India Bridal Fashion Week 2013: Day Four

Ashima-Leena's show kicked off the event on day four of the Aamby Valley India Bridal Fashion Week. The collection called Delhi ki Dastaan was replete with Mughal influences of the historical city. Actor Nargis Fakhri walked the ramp as showstopper in a large-bordered gold lehenga skirt teamed with the very feminine take on the sherwani -- complete with metallic latkans and large embroidered motifs on the dupatta.

Nargis Fakhri for Ashima Leena, India Bridal Fashion Week 2013, New Delhi

Keeping the silhouettes very fluid and non-experimental, the duo focused on creating impact with combining fabrics of different textures and sheen, while keeping embellishments to the bare minimum. Dull gold, dull reds, and browns had a good share as shown below:

Ashima Leena, India Bridal Fashion Week 2013, New Delhi

I am sorry to say, but I did not like a single ensemble from the collection. They were all very reminiscent of the Bollywood movie Fashion to me -- I don't know why. And I also think the finish of the garments leave a lot to be desired. Also, I have been seeing ditto-style influences all over Delhi since years and years -- maybe it is because of this saturation point. What do you guys think?

Ashima Leena, India Bridal Fashion Week 2013, New Delhi

The second chapter of the day had Rohit Bal presenting Mulmul Masquerade, an ode that brought together the grandeur of old-school India and Elizabethan eras -- in the realms of gorgeous lotus sets designed by Sumant Jayakrishnan. Sonam Kapoor walked the ramp in Gudda's signature ivory demeanor with understated gold texturing and statement vintage jewellery by Amrapali. The duo did a jig to old Hindi tunes of days gone by -- the spirit was infectious.

Rohit Bal and Sonam Kapoor, India Bridal Fashion Week 2013, New Delhi

Now in the collection, nothing made the Elizabethan influence more evident than crisp muslin-high collars, a heavy usage of velvet, and trapeze drops from the empire lines -- all lovingly brought to life by Bal's signature Kashmiri Kasab embroidery. Other fabrics included chanderi silks, voiles, tulles, and mulmul of course.

Rohit Bal, India Bridal Fashion Week 2013, New Delhi

Sari blouses took on the form of panned corsets, and yokes and jackets were richly embellished to the hilt with threadwork on floral motifs.

Details, Rohit Bal, India Bridal Fashion Week 2013, New Delhi

This being Bal's first show for the bridal week series, I have to admit that the designer nailed it and how. From the plethora of European influences we have seen in collections this seasons, noone could get the harmony right within Indian aesthetics like he did -- a delicate balance that may tip towards the unsightly which I think he mastered so perfectly. Not a single element looked out of place in any of his creations, and this is it -- Rohit Bal will be of my choosing too when the time comes.