Fashion Inspiration For The Festive Season
Find out what some of the best Indian couturiers are offering this upcoming season for you to update your wardrobe this season in a jiffy.
From Sabyasachi to Gaurav Gupta, Indian couturiers made their mark like never before at this year's Met Gala. Many a celebrity can now be seen donning Indian haute couture on various red carpets worldwide, putting our traditional silhouettes and artisanal skills in the spotlight of the global fashion scene. The 17th edition of Hyundai India Couture Week (HICW) held recently was also a continuation of this celebration of Indian aesthetics and crafts. And in case you are confused about how to put your best fashion foot forward for all the festivities just around the corner, then here are some quick pointers that we have curated to help you look fabulous. Effortlessly.
Gold and Ivory Rules
The one colour combination that you just cannot go wrong with this festive season is the time-honoured pairing of white and gold. Kim Kardashian chose a white-and-gold Manish Malhotra custom lehenga to turn heads at Anant Ambani and Radhika Merchant's wedding ceremony. It was an amalgamation of a contemporary silhouette with traditional zardozi craftsmanship. Athiya Shetty too wore an archival Abu Jani Sandeep Khosla ivory chikankari sari accented with pearls, sequins, and a gold border to the Ambani wedding. You can browse through Rohit Bal's latest collection online, who offers a variety of white and gold anarkali and lehenga sets for maximum elegance.
Flaunt Your Sleeves
An easy way to standout in a crowd is by experimenting with the design element of sleeves. Designer Suneet Varma presented a range of different caped, feathered, and ruffled sleeves in his latest collection 'Nazm' at the HICW 2024 and so did designer Dolly J with her collection 'La Vie En Rose'. Try to incorporate strings of beads or pearls or even tassels and fringes to embellish your sleeves for elevating your outfit instantly.
Return of the Red Sari
The one favourite with Indian designers at the moment is the scarlet siren, the incontestable red sari. There are a million ways to flaunt this silhouette as you can choose a plain version like the Jayanti Reddy pre-draped lehenga sari worn by Malaika Arora, paired beautifully with an intricate zardozi and tasselled blouse. If you wish to go all out, then a sparkling sequinned iteration by Sabyasachi or Manish Malhotra is what you need. A light tulle red sari set such as the one featured by Dolly J at HICW 2024, complete with feathers and crystals, is perfect for cocktails and wedding receptions.
Indulge in Colours Galore
Indian fashion has always been one of the most vibrant with its extensive use of colour. Some contemporary designers such as Mayyur Girotra seem to have mastered the art of kaleidoscopic couture over the years, as was proved by Sara Ali Khan who donned a colourful lehenga set by the designer for Ganesh Chaturthi. Check out Anita Dongre's collection 'Raahi' if you are a bride-to-be or have a wedding to attend as you will be spoilt for choice with its multihued jacket and lehenga sets. Tarun Tahiliani and Torani also offer exquisite lehenga sets with all the colours of a rainbow blended together seamlessly.
Adorn Your Tresses
When in doubt about styling your mane with your traditional wear, stick with a sleek bun. Across the runways of HIC Week 2024, models were seen with neat and ornate buns, which helped draw more focus on the apparel and balance out the overall look. Score extra points by styling your bun with metallic cages, gajra strings, or flowers (preferably roses) of your choice. Other traditional hair accessories or bejewelled clips are also recommended.
Classic Bandhgala for Men
Combining luxury and vintage sensibilities, the evergreen bandhgala is a must-have for all the fashion-savvy menfolk. You cannot afford to miss out on the regal achkans and waistcoats by the master of Jodhpuri bandhgala suits, Raghavendra Rathore himself. If you seek hues like old rose and midnight blue, then explore Varun Bahl’s offerings. For flora and fauna inspired bandhgala sets in silk and velvet, the intricately embroidered and printed creations by Rohit Bal will not disappoint.
Go All Noir
A cheat code that is sure to immediately answer any kind of fashion dilemma for men this season is the quintessential, all-black silhouette. Tarun Tahiliani’s collection of ebony cocktail sherwani sets, crafted with sequins in geometric symmetry, are ideal for those who wish to keep it traditional. But if you want to take the contemporary route, then an all-black tuxedo set similar to the bespoke Amit Aggarwal creation that Ibrahim Ali Khan wore for the Ambani pre-wedding function is the perfect approach to this trend. Inspired by evolutionary biomimicry, it was made with their signature sunray polymer top stitch details and embellished micro pleats, which added light and depth against the pitch-black velvet fabric, making the tuxedo jacket attractive without using any other colour. The key to pulling off an entirely noir look is to play with different textures or add slight hints of shimmer in the ensemble to prevent it from looking dull and flat.
