Kaduva (2022) is a Malayalam movie starring Prithviraj Sukumaran, Vivek Oberoi, and Samyuktha Menon. The movie follows the usual trope of the hero getting into a silly rivalry with a high-ranking police official. As far as I have observed, it’s a spin-off of the 2020 masterpiece Ayyappanum Koshiyum, by the late director Sachy. In this piece, I’ll be specifically talking about Elsa Kurian Of ‘Kaduva’ and her fashion.
Samyuktha Menon plays the role of Elsa Kurian who is the wife to Kuruvachan aka Kaduva. Kuruvachan is a rich planter and businessman based in Palai. As a hero-centric movie, she has only a few screen presences. She appears as a low-key, elite housewife who devotes her life to looking after her family. But Elsa’s style doesn’t fail to catch our attention. It takes us back to the ’90s when elite women would flaunt themselves in fabrics and jewellery which were considered “elite”.
Here we take you through Elsa’s ’90s style. Hop on to read if you have missed out due to the less screen time of the character.
Elsa’s clean girl look
The clean girl aesthetic was a 2021 trend that took TikTok by storm. The aesthetic includes a certain way of styling, living, and eating.
You can attain a clean girl look with slicked-back hair tied into a bun, minimal makeup and minimalistic staple jewellery such as single hoops.
Women of colour from different parts of the globe including Latina and Indian women claim that it was their traditional look, which the White women commercialised.
Elsa has a clean girl look. As a woman of colour and central Travancore native, I would claim that centre-parted hair, pulled back tied into a low-rise ponytail or braid, paired with a simple gold single hoop has been done by our women for ages. Sadly, it was considered “not so stylish ” back then until now.
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Chiffon with floral print
To give a simple housewife look, Elsa wears chiffon sarees printed with flowers for the majority part of the movie. Chiffon saris always had the likeability of elites and royalty. If you can’t afford silk chiffon, nylon chiffon or polyester chiffon would be enough to give you the simple and fine feeling of wearing the fabric.
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Pastels are for Big days
She is seen wearing a pastel peach colour saree while accompanying her husband Kuruvachan and her children for the Sunday holy mass.
If you are confused about what to wear for a big day and have not yet found your key bright colour, undoubtedly go for a pastel shade. Also, wearing pastel shades for big functions is a key fashion trend. So why don’t you catch the train too?
Pearls: The elites’ staple
Elsa chooses to wear pearls at times replacing her staple gold hoops. In this lovely picture, she has worn a single-layer pearl necklace and pearl earrings. Pearls are no longer confined to elite society. What is holding you back from adorning yourself in fine pearl jewellery? Go grab your pearls ladies!
A Watch, always?
I have always wondered why women of central Travancore accessorize their sarees with a watch. I haven’t got an answer to that still. Maybe it was a formal twist to the playful retro attire. Palai woman Elsa also pairs her green pastel embellished saree with a watch.
Elegant and minimalistic fashion may be dated, but it’s making a comeback through its aesthetics such as “clean girl”, “old money” and much more. It promises to give you an “expensive” look as seen through the Elsa Kurian Of Kaduva. Many of the elements in these aesthetics are rooted in European and Western beauty standards and fashion, which might require a whole other discussion.
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