So many fashion events happening in my city - back to back - and I'm being invited to all of them as a blogger! Well....doesn't happen everyday! And definitely not to me!!! :D
Anyways....so for the past two weekends, I have been hopping from fashion show to fashion show and updating you guys about the wonderful creative talents of Indian fashion designers. After Signature Premier Fashion Week Kolkata, it was time for the Blender's Pride Fashion Tour 2012 (Kolkata edition) on 22-23 Sept. A last minute invite by the PR people and numerous phone calls to & from the other city bloggers confirmed my date with yet another fashion-filled evening on the 22nd at the ITC Sonar Bangla hotel.
Right from the start, we got a sense of what a grand event BPFT was! The discipline, the organisation, the guest list, the arrangements were all perfect & befitting such a fashion event. The list of designers showing were some of the most renowned names of the Indian fashion industry and a few even had worldwide acclaim! There were two shows - two designers showing in each - that were slotted for 8pm & 9pm. Though the shows started a bit late, but the amazing execution of the shows made it worth the wait.
Here's a low-down on the shows for all of you. I absolutely enjoyed the shows of all the four designers and thought that their pieces were not only garments, but works of art!
Nida Mahmood
This quirky designer's collection was titled 'Bombay Bun Maska' (which is the colloquial name for buttered buns in Bombay). Inspired by the urban, boho chic, free-spirited youth of today, her collection was fun, vibrant & full of spunk! Splashes of bright colors filled the runway as models swayed down the ramp in dresses, kaftans, tunics, pants & sarees. Flowy silhouettes in crepes & georgettes cascaded down the long & lean bodies of the girls in falls of vibrant beauty. The quirkiest pieces of the collection were the sarees worn with itsy-bitsy choli blouses, with denim-ed legs sticking out from one side.
She even had a line of shirts, tees & pants for the smart & suave metro-sexual man of today. Ombre dyed shirts in un-men-like hues of reds, oranges, pinks & yellows were worn with smart trousers & trendy scarves.
Nida's collection was a play of contrasts with colors, textures & silhouettes vying with each other for attention. But Nida made sure that the audience's attention was where she wanted it to be - on her clothes! :)
Unfortunately, due to some unavoidable circumstances, I couldn't take any pictures during Nida's show. But I had to share some with you guys!! And of course, our dear friend Google helped me out with that! ;)
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| (Bollywoodmantra.com) |
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| (Newkerala.com) |
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| (Indiatimes.com) |
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| Nida with show-stopper Raima Sen (Indiatimes.com) |
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| (Hamaraphotos.com) |
The dapper duo of Shatanu Mehra & Nikhil Mehra dazzled us with their magnificent & gorgeous bridal collection. The show started with the men entering the ramp in a group flaunting their well-toned physiques in impeccable silk brocade & velvet sherwanis with stoles attached to them. The ladies followed soon in layers of opulent grandeur. Shimmering, regal lehengas gave way to luxurious & elegant gowns. Embroidery, embellishments & textures created drama on the cascading layers of rich fabrics. A muted color palette was splattered at places with jewel hues of red, blue & black. Pleats, gathers, frills & flares filled the ramp as full skirts, voluminous gowns & billowing layers grabbed eyeballs.
All in all, Shantanu & Nikhil's grandiose pieces are absolute must-haves for the fashionable bride's trousseau!
Asmita Marwa
This designer, from Hyderabad, paid homage to one of her all-time favorite eras, 'The Era of Woodstock', in this collection. Inspired by the 60s & 70s - the peace, freedom of expression & music - this collection was aimed at bringing about happiness & hope through a kaleidoscope of colors & prints presented with a hippie chic twist!
The models came in their free-spirited avatars with headbands, oversized rose-tinted glasses, dream-catchers & a care-free attitude that perfectly complemented the dresses, kaftans, tunics, loose pants & sarees. Smart, yet comfortable silhouettes mingled with loose drapes & flowy layers to give a relaxed vibe to the collection. The one-shouldered pattern seemed to be the designer's current favourite as was the batik prints, while the feather trims added a fun touch.
A fun, vibrant & wearable collection, Asmita's pieces screamed laid-back chic. In fact, Asmita had so wonderfully created a retro feel, that for a while, I thought I was watching a ramp version of 'That 70s Show'!
Raghavendra Rathore
Hailing from the royal family of Jodhpur, this prince rules in the hearts of people worldwide with his creative talent. Internationally acclaimed for his menswear as well as womenswear collections, Raghavendra uses clothes as a medium of upholding the traditional heritage of India with modern aplomb. In this show, he showcased his line 'Club Jodhpur' for men & women, for the upcoming festive & wedding season. Men strutted on the ramp in stylish new avatars of the achkan, kurta, waistcoat, bandhgala & dhoti. Rich brocades, velvets & silks were used to create the required grandeur, while immaculate tailoring made the pieces classy & coveted. Gorgeous anakrkalis, salwars suits, kurtas, sarees & jackets on the women awed the audience with their magnificence & craftsmanship. Stunning hand embroidery & surface embellishments adorned both the men's & women's garments. The impeccable cuts & opulent silhouettes reflected the designer's royal sensibility, thus making his clothes top most of the classy ladies' lust list!
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| Raghavendra Rathore takes a bow with show-stopper Debi Datta |
Photo credits: Anupriya DG
All pictures copyright to Chappals Vs Stilletoes
(Unless otherwise mentioned)
All pictures copyright to Chappals Vs Stilletoes
(Unless otherwise mentioned)
So...after consecutive weekends of fashion frenzy, I'm back to work in full swing!!! It's a crazy time right now as far as work is concerned.....what with the festive season coming up, new collections, orders blah blah!
But I'm not complaining!!
Coz I do what I love and I love what I do! :D
If you have not drawn the inference yet, let me enlighten you that so many fashion events mean that many outfits waiting to be posted about!!! So, I'll be back soon with loads of outfit posts and the rest of my Kerala series!
Keep watching this space......and have a happy week ahead people! :))
Lots of love,
Anupriya DG