In Ralph & Russo

Comment image 81


Post-wedding, Sonam’s first major appearance was on the Cannes red carpet. For the occasion, she picked a Ralph & Russo gown-meets-lehenga to wear. Playing off the mehendi still fresh on her hands, this bridal-inspired look was rounded out with soft make-up and a beautiful hair ornament from Amrapali.

Maybe we are all still reeling from the “#SonamKiShaadi” hangover but this outing felt like an extension of the wedding festivities. (We kept checking to see if a trail of Abu Jani Sandeep Khosla suits and saris were to follow.)

The princess puff always works for Sonam but in this case, it was all rather meh. And that hairstyle really let her down… Did absolutely nothing for her.

For the non-South Asian market, this look would’ve been both novel and unexpected. And in that, she delivers. But for those of us, who have consumed the wedding and fashion as served up by Ms. Ahuja née Kapoor, this felt rather underwhelming. And if she had to do a lehenga, there were far better options closer to home. (Her Anamika Khanna appearances on the Cannes red carpet have been far more impactful when towing that Indianwear-inspired line.)

How we wish she took a risk, a chance! If not her, then who? Here’s hoping she delivers with her next appearance.



  • Like it? Share it!

81 Comments

  1. Nope. The top two photos are heavily retouched.
    Her other closeups on the red carpet look weird with extremely heavy eye makeup and she is sucking in her breath. It’s clear she didn’t feel comfortable carrying this lehenga.

    45
    7
    Reply
    • Ok now the photos are not arranged like before. I meant the photos that her personal photogs take are heavily retouched.

      19
      4
      Reply
  2. I’m really torn because on the one had I like the outfit. On the other hand, if she was going for a lehengaesque look, why not take the opportunity to promote our own designers on such a platform?

    47
    4
    Reply
  3. Totally agree with you that there are far better options to showcase the Indian-ness. This is a failed attempt.

    There is such a disconnect between the different elements of styling. It’s not a cohesive look. Like they just felt obligated to showcase her marital status with the whole mehendi and braid and whatnot.

    35
    6
    Reply
  4. I’m glad I didn’t read your comments first because I like the outfit. Yes it’s borders on the ‘lehenga’ vibe but lacks the desi bling. I love the hair too. What’s disappointing is the make-up; there’s just too much of it. Sonam has pretty skin and she doesn’t need so much pasted on her face.

    22
    13
    Reply
  5. She shouls habe chosen indian dwsigner for this look. the hairstyle was real let down..!! I was really lookihg forward to aonam’s looks but got.let sown this time..!!

    23
    9
    Reply
  6. The work on this is exquisite, but I also feel like it is a bit blah – all the white puts it more into the bridal wear category, and not in a good way for purposes of Cannes (if the work had been in gold or with some colored beads or thread thrown in, it would have provided a nice contrast, even if subtle). Also, perhaps it is because she has lost weight, but I highly dislike the stitching of the top as a crop top vs a blouse – should have been pulled in below the bust. Also, given how traditional she went for the wedding, was looking forward to something a bit more fierce at Cannes.

    21
    4
    Reply
  7. Honestly she looks ABSOLUTELY STUNNING!!!
    Everything about her look is amazing, and she slays it with such ease. Totally LOVE

    17
    46
    Reply
  8. She looks great in the indoor pics, but a little washed out on the red carpet. I am not the biggest fan of the outfit, but my bigger problem is the hair.

    13
    5
    Reply
  9. I can’t believe it would be possible but a R&R outfit is looking borderline tacky. Crop top with a huge pouffy skirt. SMH

    23
    6
    Reply
  10. Cut her some slack sister. Girlfriend had to pick LOOK AFTER LOOK AFTER LOOK in the last few weeks for the most important event of her life which wasn’t Cannes. I understand the fashion fatigue and why she wanted to keep it simple yet elegant. This is giving me so much more life than over the top bubble gum pink feathers or ridiculous peacock tails. This girl makes trends happen, wouldn’t be surprised if all girls go understated next year because that’ll be in

    24
    69
    Reply
      • Please have a little more gratitude towards the woman who’s made Cannes mean something for India . Nobody gave no shit before her JPG debut especially because all that was served was Kundan sets by Aish. This irresponsible hatred is so careless and damaging

        25
        92
        Reply
        • I am not sure if you are Sonam’s PR but everyone here is entitled to their own opinions. Sonam’s make-up artist indicated that she had picked her wedding outfits much in advance as she was supposed to be married earlier than when it happened. And the fact remains this look lacks a punch, is too bridal and doesn’t reflect on her ‘fashionista’ status.

