To paraphrase him, when one wears a Benarasi, one doesn't just wear a sari, one wears the timeline of a civilisation. Perhaps these two thoughts were at the core of this rich, intricate, luxe offering at the Lakmé Absolute grand finale of Lakmé Fashion Week.
Theme: Illuminate by Sabyasachi was a fresh take on today's evolved bride and groom. His collection also comprised of some sexy Western evening wear options. The line gloried thanks to rich zardozi embroidery techniques and jewellery accenting the statement-making ensembles.
Ambience: The beautifully designed stage was lit by giant chandeliers and the red curtains added to the grandeur. This was amplified by live violinists who complemented the walk of the models.
Beauty: Make-up maven Donald Simrock, official makeup artist at Lakmé Fashion Week reinterpreted the makeup of the timeless and romantic Indian bride at Sabyasachi's finale.
Burgundy eyes with accents of gold and a nude lip, reminiscent of a cashmere beige sweater stood out. He kept the cheekbones very bare with highlights and opted for burgundy shadow.
The hair complementing the ensembles was chic and classic ranging from a chignon pony to a mid-parting pony. "Illumination is the hottest trend this season. Transparent skin with luminous glow is the way ahead," he shares.
What we loved: The show was a ménage à trois of Indian baroque (comprising key heritage elements and Indian regalia), Illuminate range (which was the metaphor for shine and shimmer) and Western pieces (consisting of kaftans, capelets, clutches of fur and oversized fur coats). It was reminiscent of that era in Indian fashion history when royalty and luxury abounded.
The deep neck sensuous choli and lehenga embellished with rich floral and bird embroidery all over seen on model Archana Akhil Kumar was the high-point of the show. A black velvet dupatta with embroidery on the border, a statement-making nath, a giant choker and maang tika completed this look.
We also loved the embellished cape boleros accented with fur and beads in the form of fringes. What made these look stand-out were aviator sunnies, which gave them a biker, street edge.
He also showcased a line of nifty accessories comprising sling embroidered handbags and clutches, which gave the bridal look a totality. Belted sari lehengas, floor-length embroidered jackets and embellished minis gave this offering a multi-layered appeal. Embroidered kaftans, embellished minis, shift dresses were other nifty options suited for a destination wedding or a pre-wedding bash.
The couturier also toyed with the idea of twinning (pioneered by Armani internationally), where he presented two shades of the same garments. Men wore elegant sherwanis in monochromes, rich jewel tones like pista and dark green with understated surface texturing and completed their look with a festive headgear.
Showstopper: Kareena Kapoor Khan played the gorgeous showstopper in a heavily embellished sequinned lehenga-dupatta look proudly flaunting her baby bump. Pink lips, fresh make-up, centre-parted hair and a maang tika completed her look.
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Written by Manish D Mishra on 29th Aug 2016