Modi's kurtas, Sonia's Chanderis, Omar's suits

How do politicians fare on the fashion meter? What is the style statement of our leaders? Top designers decode their sartorial choices

Manmohan Singh: The functional dresser

Tarun Tahiliani

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's clothes are mostly functional rather than crisp. And this functionality aids him in the onerous job of running the nation.

Payal Jain

He is subtle, sophisticated and dignified in his sense of dressing. A little bit of experimentation versus repetition would be refreshing. He represents a country which is all about colour, but it is that vibrance that is missing, from his attire most of the time.

What's good is that his attire is constant and matches his personality. However, as I said earlier, his style lacks experimentation and adventure.

Nikhil Thampi

Mr Prime Minister usually plays it safe with a classic white kurta-pyjama paired with a deep blue Nehru coat. Keeping in mind his calm and collected personality, this simple look works well for him.

It compliments his quiet persona. But a little variation from the expected would be nice.

Wardrobe: White kurta pyajamas and waist-coats for Parliament, and black and navy-blue bandhgalas for high-profile meetings. He wants his attire to be non-fussy and comfortably fitted.

Tailor: Vadehras, Connaught Place, New Delhi

Sonia Gandhi: Inherited style

Tarun Tahiliani

I feel she was quite stylish when she was younger. But with age her sense of dressing has matured and she has incorporated beautiful textiles and indigenous weaves in her daily dressing.

She is a sharp dresser who mostly opts for saris from various regions of India -- a good habit she 'inherited' from her mother-in-law, Indira Gandhi

Payal Jain

She is quite earthy, traditional and natural in her sense of dressing -- a legacy of Indira Gandhi. She experiments with Indian textiles, weaves and colours, but remains traditional.

Her simplicity and elegance are quite becoming of her stature and age. However, maybe her style could be a little more glamorous on certain occasions, rather than always being understated.

Nikhil Thampi

It isn't every day you come across a beautiful Italian woman wearing ethnic Indian saris and carrying them off so splendidly. Over the years, she has maintained a certain poise and elegance in her style with such ease.

Her dressing is simple and classy.

Wardrobe: A variety of cotton saris for political appearances, chanderis and silks for official occasions. She is also a patron of Karol Bagh Saree House for pure weaves like katan silk and mangalgiris.

Narendra Modi: Vibrant and unapologetic

Tarun Tahiliani

He prefers to keep his attire austere with cotton and linen kurtas, which are well-stitched and finished. The stole that he sometimes carries adds to his strong persona.

I would say that his choice of fabrics and colours is subtle, thus making him a politician who attempts to keep it minimal and doesn't let the clothes overpower his personality.

Payal Jain

He exudes a strong sense of power and clarity. His sense of dressing is uncluttered, traditional and sharp. His style is powerful, crisp and clean, yet traditionally Indian.

Maybe he can experiment with textiles a bit more and be adventurous with colours.

Nikhil Thampi

Unlike most politicians, Modi doesn't stick to simple, staid colours but adds some zing with his trademark saffron. He is known to be a pioneer of the half sleeved cotton kurtas and fitting churidars.

His style is exactly like his personality -- vibrant and unapologetic.

Wardrobe: Cotton and raw-silk half-sleeved kurtas in pastel hues, with cream churidars. He is also believed to be making a subtle shift towards full-sleeved pathani suits.

Tailor: Designer label Jade Blu's Bipin Chauhan personally caters to the Gujarat chief minister.

Mamata Banerjee: Rough and ready

Tarun Tahiliani

She represents the aam aadmi, so she dresses the part. What Banerjee wears goes with the image she is trying to portray in a city like Kolkata which is known for its intellectual prowess.

Payal Jain

She has a very raw and rugged sense of dressing to be able to connect with the masses -- especially people living in villages and backward areas. Her clothing remains basic and simple with her trademark rubber chappal. However, it lacks any sort of glamour or style.

Traditional does not necessarily have to be so rugged; it can have some sense of style.

Nikhil Thampi

She has a rather subdued dressing style with her patent white/cream sari and mild hints of colours. Personally, I would like to see her in a little more colour, maybe pastels, to add vibrancy to her look.

Wardrobe: Tant cotton saris with a plain, thin border. These saris are customised to be 6 metres long instead of the usual 5.5 metre length. Priced at approximately Rs 350 each, these are sourced from weavers in Hooghly.

Jaswant Singh: Old-world sensibility

Tarun Tahiliani

He is a Rajput and has always believed in simplicity. His bandhgalas with pocket squares are interesting and so is his preference for the classic hue black.

I like his natty waistcoats, and military detail shirts with front pockets and lapels.

Payal Jain

He is old school, traditional and conventional, as politicians have dressed over decades. His style is ethnic and appropriate, appealing to his constituency. However, it lacks an element of being different and versatile.

Nikhil Thampi

Singh definitely experiments with his clothes -- from bandhgalas to the usual shirts and trousers. However, he doesn't seem to have a distinct sense of style that would make him stand out.

Wardrobe: Bushshirt and trousers for casual wear, bandhgala with trousers for formal occasions. Usually black and grey, these bushshirts are made of a robust, khadi-like fabric. He never wears a tie and a dinner jacket. For footwear, he prefers Italian-made leather slip-on shoes.

Omar Abdullah: Regal touch

Tarun Tahiliani

He is young, genetically blessed and very chic. His sharply tailored suits and snazzy watches show his love for fine things. I would rate him pretty high on the style meter.

Young politicians like him and Sachin Pilot know what to wear and have a distinct personality to carry it off too.

Payal Jain

He represents the young politicians of India and is superbly stylish, carrying off almost everything with ease and elan. He is versatile, dresses appropriately for the occasion, carries off his outfits beautifully and always looks fabulous.

I can't think of anything that his style lacks for.

Nikhil Thampi

When it comes to style, this man knows what he's talking about! Whether it's his well-fitted suits or his crisp kurta-pyjamas, Abdullah is one of the most stylish politicians this country has ever seen.

His style is understated, regal and timeless. It lacks absolutely nothing.

The man is style personified!

Wardrobe: Pathani suits, white kurta-pyjamas with waist-coats, two-piece suits, safari suits, sherwanis for occasions.

He has a sound awareness of international designer labels and brands, and loves to experiment with Indian fabrics. Abdullah usually prefers labels like Scabal, Zegna and Holland Cherry

Tailor: Diwan Saheb, Karol Bagh, New Delhi