Day 1 of Lakme Fashion Week Winter/Festive 2013

Day 1 was a blend of veteran designers & upcoming new breed of designers………..new ideas, new patterns, new silhouette is what we are hungry for every single season. IFP takes a look at the designers whose work stood out from the rest. Surely these designers will lay the ground rules for the upcoming Festive season.

Photo Courtesy : Vogue India

Nikhil Thampi

Nikhil Thampi had impressed us with his summer 2013 collection which had designs in sheer fabric, fish motifs & metallic accessories……that did indeed new trend. But this collection was based on contemporary Indian wear with faces of Kathakali dancers imprinted on the fabric………..there was no denying that Nikhil went back to his roots to draw inspiration for his recent works. And I thought the designer could make only western outfits………..feels good when  fashion-wise you are proved wrong…. 🙂

The collection consisted of Bolero jackets, Achkans, flare pants, sarees, demure gowns, flowy skirts etc. mostly done up in silk & sheer fabric. The colour palette had beige golden, white, black & ash grey.  My only wish would be to see more colours in Nikhil’s collection in future along with the surprise element of motifs which reflect his inspiration beautifully.

For this time, the designer has indeed has a good year as both his summer as well as festive collection have got noticed by the fashion circle. Hope Nikhil continues his fashion saga next year as well with his new ideas.

Payal Singhal

Payal Singhal has become a regular on IFP’s review of every season of Lakme Fashion Week. Her recent creations aptly titled as ‘Char Bagh’ better read as four gardens was Persian inspired was primarily done up in pastels, black, white & burgundy with hint of gotta patti work & embroidery. The motifs were a blend of monochromes & persian prints with a touch of geometry. Asymmetrical hemlines, patiala salwars & heavy detailwork around the neckline were prominent features seen in this collection.

I like the fact that Payal’s Indian wear designs are clean and contemporary. She blends the traditional well with modern and I am sure this collection will find plenty of takers.  Though the western wear is not a strong point in this collection, the Indian line makes up for it.  Payal has new ideas and is willing to experiment……that is a quality which impresses IFP.

Shilpa Reddy 

Shilpa Reddy showcased her collection ‘Suriyothai’ collection……….the name of the warrior queen of Thailand. The bright yellow & tangerine colours took centre stage while the exaggerated shoulder was a prominent Thai feature. The collection had sarees, evening gowns, skirts, lehenga, anarkalis and jackets.

Thai combined with Indians designs was a first for this season………something new is what IFP always like. Need to see more works of Shilpa in future too but this collection is a keeper for the festive season.

Anita Dongre 

There was a colour riot at the recent showcasing of Anita’ Dongre’s Timeless collection which had plenty of choices for the bride-to-be.  ‘The Jaipur Bride’ – title for Anita’s festive collection had loads of Lehengas, anarkali & sarees in bright neons colours which will make any bride stand out from the rest of the crowd.

Though I felt many designs were seen before in Anita’s collection but the heavily embellished Lehenga got my vote for this upcoming festive season. The colours were alluring and the detailing was inspired by Rajasthan.  Overall the collection was beautiful but require something off the usual  from Anita in the next fashion week.

Day 4 at Lakme Fashion Week S/R 2013

After a disappointing Day 3, IFP moves on to Day 4 and finds some awesome work. The trend seen so far is the combination of bright shades with dull colours. Plus the voluminous anarkalis are on their way out as evident by the designer collections. IFP takes you through the collection which it liked of Day 4.

Photo Courtesy : http://www.lakmefashionweek.co.in

Payal Singhal

Payal Singhal’s collection titled ‘Taj’ is for the summer bridem who wants to make heads turn by with style. Fabrics like cotton, benarasi silks, mulmul had filigree & jaali work on them. The collection had a range of tunics, dresses, shorts, kurtis, knee-length anarkalis, sarees, skirts, lehenga, patiala salwars and beautiful dupattas. The colour palette was primarily bright tones with touches of pastels & black.

Overall I like Payal’s collection for the ‘Contemporary’ factor in the outfits……..the clothes had a very fashion forward look. Especially liked the pieces which had geometric patterns on the blouses, pants & hemline of the saree. This time around the clothes had less volume & more fit to it. Overall I think Payal’s design will make for a ‘must-have’ in bridal trousseau and also want to give her the credit that she always presents something new every single season…………which many designers don’t bother to put in that much of effort.

