Vineet Bahl’s show at Amazon India Fashion Week was entitled Code and came with its own hashtags. The show notes said it was a collection for women who don’t dress to impress but are confident themselves.
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March 18, 2017
Amazon India Fashion Week: Dynamism And A Sacred Forest
Day two at Amazon India Fashion Week had beautiful array of designer collections but I wonder how many of them flock to warmer pastures during Winter. North India is bloody cold in Winter yet the South remains lovely and warm. Flimsy silks and bare legs show that only jet setters need to pay attention!
Design Duo, Hemant & Nandita’s collection was entitled Dynamism with a beautiful contrast of metallics and pastel shades:
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March 21, 2016
Sci-Fi Saree at Day 2 of Amazon India Fashion Week AW16
Rimzim Dadu, AIFW AW16
Indian designer, Rimzim Dadu took a break from fashion shows for a couple of years to re-organise her company. One might think she went from a catwalk to a lab coat: she created a technically striking ‘Back to The Future’ collection that included some traditional Indian
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March 18, 2016
Day 1 Amazon India Fashion Week AW16: The Best of The Rest
March 18, 2016
Day 1 Amazon India Fashion Week AW16: Hemant & Nandita
Hemant & Nandita Amazon India Fashion Week AW 2016
The Hemant & Nandita brand and design duo are recognised for their strong prints and this collection played to their strengths. The outerwear was particularly strong and interestingly, finally relevant for an Indian Winter. I’ve been covering Indian fashion for many
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March 18, 2016
Opening Act: Amazon India Fashion Week Fall/Winter 2016
Varun Bahl Amazon India Fashion Week FW 2016
Varun Bahl is a wonderful Indian couturier who was invited to do the coveted opening show for Amazon India Fashion Week Fall/Winter 2016 which also hailed his return to ready-to-wear.
The collection was entitled ‘Nocturne’ hailing the usual suspects of said inspiration. I really liked the bomber jackets and the styling
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October 15, 2015
Amazon India Fashion Week Grand Finale SS16
October 15, 2015
Day 4 & 5 AIFW: Romantic Ideas in Fashion
I wasn’t particularly wowed by the shows on the last 2 days at Amazon India Fashion Week in which one desperate designer even included a huge Lucky Strike cigarette packet on a T shirt. The best shows gave us romantic fashion in two very different yet beautiful ways.
Geisha Designs, AIFW SS16
Geisha Designs, AIFW SS16
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October 15, 2015
Day 3 AIFW: The Best Looks
October 11, 2015
Gl-Amazon India Fashion Week SS16 Opens!
Sanjay Garg, Amazon India Fashion Week SS 2016
Amazon India Fashion Week Spring/Summer 2016 in association with Maybelline is well under way and as usual, you can take a peak at the best shows here at The Chatterjis Blog!
Opening proceedings this season was top designer, Sanjay Garg and his brand Raw Mango. The show was dedicated to one fabric: mashru. Mashru was introduced to India by the Mughals it is a cotton and silk weave originally created to provide ‘halal’ fabric for menswear (silk for Muslim men is deemed haram, oh yes of course…). Production stopped in India in the 1940s inspiring Sanjay Garg and his company to re-instate the skill in Benaras. Now his hugely successful brand helps to keep the textile alive.
Sanjay Garg, Amazon India Fashion Week SS 2016
The designer’s vibrant colour palette and elaborate designs demonstrate the beauty and drape of the fabric. Repeat motifs and stripes are in step with the traditional origins of Mashru.
Bubbly
August 18, 2015
The Empress Story by Manish Malhotra
Manish Malhotra, AICW 2015. Photography: FDCI
With this collection, Manish Malhotra celebrated 10 years of his couture house and 25 years as a costume designer for the Indian film industry. His Bollywood fan club was out in full support on the night, generations of stars and super stars sitting in front row, the paparazzi going wild.
Manish Malhotra, AICW 2015. Photography: FDCI
As if these two fantastic milestones weren’t enough to celebrate, demonstrating that good things come in three’s, Manish Malhotra announced that two new flagship boutiques would open in 2016, one in London and the other in Dubai. Both world class shopping
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August 16, 2015
Through The Cinematic Lens with Debarun
Debarun, AICW 2015. Photography: Mashungsang Sangkhro
Debarun Mukherjee’s couture collection embarked on a journey through Indian cinematic costume through the decades from the black and white days of the 1930s to the present time. Of course, little has changed in hundreds of years of traditional Indian fashion let alone a few decades. Colours and trims come in and out of fashion
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August 16, 2015
The Beloved by Manav Gangwani
Manav Gangwani, AICW 2015. Photography: Mashungsang Sangkhro
Indian couturier, Manav Gangwani’s show was entitled ‘Le’amoureuse’ or the beloved in English. He really should have stuck with English as the French is grammatically incorrect and has, incidentally, been widely re-printed with the same error across other media. I know this is a fashion review not a French lesson but if you’re going to have pretensions, at least Google your French.
