My favorite event of the year is upon us. Delhi Couture Week (a.k.a PCJ Couture Week) is the premier event where household couturiers and newbies bask in the glory of lush fashions. It’s still early in the event, which is being held at Taj Palace, and already my heart throbs for Anamika Khanna and Sabyasachi, my two dearest designers ever.
Sabyasachi’s “Opium” collection, inspired by the 1920s, is a spectacle of all that is glamourous. You may not know, but I am a spirit-child of the 1920s, so this collection had me entranced from the onset. Major bling, vintage Hyderabadi jewels dating as early as the 1800s, hand embroidery, zardosi, applique, and old fashioned crewel work comprised this fabulous work of art. I even felt a brief aire of Parisien romance in the collection. You never fail me, Sabyasachi.
One of the more unfamiliar names I got acquainted with was Anju Modi. She stuck out to me because I had seen that Tabu was the showstopper for the collection titled “Drapaudi” inspired by the time of Mahabharata. Apparently, she’s been a quiet force in the industry since the early 90s and has brought back practices such as vegetable dyeing and other forgotten crafts. Honestly, I like her stuff, but it seems a tad like bits and pieces of everyone else (as if Sabyasachi and Masaba had coffee and came up with Modi).
And finally, Anamika Khanna. I’m sure everyone has seen fashion dream Sonam Kapoor sport a few Khanna get-ups, but that is really the tip of the iceberg in terms of why Anamika is so sought after. I just cannot get over how opulent her collection looks. There is something tragically reminiscent about her collection thats vastly different in the way that Sabyasachi revisits the past in his collection. She plays with harsh tones, but it works. Many of Anamika Khanna’s pieces remind me of a vintage wedding gown due to the lack of shimmer, but I suppose that lackluster is what makes her so unique.
While the details are still rolling in, the initial sentiments towards this iconic event is one of awe and bewilderment. So far, everything (sans Monisha Jaisingh’s blah collection) has exceeded my expectations. Designers such as Manish Arora, Gaurav Gupta, Ritu Behri, and Varun Behl are all expected to showcase their collections. Many of their collections are available online at Pernia’s Pop Up Shop! If there was anything I disapprove of so far it was that Masaba was not on the lineup. Other than that, I have wildly high expectations. What can we expect? Perhaps more earthy tones? Intricate details. Ornate embroidery? Let’s wait anxiously for all the goodies DCW 2013 has yet to dish out!
Dallas [Intuitive] 