1. Don’t be afraid of yellow. Just choose the correct shade. Light yellow is one of the most flattering colours that lends sheer radiance to any complexion.

L’Officiel India DigitalRead L’Officiel India in the digital libraryEvery issue and every cover story, on TCG Media.Read now

2. A white long dress teamed with an ethnic mirror-work shrug in a bright colour is a personal favourite.

3. The denim on denim look is killer. A light blue denim shirt complements a pair of dark blue denim pants.

4. Spice up your denim-and-tee look with bright-coloured or printed scarves worn around the neck.

5. Leggings teamed with embroidered or printed waistcoats made of handwoven fabrics paired with kurtis in contrasting colours look fabulous.

6. Clean lines create the illusion of a slimmer and taller frame.

“With a keen eye for detail, Triporna’s sense of style is edgy and chic.”