The diary of a fashionista

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Fashion runs in her veins, couture defines her life and luckily for Ambika Anand, the two also dictate her workstation. The editor-in-chief, fashion, at a leading lifestyle channel in the country, she is one of the lucky few who has the luxury of combining work and passion.

“I love design. It could be a house, a painting or piece of sculpture. My love for fashion stems from my love for design. I never thought of being a fashion journalist, but now that I am here, I am enjoying every bit of it,” says Ambika who started off as a business journalist in 2005. What brought the transition? “During my stint as a business reporter, the channel guys approached me to ask if I wanted to do a fashion programme. They thought I was fit for the job since I dressed well,” she says unapologetically adding, “I couldn’t say much to that and took up the offer. And indeed I am very glad I did.”
But fashion journalism Ambika believes is much more than what it’s made out to be. While a large chunk deals with predicting fashion trends and maybe sometimes snubbing an ill-dressed celebrity, it does have its share of challenges. “There is a difference between vanity and researching vanity. Fashion reporting needs it own share of intellect,” she asserts.
Having said that, she admits that there are people who abuse the privilege. “The Internet gives everyone a chance to have an opinion. It may or may not be an informed one, but an opinion nevertheless and hence, as an obvious repercussion, people are slamming trends and styles left, right and centre,” she says adding, “The other day a friend was ranting about how someone had said some rather unflattering things about her clothes on a virtual platform. I just told her, that if anything, she should feel good about it. After all, only the notable get noticed.”
Her current show I Am Too Sexy For My Shoes, is going to offer makeovers to the audience. Under Ambika’s supervision, we’re assuming it’ll be nothing less that fabulous!