It was timeless, gorgeous, luxurious, captivating, harmonious, regal and sumptuous. It harked back to an era of resplendent royalty not seen in India for centuries.
In short, Vikram Phadnis's Indian bridal formal wear collection was like chancing upon a 15th century Rajasthani Maharani's closet.
Sushmita Sen in the green and champagne showstopper providing a fitting end to the Fourth Day of Lakme Fashion Week, and Phadnis again proved himself to be one of India's very, very top designers.
Set to a background of soft, melodic chanting, tabla beats and the sounds of nature, the collection transported the star-studded audience to another time and place.
Let's join them.
Lisa Hayden kickstarted the collection in this flouncing ghagra, paired with a orange dupatta. Talk about a rural paradise!
Note how Phadnis plays with transparency and layering, to give the garment lushness and body. It would prove to be a hallmark of the collection.
Photographs: Sanjay Sawant
This regal gold and blue
churidaar kameez harks back to the Mughal era. Note the net
dupatta, which is actually a shroud. And how about those embellished motifs? They're all hand-woven, by the way.
The universal consensus is that Phadnis has actually brought up his own ridiculously high benchmark. The garments kept flowing down the runway, each a unique, intricate creation of the highest order.
Here, another
churidaar kameez and
dupatta combo. And note the little details: fabulous footwear and the traditional hairdo, a long-braid with jasmine flowers and small embellishments.
Here, the model wears a
sherwani-looking blouse with a sari's
pallu interwoven and interspersing in the blouse, and over the left shoulder. Refreshingly simple yet masterfully complex.
Indigo, robin's egg blue, and regal lavenders and purples. The colours were luscious and absolutely perfect.
And not the ornately detailed yet fabulously modern patterning in this bridal garment, a Nehru jacket-style top over a flowing ethnic skirt.
Phadnis, though a classicist of the highest order, was not afraid to experiment. Note how he combines different drapes and silhouettes to create a novel effect. This sari/salwar look is simply inimitable.
Impossibly intricate silver and gold detailing defined the collection. Each and every garment could have come from a treasure chest!
A classic, elegant gold and sea-blue sari completes the bridal look.
Another striking top over a billowy, voluminous
ghagra. See the classic and almost effortless pairing of patterns.
Here, four layers and a handful of colours play off one another to create a truly special combination. And note the traditional gold footwear.
This classic purple and orange sari is noteworthy for its spectacular embroidery work. Phadis demonstrates how Indian formalwear deserves its place in the pantheon of high fashion.
Purple and gold, that most classic of regal colour combination, featured heavily in Phadnis's collection.
See the shimmering silk dupatta, which gives the garment depth and added character.
The bold, royal patterns truly befit today's kings and queens. See this fierce red
angrakha and gold
dhoti's combo.
A simple
chaniya choli is transformed into an opulent bridal garment dripping with embellishments and detail work. Bravo, bravo!
The audience literally gasped at certain points in Phadnis's collection, this being one of them. See how the transparency of this classy orange
dupatta turns this traditional outfit into something special.
While paying homage to India's glorious past, Phadnis also looked forward in creating clothes for the modern Indian bride. See this luscious velvent
ghagra beneath a netted
dupatta. Not the modern pattern on the ethnic-style blouse!
Though every colour from the under rainbow made an appearance, it was blues that Phadnis seemed to enjoy playing with the most. See how sky blue and sea blue combine to create an otherworldly effect, all atop a deep blue velvet
ghagra.
The patterns were dizzying in their number and complexity. See this Indo-Oriental floral motif atop a cream-coloured
ghagra.
India's favourite beauty, Sushmita Sen, pulled off the archetypal Indian bridal look, with this exquisitely complex green and gold garment. This is not mere clothing. This is art.
Cool, casual and calm, Phadnis soaked in the crowd's adulation with characteristic poise. Sushmita, you look fabulous!
A fitting end to a heart-pounding, spell-binding collection.
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