What's Pernia Qureshi Reading This Month?
From subtle costuming to defining looks, Pernia Qureshi picks films where fashion does more than dress the frame.
Pernia Qureshi is no stranger to the world of fashion. As an entrepreneur, she brought luxury fashion into the digital mainstream well before it became industry standard, building — and then selling — one of the country’s most influential retail platforms, Pernia’s Pop Up Shop. Recently, she expanded into long-form media with Fashionably Pernia, a podcast that talks about all things fashion, luxury and culture with depth and clarity.
She’s also been a stylist, an actor — having made her Bollywood debut in Jaanisaar (2015) — a classically trained dancer, and an author. And so, drawing on years spent working across fashion and film, Qureshi puts together a list of films where styling does the heavy lifting, revealing character, mood and intent.
Pakeezah (1972)
WHY SHE LIKES IT: “A film that had a profound impact on the way I understood and saw Indian culture, beauty and clothing in the context of cinema and history. Meena Kumari carried every outfit with grace while the music and cinematography added to the grandeur. It paved the way for making costumes a key factor in storytelling. Also, the jewellery, make-up, hair was all so beautiful; it was the epitome of Indian beauty and a perfect representation of a time in North Indian history.”
Kamal Amrohi’s Pakeezah was intended as a tribute to his wife, Kumari, who starred in the film. It tells the story of a courtesan longing for love and escape.
Lootera (2013)
WHY SHE LIKES IT: “There’s something very charming about the way it’s shot and the way Sonakshi Sinha was styled. The simplicity of her character, [shown through] the beautiful saris and gold jewellery was very symbolic. It showed me that costumes don’t have to be larger-than-life to be impactful and beautiful. Vikramaditya Motwane is one of my favourite directors because of how aesthetically he presents women in films.”
Lootera is an adaptation of O. Henry’s The Last Leaf. Set in West Bengal in the 1950s, archaeologist Varun (Ranveer Singh) falls in love with Pakhi (Sinha), a zamindar’s (landowner’s) daughter. The twist in the tale comes from Singh’s real identity.
Moulin Rouge! (2001)
WHY SHE LIKES IT: “One of my childhood favourites, Moulin Rouge! felt like a celebration of music, style and fashion. Nicole Kidman was unbelievable. I was so excited when I saw the song ‘Chamma Chamma’ being used in a Hollywood movie. The dancing, feathers, accessories, jewellery — especially that iconic necklace — was styled so well.”
Baz Luhrmann’s tragic Moulin Rouge! is arguably one of the most acclaimed musicals of its time. A young Englishman, Christian (Ewan McGregor), falls in love with the star courtesan Satine, (Nicole Kidman) at the Moulin Rouge cabaret in Paris of 1899. Forbidden love, chaos, and jealousy all come together in a heartbreaking end as she succumbs to consumption.
The Devil Wears Prada (2006)
WHY SHE LIKES IT: “I remember owning a pair of boots that Anne Hathaway wore in the movie and thinking I was so cool. The fashion was high-end but still wearable and relatable, which made it exciting. Meryl Streep looked incredible, and the entire cast was styled beautifully.”
David Frankel’s The Devil Wears Prada follows aspiring journalist Andy Sachs (Hathaway) as she lands a job as assistant to magazine editor Miranda Priestly (Streep). She finds her way in the cutthroat fashion world, revamps her wardrobe and excels at her job only to realise that she’s lost her passion and sacrificed her relationships to do so.
Clueless (1995)
WHY SHE LIKES IT: “I had memorised every outfit Cher wore. The costume designer [Mona May] was ahead of her time. The long socks, miniskirts, and plaid skirt-and-jacket sets are still relevant today. Alicia Silverstone revisited her role for a commercial [in 2023], wearing the original costumes, and it went viral. That just shows how relevant the film still is.”
Loosely adapted from Jane Austen’s Emma, Clueless by Amy Heckerling is a 1995 comedy about teenager Cher Horowitz (Silverstone) and her friends. The film epitomises youth, fashion, matchmaking and of course, makeovers.
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