From Neelanjan Ghosh and Rajul Jain yet another shift dress. This in a funky colourful mosaic print. The simple elegant shift is looking set to be a summer staple. Get your body in shift shape to carry these off with panache.
This label never fails to deliver. Check the trapeze layered look in muted tones and natural fabrics. This from GABA. Perfect for a sultry summer.
From Aslam Khan, the all white classic summer look of capris and a fitted sleeveless top. This look never went out of style. Add a smart scarf and killer glares and you have the perfect resort look.
Ruffle alert! Ruffles are everywhere from blouses to skirts to evening gowns. Archana Kochchar's finale gown showcased by Mandira Bedi was elegantly subdued in grey and pink tones with pink ruffles on the hem with silver embroidery. The tiers add more drama than required on an already busy look.
From Chaitanya Rao, this beige satin knee length dress with black bodice is going to be the progenitor of some serious bodice looks. Strong, sassy, sexy yet elegant we give this look a thumbs up!
From Prriya and Chintan, a deceptively simple cream slimline dress with a ruffled front. We predict this silhouette will be a part of the brunch wardrobe of any woman worth her kitty group.
This belted slim miniskirted look, as seen at Lina Tipnis is what we're betting most women would be getting their gams into shape for this coming season. Keep that bronzer ready. Worn with smart blouses, this is a perfect corporate or bruncheon look for muggy days.
Deep red constructed ornate border velvet saree. Regal. Lavish. Just the kind brides will swoon over all across the country this wedding season. From Sabyasachi Mukherjee.
Debutant designer at Lakme Fashion Week, Sherina Dalamal's 'Cherie D' label celebrated romance and glamour. This double length gown with waist, neck, shoulder and bodice embellishment screams red carpet and flashbulb worthiness.
Inspired by the coral reefs, this floaty turquoise and aquamarine number from Babita Malkani with its subtly embellished bodice is the perfect mermaidish antidote to the red overdose of red carpet outfits this week.
Royal purple fringed with green on a strapless top with a full skirt, this is a gown for the modern day Cinderella. This from Babita Malkani. The assymetrical diagonal embellished layer across adds drama.
This flamboyantly fabulous finale Spanish inspired multi tulle frilled gown worn by former Miss India and super model, Madhu Sapre for Prriya and Chintan took our breath away with its fabulous use of vibrant colour and dramatic construction.
Orange. Asymmetric. Layered. Floaty. Non blingy. And body wrapped. The kind of dress that is guaranteed to have onlookers eyes out on stalks. From Raakesh Agarwal.
Bright shoes have invaded the mens corner. Check out this yellow number from Neelanjan Ghosh'ss show worn with high diagonally striped socks. Geek gets a new chic.
Yummy mango coloured sneakers worn with freeflowing clothing at GABA. Absolutely cool casual summer chic. We want a pair in our shoe rack right now.
Sky high strappy silver sandals at Prriya and Chintan ups the glam quotient of a regular outfit. These are the shoes to wear to the ball. Albeit not of glass. Definitely diva material.
Funky and fun, shoulder grazing tasseled earrings at Preeti Chandra are what every self respecting fashion fiend should have dangling from his or her ears. Use them on their own to add some je ne sais quoi to any blah blah ensemble.
Funky footwear in strong colors at Preeti Chandra make feet a style statement. In hues like yellow and green with tassels and tie ups, these were fun, summery and seemed perfect for a day on the beach.
Severely pulled back hair, slate grey eyes and strong orangey red lips at Lina Tipnis. A powerful look, made stronger by the evened out face tone.
Turbans over long natural looking flowing hair. Halston redefined at Sabyasachi.
The shift is shifting nowhere in this year's trend list. This simple, yet strong silhouette was seen in the Gen Next show on Day 4 of the Lakme Fashion Week Spring Summer 2009, in Priyanka Verma and Ravindra Mohan's collection.
The rouche is big big big this season. And is turning up everywhere like a Page three gatecrasher. On churidars, on tunics, on dresses, on tops, on gowns. Dare we say enough! Rouched draped pants at the Gen Next show on Day 4, worn with shrugs, by Ritesh Kumar.
The shrug, for reasons, best known to designers, is making a comeback, not for a winter collection but for a spring summer showing. Who are we to argue with what the fashion community dictates we wear. Seen today on Ritesh Kumar's and Rimi Nayak's showings on Day Four.
