Pankaj & Nidhi at WIFW AW’14
March is a heavy-duty fashion month for the Indian folks. It is jam packed with two of the biggest fashion events in the country. Case in point: the fash frat was just beginning to recover from Lakme Fashion Week Summer/Resort ’14 in Mumbai, when they had to pack their bags and head to Delhi for Wills India Fashion Week Autumn-Winter ’14.
We followed all the WIFW action and while we loved most of what we saw we can’t help but play favorites! So here goes.
Tarun Tahiliani
Tarun Tahiliani had just showed at LFW earlier this month, so we were dripping with anticipation to see what he had in store for round two. His showing, ‘Satlada’was a vibrant one indeed — one where jeweled tones, signature drapes, gold jewellery and Mughal references took centre stage.
Abraham & Thakore
Mavens of minimalism, Abraham & Thakore, demonstrated the power of simplicity with their fuss free yet impactful collection that was produced by Varanasi weavers. The animal print was a welcome surprise and we are particular digging the belted saris and the addition of trench coats to it.
Nikasha
The immensely festive vibe of Nikasha’s creations has made her a Luxemi favorite. And her AW ’14 collection, ‘Bibi’, gave us another reason to love her. The frosty pink, subtle champagne, pale peach and fiery red ensembles with hand embroidery, diamante and pearl motifs are perfect to sport at the end-of-the-year weddings.
Frou Frou by Archana Rao
As Vogue India’s Fashion Fund winner, Archana Rao of Frou Frou had a lot riding on this collection. And disappoint, she did not. The strong singular prints, fresh palette and essentially feminine looks caught our eye.
Rahul Mishra
After winning the International Woolmark Prize at Milan Fashion Week earlier this year, all eyes were on Rahul Mishra at WIFW. His award winning collection, inspired by the eight petal white lotus, used a variety of bullion knots, aari embroidery and thread work on sheer, silks, cotton and woollen jersey in addition to the ubiquitous use of bandhani on marino wool. The standing ovation was well deserved indeed.
Dev R Nil
Dev R Nil continued to play on their strength —power prints. They gave us plenty to lust after with their collection that used indigenous printing techniques like batik and handloom weaves. Extra props for the effortless manner in which they paired clashing prints.
Sahil Kochhar
Sahil Kochhar made a particularly strong debut and has the industry waxing eloquent about his statement silhouettes and intricate handiwork. Here’s one to watch out for!
Pankaj & Nidhi
Pankaj & Nidhi’s collection, ‘House of Cards’ borrowed heavily from Spanish culture wherein they took their signature silhouettes — high low hemlines, structured jackets, hand-made appliqué work and intricate detailing — and gave it an androgynous spin.
Vineet Bahl
Vineet Bahl’s collection of florals, Banarasi handlooms and vibrant colors found an instant fan in us. Who’s up for cropped churidaars and ankle length palazzos this autumn? We sure are!
Kiran Uttam Gosh
Kiran Uttam Gosh’s fierce twist to traditional wear was one of the strongest shows this season. The label’s signature drapes made an appearance on the ramp, but this time in muted and gilded hues. What really did the trick was the inspired layering of easy separates to create utterly interesting looks.
Kallol Datta
Image credit: FashionForwardTrends
The King of anti-fit stayed true to his tongue-in-cheek style of designing. Kallol Datta’s selfie sari — splashed with own pictures, was a sure shot talking point this season.
Which shows did you enjoy most this season? Tell us in the comment box below!
Praachi Raniwala for Luxemi
The Luxe Report 