It’s called fashion. Look it up!

Every so often, a garment, an accessory or a look becomes the centre of a divisive discourse on the Internet. Those with over five hours of screen time will remember the uproar caused by MSCHF’s jumbo red boots, the division over Margiela’s split-toe Tabis, the chaos in the comments that JW Anderson’s pigeon-shaped clutch inspired, and the pure hatred for a micro mini bag with the capacity to carry one Crocin tablet.

But a head-shaking critic or bemused onlooker is hardly a roadblock for those who want to have some fun with fashion. There are people who don’t mind straddling the line between utility and spectacle or wonderful and wacky. Below, we speak to some creatives who believe life’s too short for a boring wardrobe.

Naureen Bindra, art director, artist, and stylist

What’s one thing you love to wear that gets a weird reaction from others?

I’ve always been fascinated by unusual shapes, materials, patterns, and colours, especially when it comes to shoes and bags. To me, even the simplest outfit can be transformed by the right accessories. My latest purchase that some people might find a little weird are the noir kei ninomiya x Reebok Instapump Fury sneakers from the Japanese brand’s fall/winter 2024 collection. On the feet, they feel like wearable art and yet they’re remarkably versatile.

What kind of reactions have you gotten about that particular item?

Most people don’t even say anything—they just stare. The sneakers are strange and a little absurd to anyone outside the fashion world, but that’s exactly what I love about them.

Among my fashion friends, though, they’re a hit, and everyone appreciates the design. My father, on the other hand, was completely baffled. He couldn’t understand why I’d spend so much money on a pair of sneakers that look unconventional and can’t even be worn every day. To me, though, that’s the joy of fashion. It doesn’t always have to be practical; sometimes it’s about owning something bold, artistic, and a little unexpected.

How did you get your hands on them?

The moment I saw the sneakers I knew they had to be mine. When I was in Japan, I went from one CDG store to another, hoping to find them in my size, but it wasn’t until I returned to India that I finally tracked them down online.

How do you like to style or spruce them up?

I love layering, but with sneakers this bold, I prefer to let them take the spotlight. I usually pair these with cleaner, more pared-back pieces—a crisp white shirt with subtle detailing, a structured skirt, and an interesting bag. The balance keeps the look sharp while allowing the shoes to really stand out.

Why is it important for you to wear what you want, even if it’s odd?

I’m naturally more introverted, so I rely on my clothes to express who I am. Wearing sneakers like these makes me feel more confident—it’s not about grabbing attention or waiting for reactions. For me, it’s just about wearing something I love and feeling like myself in it.

Shriya Zamindar, digital editor

What’s one thing you love to wear that gets a weird reaction from others?

I have this palm-sized gold-plated fish with my initials on it that I carry to events, and it just sits in my hand. It’s a crossover between an accessory and an object. The mouth of the fish opens and I store my elaichi in it!

It also has a chain around it, so I can hang it around my waist like a belt, wear it as a necklace, or wrap it in multiple chains like a hand harness. I first saw my friend, a jewellery designer, carry something similar, and asked her to custom-make one for me.

Why were you drawn to it?

It may make me look like an absolute clown, but it’s just fun. Sometimes fashion needs to be less serious and just an escape. Not everything has to have a meaningful backstory.

What does wearing what you want, in all its oddity, mean to you?

Collecting different things in fashion adds to a sense of identity. This piece is so odd, but I’m so proud of it. I’m like that squirrel in Ice Age just carrying their walnut and showing it to everybody. People are like ‘Who is this person carrying this random object in her hand?’ But these objects are my little pockets of confidence that I can hold onto, which really helps me in social situations. Adopting these quirky idiosyncrasies makes me feel liberated; it goes beyond finding validation in anyone’s opinion.

Doyel Joshi, artist

What’s one thing you love to wear that gets a weird reaction from others?

This rectangular, iridescent piece of paper that has two holes in it and which drapes on the body in a very interesting way—you can tell it’s paper but it confuses people because of the way it's worn.

I found this material while I was doing research and development for a sculpture that I was making that had iridescence in it. When you are consumed by making something, you see it all around you. You become obsessed with it, and wearing it in some form allows you to build a different kind of relationship with it. It only felt right to embody that on the opening day of the sculpture at the gallery.

Any funny reactions from people around you?

I wear a tube top underneath and roll up this paper to take it with me. When I get out of the car, I roll it out and wear it. Between the cab-wala, the doorman, and whomever I meet along the way, I look like I’ve lost my mind. There is this mundane act of sitting in a car versus the spectacle of putting this piece on.

How do you like to style it?

It’s so impractical on the top that I like to pair it with something practical at the bottom, something in which I can bend or walk freely—think dad pants. I like that contradiction.

What does wearing what you want, in all its oddity, mean to you?

The older I’ve gotten, the more I’ve realised that I’ve definitely made decisions about what I wear for the sake of the person looking at me. Now, it’s more about creating a dialogue with myself and seeing how certain things make me feel.

Yashana Malhotra, designer

What’s one thing you love to wear that gets a weird reaction from others?

I created this woven dress as an homage to my previous works. It is an accumulation of different elements pulled together to create a larger piece. The catalyst of it was the self, worn by self, furthering the self.

Any funny reactions from people around you?

I tend to take all the dresses out for a walk once they are complete, just accompanying me on my daily errands. This one came out to visit galleries and I was stopped around 70 times in the span of three hours. ‘Are you going to perform at the theatre?’ This was probably the funniest comment someone made, which makes sense, considering how theatrical the dress is. Usually, the reaction is purely because of the unexpectedness of seeing something out of the ordinary in ordinary places. I like witnessing the stopping power of something worn.

What was your thought process behind designing this particular piece?

This was quite an emotional piece for me; it took a long time to meticulously trim every edge. It made me slow down and see beyond what I create—to see myself as I was, as I am, and possibly what I could be. It’s my favourite creation so far.

How do you accessorise something this bold?

I like to dress it up with some brooches. The jewelled element adds to it but it also gives it breathing room and breaks up the monotony.

Does wearing this dress make you feel self-conscious or do you come into your own?

All my dresses feel like armour. This one, in particular, was so large and heavy that I basically had to drag myself around the place, but all that extra weight was worth carrying.