Bollywood’s leading fashion designer, Vikram Phadnis has earned an enviable name in the bridal business. His collection at Aamby Valley India Bridal Fashion Week 2012 was a testimony of his creativity as a line of the most amazing ensembles appeared on the ramp.
Adding avant garde touches to the traditional creations and sprinkling them lavishly with dazzling embellishments, the garments were stunning when it came to the selection of fabrics, silhouettes and cuts.
To the rhythmic beat of drums, the Vikram Phadnis brides descended on the catwalk in all their glittering glory. A gold leaf and strands of gold beads were entwined in their coiffures to match the regal beauty of the creations.
The color palette was as grand as the ensembles that glided down the ramp. Wine, rust, pink, maroon, purple, ivory, orange, gold, vermillion, silver and of course red were chosen by Vikram to give his designs the opulence that a bride dreams of.
The fabrics were rich but restricted to tulle, silk, brocade, lace and velvet. The last choice was creatively used for the very innovative cholis and to edge the lehengas, but covered with rich paisley embroidery.
Diaphanous volumes appeared for the lehengas and floor length kurtas, while the kurtis, which were teamed with the former, were slashed and short with an empire silhouette or with tiny boleros and shrugs as accessories.
Crystal, sequins, resham and zari was used for the most opulent embellishments, which were partial to paisleys or ornate flowers that snaked along the sari borders, on hemlines, necklines, yokes and sleeves or created necklace like visions for the cholis.
Cholis were sophisticated with long churi sleeves, and at times, had military like high necks with large front buttons but also turned into corsets and bustiers or remained traditional with short sleeves. Ethereal double tulle shimmering dupattas gave the bridal couture a touch of grandeur.
When it came to menswear, Vikram kept it elegantly simple with sherwanis with tonal embroidery in deep tones of steel grey, bronze, gold brocade and wine worn with satin salwars, silk churidars or dhotis. It was the accompanying shawls and stoles which were eye-catching once again with multi fabrics, colours and intricate embellishments like Phulkari work and embroidery with zari and zardozi.
The pièce de resistance of the grand show was Gayatri Mantra’s voice creating the mood for the showstopper, Soha Ali Khan. The petite and delicate Soha was decked in a sensational red and gold lehenga, a royal blue velvet choli and pretty red tulle dupatta all dazzling with amazing lush embroidery.
With a traditional red tikka and mehndi, she was epitome of a Hindu bride.
Be sure to check out the rest of India Bridal Week! Shantanu & Nikhil, Pallavi Jaikishan, Ashima Leena, Falguni and Shane Peacock, Tarun Tahiliani, Anjalee & Arjun Kapoor, Jyostna Tiwari, Vikram Phadnis, Narendra Kumar.