Serving up new trends to millennials season after season just isn’t enough anymore. Why? Because they don’t just follow, but drive them instead! This generation preaches and practices freedom of expression in every way possible, and an outfit without a purpose just doesn’t cut it. Indian designers have started taking notice, and are constantly coming up with creations that align with the millennial mindset and its evolutionary demands.
Since the wedding season is in full swing, we’ve listed our favourite runway collections. Each one tells a story, and will fit into your wardrobe seamlessly.
Hide & Seek – Kunal Rawal
What men really want is a question that has been plaguing their real-life leading ladies since forever! Apart from shiny cars and a great liquor cabinet, the answer is – pieces that they can wear over and over.
Yes, ask any 21st century man and he’ll tell you that a versatile wardrobe is what he’s been looking to build! So whether it’s his big day or someone else’s, finding an outfit that is fit for more than just one occasion is equivalent to you finding jewellery you can flaunt with various pairings.
Here’s where Kunal Rawal came in with his India Couture Week collection titled Hide & Seek. The digital edition of the show saw these pieces shot on the steps of the Asiatic Library, symbolising heritage and function at the same time. What was special about these sherwanis, bandhgalas, kurtas, and jackets was the fact that they can later be treated as separates paired with other items right out of your wardrobe. The collection is fluid when it comes to geography and seasons, and put the designer’s love for textures & mock layering into focus. ‘Deconstruction’ forms the crux of Hide & Seek, and we’re all for it.
Check out Hide & Seek here.
Rouge – Jayanti Reddy
Being the woman of today goes beyond multitasking, having panache and staying empowered in every way possible. It is also about staying true to our roots, but bending some of the rules to fit the 21st century.
Traditions aren’t just something that the elders in our families follow; they’re also an integral part of who we are, and what we represent. Take the colour red for instance – the inspiration behind Jayanti Reddy’s Lakme Fashion Week W/F’20 collection Rouge. For several years, Indians have regarded ‘red’ as the most auspicious colour. It is what the bride wears on her wedding day even now. Symbolizing power, passion, wealth and love; this is a colour that is bold in its ways and commands attention wherever it goes.
Jayanti Reddy encapsulates these attributes perfectly, and transforms them into bridal masterpieces for the modern woman through Rouge. Comprising exquisitely crafted lehengas, sarees, anarkalis and shararas with a contemporary and trendsetting appeal, the collection celebrates ‘red’ in all its glory.
Check out Rouge here.
The Labyrinth – Disha Patil
There is nothing about the universe that isn’t fascinating. Its endless secrets may be well-hidden, but that doesn’t stop us from deriving inspiration from the ones that we do know! It speaks to us through geometry, and we can all learn the language by gazing at the alignment of stars in the sky on a clear night. More and more millennials are seeking refuge in learning where it all has taken birth, and where we’re heading.
The same universe and its symbols posed as the muse for Disha Patil’s Lakme Fashion Week W/F ‘20 collection titled The Labyrinth. Delving deep into sacred geometry, the pieces are crafted in galactic palettes and are a sight to behold. Made for the modern bride and the wedding party, the designs take an approach that perfectly balances minimalism & maximalism. Cultural silhouettes fused with western trends make for some of the dreamiest looks that you can flaunt at weddings and festivities!
Check out The Labyrinth here.
Nazaara – Anushree Reddy
When the countdown to her big day begins, the bride is often wound up in a slew of pre-wedding celebrations. From Haldi to Mehendi and everything in between, Indian weddings are nothing short of an endless party – with each one having a dress code of its own. Earlier, brides-to-be were never given the option of dressing it down, and their outfits used to be as grand as the nature of the celebration itself. Heavily embroidered pieces layered with more fabrics and complex drapes made up 80% of the look.
All of this has changed now, and women need comfort as well as style from their dream look. They demand an outfit that isn’t fussy, so that they can get through the day with ease while still looking luxurious.
Nazaara by Anushree Reddy brings in a fuss-free take on bridal and wedding fashion. With the label’s signature romanticist and feminine approach, the palette is every bit flirty and fun. The silhouettes hold a similar feel, and the details are a delight for the millennial brides. The highlights of this collection showcased at Lakme Fashion Week W/F ’20 were fine embroidery and 3D cutwork.
Check out Nazaara here.