The halter is big news this season. As are one shoulder outfits. Hail all the shoulder as the new erogenous zone. As seen at Anuj Sharma on Day four of the LFW SS09. This gracefully draped, floating brown number. Very chic, very resortish. And truly summery.
Bang on time for the wedding and festive season happening right now in non Fashion Week time, comes this gorgeous multi-greenhued, sequinned and constructed saree from Agnimitra Paul. Any bets on how long before rip offs start making their appearance in any self respecting saree store in our cities?
Highwaisted flared trousers. Defined by a belt. Seventies glamour returns and how. We see this look in whites and natural fibres making it to every fashion conscious woman's wardrobes. As shown by Harangad Singh at the Next Gen collection on Day 4 of LFW.
Full sleeved saree blouses in diaphanous printed fabrics are what local tailors will be deluged with this coming season. Dresses up a heavily embellished formal saree with a quaint, romantic olde worlde feel and paradoxically tones down the ornateness simultaneously, as seen at Shyamal and Bhumika. Order your fabrics now.
From Agnimitra Paul pure black and white in clean cut silhouettes. Bet our last low fat latte that this is the look PYTs are going to be cavorting in next summer. This paired with strongly coloured accessories are a look that's going to percolate down to rasta chic.
This multihued, in your face, fringed and tiered mini dress is definitely going to be the dress of a million rip offs being perpetuated in the name of street fashion. This at Vikram Phadnis, Day Four LFW SS 09. The bold juxtaposition of clashing colours and contrasting prints makes the dissonance beg for attention. Be bold. Be very bold.
Pristine white. Precisely constructed. And almost bridal virginal. This number from Swapnil Shinde is the perfect antidote to an overdose of colour and embellishment.
A dress that screams for attention, this number by Swapnil Shinde is masterfully constructed, with its beauty in its simplicity. Only for divas. Lesser women please excuse.
An unconventional colour for an all out knock out glamazon look, this brown Grecian dress by Anuj Sharma needs nothing but attitude to dress it up. Fitted yet floaty and asymmetrical, our vote goes to this for red carpet look of the day.
Sleek, chic, elegant yet girly. This is a look few should attempt and fewer can carry off. Understatedly feminine, this white number from Agnimitra Paul is a gown that redefines glamour from in your face to subtly breathtaking. Loved the frills. Not for the thirtysomethings though.
A brilliant red crepe layered ballgown with an embellished crystal bustier on actress Shriya Saran at the Vikram Phadnis show on Day 4 of LFW SS 09 was glamour extreme in true Hollywood style. Guaranteed to make the shutterbugs forget to click.
Mary Jane flats lend a school girlish charm to the frilled floating girly dress and dress it down rather than up. As seen at Kiran Jaisinghani and Meghna Agarwal.
The slim belt is back with the slim waist it encircles. A harkener to the genteel years. Seen on model waists at Anand Bhushan's White Noise collection at the Nex Gen show. It is recommended that this look not be taken by anyone with an unmodel like waist. Unless you wish to look like a helium balloon unfortunately tied up by its string.
The patent retro wide strapped platform heel in white. A flashback to the disco era, minus the bell bottoms. Worn with a knee length skirt at Anand Bhushan. Yes, we cant get enough of the added inches this grants us. And we promise to look before we step and keep a orthopedician on stand by.
Bling it on. Gold pumps at Arshiya Fakih Eappen were rocking enough to be showstoppers on their ownsome. Wear these shoes for their chic quotient. Unabashed and in your face.
Slap on these gilded aviators, ye pop princess and step forth to conquer the flashbulbs. Oversized golden aviators at Arshiya Fakih Eappen up the ante of the look.
Minimally defined eyes, a fresh and glowing palette for the face and hair that was swept off the face for the Gen Next showing today. Saved from au naturel by sharply defined cheekbones you could slice butter with.
Classic diva upsweep at Vikram Phadnis as seen on show stopper Priyanka Chopra. This is the look that is just that wee bit unstructured to add sensuality. Coupled with smokey eyes and barely accentuated lips, the total is glam goddess all the way.
Centre parted hair, tied slick at the sides, paired with overdone eyes and barely there lips, this look at Arshiya Fakih was deceptively simple and yet eyecatching. With the focus on the eyes, the widelashed look was as baby dollish as the theme meant it to be.
With an entire day dedicated to the fashion-savvy gent, there was no dearth of trends on day three of the Lakme Fashion Week, that the sartorially “with it” man-about-town could easily incorporate into his everyday wardrobe. From the dandy to some serious eye candy, from the edgy to the cutting edge, it was a day of contrasts in trends that complemented each other in perfect synchrony. The quirky sash belts with tapered ends that held together not just trousers, but shorts as well at the Digvijay Singh show are a trend to watch out for.
