Manish To The Max
VOGUE India|June 2019

He refuses to categorise himself purely as a maximalist, would hate for his clothes to be liked by all, and believes that his exciting life makes for the best inspiration. Manish Arora and his unique aesthetic defy definition, says Priyanka Khanna

Priyanka Khanna
Manish To The Max

Replete with his signature psychedelia, apocalyptic dressing, Jazz Age flappers and Hollywood glamour, that Manish Arora titled his autumn/winter 2019-20 show Finally Normal People might be perceived as an oxymoron by most. But for Arora, this state of extravaganza is business as usual. “Sure, in some people’s eyes what I do would seem to be maximal, but for me, it’s my normal,” he says laughing. “Sometimes people like me need a lot more to express.”

And his tableau of expression has spanned the gamut—from the more spiritual oeuvre in autumn/winter 2018-19 to the Candy Crush-inflected elements of A/W 2014-15. He’s designed dresses that have a working carousel (worn famously by Katy Perry) and others festooned with glow-in-the-dark hand-sewn butterflies. “What’s happening in Indian fashion today is the perfect example of maximalism— with the kitsch, over-the-top element of the weddings. My aesthetics are unique, they are personal, and I guess that’s what makes them different. They are an amalgamation of fashion and art, but expressed through the medium of clothing.” His references in fashion are unsurprising—the drama of Thierry Mugler’s shows, the quirk of Jean Paul Gaultier, and the larger-than-life collections at Comme des Garçons have all influenced him at different points in his career.

This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

MORE STORIES FROM VOGUE INDIAView all
Breathe In, Breathe Out
VOGUE India

Breathe In, Breathe Out

A powerful tool to help you master your nervous system or another biohacking buzzword? SIMONE DHONDY explores the inhalations and exhalations of breathwork

time-read
4 mins  |
November - December 2024
Red Pill, Blue Pill
VOGUE India

Red Pill, Blue Pill

India's nutraceutical industry is booming thanks to advanced technology, distrust of the medical system and rising vanity. With multivitamins becoming purer and more effective, NIDHI GUPTA finds out if supplements have become the new serum

time-read
4 mins  |
November - December 2024
Sign of the times
VOGUE India

Sign of the times

No longer do you need to have an answer to, \"What is the significance of this?\" when people point to your new tattoo. ARMAN KHAN discovers that everything is on the table when you get inked temporarily

time-read
3 mins  |
November - December 2024
Return to form
VOGUE India

Return to form

Watching the world's most elite athletes deliver the best performances of their careers rekindled SONAKSHI SHARMA's own love for sports

time-read
3 mins  |
November - December 2024
Dimple, All Day
VOGUE India

Dimple, All Day

YOU MAY HAVE WATCHED HER ON THE BIG SCREEN FOR OVER FIVE DECADES, BUT DON'T MAKE THE MISTAKE OF ASSUMING THAT YOU KNOW DIMPLE KAPADIA.

time-read
9 mins  |
November - December 2024
MUSIC, TAKE CONTROL
VOGUE India

MUSIC, TAKE CONTROL

As someone who had always sought safety in numbers, ALIZA FATMA often wondered what her own company would feel like. The answer arrived unexpectedly when she attended her first-ever music festival, one of the largest in the world, all alone

time-read
3 mins  |
November - December 2024
Let it grow
VOGUE India

Let it grow

When we think of hardworking farmers toiling in India's scorching heat, we often think of men, the sweat on their brow, the sinews in their arms. JYOTI KUMARI speaks to four women who are championing the invisible female labour that keeps these fields running

time-read
5 mins  |
November - December 2024
YOU'LL NEVER WALK ALONE
VOGUE India

YOU'LL NEVER WALK ALONE

When armless archer Sheetal Devi set her sights on the Paralympic Games this year, she knew she had a tough journey ahead of her. Luckily, her mother was with her every step of the way.

time-read
5 mins  |
November - December 2024
Beauty and the feast
VOGUE India

Beauty and the feast

The appeal of Indian weddings has always been in a sprawling spread. For additional bragging rights, Aditi Dugar recommends going beyond designer tablecloths and monogrammed napkins.

time-read
1 min  |
November - December 2024
Sweet serendipity
VOGUE India

Sweet serendipity

From a scavenger hunt-inspired proposal to a Moroccan-themed baraat, Malvika Raj and Armaan Rai's love story prioritised playfulness throughout their blended celebrations.

time-read
4 mins  |
November - December 2024