JJ Valaya’s Realm of the Sultan – Grand Finale {Aamby Valley India Bridal Week 2012}
JJ Valaya is the master and couturier of Indian textiles and clothing. For over 20 years he has invented the glory and beauty of Indian craftmanship.
His grande finale at the Aamby Valley India Bridal Week, was nothing short of fabulous and awe inspiring. “The Azrak Collection – The Realm of the Sultan” was inspired by the very colourful Ottoman Empire. It was pure royalty in every way. Azrak, which means “rare and uncommon” in Turkish, was exactly what the Grand Finale was – an opulent and ingenious runway show in the fashion world.
It was a veritable Turkish Garden that welcomed the audience to the magnificent Grand Finale of the Aamby Valley India Bridal Fashion Week 2012. Six clumps of Turkish lamps with creepers entwined through them rose up as the show started. Small four raised platforms were strewn with baskets of flowers on either side. Two large canopies on the left and right of the “U” shaped ramp housed actors as Turkish workmen and -women.
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Shantanu & Nikhil – Romantic Renaissance – Aamby Valley Bridal Week 2012
Shantanu and Nikhil brought the romance from the Renaissance and Baroque eras. From brocades to floating tullys and from soft sweet golds to bold greens and blues, their collection was most definitely unique.
The show was opened by the dashing Siddharth Mallya, son of billionaire tycoon Vijay Mallya, who strutted down the ramp in a red printed bundgala with glittering hem and cuffs.
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Azva Jewelry & Anita Dongre {Aamby Valley India Bridal Week 2012}
Sparkling diamonds, 22 karat gold intricate designs, and fabulous path breaking trends made the Azva wedding jewelery show; launched by the World Gold Council a memorable opening on the fourth day of the Aamby Valley India Bridal Fashion Week 2012.
Azva which comes from the Sanskrit word “Ashva” means Seven, which once again symbolizes the seven vows (sath pheras) made by the couple on the wedding day.
The bridal jewellery had gorgeous necklaces, which dazzled under the arc lights, the earrings were a vision to behold and bangles twinkled daintily on the slender wrists of the models.
Ending the show were the newlyweds – the gorgeous Esha Deol and her dashing husband, Bharat Takhtani. Esha was decked in the most magnificent giant gold lacy rigid pearl edged necklace that covered her shoulders and was encrusted with ruby flowers with matching earrings and bracelets.
The gold beaded necklace with circular drops, the Rani Haar with matching gold chandeliers and the flat shimmering necklace with ornate designs were visions of beauty.
Geometric circles added to the glitter of the neckpiece encrusted with precious stones and a delicate lacey flat necklace was teamed with trellised jhumkas. The many rigid necklaces were carved with intricate gold designs and the five swirls with pearl edging gave an interesting twist to neck décor.
With a myriad designs to choose from, the bride could also select the graduating pyramid set or the one with tiny clustered gold beads with a ruby centre. Multi chains for a Rani Haar, mesh gold neck ornaments with imposing pendants and the final gold and ruby floral choker, the high collar with funnel shaped earrings, cuffs and the giant leaf gold set were fabulous.
The stunning bridal wear designed by Anita Dongre added to the drama and grace of the ornaments as the models glided down the ramp.
Ending the show were the newlyweds – the gorgeous Esha Deol and her dashing husband, Bharat Takhtani. Esha was decked in the most magnificent giant gold lacy rigid pearl edged necklace that covered her shoulders and was encrusted with ruby flowers with matching earrings and bracelets.
Falguni & Shane Peacock – The Peacock Bride in Paris – Aamby Valley India Bridal Week 2012
The punk rock, couture duo Falguni and Shane Peacock, brought us a taste of something old, something new with their newest bridal collection.
The Peacock bride visited Paris and a burlesque party as models strutted in mermaid cut gowns and lenghas, adorned with ostrich feathers and embroidered red roses.
Known for dramatic makeup, the eyes shimmered in a streak of gold with black eye shadow and feather eyelashes. This wasn’t the usual look for a bride, but since when did the peacock go for pedestrian?
