KATSEYE’s Lara Raj calls her kumkum look a tribute to the ‘forever style icon, the legendary Rekha’ and her mother; calls it a ‘sacred blessing’ amid online debate |
KATSEYE’s Lara Raj went to Paris Fashion Week in a bright yellow Loewe dress, but it was a very familiar Indian detail that ended up getting most of the attention.On October 2, 2026, Lara made her Paris Fashion Week debut at Loewe alongside KATSEYE bandmate Megan Skiendiel. She paired the canary-yellow dress with Indian jewellery, including a jewelled bindi, gold maang tikka, jhumkas, a nose pin and stacks of payals. The red kumkum in her hair parting, however, quickly became the focus of online discussion, with several people referring to it as sindoor.Some questioned the styling, while others praised Lara for bringing Indian elements to an international fashion event. Lara has now explained what the look meant to her.
Lara Raj says kumkum is more than a fashion choice
In an Instagram post after the Loewe show, Lara Raj shared the personal story behind the look. “I loved my dress so much, and wearing it with Indian jewellery and kumkum made me feel so confident and beautiful,” she wrote.She then explained why kumkum has a much deeper meaning for her. “Kumkum has been part of my life since childhood, a sacred blessing I’ve grown up receiving from my family during puja and aarti,” Lara said.She also described it as a symbol of “intuition, strength and the divine feminine energy” that she feels connected to. That explanation is important because the red mark had been widely described online as sindoor. Speaking at the Loewe show, Lara herself referred to it as kumkum, saying it was inspired by Bollywood icon Rekha.
(Image Credit: @lararaj on Instagram)
Why Rekha inspired Lara Raj’s Paris Fashion Week look
Lara Raj also revealed that the styling was a tribute to two women who have influenced her: Bollywood actress Rekha and her mother. “For this look, I styled it in my own way while paying homage to my forever style icon, the legendary Rekha, and the woman I look up to the most, my mom,” she wrote.She said she has always admired how both women carry Indian beauty “with such boldness, individuality and grace.” The Rekha connection makes sense. The veteran actor has long been known for her dramatic Indian fashion, statement jewellery and distinctive beauty looks. Lara has also spoken previously about her Indian roots and spirituality, including in a June 17, 2025 interview with Vogue India.For Lara, then, the Paris Fashion Week look was not simply about adding an Indian touch to a designer outfit. It was something much more personal, a mix of her childhood, family, Rekha’s influence and the way she sees her own heritage.And perhaps that is what made the look stand out so much. In a room full of fashion statements, Lara Raj arrived with something that already had a story of its own.
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