          60
          8
          Reply
        • You’re kidding right? There are so many factually incorrect things in your statement. But I’ll address just one- why should I be grateful to her or to anyone for that matter? What has her appearance at Cannes done for me?
          Please don’t throw around words you don’t understand.

          67
          10
          Reply
          • I’m not kidding and I’m not her PR. You should be thankful to her not for any personal gains, but to her contribution to making red carpets what they have come to be. Like you should be thankful to Sachin Tendulkar for making cricket what it is or mother Teresa for her humanitarian work. I mean you don’t *have* to be thankful even though it’s the kind thing to do but will be great if you don’t go out of the way to be snide. But of course you can do that too and be frowned upon.

            11
            95
            Reply
          • Can’t get over the fact that someone compared Sonam’s contribution to fashion to Sachin’s contribution in cricket or Mother Teresa’s contribution in humanitarian work. ?????????
            You might be a fan but please have some upper limit to exaggeration.

            93
            4
            Reply
          • I’m not crazy about bollywood, yet am amazed by how sonam & rhea transformed the Indian fashion outlook and put Indians as style icons on the map. Yes, it feels amazing to see an Indian woman slay it on an international red carpet.
            Sure, there will always be hits &misses with outfits. That’s a part of fashion. But the way people rip her apart- really what’s wrong with you. If you need to talk down someone you don’t know and think you have a free pass at sneering because “she’s a public figure”, darling you’re the one with the problem. Maybe you need a bit more attention and validation in your real life.
            Man. Deepika, sonam, all these girls work so hard. Non stop. Movies, brand ambassadors, appearances, interviews, starting their own brands, social causes, red carpets and then juggle that with a personal life & relationship- all in intense public scrutiny & often harsh judgment. And they manage it with grace. Of course they earn a high paycheck, they’ve worked their way up a very desired & difficult ladder. Such great role models for young Indian girls. Sonam has represented the modern Indian woman with such poise that it makes me proud to be Indian. I don’t care that this outfit wasn’t awesome. She’s earned enough respect that a miss is forgiven.

            25
            43
            Reply
            • I absolutely agree! The level of scrutiny and judgement on Indian females is epic and in particular people deem to adore pulling these ladies down. Whilst the rare spicy snap back is appreciated, it just becomes sad when keyboard warriors emerge, comfortable to type things about a celebrity that they would never dare say in person to any individual. So personalities aside, can we just watch the way in which we talk online? A critic of an outfit should not devolve into a personal attack or body shaming.

              6
              5
              Reply
        • Are you seriously equating red carpets with humanitarian work? In that case I’m thankful and grateful you are not running the world. Also, nobody is being “snide” (go look at comments on Malaika Arora if you wanna know what that’s like) – is not liking someone’s look a crime? Sorry but not all of us here are fangirls/fanboys.

          PS: I apologise for the personal jab, but you sounded ridiculous.

          55
          3
          Reply
          • This is for Payal and Priyanka- Is there a reason that you have disabled the “reply” button for me for the comment earlier (in response to Anuj)? Because I’m seeing hat other people are able to reply but I don’t even see the reply option.
            Selective moderation is not cool.

            “@Anuj- I suggest you look up Mother Teresa’s contributions to humanity. Then look up Sachin Temdulkar’s. Then go ahead and look up Sonam Kapoor’s. Something jump out at you? No? That’s what I thought.

            26
            4
            Reply
            • Yes I know what you’re talking about! I couldn’t reply to him directly either but I can see the option now. Maybe some glitch.

              Reply
            • O my god this tireless condescending attitude. This is my problem with most conversations online- when you lose the ability to hold a rationale argument you get personal. As needless as I find to explain to you that I’m a very high performing professional outside of this blog and that your assumption that ‘it won’t jump out at me’ basis such limited data is ludicrous, I feel compelled to request you more time to be kind to people. This time also to regular folk.

              I’ll be happy to connect with you offline and explain to you in detail why Sonam and Rhea’s contributions equate to that of Sachin and of Mother Teresa. Also how you may want to first remove the bias of what you may consider important/ noble or frivolous/ flippant between professions to be able to have a balanced judgement. But before all that please be nice to others man. All of these people have been.

              6
              53
              Reply
              • Dear… even if according to you, she has done some favor to the Bollywood and Indian fashion and all the blah blah you did….. this does not mean that one can’t criticize her look. There are soo many instances where everyone appreciates her looks too.

                18
                3
                Reply
              • No, thanks. Reading your comments here has been enough of an education for me- no need to engage offline and *explain* things to me.
                SMH

                13
                1
                Reply
              • Don’t like people correcting your facts? Well, too bad because you have a right to opinion but facts don’t change.

