30th July 2013
Get ready for two weeks of all things WEDDING on The Asian Fashion Journal! I will be covering India Bridal Fashion Week in three parts and will be introducing a new regular on the blog tomorrow- Wedding Wednesday!
Day 1: JJ VALAYA & SHANTANU & NIKHIL
JJ VALAYA
JJ Valaya kicked off the week. His signature rich and opulent Mughal Maharanis & Maharajas were this season given an Iberian twist. Beautiful rose embroideries reminiscent of traditional flamenco scarves, a palette of blacks, whites, reds and blues as well as bolero-esque and off the shoulder shapes all hinted at his Spanish inspiration.
Whites & Golds @ JJ Valaya IBFW
I’m not sure about the long jacket over the Sari on the left, what do you think? but love the Trompe L’Oeil jewelry on the far right.
Iberian-esque Boleros and embroideries
Sheer Paneling and Off the Shoulder detailing at JJ Valaya IBFW
HOT TREND ALERT: Manish Malhotra’s last collection featured sheer paneling between borders on lenghas and anarkalis and JJ Valaya showed a few examples here too. If two of the biggest names in Indian fashion are championing sheer paneling you know its def a HOT, HOT, HOT Trend.
JJ Valaya styled some of the saris with sari purses on a sari belt. I really don’t like this- it reminds me of a bum bag (or fanny pack) !
Showstoppers Kabir Bedi & Kangana Ranaut
SHANTANU & NIKHIL
Shantanu & Nikhil collection was a little hit and miss for me. The menswear as usual was Ah-mazing but the womenswear was not as strong or cohesive. I loved the white and gold gowns that opened the show but the jacket silhouette that followed and was repeated through the collection was sooo unflattering and the simple grey and ochre outfits were just to simple for bridal wear.
Shantanu & Nikhil Whites & Golds IBFW 2013
Like I said I did love the white & gold gowns but I did think they were pretty similar to Marchesa’s gowns. Especially the middle one which looked similar to this gown that Naomi Watts wore last year. What do you think?
Styles I didn’t like from Shantanu & Nikhil’s IBFW 2013 collection
Menswear at Shantanu & Nikhil IBFW 2013
Day 2: Kotwara by Meera & Muzaffar Ali & Jyostna Tiwari
MEERA & MUZAFFAR ALI
Meera & Muzaffar Ali’s collection is my fav so far. I love the delicate colour palette and the beautiful examples of chikankari work and delicate embellishment. It’s one of those collections that would have been great to see up close. I wasn’t too keen on the long jackets over saris that JJ Valaya showed but here they work well in sheer embellished fabrics that enhance the sari or lengha instead of just covering it.
White on White at Kotwara by Meera & Muzaffar Ali
Sheer layering in Pastel and Ivory
Jyostna Tiwari
For the most part Jyostna Tiwari’s colour combinations were a little too loud and bling tastic for me but there were a couple of beautiful cocktail saris that I had to include! I think the blue sari would make a fab statement at a wedding reception.
Gorgeous Cocktail Saris @ Jyostna Tiwari 2013
Images: Vogue India
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India Bridal Fashion Week Part 2 & 3 are coming soon! so check back.
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