Trendspotting: Wills Lifestyle India Fashion Week 2011

I'd like to preface this post with a shout-out to A Red Wedding Blog for all the pictures, and an apology to Manish Malhotra.  Mr. Malhotra, I wrote in my review of Lakme Fashion Week that I was disappointed with your collection.  I was, because it was disappointing, but I should have given you the benefit of the doubt. 

Your show at Wills Lifestyle (which was, incidentally, better produced)  was better than LFW by a long shot.  You stuck to your vision of soft creams and milky tones, which I guess you are trying to push very strongly into the market, and you continued to your proliferation of the ghagra choli cut with pajamas style pants.  But it was the kaam, Mr. Malhotra, that glorious definer of Indian traditional wear, that set this collection apart.  Net laces, floral resham embroidery set on velvet and chiffons, and bias cut borders were your way of saying, ladies, ladies, don't despair of my ability to produce exciting shows, season after season.  I, and my clothes, will always be here for you.

Many other lovely shows at Wills Lifestyle, particularly enjoyed Anita Dongre's vision of navy velvet and cool tones of gold for the fall.  Miss Dongre's clothes always transition beautifully between traditional and modern by gracefully balancing the cut and the fabric so the clothes are not overpowering.

I am sure I did not like Swapan & Seema the last year I saw their show at Wills Lifestyle 2010.  This year was infinitely better, with less garish embroidery on a lovely toned down coral, grey and grape colour palette.  Sabyasachi, who continues to be the teflon designer at Aaina headquarters showed an extension of his LFW show with the Spanish Senorita vibe holding strong in the styling of the show, and the pieces being slightly more wearable, for the RTW market.