Fashion weeks are full of excitement, speed and style for five full days and when they end there is a major vacuum in my life. LakméFashion Week Winter/Festive 2011 ended a few days ago and the energy and high blitz of fashion has left me completely satiated.

The off-site Tote show by Rohit Bal was a visual experience of unbelievable craftsmanship and design. How does this man dream up such creations is beyond my comprehension! Each was a work of art that should be preserved.

On the other end, the Grand Finale by Manish Malhotra inspired by the Lakmé ABSOLUTE line of colour cosmetics with the gorgeous Kareena ‘Bebo’ Kapoor as theface of the brand and the show stopper of the evening; was a superb end to LakméFashion Week Winter/Festive 2011. The gorgeouscreations by the “Badshah of Bollywood Couture” were breathtaking as they floated down the glass covered ramp.

The most important event that had the media in atizzy was the launch of the Lakmé ABSOLUTE range especially created for the Indianwoman with Kareena Kapoor as the face of the brand in person giving her views on her favourites. I had a close look at the eyeliner, foundation, lipstick from the Lakmé ABSOLUTE brand and I loved the way I looked after applying them. I am waiting impatiently for October when it will be available in the stores.

The Gen Next Show which opened LFW W/F 2011 had some quirky, creative timeless creations. Fashion will surely see these new designer names more often in the future.

With festive as the theme of the week,bridal wear took centre stage for most designers in all its glittering glory. J J Valaya’s‘Tasveer’ collection proved he had his finger firmly on the buyers’ pulse.

Sabyasachi Mukherjee’s colourful ethnic presentation by 48 models proved that style and wearability are synonymous. Wendell Rodricks’ ethereal Himalayan Fine Natural Water Collection was a fluid line of pastel creations -high on construction and style.
What really rocked and was thecentre of activity was ‘The Source’ where the designers’ stalls were located along with a separate daily presentation by 13 labels at the Talent Box shows. These shows revealed names like TV actor Shama Sikander, Isabelle Mittal, Payal Kothari, Prashant and Sudha as the new labels to look out for.

Buying was on with Wendell Rodricks taking orders for most of his garments and Sabyasachi selling out most ofhis collection.

The Live Max Bupa LFW TV was an interesting innovative concept online as well as at the venue with anchor, Bandana Tiwari grabbing the designers to reveal their inspirations.

The Future of Fashion show presented by DHL had Nachiket Barve, Little Shilpa and Swapnil Shinde working around the theme “Speed” associated with DHL and each was amazing as colour, creativity and style floated down the ramp.

The Berlin Calling show featuring Aneeth Arora and Kallol Datta 1855 was diverse in fashion but one of these two will be the lucky one to show at the Mercedes Benz Berlin Fashion Week in 2012. Wonder who it will be? I would send both if I had my way.

The demand for show invites was as constant as phone calls, sms messages and emails bombarded the Genesis PR Team ad even I was not spared. “Please get us invites” was a refrain I shut my ears to and tried to disappear into the wood work.

So it’s back to the normal mundane life.  The 12 noon to midnight, five hectic days, which gave me a great adrenaline rush,are over. If I have withdrawal symptoms, I will just log onto the LFW W/F 2011 site and drool over the collection pictures and videos again.

Sparkle, shine and scintillate this season with the Gold glittered age. Gold being a symbol of prosperity and wealth, also symbolizes spiritual richness with its aura indicating enlightenment and it indeed is a treasure beyond compare.

After a season of cool metal popularity, such as platinum and silver, gold is back in vogue. Not just subtle, understated gold, but the kind of flashy pieces has been unleashed. Gold is henceforth making a huge fashion comeback in makeup, jewelry, and especially, apparel popping up as sequins, mesh, brocade, knits, lace and flowy satins.

Lakmé Fashion Week Winter/Festive 2011 saw a highly glamorous show presented by Pria Kataaria Puri in her collection inspired from Persia and 1970’s punk era. The silhouettes included slender gowns with fluid swirling blouses with batwing sleeves and kaftans, kurtas, backless tops, tiny silver bikinis with draped covers and a dazzling gold moulded sheeted mini. , Gold gilded ribbons and cord work inspired from the Persian embroidery were the key prints used on soft, flowy silks, chiffons, crepes and silk Lycra. The collection with all its glitter, glitz and glamour was more dazzled with the gold Veruschka shoes showcasing the Gold trend.

