Wills Lifestyle India Fashion Week 2010 – Day 6

Day 1 events were finally re-scheduled to Day 6. Thankfully the audience were not left disappoint after the initial hiccup. I was very much looking forward to this day since the most experienced designers were showcasing their work. All is well that ends well…………….

Ranna Gill

I was very excited to see Ranna Gill’s collection since the lady makes quite stylish clothes with striking colours. After having a look I was not disappointed but not very happy either. Maybe I got a bit used to seeing her earlier designs of geometric designs with alluring effects. I found this one rather too simple in fact unadorned since the clothes were made in solid colours, tassels, bag & jewellery were used as accessories for the same. One shoulder dresses, halter necks, pants, jackets, skirts, tops all of them were wearable which is plus side of Ranna’s creations. The colours were fabulous though this time around I was not that impressed with the prints since found them rather very dull. What this collection lacked was freshness……………..winter does not mean just dark dull colours. Some sequin work would have given that added novelty to the clothes. Minisha Lamba looked cute and pretty in Ranna Gill ensemble. Nonetheless will always be in high spirits to see more of Ranna’s creations in future.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ritu Beri

Ritu Beri’s collection was a Tribute to the Indian Army which reflected very well in her clothes. Army inspired jackets, camouflage print, high waist skirts and pants, broad belts, tartan checks, golden military type detailing were the key designs of the collection. The collection was demure, bold,had a feeling of royalty to it. The clothes were also wearable and fit for the Autumn/Winter season. My pick in this creation were the colours which had fiery red, aquamarine blue, navy blue, olive green, matt golden, midnight black and pure whitehues shades were used in fabrics like satin, velvet, net and many more. As per the theme the clothes fit well, after a long time I must say Ritu Beri’s collection was eye-catching and made a statement. My verdict: clothes were stylish and would make a modern woman very very fashionable. Ritu Beri walked in as show-stopper in the end since due to the cancellation of Day 1 of the show the original choice for show-stopper Sushmita Sen could not make it due to prior commitments. Nonetheless Ritu Beri herself looked graceful on the ramp since I do feel even at this age she is as pretty as any model in India.Kuddos to Ritu Beri for putting her heart out for the Indian Army.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

J J Valaya

JJ Valaya’s Autumn Winter collection unfortunately had nothing ‘new’ to it since there was a lot to expect from him since his is one of the pioneers of the Indian Fashion Industry. I did like the fact that there was the colour ‘red’ included in this collection but the placement of a belted pocket on a saree was a style which I could not digest. Why would any woman want to wear a hideous pocket belt over an elegant saree. Was this a new fashion statement JJ Valaya wanted to make or just a mess up with the stylist did?? I might not know that but it was unlike JJ Valaya’s signature touch which I have seen  in his earlier collections. Nonetheless the jackets were stunning with brocade background and detail work on the shoulder part. The collection started off with creations in black colour proceeding white on to red and cream then ending with metallic hues. My verdict: If the pieces are worn separately off the ramp the look would be much more elegant. The styling of this show was not upto the JJ Valaya benchmark.

Wills Lifestyle India Fashion Week 2010 – Day 5

Anupama Dayal

Anupama Dayal’s colourful collection had a blend of Indian style with western designs but unfortunately I found too much of mix was there in every outfit. I was difficult for me to emphasize on one thing in an outfit. The mix of colourful prints with a lot of different coloured detailing like mirror work plus sequin work made it too much for an individual garment. I felt as if the designer was trying to put everything in one outfit which ultimately resulted in too much of hotchpotch. Take for example a bubble sleeves in a kurti marred the look of delicate mirror work and geometric prints on a beautiful peach colour kurti or a printed colourful halter dress with mirror work on the waist but draped with a grey colour printed shirt with a red & white check bow. It would have been much more preferable if Anupama would have concentrated on one feature only in every outfit. Liked the colours but this collection seemed more fit for summer than winter.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Rabani & Rakha

Now here is a glamorous collection from the designer trio Rahul & Shibani Rastogi with Gautam Rakha . The clothes were fit for red carpet events as they had a lot of ‘Bling’ factor to it. I liked the saree which were done keeping in mind the western fashion with bold designs in blouse using colours like grey, blue, peach. Net seemed to have been used the most amongst all other fabric in this collection with a lot of detail work on the shoulders, waist line, the hemlines of the sarees. I lovveedd the saree creations though still felt the evening gown could have been modified more avoid too much of silver fabric and keeping it simple with a bit of detailing only. My verdict : Sarees get two thumbs up from me for their glamour quotient………..love to see more from this trio.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Khushali Kumar

Women who love to flaunt their bodies would find a treasure in Khushali Kumar’s collection ‘Reve’ which had amazing short dresses but I am yet to be convinced for her Evening gown collection which I felt were too plain. Her short dresses were very contemporary with use of loads of silver in detailing as well as fabric. One can easily wear these outfits in the international events since the clothes have oodles of style and appeal to it. My say on Khushali’s collection : Loovveedd the short dresses but the gowns need more ‘Bling’ to it.

 

Wills Lifestyle India Fashion Week 2010 – Day 4

Debarun Mukherjee

I had seen Debarun’s collection during Lakme Fashion Week summer/Resort 2010 [You can read my reviews in the Lakme Fashion week section] and was impressed by the colourful summer wear clothes. Looking at this collection I have to say that Debarun’s collection is a complete package for clothes all around the year. I loved the black & white with subtle touch of grey and silver in the Autumn/Winter creation…………..in my words the clothes were magnificient. Debarun’s strongest selling point or USP is that all the outfits that he has created are extremely wearable for women of all ages which will definitely take his a long way. The women’s Autumn/Winter wear is very feminine and has a regal look which had dresses both long and short, jackets, lehenga-choli, evening gown, saree where as the men’s line is equally elegant. Loveedd the bubble , kimono & bell sleeves, the frill trimming on the hemlines, the exaggerated shoulder design, the delicate detail work which looks one with the fabric…………I only wish Debarun would have included some shades of purple or maroon in his collection. Nonetheless the styling was kept simple yet fabulous. My say on Debarun’s collection : Great work, in synch with the theme of the season…………..Hope to see more creative work from Debarun in future Red Carpet and Fashion weeks.

