Kriti attended promotions for her movie wearing a checkered denim crop top and skirt set from Essé with denim slingbacks. I would’ve prefered white sandals here but overall, she wore the set well!
Dear Victorian Era ladiej, I have summarised your comments below – it’s my endeavour to help you guys. Because, why not.
1. Petticoat and blouse is the fashion norm.
2. Not event appropriate.
3. Vulgar
4. Tackfest
5. Bra era is definitely here
6. Would you see opposite gender in such clothes.
7. She is making a commodity of herself.
8. This is innerwear
9. Women are conditioned to wear itty bitty clothes.
Just as FYI , the feminist perspective on wearing whatever you want emphasizes autonomy and personal choice. It advocates for individuals, regardless of gender, to have the freedom to dress in a way that expresses their identity and comfort without fear of judgment or harassment. This viewpoint supports the idea that clothing choices should not be restricted by societal norms or gender expectations. It’s about empowering individuals to make their own decisions about how they present themselves to the world, free from oppressive standards or constraints.
I believe commenters (who you are addressing here) are engaging with the complex issues of women, agency and Bollywood culture. If you don’t engage with it, empowerment just becomes a catch phrase.
Some commenters perhaps are engaging in the complex issue of women, agency and Bollywood culture. But many talk about it as if wearing skimpy clothes is a reflection of their bad “character”.
Your understanding of the issue seems very limited here.
It is not about the freedom women have but actually the lack of it for the women in showbiz.These pages are a testament to that where the women are expected to wear the skimpiest of clothes have a great body to display that. The issue is there is inequality in the expectations from the corresponding male brigade who are mostly fully clothed at the same events.And women cater to that!!
Wake up !
Agree on this. Women question women, unfortunately to date. Men have a bro code even on dressing, it’s not discussed or questioned, it’s general n unbroken. Men: Pants, shorts, bottoms, shirts, undergarments. Nothing more.
Women: clothes, sizes, fittings, situations, occasions, social setting, comparisons, net worth, relevance, acceptance, etc etc. etc.
You just concocted a false story in your head.
Literally no one expects women to wear skimpy clothes. These pages also show the same actresses wearing sarees, salwars, pants, skirts and everything in between. They wear all kinds of clothes by choice. And it looks like you want to take that choice away from them.
You don’t have a great body to display? Cool, cover yourself up.
You don’t want to cater to ‘expectations’? Cool, wear what no one else would want you to wear.
But don’t be a hypocrite and imply that other women should cater to YOUR expectations. Because that would truly be a lack of freedom.
Thank you Sandy ! It’s a little funny to read people thinking the women “have” to wear skimpy clothes because they have to appease or appeal to some standard. If you think that these actresses don’t wear what they want or they don’t have any autonomy in those decisions you’re very much mistaken.
Also, to insinuate that men “don’t” think about what they have to wear or don’t have fittings is so far from the truth. Sure, the men aren’t wearing crop tops (and frankly I don’t want to see that) but they absolutely care about what they look like, have their comparisons etc etc.
Projecting your own biases isn’t really “waking up”.
Simplistic statements like wear what you like does not allow for any critique of how and why we present ourselves in certain ways. Shaming her or harassing her for indecent clothing is one thing, no one is hope. But seeing it as part of an overall societal pattern of women being conditioned to look a particular way is another.
This dress specifically highlights the bust area and also provides a slit for peakaboo legs. You could say it is playful and indeed Kriti has a sweet air about her. But since there is really nothing else to it it would appear that its main aim is to display the wearer’s body. An actress has to be desirable so I get it . But please do read Ariel Levy’s raunch culture and the recent revelations about people like Russell Brand to understand how this 2000s onwards trend of looking hot can be toxic.
Just wondering if the feminist perspective also allows women to have and express opinions without being labeled and ridiculed and called names like “Victorian Era Ladiej”?
