Does living in Goa influence the way you dress?

In the first edition of a new series, we find out how living in a holiday destination like Goa can influence one’s personal style

Is our sense of style shaped by the place we live in? The way you dress is more often than not influenced by the culture of the place you live in. Look around you and you’ll find people of all genders following a similar style aesthetic. Our new series, ‘Can a place influence your style?’ is dedicated to understanding the style language that runs across cities and states.

A city that blends itself into fashion with ease

From your first college trip to Goa until recent times, when you head to the sunshine state to visit friends who have set up their family homes there, chances are your wardrobe hasn’t stayed the same through the years.

But when it comes to a laidback sense of style, no one can perhaps compete with someone who calls Goa their home—and yes, the tourists do stand out. Stylist and creative director Tania Fadte, who is originally from Goa, believes that a city has its own vibe and style, especially if seen through a cultural lens. When it comes to fashion, however, it’s slightly tricky. “Fashion is more of an individual choice, especially when you live in a particular city. But if you’re travelling then I do believe that your style tends to change as per the place you’re going to,” says Fadte, who has spent a considerable amount of time in both Mumbai and Goa. She points out at Goan designers like Savio Jon and the late Wendell Rodricks. “Their designs may appear to be suitable for a place like Goa, but in actuality they have more of a global appeal and can be worn for any occasion and in any city in the world,” she says.

For Chef Pablo Luis de Miranda, the founder and owner of popular restaurants like António, Makutsu and Patrão's Deli, Goa was never considered India’s food, fashion or cultural capital. “It was never taken seriously the way metro cities were when it came to the latest trends, whether it’s food or fashion,” says Miranda. The Goan native also points out the obvious influence of the Portuguese when it came to culture and style. “People in India are convinced that Goa is one of the only places in India where you can bring out your beachy attire and embrace the tropical vibe,” he adds.

An evolution of personal style

While style is something that is personal and constantly evolving, for actress and content creator Shveta Salve, the place where you are located does influence and seep into the kind of clothes you wear whilst there. “Although I’m a mood dresser, the places that I travel to do have some sort of influence on my personal style,” says Salve, who originally is from Mumbai but now calls Goa her home. “Honestly speaking, I do have a separate Mumbai wardrobe and a separate Goa wardrobe. When I’m in Mumbai, I tend to wear more fitted clothes, while in Goa my style is more easy, effortless and bohemian. But I don’t deviate much from my personal style. I’ll still wear a bindi over jeans and a crop top when I’m in Mumbai, which I usually would, over looser outfits in Goa,” she says. Salve also points out that she keeps her heels for Mumbai and almost never wears them in Goa.

Fadte also believes that while there may be a slight change in her style from one city to another, fundamentally, it’s true to her personality. “It’s not like my style changed when I was living in Mumbai. I dress pretty much the same when I’m in Mumbai or Goa or even New Delhi, for that matter,” says Fadte. “Sure, it’s a bit elevated because I was working with magazines and meeting people, but when I moved back to Goa, it was different here, more laidback. Things like the weather make a lot of difference too; you’ll rarely find people wearing jeans in Goa because it’s such a tropical climate here,” she explains.

Filmmaker Surabhi Tandon, who lives between Goa and New Delhi, found a fundamental shift in the way she dressed in Goa as opposed to what she wore in the capital city. “Goa is more liberal when it comes to clothes. I can wear a crop top or even my swimwear and a short skirt and feel confident, while in New Delhi I dress more modestly,” says Tandon. “When I look at my wardrobe now, I find more blues and greens that are inspired by my surroundings in Goa, all of which are versatile, whereas in New Delhi I wore more structured outfits.”

Locals versus tourists

The idea that you can recognise a local from a tourist might be a judgemental one, but it also points towards the fact how a local’s style varies from that of a tourist, both in the same city. “It’s hilarious when I see people in the city dress up so well and when they come to Goa. They put on harem pants and elephant prints and all their tie-dye outfits come out,” says Fadte. “You can distinguish a local from a tourist just by their energy; you’ll find a tourist to be more excited and ready to see new things and explore the place. The locals here, on the other hand, have had such an impact on my own style as well. If you look at the aunties and the women who work in the fish market, you’ll always find them wearing bold, bright coloured outfits. That subconsciously gets incorporated into my closet too, and people find that cool and stylish,” says Fadte, who is currently working on a project about Goan style.

For Miranda, on the other hand, it’s hard to differentiate now since a lot of people have been moving in and out of Goa since the pandemic. “I sometimes feel that people who aren’t from Goa are doing more local stuff than I am. And because of this influx of people in Goa, who are looking for a more relaxed lifestyle, the locals have now woken up from their ‘siesta’ kind of life and feel the need to step up,” he concludes.

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