Like It Haute !!!!!! 愛でる

Couture garments are hand customized fashion design and clothing construction made by a couture design house. These innovative pieces are finely crafted to complement the fabrics and fashion ideas being created.There HAS to be SUPERB craftsmanship. Then and only then are these fresh idea, publicized internationally.. But i am completely disappointed in few of the "crème de la crème" designers of India. It should take on average 100 to 400 hours to make one dress.. Some of the works they sent up the runways were normal saris or tights from H&M only difference is that they were bedazzled.. But most designers Rohit Bal, Manav Gangwani,Varun Bahl, & Shantanu & Nikhil to name a few did an AMAZING... INSPIRING.. BREATHTAKING  works... this is my first time being in India I guess I expected EVERY one of the top 12 designers of the country to be on the same platform as each other but in reality some are just better than others (harsh but it’s the truth) Now that i have spilled my guts on the subject.....  Here are the next set of designers as I promised (if you haven’t read Delhi Couture week 1 click here).

Rohit Bal

Collection: Shanti

Fabric: Brocade, Velvet, Net, Silk, Lace

Colour: White, Gold, Black, Brown, Green, Red, Blue, Purple,

Embroidery, Embellishments: Coloured thread work, Kashmiri resham work, Fringes, Cutwork, Applique, Floral and Peacok Motifs, Zippers

My Favorite:

Ashima Leena

Inspiration: Zenana Women

Fabrics: Gossamer Silk, Brocades, Sheers, Jaamdanis, Kimkhaab

Colours: Pinks, Pastel Blue, Green, Mauve, Red, Beige

Embroidery & Embellishments: Ghunghroos, Zardozi

My Favorite:

Meera and Muzaffar Ali

Collection: Sama, based on a painting by designer Muzaffar Ali

Colours: Pastels and natural tones, Shades of Red, Yellow, Pink, Earth Tones, Black and gold

Fabrics : Printed Crepe de chin, Chiffon, Organza, Nets, Ikkats, Chintz, Applique work, Quilting, Floral Embroidery and all over intricate handwork

My Favorite:

Adarsh Gill

Fabrics: Taffeta, Silk, Chiffon, Brocades

Colours: Ivory, Red, Black, Blue, Green

Embroidery & Embellishments: Swarovski, Crystals, Stones, Beading, Feathers

Gaurav Gupta

Collection: Enchanted Forest

Fabrics: Tulle, Net, Chiffon, Georgette, Lace, Satin

Colours: White, Pink, Red, Copper, Gold, Yellow, Sweet Lime

Embroidery, Embellishments: Swarovski, Metallic thread work, Dangling metal chains, Ruffles, Draping, Pleating

My Favorite:

Shantanu & Nikhil

Collection: Perfume

Inspiration: Vintage, Elizabethan Era

Fabrics: Fluid; Chiffon, Lace, Silk

Colours: Off White, Salmon Orange, Yellow, Light Pink, Aqua, Brown, Black and Gold

Embroidery & Embellishments: Swarovski, Thread work, Delicate Textures, Applique Work

My Favorite:

Delhi Couture week was held in Delhi - July 24 – 27^th , 2011;

Couture Week, Delhi ファッションウィーク

The ‘Synergy One Delhi Couture Week in association with Aircel’ is a unique platform to showcase the best in Indian couture designs.  The four day fashion event captures the finest impulses of the fashion industry at the fabled couture city of Delhi. Couture in India traces back in history where each garment was equated with fantasies, opulence, creativity and intricate art work for the maharajas and the moguls.  The event is an effort to recreate that magic blended with contemporary art to feature some of the most distinct collections on the ramp. These designs from the most prestigious designers of the country promise to delight all fashion enthusiasts and create never seen before moments.

 A select milieu of some of the most well-known names in the industry will weave together these four days to remember through a series of scintillating shows displaying the works of 12 most prestigious designers of India.

Here are the first six designers over the next few days I will update you with the rest of the designer’s showcases. I have picked my favorite silhouettes from their shows to share it with you :

Manav Gangwani

Collection: The Timeless Affair.

Fabrics: Shaded Georgette, Italian Chiffon, French Lame, Silk Velvet, Satin, Net.

Colours: White, Yellow, Orange, Gold.

