Karisma Kapoor takes you on a tour inside her wardrobe

For as long as I can remember, black has been a constant in my closet. Black is such a chameleonic colour; what changes is my interpretation of the shade. With a little bling, it becomes perfect for a night out. Those who know me know that I’m an introvert and, given a chance, I would skip a club opening for dinner and drinks with my closest crew. An ideal Saturday night is one where the entire Kapoor family comes together at my sister’s house, where so many special evenings have transpired. In these casual and intimate moments, my style always remains classic—a pair of well-cut trousers and a blouse (in black, of course) and sometimes a simple silhouette swap, like an off-shoulder top, adds a quick dose of glamour. For me, nothing goes as seamlessly from day to dark like a black top with tassels paired with jeans and ankle boots—it’s been my fail-safe formula for lazy brunches that can sometimes turn to long nights.

Finding designers that you automatically gravitate towards in a row of clothes is the most liberating feeling. There are only a few that perfectly fall into my comfort zone. There’s Stella McCartney, Loewe, Armani (their classic dresses are a mainstay in my wardrobe) and, of course, Balmain. I recently wore a glitter Balmain jacket for a semi-formal evening and all I needed was a pair of second-skin jeans and stilettos to complete the look. My advice to those who stock up on staggering stilettos, like I do, is to invest in comfortable Aquazzura and Saint Laurent shoes. Their heels have seen me through long nights of dancing with Bebo, Mala and Amu.

I’m a firm believer in keeping accessories to a minimum—you’ll rarely see me wearing earrings. I like sharp looks and sometimes jewellery just isn’t required. If I’m wearing a red gown to an event, as someone who likes to edit her jewellery down to one piece, I’ll give earrings a miss for a slightly statement necklace. For anything other than the red carpet, my only finishing touch is a statement watch. And more often than not, I’ll add a bright lip—a fiery red is always a classic.

While dressing up is such a large part of the excitement of going out, in my opinion, beyond the restaurants, the house parties and the late nights that turn into early mornings, happiness is at the centre of enjoying yourself. If you’re positive, the party is always in your head, and it doesn’t really matter where you go or what you wear. — As told to Akanksha Kamath