Vikram Phadnis's Fashion Show for a Noble Cause

Day 4 at Lakme Fashion Week was dedicated to Indian Textiles and weaving. The designers showed their best of collection and were applauded for the same. But when it comes to combine fashion with Bollywood, Vikram Phadnis reigns. This time it was all the way very important as Vikram has used his collection for a noble cause. He has showed his collection, not only on celebrities, his collection has been worn by 20 people from villages supported by Swades Foundation.
Ronny Screwala and Zarina Mehta's NGO Swades Foundation has adopted 227 villages from Maharashtra, to make those villages better place to live. They are being guided to educated their children, to have proper sanitation, have better civic facilities by the foundation. In the fashion show, 20 people from Raigarh and Ratnagiri village walked the ramp alongwith celebrities.Those people  who have participated, are an achiever in their own way. For example, Kiran Rao, wife of Aamir Khan walked the ramp with a villager who is sending all his 3 children, including his daughters, to college to educate them. People who stay in metros, they might question that 'what a big deal?', but in a village, where society is dead against girls going out, it in as daring step as it could be. There were villagers who have pledged to use proper sanitation facilities to ensure a clean village.It was evident from their confidence on ramp, that they are ready to be the change to better their society. This initiative of Lakme Fashion Week and Vikram Phadnis will be a guiding force for them.

 Kiran Rao walks the ramp with Mahadev Gosalkar and his two daughters, the first farmer in his village to send all three children to school

 

Trishya Screwvala, Ronnie Screwvala and Zarina Mehta open the Swades show by Vikram Phadnis

 

 Rohini Valavatkar and Dia Mirza dazzle the ramp at the Swades Foundation show by Vikram Phadnis

 

30 celebrities including son of Malaika & Arbaaz Khan made the show a grand event

DLF Promenade Organises Bloggers Meet

On 19th march, DLF Promenade witnessed beauty, glamour, style everywhere. The event Bloggers meet was organised by DLF Promenade to introduce fashion bloggers and its audience with its participating brand's Spring-Summer collection. Eleven bloggers participated with their models. They had to pick and choose one look from the following:
Androgynous
Monochrome
Resort Wear
Formal Wear
Neon & Neutrals
Pastels
Graphical
From the above options, I chose Monochrome. Also the coming season forecast is more on soothing B&Ws.  This idea came from my nostalgia of B&W movies. My model friend Alisha was also in agreement with it. We chose a Black & white coat, with B&W striped mini skirt, with black noodle strap top. In accessories, we used bag, block heels,  necklace, & coordinating sunglasses.Thanks to Zara for the same. The make up was done by Inglot and hair was done by Looks salon. My idea of presenting Alisha, my model, to look stylish with elegance,a look which can be carried at high end parties and college fests as well.Here are some pics of the event.


Alisha in Zara outfit walking the ramp for DLF Promenade bloggers meet.

My other blogger friends were highly capable. They experimented from Resort wear theme, to Androgynous, formal to neon theme. Everybody was a winner by participating in the event.

Ace designer Suneet Verma and DLF Promenade & Emporio Senior Vice President Ms.Dinaz Madhukar were judges for the show. Suneet Verma, like a very involved judge, asked every participant questions about why did they chose this look, how did you arrive to these detailing, even asked about the models, their profession or education too. All in all, it was a very involving event.

Winners: Dimpy Kapur, Pastel & Neon theme

1st Runner up:Shreya Kalra, Monochrome with Androgynous touch

2nd runner up:Noopur Dayal, monochrome resort look with luxury elements.

WIFW Day 5- Dedicated to experiments and fusion

Day 5 of WIFW always gives me separation pangs. There is certainly a feeling that there was so much to see,so much to learn, meeting so many knowledgable people.But after 5 days of fun we have to bid adieu so that we can meet in the next season with new zest and zeal.The collections shown were Avant-garde in own terms.My pick of the day is:

Vaishali S

Chandrani Singh Fllora

Virtues by Ashish,Viral, Vikrant

Manish Arora

WIFW Day 4-A day full of Glamour & Style.

"Mirror Mirror on the wall, whose collection is best of them wall?" The magic mirror takes a look into designers collection and says, "Accept my apologies queen, its impossible to make a choice." Its true.Designers have made every effort to make WIFW AW,13 one of the most successful seasons. It becomes so diffult for me what to pick up and what to leave. But since, I have been doing pick of the day, then I have to do this difficult task. My pick up for the day 4 is:
Rahul Mishra
Rahul Mishra presented his latest collection named The Baroque Tree. As the name suggests, the collection was grand and unique. Rahul has used Chintz, a fading art and revised it to the core. The designs was aesthetically done, it consists of silhouettes, mini dresses and gowns. The color theme began with white, moved to red,grey and black. Islamic structures were intricately embroidered by hand, giving the collection a royal feel. fabrics used were silk, organza for sheer detailing. The show was sponsored by Fiama Di Wills, the beauty of the show reconfirmed Rahul Mishra's quest for perfection on whatever he touches.

