Journalism of Courage
It is not very often that a three-designer show manages to wow one in its entirety. But at the Thursday afternoon show by Nikhil Thampi,Nishka Lulla and Nimish Shah held on Day One of Lakme Fashion Week (LFW) all three names managed to do just that. Each of them had something fresh and interesting to offer and more importantly,they all focussed on wearability.
The show started with Thampis segment,which didnt fail to deliver on the glamour front. The line revisited his South Indian roots with Kathakali as a recurring motif. Called Indian Punk,the collection was dominated by the classic combination of black and gold with matching leather accessories (created by accessory designer Nitya Arora) to boot. Also deserving a mention are his knee-length saris with knotted pallus as also an unorthodox menswear ensemble that saw Thampi pair a white skirt with a bandhgala. This apart,the collection also had high-waisted skirts,cropped long sleeve tops,boleros with lungis and sheaths over skirts that were crafted out of linen,cotton,net and silk.
Meanwhile,Shah presented what was truly a winter collection. Peasant dresses,knit jackets,cropped pants,dresses with ruffles,and skirts and dresses with elegant big bows summed up a line that was modern,yet steeped in vintage. The designer completed this autumn-heavy look with socks and leather/ net headscarves. Another segment in the line had florals against a black backdrop and sequinned creations adding to the glam quotient. Interestingly,both Lulla and Shah teamed metallic fabrics with textured linens,allowing a striking contrast. For instance,Lulla had gold hued lamé shirts paired with cotton trousers and skirts,and a lamé skirt coupled with cotton shirt. Shahs line,under his label Shift,saw him club a copper-coloured top with a linen skirt.