I have no issue with women and/or men and everyone in between wearing whatever they choose. I do, however, take umbrage with forcing women to dress a certain way, or feel pressed to look a certain way in order to advance their careers. A woman should be paid for how well she does her job, not how she looks. In Bollywood, alas, a woman’s looks carry much more weight than how well she can act. I don’t feel like this blog is the place to discuss acting talent, therefore I won’t name names, but there are many who cannot act, but are doing well in the industry – on the flip side, larger women or those not considered to be as “attractive” don’t seem to get meaty roles. . Additionally, there have been a number of stories about young actresses losing weight in order to enter the industry. I have watched my niece who is an actress, lose weight, and totally change her persona in order to stay relevant. There are always two sides to every coin.
+100 to Katy
Mocking someone by labelling them ‘Victorian Era ladiej’ shows how women dont support free speech when it goes against their beliefs.This whole culture of wearing itty bitty clothes is nothing but conditioning..
Fact of the matter is women especially in glamour industries have to bend to a certain degree to confirm.This is the issue.
Katy, the other reply thread got too long so came here to say much appreciated all your comments. Well articulated.
I have a friend in news media and I think even there most are not self aware of how visual media gradually distorts body image and is also misogynistic.
AM you are too kind! I have often thought it would be so interesting to run a content analysis of this blog – there is so much richness here, and could provide some real insight into sociological perspectives among South Asians.
I do not think the issue is simply about doing and wearing what we want, especially among celebrities in India. If it was just about choice, item numbers, which often have nothing to do with the actual movie would not be used to sell and promote movies. Celebrities are used to sell and promote products, movies, norms etc – case in point were the Channel show, NMACC, designer weddings, Bulgari promotions and gutka ads.
I agree with you re: comparisons with the west – I don’t get why we feel we can justify everything based on a western standard, which can often be as, if not more restrictive. The current debate around abortion in the US is just one example of women losing the right to control their own bodies.
I have a young adult daughter and worry a lot about how visual “norms” impact her sense of self and body image. She’s tiny – hovers btw size 0 and 2, is an athlete and has an athletic body, but still complains that her belly is not flat enough! We recently took a trip to Spain and my sweats-loving tennis player became extremely self conscious because she looked like a “hobo” among the well dressed Spanish women. External cues matter, and no matter how much we tell ourselves that empowerment means doing whatever we please, that is an unrealistic ideal (in my opinion), when our choices affect others, this is the reason why seatbelt, public smoking and speeding laws exist.
Enough gyan. I’m enjoying learning about the diverse view points of S Asians in SAsia and the diaspora. And it’s very good to meet you, AM.
Likewise Katy glad to meet you! I totally get what you wrote about your daughter. We expect things to change in the next generation but things stay the same in many ways.
Took a decade or so but seems like Kriti is finally coming into her own. Been getting more hits than misses recently, is experimenting, getting out of the boring no personality clothes zone, and getting into I’m sexy and I know it zone. Like it! Wear ’em heels girl!
I am really enjoying the comments section. So well articulated, a deeper understanding of the issue and a reason why I am hooked to this blog amidst a million other options. Yes, societal conditioning impacts our choices. For example, someone might feel uncomfortable in an itty bitty bra the first time, maybe a little less the second time and get comfortable when they wear it for the tenth time. The eleventh time, it will be normal for them and so Kriti might not be uncomfortable, but is it her own choice or was she ‘conditioned’ to make it her own? Thats the real question . I was watching a movie recently, where the lead couple was stuck in a tornado and were drenched in heavy rain. I couldn’t unsee were the leading lady’s fake eyelashes, yes even her disheveled self in the heavy rain needed full-on make up, fake lashes, blush and contouring. The leading guy however had barely any makeup on , flaunting his wrinkles. Why? Because we are conditioned to accept men that way but women are expected to look a certain way. Societal conditioning plays a big role in our so called ‘ free will’ . When we understand this, there will be awareness and it will cause a revolution. Waiting for that day, because that will be true empowerment.
22
Dear Victorian Era ladiej, I have summarised your comments below – it’s my endeavour to help you guys. Because, why not.