Payal Pratap

Taika by Poonam Bhagat

Ranna Gill

WIFW Day 3-Celebration of Beauty and Style

"Beauty is everywhere a welcome guest."

                                                                 Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Day 3 witnessed beautiful & stylish collections of Manish Malhotra, Abraham & Thakore, Rajesh Pratap Singh, Reynu Taandon, Kavita Bhartia, Kiram Uttam Gosh and many other tallented designers. The emphasis seemed on celebration of colours and India's rich heritage of fabrics.My Pick for Day 3 are:
Abraham & Thakore
Abraham & Thakore presented their collection on behalf of Office of Development Commissioner Hadloom, Ministry of textiles. Their collection was called Shaadi Redux. For this new collection Abraham & Thakore takes a look at India wedding dresses from a modernist and somewhat minimal perspective. They reinterpret traditional occassion dressing into a sleek, modern 21st century bridal wardrobe for the contemporary Indian woman. The lehenga was a long pleated skirt worn with a crisply tailored top. In a play on androgyny, trouser dressing is proposed as a chic alternative, borrowing key elements from the classic Indian menswear wardrobe.The Sari is restyled while it maintains classicism. The forehead was beautfied with big red bindis.

Ekru by Ekta & Ruchira
Ekru by Ekta Jaipuria and Ruchira Kandhari presents INDIAN KALEIDOSCOPE. The colour palette is brightly festive, restrained only through the use of black, white and grays. Thread work and motifs borrowed from traditional textiles have been given a twist by mixing and matching. There has been a generous use of sequins and pearls. The textiles used in the collection also reflects the same diversity as the colours and motifs used – Matka for Bihar, Chanderi from MP, chiffons and woven yardages along with borders from Banaras, all finds it place in this kaleidoscopic journey.

The silhouettes are ethno – futuristic - traditional Indian silhouettes have been contrasted with Avant Garde drapes, which in turn emulates the drapes of Indian saris, creating an interesting cross current of form. Traditional A- line and tent shapes have been merged with slimed and restrained volume in the lower torso. The collection also flaunts fair amount of structured jackets, which are layered with Kalidar (paneled) inners and flared Palazzos.

Soltee by Sulakshna
Designer Sulakshna Monga 'Soltee' showcased her evening party wear collection, a veritable reflection of Sartorial Elegance. Sulakshna has played with colours from pastel to gold. Fabric and cuts of the gowns were making the collection glamorous.Assymetrical patterns with sharp cuts and slits made it classy and western. Beige Sari with zardozi elements paired with net blouse, and and auatic bluse chiffon gown were rocking.

Mynah's Reynu Taandon
Reynu Taandon has showed her signature style in her 'Urban goddess' collection. The colour palette began with peaches and brown, and later came shades of black which stole the limelight with gold and offwhite thredwork. The printed kaftan tops with skin tones fitted bottoms depicted the modernistic sense of design. Reynu has experimented with golden colour leather and made leaves, bird feathers to embelish her designs, it gave the collection comfort of wearability with beauty & style.

Rajesh Pratap singh for The Woolmark Company
Rajesh Pratap Singh’s sense of design can simply be defined as cerebral. With an incredible knowledge in textile engineering and an unmatched design record, Pratap is easily one of best minds in design. Rajesh Pratap’s ability to manipulate wool and noble fiber while injecting a sense of minimalism has gained him influence above and beyond fashion.
In his Autumn/Winter 2013 collection, Rajesh Pratap Singh traces his roots, juxtaposing the masculine and the feminine. Inspired by The Wool Lab trend forecast, the collection is testament to rural India, and exemplifies traditional tailoring in a more modern and contemporary light.
With details like satin inserts, giving pocket detailing a geometry of its own, asymmetry, zipper fasteners from motorcycle jackets, and elements of classic menswear tailoring, every seam has a reason in this collection.Wool Accessories: footwear with leather and wool tweed interspersed. Sheepskin gloves and headgear, shearing combined with tweed.The show was dramatic and there were leaves on the ramp and snow flakes falling depicting winter season.