The fabrics were a collection of exquisite net, chiffon, georgette, satin, rich velvet, delicate lace and gold sheeting that gave a perfect touch to the western silhouettes with fabulous embroidery.
Luxurious evening and bridal gowns, full ghagras, anarkalis, farshi pajamas and graceful kalidaar saris were shown with sexy halters, bustiers and tiny shrugs.
Colors were in the traditional reds, greens, and ivorys but also more dainty shades of peaches and pistachios.
Model Sara Jane Dias dressed in an ivory net gown with exquisite embroidery and shoulder detailing. Though it was unfortunate that the gown was uncomfortable to wear with Dias stumbling along the runway and smiling awkwardly.
Actress Zarine Khan was the perfect ethnic bride in a stunning rani pink silk lehenga encrusted with crystals/resham, teamed with matching seductive choli and luxurious net dupatta.
Here’s the full collection from Falguni and Shane:
Check out the rest of the designer collections from Aamby Valley India Bridal Fashion Week, including Jyotsna Tiwari, Narendra Kumar, and Tarun Tahiliani.
Narendra Kumar Ahmed – Waltzes & Peplums – Aamby Valley India Bridal Week 2012
From Rachmaninoff to Puccini, Narendra Kumar brought the beauty of ethereal fashion to life.
Narendra opened the show with the beiges and nudes, then moved into blues and orange/yellow ombres, seafoams greens and with touches of turquoise for the third act, and ended with large doses of red. A true rainbow collection.
Instead of traditional cholis for tops, Kumar opted for corsets with peplums. A peplum is an oversized skirt attached to a corset or jacket, which can remind you of a duck fluffing his feathers. Teamed with satin saris, they gleamed with embroidered borders and hand painted roses.
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Jyotsna Tiwari – Of Ball Gowns & Lenghas – Aamby Valley India Bridal Week 2012
Jyotsna Tiwari opened up day two of India Bridal Week. It wasn’t disappointing.
She blended the style of elegant, chiffon flowing ball gowns with Indian gem work. After featuring several ball gowns, Tiwari brought us lenghas and saris that would fit the sensibility of any bride looking for oomph but not a cupcake fortress.
Sonakshi Sinha and face of India Bridal Week, Ankita Shorey, both walked the runway for Jyotsna Tiwari.
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Tarun Tahiliani’s Roaring Twenties Meets Rainforest – Aamby Valley India Bridal Week 2012
The grandmaster of rococo and Swarowski crystals, Tarun Tahiliani, opened the third annual couture bridal event.
The Aamby Valley India Bridal Fashion Week began with a rainforest setting complete with a real outdoor thunderstorm and pounding rain. But rain it did not inside.
Tarun’s theme of the Roaring Twenties illuminated women’s bodies and brought out the flamboyant happiness in everyone.
There were crystals, there was lace, there were orchids, there were flowing romantic gowns.
But, I was worried that Tahiliani would reuse his tried and tested rococo, crystal chandelier lenghas. He did begin the show with it, but then quickly moved to anarkalis, saris, and flowing chiffons.
It was refreshing. Like a rainforest summer rain. Or a perfect martini.
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Rocky S Splendor at Aamby Valley Bridal Week 2011
Rocky S took the stage Friday evening with his wedding trousseau collection. Focusing on both men and women, Rocky S showed off an understated but elegant collection for this season’s bridal wear.
White chiffon – so elegant
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Vikram Phadnis Collection at AVIBW 2011
Traditional Meets Modern
Vikram Phadnis closed off Friday night’s Aamby Valley India Bridal Week with a breathtaking traditional wedding collection updated for modern times. His collection maintained synchrony with all models wearing a jasmine flower garland headpiece, known as a gajra.
Anjalee and Arjun Kapoor Collection- Aamby Valley India Bridal Week 2011
The fabulous and roccoco duo, Anjalee and Arjun Kapoor, kicked off the 2011 Bridal Fashion week with a return back to the Victorian era.
The lady herself, Ms. Anjalee Kapoor
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