January 2017 - Page 2 of 11

Held at the Teatro alla Scala di Milano, Italian fashion capital’s most suggestive and evocative places, the Dolce & Gabbana Alta Moda spring 2017 couture show captivated the audiences with its fashionable theatrical motifs.

The theatrical vibes were captured and then brought to life through structured figures and imposing silhouettes of the staples, characters, stories and notes of some of the opera’s most remarkable and trailblazing pieces. Motifs from works such as The Magic Flute, Madama Butterfly, Falstaff, La Traviata, La Bohéme, Lucia di Lammermoor, were charismatic with timeless aesthetics.

The collection’s most couture-esque consisted of luxurious embellishments, gemstones, sequined embroideries and pearls, included soigné cuts, such as layered ruches and pleated cascades of organza, double-layered sable collars, regal headpieces and crimson roses.

Rome, Italy, Campari unveiled the campaign and the many stories that make up Campari Red Diaries; a holistic (r)evolution to the late Campari Calendar.

Campari Red Diaries is a multi-layered campaign that brings to life the powerful ethos that “every cocktail tells a story”, celebrating cocktails as a vehicle for expression by shining a light on the influences that inspire bartenders to share their craft.

Killer in Red, the pivotal piece of the project, is a brilliantly executed short film directed by the Italian internationally-renowned award winner, Paolo Sorrentino and starring Hollywood actor, Clive Owen. Whilst keeping with the tradition of the Campari Calendar of days gone by, as well as to ensure Campari Red Diaries is a true (r)evolution, the Killer in Red protagonists and the bartenders behind each of the 12 cocktail stories directed by young and emerging Italian director, Ivan Olita, have been immortalised with the creation of the Campari Red Diaries Calendar Book, shot by acclaimed Argentinian photographer, Ale Burset.

Spectacularly up lit in red for the occasion, the unveil took place during a dedicated celebration at Rome’s Palazzo delle Esposizioni – a venue which projects the theme of storytelling much like Campari Red Diaries – with guests including Paolo Sorrentino and Clive Owen. Giving nod to the ‘80s era in which Killer in Red is anchored, guests were immersed in iconography from the decade while also being treated to a Studio 54-esque DJ set from the renowned Stefano Fontana.

by- Deepa Srivastava Kumar

Hyatt Hotels Corporation had the official opening of Annamaya foodhall, marking the first Indian location for the Andaz brand. Celebrating the local culture and unique spirit of neighbourhoods by emphasizing consciously sourced ingredients and local artisanal produce in the uniquely conceived European food hall.

You probably already knew this, Annamaya Foodhall, consists a collection of food stalls, and is the best place to eat lunch in the Loop. It’s not even a close contest, no other destination in Delhi/NCR contains so much incredible food.

Crowds swarmed immediately on its opening and haven’t thinned since. During peak lunch hours, you’ll wade through a sea of collared shirts and dress pants, emerging at your chosen stall. While Annamaya’s location at Aerocity’s Andaz hotel might explain some of the appeal, but after eating at every single vendor over the course of launch and at one of a kind artisan fair, I think the quality of the food is what really will keep everyone coming back.

The only way to be disappointed, beyond griping about the lines, is to expect something from Annamaya that it is not. It definitely is not a food hall in the grand tradition of places yet you can score top-quality groceries along with a quick lunch. I think Delhi still deserves a place like that.

Annamaya is probably more accurately described as a fancy food court. Technically, it can feel like a shock to the system as you could supper here too: as its seven shop-house experiences in an open and fluid environment, where indigenous cooking methods can be experienced throughout the day.

H&M first launched its worldwide Garment Collecting initiative in 2013 and since then the company has collected over 40,000 tonnes of clothing. Today customers can bring any unwanted garments and textiles, from any brand and in any condition, to any H&M store, all year around. The goal is to increase the amount of garments collected, every year, so that we reach a total collected volume of 25,000 tonnes per year by 2020.

The campaign raises awareness on the importance of garment recycling. H&M wants to close the loop on fashion by giving customers an easy solution to hand in unwanted garments so they can be reused or recycled through H&M’s garment collecting initiative. By doing so less garments go to landfill. The “Bring It” film tells the journey that unwanted garments go on after they have been collected in store. Through inspiring stories the film illustrates how the lifespan of a garment can be increased to keep it in the loop for as long as possible.

