Years before Natasha Poonawalla’s Met Gala look created a stir, Suneet Varma was the first to do a metal bustier and sari combo

Natasha Punawala has created an iconic entrance to this year’s Met Gala in a custom-made sabasachi saree with a metallic booster from Schiaparelli and the whole world is seated. Natasha’s look is styled by Anaita Shroff Adajania and she has undoubtedly done a fantastic job following the Met Guild’s ‘gilded glamor’ theme. But those of us who thought that pairing a metallic booster with a sari would ignite a fire, we have the news – 30 years ago Suneet Verma, a celebrated Indian couturier, made the first metallic booster and sari combo!

It would not be wrong to say the creation of Verma ahead of time. The gold metallic booster, styled with a sari, was from its first collection in 1992. It was unveiled at a show in Oberoi in Delhi and Mumbai. The design was a message from Sandro Boticelli, an Italian artist from Suneet Verma’s favorite painting, The Birth of Venus.

Suneet’s gorgeous and sari look was modeled by past supermodels, Shyamoli Verma and Mehr Jessia. Famous photographer Prabuddha Dasgupta captures the pictures beautifully, whose work is no less than a work of art. The models were asked to pose like a painting which inspired Verma.

Over the years, this sari of metallic booster look has been seen in many museums from actor Sonam K Ahuja to supermodel Sonalika Sahay.

“I am glad that Natasha Ponawala’s Schiaparelli booster reminds my breastplate and Booster fashion fans of what I did almost 30 years ago. Their glamorized. The designer worked closely with 19th-century artist Salvatore Galli. He was at a time when fashion was being given a new look, “said designer Suneet Verma.

Verma calls himself a surrealist and much of his inspiration comes from works like Schiaparelli. “Over the years, I’ve always taken art as my inspiration. I’ve done my thesis on the history of art and that’s where all my inspiration comes from. I was the first to make a corset with a sari. I’ve read a lot about corsetry. I always think of two things when I start. The first is sari because it is an open canvas for me and I can do all kinds of things with it. The second is blouse and for me, it is something more exciting and sexy. It’s 3D embroidery, It could be a booster, a corset or a breastplate, “he added.

Talking about Natasha Punawala’s global dominance, Suneet said, “After Parameshwar Godrej, she is probably the only global socialite and fashion icon in India. There is something about her that makes the dress look so spectacular. It’s one of my favorite designers since I was a college student. ”