Embroidery & Embellishment: Tassels, Sequins, Swarovski, Mirror work, Zardozi, etc. 

My Favorites:

Manish Malhotra Couture Fall 2011

Inspiration: Indian Royalty and English influence.

Fabrics: Velvet, Silk, Chiffon, Sheer Nets.

Colours: Cherry Red, Burgundy, Maroon, White, Cream, Mint Green, Aqua, Royal Blue, Black, & Beige.

Embroidery & Embellishment: Zardozi.

My favorite picks from the Show:

Anju Modi

Collection : Maya

Fabrics: Velvet, Velvet hems, Sheer materials, Chiffon, Brocade

Colours: White, Ivory, Maroon, Navy Blue

Embroidery & Embellishments: Tassels, Zardozi, Resham

My Favorites: 

Varun Bahl

Inspiration: Marie Antoinette

Colours: Red, Maroon, Wine, Green, Pink, Ivory, White, Cream

Fabrics: Tulle, Damask, Chiffon, Satin, Velvet

My Favorites: 

JJ Valaya

Collection Name: Tasveer.

Inspiration: The designer's favourite photographs translated into clothes.

Colours: Black, White, Gold, Silver, Earth tones like brown, rust, saffron, Sepia, Red, Green, & Magenta.

Fabric: Lame, Brocade, Silk, Custom Woven Fabrics.

Embroidery & Embellishment: Crystal and semi precious stone embroidery work, Digital Prints.

My Favorites: 

Suneet Varma

Inspiration: Based on the 'Kamasutra' as reiterated by the designer Suneet Varma - "Fashion is the politest way of talking about sex."

Fabrics: Crushed silk, Chiffon, Lace, Georgette

Colours: Shades of Red, Orange, Fuschia, Pink, Navy, Midnight Blue, Aquamarine, Lemon Yellow, Black

Embroidery & Embellishments: Swarovski, Crystal beading, fine Zardozi thread work, Mirror work, Kamarbandhs, gold ornaments

My Favorites: 

Delhi Couture week was held in Delhi - July 24 – 27^th , 2011;

The Villains turned Princesses - プリンセス

For the past few days I have been hanging out with my nieces watching Disney movies, and I remembered my own childhood. Every girl at some point wanted a prince to be head over heels for her and start her happy ever after ......did that happen? NOPE... … AND these princesses get fairy god mothers for makeovers??!!? ANYWAYS 

MY question is .. What about the VILLAINS? The one who have CHALLENGE the princes? What about those women? Yes Disney turned them into wicked witches and/or dragons. So I am going to use my magic to reincarnate them into princesses. If these 10 villains (ok so I had to turn Ja’far and Hades into a prince just for the fun of it) were to be prince and princesses what would they wear?

Maleficent –

She is the self-proclaimed "Mistress of All Evil" who, after not being invited to the baby's christening, curses the infant Princess Aurora to "prick her finger on the spindle of a spinning wheel and die" before the sun sets on her sixteenth birthday. ….bibidi babidi boo...I reincarnated her as a princesses wearing one of Zuhair Murad's gown.. Zuhair Murad collection blends the ancient heritage with a modern twist... perfect for Maleficent!! Don’t you think? Zuhair Murad happens to be one of my favorite couture house view his Fall/Winter 2011-2012 Collection here 

Zuhair Murad Couture Fall Winter 2011

Lady Tremaine 

Lady Tremaine (also known as the Wicked Stepmother) is the main antagonist of Cinderella and its two sequels. The arch-enemy of Cinderella, Lady Tremaine doesn't harm her stepdaughter physically, but seeks to destroy her psychologically, motivated by jealousy of Cinderella's beauty, as it serves to accentuate the ugliness and awkwardness of the stepmother's own daughters, Anastasia and Drizella. Lady Tremaine is also a socialite, determined to gain higher status by marrying one of her daughters to Prince Charming…..

bibidi babidi boo.. bibidi babidi boo.. bibidi babidi boo (ok so the 3^rd time was the charm) .. turning Lady tremaine, chic and beautiful was a challenge but I think I have modernized her look all together…. Who needs Charming for higher status?

