From the long scarlet trail at Cannes to the iconic steps of the Met, Indian and global icons have donned sari-inspired ensembles, time and again. The timeless allure of the nine-yard has been celebrated on red carpets as an homage to the rich heritage and culture of the Indian subcontinent.
With Alia Bhatt likely to wear a Gucci-inspired sari for this year’s appearance, let’s take a look at some of the notable sari moments in Met history:
Natasha Poonawalla
The executive director of the Serum Institute of India was the first to take the Indian sari to the Met carpet. The businesswoman donned a Sabyasachi x Schiaparelli gold ensemble that screamed regal opulence from head to toe. Styled by Anaita Shroff Adajania, the ensemble fell right in line with the Met Gala theme of the year 2022, “Gilded Glamour”.
Natasha wore a stack of bangles from archives of Sabyasachi’s Curiosity Art and Antiquity Project and Bhavya Ramesh Jewellery earrings.
The designer took to Instagram to describe her vision behind the look: “The Schiaparelli metal corset as the ultimate symbol of a true renaissance in fashion, a return to pure extravagance, and combined it with the excellence of India’s most celebrated designer, Sabyasachi who has infused new energy into the beating heart of textile traditions and my favourite, the sari which was Natasha’s vision from day one!”
“The sari is a truly unique and versatile garment that owns its identity even as it transcends boundaries and geographies,” shared designer Sabyasachi Mukherjee, who made his debut with this design, on the social media platform.
Naomi Campbell
Supermodel Naomi Campbell opted for a rare Chanel archival look from the Spring/Summer 2010 couture collection for the 2023 Met Gala.
Inspired by the sari, the salmon pink fabric was paired with a metallic blouse, along with silver arm cuffs and matching earrings. Campbell had previously walked in a sari for Sabyasachi’s show, back in 2019.
Isha Ambani Piramal
The Director of Reliance Retail paid homage to the late designer Karl Lagerfield at the 2023 Met Gala in a black draped Prabal Gurung sari-inspired gown. The outfit featured a long flowy train and glittering pearls. Isha also sported a mini Chanel bag from the 2012 Paris Bombay collection.
Her stylist Priyanka Kapadia Badani took to Instagram to share her vision behind the look: “Our vision for Isha Ambani’s look last night drew from Karl’s favourite colour palette with a smattering of pearls in a draped silhouette inspired by the sari from Prabal Gurung’s atelier.”
Blake Lively
The 2011 Met Gala saw the 36 year old American actress wearing a custom sari-inspired floral Chanel number with layered cowls and semi sheer detailing. The ensemble paid homage to the late designer Alexander McQueen with the theme “Savage Beauty”