Cannes 2013: So Much Sonam

So, it seems Sonam photobombed Julianne Moore last night. There is no such thing as red carpet dance space taught in starlet charm school, I guess?

First, let me say, I have admired Sonam Kapoor’s style in the past. There was a time when it was absolutely effortless, or at least it appeared to be so. Remember the Anamika Khanna toga dress, kundan and flat gladiator combo from a few years ago? It still stands apart today, on any red carpet.

The problem is just that – any red carpet. We now find Sonam on most of them, don’t we? And there is so much effort involved, isn’t there?

She is a lovely looking young woman, who happens to have a lot of designer friends, great style sense and a killer closet (not to mention her Mumbai film industry lineage), so I don’t think there is a need to try so hard.

Her ensemble last night was a perfect example. She chose old friend Anamika’s couture collection. You know that Anamika Khanna and I are soul sisters (and sole sisters) and I adore her collections. I think the flaws are in the styling of it.

I’m not sure I would have opted to wear both the sari/blouse combination and the embellished trailing jacket together. That jacket is a conversation piece and needs to be heard in this crowded space of lace, beading, jewels, makeup and other accessories.

It would have been so much stronger with a Dior pant (see Ms. Ziyi’s pair for an example), or even an Anamika high-waist harem pant, as worn by Sonam earlier that day, and paired with the pointiest of shoes. That collection was one of my favourites.

Wearing both the sari and cape together, as they were intended by the designer could have worked without the silver peep-toe shoe, without the 12″ extended remix eyeliner and braided and put-up hair.

Plus, a polki nath (uncut diamond nose ring) of such proportions is a piece you put on with a simple South silk bordered sari or a back-drape Stephane Rolland couture column – it’s not an add-on on an already too-loud-in-here-can-we-go-outside party.

I am guessing that she and her L’oréal buddy Freida Pinto (another any red carpet candidate) shared a hair stylist last night.

I thought they both looked much lovelier during the day.

Now, I understand that she’s there on official business as a L’oreal ambassador, but three photo ops in one day, alone? It’s not like she’s a jury member, is it?

Oh, but Vidya Balan is. What was I saying about red carpet dance space?

Careful, Sonam, your entourage is showing.

Catch up on all Cannes 2013 posts.

Images: 1,2,6. Pascal Le Segretain; 4,5. Gareth Cattermole – all Getty; 3,7,8 – Twitter photos.