From intricately designed lehengas to new-age sarees and ethnic co-ord sets, there’s a lot of fresh fashion to choose from this year. Most of the new silhouettes combine maximalism with a slew of fresh trends that embrace crisp lines and minimal embellishments. Whether it's bright pinks or minty greens, there's no shortage of colour on the festive wardrobe scene.
To better acquaint you with the fresh collections from the designers to watch, here are the collections you'll want to wear for weddings, parties and beyond:
1. 24-7, 431-88 By Shweta Kapur
Noted womenswear designer Shweta Kapur’s 431-88 has a new collection aptly titled, 24-7. The range features ready-to-wear essentials that will take one effortlessly from day to night, perfect for every occasion and mood. Pick from draped sarees, statement blouses, flattering skirts, stylish co-ords, chic cargos, sleek shackets and more. The silhouettes are edgy and punctuated with interesting details like ornate blouses that feature fringes; crystal strings that delicately hold the front and back panels of a jacket; free-sized knotted skirts that flatter the body and more. Another noteworthy pick from this collection is the varied colour scheme - an exploration of ombre dyes, metallics and hand-embroidered greys and golds. Right from signature pleated metallics to eco-friendly vegan leather, Kapur’s sartorial exploration styles subtly lend a modernist touch. "My aim for 24-7 was to design something that makes women comfortable in their own skin and reflect their own vibe," she shares. “The molten metallic embroidery was inspired by the idea of how we portray this image of perfection to the outside world but most of the time for a lot of us, we are coming and falling apart inside.”
Available here
2. Fusion Wear, Mrunalini Rao
With a resplendent depiction of the Art Nouveau era, noted designer Mrunalini Rao’s new collection illustrates the many nuances of decorative art, design, and architecture. The collection presents a bright take on Indian wear with the inclusion of capes, jackets, kaftans, draped pants, waistcoats, and layered skirts. While traditional dark solid colours such as reds, blacks and yellows have been incorporated keeping the upcoming wedding season in mind, the latest edit also includes pastel hues such as soft pink, lavender, mint, and off-white. The collection focuses on the designer’s love for foliage by incorporating the yesteryear charms of Indian embroidery and reimaging it with modern-day cuts.
Available here
3. Festive couture, Anjali Kanwar
Delhi-based designer Anjali Kanwar’s prêt-couture label’s new collection encapsulates the essence of the bright festive mood. You can find a festive mix of colours like fuchsia, gold and teal with beaded embroidery, sequins and crystals. The drapes with embroidery, unique crystal fringe embroideries and French knots made from silk threads are what make the collection stand out. The silhouettes are easy-to-wear, giving a nod to understated elegance through draped skirts, pleated tops, kaftans, capes and more.
Available here
4. The Heritage Collection, Shantanu Goenka
Couturier Shantanu Goenka, known for his known for craftsmanship and luxurious detailing, has a new collection apt in time for the wedding celebrations focusing on traditional craftsmanship, heritage fabrics, and bespoke glamour. The collection has an old-world charm beauty merged with nouveau Indian grandeur with silhouettes such as lehengas, gowns sarees for women and bandhgala, sherwanis and kurtas for men. The embroidered silhouettes detailed with threadwork and Swarovski crystals give a whimsical finesse.
Available here
5. Painterly, Payal Singhal
Bringing a mix of resort wear and destination wedding-ready outfits, noted designer Payal Singhal’s latest collection titled, Painterly is inspired by colourful abstract art and miniature Mughal paintings. It featured kalidar shararas, and tie-back cholis, along with deconstructed pants, ruffled blouses, festive pantsuits and more. For the men, there are colourful, short jackets with cuffed pants, unstructured jackets with matching trousers, kurta shirts, traditional kurtas and more. The embroideries and prints mimic brush strokes, with a palette that uses largely neutral bases punctuated with pops of colour. Zardozi, mukaish and woollen thread work mingle with bandhani textures in this line. The collection brings in the spirit of a global gypsy soul with an Indian modern design approach.
Available here
6. Fleur, Varun Bahl
Noted couturier Varun Bahl's festive prêt collection, titled Fleur, is inspired by the designer’s signature love for florals, rich hues, and bright prints. The collection presents contemporary silhouettes with statement floral prints in rich fabrics such as resham, and chanderi in midnight blue, purple, olive green, fuchsia pink and more. The collection, made specifically for the wedding season, includes sequin skirts, embellished kaftans, and intricately embroidered kurta sets.
Available here
7. Bindu, Shanti Banaras
Inspired by painter SH Raza’s study of The Bindu and its correlation to the lifeforce within us, designer retail brand, Shanti Banaras brings a new collection of lehengas handwoven in Rangkat organza. The collection uses rich zari work in dramatic Rangkat fabric while the blouses feature deep cuts. The lehengas are in bright oranges, yellows and lime greens featuring designs through an exploration of circles, triangles, and lines.
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8. Leher, Aapro
Designer label, Aapro launches its first-ever occasion wear collection titled, Leher. With ensembles ranging from shararas to lehengas to co-ord sets, it explores silhouettes in bright colours and through the use of dots and stripes design. The ensembles are crafted with hand block print, handmade tie-and-dyed leheriya, mothda enhanced with pearls, and shells that bring the allure of the silhouettes.
Available here
9. New Velvet, trueBrowns
Homegrown designer ethnic wear brand, trueBrowns has launched a velvet edition to celebrate the winter festivities. Crafted in soft, luxurious fabric, the collection brings forth a magnificent selection of pieces set in relaxed fits and minimal cuts with prints, lace, plunging V-necks, flares, and slits, perfect for the cosy season ahead. A diverse amalgamation of kurta-pant sets, pre-pleated sarees, kaftans, jackets, and shawls, the pieces are a perfect fit for wedding festivities. From rich colour palettes such as black, wine, green and blue to soft pastels, the silhouettes are easy-to-don and equipped with high-octane glamour.
Available here
10. Lightly, Janavi India
From its humble beginnings in 1998, Janavi India has come a long way giving an ode to luxurious cashmere rooted in Indian craftsmanship. The heritage brand’s new collection Lightly displays shawls and stoles weaved in luxe cashmere and merino wool, with lighter frills of organza and silk. The collection is replete with deep hues of burgundy, indigo, and black that serve as a winter-appropriate accessory without compromising on style for your wedding festivities.
Available here