Vikram Phadnis

Designer Vikram Phadnis in collaboration with Swades Foundation showcased his summer 2013 collection which was inspired by Rural India. Not only did the designer display the creations which had rich detailwork by the craftsmen of Raigad & Ratnagiri, but also made these talented artisans walk the runway along with celebrities. For the hours that these craftsmen put in to create the glorious pieces, bringing them on the runway was a noble deed in order to make the world aware of their talents.

Coming back to the collection, it had beautiful saris, kurtas, lehengas, flowing cowl salwars, gorgeous dupattas, kurtas, waistcoats & clutch bags with the models wearing beautiful jewellery by Amrapali. Feiry colours like red, maroon, yellow, orange were mixed with lighter shades like beige, mustard & golden. I liked this collection for the royal look the outfits displayed. Vikram’s work has always had alot of colours but I am happy that this time he opted for pale shades. Love the embroidery work especially on the clutch bags & I am impressed with the menswear range in this collection which had colour but with subtleness.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

IFP also liked the collection of these designers……..

Ashdeen

Rohit & Abhishek

‘India in Color’ by Payal Singhal

Payal Singhal Festive 2012

India in Color: Vibrant Young Modern and Global…. lets meet New India………

The pink of mystical Rajasthan, the joyous, bright hues of the northern frontier, and the balmy bright colors of the east offer a kaleidoscopic insight into an almost perfect blend of history and modernism.  And perhaps a trip down its many roads will lead you to an understanding of its pulse. Maybe you’ll take the road untaken and bring home a whole new hue to your life….

Inspired by Indian Adivasi costumes of Kutch and Orissa this collection of vibrantly hued ensembles in a rainbow of acid neon’s of cyan, fuchsia, lime, cobalt, and indigo is a tribute to the colorful tapestry of the country. Spun into a visual story with contemporary silhouettes like Kutras, kaftans, tunics, dresses, kalidar saris and short lehngas and embroideries like pita, abhla and zardosi for a rural meets urban text.

Payal established her label in India in 2000 to fill a niche for eclectic Indian clothing for young style setters. Now thanks to a global design sensibility the label stocks in various countries and travels with its unique mobile trunk shows all over the world.

Payal will be showcasing her collection on 3rd August, 2012 at the Lakme Fashion Week – Winter/Festive 2012. IFP likde her previous collection which had Indian bridal-wear, this time around we are waiting to be surprised by the designer with something new.

Courtesy : Tandem Communications

Lakme Fashion Week Resort 2012 – Day 4

Indian designers are definitely getting a knack of designing western wear with a good fit. Day 4 was a witness to collection inspired by the western world. So who fit our bill for perfection, let’s have a look at it……….

Photo courtesy : http://www.lakmefashionweek.co.in & Tandem Communications

Siddhartha Tytler

After more than a year got to see Siddhartha Tytler’s new collection which I must say still impresses me. His recent work titled aptly ‘My Journey’ since this year Siddhartha’s label would be completing 10 years. This time around the bling factor was minimized but color blocking was more intense and pastels combined with gold & silver. There were kaftans, tops, short dresses, skirts, pants and jackets seen on the runway.Sonali Bendre Behl looked stunning in black dress with a colorful jacket as she walked down the runway.  IFP likes this collection for the wearability factor and the fit of the silhouette.

Payal Singhal

We had shown you the exclusive preview of Payal’s upcoming collection but find it even more fabulous on the runway. The bridal collection titled ‘A Midsummer’s Night dream’ had a lot of net lehengas, crystal & pearl detailwork, brocade and gotha work. Pastels were combined with jewel tones. Actress Tanisha took the ramp in a navy blue lehenga though I wished she would have wore the dupatta a bit differently. IFP likes the bridal collection which would make a woman look gorgeous for her summer wedding.

