Lakme Fashion Week’s winter-festive 2015 edition in Mumbai closed on Sunday evening with a feisty Bollywood presence on the runway in almost all of the participating designers’ collections, as both show openers and closers. Fashion legend Tarun Tahiliani showcased his ready-to-wear line called Easy Glamour on the fifth and final day of the week, while Neeta Lulla showed her extensive bridal collection. Gaurav Gupta’s finale show had the handsome Zayed Khan in attendance as Kareena Kapoor walked as his showstopper in a sheer black dress from his very chiselled and sculpted line for women — a debut collaboration for both. And no, Saif Ali Khan was not around to watch his wife scorch the runway at the finale.
GAURAV GUPTA
A graduate of Central St Martins College of Art and Design in London, and India’s youngest couturier, Gaurav Gupta showcased his Sculpt collection at the iconic Mehboob Studio in Mumbai on Sunday night. The minimalistic collection, with a restrained colour palette, was pure fashion fantasia. A giant white sculpture of the head of a woman with wind-swept hair, with two staircases attached on either side of it, stood centre stage on the circular runway. Models walked out from the stairs onto the ramp wearing Gupta’s structured and feminine silhouettes in shades of grey, black, ivory and red.
The designer’s showstopper, Kapoor, embodied the spirit of Santana’s hit track, Black Magic Woman, as she strutted on to the runway in a sheer ensemble. “Gaurav’s vision has been truly avant-garde just like the Sculpt theme itself. It feels great to be a muse for such coveted designers who have always given me the opportunity to explore a new avatar. For someone like me who loves to pout, this one is even more special because it’s all about the playful pout,” said Kapoor.
“I have been making sculptures with clay all my life and even have some at my store, which is why I loved creating the Sculpt collection. It is a complete extension of who I am and my vision was beautifully brought to life by the stunning Kareena Kapoor-Khan,” said Gupta of his Sculpt range at the LFW finale.
TARUN TAHILIANI
Tahiliani set up his stage with glamour props like a full-length mirror, a rack of designer clothes and a video of model-turned-Bollywood star Lisa Haydon playing on the screens, modelling his latest Easy Glamour collection. Model Ujjwala Raut opened his show in a black number and set the pace for the glamorous sheaths, jumpsuits, body-contoured saris, capelets, kalidar jackets, corset dresses, dhoti saris, lungi dresses, kaftans, tunics and shifts in exotic and vibrant prints and silk embroidery. Yellow, emerald, rust, teal and aubergine and black were the dominant colours of Tahiliani’s collection.
The jumpsuit-sari, replete with pleats and a draped dupatta, a new Tahiliani cross-creation that the wearer just steps into and zips up, elicited the desired reaction from the audience at the show.
Tahiliani’s showstopper was the stunning Bollywood actress Chitrangada Singh in a black gown with a velvet cape adorned with gold embellishments, which made for a fascinating closing of his show.
NEETA LULLA
Neeta Lulla exhibited a line that was all things bridal, not just the clothes — bridal hair, make-up and the complete ensembles were presented in five varying themes: Vintage, Glam, Traditional, Sculpt and Nature, with 25 distinct looks. The show opened with Lulla’s daughter, a designer herself, Nishka Lulla.
The Vintage theme was set from the Great Gatsby-esque ’20s up until the ’70s — with a make-up complementing the garments, in three looks: Victorian Blush, Classic Allure and Retro Diva, paired with crown chignons for an elegant bride. In the Traditional theme, the clothes were inspired by Indian temples and traditional arts in three separate looks: Rooted Beauty, Princess Royale and Ethnic Charm, in hues of ruby red, pink, midnight blue and yellow. Models glided the runway with flowers and braids in their hair in all the bridal finery of Lulla’s line. The Sculpt theme was inspired by Jaipur’s ornate architectural style that Lulla turned into luxurious ensembles; for the Glam theme, it was Bronze Bling, Runway Shimmer and Sublime Stardust that led the designs and the Nature theme is self-explanatory with Bohemian Dream, Floral Fantasy and Aqua Illusion, with flowers, leaves, peacock feathers and pearls lending a natural flair to the line alongside natural make-up.
“I am extremely delighted to have been a part of Lakme Salon’s first bridal show. Together, we have created a collection of looks to suit different kinds of brides and I think the perfect bridal look is a combination of great hair and make-up, and an ensemble that creates the desired look in its entirety,” said Lulla.
Bollywood star Tamannah Bhatia was Lulla’s showstopper for the line that was created for the modern woman.
There was a pronounced Bollywood presence on the final day of the week, unlike the past days of the fashion playground in Mumbai, with big-ticket stars, upcoming ones and starlets alike lending their stardust and fame to the fashion runway, the front row celebrity attendance notwithstanding.
Amy Jackson opened Anushree Reddy’s show, The Oasis at Sunset, while Rana Dagubatti closed it.
Malaika Arora-Khan walked as Arpita Mehta’s Golden Hour showstopper.
Esha Gupta was Ridhi Mehra’s showstopper for her line, Prism.
Kunal Khemu was Piyush Dedhia’s showstopper for SOL.
Surveen Chawla walked for Tanieya Khanuja’s Memory Folds.
Kriti Sanon walked for Sonaakshi Raaj’s Runaway Bride collection as her showstopper.
Shilpa Shetty was Divya Reddy’s stunning showstopper for her collection, Allure.
Ileana D’Cruz walked for Sangria.
Tamannah Bhatia walked for Neeta Lulla’s bridal line.
Chitrangada Singh walked for Tarun Tahiliani’s Easy Glamour.
Kareena Kapoor was the lady in sheer black as Gaurav Gupta’s showstopper for the finale show.
