LIFW SS 2010- Celebrating 10 years of Fashion

The first day of Lakme Fashion Week Spring/Summer 2010 had an unusual and timeless treat for the fashion lovers in the city - a spectacular show called “Lakmé and IMG celebrate 10 years of fashion”
presented by Samira Habitats. Covering the past 10 years of the fashion week, the theme of the show was Then - Now – Forever: with 20 Lakme Grand Finale designers presenting their looks from “back then”, to now and then finally, the timeless, “forever” looks. The show ran for a full 45 minutes and featured some stunning designs from some of India’s most well-known and prolific designers. Though every design that made a round of the runway is worth writing about, there are some creations that made a noticeable impact on the fashion fraternity present.

Bobby and Manju Grover’s Forever design, a chiffon shot silk grey gown with a metallic Lurex laser cutwork bodice with a dramatic headgear.


Monapali’s Forever, a white net sari with a kantha and mirror work borders.


Rohit Bal’s Forever, his favourite 16 tiered full circle kurta in ivory.



Arjun Khanna’s Forever, a mirror work embellished jacket teamed with a crushed panelled lehenga with gold motifs.


J J Valaya’s Forever, a floral ruffled headgear cum choli with white zardozi lehenga.


Tarun Tahiliani’s fringed dress and gown with corded off- shoulder neckline for Now and for Forever, a draped bronze satin backless dress.


Malini Ramani’s Forever, a fierce, tiger stripes backless mini in gold and black.


Ritu Beri’s dramatic Spanish inspired skirt, presented as her Forever design.


Sabyasachi Mukherjee’s Forever design, a velvet chiffon multi print skirt, blouse and bolero in earthy tones.


Finally, as 20 of India’s most creative minds took the stage, there was, as expected, a standing ovation, marking the end of the fashion event of the decade.  

All Images Courtesy www.lakmefashionweek.co.in

Kolkata Fashion Week - Ritu Kumar

The Czarina of Indian Haute Couture, Ritu Kumar, presented her collection on the first day of the Kolkata Fashion Week. Featuring her characteristic designs with exquisite blending of the Indian handicrafts with contemporary mediums, Kumar’s collection opened in black and gold, with varied silhouettes to suit the modern Indian woman. The collection comprised of evening gowns, long tunics, chogas, kutchi gathered coats worn over loose pants, all incorporating the exquisite skills of a hugely skilled designer. The theme was taken further by marrying the Indian aesthetic with coats, trench and bomber jackets, all trimmed with leather and worn with tights and boots. The color palette was rich and vivid, in the true Ritu Kumar style. The designer called her collection a tribute to the craftsmen of West Bengal, as she marked it as a celebration of forty years of the Ritu Kumar label.

Hearting LBD

Hearting LBD by pratishtha featuring Jil Sander

Talking about the Hepburns of the world... I now have a sudden craving for over-sized accessories and LBDs.

Style Icons - Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow

In her book “How to be a Hepburn in a Hilton World,” author Jordan Christy laments the modern day loss of polite, well-spoken, gracious, charming and thoughtful women, like the yesteryear icons, Kate and Audery Hepburn. In a celebrity obsessed world, where Paris and Lindsay are emulated everywhere, she talks about the grace and charm that women from a bygone era exuded. As she goes on to talk about "real women with brains, beauty and self-respect", I start thinking about India’s own style queens of yesterday – Leela Naidu, and Gayatri Devi. Vogue chose them as being among the most beautiful women in the world. Ironically, and tragically, Gayatri Devi passed away just a day after actress Leela Naidu died in Mumbai.

Gayatri Devi was celebrated for her classical beauty and was a prominent fashion icon in her adulthood, Born a Rajput princess, she regaled the world with her intellect, beauty and regal charm. As Maharani Gayatri Devi she was an icon for her generation. A head-turner with her bobbed brown hair, chiffon saree, and understated, elegant jewellery, she was the quintessential fairy tale princess. Despite her life’s ups and downs, the doe eyed Maharani’s fabled beauty and grace stayed with her, till the very end. It comes as no surprise that she was often compared to former US first lady and style icon Jacqueline Kennedy.



Gayatri Devi


Leela Naidu, on the other hand, was an Indian actress. Her ethereal, mesmerizing looks and subtle, effortless style, tinged with the glamour of her profession made her a timeless beauty. As the world moves on to size zero, chic glamour, one can’t help but hang on to the fleeting memory of the women who truly embodied style and elegance.



Leela Naidu

Biker Chic - To Be Or Not To Be

To think of Biker Chic in Mumbai weather is akin to committing fashion suicide. Imagine. Me. On a local train in Mumbai. Twelve women rubbing against me (Don’t ask how that happens. You don’t want to know). And my leather jacket making me sweat gallons of liquid out of my system. I arrive in office drenched in sweat, smelling, cranky. Not sexy!

So biker Chic is, let’s just face it and throw in the towel, not for Mumbai women. We live out our life in airy cotton tunics, and tees. But that doesn’t mean that we can’t drool over the chains and zippers galore that the fall fashion is bringing back into our life.

I saw these lovelies on Glamour Magazine’s website and shed tears. My favourite is the Alex McQueen Biker Rings Clutch Bag. Super! The Satin and Chain High Sandals by Camilla Skovgaard bring sexy back, and the Miss Selfridge Leather Biker Jacket, along with the Studded Bangles will do any fashion goddess proud.Desires, I say. Maybe some other city, some other life. Meanwhile Angelina Jolie can slip into her leather shifts and look gorgeous. I’ll have a cotton tunic, on the rocks, please.