Karmik

 

Designer Pret Fashion House ‘KARMIK’ was launched at Lakme Fashion Week in Mumbai with Sonakshi Sinha walking the runway in a JJ Valaya creation looking like a dream in the Anarkali. ‘ KARMIK’ is designer at affordable price which is a boon for all the ladies out there. Top designers like Rohit Bal, Anamika Khanna, JJ Valaya, Rocky S, Falguni & Shane Peacock, Ranna Gill, Shantanu & Nikhil, Rina Dhaka, NEeta Lulla & Kavita Bhartia will be creating an affordable collection for ‘KARMIK’. Models posed on the ramp in these beautiful outfits at LFW by these designers. IFP is delighted to introduce ‘KARMIK’ to all the fashionistas and thinks this retail concept of bringing design wear within affordable price is amazing.

 

 

Preview of Payal Singhal’s Resort Bridal 2012 Collection

Payal Singhal’s Resort Bridal 2012 at Lakme Fashion Week

Inspired by the essence of an Indian summer wedding with all its rich  culture and aromas of jasmine and turmeric and the magical and mystical  chaos of Shakespeare’s ‘A Midsummer Night’s dream’ the Payal Singhal Resort Bridal 2012 collection is a mélange of ethereal resort and Indian bridal clothing.
Perfect for the summer bride and her destination wedding be it Greece or Goa, the collection  showcases dresses, gowns, lehngas, sarees and  kurtas in colors of  blush, mint and sand with richer Indian colors like indigo, purple, emerald and turmeric. The sexy bride who makes a statement as a summer bride anywhere in the world.

Textured in with georgettes, silks, banarsis, brocades, tulle and taffeta and embellished in Payal Singhal’s signature style with  pita kora work and filigree with gota, moti and crystals adding a flash of dazzle amidst the summery fashions.

Courtesy : Tandem Communications for Payal Singhal

Lakme Fashion Week Winter/Festive – Day 1

Since my childhood I used to hear that the clothes worn by the models on the ramp are not wearable in reality………..but I am amazed how the designers have proved such myths wrong……….today one can wear any design off the runway and look like a million bucks. This fashion season, one might get to see loads of festive and ethnic attire on the runway……….I am eagerly waiting for many high-profile designer creations since these designers are the ones to set a benchmark for the future in fashion. Here is your exclusive look at what each designer had to offer.

Jatin Varma

Jatin Varma’s new creation ‘Paparazzi’ inspired by the red carpet glamour. To set the mood before the show, a line of photographers clicked guests on the red carpet as they made their way to their seats. The show started to the sounds of cameras going “click click”!! Fitted gowns, flowy dresses created from silk chiffons, lace, net and sequin embellishments. The drapes were beautiful…….. better than his earlier collection presented at LFW Resort 2011, the colours were soothing to the eye and thankfully not garish. The use of square sequin details was subtle and appropriate………..gave a very fashion forward look to the silhouette.  Jatin Verma will also be presenting his collection at ‘Pret-A-Porter’ show to held in Paris.  My verdict : Wearability takes browny points from me, the collection was stylish, very feminine………… I am all for the peach, turquise blue, golden beige colours along with the animal prints.

Payal Singhal

Payal Singhal presented a very festive collection which reminded me so much about the Mughal Era…………..the outfits were very regal which any Indian women loves to wear. The bridal collection consisted of Anarkalis, short kurtis combined with patiala salwars and churidhars, lehengas, sarees all in pastels with metallic detail work for that touch of shimmer. The beautiful outfits created from fabrics like silks, tulles, brocade in sky blues, melon greens, blush rose were mesmerizing with the heavy sequin embellishments. Payal Singhal also unveiled the first look of her festive wear line for young girls, with Alea Motwane (Karisma Kapoors neice) and Rysa Pandey (Bhavna & Chunkey Pandeys’ daughter) walking the ramp dressed in the kidswear line. Singer/Dancer Shibani Dandekar was the show stopper for Payal. My verdict : I am in ‘AWE’ of this alluring collection. Two thumbs up from IFP for such a beautiful piece of ethnic work.

 

 Archana Kochhar

 Archana Kochhar ‘s recent collection had loads of black and white with a hint of colour here & there…………what I absolutely loved were the skirts. The sequin long skirts did remind me of seeing this last year’s fashion week but Archana managed to make it look glorious by adding the sequin details and combining few pieces with a bolero style jackets. Though I am not that impressed with the too much of layering on the bodice part of an outfit………….that felt a bit too heavy, would make the wearer look bulky. Miss India International 2011 Ankita Shorey was the show stopper for Ms. Kochhar. My verdict : I am more in favour of the traditional attire than the western wear. I feel Archana has been able to give a contemporary look to the so called lehenga combined with shirts & jackets.