1. Petticoat and blouse is the fashion norm.
2. Not event appropriate.
3. Vulgar
4. Tackfest
5. Bra era is definitely here
6. Would you see opposite gender in such clothes.
7. She is making a commodity of herself.
8. This is innerwear
9. Women are conditioned to wear itty bitty clothes.
Just as FYI , the feminist perspective on wearing whatever you want emphasizes autonomy and personal choice. It advocates for individuals, regardless of gender, to have the freedom to dress in a way that expresses their identity and comfort without fear of judgment or harassment. This viewpoint supports the idea that clothing choices should not be restricted by societal norms or gender expectations. It’s about empowering individuals to make their own decisions about how they present themselves to the world, free from oppressive standards or constraints.
I believe commenters (who you are addressing here) are engaging with the complex issues of women, agency and Bollywood culture. If you don’t engage with it, empowerment just becomes a catch phrase.
Some commenters perhaps are engaging in the complex issue of women, agency and Bollywood culture. But many talk about it as if wearing skimpy clothes is a reflection of their bad “character”.
Not a single person talked about bad character in the previous Kriti post. The discussion was about objectifying women.
It would be very interesting to ask Kriti if she picked these outfits herself or would wear them out and about in an effort to showcase her identity.
Your understanding of the issue seems very limited here.
It is not about the freedom women have but actually the lack of it for the women in showbiz.These pages are a testament to that where the women are expected to wear the skimpiest of clothes have a great body to display that. The issue is there is inequality in the expectations from the corresponding male brigade who are mostly fully clothed at the same events.And women cater to that!!
Wake up !
Agree on this. Women question women, unfortunately to date. Men have a bro code even on dressing, it’s not discussed or questioned, it’s general n unbroken. Men: Pants, shorts, bottoms, shirts, undergarments. Nothing more.
Women: clothes, sizes, fittings, situations, occasions, social setting, comparisons, net worth, relevance, acceptance, etc etc. etc.
You just concocted a false story in your head.
Literally no one expects women to wear skimpy clothes. These pages also show the same actresses wearing sarees, salwars, pants, skirts and everything in between. They wear all kinds of clothes by choice. And it looks like you want to take that choice away from them.
You don’t have a great body to display? Cool, cover yourself up.
You don’t want to cater to ‘expectations’? Cool, wear what no one else would want you to wear.
But don’t be a hypocrite and imply that other women should cater to YOUR expectations. Because that would truly be a lack of freedom.
Thank you Sandy ! It’s a little funny to read people thinking the women “have” to wear skimpy clothes because they have to appease or appeal to some standard. If you think that these actresses don’t wear what they want or they don’t have any autonomy in those decisions you’re very much mistaken.
Also, to insinuate that men “don’t” think about what they have to wear or don’t have fittings is so far from the truth. Sure, the men aren’t wearing crop tops (and frankly I don’t want to see that) but they absolutely care about what they look like, have their comparisons etc etc.
Projecting your own biases isn’t really “waking up”.
Well said, couldn’t have articulated it better.
Looks like that long comment section really hurt.
Simplistic statements like wear what you like does not allow for any critique of how and why we present ourselves in certain ways. Shaming her or harassing her for indecent clothing is one thing, no one is hope. But seeing it as part of an overall societal pattern of women being conditioned to look a particular way is another.
This dress specifically highlights the bust area and also provides a slit for peakaboo legs. You could say it is playful and indeed Kriti has a sweet air about her. But since there is really nothing else to it it would appear that its main aim is to display the wearer’s body. An actress has to be desirable so I get it . But please do read Ariel Levy’s raunch culture and the recent revelations about people like Russell Brand to understand how this 2000s onwards trend of looking hot can be toxic.
Just wondering if the feminist perspective also allows women to have and express opinions without being labeled and ridiculed and called names like “Victorian Era Ladiej”?
