Sheer grandeur is how Ritu Kumar’s finale show on Day 5 at Wills Lifestyle India Fashion Week can be best described. Though the Art Deco inspired collection didn’t strictly stick to the season theme. With old Bollywood numbers playing in the background and a ball dance in the middle of the showcasing, the only dampener [considering it’s the Grand Old Woman of Indian fashion] came in the form of showstopper Esha Gupta. The first part of the show was about mostly Westernwear, so there were playsuits, gypsy skirts, jumpsuits with metallic details, shorts, backless dresses mostly in digital prints and accentuated by tassels, crystal embellishments and more. The second show was undoubtedly couture with chudidars, lehengas, dresses with jamevar dupattas, layered gowns. Kumar used Mughal motifs, semi-precious stones, lace, rick silks, velvets and brocades.
IN LOVE WITH GOTA
Traditional Rajasthani designs found a place in Jenjum Gadi’s Sring Summer 2013 collection that was his ‘Ode to Gota’. So obviously gota work [applique work on cloth] was spotted on all his designs which were colourful in a mix of structured and draped silhouettes. He used rich silks, satins, brocade and cottons to create kimono-sleeved dresses with embellished necklines, waistcoats, slim pants, traditional Rajasthani skirts given a contemporary twist with sheer added to it, cutwork pajamas and more.
TURNING THE CLOCK BACK TO RAJ DAYS
Joy Mitra wound the clock back to the 1800s and back to a reception that was hosted by the East India Company for elite Europeans and Indians in Calcutta at that time. His models were dressed in nets and flounces in garments that were jazzed up using embroidery, Kashmiri embroidery, textural treatments in hues of black, ivory, red and gold. The silhouettes were East meets West in a mix of georgettes and nets.
Models walked down the runway in gowns were paired with dupattas, sequinned lehengas with heavy embroidery, gowns cinched at the waist, embroidered jumpsuits, strappy floor-length kurtas and more. The music, lighting and ambience reflected an old world charm, making it a romantic setting.
BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY
Delhi designer Charu Parasher’s creations were all about the Bohemian spirit. Her Spring Summer 2013 collection showcasing was a part of the 4.30pm show on the last day of Fashion Week at Pragati Maidan. Parasher’s collection comprised dresses, short jackets, halter neck tops, gowns, embroidered tops, hot pants, puffed skirts, long kurtas, tunics and more. She jazzed them up using crochet stitch work, burnished gold embellishments, sequins, applique and more. Fabrics used included chiffons, laces and linens.
ROOSTER ALERT
Nida Mahmood stuck to her usual quirky chic that she does best. The ‘show’ as it truly was, opened with Aamir Khan and Juhi Chawla’s repartee in Andaz Apna Apna playing in the background. Models walked wearing masks. Nida’s creations were big on prints as neon colours took centrestage. Dresses had cutouts of roosters stitched on them, there was floral embroidery, heart prints and more. She created bolero jackets, long skirts, slim-fit capris, kaftans, shirts and the typical ‘Nida sari’ worn with jeans. What caught our attention was a dress which was lit up using rope lights.
THE BUYERS’ FAVOURITE
We were looking forward to Sulakshana Monga’s show [from the label Soltee], because whenever we passed by her stall, we could see her team deep in discussion with buyers, something which was missing in a lot other stalls. Politician Amar Singh came down to catch her show which was inspired by army fatigues, comprising mostly Indianwear. She used thread embroidery, patchwork and geometrical webs on silks, chiffons, georgettes, jersey knits and chanderis. We liked her peacock-hued jackets worn over knee-length dresses, kurtas with whirls teamed with loose pajamas, front-slit dresses, saris and more.
WHEN FLOWERS GOT ‘X-RAYED’
The designer duo’s collection Kaleidology was big on florals. Their creations were adorned with X-rayed flowers, adding colour to a mostly white palette. Fabrics used were organzas, textured crepes, spandex. Peplum made more than one appearance in the form of peplum tops. Silhouettes varied between structured and flowy. Models showcased jumpsuits, shift dresses, shorts, shirts, pants, bodysuits, off-shoulder dresses, halter tops, sheer separates in neon colours.
BIKINI SARI? OH YES!
