Meet Pushpa Mathew, the Malayali who styled Virat Kohli, Roger Federer

Fashion designing was a course Pushpa Mathew pursued after going through a spate of arguments with parents at home. Even after starting her career as a fashion designer, it took her time to choose her favourite field. Through trial and error, she discovered that styling was the area where she could prove her skills. Pushpa Mathew, a native of Kottayam, reveals that styling Virat Kohli for an IPL advertisement was a dream come true, achieved through sheer determination. Pushpa, who has been residing in Dubai for two and a half years, shares her experience with Onmanorama.

The IPL advertisement
It was a promo video for Star Sports. Having worked on other projects for this production company, she got the opportunity to style celebrities for this advertisement. She was only told there would be three people. It was only the day before the shoot that she learned that the celebrities were Virat Kohli, Shubman Gill, and Shreyas Iyer.

Kohli's style
Since it was an IPL promo, the only costume specified was the team jersey. The costume was ready because the measurements were received beforehand. Virat said that a natural look would suffice. He set his hair. Only minor touch-ups were needed. Only light makeup was applied. Kohli has a good fashion and styling sense. He has a clear understanding of his appearance. He's not as serious or intense as he appears on the field. He's cool and easy-going. Therefore, there was no tension at all.

Roger Federer
Styling Roger Federer was another event that made her very happy. This was also in Dubai. It was for an advertisement for Uniqlo, a Japanese brand. Roger's personal stylist from Milan was also present. She collaborated with them to complete the grooming.

Experience is key
Mathew works as a freelance stylist. She has worked in Delhi and Bengaluru. She learned more about celebrity grooming while working at Vanitha (a Malayalam magazine). She started as an assistant. She gained confidence as she started getting work. Like any other job, the remuneration is based on work experience. If one has major projects in his or her portfolio, the remuneration will be accordingly higher.

Challenges
The beginning is never easy. Recognition comes through consistent work. One must be able to handle any situation. On shoots, costume changes, location changes, and style changes happen suddenly. One must be able to handle all of these quickly.

Styling
She mainly does three types of styling - commercial styling like Virat's, editorial styling for magazines, and celebrity styling. In any of these, one must consider the event, the theme, and the necessary costumes. One needs to listen to the shooting script, and the work extends from there.

Tips
Balance is important in dressing. For example, a pair of loose-fitted jeans goes well with a fitted top. Statement jewellery and belts highlight even simple dresses. Similarly, layering helps make a simple look more attractive. Fabrics with a texture like denim and silk are must-have wardrobe staples.

Family
Mathew hails from Kuravilangad a small town near Kottayam. Her husband is Bonnie Philip. She completed her degree at Assumption College, Changanassery. She did her diploma in Fashion in Clothing Technology at NIFT, Delhi.