Day 1 of the Wills Lifestyle India Fashion Week kick started with a desi twist.The queen bee of the designing world Ritu Kumar showcased a fine blend of Indian fashion and western sensibilities. Anarkali kurtas were teamed with leggings and gota work dominated colourful tunics, kurtis and jackets. Introduction of black with gold embroidery was quite a surprise. The colour palette started 
with burnt yellow and orange and goes into an interesting mix of purple, deep maroon and black. The signature intricate embroidery looked chic.
with burnt yellow and orange and goes into an interesting mix of purple, deep maroon and black. The signature intricate embroidery looked chic.It was interesting to see a mix of short knitted kaftans and elegantly flared jersey skirts teamed with embroidered silks and brocades. Canary yellow coordinated with rust and grey created a fun combination with a refreshing feel. Particularly interesting was the use of tussore wool with multiple colour panelling for a trendy look. Tartan checks were well played with colourful solids bringing in nostalgia with refreshing modernity. The overall silhouettes were a mix of fit and flare in abundance, with swinging skirts and sculpted tops enhancing the body contours.
I particularly liked Rocky S's collection which made a a modern statement in black, steel and metallic silver. Short dresses with a variety of cuts had set the tone towards being chic yet bold. Off-shoulder and the backless-look designs added a lot of oomph. The designer is known to design for some big Bollywood names like John Abraham, Bipasha Basu, Katrina Kaif and Hrithik Roshan.
Designer Nitin Bal Chauhan brought in a collections a black, white, grey collection of structured dresses, slim trousers and fitted trousers shirts. To tone down the masculine edge to these structured garments, he used pleat detailing even in his trousers!
The show stopper ofcourse, was the gorgeous Mughda who sizzled the ramp in a Satya Paul creation.
Mughda Godse walked the ramp for designer Satya Paul
The 13th edition of the Wills Lifestyle India Fashion Week (WIFW), India’s biggest fashion trade event, kick started at the luxurious Intercontinental Eros, Nehru Place, New Delhi on 18 March, 2009. Since over a decade, WLIFW along with the Fashion Design Council of India (FDCI) has acted as a medium for the indian fashion designers to showcase their potential and earn for themselves a name that people would reckon with. The new season will bring with it newcolor shades, designs, creations, clothing construction . Once again, the best of Indian Fashion Industry has come together on a common platform.
Wills Lifestyle India Fashion Week - Day 2
Day 2 of the Wills showcase was a brilliant presentation of Art and Fashion complete in style.
Day 2 of the Wills showcase was a brilliant presentation of Art and Fashion complete in style. Prashant Verma’s showcase Meat was an artistic representation of the Greek narrative of robust and mighty male aggression and its fascination with perfection. The other designers who showcased their creations were Pankaj & Nidhi, Priyadarshini Rao, Sonam Dubal, Gaurav & Ritika, Abdul Halder, Gaurav Gupta, Ashima & Leena Singh, Rohit Mittal, Rajesh Pratap Singh, Preeti S Kapoor and one of the most noted designers of India, Manish Malhotra. Ashima & Leena Singh had a surprise for the audience with the 'Slumdog Millionire' fame Azharuddin Mohammed Ismail and Rubina Ali walking the ramp for their designs. The little celebrities didn't fail to grab the attention of the audience. We take you through a glimpse of what happened on the ramp on Day 2 of Wills Lifestyle India Fashion Week.
Wills Lifestyle India Fashion Week - Day 3
The Day 3 of Wills Lifestyle India Fashion Week saw some of the most brilliant designs from some of the most noted designers of India taking the audience by surprises. The designs by Manish Arora were the ones much noted for its play of colours as well as the sheer novelty of presentation.
The 13th edition of the Wills Lifestyle India Fashion Week (WIFW), India’s biggest fashion trade event, kick started at the luxurious Intercontinental Eros, Nehru Place, New Delhi on 18 March, 2009. Since over a decade, WLIFW along with the Fashion Design Council of India (FDCI) has acted as a medium for the indian fashion designers to showcase their potential and earn for themselves a name that people would reckon with. The new season will bring with it newcolor shades, designs, creations, clothing construction . Once again, the best of Indian Fashion Industry has come together on a common platform.
Wills Lifestyle India Fashion Week - Day 2
Day 2 of the Wills showcase was a brilliant presentation of Art and Fashion complete in style.Prashant Verma’s showcase Meat was an artistic representation of the Greek narrative of robust and mighty male aggression and its fascination with perfection. Digital prints of modern day gymnast in the colours of Olympic leotards. He further explores the military power in printed portraits of dictator, their faces interestingly replaced by screaming guerrillas, explosion of colours on large quilted over coats in linen. All these were contrasted with severe black patent collars, military insignia, black leather hard and coarse.
Urban Bohemia by Pankaj and Nidhi had flaming reds, potent blues, plush orchid plums and mesmerising purples and violets brings new resonance to 2009, a year of hope and recovery. A range of fine trapunto-quilted jackets, precision geometric embroideries of luscious florals, hexagon diskette-quilt capes and Russian vintage print tunics evoke life in all its vibrancy. Sheer leggings, accessorised with gloves and neckpieces in solid colour floral patterns enhanced the theme title “Life in Technicolour”.