  

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

Charu Parashar

Char Parashar’s collection ‘Utpala’ which is an eco-friendly range of clothes is a collaboration with Birla Cellulose. The designs were definitely ‘innovative’ with exaggerated shoulders, geometrical designs, eye-catching cuffs, a lot of metal elements used in this futuristic designs. But I somehow think one or two piece might not be considered wearable. Colours like grey, black, blue, yellow were the highlight in the geometric background in skirts, short dresses, long dresses and tops. I would say some outfits had a Jackyl and Hyde kinda look where in one part it was colourful and in another it was grey with black. She has used shimmer in a very softer way and had styled the outfits in a creative ways with knight’s armor. On the whole like the prints which were very creative and the ‘thought’ in being Eco-friendly gets two thumbs up from me. Good work Charu.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Reynu Tandon

The black and white  with hint of colour creations of Reynu Tandon was admirable  and very classy. Trousers, shirts, short dresses, sarees were in the collection. The very fashionable clothes had patterns of checks, halter neck, boat neck, colourful stone work, etc. which were styled well with pulled back hair plus stilettos. Totally fashionable yet very wearable. My verdict on Reynu Tandon’s designer wear is Amazing work with these well fitted garments. No wonder her outfits are also doing well overseas.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Abraham & Thakore

The designer duo’s collection gave a very 1940s look with all black and white, Indian Ideas meeting the English culture sort………….but the clothes were wearable which it was definitely within the criteria and yet modern with the accessories like laptop bags and belts used to style. But I could not find a beauty and feminism in their collection. It was too raw with an out there expression……………..of course very simple clothes which looked dated that looking modern. There should have been a bit of shimmer since the fabrics used like satin, chiffon, velvet, crepe were rich enough but lacked a ‘look at me again’ factor. The prints were also out of Indian story books ……….which I just don’t get it. Even if the collection was all black and white, a pop of colour would have helped a lot. My verdict : I did not find this collection very creative…………..I hope to see more colour plus gorgeous feminine designs.

Wills Lifestyle India Fashion Week 2010 – Day 3

After the colourful second day, Day 3 promised to bring in more style and newer designs.

Joy Mitra

 

 Do we have another Sabhyasachi Mukherjee in making??? Joy Mitra has got a lot of ‘Joy’ as I would put in my words to the fashion week with his creative collection ‘Ode to Lord Krishna’.Fabrics like brocade, cotton, crepe, net, satin and chiffon had highlights of block prints, gotta, sequin work…………The very wearable collection had beautiful fusion of colour and fabric plus were styled very well. Koena Mitra was a ‘Vision’ as she walked down the ramp dressed like ‘Radha’ looked ‘Oh-so-Fabulous’ wearing the Red Brocade Lehenga. Joy Mitra’s collection consisted of skirts, saree, jacket, kurti, stole and pants in colours like fiery reds, tangy orange, chilly green, midnight black. My say for this collection: Very well done clothes, will be a sell-out, I think Joy’s forte is in Indianwear especially after looking at the Lehenga designed for Koena Mitra. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Preeti Chandra

Preeti Chandra’s winter collection had a color palette of grey, burgundy, chocolate-brown, black with a pop of colour like pink and orange was simply an eye-catching piece. Loveeddd the short dresses which were very trendy yet had an air of sophistication to them. The collection had short dresses, skirts, pants, shirts, coat and evening gown styled with faux fur leotads. I liked the styling of the clothes but the head-piece could have been avoided. The Embroidery was delicate with touch of smocking, dabka work and stone work in some outfits. My verdict on this collection : Very contemporary, Simplicity at it’s best plus I always favour wearable clothes.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tanvi Kedia

 

Tanvi presented her collection which had a kinda retro look to it yet I must say the designs of the clothes were pretty new. There were outfits which had diamond shape fabric cut outs on the hemlines of the dress and stoles………….these new ideas were very creative. The prints with the change of colour at the end was very eye-catching since that got the attention to the work done on the hemlines. Indian embroidery on the stoles, short dresses and kurtis were worth an applaud since its subtle look it gave to a western garment. I love the fact that Indian designers are getting in touch with their roots to give a western attire completely a new appearance. My Say on Tanvi : The lady has got loads of talent and thinks out of the box. Will be eager to see more from her in future fashion weeks.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Vineet Bahl

Touch of metallic tones were a very prominent feature of Vineet’s new collection be it in the fabric or in the sequin work on the silhouette. But somewhere the look just did not match up………….when looking at an outfit which has check shirt and a metallic finish jacket over it, I found it a hotch-potch since one could not concentrate on an individual piece. The fusion of Indian and western somehow did not give the desired effect…………….the outfits seemed too plain, fit was not that good plus it had no proper finishing touch to it. There was nothing new w.r.t design and pattern of the clothes. I could not find a signature look with which I could associate Vineet Bahl’s name to his collection. Better luck next time around Mr. Bahl………

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Rocky S

Rocky S had kept Indian Weddings in Mind while designing this collection which had Lehengas, Chudidhar-kurta, Saree, Sherwani & Pathani for men. I felt this collection was much better than what he had displayed at Lakme India Fashion Week Summer/Resort 2010 held earlier this month in Mumbai. The colours were darker,bolder and richer tones combined with loads of detail work in each outfit. The clothes were wearable as well as glamorous, must say that Rocky S creates better outfits in darker colours. The only thing that I hated were the Anarkali style fused with Western short dress and worn with Chudidhar look leggings. Seems like Rocky S tried to create something new out of this fusion but it did not go down that well with me. There was no elegance in that look and felt it looked very trashy. The showstopper were Esha Deol along with momma Hema Malini where Esha was dressed in a rich red & green Lehenga + strappy choli looking pretty,  Hema Malini looked as radiant as ever in a maroon & green Saree……………If I ever think of the word ‘elegance’ Hema Malini tops the list………..good to see the lovely mother-daughter together on the ramp. My verdict on Rocky S collection : Adore the Indian wear which is fit for those winter weddings.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pashma

Pashma displayed winter wear collection made from fabrics like cashmere and silk but the clothes were quite stylish. The models looked classy in knitwear tops, sweaters, stoles, dresses, sweaters……………..everything a woman needs for winter. Thank god Pashma choose experiment with loads of colour for her collection rather than go for those awful dull colours. Very wearable collection……………..loved the tint of aquamarine blue in the outfit. My say on Pashma: Keep experimenting with more colours for winterwear………….we do need more designers to concentrate on branded winterwear clothes that are stylish and not bulky.

Wills Lifestyle India Fashion Week 2010 – Day 2

Day 2 started off on time unlike the previous day……………you truly never know when the Indian officials might show up with some problem w.r.t paper work……………In my opinion the show should have not been stopped and the problem should have been dealt behind the scenes or the officials should have warned them before hand about the fire permit problem………….It is waste of time and huge money.

Day 2 was more on a colourful with Established Designer going back to Indian roots.