The ultra-light grey shawl-collared cardigan that was modeled by a dude on roller skates at the Troy Costa show was as trendy as cardigans get. Roll them into your wardrobe ASAP!
It was tie-n-dye tunics, kurtas and even pants for Dev R Nil who seem hell-bent on making the dying technique a hot trend for S/S ’09. And we aren’t complaining!
The cropped cabin jackets were the piece de resistance at Narendra Kumar Ahmed’s show titled ‘The Rise Of Fascism’ and a trend we are betting our bottom Rupee will be a trend that catches on!
Get ready for an invasion of colour in the months to come, as the fashion-aware gent sheds his black and greys and takes on a palette that will be dominated by fruity colours as was superbly evident in the Lecoanet Hemant S/S ’09 collection
The Patialia pants that we scoped out at the Nikon Raghavendra Rathore S/S ’09 show. Bellowing out in all their amazing yardage, the roomy pants win our vote for hot trend of the day!
With us, you can be sure of one thing guys… if we love it you see it here first. And the menswear day at Lakme Fashion Week gave us a glimpse into the creative brilliance of some of India’s best menswear designers who have toiled over the art of putting together looks that will wow you, as they have enthralled us! The pristine all-white shirts, tunics and trousers that ruled most of Digvijay Singh’s show is something we just love to love.
Blinging it on was a kinky silver biker jacket at the Troy Costa show, reaffirming the notion that metal is vital—at least in fashion that is!!
The tomato red suit worn with great panache by model Sahil Shroff in the Zubair Kirmani show is one look we could give our right arm to possess....
We can’t stop going “ga ga” over the superbly cut sporty formal track pants that formed part of the Narendra Kumar Ahmed S/S ’09 collection that look comfy and oh, so wearable.
Welcoming the 70s back, the jumpsuits at the Nikon Raghavendra Rathore S/S ’09 show in shades like camel and tan are a look we not only approve of, but validate wholeheartedly.
Adding that extra special something to day three at Lakme Fashion Week was a virtual cornucopia of interesting accessories in the form of sandals, slippers and even glasses, that subtly complemented the clothes. Showing us that metallic still rules were the rather simple, yet edgy silver and gold slippers that the models had on their feet at Digvijay Singh’s show. We love and yes… we want!
Forget superman! Clarke Kent was alive and kicking…well, at least his large black rimmed glasses were. Sported by the models at the Dev R Nil show, these grandpa specs are just what the fashion doctor ordered.
We fell and how… in love that is with the lusciously colourful, strappy sandals that adorned the pins of the models at the Zubair Kirmani show. Strap us up, anytime!!
PVC shoes in all their transparent splendour were one of the highlights of the Lecoanet Hemant show. Totally funky and supremely quirky, they are one hot hot, hot accessory to look out for.
All you Kolhapuri Chappal fans rejoice! One of India’s most popular forms of footwear is back with a bang and the Kolhapuri looked super cool at the Nikon Raghavendra Rathore show.
This was the day for ye bag and shoe fiends to grab seats at the Lakme Fashion Week Spring Summer, and keep those opera glasses handy to note the fine details. A cat in a hat? Not really, but Shilpa Chavan's label Little Shilpa did make a point that the hat is one of the accessories that is now firmly entrenching itself into every fashionista's wardrobe. Build in those extra shelves for them hat boxes, ladies.
Men, chuck out those roundtoes if you havent already and get out your green livery. Ankle high Robin Hood shoes are what your feet must be clad in if they have half an ounce of self respecting foot deo on them. This decreed by Abdul Tawwab's Alba.
Knee high silver metal and mirror gladiator flats with matching evening bag. Whatever you wear with it becomes incidental. This from Stoffa.
A midsized bright yellow clutch from Malaga with a coordinating belt. Dress up any ensemble instantly. And also, yes, meant for women who don't wander around carrying only a lipstick and a set of housekeys.
Don’t we all just love it when fashion week throws up these totally ‘must-have’ trends? Read on for your dose of some of the trendiest looks for the coming season… The ivory chording and crochet-like work on the exquisite 60s inspired frocks by Manish Gupta reminded us of the kind of clothes that the iconic Jackie Kennedy wore in an era when big hair and Sinatra ruled.
Make way for the hooded fashionista guys! Yes, the hoodie was amply evident at Aastha Bahl’s show drawing in audible hosannas from the audience.
