Celebrities spend months working on part of the film. When they begin with the film promotions, they blend their character’s traits, plotlines, or various signature aspects of their movie into their sartorial choices. Have you noticed them embodying elements of their reel characters into their red carpet looks? This trend is called “Method Dressing”, which helps them stay connected to their celluloid character and bring it closer to their audience effortlessly. The concept is similar to “method acting”–where the actor deeply understands the emotions and mindset of the character to enhance their performance.
From Blake Lively showcasing her styling prowess by highlighting her outfits that speak of her latest movie, It Ends With Us, to Shraddha Kapoor’s lineup of show-stopping red outfits for Stree 2 promotions, method dressing has gained popularity in the past few years. However, the trend has invariably existed in the realm of movie promotions. Be it the ever-gorgeous Vidya Balan, who wore retro-inspired outfits and accessories for her award-winning movie, The Dirty Picture or Taapsee Pannu’s recent saree saga incorporating Haseen Dilruba’s favourite flower, Rose, many celebrities have aced this trend.
Below, we’ve compiled a list of stars who have successfully blurred the lines between their true selves and their latest movie character.
Margot Robbie for Barbie
When the news spread about Barbie, the nostalgic memories of childhood resurfaced. Margot Robbie, who played the titular character, committed herself to bringing the iconic doll to life not just on-screen but in real life as well, with her all-pink and vibrant outfits. The outfits worn by the actress consistently incorporated various versions of Barbie, even when the silhouettes didn’t feature the classic pink. Beyond method dressing, these silhouettes brought a new trend to the fashion world: Barbiecore.
Alia Bhatt for Gangubai Kathiawadi
One of Alia Bhatt’s career’s most talked about films, Gangubai Kathiawadi, caught the eyes of many adherent fans thanks to her remarkable performance and the elegant white sarees she adorned. For the press tour, the actress wore an elegant lineup of white sarees that resembled the character’s choice of clothing in the movie. Not only did she exclusively wear the pristine shade during the promotions, but she also adopted the signature Namaste pose, mirroring the way her character greets everyone in the film.
Zendaya for Challengers and Dune
It won’t be wrong to say that Zendaya has aced the art of method dressing to the tee. Her outfit choices for every film’s red carpet and promotions exemplify a beautiful extension of her character through her style. From her spider web dress by Valentino for Spider-Man: No Way Home to her recent tennis-inspired outfits for the widely acclaimed movie Challenger, the actress has constantly raised the bar for red-carpet dressing to new heights.
Janhvi Kapoor for Mr and Mrs Mahi
Janhvi Kapoor has also taken her style game a notch higher with the art of method dressing for the latest sport-centred film, Mr and Mrs Mahi. Whether it’s the statement white and red saree by Torani or a long-skirt set by Masaba, every aspect of her looks screams the heart of the film: Cricket. The new-age star has skillfully incorporated different elements of the widely-loved game into her every silhouette during the film’s promotions.
Taapsee Pannu for Phir Aayi Haseen Dillruba
One of the most recent and talked-about looks in Bollywood is Taapsee Pannu’s rose-infused outfits for her latest movie, Phir Aayi Haseen Dillruba. At promotional events, the actress was seen donning silhouettes with roses at the heart of the design, mirroring her character in the film, who adorns the beautiful flower with most of her outfits. Pannu has infused florals in every form—prints, motifs, accessories, shoes and more. If you are looking for inspiration on how to add florals to your wardrobe, Taapsee Pannu’s looks have got you covered.
Shraddha Kapoor for Stree 2
Shraddha Kapoor joined the list of actors acing method dressing with her bold and striking lineup of red outfits for her horror-comedy film, Stree 2. In addition to the versatile tones of red, the star was seen integrating a silver nose pin, which is a significant element of her character’s style in the movie. In the outfits she wore for the promotions, she ensured to add an Indian aspect to her looks through motifs, crafts, and jewellery.
While stars have continually styled themselves in tandem with their character in the movie, the recent surge in method dressing’s popularity adds an exciting element to the otherwise monotonous promotional events. This approach not only serves the purpose of promoting the film but also provides style inspiration to millions who want to incorporate elements that their favourite star or film character wore in the movie.