Ever heard of a lady Pied Piper, the one who always has a brood of women following her footsteps, in awe and admiration. As she leads them to ‘good times’ full of fun, frolic with lots of glam slam thrown in. She is someone other women listen to, emulate, rely on for their style fix and enjoy the company of. Style Goddess aka Sunayana Chibba is one such influencer.
Not just online but also in real time who, through her events, talks, delegation and social media handles tries to help women realise their full potential. “I feel there is a style goddess in every woman and my endeavour in life is to help them realise that spot of inner Zen where their real persona actually resides. I like to encourage women to realise their inner potential.”
Talking through her pages to her battery of ‘online pals’ all through the pandemic, she created style classes, make over sessions, live chats and inspirational videos. “I even hosted an event during the pandemic for Zoya, keeping all social distancing protocols in mind. I had over 30 women walk into the store and enjoy the new collection by the brand.”
Besides which she also went online with her line of gowns and formal Western wear, a fashion endeavour that she calls, “Get dressed with The Style Goddess.” Someone who introduced international foot wear much before the Steve Maddins and Aldos of the world entered the nation, Sunayana shares, “I set up my brand, Shoe Shoppe in the early 2000s, going from one store to five within a span of one year. My store had all the leading brands that I imported through my associate from the bay area. I realised then that what Indian women needed the most was someone curating their Western wear look that is chic and glamorous.”
Now, in the current avatar she is bringing “gowns that fit like a dream. I have women like the princess of Patiala who can well afford an Alexander Mc Queen happily shopping 15 gowns in a go from me. Not just because they are affordable but also because I carefully hand-pick each piece that fits like a dream and also exudes a subtle sense of chic.”
Sunayana, in the good-old era of on-ground events, reigned supreme, filling the social calendar of Delhi with one stylish event after another. Daughter of a leading landed family of Punjab, she recalls: “My family had a large land-holding in undivided Punjab. In fact, my grandfather Pritam Singh Bhinder also has a road named after him in Punjab which now falls in Pakistan.” Sunayana, a mother of two and herself a fashionista, created events and forums that were “at all time classy, understated and chic”.
Sure enough, each of her events reflected her Zen for perfection. Be it the General Sparrow Polo Cup that she hosted each year in aid of a chosen charity, Delhi’s Jaipur Polo Ground filling up with berets and slender hats. Or her well-curated Style Goddess exposition where “I try and curate some well-kept design secrets from across India. I try to create a unique shopping experience that cannot be replicated through brick-and-mortar luxury studios.”
“I am a people’s person who likes to connect with every kind of person at a personal level.” Sunayana stands tall, even at five feet nothing and prides in the fact that she is “totally self-made.” The icing on her events being a delegation of Indians she took to the House of Lords in United Kingdom. “I was awarded in the House of Commons of the British Parliament for her work and influence.”
“I like to work extensively with Indians loving across the globe. Most of them have left India but a tiny bit of India resides in them forever. “Curating experiences for the Pravasi Divas, she was awarded the Global Icon of India award by GOPIO on Pravasi Diwas. A grounded, rooted and hard-working woman, she says, “The sheen and shine are only for the surface. Deep down inside I am a hard-working girl who does not mind getting her hand into every aspect of an event.”