A hint of pink has had its unmistakable presence in almost all of Anushree Reddy’s collections. On certain occasions she’s gone all out to have an ultra feminine line that celebrates pink in its different hues, from the pretty blush pinks to the more vigorous fuchsias. At other times she’s raised a toast to mint greens and other shades, with pink somewhere in the embellishment. Anushree Reddy’s romance with pink began subconsciously and she realised it when she did her wedding shopping. “I came back with clothes that had some kind of pink in it,” she laughs.
It seems befitting that her new collection is titled ‘Pink - the navy blue of India’. The inspiration for this line came from a statement by Diana Vreeland, former editor of Vogue who declared in 1962, “I adore that pink! It’s the navy blue of India’.
“Everyone looks good in some shade of pink or the other,” observes Anushree. She will be showcasing 21 ensembles that include kalidaar kurtas, anarkalis, palazzos, skirts and peplum tops, in all shades of pink. “From dusty pinks and peaches to brighter shades, we’ve explored an entire spectrum of the rose colour palette,” she says. For men, there are ensembles in brown-pinks. The ‘Pink’ line uses chiffons, organzas, mulmul, fine silks and khadi.
Anushree’s winter-festive 2017 collection was an ode to Hyderabadi design aesthetics and inspired by Princess Niloufer. For spring-summer, she’s keeping the embellishments to a minimum. “The focus is more on the newer cuts to arrive at comfortable silhouettes, so I’ve gone easy on prints,” she declares.
In a departure from her previous collections, Anushree has factored in the need to cater to a diverse age group and body types. “I’ve had people tell me that only the younger, skinnier women can carry off my clothes. It’s funny when I think that I myself don’t fit into some of the clothes I design any longer. The new line will have something for everyone, from the 20 to the 35-40 age group,” she observes.
The summer line, she believes, will be dressy enough without going overboard. These aren’t heavy bridal outfits, but dramatic enough to be worn for special occasions. The focus is also on re-imagining silhouettes. The palazzos, for instance, will have ruffled or uneven lengths. Even with the kalidar kurtas, Anushree is tweaking tried and tested templates.
The men’s line in khadi will have a hint of threadwork embroidery, fine pearl and zardozi detailing and a play of textures.
(Anushree Reddy will be showcasing ‘Pink’ at Lakme Fashion Week Spring/Summer 2018 in Mumbai on February 3; 1.30pm.)