Gunmetal grey sure seems to be a trend that is catching on and was the colour of choice of Rimzim Dadu in her sublime collection aptly titled ‘My Village’.
Bejeweled jeans are back with a vengeance and from the likes of the Levis Tarun Tahiliani show it sure looks like the more metallic on them the better. Embellished with chains and crystals Tahiliani showed his brilliance in a collection of jeans that are to die for.
The ingenious use of sari fabric in the dresses showed by Rahul Mishra is a trend that we hope will catch on. This aquamarine strapless dress with a dull green zari border and worked on bodice is sheer genius.
Fashion is all about taking the looks from the ramp and translating them into your everyday wardrobe. And at day two of the Lakme Fashion Week there was plenty of inspiration gathered from the runway that we have no doubt will hit The cowl neck made a grand comeback at Rimzim Dadu show and we hope to see more of the look.
Another look that we think will make a great transformation from ramp to street is the humble safari suit-meets-jodhpur look that we loved at the Arjun’s Rishta collection.
We are sure to see the ample use of juicy colours that were so pronounced at the Drashta show hit the streets in the coming months. Take that from us!
Get set to knock ‘em dead on the red carpet with these ensembles that makes your transition from pretty to pretty hot as easy as apple pie. Enjoy! 5. The long crushed silver coat worn over a pale green halter-necked gown by Gurpreet Pia Fleming will be as big a hit on the Cannes red carpet as it would be to the Filmfare awards, mark our words!
There was a plethora of graceful Grecian gowns at the Nalanda Bhandari show in jewel tones that will set the red carpet ablaze when award season is upon us. We particularly liked the garnet-hued one shoulder gown with a tassel for a sleeve
3. Think a summer’s beach wedding or a mid-day soiree and now picture yourself in this floaty red-carpet worthy creation by Manish Gupta. Pure magic!
With a varied colour palette that veered from delicate nudes to tantalizing bling, day two of the Lakme Fashion Week was all about contrasts and we loved them all! With a defined mouth in shades of pink, accentuated with subtly shaded eyes, and minimal blush, the models at Rahul Mishra’s show gave us a hint into what to look forward to as far as make up goes in S/S ’09.
It was a virtual fruit salad of colour at the Nalanda Bhandari show with lime green, sunkissed orange and soothing tangerine used to dramatic effect on the eyelids.
Bling it on! is what we wanted to say to Dhrasta whose show had models sporting sparkly eye shadow and eye liner as well.
With a varied colour palette that veered from delicate nudes to tantalizing bling, day two of the Lakme Fashion Week was all about contrasts and we loved them all! At Kallol Dutta’s brilliant show, the make up on the models was just right so as not to distract the eye from the futuristic ensembles. With a virtually nude face, save for a light pink lip stain and mascara, simplicity ruled at the show.
Who said that fashion is all about the clothes? Think gorgeous accessories that not only add that extra special je ne sais quoi to the complete ensemble, but stand out in their own right as fashionable add-ons and you’ll get the drift. So we dug a little deeper and trained our fashion-hungry eyes to scope out the best accessories on day two of the Lakme Fashion Week. Reminiscent of the way gypsies keep their hair in place with colourful headgear, Jyotee Khaitan sent her models for a ramble on the ramp with interesting head scarves that we predict will be big in S/S ’09.
Bringing a natty little desi twist to fashion week were the silver maang tikkas on the heads of the rampscorchers as they strutted their stuff for Pallavi Jaipur.
Keeping their unruly afro hair in place, models at the Levis Tarun Tahiliani show sported glittering clips that had just enough bling in them to make it to this hot list!
The downright über-trendy shoes with big ankle cuffs and buckles to fasten them with were the highlight of Gurpreet Pia Fleming’s decidedly pretty collection.
The interesting silver orb earrings that the models at the Anupama Dayal show sported win our vote of accessory with excess. Excess appeal, that is!
So what is it that we're going to run to our local darzi to copy for us once the fashion week is done with? Here's our pick of the looks we think will make the easiest transition from the ramp to the streets of the metropolises, give or take a couple of inches of course. The mini kaftan showcased by Sudhir and Tapash of Stae. Comfortable, summery and very resortish. Perfect for languid brunches on hot summer afternoons.
The trapeze dress as seen at Nikhil and Shantanu, in the opening show of the Lakme India Fashion Week. Why? Its an easy silhouette, chic and can be dressed up or down depending on the mood of the moment. Plus, ye with the voluminous hips needing instant camouflage, its a style right after your heart, providing of course, you have the legs that go on forever.