Zuhair Murad Couture Fall Winter 2011

The Queen (snow white) 

The Queen is beautiful, but narcissistic and cruel. She marries a widowed king, who has a daughter called Snow White. The Queen envies Snow White's beauty, and so tries to have her killed, setting the story in motion. So I styled the Queens in Jean Paul Gaultier ; now it’s Snow White’s trun to be envious. 

Jean Paul Gaultier Couture Fall Winter 2011

Ursula The Sea Witch -

Ursula is a cecaelian sea witch who "helps" unfortunate merfolk to achieve her own goals. Dressed in Fausto Sarli’s gown, I think she isn’t going to stop with only the merfolk this time .. that’s all folks watch out!!  For this divine creature..

Fausto Sarli Couture Spring Summer 2011

Madame Medusa - 

Madame Medusa is described as greedy and obsessed (New Yorker). She is also very crazy, ill-tempered and sometimes unstable; which makes her intimidating at times. She will stop at nothing to get what she wants…Well Intimidating is a GOOD thing so I decided she shouldn’t lose that part of her character when she reincarnates so I dressed her in RED Alexandre Vauthier now she looks like an angel in red … you thought she was intimidating in the rescuers?? bibidi babidi boo…

Alexandre Vauthier Couture Fall 2011

 Yzma

Yzma is malicious and power hungry. She desires to become Empress and rule the kingdom, but is prevented by virtue of Kuzco having the position. Instead, she is first the king's advisor. She sees herself as the most beautiful person in the land, despite the fact that most people consider her hideous and often compare her to a dinosaur. When making plans to harm Kuzco, she often attempts to create overly complicated plans, before settling on a simpler version. However, she often fails to pay attention to minor details which results in her plans being thwarted (Her catchphrase is "It's brilliant, brilliant, brrrrilliant!")…. Hahaha if you haven’t watched this movie you HAVE TO ITS HILARIOUS … ok back to the fashion I styled yzma in Zuhair Murad ( I think I have conformed how obsessed I am about their designs!!) no one will DARE call her a dinosaur in this outfit

It's brilliant, brilliant, brrrrilliant

 Zuhair Murad Couture Fall Winter 2011

Cruella De Vil

Cruella De Vil is the main antagonist of the 101 Dalmatians franchise. She is a wealthy, fashion-obsessed heiress who wishes to use the skins of 99 Dalmatian puppies for a fur coat…. Ok so I'M against using REAL fur...

Look at this bunny HOW COULD YOU!!!!

I don’t mind faux but still I figured I wanted to divert cruella’s obsession.. so I reincarnated her to obsess over layers of fabrics instead!!  So I styled her in Christophe Josse 

Christophe Josse Couture Fall 2011

The Queen of Hearts

One word: psychotic. All the residents of Wonderland are mad (insane), but the Queen of Hearts is the most dangerous of them, having the most power. She completely dominates her weak husband, the King of Hearts. She likes to hear the words "Yes, your majesty", and insists that "All ways are my ways!"…. I personally love that phrase ALL ways are MY ways <- gets me in trouble lol… Ok so we have seen the non-Disney movie of alice in wonderland and the costume designer Colleen Atwood did an amazing job!! So I stopped myself from picking a 18^th century silhouette (aka- puffy dress) that I had in mind for the Queen of heart and decided she was going to be reincarnated wearing Alexandre Vauthier geometrical- modern RED dress instead.

Alexandre Vauthier Couture Fall 2011

Now on to MY PRINCE’S!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hades

Hades is the Greek God of the Underworld and the main antagonist of Hercules Hades appears as a blue-grey humanoid with flaming hair and a smoky base who is normally eccentric and cynical, but is very easily angered.. Hummmmm reincarnating the Greek god of the UNDERWORLD was a hard thing to do, I had to bribe him with Jean Paul Gaultier collection .. It worked!! Hehehe ..he had no idea I was turning him into a prince!! God these villains should read the terms and conditions before accepting^TM ;)

 Jean Paul Gaultier Couture Fall Winter 2011

Jafar

Jafar is tall and thin, and almost always depicted in flowing robes of black, dark red and other moody colors. He also carries a cobra-head staff, which he uses for his sorcery. Ok so I had a hard time to choose which one of these two should I pick to portray ja’far I have posted a poll click on your fav ja’far of the two styles:

OR

Jean Paul Gaultier Couture Fall Winter 2011

Oh remember Aladdin??.. jafar looks like this: