Vinita Chaitanya feels grateful for not having felt the impact of ageism
The interior designer talks about how she's never been dictated by trends when it comes to dressing herself, ???, and more.
Born and brought up in the small town of Munger in Bihar, Vinita Chaitanya was just a child when she first started harbouring dreams of fashion. “My mother used to get matching dresses stitched for my sister and me. Once a year, we would travel to Mumbai, proudly donning these home-stitched dresses, to meet my fashionable cousins. Since then, hand-me-downs from them have become a cherished family tradition. It seems like pre-loved fashion may have been a thing even back then,” laughs the 61-year old.
“After completing class 10, we moved to Bengaluru, and I joined the Bishop Cotton School, where we didn’t have a uniform,” Vinita recalls wearing a green, brushed cotton wrap skirt with a white shirt, a style that the school eventually adopted for the uniform. This was a testament to her fashionable origin. “During my college years, I developed a penchant for junk jewellery and was often seen wearing striking long earrings. It was when I started working for my first design job at the Oberoi Grand, Kolkata, that I began wearing saris regularly.” To this day, Vinita believes she can drape a sari perfectly within minutes. Looking back, she wonders why she didn’t pursue a career in fashion, given her lifelong passion for it. “I still hold onto the dream of creating my own clothing line some day.”
In today’s era of wokeism, where calling out someone for their colour or size is swiftly criticised, ageism often goes unchecked. But the renowned influencer feels grateful for not having felt its impact. “No one has ever said anything to me about my age that I have been sensitive about. On my 60th birthday, I chose to reveal my age on my Instagram page because I’m proud of who I am and I’m living my best life.”
Vinita shares that she has never been dictated by trends when it comes to dressing herself. “I have never resorted to extreme dieting or skipped meals. I maintain a regular workout routine, which I genuinely enjoy. I’ve learnt to embrace my body, both its strengths and its imperfections, and I dress accordingly.” Through her distinct sartorial choices, she hopes to convey a message to women of all ages: ‘Confidence is key.’ “My Instagram platform has given me the opportunity to inspire others through my fashion choices. I recently wore a chikankari pyjama kurta to a design event in Paris, a first for me, and loved every bit of it.”
Vinita’s taste in fashion is primarily vintage with a mix of bohemian and country styles. She admires the magnificent charm of Audrey Hepburn and finds inspiration in Anne Hathaway and Sharon Stone’s glamorous looks. With a distinct sense of style and an innate talent to draw design inspiration from the most mundane of things, the celebrated interior designer believes that getting older has only boosted her confidence. “I dress more stylishly and effectively now. My fashion journey has been a lifelong exploration of self-expression and identity,” she shares.
Read the other stories in the ageism series
"Comfort and confidence only come from accepting your body type", says Ketaki Pimpalkhare