Tarun Tahiliani

Tarun Tahiliani or ‘Emperor of Indian Fashion Industry’ as I would call him, presented his recent collection in Wills Lifestyle India Fashion Week – Autumn/Winter 2010. Loved the way he had accessorize the models with bags, jewellery and wooden bangles. The colours were dark with the season of Autumn/Winter kept in mind. The collection was different from the usual glamorous ‘Tarun Tahiliani’ collections which were displayed in earlier fashion weeks. The colours were darker, designs were bolder, more of Indian prints & motifs dominated the scene, shells used on the border of the silhouette, prints merged with embroidery and stone work. Lovvveeeeddd the prints but was a bit skeptical about the few pieces in the collection since they were not wearable and not appealing to the eye. In short they kinda did not have the Tarun Tahiliani touch. Nonetheless lovvveeedddd this collection for the beautiful prints in rich colours. This time around Tarun has gone deep into Indian craft for this creation. I always look forward to see the new collection of Tarun Tahiliani and fortunately I have never been disappointed. He always has something  ‘Exceptional’ to offer every season. My verdict: This collection will do a roaring business.

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

 

 

Ashima & Leena

Ashima & Leena presented a very bright coloured Indian Wear collection which somehow reminded me of the song ‘Rang de Basanti’………………………….Oh I simply loved the bright orange, yellows, reds combined with cooler colours like blue & green with a hint of black. They had both Indian attire as well as Western wear in their collection. The flowy fabrics looked like a dream on the ramp with the layering effect given by this designer duo. The intricate detailing and minute sequin work made the outfits look fit for Gala occasions. They had dresses, skirts, trousers, coat, saree, salwar kameez, etc. for women of all ages. The best part about this collection is that each and every outfit was wearable off the ramp also. Indian taste reflected in the colours and prints of this collection.

My Say for this collection :  I am all for the bright colours in Indian Wear. Great work!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ritu Kumar

Ritu Kumar’s western wear brand name ‘Label’ which is the brainchild of her son Amrish Kumar, presented the collection which was more of a fusion of casual and formal attire. The metallic colours dominated the scene with designs in skirts, trousers, short dresses, jackets and many more. The collection was for the young smart women but somehow I missed the Regal touch which I usually see in Ritu Kumar’s Indian Ensemble. The collection was kept too simple with more emphasis only on cut and not on look of the outfit. Detailing was kept to the bare minimum but that is what is the key signature look of Ritu Kumar. I don’t mind wearing western wear with a bit of detailing as long as it looks elegant and not trashy. Ritu’s clothes no matter how old they might be still look amazing with detailing and can never go out of fashion. Hope to see more of an ‘Oscar De La Renta’ look in Ritu and Amrish Kumar’s  Western wear ‘Label’ collection line in the future.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Aastha Bahl

 

I could literally see all the colours ever invented on the runway for Aastha Bahl’s Collection which was inspired by the lifestyle of a Roman Nomad. Bizarre designs……………..yes most certainly, beautiful colour fusion………………….very much, alluring fabric layering style……………….thumbs up to that but were they wearable……………..only few were in the wearable category. The clothes were not styled beautifully since I believe a dash of ‘Bling’ in form of accessories would have done the job better. This collection looked as if bits & pieces of cloth taken from here there and stitched together to make an outfit. No  doubt I loved the rich colours for the winter look but somehow the designs left me speechless. My Advice to Aastha would be to keep on creating the fusion of rich colours but have more elaborate designs and better styling.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Anky by Ankita & Anjana Bhargav

 

Now here is a collection that oozes loads of Power and Attitude for the modern Indian Woman. Ankita and Anjana have presented their recent collection ‘Anky 2011’ which I can be describe as Menswear for Women. The emphasis was on the fit while the colours were kept more towards earthy tones. Exaggerated shoulders, cowl neckline, crochet knits, asymmetrical patterns, loads of buttons, large pockets, high waisted trousers were the highlight of this collection. Models walked down the ramp flaunting browns, olive greens, beige, black in designs like skirts, pants, short dresses, party wear, coats. There was a touch of masculinity in every outfit but the clothes when worn on the runway looked very feminine. My verdict : Very stylish and wearable ensemble. I would love to see more from this designer duo.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pallavi Mohan

Pallavi’s collection ‘Not so serious’ reminded me more of the recent hollywood flick  ‘Alice in wonderland’. May be it was the way the entire show was styled with hats, head pieces, stockings, gloves, satin flower broach……………….all ‘oh-so-dreamy’. Clothes were simple and contemporary……………….but the designs of the clothes were something that we have seen earlier on the runway but somehow I liked her collection since few aspects like a short jacket on a dress with beautiful curled hemlines or the dreamy white lace dress combined with striped red & white stockings………..the wearable collection was very boho-chic as one would call yet very, very feminine. I do look forward to see more western creations from Ms. Mohan in future fashion weeks.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

P.S: Will only be able to comment on other designer’s creation once I view the entire collection. 

Wills Lifestyle India Fashion Week 2010 – Day 1

Wills Lifestyle India Fashion Week – Autumn/Winter 2010 had a shaky start when the event did not begin on the declared date 24th March, 2010 due to fire permit problems. All the shows on Day 1 were cancelled. the schedule of what would have been a Spectacular ‘Opening Day’ is given below. Re-scheduling of these shows is still in the works.

 

Day 1, Wednesday, March 24, 2010  12 noon          Littleshilpa, Nida Mahmood                                                1:50 p.m.         Alpana Neeraj, Atsu by Atsu Sekhose                                   3:10 p.m.         Rahul Mishra, Rahul Reddy                                                  4:25 p.m.         Monapali, Swapan & Seema                                                            5:40 p.m.         Satya Paul                                                                               7:00 p.m.         Ranna Gill                                                                               8:15 p.m.         Ritu Beri         9:30 p.m.          J.J.Valaya

                        

Raghavendra Rathore – Fashion with a touch of Royalty

“Born in the desert town of Jodhpur.

Raised in the Zenana.

Survived 105 bombs during the Pakistan war.

Sanskrit shloka reciter. Spiritualist.

State swimmer.

Electronic genius. Inventor of interactive robots.

Vintage car restorer.

Studied astronomy, Greek mythology, Modern American fiction & design.

Created art from junk. Sold it for $ 8000.

Hotelier. Chocolatier. Welder. Carpenter. Interior designer. Lifestyle merchant.

Owner of two fashion labels.

Has assisted Donna Karan and Oscar de la Renta.

Dressed and designed for some of the most affluent people in the world.”

This was written in the leading newspaper of Mumbai ‘Financial Times of India’  but in my simple words I would describe Raghavendra Rathore as ‘Sheer Genius’.

 His love for his country and his roots are visible in his designs which are ‘Unique’ and make anyone who is dressed in his designs, looks like a ‘Royal’. I have seen his designs for years and am simply in awe of his Menswear collection which I feel is very masculine yet extremely Elegant. I have seen many designers create men’s fashion keeping in mind the recent trends but somehow those clothes always end up looking rather a bit ‘Lady like’  and I absolutely find some designer clothes not wearable at all. But that has never been the case with Raghavendra’s wonderful creations. He hails from the royal family of Jodhpur and yet has a reputation of being very ‘down to earth’. He has worked and gained experience from fashion-wear icons like Donna Karan and Oscar De La Renta before starting his own label ‘Rathore’.

