Fashion
“There were a few moments when I dressed up for myself and it felt really good,” says the star fronting Forever New’s refreshing campaign
In many ways, Diana Penty is a lot like most of us. Whether it's her minimal approach to beauty or conservative shopping habits, it’s the star’s seemingly simple choices make her relatable, yet somehow inimitable. The model turned actor is not too far from her debut role of Meera in real life—a girl next door—finding her way and a sense of style along the way. “Growing up, I went through a really awkward teenage phase like everyone else, but I was so tall and lanky which made it worse,” she admits two minutes into our conversation. It’s hard to imagine Penty in anything but sheath dresses and well-cut jumpsuits that highlight her lean frame, especially encompassed in “oversized shirts, cargo pants and floaters” as she paints a picture of her early years. Cut to 2020 and the pandemic has had her back into anti-fit pieces. “I’m loving everything oversized at the moment and you'll see me in my baggy jeans and oversized shirts all the time. And it's definitely going to carry forward even when stepping out now,” she says.
For Penty, it is very easy to pare down her wardrobe into just a few essentials. “A blazer, a couple of white shirts, jeans in different cuts, an LBD that fits you perfectly and maybe a gown.” In a time when everyone is re-evaluating at their closets with a classic approach, the actor already feels comfortable. “My style is exactly an extension of my personality—minimal, classic and effortless. I’d rather be the most underdressed person in the room than be the most overdressed person,” she admits having a safe take on fashion. It is this timeless sensibility that matches the essence of Forever New. The Melbourne-based ready-to-wear label has had a long presence in India, as a go-to name for many fashion-conscious shoppers. And the Cocktail star is no exception, it seems, as she reveals that she’s been shopping from the brand since her days in college. “I remember that every time I had saved up money and had an event or occasion to celebrate, I would always find myself ending up at their store. I always knew I'd find something there that was appropriate,” she says on the match. It comes as no surprise that the former model still fits into some of the dresses she bought back then. “I can use them even today”. This says a lot about Penty’s truly timeless choices that would never feel out of place.
“By default, I was always a responsible shopper. I never really invest in statement pieces that I can’t wear too often. I avoid buying one-off pieces that stand out or are hard to style,” says the star on becoming more conservative when it comes to shopping long before the pandemic hit us. “It’s good to be aware of how your fashion choices impact the environment.” But the star is no stranger to the power of dressing up. “There were a few moments when I dressed up for myself [in lockdown] and it felt really good.” Her own wardrobe is full of coordinate sets, some black dresses and clean-cut separates. From the label’s new instalment, she instantly picked a black wrap dress with balloon sleeves and a bottle green ribbed jumpsuit.
What Diana Penty takes away from arguably one of the hardest years of our times is that she needs very little to be happy. In fashion parlance, “To be appreciative of what you already own and mindful of what you’re buying next.”
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Diana Penty picked an elegant white sari gown for Cannes 2019