Diwali, the festival of lights as we know it, is also the major inspiration for the catwalk at Lakmé Fashion Week this year in India. Seems Indian couture has taken a page out of the festival of lights and has found its new muse. From the ambiance to the colours and patterns, it all screams of a celebration!
With Diwali coming up, there will be a variety of social gatherings, family functions and religious functions that you need to be prepared for. Here’s how we can help. When looking for that “eye catching,” “heart stopping” and as LMFAO likes to say “I’m sexy and I know it” outfit, there are a few set of rules that you should keep in mind:
• Big bold patterns
• Bright rustic colours such as rustic orange
• Layering and colour blocking to really make a lasting impression
It seems many of the designers at Lakmé Fashion Week were largely inspired by Madras sarees as well as the typical Madrasan look. If anyone has seen Madrasan sarees, they are very popular for their chunky gold borders, bright bold colours and beautiful silk which screams royalty.
A tip for choosing these sarees: make sure it is Chennai silk. To give you a bit of a history lesson, Chennai silk actually comes from the capital city of Tamil Nadu called Chennai, also known as Madras, which is more popularly recognized for its beautiful silks, amazing culture and coincidently, is also a major shopping destination for sarees. Nothing beats Chennai silk! Gaurang Shah’s brand “Gaurang” is synonomous with traditional handlooms and weaves and additionally for Shah’s use of South Indian cultures in his designs. He loves to play with a variety of cultural fashions, including kashmiri and parsi. Shah’s line at the Lakmé Fashion Week was nothing short of awe.
Neeta Lulla, a renowned designer from India introduced her line “Radha” at the Lakmé Fashion Week. Although the title for her new line screams tradition, Lulla comments that it is everything but! “This time my collection is actually all over the place because it’s a beautiful and colourful line, so the treatment of gold and use of jewellery will be the focus,” she told India Today during an interview.
For those of you who may not be familiar with Radha, she is mentioned in the Hindu scriptures as Lord Krishna’s soulmate. Although Lord Krishna was married to another, Radha always remained in his heart. It seems Lulla’s 2012 fashion line recreates this mystical romance and accentuates Radha’s beauty. Lulla’s “Radha” welcomes big patterns, bright bold designs and is very traditionally Indian. I don’t know about the romantic connotation behind the line’s name but it definitely makes for great party wear!
Another one of my favourites from the Lakmé Fashion Week is Rohit Bal, who is anything but subtle! When he does something, he likes to do it big. He featured his winter 2012 line which was anything BUT traditional. If you want edgy princess; then Rohit Bal is your designer.
Bal started the catwalk with the chalky white anarkali’s and long skirts and eventually the season changed into brighter and bolder colour schemes with bigger and even bolder patterns. He stuck with the rustic and darkly bright colour palettes and straight lines and beautiful nature inspired patterns. The best piece of the collection was the long sleeved jackets with the anarkali suits. The jackets were beautifully designed, a perfect work of art!
Colour blocking has also become big this year. Mixing and matching different colours from the opposite ends of the colour palette definitely screams attention. Playing with different colours brightens up the room and naturally puts you in a more festive mood.
Mix your colours, layer your clothes and look for big patterns – you will be the center of attention in a room full of lights! Diwali is a time to light up the room and add colour to your life, why not brighten up your wardrobe?