He has displayed the Rajasthan Heritage through his work…………..Jodhpuri Bandhgala, Jodhpuri Achkan and Jackets are his forte but he has a wide range of shirts, evening wear for men, pants, trousers, knitwear, suits, womenswear and many more. Style and loads of elegance is the key to his designs…………………He has designed for the cast of the movie ‘Eklavya’ which had Rajasthan Royalty as the background and for Amitabh Bachchan for the first season of ‘Kaun Banega Crorepati’.

The reason for my write-up on Raghavendra Rathore is that he is one of the finest designers we have in India whose creations speak a lot about our Indian culture but with refinement. His clothes makes a man look confident, regal,  like a thorough gentleman and makes a woman feel powerful. I wish celebrities would wear more of his creations more often on red carpet and other big events. The ‘Prince’ of Indian fashion is a title earned by Raghavendra Rathore after creating original designs and keeping the ‘Rajputana Royalty’ alive in each of his outfits.

Visit Ragahavendra’s official website www.rathore.com

Lakme Fashion Week Summer/Resort 2010 Day 5

The final day of Lakme Fashion week kicked off with accessory show in which I think our Indian Designers have done a good work and we could very well have emerging designer labels for bags, shoes and jewellery from our country displaying creations internationally. In order to view the entire collection of all designers please visit the official website www.lakmefashionweek.co.in

Malini Agarwalla

Loved the bags which were ‘oh so in the trend’ these days…………I would love to have one of Malini’s designed bags they were so summery. The collection titled ‘Flamore’  had bags, clutches, totes, belts,necklace and shoes were beautifully designed for the woman of today. The colours consisted on whites, cremes, golden, silver, aquamarine, yellow, orange all blended superbly with James Ferreira outfits. Simone Singh who carried an eye-catching golden bronze clutch bag teamed with gold and silver stilettos was the show-stopper for Malini’s collection. The shoes were very ‘chic’ which had designs like wedge heels, flats plus a lot of frills. The accessories were fit for summer wear and the flower motifs on the bags were refreshingly different from the single colour dull bags we get to see on celebrities. My verdict on Malini’s ‘Flamore’ is very wearable, beautiful and has the makings of making big in international scene in the future.

Eina Ahluwalia

Eina Ahluwalia’s collection ‘The Breathing Space’ had a lot of new accessory on display as the models walked down the ramp. Semi-precious stones, shells, silver was creatively combined with organza made a very colourful exhibit. But my only worry for this collection is whether it will be wearable for all or only by women who are ready to experiment. Over the ages I have seen Indian women were large piece of metal jewellery with an ease but would they be very open with shells and stones. My say on this that this line will go down very well with the women in their 20s and 30s  but the rest might still stick to the traditional items.

Sonali Dalwani

One got to see a lot of butterfly motifs on the bags created by Sonali Dalwani…………………my pick would be the big travel bags which had golden butterfly patterns on them. The vibrant colours in bags, belts, jewellery and shoes are very well designed which women of all ages would love to flaunt. Take a pick from this collection coz Sonali Dalwani’s range will definitely feature in the ‘must have’ list soon.

Suhani Pittie

Suhani Pittie’s ‘The Grunge Begum’  had chokers, chain necklace, metallic cuffs, wood carved jewellery and kolhapuris………..the look was a fusion of Mugal Era with today’s metallic age. Creations in gold,copper,silver and crystal were worn by the models as they strode down the ramp. But somehow I felt I have already seen many creations like these in the fashion circuit……………….there were not many new pieces. I was not able to find anything ‘Unique’ in this collection and found some of them unwearable. Ditto with the shoes……….Kolhapuris have been available in the Indian market for ages……………there was no reason why I should not buy them from Linking Road than buy a designer wear.

 

Debarun

Even I looked at Debarun’s Collection ‘Miracle Mix’, I felt this was something ‘Different’ which I get to see on the last day of LFW 2010. The colour palette was inspired by Indian spices where one got to see chilli reds, yellow turmeric, browns like the sweet Indian chutney, coriander greens combined with silks for that regal look. Modern yet had that Indian ethnicity to it……….very wearable and reason why I termed it ‘different’ was because Indian masses are yet to wear western wear in these fiery hues. The range had a lot of variety like skirts, dresses, shorts, pants, sarees, jackets,  gowns to offer to all age groups. My take on this creation is that Debarun has done a good job and if I were a buyer I would definitely like to try out his creations.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Nidhi & Divya

Nidhi & Divya’s  designer label named  ‘Walnut’  was inspired by love. There were beautiful cocktail dresses for the women of today in gorgeous colours like plum, yellow, orange, purple, blue, white and of course black. I liked the layering of their outfits which were very subtle yet the entire outfit fit the models like glove. Loads of organza fabric is used to give the desired effect though I wish they would have been a bit more creative with white colour by putting a pop of colour of using crystal to get that glamorous effect. Actress Vidya Malwade looked ready to party in one of their creations as she walked down the ramp. Liked the styling on the ramp with awesome shoes…………..I just missed a bit of bling in this collection even though some hand painted gave a beautiful effect to the outfit.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lina Tipnis

Lina Tipnis’s collection titled ‘Istanbul not Constantinople’ is inspired by the beautiful architecture and culture of Turkey. One got to see innovative ways of displaying jewellery pattern on the clothes in her creations. Loved the blue and white print which is usually seen on tiles of Turkish monuments. The colour theme was mainly whites, ivory and beige with a hint of teal. The collection consisted of skirts, short dresses, evening cocktail dresses, pants and shirts    My take on her creation is that the bejewelled outfits are very ‘Unique’ , I can predict they will be very much in ‘Vogue’ this season.

 

 

 

 

Anita Dongre

I don’t think anybody could make white look ‘Oh-so-fabulous’ except Anita Dongre……………..combining white with silver looked so gracious on the ramp. The best part about it was that each outfit was very, very, very wearable. The inspiration was the pink city Jaipur, hence the title of the collection ‘Jaipur Again’. One got to see loads of Gotta work, silver embroidery, chikankari, sequins in the silhouette. there were also colours like pink and sky blue in the collection which had Sarees, jump suits, skirts, evening gowns, summer dresses, kurtis…………………..Breath taking outfits which was designed keeping Indian Woman and Indian summer in mind. Nonetheless this collection will do very well in the overseas market. My say on Ms Dongre’s ‘Jaipur Again’ is ‘Wow’, love it………………..this collection will have may buyers……….even a person like me who is not fond of white colour will want to try out these clothes.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Suneet Verma

The Finale show of LFW 2010 was presented by Suneet Verma. Loads of shimmer, sequins, wild cat prints, ruffles reminded me of the 70s Disco era……….the collection started out with boho-chic outfits and proceeded into night party outfit.