Swimwear— that essential piece of every summer wardrobe — finally took the stage on the last day of Wills Lifestyle India Fashion Week Spring Summer 2013 with Shivan & Naresh's collection Zip. Their muse? Expressionist Barnett Newman whose works have been translated in the swimsuits. The silhouettes, in cotton and linen, are structured and in summery pop colours. There were malliots, dresses, shorts, bikinis worn with shrugs, pants, trikinis, bodycon dresses and even a bikini sari.
IN LOVE WITH GOTA
Traditional Rajasthani designs found a place in Jenjum Gadi’s Sring Summer 2013 collection that was his ‘Ode to Gota’. So obviously gota work [applique work on cloth] was spotted on all his designs which were colourful in a mix of structured and draped silhouettes. He used rich silks, satins, brocade and cottons to create kimono-sleeved dresses with embellished necklines, waistcoats, slim pants, traditional Rajasthani skirts given a contemporary twist with sheer added to it, cutwork pajamas and more.
TURNING THE CLOCK BACK TO RAJ DAYS
Joy Mitra wound the clock back to the 1800s and back to a reception that was hosted by the East India Company for elite Europeans and Indians in Calcutta at that time. His models were dressed in nets and flounces in garments that were jazzed up using embroidery, Kashmiri embroidery, textural treatments in hues of black, ivory, red and gold. The silhouettes were East meets West in a mix of georgettes and nets.
Models walked down the runway in gowns were paired with dupattas, sequinned lehengas with heavy embroidery, gowns cinched at the waist, embroidered jumpsuits, strappy floor-length kurtas and more. The music, lighting and ambience reflected an old world charm, making it a romantic setting.
BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY
Delhi designer Charu Parasher’s creations were all about the Bohemian spirit. Her Spring Summer 2013 collection showcasing was a part of the 4.30pm show on the last day of Fashion Week at Pragati Maidan. Parasher’s collection comprised dresses, short jackets, halter neck tops, gowns, embroidered tops, hot pants, puffed skirts, long kurtas, tunics and more. She jazzed them up using crochet stitch work, burnished gold embellishments, sequins, applique and more. Fabrics used included chiffons, laces and linens.
ROOSTER ALERT
Nida Mahmood stuck to her usual quirky chic that she does best. The ‘show’ as it truly was, opened with Aamir Khan and Juhi Chawla’s repartee in Andaz Apna Apna playing in the background. Models walked wearing masks. Nida’s creations were big on prints as neon colours took centrestage. Dresses had cutouts of roosters stitched on them, there was floral embroidery, heart prints and more. She created bolero jackets, long skirts, slim-fit capris, kaftans, shirts and the typical ‘Nida sari’ worn with jeans. What caught our attention was a dress which was lit up using rope lights.
THE BUYERS’ FAVOURITE
We were looking forward to Sulakshana Monga’s show [from the label Soltee], because whenever we passed by her stall, we could see her team deep in discussion with buyers, something which was missing in a lot other stalls. Politician Amar Singh came down to catch her show which was inspired by army fatigues, comprising mostly Indianwear. She used thread embroidery, patchwork and geometrical webs on silks, chiffons, georgettes, jersey knits and chanderis. We liked her peacock-hued jackets worn over knee-length dresses, kurtas with whirls teamed with loose pajamas, front-slit dresses, saris and more.
WHEN FLOWERS GOT ‘X-RAYED’
The designer duo’s collection Kaleidology was big on florals. Their creations were adorned with X-rayed flowers, adding colour to a mostly white palette. Fabrics used were organzas, textured crepes, spandex. Peplum made more than one appearance in the form of peplum tops. Silhouettes varied between structured and flowy. Models showcased jumpsuits, shift dresses, shorts, shirts, pants, bodysuits, off-shoulder dresses, halter tops, sheer separates in neon colours.
BIKINI SARI? OH YES!
Swimwear— that essential piece of every summer wardrobe — finally took the stage on the last day of Wills Lifestyle India Fashion Week Spring Summer 2013 with Shivan & Naresh's collection Zip. Their muse? Expressionist Barnett Newman whose works have been translated in the swimsuits. The silhouettes, in cotton and linen, are structured and in summery pop colours. There were malliots, dresses, shorts, bikinis worn with shrugs, pants, trikinis, bodycon dresses and even a bikini sari.