Celeb Stylist Ami Patel Decodes Priyanka Chopra Jonas’ Diwali Looks

Actor, entrepreneur, and global icon, Priyanka Chopra Jonas’ Diwali looks were the talk of the town this year. Chopra Jonas, who will be starring in Matrix 4, chose three festive outfits designed by celebrity fashion designers Arpita Mehta, Sabyasachi, and Falguni Shane Peacock for actor Mindy Kaling, YouTuber Lilly Singh, and her own Diwali parties respectively.

Priyanka Chopra Jonas’ style is further elevated by carefully thought out makeup and hairstyle, all of it brought together by her stylist, Ami Patel. Patel has been styling Chopra Jonas for the past 10 years. The two, she says, have grown together over the years, and all it takes for her to interpret Chopra Jonas' vision, is a two-line brief from the actor. 

We got Ami Patel to decode PeeCee’s three Diwali looks and share how she went about creating the looks. Take cues to look like the OG style diva. 

1. Arpita Mehta

The first look by designer Arpita Mehta was a fun boho look. The light and easy chiffon skirt-lehenga was complemented by minimal yet glam makeup. For Priyanka’s hair, we complemented the effortless look with a simple out-of-the-bed kind of look. For accessories, we decided to choose the chunky choker as the choli was a mirror work bustier with a really thin, narrow dupatta. A choker and cuff were the only accessories used to add a touch of bling. Lastly, the makeup was all in shades of brown, a little smokey eye, with a lip tint that gave a natural look.  

2. Falguni Shane Peacock

The second look was a custom couture look, specifically designed and created for Priyanka. It was apt for Los Angeles in terms of colours, style, and her first Diwali in her new home. We kept the jewellery minimal as the outfit itself had so much character. So, we opted for chandbaali earrings and fresh flowers to go with her side-swept hair and sindoor. We added an emerald ring to add a little pop of colour to the whole look. Her makeup was also subtle with a little bit of shimmer and kajal on the eyes.   

3. Sabyasachi

The third Diwali look was distinctly different from the first two. It was from Sabyasachi's Autumn-Winter collection. The velvet ensemble and the styling were an ode to Sabyasachi. The whole look was 70s inspired--a pair of clear sunglasses, a bucket bag, a stack of bangles,  and even hair and makeup. Priyanka's used her own jewellery to go with the boho vibe. 

Patel's favourite Priyanka looks include one from her wedding Mehendi ceremony where she wore a colourful Abu Sandeep outfit. "The ceremony was in Rajasthan, and I loved how the colours just added to the neutral base. 

Her tone-on-tone wedding lehenga went on to become a trend because a couple of months later, every store had red tone-on-tone fabrics selling it by the thaans," Patel adds.  

Speaking of the trends ruling this wedding season, Patel believes that the boho trend is going big because now people are more into comfort and easy looks, rather than super fit and bling, specifically for weddings. Label Anushree, and Saaksha and Kinni, are two designers whose boho collections she loves the most. 

Tips to ace a boho look this wedding season: 

1. For colours, go for the 60s and 70s inspired jewel tones. 
2. For prints, winter florals – both big as well as small – work best. 
3. Ditch too much bling and instead, go for just a little amount of it on the borders. 
4. Change the silhouette. 
5. Make sure that you are not always wearing the typical lehenga. 
6. Throw on a cape, wear it with a bustier like how Priyanka wore Arpita's boho skirt.  
7. Add interesting hair accessories that can be super fun. 
8. Put on a pair of sneakers underneath.  

Apart from Chopra Jonas, Patel has also styled actors such as Katrina Kaif, Alia Bhatt, Mrunal Thakur, Madhuri Dixit, Sara Ali Khan, and more.  "For me, fashion and styling are an extension of the celebrity's personality. It's about getting to their DNA and understanding what they are all about. 

For example, Sara Ali Khan is vivacious, fun and has a fantastic sense of humour, so, I literally decode her personality and weave it into her looks. For her last look at the 2021 Global Citizen Live show,  Sara was dressed in a handmade saree based on truck art, from Bengaluru-based Madhurya Creations. The multi-coloured print saree had a personal note inscribed for her mother on the pallu which read ‘mere paas ma hai,’  to showcase her very special relationship with her mother," Patel explains.