The collection was divided in 5 segments

• “Color my World” – Amazing mix of colour in form of patchwork and mix’n’ match which had designs like coats, tunics, dresses, ponchos etc. Though people liked this segment but somehow I don’t think the clothes were very wearable, it seems to cater to a niche clients only. The clothes gave me ‘Banjara’ feel……..
• “Call of the Wild” – Loads of animal prints and motifs in chocolate, black, beige and hues of turquoise. But again haven’t we already seen animal prints on the runway.
• “Pucchi Prints” was more graphic in nature with geometric patterns in designs like jackets, skinny pants, gowns……. liked this segment which was something ‘new’.
• “Preppy Argyle” had hues of purple, lilac, beige and black in clothes like tunics, dresses, wide leg pants and gowns. I liked the western trend but was not very impressed by the Sarees worn with tights and minis. I think experimenting with a saree is fine but turning it into a western wear is something our Indian designers have yet to figure out.
• “The Bold and the Beautiful” – Looked like a glamorous Hollywood Red Carpet event but the 70s era is something which I feel has been a ‘ground breaking decade’ for global fashion.Suneet was very much able to take the essence of that Era and show it in his collection.The floral motifs made out of fabric were an original style plus those dazzling colours of the night combined with shimmer of Swaroski crystals made the entire collection look sensational.

The show ended as the three faces of Lakmé, Lisa Haydon in a slinky red black gown, Amrit Maghera in a black gown with a net cover and Indrani Dasgupta in a gold gown walked down the ramp with Suneet Varma to thunderous applause as Saturday Night Fever by the Bee Gees set the night rocking.

Lakme Fashion Week Summer/Resort 2010 Day 4

Day 4 was a bit disappointing since could not find anything that appealing or new. I felt the emerging designers were giving more emphasis on the fabric and not on design. Got to see a lot of oversized outfits which truly does not enhance much in a woman’s curve but hides the best features. For menswear there was absolutely no one who could do justice in creating a fabulous look. However ‘Sarees ruled the day where one got to see mesmerizing colourful creations.

 

Purvi Doshi

I saw a ‘pop of colour’ in every outfit of this collection which was pleasing to the eye but the fit of the clothes were an eye sore. Purvi’s creative line titled ‘Kahchindo’ which means a chameleon in Gujarati language had an array of colours which looked very soothing. The geometric designs in greens and turquiose blue were nice, still the mixing up of designs was not as elegant as it was intended to be. Like the Saree displayed below is beautiful but the entire look is marred by the pallu which looks more like a separate shawl and does not blend in that well. I would have prefered the piece to be left as a single pattern rather than having more add-ons. The drawstrings used in the outfits were creative but too much of them were unecessary. My verdict is that Purvi has talent and a lot creativeness but I wish to see her garments with a better cut and fit.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Shashikant Naidu

Goddess Parvati was the inspiration for this collection of Shashikant Naidu…………….well I must say it was different from the rest that I have seen in the past 3 days. I loved the sarees in this collection which also had dresses both long and short, fabrics were khadi, muslin and tussar………………..but what was striking were the prints with flower motifs and the colours even though they were dull in nature but ?I worked really well with the type of fabric used. The dresses however seemed too indianised to my taste but the plus point here was that each and every outfit was wearble. The styling of the attire was very much old time south indian, still it went well with the clothes. I would love to see more of Shashikant Naidu’s creations in future…………….but of course with some pants added in the collection.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Masaba Gupta

Masaba Gupta’s creation titled as ‘Chhalni’ somehow felt incomplete…………………….the outfit starts well from the shoulder part but as one gazes towards the hemline you get a feeling ‘What went missing here??’  I think she was the only one to use polka dots in her collection which blends oh so well with the colourful jackets. The beach wear is smart…….but the dresses are too loose.I do understand that there was a lot of inspiration from the ‘Banjara’ era but the outfits could have been better in terms of fit. The mens wear was kept way too simple making me think why should I buy a designer wear when I can just ‘D-I-Y’ for my man…………………….secondly the ‘Anarkali’ kurta with a bikini top was another outfit which left me thinking ‘It is incomplete’ even though the embroidery work near the hemline was beautiful…………..Masaba you should try more to concentrate on women’s western wear since I feel that would be your ‘Strong point’ after seeing the beach wear.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Neha Agarwal

‘Game that people play’ as this collection was titled was full prints of trees and kites…………….the attire was casual and sporty. To me it seemed more like a collection made out of recycled and leftover fabrics. There is nothing new in it only the casual dresses have been given a sporty look by adding a jacket or shorts to them……………….Neha is you are creating a line make it either casual or sporty………………………fusion of both did not go well here……………plus these days women irrespective of their size like to wear well fitted clothes……………..baggy pants with many pockets makes a women look bulky not fahionable and are very 80s……………….My advice is that Neha should g back to the designing board and work out something much, much much more creative.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Paromita Banerjee

‘The Laal Paar and other stories’ was a tribute to Bengal and it’s textile industry. Fabric consisted of khadi, mul, silk, tussar, cotton and many more…………….but was it wearable…………i definitely do not think so……………I fail to understand why is there more emphasis on the fabric than design. A designer is known for what he or she creates with that said fabric. Bengal definitely has beautiful handlooms available in such rich colours but just draping them does not make a design. There is nothing new in the design…………………seen it already……….need something new. If as a designer one is getting inspired from a part of India that is commendable but you have to make a good work out of that creation. Only then it will be remembered for ages………………

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Rimzim Dadu

‘Gothic’ is the very word I would use to describe the collection and fit for a rockstar…………….but why so much of black??? This collection looked very early 90s to me and was not at all for the summers. Messed up hair, ankle length flat boots which reminded me of Urmila Matondkar’s ‘Rangeela re’ song and metalic touches to the outfit all oh so 90s……….but again there was nothing soothing to the eye and have already seen such erre looking clothes on the amp before also. So what made this collection special……………….in my opinion ‘nothing’ would be the answer. This outfits could have been styled in a much better way by adding high heels and having hairstyled well in a party look. On the whole notvery impressed by this collection.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Anand Kabra

‘She was so dark that she was blue’ left me wondering did someone get left out in snow…………………the clothes were simply drapes and more drapes which even I could do sitting at home. Then why should I look at this gothic collection in which some pieces are not at all wearable. First of all the fabric was just cut in a asymetrical way and stitched up together with lack of refinement………………the colour as the title suggests was dominated by black and blue with spalshes of grey, yellow and orange. I am unimpressed by this creation and feel if the designer has to emphasize on the splash of colour than cut then shouldn’t i buy an abstract painting instead of a designer wear. My apologises to Anand Kabra but I feel he should work out a better creation next time rather than something with dark elements only.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Vikram Phadnis

Creme and black colour with touch of metallic hues ruled the scene in Vikram Phadnis collection. The collection was wearable unlike other creations seen on Day 4 and I liked the way Vikram used golden and copper shades with cream colour. There was layering, ruffles, embroidery and symetrical prints which made the look stylish………………however there were few pieces which I felt were just off the rack and had not creative input of the designer. The black and cream colour fusion looked well only in few outfits and who wants to wear the all feather look gown after it has been written off by fashionistas as a ‘Fashion disaster’. My pick in this collection will have to be the short summer dresses which I feel are well fitted and look beautiful. By the way the head thing that the models wore made them look more like an alien. People might say I don’t understand fashion but I do understand when it is overboard……………….