Nomad’s Land by Sonam Dubal was an authentic and aesthetic amalgamation of enriched Asian heritage with nomadic lives. The designer showcased a Nomadic/banjara look with tribal elements. The colour palette consisted of deep burgundy, purple and aubergine contrasted with black. His creations reflected the urban lifestyle and beautifully explored the bohemian to the urban nomad.
I was particularly honed into Gaurav Gupta’s dark and futuristic collection which giving due credit to the designer was a visual treat of feminine grace, elegance and beauty. Exaggeration, anthropometry and layers highlighted the soft structural engineering of chiffons and georgettes to control volumes and exaggerated shapes of sleeves, shoulder and waist. His colour palette restrained as always remained grungy deep with dark teal, cobalt blue black, grey yellow with accents of red, bright purples and hot pink.
Urban Bohemia by Pankaj and Nidhi had flaming reds, potent blues, plush orchid plums and mesmerising purples and violets brings new resonance to 2009, a year of hope and recovery. A range of fine trapunto-quilted jackets, precision geometric embroideries of luscious florals, hexagon diskette-quilt capes and Russian vintage print tunics evoke life in all its vibrancy. Sheer leggings, accessorised with gloves and neckpieces in solid colour floral patterns enhanced the theme title “Life in Technicolour”.
Nomad’s Land by Sonam Dubal was an authentic and aesthetic amalgamation of enriched Asian heritage with nomadic lives. The designer showcased a Nomadic/banjara look with tribal elements. The colour palette consisted of deep burgundy, purple and aubergine contrasted with black. His creations reflected the urban lifestyle and beautifully explored the bohemian to the urban nomad.
I was particularly honed into Gaurav Gupta’s dark and futuristic collection which giving due credit to the designer was a visual treat of feminine grace, elegance and beauty. Exaggeration, anthropometry and layers highlighted the soft structural engineering of chiffons and georgettes to control volumes and exaggerated shapes of sleeves, shoulder and waist. His colour palette restrained as always remained grungy deep with dark teal, cobalt blue black, grey yellow with accents of red, bright purples and hot pink.
With dreamy silks, chiffons, tulles and fluid jerseys he uses techniques of draping large flat shapes into soft organic forms. Ingenious use of zips all over the place, soft cowls at the neck, hip and sleeves were punctuated with embroideries. The signature high neck frills with exaggerated collars and organic shapes lent costume-like air to the collection. And so did the anti-fits and folds.
Body moulded stockings with organic cuts and detailing completed the look with a space age futuristic look.
Priyadarshini Rao’s eclectic, mostly Indian and sometimes western styled garments kept in line with the current times. The collection looked very close to the theme ‘Earth’, with traditional yet contemporary ensembles in deliciously earthy colours with a touch of pastels and pinks here and there.
Kavita Bhartia had beautiful gowns with seashell embellishments were the surprise element and gave a very debutante feel to the collection. Chiffon balloon tops with short skirts completed the look. And as expected of Kavita Bharita, the showstopper was a black sheer dupatta draped saree styled over floor sweeping asymmetrical skirt. Cross back black blouse was beautifully embroidered.
Priyadarshini Rao’s eclectic, mostly Indian and sometimes western styled garments kept in line with the current times. The collection looked very close to the theme ‘Earth’, with traditional yet contemporary ensembles in deliciously earthy colours with a touch of pastels and pinks here and there.
Kavita Bhartia had beautiful gowns with seashell embellishments were the surprise element and gave a very debutante feel to the collection. Chiffon balloon tops with short skirts completed the look. And as expected of Kavita Bharita, the showstopper was a black sheer dupatta draped saree styled over floor sweeping asymmetrical skirt. Cross back black blouse was beautifully embroidered.
Day 2 of the Wills showcase was a brilliant presentation of Art and Fashion complete in style. Prashant Verma’s showcase Meat was an artistic representation of the Greek narrative of robust and mighty male aggression and its fascination with perfection. The other designers who showcased their creations were Pankaj & Nidhi, Priyadarshini Rao, Sonam Dubal, Gaurav & Ritika, Abdul Halder, Gaurav Gupta, Ashima & Leena Singh, Rohit Mittal, Rajesh Pratap Singh, Preeti S Kapoor and one of the most noted designers of India, Manish Malhotra. Ashima & Leena Singh had a surprise for the audience with the 'Slumdog Millionire' fame Azharuddin Mohammed Ismail and Rubina Ali walking the ramp for their designs. The little celebrities didn't fail to grab the attention of the audience. We take you through a glimpse of what happened on the ramp on Day 2 of Wills Lifestyle India Fashion Week.Wills Lifestyle India Fashion Week - Day 3
The Day 3 of Wills Lifestyle India Fashion Week saw some of the most brilliant designs from some of the most noted designers of India taking the audience by surprises. The designs by Manish Arora were the ones much noted for its play of colours as well as the sheer novelty of presentation.Another attraction of Day 3 was the models cat walking the pool side for the designers. The most noted designers of Day 3 were Ankur & Priyanka Modi, Manish Gupta, Zubair Kirmani, Rathore Jodhpur, Nikhita Tandon, Nikiee Mahajan, Namrata Joshipura, Hemant & Nandita and Puja Arya.