Met Gala 2024: Alia Bhatt Stuns In Saree, But Have We Seen It Before?

Alia Bhatt stole the show at the Met Gala 2024 with her stunning custom-designed mint green Sabyasachi sari, proving once again that a saree on an international red carpet is always a hit. Styled by her longtime stylist, Anaita Shroff Adajania, Bhatt's ensemble featured intricate details and a dramatic 23-foot train, perfectly in line with the event's theme, “Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion.”

The Vision Behind The Sari

Speaking to Vogue before her red carpet appearance, Alia Bhatt shared her enthusiasm for the outfit, stating, "The sari's design, with its translucent, glass-like appearance is not just a nod to the ethereal quality of the garden in Ballard's story but also a tribute to the exquisite, enduring craft of sari-making."

Bhatt was drawn to the look's fusion of traditional craftsmanship and contemporary style, with designer Sabyasachi Mukherjee known for his ability to blend old-world charm with modern sophistication. "What drew me to this look was the sheer audacity of how it merges traditional craftsmanship with avant-garde aesthetics," said Bhatt.

The Creation

In an Instagram post, Alia Bhatt shared insights into the creation process, revealing the tremendous effort behind the outfit. "We embraced a delicate nostalgia for hair and makeup - an elevated coiffure embellished with intricately woven braids and soft freckles - a homage to time's gentle caress," wrote Bhatt.

The creation of the sari involved a massive undertaking, requiring the skills of 163 dedicated individuals, including master craftspeople, embroiderers, artists, and dyers, who invested a total of 1965-man hours into the project. Bhatt expressed her gratitude for being able to wear such a remarkable piece.

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A post shared by Alia Bhatt 💛 (@aliaabhatt)

The Team

The stunning ensemble worn by Alia Bhatt at the Met Gala 2024 was made possible by a talented team of creatives and experts. Styled by Anaita Shroff Adajania and Lakshmi Lehr, with clothes and jewellery by Sabyasachi Mukherjee, Bhatt's look was complemented by makeup artist Puneet B Saini and hairstylist Amit Thakur.

Dolly Jain contributed as the drape artist, while Kavi's Nail Care handled the intricate nail work. The entire effort was managed by Grishma T, Vaishali B, and supported by a dedicated team including Amol Chalke and Manav Angelo Kashyap. Each member played a crucial role in bringing this extraordinary vision to life on the iconic Met Gala red carpet.

Vogue India shared an exclusive video showcasing the journey from the creation of Alia's saree to her stunning appearance on the Met Gala red carpet. Take a look at the video here.

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Was Alia Bhatt the First to Wear a Sari at the Met Gala?

While Alia Bhatt's appearance in a sari at the Met Gala 2024 is notable, it's not the first time a saree has graced this prestigious event. In 2022, businesswoman and philanthropist Natasha Poonawalla made waves with her stunning Met Gala ensemble, which featured an exquisite Sabyasachi saree. Natasha paired the saree with a metallic bustier by Schiaparelli, perfectly capturing the theme of "Gilded Glamour."

The custom couture saree by Sabyasachi was crafted from gold handcrafted printed tulle fabric, adorned with silk floss thread embroidery, and embellished with beads, semi-precious stones, crystals, sequins, and printed velvet appliqué. Moreover, the team behind Natasha's outfit included similar members to Alia's team this year, including the stylist, designer, and draper.

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Have We Seen This Sabyasachi's Iconic Creation Before?

Moreover, after Alia Bhatt's mint sari gained attention and went viral, many pointed out that they had seen a similar style before. Their observations were accurate to some extent. As the designer in the spotlight is Sabyasachi Mukherjee, who is renowned for his intricate designs, vibrant colours, and fusion of traditional and contemporary elements. His popularity extends beyond India, with brides around the world aspiring to wear his creations on their wedding day. Many Bollywood actors, including Alia Bhatt and Katrina Kaif, have chosen Sabyasachi's outfits for their weddings. 

Bhatt’s sari has a resemblance with Katrina Kaif’s floral embroidered sari which she wore for her white wedding gown, adorned with hand-cut English flowers and embellished with semi-precious gems and crystals.

Both saris bore similarities likely due to the floral theme. Details about Katrina's saree were shared on Sabyasachi’s official Instagram profile, highlighting how she honoured her mother’s British heritage with a pastel-pink floral saree.

Conceptualised by Sabyasachi, the vintage-inspired couture saree with a trailing veil took 40 artisans about 1800 hours, equivalent to 75 days, to create. The pastel tulle saree was designed in the silhouette of a white wedding gown and adorned with hand-cut English flowers embroidered by craftswomen from Bengal. Additionally, Katrina's saree featured semi-precious gems and crystals like Bhatt’s Met Gala Sari.

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Moreover, a few years ago, Deepika Padukone attended an awards function wearing a saree designed by Sabyasachi. She opted for a sheer tulle saree adorned with floral applique at the Marathi Filmfare Awards in 2017. The saree was delicately embellished with shimmer, featured an embroidered border, and had an extended train. She paired the nude drape with a sleeveless blouse that had a plunging neckline and matching floral embellishments.

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A Reddit user posted a collage comparing Alia and Deepika's looks from their respective events with a caption that read, "Sabyasachi needs to stop recycling his old designs."

Sabyasachi has to stop copy pasting his old looks
byu/Capital-State-9758 inBollyBlindsNGossip

 Which of these three floral Sabyasachi's iconic saris did you like the most?