The Nepalese-American fashion designer has turned Hollywood divas and first ladies into goddesses with his creations. Here, he tells Nona Walia why some things are best left to the imagination

PRABAL GURUNG will not dress bimbos

The Nepalese-American fashion designer has turned Hollywood divas and first ladies into goddesses with his creations. Here, he tells Nona Walia why some things are best left to the imagination

    HE’S been crowned as fashion’s new star. New Yorkbased fashion designer Prabal Gurung has been getting some royal treatment for the past couple of years. The Duchess of Cambridge, Kate Middleton, wore his purple-printed wool and silk-blend Oriental print dress on her recent visit to Singapore. His latest collection at the New York Fashion Week had A-listers like actresses Kate Bosworth, Hailee Steinfeld, Zoe Saldana, at the front row, in his stunning outfits. The prestigious Parson School of Designgraduate has dressed the current first lady of the US, Michelle Obama (twice) and former first lady, Barbara Bush, apart from Oprah Winfrey, Demi Moore, Cate Blanchett, Gwyneth Paltrow, Carrey Mulligan and Kate Bosworth, among others. Gurung was recently listed by Time magazine as fashion’s new phenomenon, even as Anna Wintour, fashion world’s most formidable magazine editor, personally went up to congratulate him after his recent New York Fashion Week collection. The humble 38-year-old designer, who stared off with Indian designer Manish Arora in Delhi, before moving to the Big Apple only has praise for his mentors, Arora and Donna Karan. His fashion funda is quite simple: “Keep the perfect balance between fabric and cuts, and look dignified”. Excerpts from an interview:
    The Duchess of Cambridge wore your outfit recently in Singapore. She seems to have put a US label back on the global map... Kate Middleton’s fashion choices are revered around the world. Every move she makes is under a microscope and she has undoubtedly affected businesses in such a positive way.
When high-profile women like Sarah Jessica Parker, Demi Moore and Lady Gaga wear your outfits, does that change things for you? Yes. We live in a world that allows us to access images almost immediately. So when people see these women dressed in my creations, they really do take notice.
You’ve been quoted as saying — “girls who wear certain kind of dresses, who show certain areas of the body, are not going to like my clothes”. In fact, you openly say, you don’t dress bimbos. What kind of women do you like to dress? I will never dress people who are famous for being famous. I’ve said this before. I do not design clothes that leave little to the imagination. I want to make women feel beautiful, confident and feminine, and dress them in a way that compliments their figure and their personality rather than detracting from it.
    You’ve been brought up in Nepal, worked in Delhi — do you have Asian/Indian influences in your work? Being exposed to different cultures has helped shape my aesthetics. Living in Nepal and India has exposed me to an endless array of beautiful colours, fabrics and silhouettes. This season, my resort collection in particular, was inspired by Anish Kapoor’s art, which brought eastern influences to the collection.
    You talk about the earliest influence on your fashion aesthetics being around your mother’s shop in Nepal. How did it influence your aesthetics? As a boy, I was intrigued by everything my mother did. Growing up, I was inspired by my time spent in her shop but more than anything, I was motivated by her hard work and overall personality. She has such a unique style and she exudes strength, which to me is one of the most admirable qualities in a woman.
    What was the turning point in your career, the thing that made you the darling of the fashion industry? A huge part of my success is due to the support I have received from the industry. Being a New York-based designer and a CFDA (Council of Fashion Designers of America) member has opened many doors and led to such incredible relationships. It also helped that my designs quickly made it to the red carpet.
    Any tips for women who want to turn into goddesses? Listen to the sound of your own voice over all others, and live by it. It will get you further in life.
How has your style evolved? Fashion is ultimately about evolution. It’s ever-changing and I strive to keep my collections focused, and continue to finetune each season.
What about your personal style? My personal style is quite simple: T-shirt and jeans.
TIPS FOR INDIAN WOMEN For his loose-fitting summer collection this season, Gurung’s inspiration was India. The fashion designer who has been praised for finding the perfect balance, combining feminine cuts with structured lines, gives a few fashion tips inspired by his 2013 collection
Avoid skin show Wear loose clothes Wear layered tunic over pants to camouflage flabby areas Discover sensuality by wearing clothes that skim the body; tight clothes are a big no-no Don’t highlight the waist, cover it for easy and comfortable movement Indian women can teach the world about looking good in traditional attire Purple & vermillion are the hot colours in 2013

Fashion designer Prabal Gurung’s biggest influence has been his mother’s immense strength and overall personality

L-R: Kate Middleton (in Singapore), Priyanka Chopra, Jennifer Lawrence, Anne Hathaway and Zoe Saldana sport Gurung

Models display Gurung’s collection