Back to the collection… The show was set in a floral garden with a long winding catwalk. An hour late, the audience had to wait longer
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August 6, 2015
Maharadja & Co
Rimple and Harpreet Narula, AICW 2015, Photography: FDCI
‘Maharadja & Co’ was the title of the Preciosa (Czec crystals) sponsored glamorous couture show by Rimple and Harpreet Narula. Celebrating the days and glory of the Raj is the essence of Rimple and Harpreet Narula’s brand (although every Indian designer invariably cites the same inspiration).
Rimple and Harpreet have endeavored to capture the very beginnings of the concepts of bespoke and portraiture in India with
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August 6, 2015
Princesses of Persia
Anju Modi, AICW 21015. Photography: FDCI
Anju Modi’s show notes included a poem by my favourite Sufi poet, Rumi so I was won over from the start:
I asked, “Where is your home, beautiful moon?”
She said, “In the wreck of your heart so stone.
I am the sun shining into your ruin.
Long may you call this wild wasteland your home”.
Inspired by Persia, the show was entitled Kashish: an Urdu word, reflects an attraction, a deep desire and yearning for something; something which maybe never was. Well English words don’t mean so much do they?
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August 6, 2015
Gaurav Gupta’s Nymphs & Goddesses
Gaurav Gupta, AICW 2015. Photography: Mashungsang Sangkhro
Amazon India Couture Week 2015 might be the show in which Gaurav Gupta got his mojo back after a pretty bad pret collection. The show was called ‘Silt and Cipher’ with models glamorously made up to resemble woodland nymphs and goddesses. The golden hair was amazing!
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July 31, 2015
Rahul Mishra’s Couture Debut
July 31, 2015
Sabyasachi Opens Amazon India Couture Week 2015
Calcutta based extraordinary couturier, Sabyasachi opened Amazon India Couture Week in glorious fashion. The designer’s trademark indulgent yet sophisticated designs and his meticulously details catwalk stage was inspired this season by India’s most common hunting bird, a ‘Bater’.
Sabyasachi, AICW 2015. Photography: Mashungsang Sangkhro
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April 12, 2015
Hey Pretty Eyes!
We all have a tried and tested ‘face’ that we can slap on to trundle through a regular day. Of course ‘regular day’ is an elastic phrase if, like me, you’re of South Asian origin. Once upon a time my regular day face consisted of what most women would consider full bridal makeup. As I’ve gotten older my makeup has become significantly lighter and more sparing yet I still haven’t often been quite daring.
About a month went to the amaaaazing Guy Bourdin exhibition at Somerset House just before its final curtain call. The gift shop had an amazing Nars makeup range commissioned especially
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March 29, 2015
A Military March and A Risky Affair
Pero by Aneeth Arora, AIFW AW 2015
This season péro by Aneeth Arora lent her attention to military uniforms and the clothing and accessory items that have become staples over the decades, such as aviator sunglasses and khakis. She continued her exploration of Scottish checks (hand woven in the Himalaya region) and block printed textiles from Gujurat.
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March 29, 2015
A Voyage of Discovery and The Goddess of The Night
Sanchita, AIFW AW 2015
This season Sanchita showcased a collection inspired by ‘A Voyage of Discovery’ influenced by multiple stimuli, from gentle contemplation to upbeat, vivid experience. It wasn’t in the show notes but clearly there was a hint of Alexander McQueen’s Savage Beauty in the moulded feather headwear.
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March 29, 2015
Photo Diary from Amazon India Fashion Week
March 27, 2015
Divine Diversity at Amazon India Fashion Week
March 26, 2015
An Early Frost
Rohit Gandhi + Rahul Khanna, AIFW AW2015
Melancholy show notes accompanied the press and buyers only presentation by Rohit Gandhi and Rahul Khanna titled An Early Frost: ‘And some times the frost visits early. Not just in the temperature but in life and existence seem fragile and cruel…This special collection is together a lament and a celebration of a life.’
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March 26, 2015
JJ Valaya and his Bolshoi Bazaar
JJ Valaya, AIFW AW 2015
With a toe, or sewing needle, dipped in India and the other in Russia, JJ Valaya’s Bolshoi Bazaar collection was an ode to regal indulgence.
