When the organisers of Lakmé Fashion Week approached Monisha Jaising to close their Winter/Festive show, she instantly knew what her inspiration would be. “When they said that their beauty statement was ‘Shades of a Diva’, I asked if I could name my collection after it, as the possibilities seemed endless,” she says, on the phone from Mumbai.
Following Manish Malhotra, Sabyasachi Mukherjee and Gaurav Gupta in previous years, Jaising takes on the grand finale for the first time. And after a year’s hiatus, Kareena Kapoor Khan returns as her stowshopper (Aditya Roy Kapur and Jacqueline Fernandez held fort for Khan in 2017).
Colour wheel
Jaising worked on the 65-piece collection over 12 weeks. With a lot to choose from, the outfits, she says, range from electric blue to sea foam. Her moodboard — unveiled earlier this week, along with a preview of three pieces from the collection — shows draped styles and bling, mixed with a riot of colours. The designer is not holding back with her silhouettes either; short dresses, pants, jumpsuits and evening gowns will be displayed in a gamut of fabrics.
The Mumbai-based designer, who is known for her use of prints and various embroidery techniques, has continued the trend by incorporating zardosi, aari , sequins, crystals, stone and threadwork. If the previewed pieces are an indication of what is to come, minimalism seems to be on the way out. While the cuts and drapes make for a great basic silhouette, there are plenty of frills and embellishments. One will have to wait for the show on August 26 to see if the rest of the collection reflects a similar aesthetic.
Apart from being the grand finale designer, Jaising has been busy collaborating with friend and muse, Shweta Bachchan Nanda, for a collection called MXS, which drops on September 1. It is meant for the woman who wants to go from day to evening wear effortlessly, and sizes will be inclusive, ranging from XS to XXL. What will she be doing next? “Going on a holiday!” she signs off.
