The Artistic Foundation: Fashion Design & Styling
Everything I create today started with a pencil and a dream. Before the high fashion campaigns and celebrity shoots, it was just me studying form and anatomy. Here is the creative foundation that fuels every look I style.
An old sketch from my archives, drawn 16 years ago. This study of the male torso was part of my early exploration of the human form, which is fundamental to my understanding of how clothes should fit and feel.
A quick sketch I made on set, capturing the energy of the crew watching the monitor. For me, the process of creation and the collaboration with a talented team is just as beautiful as the final product.
A behind-the-scenes look at a clothing rack, prepped for a shoot. This is where the magic begins, selecting colors, textures, and pieces to build the characters and stories for a campaign.
Another piece from my early days as an artist. These life drawing sketches were my first steps in understanding shape, shadow, and the beauty of the human figure, skills I still use in my styling work today.
This pencil sketch of a seated figure was an exercise in capturing emotion through posture. Understanding how the body communicates is key to creating styling that tells a story without words.
A behind-the-scenes look at my process for a John Cavendish product shoot. This video shows the meticulous work of styling a suit on a mannequin to ensure every detail is perfect for the final shot.
A study of the male form from behind, unearthed from my collection of old drawings. These foundational exercises in anatomy are a reminder of where my creative journey began.
This sketch of a kneeling figure was about capturing grace and form. My artistic background is the lens through which I view all my styling projects, always searching for the right line and silhouette.
A rough but honest sketch of a male torso from my college days. It's this raw passion for form and art that I strive to bring to every commercial project I undertake.
About The Artistic Foundation
My work is not just about picking clothes, it is about understanding how fabric interacts with the human form. When you look at my commercial styling, you are seeing those early lessons from my days at the College of Art, Delhi. I do not just dress a model. I study the silhouette, the posture, and the story we are trying to convey, ensuring the final visual is as intentional as a sketch.
Styling is often reduced to the clothes themselves, but true impact lies in the silhouette and the narrative. My background in traditional art means I approach every shoot, whether it is a high stakes TVC or a menswear lookbook, with an artist’s eye. I am constantly checking the line of a garment, just as I would check the line of a pencil drawing.
On set, I apply these foundational principles to solve immediate visual problems. I am hyper focused on fit, using techniques like pinning and clamping to ensure the clothes move naturally with the talent. If I am working on a TVC, I am thinking about continuity and how the silhouette looks from every angle in motion.
My journey from early anatomical studies in Delhi to styling campaigns for brands like Toyota and Adidas in Mumbai has taught me one thing: the fundamentals never change. Whether I am building a character for a film or styling a brand campaign, I treat the human body as the canvas. My goal is to create visuals that feel authentic and grounded, not just glossy. It is this artistic discipline that keeps my work consistent, ensuring that every project tells a coherent story.
Varunesh Pal
I am Varunesh, a costume designer and stylist based in Mumbai. I believe styling is about people and their stories, starting from a sketch and ending in a perfect visual narrative.
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