I have no issue with women and/or men and everyone in between wearing whatever they choose. I do, however, take umbrage with forcing women to dress a certain way, or feel pressed to look a certain way in order to advance their careers. A woman should be paid for how well she does her job, not how she looks. In Bollywood, alas, a woman’s looks carry much more weight than how well she can act. I don’t feel like this blog is the place to discuss acting talent, therefore I won’t name names, but there are many who cannot act, but are doing well in the industry – on the flip side, larger women or those not considered to be as “attractive” don’t seem to get meaty roles. . Additionally, there have been a number of stories about young actresses losing weight in order to enter the industry. I have watched my niece who is an actress, lose weight, and totally change her persona in order to stay relevant. There are always two sides to every coin.
+100 to Katy
Mocking someone by labelling them ‘Victorian Era ladiej’ shows how women dont support free speech when it goes against their beliefs.This whole culture of wearing itty bitty clothes is nothing but conditioning..
Fact of the matter is women especially in glamour industries have to bend to a certain degree to confirm.This is the issue.
Katy, the other reply thread got too long so came here to say much appreciated all your comments. Well articulated.
I have a friend in news media and I think even there most are not self aware of how visual media gradually distorts body image and is also misogynistic.
AM you are too kind! I have often thought it would be so interesting to run a content analysis of this blog – there is so much richness here, and could provide some real insight into sociological perspectives among South Asians.
I do not think the issue is simply about doing and wearing what we want, especially among celebrities in India. If it was just about choice, item numbers, which often have nothing to do with the actual movie would not be used to sell and promote movies. Celebrities are used to sell and promote products, movies, norms etc – case in point were the Channel show, NMACC, designer weddings, Bulgari promotions and gutka ads.
I agree with you re: comparisons with the west – I don’t get why we feel we can justify everything based on a western standard, which can often be as, if not more restrictive. The current debate around abortion in the US is just one example of women losing the right to control their own bodies.
I have a young adult daughter and worry a lot about how visual “norms” impact her sense of self and body image. She’s tiny – hovers btw size 0 and 2, is an athlete and has an athletic body, but still complains that her belly is not flat enough! We recently took a trip to Spain and my sweats-loving tennis player became extremely self conscious because she looked like a “hobo” among the well dressed Spanish women. External cues matter, and no matter how much we tell ourselves that empowerment means doing whatever we please, that is an unrealistic ideal (in my opinion), when our choices affect others, this is the reason why seatbelt, public smoking and speeding laws exist.
Enough gyan. I’m enjoying learning about the diverse view points of S Asians in SAsia and the diaspora. And it’s very good to meet you, AM.
Likewise Katy glad to meet you! I totally get what you wrote about your daughter. We expect things to change in the next generation but things stay the same in many ways.
LOL
The top reminds of me what Deepika wore in the song “Jhoome jo pathan”
Looks awesome although the top looks like it got caught up under the boob or rolled in.
Took a decade or so but seems like Kriti is finally coming into her own. Been getting more hits than misses recently, is experimenting, getting out of the boring no personality clothes zone, and getting into I’m sexy and I know it zone. Like it! Wear ’em heels girl!
Also – loving the debate in the comments. It’s mostly civil and presents two good arguments. Both sides with valid narrative!
I am really enjoying the comments section. So well articulated, a deeper understanding of the issue and a reason why I am hooked to this blog amidst a million other options. Yes, societal conditioning impacts our choices. For example, someone might feel uncomfortable in an itty bitty bra the first time, maybe a little less the second time and get comfortable when they wear it for the tenth time. The eleventh time, it will be normal for them and so Kriti might not be uncomfortable, but is it her own choice or was she ‘conditioned’ to make it her own? Thats the real question . I was watching a movie recently, where the lead couple was stuck in a tornado and were drenched in heavy rain. I couldn’t unsee were the leading lady’s fake eyelashes, yes even her disheveled self in the heavy rain needed full-on make up, fake lashes, blush and contouring. The leading guy however had barely any makeup on , flaunting his wrinkles. Why? Because we are conditioned to accept men that way but women are expected to look a certain way. Societal conditioning plays a big role in our so called ‘ free will’ . When we understand this, there will be awareness and it will cause a revolution. Waiting for that day, because that will be true empowerment.
Another thing to note in movies/series, women always order the salad and men always the burger or the real food. 😛