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Satya Paul

Satya Paul’s key designer Puneet Nanda presented ‘Zen, Zest, Zip Zap and Zing’  collection which not only have sarees but also dresses both short and long flowy ones. There were splashes of colour on fabrics like organza, voile, georgette, crepe, satin, net and chiffon with loads of detailing and embroidery work. The colour palette included both feiry and watery tones. The dresses were dreamy but the sarees with a touch of metallic were very impressive. I love the fact that Satya Paul has always given new look to the saree over the years making it more of a fashion statement rather than just regular wear for Indian women. They have continued this trend this season also thanks to Puneet Nanda for his creativeness.  Mandira Bedi, Ex- Miss India Amrtua Patki and Sarah Jane Dias along with  Jacqueline Fernandes graced the ramp in Satya Paul creations.

Lakme Fashion Week Summer/Resort 2010 Day 3

Day 3 began with the emerging designers showcasing their works on the runway. There was a lot of mixed elements and new designs one got to see. Creativeness of these designers was at it’s peak on day 3. Have a look at which creation was to die for and which had to go back on the designing board.

Amalraj Sengupta

Amalraj was inspired from the hollywood blockbuster movie ‘Transformers’ and titled his collection as ‘decoded’. He has designed his collection in icy colours like light blues, greys and whites. The attire is very much casual and is designed for men as well as women.  I found some clothes in this collection more suitable for colder climates than sunny days and the absence of bright colours made the clothes look rather dull in the spotlight. The movie ‘Transformer’ had alot of colour in it but in any way Amalraj’s inspiration was not seen on the ramp. The only plus point I could see were the cool jackets for men’s wear. As for women’s wear, I have already seen those designs and there is simply nothing new in it.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Harangad Singh Jandu

Harangad had named his collection as ‘Seanta’ which was inspird by celtic art and myths. The line mainly had short dresses and shorts for women and was very girly but what I liked about this creation was that there was a touch of flirtyness combined with sober colours. The flower motifs were interesting aspect in the dresses but the outfit of the show-stopper ‘Asmit Patel’ simply looked as if it was designed just for the heck of it. Why put a burgundy colour velvet blazer with a mufler while the entire collection was more of summer fun………………..I just don’t get the element ofwinter-wear in this collection. Harangad with the women’s line you have done an ‘ok’ job but the show-stopper’s outfit could have been better if it was more towards the theme of the fashion week.

Vijay Balhara

From the label  ‘VJB’ the creator presented his collection ‘Bonala Nautch’ seemed to be inspired from the northern and eastern part of India. There were kurti like tops,  skirts, dresses, chuirdar pants and jump suits with a lot of block printing work done on fabrics like satin, mul, voile. Loved the skirts which had a very ethnic feel to it coupled with the head accessories worn by all the female models as they walked down the ramp. The collection had more emphasis on the prints and detailing rather  than of the fit.  Though I must give credit to VJB for including Indian ethnic detailing to his work. The clothes were very wearable and would like to see more creations from the label ‘VJB’.

Anand Bhushan

Meowwwwwwwwwwww is the first expression I had when I looked at the the styling of this collection. Anand was inspired by the dark side of life for creating this line which was targeted more for fall and winter season but showcased in summer/resort wear………………..I guess Anand is in quite a hurry before the next season arrives. Nonetheless the colours were rich with beautiful plum, lavender, fushcia, browns, shocking pink……………….loved the way the colours worked with the fabric. But I was taken aback by the styling of this collection which would have surely looked better it it was more towards the glamour side. The party wear dresses for the evening were ravishing but I did not dig in the winter wear jackets though since they woul make a woman look more bulky than stylish.

Neelanjan Ghosh

Neelanjan seems to love the colour blue since I got to see alot of it in his new collection. His inspiration was  the past glory of Kolkata city……………..and the colonial past of Kolkata did reflect in the clothes. Stripes,  flower motifs, nature inspired prints were the hightlight displayed on colours like teal, olive, brown, khakhi. grey and navy blue. But the styling and the draping of the clothes actually did not enhance the look. If the collection is colonial and one tries to give a futuristic styling to it, there is bound to be a lot of clash. I wish Neelanjan would have styled his collection with a vintage look. The only plus point I see in here is the colour which were rich. Neelanjan I hope we get to see better vintage looks in the future fashion weeks

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Asmita Marwah

Titled as “Maya 0° 36’0”S/73° 6’0”E” ………….it should have been titled as ‘Unfinished business’. Why should any woman buy a designer wear if all she has to do is just drape a piece of fabric in the same manner as given in the pictures below. There was no proper fit to the dresses…………..they seemed like over sized clothes bought from fashion street. Asmita this creation just does not make any sense to me and I think you definitely need to go back to the designing board to make some better creative designs.

Swapnil Shinde

‘Let’s play a game…..again’ was the title given to Swapnil’s futuristic collection which had a lot of geometric designs involved. Dresses were made of lycra, patent leather, georgette, chiffon with a lot of detailing but the hues were more of metallic to give that ‘Year 2050’  kind of look. Belts, high heels and jewellery were used to accessorize the collection which mainly consisted of short dresses and evening gowns. But only few outfits looked beautiful onthe ramp rest were more of the stuff you would have already seen in foriegn fashion weeks since some short dresses gave a feel of the ‘Herve Ledger’ look. Swapnil please get more creative since I do believe you have a lot of potential to present an entirely new creation.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Shantanu & Nikhil

Shantanu and Nikhil have designed this sportswear creation titled ‘Motochic’ teaming up with international sports brand ‘Adidas’ . The background of the show created like the streets of New York city with the colour yellow and black being in focus. Deepika Padukone walked down the ramp as show-stopper for the duo in a sporty black shorts and yellow+ black sleeveless top completed with stilettos to give that ‘Girl from New York look’. the line was sporty yet trendy and youthful………………you can wear this not just to a sporty event but to meet up friends, go bowling or even party in them. I am sure this collection will go down well with the younger generations. My take on this collection is that it will seel like hot cake once it hits the shelves of retail stores.

