Sprinkling of star power, woven wonders, sporty chic and the shining star of fashion week Gaurav Gupta, who crafted elegance from ocean plastic waste
By Asmita Aggarwal
What does it take to make something truly intriguing as well as sustainable? Generally the two never find a common meeting spot, but the CSM graduate Gaurav Gupta somehow manages to make even ocean plastic waste look elegant. As the world demands that we all change our shopping habits, the recycle revolution has been a game changer.
Taking the lead, Gaurav offered his silvery sculpted gowns, in the backdrop of a magnificent set, complete with a waterfall and models ‘walking on water’, the vastness of the ocean reflected through a screen, and with new mom, Kareena Kapoor his showstopper, there was high voltage glamour.
The girl from Bhiwani never thought one day she would be gracing the gilt-edged catwalks of the FDCI X Lakme Fashion Week. But Udita Duhan has had many firsts in her life, from being inspired by her father a handball player to then shifting to hockey and finally making it to the national team.
At 23, there is a lot more mettle to the player than just wielding a stick and that’s why she was the perfect muse for Rina Dhaka’s line “The Unstoppables”. The wrap and cutout tops, mirror work full skirts, peek-a-boo dresses were somewhat relegated to the background, when paralympic Deepa Malik, took centrestage with her embroidered blouse and unmatched charisma making fashion less about clothes, rather celebrating invincible human will.
The final day of the phygital week saw a starburst with a surprising appearance by the princess of Pataudi, Soha Ali Khan who is better known to play the role of a doting mom, off screen. This time she chose to dazzle in an off shoulder gold and zari gown for Megha Jain Madaan. While designer Sanjuckta dressed the music baron Bhushan Kumar’s wife Divya in the charming weaves of Assam, as she painted the catwalk with ensembles that came emblazoned with polka dots on a black canvas.
Chitrangada Singh, the girl originally from Meerut, gave a breath of fresh air to Srishti and Shikha’s tiered, layered dresses and love for lavender, by flaunting a risqué choli in pleasing sage green. No fashion week in Mumbai can really be complete without an appearance from Malaika Arora Khan, who this time swapped her gym clothes for some serious glitter —ornate red zardosi lehenga by Annu’s. Prreeti Jaiin Nainutia of Nirmooha found solace in nature, with barefoot models, flowing stream, sunflower fields, fresh green leaves which accompanied the embroidered bodices of her floor length dresses. The shine was on, and seemed perfect for the day, with bodycon minis.
After a long hiatus Ranna Gill is back to woo the domestic market after creating a comfortable place for herself internationally, mostly in the US with husband Jason Holand. Her playground could have changed but not her aesthetic, which is why the tie back dresses, white palazzos with colourful placement embroideries, graphic prints in a winning combination of red and black, merged well with the central theme that paid homage to female friendships. You can wear these halter necks for a day out with friends or a day in with a candlelit dinner.