‘Stylists are the backbone of the fashion industry’

He���s the first Indian stylist of the prestigious Mumbai Fashion Week, and this is his second season with the fashion week.
���Earlier, they had two international stylists. They approached me last year. This year, I���m on board with another stylist from Australia,��� reveals Gautam. He���s already in Mumbai working on the fittings with the designers and coordinating with the choreographers for the show starting this Friday.���The hair and make-up team, the choreographers and the stylists work together. Since there are two stylists for 70 designers, we start working with the designers a month in advance,��� states Gautam.
The strongest trend this season is going to be the ���80s look, observes Gautam. ���The wide shoulder will make a comeback along with one-shoulders; the glam rock look will be seen in make-up too,��� he adds. For Gautam, however, everything starts with clothes. ���They have to fit the look. I first see the clothes and suggest how they should be presented,��� he states.
Having worked with most of the big daddies of Indian fashion, he names Narendra Kumar Ahmed, Sabyasachi, Gaurav Gupta, Rohit Gandhi-Rahul Khanna and Tarun Tahiliani as the easiest to work with. ���Among the newer bunch, Rahul Reddy and Rimzim Dadu were fun,��� smiles Gautam.
He agrees that the fashion industry is recession-hit and predicts the outcome. ���Two varied looks will emerge out of the recession. The minimal, classic, timeless one that���s value for money as you can wear it for years. And the ���beat the recession look���, which would be a riot of colours to offset the gloom,��� says Gautam.
Has he considered Bollywood? ���I���ve styled Bollywood faces like Aamir Khan, John Abraham, Tabu and Fardeen Khan for their ad campaigns. But you need to be based out of Mumbai to work in Bollywood, which I���m not considering now as I find life in Mumbai too hectic. But if something really funky and interesting comes up, I will,��� he says.