                Reply
            • Clear the cache or refresh the page…

              As of Sonam’s look I agree with your statement”For the non-South Asian market, this look would’ve been both novel and unexpected. And in that, she delivers. ”
              But our expectation was little high from her…But i love the hair ornament…
              Waiting for her next! Loved her dress for the charity dinner though

              Reply
        • Really! And here I thought it was Ash who bought Cannes recognition in India. I still remember the wall to wall coverage of Ash’s debut in Cannes and of her appearances since then. Sonam, Deepika, Katrina et all added the added glamour and bought in their their own style statements but if anybody deserves the credit of bringing Cannes Red Carpet to the national consciousness …then its Ash.

          35
          6
          Reply
          • Exactly . Aishwarya has been going to Cannes for 18years. How can you compare that to 3 years from Sonam? That’s actually disrespectful . And if you are speaking of fashion moments the biggest Cannes moment was Ash in the blue gown last year. Nothing has still topped that. Except for Ash in her gown this year. Sonam has been average this year.

            Reply
        • @Anuj: for all your high paying job and what not – you seem to have missed the obvious. This is a fashion blog. People come here for opinions. And if you cannot critique a look on a fashion blog, why even have a fashion blog. Let’s just all go to the websites for these designers/celebrities/models and read nice nice comments about their humanitarian work.

          19
          3
          Reply
          • I wasn’t meaning to imply that my job makes me lots of money. I was only attempting to battle the assumption that only people with a lot of time on their hands or dumb people as ! has insinuated that I may be, indulge in passionate conversations of fashion.
            To your point I agree it’s a fashion blog and we come here for all kinds of critique. If you follow the comments above my only problem is with reductive comments as Sonam didn’t have to pull of those looks at her wedding, nobody had a gun to her head. I mean no need to get personal, let’s keep it to fashion sisters.

            4
            28
            Reply
            • Haha,I never thought I LL live to see the day where Sonam Kapoor is spoken in the same lines of Mother Teresa. This person is definitely her pr,or friend. No one else can be this delusional.

              20
              1
              Reply
    • It’s just not her best look…nothing personal but she just didn’t deliver on the fashion front!
      She also gets paid to attend these events so no sympathy from me on that front, when there is a job to do, there is no cutting slack!!

      43
      2
      Reply
  11. The waistband is so tight that it’s giving her a muffin top. How do the stylist/designers not catch this at fittings?

    52
    3
    Reply
  12. “How we wish she took a risk, a chance! If not her, then who?”

    UM…How about Deepika’s risky Ashi Studio gown? Aishwarya’s awesome Michael Cinco gown?

    She does not have a monopoly on high fashion.

    I really don’t like this appearance on the sole basis that she looks incredibly uncomfortable and holding her breath in every photo/video from the red carpet.

    58
    9
    Reply
  13. That crop top length is really bothering me. It cuts at the widest part of her and there appears to be too much for the underboob. the waistband is too snug making her look very disproportional. Nothing wrong with a little flesh and chub to show but top and waistband are doing her no favors. I’ve come to expect so much more from her and this look just isn’t cutting it.

    18
    4
    Reply
  14. How to politely criticize the employer and fake it in front of the public? This post is an example of it.

    Sonam’s look is bland and her hair is absolutely horrendous that ages her.
    Ranveer takes Risks Sonam just wears high end labels. There is a difference.

    27
    6
    Reply
    • You are entitled to your opinion about fashion but that employer commenr is a bit of a stretch.
      Quite silly to think that the bloggers are employed (which implies that they are paid) by a particular person featured here. Is their commentary much more moderate compared to early days of this blog- yes. Has the tone been a lot milder- absolutely. But, to say they are being paid to write nice thing/ nasty things- hell no.

      20
      3
      Reply
  15. She made the best of all that mehendi – in that she still looks ‘high fashion’ and not like she’s at her reception, greeting people on stage.

    4
    16
    Reply
  16. @payal- no idea why i don’t see a reply option to some comments (yours included) in that thread above- that’s why I’m commenting here. Sorry for presuming you disabled it- might be a glitch. Dont worry about it. :-)

    Reply
  17. Whoa, so much hate! She looks lovely and yes, she didn’t take any risk….add earth shattering music. Plenty of other people took risk though and it paid off for chem. And what’s with why not wear an Indian designer? She has done that plenty of times and day 2 hasn’t started yet. Unfortunate that the stanning ‘her over her’ drama has spilled here. My only problem is the eye makeup, L’Oreal tends to screw that up a lot.

