5 October 2014

Power Dress
An attire that speaks your attitude. A dress that lets you
wear your words.
M odi s Indepe nde nce D ay
dress code dissec te d.

While giving his maiden Independence Day speech at the Red

Fort in the Capital, Prime Minister Narendra Modi made sure
his words were reflected in his attire too. His Come, Make In
India, sentiment was symbolised by the half-sleeved Modi
kurta he wore in khadi, paired with white churidars and a
saffron and green turban. We must say that the fashionconscious PM made a wise choice yet again, and give him a
thumbs up for the intelligently put-together look.
The PMs choice of clothes was all about power-dressing. The
traditional turban in bandhani or tie-dye from Kutch reflected
not only his Gujarati origins, but also went with his emphasis
on Make in India. The simplicity of the off-white kurta
worked well, offset with the only thing which was foreignmade in his attire his signature pen, smarty perched in his
pocket. I feel his speech was very eloquent and the eloquence
of his words was reflected in the way he styled his ensemble.
The fashion consciousness did not come across as forced, as
hes always had an individual style. With the bandhani turban,
Modi kept that statement style of his intact. The addition of
the duo-toned pagdi also reflects Modi's connect with the
masses. It wasnt the kind of turban that the royalty would
sport the bandhani pagdi is something which you would find
a commoner wearing. So, his choice of attire was well-thought
of, and symbolised his urge to connect to people at the grassICS Assignment

Editorial

5 October 2014

root level. The ensemble was also a very functional choice.

While the turban kept away the heat and still looked stylish,
the half-sleeved Modi-kurta, in comparison to the more formal
bandhgala suit was a more comfortable, and thus, a more
functional option. His choice of national colours stood out the
most.NaMo's attire exuded a sense of nationalism and
belonging. And, theres no better way to symbolise courage,
sacrifice, peace and faith, than by wearing the colours
themselves that reflect all of these.

Bandhgala for a global audience

is Modis choice
During his visit to the United States, Prime Minister Narendra
Modi made fashion news as soon as he stepped out on
American soil. Wearing a deep burgundy bandhgala jacket
adorned with a prim one-point pocket square, the PM
continued with his stately attire. His UN assembly speech
delivered wearing another bandhgala suit, in a no-nonsense
shade of black, continued to prove his preference for classy,
Nehruvian style.

In front of a global audienc e, the

PM s look was a lot more
corporate , and we could see that
he me ant business.

I think that our Prime Minister has done us proud during his
visit to the US and has dressed appropriately. His style has
evolved from the half-sleeved Modi kurta to more formal
bandhgalas, which he carries off with great lan. And of course,
the choice of colour and the pocket square prove his attention
to detail. He looks sharp, and despite keeping with a
traditional ethnic look, he continues to look trendy and with
the times.
He wanted the attention to be on his words, and not only on
what he was wearing. Nevertheless, the fine fabric, sharp cuts,
and details like cufflinks proved that his styling indeed is
impeccable. The classic Nehru like attire also allowed him to
emulate a historical costume, but in a more contemporary,
bespoke way in front of a foreign audience.
A classic bandhgala is a super smart way to look dapper, while
keeping in mind the taste and sensibilities of the audience back
home. Modi balanced our conservative political fashion
aesthetics with a more refined look to make his international
presence felt. The styling was great, with an Indian twist.
He has infused a great sense of colour and energy for a
politician. Gujaratis are known for their sartorial cultural
legacy and Narendra Modi does justice to the six thousand year
old legacy of India with aplomb. It is great to see the Prime
Minister paying detailed attention to his appearance. Being
well turned-out in all spheres starts with ones appearance,
hence, a good step.
ICS Assignment

Editorial