LAKME FASHION WEEK HIGHLIGHTS#ROMANTIC COLLECTION BY ANITA DONGRE# Showstopper: Sonakshi Sinha

LAKME FASHION WEEK HIGHLIGHTS

ANITA DONGRE SHOWCASES 

A ROMANTIC COLLECTION TO CLOSE DAY 3

written by ROMA SINGH

Designer Anita Dongre's show at Lakmé Fashion Week was a touching celebration of love.

Theme: A romantic tale

Ambience: The ramp saw floral hangings which added to the romanticism and mysticism of the outfits. Anita Dongre'splaylist of popular wedding-inspired songs added a soul to the offerings.

Highlights: The vibrant Rajasthanilandscape has always been on Ms. Dongre's mood board. A sixth sense understanding of what her customer wants has kept her ahead on the retail fashion curve. Simple and elegant garments which offer easy functionality have been her potions.

This time around she pictured a summer bride and her entourage of bridesmaids, who want to have fun and break into a dance at the wedding. The bride is rooted to her past and yet ready to embrace the future with modern touches in her ensembles.

What we loved: Over the years,Dongre has been penning an encyclopedia on Rajasthan's soul-searing aesthetic and this offering was another glowing tribute to her roots. The collection titled, 'Love Notes' started with an array of groomsmen clad in crisp white ensembles offsetting the vibrant white and blue opening looks.

The classic summery white and blue palette made way for pinks and yellows bringing to mind the regalia of a rich palace in the Rajput state. Floor-length jacket tunics and crop tops with peplum like details were paired with pocketed lehenga skirts. The styling was the real hero here as dupattas and saripallus were interestingly draped around the neck adding a touch ofau courant. A luscious palette of hot pinks, sage green and candy yellow accented the designer’s signature gota-patti and resham embroidery made it a rich nuanced offering.

On our wishlist: A double breasted waistcoat paired with a yellow lehenga stood out and evoked an I-want-it-now sentiment.

Beauty: Dewy fresh faced make-up was accented with bright lips and boxer braids which were offset with flowers between the two braids.

Showstopper: Sonakshi Sinha danced on the runway grooving to a peppy Bollywood number.

FRow:Juhi Chawla, Radhika Apte, SwaraBhaskar, Mini Mathur, Sangeeta Bijlani, Kabir Khan and MIRA RAJPUT

LAKME FASHION WEEK 3 DAY HIGHLIGHTS#MONISHA JAISING’S SHOW#SHOWSTOPPER LISA HAYDEN

LAKME FASHION WEEK 3 DAY HIGHLIGHTS

MONISHA JAISING’S SHOW

written by ROMA SINGH

MonishaJaising's show at Lakmé Fashion Week was the highest metaphor for glamazon chic.

Theme: Pleasure seeker

The designer aimed to give women the power to alter and enhance every day experiences and make time for more personal pleasures.

Highlights: This MJ outing had everything for everyone. If a gold sequinned gown isn't your thing then you may perhaps want to go for a pair of embellished and embroidered denims. Or pair a crisp white shirt with a sequinned fringed skirt or layer a white gown with cut-out details with a metallic blazer. Each piece in the line could be mixed and matched with another and that too, without skipping a style beat.

Perhaps that's what the MJ philosophy is all about—making your own look and creating your own signature style. Over the years, the MJ style has been so unstudied and über-cool that it has spawned imitators by the thousands. Sporty sensuality meets evening glam slam has been the brand's DNA and this offering is sure to please Monisha's vast and diverse South Mumbai clientele. This outing was a high-octane red carpet romp comprising luxe sportswear and decadent evening wear.

Her signature sequinned cricket vests, embellished and embroidered denims paired with white crisp shirts and sneakers, cocktail gowns with cut-out details and sharply tailored pantsuits—all elicited a high-decibel hysteria.

A one-shoulder gold gown with a thigh-high slit stood out so did a jewel-toned gown paired with a metallic jacket.

