Bharat Gupta - When You Add Your Own Self To Fashion, That Is When Style Comes To Life (Stylist)

 

Creative and Fashion Consultant, Bharat Gupta is a well known name in the industry. He has worked with brands including Puma, Asian Paints, Nykaa, DHL, Tata Capital, Olay, Colgate and many more.  He is the official stylist for Femina Miss India, Miss Diva India Universe and Mr. India pageants. Bharat has styled Norah Fatehi, Taapsee Pannu, Shiamak Davar, Armaan Malik, Warina Hussain, Darshan Raval and many more for shows and shoots. He has styled shows for renowned designers including Rajesh Pratap Singh, Rohit Bal, Neeta Lulla, Gavin Miguel, Shaina NC, Mandira Wirk and many more at Prestigious Fashion Weeks.

1. Tell us about your background and journey.

I was born and brought up in Delhi. I belong to a family of chartered accountants and educationists. I graduated with an honors degree in Economics from Delhi University and a Masters in Journalism and Public Relations. With liberal parents, I was always encouraged to participate in extracurricular and sports to ensure a more holistic upbringing. 

My school (Modern School) encouraged the same and I grew up with multiple opportunities for the same. For ten years I was active in Delhi premier theatre group founded by Mr. Feisal Alkazi. I moved to professional dancing and was a part of Shiamak Davar’s Dance Company. During the time I handled Public Relations and Marketing Communications for Shiamak Davar, I got a first-hand experience at costumes as he choreographed award shows and films. 

I grew up with a strong sense of fashion as my family was always very fashion aware. It was in due time that I made the switch and began training and learning the art of styling. One of the first few projects I did was for Puma (Suede Gully Campaign) was very well received and was nominated for Cannes Lions Awards. That is when things started picking up.

 2. Do you believe style has more to do with a person or the clothes they wear?

When you add your own self to fashion, that is when style comes to life. Style has everything to do with the person and what they bring to the outfit. This doesn’t mean that one needs to be a certain type of personality to be stylish. 

People need to find clothes that match their own aesthetic so it best represents their true nature. This is the primary reason why fashion trends may come and go, but style lasts. The same outfit would look different on different people because they style it differently. This difference comes from their own sense of fashion that they bring to the fore.

 3. What has been the most challenging part of your job?

 Challenge brings opportunity. And which opportunity comes without a struggle? There are minor adjustments we make in terms of long work hours, uncertainty and seasonal projects. There are tough people everywhere, so dealing with different personalities can be a challenge but it gears you to be better.

 4. How do you see fashion changing in the next 10 years?

Why ten years when fashion changes every few months! It works cyclical so probably something that is in today or was a few years back will come back in an evolved avatar. 

Hopefully fashion will become more mindful with monitored production, better pay scale for workers, improved worked environment, give credit to the artisans and weavers, and most importantly fashion would be synonymous with sustainability, from a dialogue and slow progress today to an all encompassing trend by then.

 5. How important is it to be in sync with changing trends?

 It’s important to be aware. Each trend may or may not work for everyone but you can take elements and make them your own. Sometimes blindly following trends can also work against you because you may not have the same aesthetic. But if you’re aware of the latest trends, you can at least gauge what works for you.

 6. Can you share some advice for aspiring designers?

 You need to love fashion to be a designer. This can’t be a half hearted attempt. You have to find your own original sense of design and create something that is uniquely you. There is a balance between business and creativity that you will have to maintain. 

With so much information, you can easily be tempted in a certain direction, you must stay true to your design aesthetic. Don’t seel yourself short, people constantly look for newness, be that.

 7. Who do you look up to for inspiration ?

Everything! Nature, architecture, people, animals, clothes; all forms of creations are an inspiration. Looking outside is inspiration, looking within is inspiration.

Bharat Gupta

(Stylist)

Instagram : @bharatg18

Interviewed by : Adit Koul