JJ Valaya

Eminent designer JJ Valaya showcased his recent work ‘Tasveer’ inspired by the images JJ Valaya has captured behind the lens as a photographer. This collection was also showcased at Delhi Couture Week last month. I love the ‘Alika’ jackets which are unique….a design so rarely seen in Indian fashion beautifully combined with sarees & lehengas. The detail work is so rich, it’s like seeing a work of art, the colours are so festive and the drapes need no comment at all. The menswear was even better with the subtle detail work. The sheer opulence of his work gets a bow from me……My Verdict : For people with a good taste, will definitely love JJ Valaya’s Collection. To see more of his collection click here.

Photo Courtesy : Tandem Communications & www.lakmenfashionweek.co.in

Lakme India Fashion Week Winter/Festive 2010 – Day 4

Day 4 brought in newer designs, ideas and creativity……………..and few celebrities cheering for their favourite designers.

Manish Malhotra

Manish Malhotra’s latest collection is finally here…………….I do agree to a fact that I eagerly wait for this talented designer’s next collection since he has a major hand in creating fashion for the Bollywood ‘Divas’ which in turn is followed by normal people like you and me. This time around true to the winter theme, Manish introduced darker colours like maroons, navy blues and midnight blacks in velvet, silks, net and georgettes. Loved the detail work which had loads of crystal, sequin and zari to it………………thought the only thing which I disliked would have to be the floral print creations………….I would rather opt for his zari border detail work lehenga than go for a floral print one……………it is tricky when one is working with floral motifs since it can either make a look or destroy it ………..completely. Bollywood glam brigade like Rani Mukherjee, Priyanka Chopra, Preity Zinta and Urmila Matondkar was there to cheer for Manish. My verdict : Rich, beautiful outfits especially the lehengas though I wish the sarees would be equally rich in terms of sequin work since that is his ‘forte’. Else I have no complains for this collection.

Shyamal & Bhumika

I am still in awe after seeing Shyamal & Bhumika’s recent collection especially the Menswear………………Amazingly well done, I keept searching for colours in collections designed for men and am disappointed always when the designers tend to stick to conventional colours only. This has loads of colours yet the outfits do not seemover the top and are very masculine in appeal. The womenswear however was something I have seen the duo create before………….the heavy embroidery work on velvet, crepe and georgettes. I like this collection for it’s wearable facctor and is fit for the upcoming festive season. Love the way the duo play around with bright colours……… Music Directors Salim & Sulaiman  along with Sunidhi Chauhan walked the ramp for them. My verdict : There are going to be many takers for this fabulous collection………..Two thumbs up for the Men’s Vibrant collection.

Payal Singhal

Payal Singhal’s latest collection ‘Decadence’ had tunics, churidhar leggings, Anarkali, short dresses, tops and saree. But the entire collection lacked the ‘fit’ part though loved the light blues, peach and grey. Another point here was that there was nothing ‘unique’ which I could relate to in an upcoming collection………….plus point here was that her use of detail work was not over the top.Though in here collection I missed more ethnic Indian attire, since her modern Indian wear had a lot of wesern influence to it. Maria Goretti dressed in a lovely peach saree and sequin blouse strutted down the runway as show stopper fo Payal……………..she looked flawless. My Verdict : Good collection but I desire to see more Indian ethnic wear from her. Some outfits needed better fit. and something ‘new’ was missing in this collection.

Troy Costa

As much as I was impressed with Troy’s creations at Van Heusen Men’s Week, cannot say the same about this one. ‘Helen of Troy’ which is the name of the collection was a first for Troy in womenswear which had grecian inspired gowns. Where was the shortcoming??? In the detail part of course……………the draping was beautifully done, so was the fit but I wished to see more detailing from this designer since I found few gowns too simple for my taste. The men’s collection was good enough with tuxedos and blazer jackets………nothing beats his designing in menswear. Singer Shaan and his wife Radhika made their pesence felt as they walked in hand in hand on the runway……….Shaan wearing a black shimmery suit while Radhika wore a golden strapless gown. My verdict:  The gowns will do well but detail work is required here.

Photo Courtesy : www.lakmefashionweek.co.in