Lakme Fashion Week: Fun and fashion rule the ramp

The 16th edition of Lakme Fashion Week (LFW) Summer Resort 2016 which culminated with Rohit Bal’s finale and Karishma Kapoor scorching the ramp. The LFW was five days of fun, frolic, creativity and loads of hard work. A much awaited event on the fashion calendar, LFW SummerResort 2016 turned out to be a success. More than 90 designers showcased at the event and nearly 11 new models debuted. In the five days that it lasted, designers blurred the lines between sexy and sustainable, high glam and old school and traditional and contemporary to bring to the audience an array of uber stylish designs.

Bollywood stars dazzle as showstoppers

Ace designer Rohit Bal along with his muse Kareena Kapoor Khan gave an astonishing closure to the Lakme Fashion Week 2016, with his line stunningly portraying the essence of life and existence. Bal, who is celebrating his silver jubilee in the fashion industry this year, turned the finale designer for the fashion week after 2012. This was also the first time the Delhi-based designer was collaborating with Kareena, who is the face of Lakme.

Like in the past, Bollywood actors and actresses walked the ramp for various designers, and as always added to the glamour quotient. For Anita Dongre’s show, her collection called Love Notes which was inspired by Rajasthan, Sonakshi Sinha was the showstopper. She made a grand entry escorted by male models. She looked beautiful in a royal blue skirt teamed up with white jacket choli. Jacqueline Fernandez was the showstopper for designer Manish Malhotra’s opening day show, his collection called Elements. Fernandez wore a shimmering gown topped with a sheer cape. Actor Arjun Kapoor also walked the ramp for Malhotra. Shraddha Kapoor was seen walking the ramp for designer Masaba Gupta while Siddharth Malhotra was the showstoppers for Kunal Rawal.

Bal was thrilled to be back as the grand finale designer after four years. He had designed a collection of red carpet ready garments that are high on allure, incorporate floral patterns and colours that are bright besides his favourite ivory and muted gold. The entire show had been conceptualised in such a manner that it reflected the sparkle of a crystal and bring alive the theme of illuminate.

Newbies steal the show

Shria Bhupal made a stunning debut with her Shriya Som label collection Ebb and Flow. It was a mix of sheer and opaque fabrics and strong and flowing shapes. International super model Ujjwala Raut glided in a gold beaded off-shoulder long sleeve blouse with a floor sweeping lehenga. It was encrusted with 1500 gold paillete, 60 rose gold Swarovski flowers and a gold fringe, and had a 5ft trail. Aqdus Saleem, another young designer whose work is inspired by the Middle East, also made her debut with the collection The Modest Chapter. Her collection is embraces two dynamic elements – Islamic ethnic wear and contemporary fashion trends to create a fusion which shows the best of both.

Goa-based designer Wendell Rodricks’ Indica Emporia showcased Indian textiles. Through the collection, Rodricks paid a tribute to the ‘art of cotton growers and silk cultivators, the dyers who use inventive alchemy and weavers who carry forward a grand legacy’. He called them the real stars. In all, the five-day event turned out to be a spectacular extravaganza. Neeta Lulla's collection #SheIsMe was inspired by women power. Her’s was a story of woman as a flower-of ethereal beauty and gentleness, but also with inherent tenacity in the face of abuse. It had a powerful dance recital (fusion of Chinese Warrior and Kathak) by actress and entrepreneur Pernia Qureshi. Shaina NC, banker Radha Kapoor, dietician Pooja Makhija, artist Rouble Nagi and filmmaker Vibha Bakshi supported the cause by walking for the designer.