Crinkled, flouncy, tiered long skirts. Worn with flat slippers, huge bags and long beaded necklaces. Apt for a collection titled Gaia, one thinks. And fabulous for casual summer chic.
Don't throw those tunics out yet. They were in fine fettle at Nikasha Tawadeys show, worn over rouched churidars. Well, yes, please to skip the rouched churidars if your legs are already at tree trunk proportions.
The corset jumpsuited look is back and wow! Seen at Narendra Kumar this is one look you can bet your last bit of fat free chocolate on to be seen on store shelves across the country.
What the divas will be squabbling over to get their hands on for future public appearances? We bet our invisible bras these would just the ones being torn off the mannequins as they exit the ramp. Our red carpet picks from Day 1 of Lakme Fashion Week Spring Summer 2009. From Shantanu and Nikhil, comes this ramp scorcher. If you dare wear pure red to the red carpet. A rouched red halter gown with a deceptively clean silhouette and a look only the supremely confident can carry off. Wallflowers, please stick to your pastels.
Peachy orange diaphanous gown offset with green embellishments at the bodice, perfect to sun your fins in. Mermaids, eat your gills out. This from Gayatri Khanna's Coral Reef inspired collection.
Red is the colour du jour. And the red carpet. The strong red of the garment juxtaposed brilliantly with the flowing draped chiffon at Krishna Mehta. This one for the flashbulb fiends.
Shading. Two tones. As seen in Shantanu and Nikhil, Nachiket Barve and Ruchi Mehta of Salt. Set the monochromes aside. Spring Summer 2009 is promising to be some colourful season.
Get those shoulders polished. They're going to be on show if Deepika Gehani and Gayatri Khanna have any say in the matter. Whether op art chic or sleek cruise wear, the one shoulder look seems set to stay a while. Bring on the highlighter.
Rouching. Volume. The culprits? Shantanu and Nikhil. Ruchi Mehta at Salt. A word to the wise. Get on that diet before you even think of getting into one of these.
Red and black. Cant get yourself a vacay to Spain, do the second best thing you can and dress like a Senora. As seen in the opening show by Nikhil and Shantanu. Throw in some flounces while you're at it.
The bubble dress. As seen at Shane and Falguni Peacock's show. Made edgy with a skull motif in dissonance with the ethereal white and baby pink look. This is a silhouette that shows no sign of slackening.
So is it strong eyes, or strong lips? Matte or glossy? Romantic or Punk? Keep your brushes on standby, the jury is still out on Day One of the Lakme Fashion Week Spring Summer 2009. Strong smoky eyes, with muted pink lips to go with the brilliant and bold red and black themed collection showcased at Shantanu and Nikhil. Yes, yes, do not forget to pile on the mascara. An interesting twist on the Spanish senorita look.
Metallic eyes and a muted nude glossy mouth. Sleekness on overdrive at Nachiket Barve.This is the kind of look that screams old school glamour without slapping on the pigments.
Soft flowing waves at Asmita Marwah, Ruchi Mehta and Tapash and Sudhir's show. Hair that was fresh and healthy and looked absolutely independent of rabid use of styling aids. Rejoice, slavery to the hair iron ends.
Orange lips, understated pewter eyes and flyaway hair at Gayatri Khanna. A look that makes it right back to the noughties from the sixties with just that little tweak to modernity.
The lip was strong and defined at Narendra Kumar. Paired with subtly sultry eyes and hair left flowing in soft waves, this is the effortless glam look every wannabe diva can pull off.
The waist is in, all hail the cummerbund. As showcased by Shantanu & Nikhil and Deepika Gehani. Its, as the cliche, goes, a cinch. Get side crunching manically right now.
Yup, yup, we know the toothless gypsy on the street has a similiar one, but we really dig these cool hip belts with attached side pockets worn with every thing from jumpsuits, skirts and dresses from Asmita Marwah's Gaia. Just dont pull out your tobacco fix from it.
Get those shades on. Neon still rocks the world of footwear as seen in Shane and Falguni Peacock's show. Bubble gum pink sky high stilettoes. Lolita meets Mata Hari meets punk chic.
Joining us for Fashion Week are our guest editors Kiran Manral and Raul Dias. They will bring you a first look at all the new fashion and beauty trends, favorite runway looks, designer spotlight, hourly updates and breaking news from Lakme Fashion Week.