Monisha's design grammar has always been about effortless cool and with fashion embracing street style; she's clearly having a blast.

What we loved: We loved her sequinned cricket vests and a fringed skirt which will take you from a day event to an evening of unapologetic glamour.

Beauty: Models wore dewy fresh faced make-up accented by oxblood lips. The artfully dishevelled centre-parted hair added to the great finish. Read more about it here.

Showstopper: Lisa Haydon walked for her in a gold ornate gown with star cut-out details, finishing off her look with a gold clutch.

CATCH EVERY BIT LFW DAY 5#ROHIT BAL'S GRAND FINALE#SHOWSTOPPER KAREENA KAPOOR

ROHIT BAL’S GRAND FINALE 

 DAY 5 OF LAKME FASHION WEEK SHOWSTOPPER KAREENA KAPOOR

written by ROMA SINGH

The couturier rewrites the codes of modern-day couture with this poetic and soul-stirring outing.

Inspiration: Koroshini, which means to illuminate.

Ambience: The light work was the real hero and St Xavier's College's heritage facade proved to be a stunning backdrop for the show.

Highlights 

Rohit Bal has been eclipsing the world of Indian fashion for decades now. His style vocabulary is endless and his wanderlust for beauty and its transformative power puts him ahead of the style curve. It takes barely seconds to osmose the Rohit Bal aesthetic because its appeal is universal; something that transcends the boundaries of fashion, art, architecture and theatre. The enfant terrible of India's style landscape time and again transports one to a zone of unbridled elegance and timeless glamour from which there's no point of return.

As told us in this interview prior to fashion week, Mr Bal's seminal collection was his interpretation of illumination.

Springtime hibiscus, chrysanthemum and poppies stunningly accented the ensembles in signature white, ivory, black and gold.

Subtlety and grace have always been the core of Mr Bal's aesthetic and this collection was a potent cocktail of both glamorous and minimal.

Handmade cut work and lattice, intertwined with organic fabrics made some of the ensembles museum-worthy. Luscious jewel tones flirted with hand embroidery and block printing, making every piece lust-worthy. The couturier also employed techniques like Shibori.

Fluid garments made of fabrics like mulmuls, chanderi, pure hand spun silks and velvets, all radiated the illuminate vibe of the collection.

What we loved: A black and red voluminous skirt seen on Lakshmi Rana, who also twirled and did a jig, which added a hint of drama to the proceedings.

Beauty: Models opted for centre-parted hair which was loosely tied into a ponytail. Make-up was natural and fresh because the garments were quite statement-making. Read more about our beauty decode here.

Showstopper: Kareena Kapoor Khan played the gorgeous showstopper to the hilt as Rohit's boys and girls sprinkled fragrant flowers on the audience. She sported smokey eyes and centre-parted wavy hair.

EVERY NEWS OF LAKME FASHION WEEK#DAY 2#INDIAN TEXTILE HERITAGE#COLOURFUL CULTURAL NOTE

  DAY 2 OF LFW ON A COLOURFUL, CULTURAL NOTE

written by ROMA SINGH

The Goa-based designer's Lakme Fashion Week showcase was pure, serene and palate-cleansing.

Theme: Indian textile heritage

Ambience: It was a serene presentation where garments were the real heroes. The mood lighting and flower arrangements added further to the mystique.

Highlights: 

The summer resort offering was a magnetic mix of ideas and influences making a multi-sensory assault as Wendell's models stood tall and in a state of Zen at a stunningly styled live exposition. Thankfully, that meant no squeezing into the front row seats and no endless wait for the celebrities to arrive. This unique showcase was beautifully styled by style maven Ekta Rajani, which gave the garments a finesse they deserved.

The ensembles were gloried thanks to delectable colour blocking and pop accents. A colour palette of tangerine, teal blue and fuchsia pink was employed with a distinguished flair. Every look had a story behind it and was reconfigured and reimagined from the designer's vast wealth of inspiration.

