Designer Sonaakshi Raaj Unveiled her new store in Delhi’s plush Defence Colony with bollywood Actor Nidhhi Agerwal. The new Sonaakshi Raaj store is the epitome of minimalistic glamour. Taking inspiration from the French era and Parisian elegance, the all-white interiors adds an imperial and royal edge to the décor. The 1,500 Sq.ft store features a separate bridal room for personal meetings between the designer and the brides-to-be. As the French have a certain appreciation for antiques, the store features antique mirrors making it look poised and sophisticated. The drapes over the French windows add a captivatingly romantic element to the store.

The store houses an array of stunning sari gowns that exude great style and timeless grace alongside flouncy gowns, westernized saris in a spectrum of vibrant and festive colours. The versatile collection also comprises of a variety of new elements like jackets, dhoti-saris, lehenga-saris and easy sari-gowns with slits. The trending jumpsuits with intricately embroidered jackets are a quirky addition to the collection.

Day Two at the India International Jewellery Week 2017 presented the grand show by six fresh talented designers from the Indian Institute of Gems and Jewellery, Mumbai.

MANALI BANSAL
Being a very traditional person, Manali Bansal’s collection theme was reflected by her personality. Working around patterned maps, Manali used them as the basic essential for her designs. The delicately visualised palm bracelet was a mix of gold and enamel with a paisley swirl, while the grand RaaniHaar/earrings with multiple chains, South Sea pearls, diamonds and engraving in the centre with black rhodium was magnificent. The very dramatic neckpiece having embossed, curves, texturing and studded with turquoise was a grand mélange of shapes and designs that merged perfectly.

NEEL PETHE
Using a medley of nature, Neel Pethe gave a modern touch to jewellery and enhanced the style quotient. The gold flat petals and beaded front curved necklace with cuff was interesting. Texturing was the centre of attraction for this piece. The silver and emerald clustered bead necklace with earrings was a fabulous set. The totally unconventional ring was an imposing creation in abstract forms of nature and feathered cuff were a real show stealers.

SAYALI CHALKE
Using inspirations from tribal culture, Sayali Chalke offered an opulent and magnificent collection that had marked touches of rustic beauty. The splendid neckpiece with rows of chains was sprinkled with florets and balanced on either end with complex squares and clusters of flowers, all intricately carved in silver with stones. Another beauty was the multiple-chain necklace that was draped over the neck. The handcuff and opulent necklace had filigree as its eye-catching element along with chains, tassels and enamelling.

SHUBHAM BARALI
Also inspired by nature Shubham Barali’s jewellery was a tribute to the flora and fauna. The stunning necklace had reflections of the peacock dance with beads, gold and precious stones along with texturing. The entwining snake necklace in gold with matching earrings was a great offering on the ramp. Another geometric necklace and earrings were something that one wants to dream of in jewellery.

VAISHNAVI MAHAJAN
The sun kissed blossoms of nature gave Vaishnavi Mahajan the perfect inspiration for her jewellery. From cute bees with delicate wing detailing, to floral earrings that caressed the earlobes, danglers with chains that flowed up to be clasped on the hair, the collection was an imaginative and adventurous study of nature. The butterfly pendant necklace-cum-harness was a unique presentation with vivid blue, yellow and orange enamelling along with silver balls and baroque pearls. The giant turquoise ring and enormous ear cuffs were extreme designs. Another fabulous neckpiece had a peacock inspired centre that graduated from silver chains to explode into bunches of blossoms.

SWATI SAMALA
Nature was visible in Swati Samala’s creations that featured birds and flowers with a hint of fierce and playful quality inspired by feral arena. The intricate hairband had the bird as its centre of attraction with the wings spread out. Created in gold and gems it was a truly unconventional offering. The inter-connected rings were arresting in their appeal, while the leafy ear ornaments with dangling motifs were stunning. The very impressive neckpiece with multiple rows of gold strands was held together with a lacy mesh like design and enamel rings. The central pendant was indeed a conversation piece.

As we step into Paris fashion Week, Dior Spring Summer 2018 show was extremely special as the house completes 70 this year, also marking Maria Grazia Chuiri’s 1st anniversary with the house of Dior.

During her research in the archives of the Dior house, Maria Grazia Chiuri, Artistic Director of the women’s collections, was interested in a series of photographs by Niki de Saint Phalle. On one of them is the artist on camel’s back; on others, she poses for Dior, at the time of Marc Bohan, his great friend, then at the head of the creations of the House. Embodying the beauty of her time, small and sharp, more teenager than an orrogynous, she affirms a clothing style both iconic and personal, current in its proportions and impertinences.

At the time of the emancipation of the woman, Niki de Saint Phalle launches in a melee with the art, the world and herself. Like all artists, it is carried by its emotions. It is this feminine creativity that speaks to Maria Grazia Chiuri.

“Why have not there been great female artists? This is the question posed by Linda Nochlin’s essay published in 1971, which also calls Maria Grazia Chiuri. It is necessary to restore their place to these different and unique artists, for they transgress the traditionally male discourse of art history and that of fashion.

These are the Nanas, the sculptures of extraordinary women, but also the motley hearts, the dragons, the tree of love, and this exaggerated and delusional work, the Tarot Garden in Tuscany, which become patterns, broken embroideries and mosaics of mirrors in the collection of Maria Grazia Chiuri and the scenography of the parade. As she chooses to take again the colorful palette of Niki de Saint Phalle, almost screaming, and to make it dialogue with lace, silk, leather or plastic.

This collection of ready-to-wear spring-summer 2018, inspired by the artist, also refers to Marc Bohan and his little dresses and combinations, sometimes associated with wide open skirts at the front. They are also large peas, black and white tiles, trousers worn with jackets or Saharans, associated, according to the mood, with men ‘s shirts with fine stripes, polka dots or a romantic white: borrowed from the vocabulary of Marc Bohan.

Finally, the atmosphere and the references of the collection, explicit or implicit, transport us into the brazen agitation of the 1960s that illustrate the changing force of the female universes. They not only change the fashion, but also the contemporary world.