The Indian Birkin Mom: 7 Celebrity Lessons In Accessorising With A Bag

If adding some volume and drama to your ensemble is your aim, you should do what Malaika Arora did in her traditional block print kurta set, to draw eyes to her HAC Birkin 32 Noir bag. Walking by gracefully alongside a sea of paparazzi, she grabbed attention with her balloon sleeves and asymmetrical slit kurta, creating a focal point around her hands and what they carried, the Birkin. 

How you can replicate this: Pick a kurti that has a creative, standout element, it could be a play with sleeves or a slit like this A-line kurti with a front slit, from Globus Women. You can pair it with jeans (a colour that complements the bag), matching sandals, and the main element— this Miraggio tote bag in black, to tie up the look. 

Wear it for: Friendly gatherings at cafes or an outdoor picnic date. 

If you want to draw attention to your bag without it being out there, the best way to do so would be to match any one element of your entire ensemble with your bag. A perfect example would be what Samantha Ruth Prabhu did on a random Sunday on her way to the airport. Sporting a pastel pink kurta set with a mandarin collar, three-quarter sleeves, and side-slit, from her own brand, Saaki, she paired it with her brown gold Epsom Birkin 35 Hardware bag. To elevate her look, she wore a pair of brown Row strappy sandals and brown sunglasses to round up the entire look. 

How you can replicate this: Pick your favourite bag (we found this gorgeous bucket bag from Accessorise London) and choose a kurta set of a shade lighter than your bag so it doesn't steal the spotlight. Pair it with strappy sandals, like this one from Eridani. Brownie points, if you can get your hands on matching sunglasses like this one from Yellow Chimes. 

Wear it for: If you are going for an effortless, airy, summer look for brunch or a busy work day. 

The time you hoarded too many traditionally printed kurta sets? Time to put them to use like Kareena Kapoor Khan did by pairing her Ajrakh kurta set with her Etoupe Brown Leather Epsom Birkin 35. Our Poo knows everything about standing out and she balanced her fit quite neatly with ethnic jutti, a matching pair of sunglasses and a standout, pink watch, to draw attention to her luxe accessory, the bag! 

How you can replicate it: Making your ensemble visually interesting is key, as it balances out the visual power of the bag and uses it as a backdrop to let the kurta print shine through. This Ajrakh kurta set from Naseebo is perfect, balancing out the visual effects of this neutral Guess Cognac sling bag. As Poo would say, this ensemble screams "good looks, good looks, and good looks."

Wear it for: Family gatherings, lunches with colleagues, or a visit to the temple. 

You know the best thing about using a bag as an accessory? They don't have to do all the talking and are a practical way of looking put together, irrespective of the ensemble you are going with. Sonam Kapoor did it best with her white satin shirt, paired neatly with a flowy, blue skirt, for a breezy, laid-back yet chic and airy silhouette, all tied together by her Birkin 30 Gold bag. 

How to replicate it: Lousy but chic? Pair your favourite white shirt (chicer if it's satin or silk, like this oversized one from MISH) with your favourite, solid tone satin skirt (of a shade not too overpowering, like this one from Cider). Tie it together with your choice of bag, like this printed one from Styli, to add a visual element to the look, without being jarring. 

Wear it for: Lazy Sunday brunches, a vacation fit. 

Monochrome fits are the perfect way to nail your accessory game, proven by this timeless look by Kangana Ranaut, who donned an all white saree and accessorised with white and emerald jewellery, all tied together by her brown Birkin 35. 

How to replicate it: Go the traditional way with a good ol' classic white saree, like this beautiful, embellished one by Akhilam, accessorise with heavy jewellery, like this emerald set from Akulya Jewels. Simmer down the fit with matching sunglasses like these from Royal Sun and tie up the ensemble with a good, classic, and super reliable, dark brown bag, like this gorgeous piece by Lavie Luxe.  

Wear it for: A family function!

Following on the heels of something traditionally stunning, elevated with a trustworthy bag, we absolutely adore Nita Ambani's lavender ensemble from back in the day. Accessorising with a complete pearl set, she enhanced the white embellishments on her lavender churidhar set and matched a White Birkin 30 with it. This helps draw uniform attention to both her bag and her fit, something simple and easy. 

How to replicate it: Start with a simple churidhar set with ace detailing, like this Vastramyaa set with stitched white embellishments. Pair it with clean pearl accessories like this choker, and earrings set from Zaveri Pearls. Top it off with a white bag like this piece from Fabbhue, and a pair of white sandals, like this from Shoetopia. 

Wear it for: Evening galas or sundowner weddings, for an elegant, put-together look. 

Textures elevate any look and help add dimension to an outfit. Karishma Kapoor Khan did it right with her blue-green linear divided kurta palazzo set, painting a flowy, carefree silhouette while her Birkin 35 Bleu Jean matched the minimal turquoise part of her ensemble, drawing attention to her texture play, encouraging you to focus on the nuances of her fit. 

How to replicate it: Decide on your bag first, and then ensure it matches a part of your outfit. While we couldn't find a similar kurti, we found this gradient textured kurti by Swtantra, which you can beautifully pair with white palazzo pants and a turquoise green bag, like this one from Bagsy Malone, that matches the lower gradient of the kurti. Bonus points if you find matching traditional juttis to add some subtle elegance. 

This guide will help you find kurtis to suit every kind of body type. Or, you need to find some new jewellery brands to cop some gorgeous pieces from? Or, better yet, you need an ethnic wear fix real quick, so this guide is where you should head!