WIFW Daily Diary: Day 5

Nabila Habib

Ekru by Ekta and Ruchira: ‘Bellavista’ means a beautiful sight. True to the promise, the ramp was alive with vivid Mexican folk colours in contemporary designs. The cut was chic and embraced the rich international cross-cultural heritage. Following the brand’s philosophy of wearability, the ensembles were mostly flamboyant knee-length flared, close cut dresses. The use of silken and flowing fabric enhanced the feminine appeal of the designs, making them strikingly sexy on the ramp. Nida Mahmood: The designer’s versatility was vividly apparent in her designs, much like her multitalented personality. A fashion designer, painter, columnist, stylist and a graphic artist, Mahmood translated art into the fabric with cuts that were distinguished by their unique combinations. She believes in combining disharmonious elements – and we saw chocolate jackets going wonderfully well over bright yellow mini skirts. Then there was also a tartan scarf flung over a sexy flared little dress in solid colour, adding to the unique appeal. Her designs broke boundaries of design laws and stereotypical combinations with remarkable beauty. Manoviraj Khosla: Khosla’s clean, contemporary lines gave the ensembles a trendy and contemporary look. Designing prêt and couture for both men and women, her silhouettes resurrected patterns and skills of ancient arts into modern life. The colours were day-to-day ones, but contrasted with remarkable imagination and aesthetic ingenuity. The line for men was dapper and handsome. Charu Parashar: The purpose of ‘Utpala’ is to promote Indian fashion worldwide, and the current ensembles did the same wonderfully well. Experimenting with traditional prints with sensuous abandon, her luxurious use of fabric and colours added that extra chic to the dresses. She took the exotic Indian craftsmanship and ancient printing techniques to higher levels of fashion. Her line targeted eco-fashion. JJ Valaya: The Czar of Indian fashion industry was the designer for the Wills Lifestyle Grand Finale. His collection ‘Kingdom of Love’ conveyed an indispensable declaration abolishing negatives and violence; almost as an antidote to the gloom and doom of current times. He created an exclusive collection for Wills Lifestyle that is to be retailed from Wills Lifestyle stores across the country. Valaya deftly combined his signature tailored jackets, sensual jodhpurs and crisp tops worn with detailed skirts crafted out of the finest of fabrics, prints and ornamentation. The collection of womenswear and menswear celebrated ‘Optimism’. The collection was a series of exceptional masterpieces, richly layered with distinct separates. His current formula was – the nomadic rockstar style.