An utterly impressive and glamorous collection showcased by Rina Dhaka for Lakme Winter/Festive 2011 also saw the golden touch in the chic contemporary styles. Gotta work, plisse and metallics were an unusual mix; while tulle and lace were used lavishly with intricate sitara work. Continuous flashes of vintage metallic embellishments for stylish evening wear made a striking impact.

The dazzling and opulent bridal collection presented by Payal Singhal was absolutely stunning glittering with crystals, polkis and vintage embroidery. Shimmering New Age metallic fabrics were teamed with soft pretty pastels and embellished with the richness of mukaish, filigree, resham and zardozi work.

Let the sparkle of Gold shine as the sheen of the fashion this festive season.

Get set for some great festive fashion as the Lakmé Fashion Week Winter/Festive 2011 (LFW) season begins on August 16 with the Master of Haute Couture, Rohit Bal presenting his mind blowing collection at Tote. It’s going to be a show that will make Mumbaikars and even Indians travel through hell and high water (no pun intended even though raindrops keep falling on my head).

It’s going to be a great fashion week as always on all fronts with 91 designers (60 on the ramp and 31 in stalls at The Source) lined up to display their collections to Indian and global fashionistas and buyers.

Of course LFW has always been the hunting ground for raw talent. Look where all the past Gen Next designers have reached. They are the rising stars of the Indian fashion industry that are shooting memorable collections into stores in India and around the world. So this time 8 Gen Next newbies will open LFW W/F 2011 under the mentorship of Aki Narula and wow the packed ballroom of the Grand Hyatt hotel.

The most exciting part of LFW W/F 2011 will be the selection of a designer for the Mercedes- Benz Fashion Week – Berlin in January 2012. Now this is something to really dream about. Who will the lucky designer be?

Delhi’s darling designers are also heading to LFW W/F 2011 which is really great news. J J Valaya’s amazingly created collection will be a breathtaking sight; while Rina Dhaka’s sexy sultry garments will surely set the ramp on fire.

What has been a great addition to LFW for two seasons is the LFW TV which gives viewers around the world a glimpse of the glamorous fashions on display in real time and hot on the catwalk.

The Grand Finale is going to be the piece de resistance of LFW W/F 2011 when Bollywood’s Badshah of Haute Couture will present his magnificent collection inspired by the high performance long wear makeup range Lakmé’s Absolute collection. It will be a night when the stars will descend onto terra firma and glitter in the audience.

What makes LFW W/F 2011 such a great fashion event is the clock work precision with which everything is run by Lakmé, IMG Reliance and of course Genesis PR whose systems are so well oiled that LFW is always a happening that rejuvenates not only one’s creative juices but inspires one to achieve greater heights of success.

But there is a down side to every season when I am asked to write the overview of LFW. I am worried – will I have to go into hiding or will I have to be incommunicado again for six days? I am really shocked, this season I got calls a month ago for invitations to shows. But what the heck, by now I should be able to give plausible excuses with a straight face when I am chased for passes for LFW shows.

So let the crowds appear at my doorstep, I’m going to sink myself mind, body and soul in the season’s best fashion week for six glorious days. Hey watch out, green isn’t the flavour of the season!

Attending the Lakme Fashion Week Winter Festive Auditions was an exciting yet scary experience, and that’s when I wasn’t even auditioning. But as I, a five feet two inches little person, stood next to the towering beauties in their denim shorts and fitting tank tops and those sky high heels, I found myself for the first time thanking God I wasn’t a model. This was hard work! And you need confidence and a great attitude to take rejection in your stride. The day started with over a hundred girls but ended with only 9 as the lucky few who would walk the ramp this year. As the models walked the runway in front of a tough jury – which comprised of model Monikangna Dutta, Marc Robinson and Anil Chopra, CEO Lakme Lever among others– I was filled with admiration for their confidence. Even though they know that they are being judged on everything we women hate being judged for – height, weight, shape or even if they have cellulite/ stretch marks or not – they forged ahead. As many girls who I spoke to backstage said, “this was the nature of the job and it was all okay.” If they didn’t make it today, they were ready to try next season, and then maybe the next.

But as they lined up for their final walk, I also got dreamy eyed at the glamour of it all. The rush of walking in front of an audience in beautiful clothes and shoes, and with your head held high has to be one of the best feelings in the world. Women want to be you, and men want to be with you. Being a model could change your life, and these 9 girls were going to see their worlds turn upside down by the end of the auditions. As long as they kept their head held high and the confidence to protect themselves from scrutiny and the long days, they were going to rock it for a long time to come. But as I said, Thank God, I just write about models and ain’t one. It’s not good for my weak heart. Cheers!

Link: http://indiansummer-aastha.blogspot.com/