#BazaarWomenInFocus: Meet WOTY25 winner Priyanka Kapadia Badani, whose eye for detail continues to shape the language of Indian style

When it comes to decoding India’s most defining fashion moments, Priyanka Kapadia Badani is often the creative mind behind them. A stylist with an instinctive understanding of beauty and balance, she has spent over a decade shaping the visual language of Indian fashion. At the Harper’s Bazaar Women of the Year 2025 awards, held on October 25, she was honoured as one of the country’s most influential style voices—a fitting tribute to her enduring impact on how India dresses and dreams.

Kapadia’s career began in the glossy corridors of fashion magazines, where her sharp eye for detail and effortless understanding of what feels now quickly set her apart. Over the years, she has evolved into one of India’s most sought-after stylists, crafting iconic looks for stars like Deepika Padukone, Alia Bhatt, and Sonam Kapoor. But beyond the glamour, it’s her ability to translate personality into clothing—to make fashion feel intimate, intelligent, and human—that defines her signature.

On the Bazaar stage, dressed in her trademark elegance, Kapadia took a moment to reflect on her journey. Her words carried warmth, nostalgia, and deep gratitude:

“Thank you, everybody. This is a real full-circle moment. I started 14 years ago in the magazine world, and I am here today. Thank you, Rasna. Thank you, Bazaar India. It’s been amazing collaborating with you and your team—keeping the editorial spark alive."

She went on to say, "Fashion styling is really all collaboration, so yes, to the amazing women I work with, my support system, and my team—it’s amazing. Thank you. And to my baby boy, Iman, who came into this world a year and a half ago—this is for him. Thank you."

Her speech reflected what she has always believed in: that fashion, at its heart, is about collaboration and storytelling. Every shoot, every red-carpet look, every campaign she curates is a dialogue between people—designers, makeup artists, photographers, and muses. Her work isn’t about trends, but about emotion and atmosphere, the quiet power of details that linger long after the flashlights fade.

In the last few years, Kapadia has expanded her creative universe beyond editorial styling, consulting for brands and helping shape how they communicate identity in an ever-evolving world. Her influence lies not just in aesthetics, but in intention—how she merges sustainability, modernity, and cultural sensitivity in a way that feels both global and deeply Indian.

What makes her vision so distinctive is its restraint. In an era defined by excess, Kapadia's approach is about refinement. Her fashion is lived-in, emotional, and distinctly personal. Each image she creates tells a story not just of clothes, but of confidence and self-expression.

Fourteen years after she began in the editorial world, she was now being celebrated by the same community that first took a chance on her. And as she dedicated her award to her son, Iman, it was clear that her creative legacy, much like her approach to style, is both deeply professional and deeply personal.

At Harper’s Bazaar Women of the Year 2025, Kapadia wasn’t just honoured for her influence—she was celebrated for her ability to make Indian fashion feel timeless, human, and beautifully her own.
 

Also read: Harper’s Bazaar Women of the Year Awards 2025: The game-changing winners you need to know

Also read: Kalli Purie’s Heartfelt words on strength, love, and serendipity at Bazaar’s Women of the Year 2025