Story behind Priyanka's Oscar dress that became 2016's most Googled outfit

Priyanka Chopra's stylist in Los Angeles, Sophia Banks talks about the 'naked' gown by Lebanese fashion designer Zuhair Murad that became an instant hit on the Oscar red carpet

Priyanka Chopra in a Zuhair Murad number at the Oscars

Barely a few hours before her Oscar stage debut, Priyanka Chopra had told us, "I am pretty stuck on white", sounding confident about her red carpet outing. Ten months on, the dress was voted as 2016's most searched outfit on Google. Sophia Banks, the actress' stylist in Los Angeles, says, "We are thrilled. She is a style icon in the US and this is just the beginning." Quizzed about the 'white' fixation, she explains, "White was an on-trend colour. That dress felt like love at first sight."

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The 'naked' gown by Lebanese fashion designer Zuhair Murad was an instant hit on the red carpet. The foreign press wrote flattering stories about Priyanka. Says Banks, "She had actually worn a few Zuhair Murad outfits earlier, but none of them was a classic couture gown. We were able to select a bunch of looks straight off the Paris runway. But, somehow, our heart was set on this one. Then came the jewellery -- the Lorraine Schwartz diamonds worth millions of dollars which we agonised over, but it just looked perfect together."

Sophia Banks

Presenting at the Oscars was a big deal for her and in between shooting for 'Quantico' on weekdays, 'Baywatch' on weekends and promoting 'Jai Gangaajal' during the Oscar appearance week, she took time out to greenlight her look. "At Oscars, billions across the globe were going to watch her. We did fittings twice in Montreal. We took many photos, made alterations and discussed at length which dress would make it [to the Oscar stage]."

A section of desis sneered at her for not choosing something more Indian, but Banks says, "She often misses Indian clothes and accessories. But, her goal is to don top level international fashion. However, she is not someone who will lose connect with her roots."

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