Malini Ramani

If we are talking Summer/Resort wear then I believe Malini Ramani has struck gold. Lovvvvvvvvvvvveeeeee her creativeness and loveeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeed to see so much of colour in this collection. My eyes were in this fashion desert looking for a beautiful ‘Mirage’ and I actually found an Oasis in Malini Ramani’s Summer Collection. She has displayed jumpsuits, wrap dresses, evening gowns, pants, casual dresses, designer shorts and even swimwear making it a complete  summer-wear showcase. There were clothes which were inspired by holiday destination like Rajasthan, France, Mexico, Morocco and cultures like Aztec, Mayan. there were mirror work, loads of embroidery, animal prints, splashes of colour……………you name it and Malini’s collection had it. Every woman can easily find an outfit for themselves out of this wonderful collection. Malini stands out as one of my favourites in the entire Fashion Week. The show stoppers were Mehr Jessia, Maheep Kapoor and Bhavna Pandey wearing golden gowns, all of them looked like Greek goddess.Though I would have loved to see them in one of Malini’s colourful creation. My verdict for this collection is ‘Original Masterpiece’.

Narendra Kumar

Narendra Kumar made this futuristic collection in collaboration with the denim brand ‘Killer Jeans’. The denim wear was definitely given a new leash of life thru Narendra’s vision where he given a new look to the denim jackets, jeans and denim dresses. Long gone are the days where the stiff blue coloured denim which had a baggy look ruled everyday wear. the display as you can see was very futuristic with the display of laser lights, the style looked as if one was travelling in outer space. There was shredded look, acid wash finish, faded denim and spray painted jeans…………the collection is wearable with a variety of colour. Welcome to the fashion future…………..

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lakme Fashion Week Summer/Resort 2010 Day 2

Day 2 of Lakme Fashion Week Summer/Resort 2010 started off with new designers showcasing their designs in the Gen Next section where they are given an opportunity to showcase their creation. However all designers are not displayed here since the photos of their entire collection was not available. Will keep you all post once I get more content.

Gen Next Designer Showcasing

Pooja Kapoor

Pooja Kapoor’s creation ‘Nip and Tuck’ had the emphasis on layering of fabrics. The collection is young but could have been made more colourful since the theme of the show is summer. Nonetheless I liked few pieces and know that young women would dig it. The dhoti looks given to the skirts was new but my only wish that this collection should had more hues in it coz since day 1 I have been seeing a lot of pastels. Personally loved those gladiator shoes and as a new designer Pooja has done well accessorizing her clothes.

Sabah Khan

Sabah has a wacky sense of style since in her collection there was abundance of colour but the fusion of colours made it difficult to pay attention on one piece of creation only. Skirts, dresses and pants were made of check prints and colourful fabric was stitched together. Actual photos which were printed on fabric gave a very ‘Manish Arora’ type of look. My advice to Sabah will be to concentrate on creating one eye-catching piece only rather than a mish-mash of hues and prints.

Sandeep Sarkar

I liked the sheer transparent sleeves and the blending of hues in his collection though the cut and fit required a lot of work to be done. The dresses were cool and had that summery feel to them. Something ‘new’ was a miss here as there were only dresses and to some extent all looked alike. I wish Sandeep would have put in some pants or shorts along with the sheer transparent sleeved tops. Still the feel of summer and proper layering of fabric was done well by Sandeep.

Siddhartha Upadhyaya

I was looking out for something new and I guess I have fou nd it on Day 2 of Fashion week just that the problem is I am not much into Siddhartha’s ‘As you like it’ collection. It is fun but why is it there are a lot of angular designs. I do not find the clothes very wearable since there is too much of satin used for a casual wear line. Satin as you know is better off in formal wear or evening gowns. Another thing I wished was the styling of these clothes with stilettos instead of flat open toed shoes which would have helped to add that glamour element.

Sougat Paul

First look at Sougat’s collection and I am floored. Love the rich colours like plums, ink blue, peach, burgundy and lavender on the runway. For a first time designer to showcase his work in LFW, I think Sougat has done a very good job here. There is geometric pattern in the prints yet this wearable line has the summer quotient to it. The clothes were fitted very well to give emphasis on very curve. The wedge heels perfectly match the silhouette both in style and colour. I would love to see more of Sougat Paul’s creation in future fashion weeks and definitely feel he has a lot of new designs to offer to this fashion hungry world.

Surbhi Chawla

Surbhi’s collection had alot of pleats which worked well in some outfits but not in all. Georgette and chiffon were the dominating fabrics which are also fit for summer wear. Hues of pink, peach, tan, white and grey ruled the colour scene. Surbhi tried to add pop of colour on the earthy tones by adding shocking pink flower motifs. The idea of having a pop of colour on a matt background was a brilliant one but the flower motifs could have been stitched well into the fabric instead of hanging out since it did not blend in that manner. But I did find her pattern on pants as displayed here very creative and new. hope to see similar designs from her in future.

Vipin Batra

Vipin reminded me so much of old-time ‘Versace’ creations with those asymmetrical colourful abstract patterns. The collection was named ‘Swirls of Light’ had the mix up of hues like blue, grey and reds. The clothes were young yet not at all flashy. Wearable yet very fashion forward, the only thing I would have done is not added the stoles since the patterns are good enough to be worn alone. I do look forward to see more of Vipin’s new creations since I find them refreshingly new.

 

 

Abdul Halder

The Essence of Victorian look to the bridal wear was well captured and Mr. Halder did not disappoint us……….thankfully. I liked the colours. the blending of fabrics and the classic embroidery work. It had  a traditional look with a twist of modernity. The line is very wearable for both the bride and the groom. The collection was displayed very gracefully, styling was elegant reminding people of the 50s ear and the jewelery was vintage which completed the look. Silks, Brocade, satin, Georgette dominated the fabric part with every garment looking unique on the runway. This was one of the good collection seen on Day 2.

Digvijay Singh

Digvijay Singh’s Collection ‘Anekantvada’ which means the dictates of Jain theory of absolute relativity has posed a big confusion for me since I am not able to make out if the collection is for ‘Men’s only’ or was it Uni-sex. If the collection is for guys then how will modern men carry off these clothes in daily life or as a matter of fact for functions/events. If it is made for both sexes…………………………..I am surely never gonna wear and end up on the streets looking like that.  Even for the heck of fashion, I don’t think women would want to wear such creations. Vivek Oberoi looked like a cute desi babu dressed in all cream banjara inspired kurta and dhoti. But on the positive side the clothes were eco-friendly and herbal dyes were used.  The idea of environment friendly fashion does get points from me but the clothes could have been much, much better designed since I do not find them customer-friendly.

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Lecoanet Hemant

The Indo-french designer duo Didier Lecoanet and Hemant Sagar presented their collection titled ‘Green’ which is made of organic fabrics. The colour palette ranges has reds, rust, cream, beige, green and black. The clothes displayed on the ramp were more of casual. I loved the guys collection which had a lot of colour. Honestly it is high time that guys start adding bright hues to their wardrobe. The women’s collection was not as creative as the men’s collection since the cuts and silhouette were kept rather very plain. Lecoanet and Hemant have done a good job and how to see them expand and get more creative with their men’s wear.

