Costume Analysis: Made In Heaven S2 - Part 1

Following the pink thread of Episode 1 and taking a closer look at the color story.

Warning: Spoilers Ahead!

The much-awaited season 2 of ‘Made In Heaven’ premiered three days ago and the costumes are creating a lot of buzz. The show has, once again, masterfully managed to weave costume design into the narrative arcs of our characters and nowhere was it more evident than the first episode where pink played the starring role.

The episode starts with exotic dancers dancing at a raunchy wedding party. Standing apart from the crowd is one half of our wedding planner duo, Tara in a mulberry suit with, as described by Hasina Jeelani for Vogue, “dupatta enveloping her shoulders protectively, as though to shield her from the distasteful display of revelry unfolding around her.” She, at once, looks royal and is brimming with passion when puts her foot down about not planning such weddings going forward.

That was followed by a look where she’s wearing a tea colored leather dress with buttons all the way in the front and wide collars. The still below particularly stands out to me because it subtly showcases Tara and Karan’s bond, latter of whom is also wearing leather, or a fabric that is texturally very close to that.

When she meets Raghav, a chef and a restaurant owner, and also her new love interest, she is wearing a skimpy black top with an asymmetrical green skirt and statement earrings. The color green, that symbolizes growth, signals to a potential romance taking birth here.

The green of growth is followed on to her date as well, where Raghav too is sporting a different shade of the same color, hinting at the mutual intentions both have towards one another and a possibility of some future development.

For Tara, it was a full-sleeved backless green dress that kept things modest, but also brought a sense of sultriness to the ensemble. Just like before, she is once again, wearing statement earrings that brings attention to her face and neck.

At the court appearance, Tara is wearing her heart of her sleeve, sporting a pink and beige suit showcasing her vulnerable side through loose fitting and soft fabrics. Pink, here, represents all the feminine characteristics like politeness and sweetness. She is, after all, regretful of trapping Adil in a marriage and choosing to keep the divorce proceedings as amicable as possible.

But that same pink color changes it’s meaning when she goes to the spa where her client is planning on getting a skin-whitening treatment and where Tara is also suggested to get that treatment because “all the actresses are getting it.”

The discussion around skin color started when the bride tried a baby pink lehenga and was promptly told off by the women in the family for wearing such a light color against her dark skin tone. So, it’s no surprise when the bride’s mom - who is fair - is spotted wearing the same colored suit at the spa, almost as if to drive the point home.

Tara’s shade of pink is slightly darker which can be read in two ways - she is either mocked with the color as she gets informed of the treatment, or she is challenging the norms by sporting the exact color that society (and all the aunties) think wouldn’t suit her. Both readings can be true at the same time, but the darker shade of pink leads me to believe that the latter holds more water.

The meanings of pink will continue to take different shapes later on, but continuing on with Tara, as she finds herself slowly getting squeezed out by her high-class social circle, she decides to go to a (former) friend’s art opening sporting a standout Sabyasachi dress that fits her like a glove. She definitely exudes power and looks strong, but as she marinates in the awkwardness after seeing Faiza and Adil there, and observing her friends steering clear of her, the dress that is filled with heavy embroidery and embellishments, starts to reflect her suffocation, making her feel constricted. Instead of blending in, she is starkly standing out from the crowd where she feels she is supposed to belong.

Whereas, when she goes to meet Raghav at his home, she looks like she belongs there. That same dress matches the earthy color story of his cozy interiors, letting her blend in with her surroundings.

For the actual wedding, Tara wears a Sabyasachi saree that makes her stand out as the buzz of nerves she is, managing everything. Between the strong contrasting colors and heavy embroidery, her busy mind is reflected in her clothing as she keeps a calm exterior.

As mentioned before, pink had many meanings in this episode and one of them came with the entry of Bulbul Jauhari, the new auditor for MIH. Sporting a classic patiala floral suit with a Chanel bag (made obvious from the logo, because she’s one of those people who likes to show their wealth), and probably stepping fresh out of a salon, Bulbul looks both sweet and welcoming, while also coming across as threatening. Her femininity is exemplified with her stark pink dupatta that makes her look both, warm while also sending out a silent warning about her role in our protagonists’ lives.

When she settles into her new office (which she forcefully takes over), she looks completely at home, with even the lampshade matching her floral suit.

Pink also played an important role in our bride, Sarina’s storyline who after being told not to wear baby pink for her wedding because of her skin color, talks openly to her fiancé about the issue, who in turn builds her up by calling her sexy. The scene is very intimate and vulnerable for Sarina and the intensity of the interaction is captured by her clothing, heavy jewelry and the matching dark pink interior design.

For the wedding, she finally opts for the pink lehenga that makes her eyes and smile stand out like no other color probably could. With the entire wedding color palette being pink, the color symbolizes it’s most famous meaning - romance.

Some Remarkable Costume Moments

When we first meet Sarina, she is wearing a (probably Chanel) tweed jacket. Considering how important the role of pink is going to be in her storyline, you can get hints of the color peeking out in the jacket, almost like her inner desires - and also her insecurities - quietly having a peep.

At the art opening, where Tara stands out like a sore thumb in her figure-hugging dress, Faiza looks more at home in a loosely fitted maroon blouse. She blends in with her surroundings and is right where Tara wished to be.

No-nonsense business partner, Ramesh Jauhari is like a thorn on Karan and Tara’s back and that dynamic is demonstrated in the busy print and dark color of his shirt. Just his presence alone is enough to put Karan and Tara in a bad mood.

My only complaint with this show is how they’ve styled Jazz. Her prints, patterns and fabric choices are bang on - that is probably what a girl like her would be wearing in Delhi, but the choices of clothes are not at all flattering on the actress. She was styled quite well in the first season, but in the second season, the silhouettes are unflattering and baggy, and does her no favour.

Read Part 2, Part 3 and Part 4 here.

(Image credits: Amazon Prime)