Michael Kors Spring 2017 campaign starring Joan Smalls, Taylor Hill & Romee Strijd, has Powerful romance as the theme which is been shot by Mario Testino.

“The combination of strength and femininity was at the core of the collection, and Joan Smalls was the perfect embodiment of that spirit,” says Michael Kors.

For the new campaign, Testino captured Smalls luxuriating in a classic car, wearing the season’s standout prints. In hues of azalea and nutmeg accented with white-hot accessories, the bold florals bring chic optimism to the sun-kissed.

The Spring campaign brings back house favorite Taylor Hill, alongside Romee Strijd. In keeping with the brand’s jet set aesthetic, the campaign follows two supermodels on the go, shot with a paparazzi-style point of view.

A highlight of this year’s show at LFW will be the special evening event by Mandeep Nagi, Design Director of Shades of India, show cases her summer collection with girls from Kranti modelling the clothes. Kranti, the Mumbai based NGO, has won international recognition for rehabilitating girls from the red light area. They will tell their stories while demonstrating their pride and independence in the exquisite clothes from Mandeep’s Bagh collection.

Mandeep has made a point of not using professional models in her photoshoots. For her highly successful Cinnamon collection, she chose Kamla as her model. In normal life Kamla – tall, beautiful and with naturally superb poise – works as a house help. Mandeep wanted to demonstrate that even girls from the most modest backgrounds can prove their independence and hold their heads high. She followed the same path with her recent Nazraana collection where the clothes – inspired by the courtly life of old Lucknow – are again modelled by a girl from an unprivileged background.

The Bagh spring and summer collection draws on similar themes that inspired Awadh and Nazraana with echoes of courtly life combined with a stylish bohemianism. Fabrics are fine hand woven cottons, silks and precious metallic weaves. Silhouettes are inspired by traditional kurtas and pajamas and by re-interpreting saris with a bohemian look. In all the styles, the layering of fabrics, textures and colours brings surprise.

Gautam Vazirani, Fashion Curator with IMG Reliance has long been an admirer of Kranti and of its Director Robin Chaurasia. It was on his direction LFW included this spectacular show linked to social responsibility with fashion.

It’s all things fun, flirty and experimental for Hyderabadi designer Anushree Reddy, first prêt collection “An Indian Summer” at Lakme Fashion Week SR 2017 show on Sunday, 5th February.

The “An Indian Summer”, captures and brings to life the glorious season in all its vibrance and variety. Drawing inspiration from the ethereal great Indian desert terrain, the range is a departure from her heavy duty bridal wear towards a more eclectic, easy breezy resort line for today’s growing trend of casual destination weddings and non-nuptial celebrations.

Featuring a myriad of colours and textures – her collection is a celebration of never seen before technique and styles. Natural fibres like tender mul-mul and airy cottons along with traditional age old handmade badla weave magic into fluid fabrics that blend and burst alive into a kaleidoscope of hues from blaring corals and tangerines to soothing sunset yellows. Adding to that, one can also notice the lavish interplay of elegant and energetic shades such as ivory, lavender and acquas spread out across her exquisite creations. “My signature pastel floral prints will take centre stage and the zebra print will be the highlight,” says designer Anushree Reddy.

Paris haute couture is always been like a fairy tale, be it Dior’s enchanted forest r to Chanel’s circular mirror runway filled with different colours and textures with Lily Rose Depp taking a final bow with Lagerfeld. Not to miss the solo debut of Maria Grazia Chiuri and Pierpaolo Piccioli.

However, Pierpaolo Piccioli took a more simplistic approach for Valentino haute couture Grecian Goddess, as the details executed were with utmost perfection. It was the fragility of the gowns with overly long lengths of chiffon, crepe and silk jersey used in the skirts elongated and narrowed the models’ bodies made the collection sing.

Maison Margiela

Jean Paul Gaultier paid homage to 80’s in which he creatively came of age, with bright acid colours, daring contrasts and vivid floral prints and big hair, oversize scruffy plaits, satin headscarves, strong shoulders, pinstripes, lashings of denim and stockings in acid yellow, blue and red.

Elie Saab’s couture display was in feminine pastel shades, peach gently contrasted with mid-blue, in see-through full skirts and silk head bands.

Elie Saab