DHL presented stylish men’s wear designer Kunal Rawal, with his innovative ethnic and western semi-formal line and the very comfortable travel friendly collection of Nishka Lulla during Lakmé Fashion Week Summer/Resort 2015. Both collections gave the trend setting Indian man and the global fashionista numerous choices for the coming season.
KUNAL RAWAL GAVE ETHNIC AND WESTERN MEN’S WEAR A MAXIMUM IMPACTFUL LOOK
Known for his stylish, trendy but at times funky western men’s wear Kunal Rawal took a detour this season and redefined western and ethnic men’s wear for Lakmé Fashion Week Summer/Resort 2015.
Opening the show with Bollywood’s latest heartthrob, Arjun Kapoor in a mosaic embroidered sherwani, which nearly brought the audience on their feet; Kunal continued with a fast paced high impact men’s wear line that rocked the ramp.
The foundation of the very outré collection was the unique influences of using basic lines and dots to add sophistication which was at times quite inconspicuous.
With unconventional graphics like tigers or flying birds, Kunal added a new dimension to his style statements. For some out-of-the-box detailing there were panels and pleats employed as stitch techniques to highlight the texture of the garments.
From the Lakmé Fashion Week Gen Next show of 2006, Kunal has moved rapidly up the fashion ladder having worked in over 150 ad films, Bollywood films and is the couturier for several stars of the big screen.
Giving a somewhat martial, royal look to the men’s wear, Kunal combined numerous metal insignia and military wear inspirations to create a new genre of Indian wear.
Back zippered kurtas and dhoti pants were ideal fashion options. Slogans like “Home is where your clothes are” livened up the print scene on Tees; while the blousons and cropped jackets were in varied prints.
For western wear Kunal also had the Kadi jacket and then introduced the T-shirt kurta besides some trendy shirts, blousons, light weight summer overcoats and stylish aviation hoodies.
Draped pants, baggy gathered breeches, one button jackets, printed sarongs with Tees, tonal embroidery for kurtas, Sherwani and bundgala with metallic embellishments completed the look. The reflective fabrics added to the military styled kurtas with epaulets and patch pockets; while muscle sleeve shirts were worn over kurtas.
The group of sherwanis with metallic detailing down the front, or sides, gave men’s wear a festive feel.
Specially developed fabrics and a clever play with embroidery for men’s semi-formal wear completed the look. The colour story was summer specific with ox blood, vanilla, mint, dense green, some cool lemon and yellow along with warm purple and brown.
Kunal did not stop at just clothes but completed the collection with specially designed shoes that ranged from comfy monk straps, espadrilles, ideal for the heat and stylish lace-ups along with sharp toed styles, which will go well with Indian, western as well as fusion men’s wear.
The show stopper was the very rugged, bearded, Shahid Kapoor who marched down the runway in a 3D fully encrusted shimmering kurta with dhoti salwars.
For the 21st century male who wants to experiment with his sartorial preferences then Kunal Rawal promises to dress him in western and ethnic wear that will make him the talk of the town.
NISHKA LULLA’S FUSS FREE UTILITARIAN COLLECTION WAS IDEAL SUMMER FASHION
Staying true to her concept of relaxed fuss-free fashion that has multiple timeless uses, Nishka Lulla presented ideal summer wear. Putting an emphasis on paired separates to create numerous looks, Nishka added a more feminine edgy twist to the garments with her interesting touches.
With fabrics that were perfect for days when the mercury is rising Nishka chose muslin, organza and lace with an iridescent touch. As always Nishka’s colour card was filled with neutrals and pastels as ivory, glacier grey, ice blue, strawberry pink and almond were creatively merged with classic blue and Marsala.
The opening creation was a Marsala sheath with a white organza coat. Soon there was an assortment of shorts with glitzy shirts, lacy skirt /top combos, slashed pants with short blouses, flowing pleated slashed trousers with racer-back tops and Capris with contrast lining. Playsuits were visible under sheer skirts; while a trench coat over palazzos and shirt, white midi sheath, Lurex bra with shorts and a midi dress under maxi flared skirt completed the travel wardrobe.
The silhouettes remained calm, relaxed and flowing with comfort being a key element with a marked hint of a romantic look emerging constantly.
The perky show stopper was the effervescent, Kalki Koechlin in cropped, slashed, flared pants, bralet under an organza short top, embellished with 3D white florets.
For a wardrobe that has versatile style elements of mix and match options, Nishka Lulla’s boho chic, very wearable clothes will be the obvious choice of buyers globally.