The opening look was a ghagra skirt, which was converted into an ivory floor-length, georgette cape with armholes cut in panel seams. The Orissa tribal loin cloth was amalgamated with a Goan Mugha silk swimsuit, which had peacock blue Matka silk fringes.

A menswear kedia kutchi jacket in Mugha silk accented with pomegranate red lining stood out. The designer added cell phone pocket detailing making the pieces utilitarian. The curved trousers with pomegranate red piping added to the great finish.

In fact, there was an interesting tale behind a pleated skirt. It seems that this was ordered by a foreign client of the Raj which Wendell converted to an emerald and mustard gold, Tussar strapless top with heart applique. All in all a flawless execution of diverse aesthetics resulting into an array of looks steeped in India's history and culture.

Beauty: The serenity of the garment was complemented by classic nude make-up with greasy lids and fake freckles with centre-parted hair loosely tied at the back.

What we loved: A yellow georgette and pomegranate mugha silk lined jumpsuit with Odissi drape cascade.

SPECIAL EXCLUSIVE:LAKME FASHION WEEK SABYASACHI MUKHERJEE TALKS ABOUT THE TOP BRIDAL AND FASHION TRENDS

LAKME FASHION WEEK:

SABYASACHI MUKHERJEE TALKS ABOUT THE TOP BRIDAL AND FASHION TRENDS

written by ROMA SINGH

We’ve been dreaming of bridal haven ever since Sabyasachi arrived on the fashion scene. You can’t blame us—his traditional yet royal sense of design has managed to find a place in millions of fashionistas who wish to be the Sabya bride someday. We, at BeBeautful, got lucky when we had a chance meeting with the ace designer himself at theLakmé Fashion Week where he spoke to us about his design sensibilities and bridaltrends. Excerpts from the chat…

You’ve been synonymous with bridal couture for years now. What’s the perfect Indian bride according to you?
I would say the Indian bride is cultural and organic. She’s the one who has a certain sense of socio-cultural relevance, which she should stay true to. You know, I love Indian brides who get married Indian style. They should look their traditional best on their big day.

Speaking of bridal, what’s the trend this summer?
Well, I never go by trends or rules because bridal clothing should be timeless and traditional. If I were to really choose a trend, I’d choose the colour red. Nothing in my opinion is more bridal than the colour red.

So who is the Sabyasachi girl?
I think she’s someone who works, earns her own money, has a certain kind of independence and is well-travelled. Despite all this, she should be traditional at heart.

What has been your biggest learning in your career of over a decade?
I’d say that I’ve learnt that you need to have a point of view of your own and stand by it. There will be a time in your life when people won’t understand your aesthetics but if you stay true to it, you will find acceptance. So I’ve learnt to stay true to my belief system in all these years.

Every designer is subjected to criticism and challenges. How do you deal with that?
I stand by my line of thought. A lot of people criticised me for making Vidya Balan wear a sari at Cannes. And if I had to dress her again, I would do it exactly the same way. So nothing changes there and I will always live by my beliefs.

The one celebrity who always does justice to your clothes…
Oh, without a doubt it’s Deepika Padukone—she wears my clothes beautifully.

Your definition of beauty…
Confidence and acceptance of oneself.

Almost every girl who wants a fairytale wedding dreams of wearing a Sabyasachi for her big day but perhaps, can’t afford one. How does that make you feel?
Actually, I can’t tell you how terrible I feel about that. I wish everybody could afford my clothes but unfortunately, it wouldn’t be a business then, would it? It makes me feel bad because you put so much aspiration in the universe and then you can’t meet them. You cause heartbreak and it’s really not fair.

What do you have to say to the millions of girls aspiring to wear your creations?
The next best thing to wearing a Sabyasachi is to wear a traditional sari. That doesn’t cost much. Like someone who’s Maharashtrian can wear a Paithani, a Bengali girl can wear a Dhakai and someone from UP can wear a Banarasi. We are a brand that speaks about the purity of culture. So if you can’t afford a Sabyasachi, just wear a sari. That can sometimes be much better than wearing a Sabyasachi.