    5
    21
    Reply
  18. The pr esque comments are hilarious esp as aishwarya has put india on thd cannes/ international map over the years she has been there. She has taken risks and gone to walk even at the heaviest she has ever been. Her iconic looks really were just that.

    Sonam has had hits and misses and please fashion is sbout personal style. Some resonates some doesn’t. Its not to br thankful for as she is wearing what she wants..that’s hardly a contribution to world peace!

    This despite the grandeur is a washout. Its intricate but dull. The fit is off and god i hate the hair. The accessory isnt wow either. She looks too serious/uncomfortable. Not happening. I honestly prefereed mahira!

    38
    2
    Reply
  19. Honestly I think she looked lovely !!
    It felt like an Indo-western gown style for me thou the outfit was unexpected !!

    4
    10
    Reply
  20. I actually like her here…esp the hair-do. Yes the lehenga fit seems right for her at the waist , n L’Oréal make-up seems off this time for all.

    2
    10
    Reply
    • I thought I was the only one who noticed that. For a makeup giant they have really done awful job with all three of their ambassadors from India. The only eye makeup that I really liked was Aishwarya in her floral dress for her very first appearance and Deepika in her well tailored pant suit. Everything about that look and especially both their eyes were done right there. I like Sonam’s look here and she looks lovely as always. But seeing this look right after seeing her in that Shehlaa Khan light purple/lilac saree with her husband with her hair softly done, wonderful big silver and pearl earrings and simply her mangalsutra, you kinda feel she could’ve done far better if she had toned down the theatrics for once and let her soft, natural beauty shine instead of the clothes. She looked phenomenal in that saree. P&P, you guys missed that look. Was hoping you guys would post about it.

      11
      3
      Reply
  21. I think the biggest LETDOWN is her makeup. Makes her look so much older. Tbh when i looked at pics where some people had her ash and deepika together i thought she looked as old if not older than aish. Nothing wrong in being old but she is a young lady and her face had no sparkle. Coming to the outfit it does not have the wow factor. Just bland and i agree with others that Indian designers have so much more to offer in this area. And the outfit looks a tad too tight for her. In the third row left photo i can see her whatever bit of flab she has being pushed up by that tight waistband.

    16
    1
    Reply
  22. I just wanna say that Sonam and Deepika secretly decided to exchange hair styles as this center part stupid pony is Deepika thing for red carpets and Dps day one hair is replica of sonam haur for all previous Cannes looks

    3
    1
    Reply
  23. I saw the videos of this dress…its so darned heavy. Even if the pics you can see that its lopsided and it was a struggle for her to control it.
    In the videos she had to swamp it up, turn around and literally dump it down in front of her..a classic case of the dress wearing the girl instead of vice versa. Hope today she can own the look

    Reply
  24. She looks breathtakingly beautiful, It is something we have never seen anyone done before in the red carper. Most importantly, i couldn’t think of a better person to carry off this outfit. She kills it every single time.

    1
    3
    Reply
  25. Whoever can compare Sonam to a Sachin or a mother Theresa ..that person for me no matter how high profile job she maybe in speaks of sheer dumbness . There I said it ..DUMB. You might be the biggest fan of Sonam ( and I also like her quite a bit ) but to compare her with legend ..ugggg !!! Eyes rolling so deep that it can barely make a comeback
    And then to say that we should be grateful to her…hahahahaha. I have many people I am grateful for in my life but don’t think Sonam is one of them . Or for that matter any of the celebrities.

    14
    2
    Reply
  26. Yaar, yeh toh cocktail lag rahi hai. Indo-western kuch zyada hee seriously le liya. Indian touch-ups with a British tadka.

    Reply
  27. Disappointing. The fit is very unflattering, as are the hair and make up.
    She should’ve just repeated her gorgeous reception lehenga (chevron stripes).

    Reply
  28. Sonam’s look came as a welcome change after some intense red carpet looks from Deepika and Kangana. I loved the soft hair and make up, even more softer lehenga and the hair accessory. I liked the lehenga look because it came from Ralph & Russo and that was unexpected ( something that I thought would make it to her wedding festivity list). She has already donned all her fav designers for her wedding except R&R…so why not now??

    2
    6
    Reply
  29. What was it that you said about cape-sleeved gowns? How they’ve been done to death? Oh wait. This isn’t Deepika. My bad. I’m sure one cape-sleeve is better than two anyway.

    Reply
  30. I actually love this look. Yes she played it safe. If she doesnt play it safe, people are calling her a fashion victim. There is no winning. However, I wish she had worn this outfit at her reception instead of that weird curtain dress which made me feel itchy just by looking at it.

    2
    2
    Reply

Leave a Reply to Pal Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *