Sridevi's style no matter what she wore, had a feel of elegance.

It was the film Himmatwala that sealed Sridevi's status as one of Indian cinema's most important leading ladies. The 1983 film had the actress dancing on the beach in colourful Amarpali-styled costumes around pots. It sounds bizarre, but the film's song, Naino Mein Sapna, also launched Sridevi as one of Indian films' most important style icons.
Over-jewelled with gold accessories, strong pink eyeshadow and dark fuchsia lipstick, only she could make such ensembles seem elegant and graceful, thanks to her poise. It is a moment that has often been referred to in many other films. Katrina Kaif's look in the 'Paisa' song appearing in the film De Dana Dan (2012 ) and Vidya Balan in the Dirty Picture's song Ooh La La, are just two examples of how this look has been referenced.  The Amarpali style costume was something Sridevi returned to in the 1989 blockbuster, Chalbaaz, and this time, she became known for her curvy figure. Her comic timing was as appreciated as her 'thunder thighs'.
And then in Mr India, she gave us one of the sari's most seductive moments when she wore a blue, sheer sari and said, "I love you" in the song 'Kate Nahin Katte' in Mr India. And from that moment the plain chiffon saris became a look that films turned to every time they were looking to portray femininity. It was a look she repeated in Yash Chopra's Chandni, and her yellow sari became the must have for every college girl and was referred to as 'The Chandni Look'.
Perhaps it was the dancer in her, but Sridevi's style no matter what she wore, had a feel of elegance. In English Vinglish, her comeback film (15 years after marrying Boney Kapoor and having two daughters), she played a housewife wearing a range of printed cotton saris, teaming it with handbags from Indian brands such as Hidesign, and she still managed to look refined. She told an Indian newspaper that it used to take her just 20 minutes to get ready for the role as compared to her Tollywood comeback,  the 2015 fantasy film Puli, in which she would take over half an hour to wear a 20 kilo costume for her evil queen look. There is no question, that for Sridevi, fashion was something she enjoyed both on and off the screen.
Her go-to designer was Manish Malhotra and she recently wore one of his outfits while walking the ramp for a jewellery brand in Bangalore. In fact, in her last Instagram photo, from the family wedding she attended in Ras Al Khamiah, she is seen wearing a pale green lengha with gold embroidery on the skirt and it is teamed with a Banarsi woven duputta.
She also wore outfits by Pakistani designer Faraz Manan and Shane and Falguni Peacock at the wedding.
Known for her strict fitness regime - though there were rumours that she went under the knife to ensure that she stayed slim - she was considered the perfect clothes horse even in her 50s. She was even a muse to international shoe designer Christian Louboutin, who spoke of his admiration for her during his recent trip to Dubai for Level Shoe's Dear India event. She was a film actor, who truly loved and understood fashion -  and will always be of India's most important style icons.

Inspiring designers

Sridevi was a favourite of many Indian designers, with Manish Malhotra referring to her in many of his interviews as his inspiration. But did you know that international shoe designer Christian Louboutin, who is known for his love for Indian cinema, called Sridevi his 'childhood idol'? He shot with the actress for an article in New York Times' T Magazine entitled 'My Bollywood Affair in Marrakech'.
In the interview he said, "Now in her late 40s, she (Sridevi) was once known as the Shirley Temple of India. She first appeared on screen at age 4 and it was 19 years later she was seen in a movie dancing wildly like a snake. She carried herself (forgive my gushing) as the queen that she is, like Elizabeth Taylor entering Rome as Cleopatra. Ali, my photographer friend, forced me to take Sridevi in my arms. She seemed amused by my strange behaviour, but I was a little freaked out, holding my idol. She probably could never have imagined that she represented such a big chapter of my fantasy as a child. Or that this was a moment I would never forget."