25 pictures that will take you inside Malaika Arora’s wardrobe

One of the original supermodels to break out in the Indian fashion scene in the ’90s, Malaika Arora has since moved on to carve a niche for herself that escapes explanation. Now in her 40s, she’s living her best life yet, routinely challenging the conventional notions of age-appropriate dressing with everything from liquid leather bandeau tops to naked dresses. Mirroring her own unabashed personality, her love for maximalism finds further expression in her wardrobe that is home to some of the most exclusive labels from around the world as well as hidden gems from the country’s street style scene. Here, we decode her sartorial balancing act in 25 pictures.

Decoding Malaika Arora’s personal style

A connoisseur of the finest that the world of couture has to offer, it should come as little surprise that Arora’s off-duty wardrobe is dotted with luxury labels as well. A quick dash to the airport can call for anything from a leather Gucci jacket to a Balmain tank top, while leisurely night outs translate into backless Deme by Gabriella gowns or Topshop short suits. A dedicated fitness junkie, the 45-year-old spends a healthy chunk of her schedule taking on the mean machines in the gym—while you’re contemplating ordering your third coffee of the morning, she is likely on her way back from a two-hour sweat sesh in a mesh bralette and skinny yoga pants that do perfect justice to those washboard abs. Her go-to staples for a winning workout look also include neon crop tops, fitted silhouettes, power pink sneakers and mirrored aviators.

Decoding Malaika Arora’s red carpet style

Not one to settle for the obvious choices, Arora’s feeds her experimental streak by training her eye on the finer names of the global fashion circuit. The India’s Next Top Model judge has a soft spot for the haute couture churned out by Middle Eastern designers. Some of her more recent finds include a molten gunmetal gown from Jean-Louis Sabaji, and another champagne-hued number from the same couturier that she paired with an edgy faux fur wrap. On those days when she’s looking to make a statement, Kuwait-based label Yas Couture services her need for drama—think beaded nude gowns and holographic fringe numbers.

Head over to the ethnic side of her wardrobe, and her love for the unconventional reigns supreme. The leggy diva gave a modern update to the traditional six yards by opting for a fusion sari-gown from Amit Aggarwal for Deepika Padukone and Ranveer Singh’s Mumbai reception, teamed with a bandeau top for maximum effect. For the festive parties on her social calendar, you’ll find her standing out in a sea of crowd-pleasing pastels in a head-turning black lehenga with gold foil work and a cape dupatta by Raw Mango. Just when you think you’ve seen it all, you’ll spot her at the recent Ambani wedding bash in a head-to-toe embellished lehenga with a plunging neckline.

Scroll below through the gallery below for Malaika Arora’s top wardrobe choices.

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