Manish Malhotra
Treads of Emotion by Manish Malhotra celebrates the magic and heritage of embroidery. Phulkari embroidery is at the heart of collection. In a reinterpretation of traditional craftsmanship from a modern approach, Manish has embellished the line in Phulkari work with a difference. From the collection it was evident that,Manish, who has Midas Touch, has passionately worked for improvement of Phulkari artisans and infused the embroidery with style. The collection featured saris,anarkalis, floor length anarkalis and angrakhas.For men, there were bandhgalas and structured clothes. The primary fabrics used are georgette, net and raw silk. Colours used are rich mustard yellow, navy blue, deep rust, earthy olive and intense red.Actress Jaqueline Fernandis, Isha Gupta and Actor Siddhartha Malhotra walked the ramp for Manish Malhotra. Audience enjoyed to the core the beats of dhol during the show.  

WIFW Day 2-Focus on Comfort and Wearability

"Dressing is a way of life."

                                                             Yves Saint Laurent

 

Day 2 of Wills India Fashion Week emphasised on comfort and wearability. Be it The Tarun Tahiliani, Shantanu and Nikhil, Anju Modi or Tanvi Kedia, every designer majorly focussed on wearability quotient of the designs. My pick for Day 2:

Tarun Tahiliani:

Tarun presented a surprise package this AW'13. He derived his inspiration from 'Maha-Kumbh' and infused the same in his latest collection. His models were dressed like 'Shakuntala-the hermit's daughter' by flaunting floral brooch in plaited hair with mid partition, big highlighted eyes with 'Kajal' and carrying a serene, satisfied smile on face. Tarun's collection started with black and ends with saffron colour-the colour spread all over Kumbh. Even the ramp was decorated with saffron drapes and models walked in the backdrop of enchanting drum beats. As the show reached its mid-way, a live band perfomed which was led by Swami from Kumbh.

The first segment of the show featured garments mostly in charcoal tones and bandhni dye & embroideries in burnt orange and deep blues. The saffron robes were deconstructed into skirts, kurtis, jackets, dresses and jodhpuris with asymmetric hem & signature Tarun Tahiliani drapes.

Anju Modi

Anju Modi's show started high on a patriotic note. The models were an army clad in military head gear, shoulder patches with fringes, aviators and red arm band, marching the ramp on backdrop of A.R.Rahman's Vande Mataram.

Jackets were teamed with fluid sari drapes, brutal maroon were paired in contrast with dove grey.  The silhouettes were fusion of structured jackets, power shoulders with fluid sari drapes and wide legged trousers in earthy tones of khaki, ochre, military green, sand.

Shantanu & Nikhil

Shantanu & Nikhil presented The Dunes. The collection draws inspiration from one of Tareks Al-Ghousseins most beautiful artistic interpretation of sand dunes, which re-imagines the warm desert earthiness with a block of colour. The duo mavericks are well known for amazing construction techniques. This time the new surface treatment were full with laser cuts and appliques. Menswear was brilliantly crafted and models looked dapper in the same. The colour palette moved across beige, browns to sky blue and blacks. The bottoms for men had a range of silhouettes like dhoti, jodhpuris, & straight narrow pants. The silhouettes for women had varied evening dresses in fine jerseys to anarkalis in transparent peach nets.

Pallavi Mohan

Pallavi Mohan tells that her latest collection has turned towards a mature side from not so serious. It AW fall collection was easy wear and bright. The initial segment of the show featured day wears with delicate details like heart motifs in laser cut, heat set pleats, velvet applique and sequins. Colour used were Grey, black, brown with gold. later some dresses were presented in bright orange in Chris cross weaving. The grey wool machrame coat with leather leggings was applauded by one and all. 

 

Samant Chauhan

Samant Chauhan's collection was soothing and Victorian in look & feel. He presented silhouettes,gowns, skirts paired with leather jackets. It was surprising  that the collection was inspired by Rajputana bikers but the dresses were highly wearable for all occasions.Specially gowns. Samant shares that these gowns and silhouettes can be worn by bride's sisters, so this collection is not bridal, it is more of high class evening wear. The show progressed with a series of ethnic silhouettes in ivory featuring surfaces varying from embroidery, block print and Zari in opulent tussar silk.

Tanvi Kedia

Tanvi draws inspiration from a woman who is tribal nomad, she travels from Japan across China and lands in Africa. The comfortable Silhouettes were crafted in vibrant colours like reds, violets, blues, yellows and greens. Kimono sleeves,oriental prints traditional Indian silhouettes & african motifs came together to celebrate the cultural stability derived from various folk cultures across the world. Comfort and wearability were salient features of the collection.