Gupta dazzles with progressive yet rooted designs

There is no question that the night belonged to Gaurav Gupta on day 4 of India Couture Week.

DAY 4 AT India Couture Week held at Delhi's Taj Palace Hotel saw the showing of two designers from the city - Varun Bahl and Gaurav Gupta.
But there is no question that the night belonged to Gaurav Gupta. His label is now around 12 years old. Over the years, he has become one of India's most imaginative designers. Gupta, who once stayed away from looking at anything that seemed traditional, has now become one of India's most sought-after bridal designers. He has given his own stamp to the sari and lengha by using new-age fabrics and manipulating them with machine and hand embellishments to create sculptural effects.
His bride is not body shy and does not mind a little skin show and his embroidery is often oversized. There are occasions when Gupta has got carried away with embroidery and shape - but not at this show.   In this collection called Scape Song, Gupta has mixed fluidity with architecture, vintage with experimentation and as the Press release stated was 'Progressive yet rooted'.
The colour palette was soothing, serene and stylish - starting with midnight blues and greasy and moving into blush and lavender. Moving the pleats of his sari gown to the left, adding a more Grecian feel, the use of pearls and micro-beads, referred to England's love of romance and the architecture had a feel of Rome - yet it was for the modern free-spirited Indian women.
These were sculptures you could wear. He had worked on this collection in collaboration with Swarovski. Gupta has worked with this Austrian crystal company several times before, and so understands how to use their product in a way that it makes an impact, yet does not over-shine. Though the finale show is being held on Sunday, there is no question that his was the show that has made the most impact so far. Closing his show was Saiyami Kher, the niece of actress Shabana Azmi (who attended the first two days of India Couture Week). She makes her Hindi screen debut in Rakesh Omprakash Mehra's next film, Mirza Sahiban. A young actor known  to speak her mind, she wore a pastel blue and silver ruffled dresses, that were both soft yet strong at the same time - and fitted well with the actor's own personality.
sujata@khaleejtimes.com
Sujata Assomull is Khaleej Times Fashion Editor
 

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