India is of course JJ’s True Love and each season the designer merges Indian cultural inspiration with a foreign heritage as long as
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March 26, 2015
Kavita Bhartia’s Magical Milestone
Kavita Bhartia, AIFW AW 2015
Celebrating 25 years as a designer, Kavita Bhartia showed a retrospective of her designs with a collection that cemented her place as a veteran designer. The collection wasn’t so much a celebration of her greatest hit as it was a big cheers to the future. Beautifully crafted in flattering silhouettes and tones, her Ogaan
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October 21, 2014
Rohit Bal’s Spectacular Grand Finale at WI Fashion Week
Rohit Bal @ WIFW SS15
Rohit Bal @ WIFW SS15
Wow!
So much beauty, luxury, indulgence, fashion and history all in the most stunning historic Mughal ruins in one of Delhi’s top tourist sites, Rohit Bal raised the bar to tremendous heights for Indian fashion. Even the moon and the weather obeyed the designer’s ode to beauty. The moon shone brightly to the right of one of the tombs at Qutab Minar and the outdoor temperature dropped from Sweaty to Serene.
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October 9, 2014
A Dream and an Ode to Master Artisans: Day 2 at WIFW
Samant Chauhan @ WIFW SS15
Continuing his Rajputana theme this season designer, Samant Chauhan was inspired by romance and illusion and thus ‘dream’. Samant has a loyal band of followers and stockists sprawled across India and the Middle East and I’m sure they loved the intricate antique-look thread embroidery which is turning into a bit of a trend for next season.
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October 9, 2014
Day 1 WIFW SS15: Tarun Tahiliani & The Singh Twins
October 9, 2014
Countryside Chic: Day 1 Wills Lifestyle India Fashion Week SS15
Pero @ WIFW SS15
Aneeth Arora had the honour of the opening show for her still young fashion brand, pero, at WIFW SS15 igniting the buzz for the week ahead.
The catwalk was covered in faux grass and planted with real flowers that looked adorable. The gift for us in the media side included cute little herbs planted in teeny pots, I pinched a tulsi – thanks, Aneeth I’d been meaning to get one for ages!
Pero is a brand quite known for its cottons
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August 1, 2014
A Tale of Two Indian Brides
Manish Malhotra IICW 2014
Manish Arora IICW 2014
A tale of two Indian brides and two very different Manish’s!
Indian designers, Manish Malhotra and Manish Arora have a cult global following for their distinctive designs, demonstrating the diversity of bridal fashion in India, a segment often overly saturated by lazy embellished designs.
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August 1, 2014
Highborns Inspire High Couture
Monisha Jaising IICW 2014
Monisha Jaising IICW 2014
Mumbai based designer, Monisha Jaising unveiled her most recent couture collection with some gorgeous designs that stood out from the week’s shows. The inspiration behind the collection was a little too broad and the result was a confusing to watch but nevertheless there were some real gems.
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July 31, 2014
Temples of Va Va Voom with Anju Modi
Anju Modi Couture Collection 2014
Anju Modi’s couture collection for 2014 was inspired by Varanasi ghats, a city dedicated to the gods. Bold embroidery motifs reminiscing the temple-laden skyline adorned heavy bridal lehengas in a beautifully balanced colour palette of royal blue through to cherry tones and frosty pastels.
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July 19, 2014
A Ticket To Ride with Sabyasachi
Sabyasachi Mukherjee at India Couture Week 2014
Sabyasachi Mukherjee at India Couture Week 2014
Top Indian couturier and tastemaker, Sabyasachi Mukherjee had the honour of opening India Couture Week 2014 (sponsored by Shree Raj Mahal Jewellers). If there was ever an award for Most Creative Set, it would almost certainly always go to Sabyasachi. The meticulous attention to detail entirely immerses one into the inspirational journey that the designer references each season and this year was no exception. All aboard the turn-of-the-century Sabyasachi Express!
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June 21, 2014
All-new India Couture Week 2014
Manish Malhotra 2014
If you’re interested in international fashion, you will be pleased to hear that the dates for India Couture Week have been announced. The revamped six day event will have new partnerships: Shree Raj Mahal Jewellers as title sponsors, and Logix Group as its associate sponsors. The event in New Delhi will showcase India’s finest design talent in exclusive shows by top Indian Couturiers from 15-20 July 2014.
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June 12, 2014
Don’t Do It: Brown Lippie
The case against brown lipstick: Exhibit 1 the ageing effect
I know the 90s are back and I’m a 90s kid but…yuck. Brown lips are gross and add 15 years to a face. I got my first Rimmel Heather Shimmer lippie free with more! magazine and dabbed it on whilst frowning over Position of the Fortnight.
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