Head of design & development, K Raheja Corp , Jaya Raheja defines her personal style, her favourite fashion designers and more…
Define style: To me, style in fashion or interiors is the way an individual expresses themselves through aesthetic choices. In fashion, it would be through clothing, accessories, hairstyle and the way they put an outfit together. In interiors, it would be through how they assemble their furniture, different colour palettes, textures and the like to create spaces.
On being HELLO!’s Most Stylish Fashionista: I feel elated and most humbled by this honour!
Being stylish VS being fashionable: Fashion is out there and available to all. Someone’s fashionable when they’re good at following trends and stick with just that. Style is more individualistic. It’s about being creative with those items of fashion and putting different ones together to create something that’s their very own aesthetic.
Style motto: Rule fashion, don’t let it rule you!
My personal style: Experimental. I like breaking the rules and creating my own sense of flair, putting pieces together my own way. I’d call my sense of style off-piste. For instance: I once wore a Dolce & Gabbana dress tucked into a Rohit Bal lehenga for a sangeet and removed the lehenga for the after party!
My style icon: Sarah Jessica Parker as Carrie Bradshaw in Sex & the City. I think my style is closest to hers; I can see myself in her choices.
Luxury to me is: Spending ample quality time with my family, especially during our travels together. Travel is a passion, and the experience is even more special when my loved ones are with me.
My most luxurious experience: When I was invited to the Andrea Bocelli concert by Gucci. They were three memorable days.
Shop till I drop: Paris, London and Milan are my most favourite shopping destinations.
Favourite fashion designers: Rohit Bal for his classic, elegant, sophisticated silhouettes and Sabyasachi for his traditional embroidery and intricate, old-world heritage look. Internationally, I love Balenciaga for their edgy, deconstructed, out-of-the-box designs that are street style yet couture; Dior for their feminine styles; and Gucci for their over-the-top pieces.
A stylish home that made me go ‘wow’: I was impressed with this offbeat home I saw in Paris. It belonged to a local couple, interior designers Michel Charrierie and Joe Achkar.
An overrated trend: The Balenciaga x Croc heels!
Three must-haves in a woman’s closet: 1. A pair of Mugler jeans; 2. Head accessories like a beret, a Gucci headband or a bandana, to add an edge and elevate your outfit; 3. A variety of jackets, be it short, long, structured, formal or denim, to add panache to your silhouette.
Current fashion obsessions:Valentino’s Pink PP collection, any piece of clothing in a zebra print, and my Mugler jeans.
Items I overuse: My Fendi First shoes by Kim Jones and my Chanel Heart bags.
My most prized possession: My Alexander Vauthier denim-crystal jacket and my Chanel Heart bags.
Work is worship: I’m currently working on two residential projects in Juhu, Mumbai, which are both in their conceptual stage, and a personal outhouse in Khandala. The initial stage and the final product are my two favourite parts of interior projects.
Photos: Ashima Mehra; Creative Direction: Avantikka Kilachand; Fashion Editor: Sonam Poladia; Junior Stylist: Anushree Sardesai; Hair & Makeup: Priya Todarwal
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