Arjun Bhasin, the costume designer of the series, A Suitable Boy exposes his journey of designing the costumes for the series. According to the designer, the series was a huge effort as he just had 10 weeks to craft the outfits for the entire series with a massive number of designs for the cast, fit-outs, camera testing, and many more throughout the series. The complexity of the process was depicted by his statements where he said there were almost 900 costumes for the main casts, more than 60 costume changes for the main role, Lata, and altogether about 3,000 costumes for all the roles played in the series. The designer also stated the massive amount of fabric utilized and where he revealed that there were more than 6,000 meters of fabrics used as sarees only.
The designer also stated his veneration to involve in the process as it allowed him to discern the historical context of fashion in order to embolden his imagination when designing. It is also crystal clear that the colors, designs, textures, and fabrics used for each of the roles are different, exclusive and it clearly reveals the moral fortitude of the characters.
Since the series is based on the time periods between 1940 and 1950’s, formerly to the modern day fashion in India, Arjun Bhasin has made sure to stick to designs which are simple and away from the fashion fads of recent India
Lata, the main character is dressed in simple kurtas, plain tops, and braids in the initial episodes but in further episodes she is seen in elegant and simple silk sarees with sleeveless jackets exhibiting her process of self-admiration and self-acceptance. There are more than 60 costume changes for just the main role in the series.
The series begins with the wedding of Lata’s sister, Savita Kapoor where the designer has used elegant sarees and kurtas to brighten up the occasion. The bride is dressed in a red saree with exquisite gold jewelry to reflect her personality.
The designer has dressed Meenakshi Mehra, the sister-in-law of Lata, elegantly depicting her bold character with sleeveless lowcut saree jackets, tight pants underneath sarees, cigarette pants, and in some scenes even with western clothing. The designer hasn’t failed to exhibit her Bengali upbringing throughout the series.
Thanks to the sophisticated relationship between Maan Kapoor and Saeeda Bai in the series, the audience got an opportunity to take a glimpse of the fashion fads used by the famous designer. The designer has exhibited the free-spirited character of Maan using printed waistcoats, collarless dark U-neck kurtas and embroidered shawls. The mysterious character of his lover Saeeda Bai is dressed in elegant drapes to grasp the attention of the rest of the characters and the fans.
The poet Amit Chatterj, the brother of Meenakshi is dressed in rich dark, plaid fabrics, lose trousers and cotton kurtas to exhibit his luxurious lifestyle and also his wardrobe is also given a touch of western trends just as his sister’s. The shoemaker, Haresh Khanna is dressed in simple clothing: a briefcase, three-piece suits, printed ties and a variety of shoes to depict his occupation, confidence and simplicity. Lata’s first lover, Kabir Durrani is dressed in simple shirts, lose trousers and sneakers to exhibit his western and reforming look while exposing the simplicity and his goal-seeking character
Though the series has contradictory ideas and views from different parties, the costumes designed, fabrics, colors, and unique vogues used for each character by the famous and talented designer are admired all across the globe.
