In case you needed any further proof that Never Have I Ever star Maitreyi Ramakrishnan’s rainbow dress is anything short of spectacular, we invite you to look beyond the colours and gold embroidery for a moment. Ramakrishnan’s stylist Joseph Cassell Falconer (who is also known for styling Taylor Swift’s looks and music videos) sourced Maitreyi this piece from Indian designer Ashwin Thiyagarajan, who sewed together upcycled sarees to craft the dress with a sweetheart neckline and fitted, bustier style bodice. The banarasi panels you see here are all from fabric used in Ashwin’s previous collections, making the number even more significant and reflective of the brand’s DNA.
Maitreyi chose the dress for just the right occasion – the 19th annual Unforgettable Gala in Beverly Hills, CA, where she took the stage to celebrate her breakout moment in TV honour. “I just wanted to have fun. I didn’t think many young South Asian girls would look up to me and see themselves in me and I didn’t know how big that responsibility is, but how huge of a privilege it is, and I am so happy to have it,” she said.
Maitreyi’s NHIE character Devi wears a traditional Indian sari in Mindy Kaling’s Netflix comedy series, and this red carpet twist stands for both Maitreyi’s cultural representation on screen and the sari that is celebrated for its beauty and craft. The star described her midi as “so wholesome” on her Instagram Stories, making it even more meaningful, and Falconer posted a close-up of the skirt, along with details on the rest of the outfit’s accessories – a pair of metallic Jimmy Choo sandals and jewels by Anabela Chan, Dana Rebecca, and Le Vian. Scroll for more angles of Maitreyi’s moment and see her pose with costars Richa Moorjani, Ramona Young, and Lee Rodriguez.
