Pallavi Jaipur showcased a collection called Bazaar inspired by the bazaars of Jaipur, where she hails from.
What we saw: The designer’s forte lies in textured fabrics and detailing and that’s what she showcased through a collection of dresses in chiffons and georgettes, sarees with embellished pallus, dresses bearing a combination of red and pink or white and navy accessorised with emebellished headbands. Anchor and actress Mandira Bedi closed the show in a heart stopping cage skirt bearing all the relevant symbols of the Jaipur bazaar, like spice sacks, big mirrors and cloth dolls.
Trend alert: So everyone’s told you red and pink don’t work as a combo? Guess what? It does! Throw caution to the wind and wear an ensemble with equal doses of these colours to a house party.
Delhi-based designer Pooja Kapoor showcased a collection that was inspired the warrior princess.
What we saw: The colour palette started with stark whites and moved on to ecru, yellow and orange. There were assymetrical dresses, robes and sarees and the one thing that held the entire collection together was the use of luggage straps for surface texturing. As footwear, there were brown flat gladiators.
Trend alert: Flat gladiators are extremely versatile and goes with everything from sarees to dresses and suits. Have you picked up yours already?
Vijay Balhara‘s collection In Conversation With Stones took notes from the marble inlay artwork of heritage buildings in Delhi and Mumbai.
What we saw: Tunic dresses in olive, purple, ecru, coral pink and jade green embellished with Zardosi and dabka work, jackets, coats, anarkalis and short dresses teamed with oversized head gears and pirate’s eyes patches along with pop coloured stockings.
Trend alert: The humble stockings has come a long way and in its new, improved avtar, it’s taken on colours like blues, green, yellow and pink. Team your tunic dresses with these pop colour stockings and heels and you will bring retro chic back.
Mumbai’s Archana Kocchar paid a tribute to her city, Mumbai, through a collection called Mumbai Checkmate that was perfect for destination weddings. Show stoppers Shazahn Padamsee (in a lovely saree with yellow and pink pallu embroidered with the taxi motif) and Prabhu Deva (in an an ombre dyed black and grey jacket over a white ensemble) charmed all. Samandar, a band from Mumbai, sang at the backdrop, a song penned on the city and cloth wrapped tiers kept on the ramp accentuated the Mumbai vibe.
What we saw: Imagine the Mumbai traffic, cabs, traffic lights motif on the back of a blouse, double decker buses and the skyline print on sarees and separates. The pieces that really stood out were the shrug with the city traffic embroidered on it and a sheer anarkali worn over a maillot. Archana took her trademark checks forward and created gown inspired sarees, kaftans, dhoti pants, anarkalis, lehengas and jackets with shots of neons like bubblegum pink and yellow. Yes, there was a lot of yellow.
Trend alert: If you love your city, show it. Wear quintessential elements of the city on your attires. It could even be on the pallu of a saree, like Shazahn did, provided you know how to carry it off. Loving your city is cool.
