WLIFW: Wendell Rodricks revives the Kunbi sari

If you haven’t heard of the Kunbi sari before this, you’re not the only one. While people know the Banarasi, Paithani, Kanjeevaram and the Kasavu sari, not many are aware of Goa’s Kunbi sari. Designer Wendell Rodricks, however, is keen to bring Goa’s traditional sari into every fashionista’s wardrobe, with his Spring/ Summer 2011 collection shown at Wills Lifestyle India Fashion Week recently.

Wendell blended cotton and silk fabrics to create saris, tunics and tube dresses in ivory, sand washed greys and subtle greens (using organic dyes of iron ore, conjee, indigo blue, pomegranate and leaf dyes).

I think the Kunbi sari can make a simple, yet powerful style statement at work, a family gathering, or a bharatnatyam programme.

Take a look at the Kunbi sari and tell us what you think. Also note how Wendell has used the same fabric to create an ideal summer dress.

Kunbi sari at Wendell Rodricks WLIFW Subtle green dress at Wendell Rodricks WLIFW

What do you think of the Kunbi sari? Tell us!

WLIFW: Chic hair trends

Sleek hair at Prashant Verma and Arjun Saluja

In Prashant Verma’s death-themed show, the designer depicted pain, grief and valour with printed kaftan dresses and wispy skirts in black, bottle green and grey. The models’ long dark hair was pulled back, straightened and flattened, even as their faces were bare, devoid of any makeup.

Sleek hair at Prashant Verma WLIFW

At Rishta by Arjun Saluja, models got a severe look with a centre parting and made into a firm bun. The designer used a similar look at his Lakme Fashion Week show last month (theme: Sleek Mystique).

Sculpted hair at Ashish N Soni

Ashish N Soni’s Interplay of Yin and Yang was based on a monochromatic colour palette. His hair stylist rolled, twisted, twirled and pinned up hair to mirror the garments’ pin tucks and pleats.

Sculpted hair at Ashish N Soni WLIFW

Which hair trend gets your vote?


WLIFW: Reynu Taandon’s hole-y safari

On day 5 of Wills Lifestyle India Fashion Week, designer Reynu Taandon took fashionistas on a safari in clothes replete with holes. In Reynu’s Spring/ Summer 2011 collection Safari Glam, the garments were, well, perforated. The little circles were cut precisely into the fabric using a laser-based technique.

Before you say,“No way I’m gonna wear clothes with holes”, recall the recently-popular cutwork jackets. And then take a look at the pictures below. The shorts in the first picture are wearable,  while the varying hole diameters in the beige shirt give a whole new meaning to safari chic. (Scroll down further for a close-up of the shirt).

Reynu Taandon top and shorts at WLIFW Reynu Taandon outfit at WLIFW

Note the fringes and gold studs on the left pocket.

                                  Close up of Reynu Taandon shirt WLIFW

What do you think of Reynu Taandon’s safari collection? Tell us!

WLIFW: Preeti Chandra’s easy colours for the summer

On Day 5 of Wills Lifestyle India Fashion Week, Preeti Chandra presented a collection aptly called Summer Eye-Candies.

Preeti used colours that didn’t pop, but were summery enough, such as citrus, fawn and mossy green. Shintz and shimmer added glamour to the clothes, while gold and candy colour embroidery on necklines and bodices created sophisticated drama on the ramp.

Preeti Chandra's green outfit at WLIFW Preeti Chandra dress at WLIFW Preeti Chandra orange jacket at WLIFW

Even though easy silhouettes defined Preeti’s collection (tunics, shifts, and kurtas, kaftan dresses, loose trousers and jackets), the designer added a formal touch with ivory shifts with silver embroidery and ribboned wedges.

 

What do you think of Preeti Chandra’s summer colour palette? Tell us!

WLIFW: AM:PM for work and play

In a refreshing change from festive wear, Ankur and Priyanka Modi of AM:PM presented a collection of office and easy evening wear at Wills Lifestyle India Fashion Week Spring/Summer 2011.

Office wear included vests with tightly draped skirts. For evening wear, the AM:PM duo used asymmetrical hemlines and wrap dresses in light fabrics like chiffon, with colours like grey and crème. Drapes were also visible in a Grecian dress and a fun jumpsuit.

Being a Spring/Summer collection (called Office Couture), AM:PM gave their collection a summery touch with long sundresses with surface shine and long gowns in empire-line waists.

AM:PM dress AM:PM dress with embroidery

Speaking Chic says: We didn’t see much experimentation from AM:PM, but most clothes were very wearable.

WIFW: 15 new faces to scorch Delhi ramp

Fifteen new models will make their Wills Lifestyle India Fashion Week debut later this month, to be held in New Delhi. Here’s a glimpse of some of them.

Anjali Raut model  Kritika Babu model  Lekha Raman model

From left to right: Anjali Raut, Kritika Babu, Lekha Raman.

And here are all 15 of them (the first thing I noticed was their super long legs :-)):

 Models for WIFW

What do you think of the new faces at Wills Lifestyle India Fashion Week?

WIFW hits century, more than 100 designers to show!

No kidding. More than a hundred designers will participate in Wills Lifestyle India Fashion Week, to be held in Delhi from October 23 to 27, 2010. To be precise: 115 designers. Here are the ones we’re watching out for:

  • Abraham & Thakore
  • am:pm by Ankur & Priyanka Modi
  • Anand Kabra
  • Ashima ‐ Leena
  • Ashish N Soni
  • Dev r Nil
  • Elisha W
  • Gaurav Gupta
  • Geisha Designs by Paras & Shalini
  • JJ Valaya
  • Kallol Datta 1955
  • Manish Arora
  • Manish Gupta
  • Morphe by Amit Aggarwal
  • My Village by Rimzim Dadu
  • Namrata Joshipura
  • Nikasha Tawadey
  • Pankaj & Nidhi
  • Péro by Aneeth Arora
  • Priyadarshini Rao
  • Rahul Mishra
  • Rahul Reddy
  • Rajesh Pratap Singh
  • Ranna Gill
  • Ravage by Raj Shroff
  • Rehane
  • Rishta by Arjun
  • Ritu Beri
  • Rohit Bal
  • Rohit Gandhi & Rahul Khanna
  • Samant Chauhan
  • Sanskar by Sonam Dubal
  • Tarun Tahiliani
  • Varun Bahl

Accessory Designers

  • 5 Elements by Radhika Gupta
  • Amrapali by Rajiv Arora & Rajesh Ajmera
  • Art Apparel & Accessories Shelina & Camelia
  • Felix Bendish
  • G’Nian & Geesz by Nitin Vijay

Which designers are you looking forward to in the upcoming edition of Wills Lifestyle India Fashion Week?