Nachiket Barve

Geometrical designs in this collection was the highlight of this collection which consisted of evening wear and day wear for women. What struck me the most is the fusion of colours in the asymmetrical patterns of print that came across very unique. His collection was very fashion forward with simple silhouettes yet had a touch of sexiness to it. I am allured and am sure women would love to try Nachiket’s colourful creation. The clothes were fitted well and for a young lady looking demure has never been so easy. My take on Nachiket’s creation is you have arrived and put that much desired pop of colour in western wear from India.

Manish Malhotra

In my opinion I feel Manish should design more for women and only on demand for men. Secondly he is a pioneer in Women’s Indian couture but can do better in western wear. I could not understand the fusion of colours in men’s wear which seemed to be made out of women’s wear fabric. I do understand that these days guy are confident enough to carry any colour but ladylike hues is not what looks good on a guy that too in blazers, vests and coats. A hint of such colours is acceptable but the entire thing is not desirable at all. The women’s wear was nothing creative either since I have seen better designs from Manish on and off the ramp. By the looks of it I had expected a lot more exciting stuff from Manish but sadly seeing this creation I was disappointed. Hope to see the Manish Malhotra element again on the ramp next season.

Lakme Fashion Week Summer/Resort 2010 Day 1

Lakme Fashion Week is to held from 5th to 9th March, 2010 at Grand Hyatt Hotel In Mumbai. Suneet Verma has been selected as the Designer for the Grand Finale of the Lakme Fashion Week. Here are some Fashion highlights designer and daywise.

Rocky S presents Queenie for Giantti

Rocky S and Queenie Dhody kicked off the star of Lakme India Fashion Week Summer/Resort Collection 2010. The palette of colours were kept towards pastels with beautiful floral hues like peach, pinks, yellows and sky blues took the stage. The Attire was Indian where the models walked down the ramp wearing ensembles and hair adorned with floral patterns. The embroidery on the silhouette was mostly done with sequins and silver threads. The scallop cut look is a common feature in India’s fashion scene as is a fish tail skirt. But one could not stop mesmerizing the moment Bipasha Basu walked in as the show-stopper in a beautiful beige colour Saree having work on the border. Honestly the Saree was tad simple but when coupled with the eye-catching ruby diamond necklace created by Queenie Dhody and worn by Bipasha the result was divine. My take on Rocky S collection – It is wearable, colours are fit for summer day wear but there was nothing innovative or new in this creation. Have seen such creations numerous times on the Indian Ramp.

Babita Malkani

Babita’s Boho chic line was inspired by the beauty of Bhutan………………..well I must say she did remind of the mountains merging with city. The styling was totally for the summers but there pattern was prints, checks, etc. Somehow the look of the same felt very casual and not very fashionable.  Though the shoes were worth looking at the entire look was very dry and needed more……………..Harman Baweja and Pankaj Advani walked down the ramp as show-stoppers but the entire collection looked as if bits and pieces were stuck together to create a look. Boho chic…….yes………..but something different……………..definitely not.

Riyaz Gangji

Riyaz Gangji’s had designed his collection for both men and women. The clothes were summer wear formal as well as casual. Pooja Bedi was the show stopper wearing an elegant beige colour gown looking radiant. Colours ranged from pure whites to pastels to shades of blue. I somehow found the men’s wear more creative and modern which an Indian male will be happy to try out. The women’s wear was more glamorous something that celebrities would opt for red carpet.  My say is that Men’s wear looked smart and very wearable whereas women’s wear was more demure. I will look forward to see Riyaz in next season.

 

 

 

Shyamal & Bhumika

 

 

 

 

 

 

Collection of Shyamal and Bhumika was inspired by the colours of ‘Holi’ festival since their clothes were colourful and many models had their face and hair smeared with gulaal. The clothes were colourful with a lot of graphic patterns but the collection was mostly targeted at youth. The clothes were ill-fitted and there was no ‘cut’ to the design. Why would a woman try to hide her curves behind layers and layers of fabric…………………I just don’t get flowy gowns with no fit. Again the element of ‘something new’ was a miss though I kinda liked their idea of getting inspired from Indian Festival of ‘Holi’ but the prints looked as if someone really messed up the clothes with fabric paint and decided to make a collection out of the same. Advice to the duo ‘Fit’ of the dress matters a hell lot.

Nikasha Tawady

Nikasha Tawady kept her collection simple actually way too simple with fiery colours and lots of gotta work. But somehow the collection felt a bit incomplete. Maybe a lot of heavy accessories would have done the job since the outfits were pretty plain. Nonetheless I loved her way of mixing earth tones with fiery tones where the plain clothes are creatively given pop of colour to draw attention to the entire outfit. The clothes are fit to be worn for a day time wedding or event. Nikasha add a touch of glitter maybe that will work next time you roll out your new creations.

Krishna Mehta

Krishna Mehta simply visited the streets of ‘New York’ , saw the clothes there, came back for designing and put the creation on the models. And what was Rohit Verma doing on the ramp striking poses……………….I just don’t get the inspiration behind this collection and it’s target audience. ‘Power Dressing’ as the collection was themed seem to be powerless.  This collection lacked creativeness and the show stopper was a mess on the ramp. Krishna was inspired by the beautiful city of ‘Paris’ but the same could not be reflected in her collection. The pallette was colourful and few prints were worth picking but the combination of all these elements somehow the collection left thinking why were rainbow colour fabrics just draped around the models.

Pria Kataria Puri

‘Royal Rajputana’ was a tribute to the fashion Icon and Maharani late ‘Rajmata Gayatri Devi’ with royalty reflecting in every piece. Be it the work of palaces or the royal jewels reflecting on the silks, the prints were different and ‘Unique’. It was something new on the ramp with models sashying down in bold rich colour giving a feel of ‘party under the sun’. The collection was very tropical and wearable…………………loved the colours which reflected every bit of Indian Heritage. Mugdha Godse looked like a modern-day Rajputana Princess in the Pria Kataria Puri Ensemble. My say on the ‘Royal Rajputana’ that the designs were very refreshingly new and very creative.

Sabyasachi Mukherjee

The day came to a close with Sabyasachi Mukherjee’s collection ‘Afro/Parisian’ was a fusion of  African jungles with the streets of Paris. The head turbans were very african inspired and thankfully very different form the rest. The colours were more earthy tones but I feel the clothes in this collection will look better if every piece is worn separately rather than together as shown on the ramp. He has tried to bring the a kind of hippie era back in his collection but somehow I find the prints quite repetitive. Of course I cannot deny the fact that this beautiful motifs are a trademark design of Sabyasachi. As always this collection also reflected an old world charm…………..