Structured dresses, ruffled coats, rosette clutches and chunky neckpieces in sterling silver fill the racks at Studio Saks, with the well-travelled labels Vizion, Walnut and Bansri Joaillerie coming to the city. The garments have been handpicked to complement the city's weather blues — Sun-drenched mornings, damp afternoons, breezy evenings and the indecisive in-betweens.
“We have not brought the heavier fabrics to the city,” says Sharadha Murarka, creative director of Vizion, who has brought to Studio Saks styles that range from contemporary chic to classic Goddess. Affirming her belief in the ‘feel-good factor' that fashion should bring out, Sharadha says that the label keeps in mind the sensibilities of the Indian woman as well as the current trends of the season.
She says it is the styling that takes the garment to the next level. Pointing to a high-collared knee-length dress, she says that women on the heavier side could accessorise it with a chunky neckpiece, while the slimmer ones could dress it up with a broad waist belt. The collection is an assortment of styles with full-length cocktail dresses, to boho-chic linen dresses in the lime-greens and yellows, structured jackets and tunics.
Subtle style
The colours and fabrics are rich yet gentle and easy to carry, for Vizion's style is subtle. The fabrics used are satin silk, linen, tulle, dupion silk and crease-free fabrics that are travel friendly. “Not many Indian designers venture to design a couture evening wear line, though the Indian woman wants to dress up, feel special and walk the red carpet. Many women ask for floor-length cocktail gowns,” she says, talking about what lies ahead. “We will focus on our ready-to-wear as well as couture line,” she adds.
Also on display is Walnut, put together by designers Nidhi and Divya Gambhir. This is all about silhouettes that flatter, colours that flourish and styles that grow on you. Spunky and imaginative, the collection comprises short dresses, ruffle jackets and tops, among others.
Walking through Bansri's Goddess-inspired collection is like walking through time. “My forte is designing jewellery that makes a statement,” says the young Bansri Mehta of Bansri Joaillerie, who brings into her designs her experiences of living in India and abroad. Wearing its versatility on its sleeve, the collection starts with beaded broad belts that double up as neckpieces, clutches with detachable broaches and chunky stretch rings, and goes on to the Mughal collection, the cocktail collection, the sterling silver collection, and the Mahatma Gandhi-meets- Victorian opulence coin collection.
Taking her love for hair accessories a step higher, she has brought in hair bands and other hair accessories, some of which are embellished. “Hair accessories are my personal favourite. Everyone has bad hair days, and just a simple hair band can set it straight,” she says, talking about why she chose to add them in her collection. “At the end of the day, jewellery is always a personal style statement, and it depends on how you carry it,” she adds.
