Regardless of whether you're a birthday person or not, there's something about turning a year older that can make even the most unexcitable among us want to do something wild, whacky, and out of character - like getting a makeover, or making unexpected fashion choices. Read: go crazy with bling. And while we can safely say we don't exactly fall under the 'stoic' category - what is even the point of growing older if you're not even going to bring out the bubbly and get pampered by the besties? - we're always a bit worried about crossing over from the Gatsby side of sequins and sparkle to the OTT tacky one.
If, like us, you've endlessly second-guessed your sparkly party dress, trying it on before every big occasion only to lose your nerve and return it to the closet, help is at hand. Last night, while celebrating Amrita Arora's 40th birthday in Goa, Kareena Kapoor, her sister Karisma, and the birthday girl gave us what can only be called the definitive guide to wearing lamé and tinsel-y, twinkly outfits to party in.
We've seen Kareena several times in long, flowy numbers from Deme By Gabriella, and last night too, the brand found favour with the queen of airport style in the form of an asymmetric calf-length dress in sheer and metallic sequins with matching strappy comfortable sandals, perfect for a beach/pool party. The drama from the spangled dress was offset with the help of simple, minimalistic makeup - radiant skin with just a hint of blush, some tasteful highlighting, pastel lips and kohl-lined eyes, and not to forget the sleek shiny hair, first in a simple ponytail and later left loose, tamed only by a beaded band on the forehead.
Giving Kareena company in the gold department was sister Karisma Kapoor, who looked like a Grecian goddess in a Reem Acra gown with a long lame skirt and a corset-like black strapless bodice. She completed the look with long earrings and barely-there makeup in the form of just a bright red lip and long hair left loose over the shoulders. We honestly didn't know where to look: at Karisma's seemingly endless legs, the rock-hard abs peeking from the cut-out under the bodice or the clavicle that looked like it had been chiselled by a master craftsman.
And finally, there was Amrita Arora herself, looking every bit the birthday girl in a beige and gold sequinned number with a waist-high slit and tiny shorts peeking out from under it. In case anyone had any doubt who the lady of the evening was, she wore a feathered Native American war bonnet in red (rivalled only by the one worn by sister Malaika Arora in blue). Bold, defined brows and a strong red lip completed the birthday girl's look to perfection.
If you thought the sparkle at Amrita's 40th birthday bash was limited to the Kapoor sisters and the birthday girl alone, think again. While Malaika Arora might have foregone the glitter in favour of a eye-catching feathered black top with tiny white sequinned shorts and Natasha Poonawalla opted for a cobalt Maria Lucia Hohan gown, Maheep Kapoor, also a regular in this all-girl squad, followed the golden trio's lead in a striped and sequined gold cold-shouldered number. As did Dolly Sidhwani in a sleeveless grey sequinned dress, and Seema Khan, who had some serious silver spangled tassels going on on her denim jacket.
While Amrita Arora's 40th birthday bash was a seriously impressive fashion lesson in how to wear gold, another B-town diva manages to serve as a cautionary tale. Ameesha Patel, with her enthusiastic Instagram presence, made us almost cringe with her photo in a loud paisley gold jumpsuit, gold danglers, golden hair highlights, heavy makeup... You get the drift. Even Ameesha's obviously enviable waistline couldn't save her from looking like she had fashioned her outfit from a roll of shiny gift-wrapping paper.
This isn't the first time she's gone seriously OTT while wearing gold (or too many brands together) either. Less than too weeks ago, she was seen in a gold crop top in a stretch fabric, metallic gold belt, gold hoops, belt with a massive golden buckle and Gucci boots with, you guessed it, the brand's logo in gold-plated metal.
Can someone please ask Ameesha to stop trying so hard, please? Or try just enough - like the Kapoor sisters and their squad.
