Style Talk: Malavika Mohanan likes to keep her style classic

To call Malavika Mohanan a fashionista would be an understatement. From a hand block kaftan to a dazzling sequinned bodycon dress, there is no attire the Master actress hasn’t styled with poise. For Malavika, style is all about personality rather than keeping up with trends. Let’s take a sneak peek into her style book…

Classic. Even when I buy from brands, I don’t go by the trends, but by classics, which you can wear even ten years down the line.

I used to wear a lot of jeans growing up, for the lack of more options as there weren’t high street brands.They stick to your body and are uncomfortable to wear in Chennai/Bombay heat.


Clubbing too many prints together. It may look good in a few fashion editorials, but in real life it looks so jarring, loud and tacky. Another one is when people do not dress weather-appropriately.

I have always been enamoured by people we see on the streets, rather than one single icon. I am a big fan of Tamil handloom and aesthetics. For instance, even an old Tamil woman walking on the streets with her orange flowers and gold mookuthi is a stunning imagery.

I went to this award function in Dubai, where I wore a red gown and paired it with a really bright red lipstick. Red lipstick is tricky and does not suit everyone. The shade of red you use is important and needs to complement your skin tone. It looked loud on me. It was not at all my style.


We see the Kardashians doing this a lot — a monotone look. For instance, featuring a nude bodycon, matching it with nude shoes, glam makeup with sleek hair. It is so different visually from all other trends.

Frocks. I love dresses, but I personally think frocks look very dated. I wouldn’t be ever caught dead in that.

I love wearing these cotton kaftans when I am chilling at home. I have a lot of hand block printed ones, and they are so versatile.


I love wearing different kinds of saris. I wish our generation normalises wearing saris on a regular basis.

I can’t pick just one — A white tank top is one of the most versatile things you can have in your wardrobe. A good maxi dress is another casual sexy dress you need to have. It depends on the weather as well.

Golden hoops — I have them in every size. It suits my face and goes with pretty much everything. Another phase I am going through is sporting diamond bracelets with chunky golden bracelets — it is my current arm candy cluster.

I always play it safe with hair and makeup and tend to experiment with clothes. I also do not wear a lot of loud lipsticks, and instead prefer keeping the lips nude and playing up my eyes, when it comes to makeup.

It was the audio launch. We knew the event was coming up, and I had placed an order for a dark pink salwar kameez from Sabyasachi. Till date I am close to the whole team. The memory is so special that it makes the outfit special.