Slaying it in style

With a subtle nod towards traditional Indian shapes and silhouettes, Day 1 of Lakme Fashion Week’s winter festive saw designers pushing the boundaries of Indian styles. From straight minimal cuts and traditional motifs to western influences, the designers brought their best to the runway.

The day started with Gen Next by INIFD, a platform for upcoming designers to showcase their talents. This year’s show saw six designers. While Gaurav Singh’s Anatomy collection, inspired by Kadali-Patram (banana leaf in Sanskrit) played with the construction and moulding, Ankita Shrivastava’s label Little Things Studio showcased a     collection named Not So Perfect, which follows the idea that beauty is not always about being perfect. A similar theme was employed by label Half Full Curve, which was all about body positivity — With models of all shapes and sizes, the designers focused on simple Indian wear.

Couturiers Rohit Gandhi and Rahul Khanna who made a comeback at Lakmé Fashion Week Winter/Festive 2019 after 15 years put forth their collection ‘Interstellar’. The collection had a perfect balance of dreaminess and luxury, amalgamating muted crystalline hues. Luxurious fabrics such as plush satins, frosted silks, fine tulles and suiting organza have been used that help bring this eclectic collection to life. Free-flowing silhouettes with sheer fabrics, translucent sequins, intricate techniques and crystals with fringe details are evident throughout the collection.

Next in line was a show by Pallavi Mohan, who brought disco back with beadwork and frills. Taking about her collection, the designers says, "The collection is very glamorous, it's inspired by the 70s era where it was about shine and glamour. It is very sexy, and it's for today's girl. And fashion is a cycle; the 70s and 80s are back so that is what I'm trying to bring back with the collection. Everything is hand crafted, there's a lot of beading and exotic feather work done on the garments, along with ritz satin and mesh."

Mohan’s showstopper was Esha Gupta, who looked ravishing in a midnight blue gown with deep neckline. The actress says "I'm a fan of anti-fit but I also like something sexy because I think that's one thing that women own that men can't. We own our femininity; we own our sexuality. Designers like her are getting clothes like these, which every shape can wear."

Another interesting collection was by Sonal Verma. Her collection, The Still Life, focused on the little details that we miss when we're busy with life. She picked neutral shades like black, brown, charcoal, and brown fabric, and added leather details to am up each outfit.

"The fall collection is called The Still Life, and it really relates to the mundanity that's around us, and how life gets still when you don't pay attention to the small details. So the RARA AVIA signature details are there, there's leather and a lot of fabrics that go back to yesteryears. So it's sustainable in a manner that it's zero waste. We've been taking care of things that are 10 steps forward in terms of philosophy. The silhouettes are buoyant, there's masculinity, and we're sticking with out signature style, " says the designer describing her collection.

The most awaited show of the evening, Payal Singhal didn’t disappoint her fans. Keeping the essence of her label, Payal played with cuts and drapes. Models were seen wearing puffy skirts, crop top and shorts combo layered with sheer layover. The showstoppers, Farhan Akhtar and Shivani Dandekar walked the ramp to a roar of applause, dressed in complimentary outfits, showcasing the designers signature style.