Latest news with #FDCIManifestWeddingWeekend
The Print
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Print
Mumbai fashion weeks need a revamp. Not Dharavi & Girgaon
It's time we adulted and acknowledged the power of same-sex passion/fashion. We keep calling it 'Bridal Week', when, in fact, it could be successfully sold as Bridegroom Week in a category of its own. This year, there was a major credibility issue seeing new p apaji Siddharth Malhotra as a showstopper with the nubile singleton Jahnvi Kapoor on his arm. They aren't a couple even in our fantasy! Akshay Kumar and his deep curtsy in that boring sherwani? If only some bold designer had hired Ranveer Singh as the ultimate bride—ghunghat, veil, mehendi, the works! He's already rocking high heels and make-up. As one uninspiring fashion week segues into the next, fashion fatigue shows up—on the ramp. Not one original idea or breakthrough silhouette can be found, as one tired collection after the other is sent out by the same old, fully thakela designers, desperately (and unsuccessfully) trying to reinvent themselves. To add an element of newness to the predictable posturing, this edition saw the addition of a celeb Panditji—a designer astrologer at the venue. Smart! Our obsession with shadis and bridal wear needs someone like him around, just in case a few rishtas happen organically during the catwalk. Lo ji… Dilli ke LG Saab also fell for the fashion bait. Vinai Kumar Saxena showed up as the chief guest at the FDCI Manifest Wedding Weekend. The evening ended on a powdery high note, where desi fashion's darlings strutted their stuff—the same old stuff—but who cares? More ornate lehengas? Check. More bling? Check. More embellished bralets? Check. Embrace the rainbow, designers Fashion needs a serious reboot in India. What we are being served is Cowardly Couture. Major designers, bloated and pompous, have run out of ideas. Fluffy-haired seniors show off their perfect blow-dry and dart around officiously. Our Red Carpet obsession is killing freshness. And our so-called couture is mainly borrowed from the West, and hopelessly derivative. Socialite celebrities ape their famous global counterparts and end up looking comical. Cadaverous Cool is not attractive, ladies. Indian heiresses (beauties, all) who starve and starve and starve, to better slide into international haute couture and pose inside grand European palaces, need to ease up. Those gowns and corsets and bustiers and whatnot are created for the likes of Gigi Hadid and Kendall Jenner. Our ladies are gorgeous, glamorous, and ummm… ridiculously wealthy. They don't need validation from the French or Italians. Just be you, babe, eat some dhansak! My admiration goes to the beautiful young Koli community ladies from a fishing village close by, confidently wearing neon Crocs with their traditional kashta nauvaris. That's style! Our khoobsurat young men in fashion are the most short-changed segment. Male models work equally hard to get those fashion week gigs. They spend as much as their female counterparts on grooming, fitness, beauty products, and make-up. It takes a lot for some of the small-town guys to get ramp-ready. But it's the starlets-as-models who walk away with the fame and fancy fees. It's always about the bride! It would translate into more business all around if India changed its position on same-sex marriages and legalised gay rishtas. There'd be a boom—and not just in fashion. The market is ripe and ready to support what is already accepted in 34 countries. What about an official Gay Fashion Week, designers? Why hide behind terms like 'gender fluidity', or tread super-cautiously around apparel specifically created for this vast and unrepresented segment of Indians? With the 79th Independence Day coming up, let's get the tricolour to embrace rainbow colours. Also read: India is becoming a Republic of RWAs. It's the most powerful elected body Dharavi from 30,000 feet Gautam Adani doesn't like looking out of the window of his PJ when he flies into Mumbai (ummm… not really HIS city, if you get the drift). Addressing students at IIM Lucknow, the billionaire expressed his distress. 'Dharavi is Asia's largest slum…Every time I fly to Mumbai, the slums below disturb my conscience, as no nation can truly rise when so many of its people live without dignity,' Adani said. Awwww. So sweet! Didn't know Gautam Seth was such a softie at heart. But hello, boss… Dharavi and the dignity of labour go together. Has India's second-richest man (I'm not saying it, Forbes is… and please don't ask who the first is) ever set foot in Dharavi to see what a dynamic and incredible 'city within a city' it is? There is no place in the world quite like Dharavi, which houses around 12,000 micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), with an estimated annual economic output of over $1 billion. Dharavi's diverse businesses span various segments from recycling to leather and pottery. It is a self-created economic zone exporting products globally. Perhaps a walk in this 'slum' after flying in the clouds is overdue, Mr Adani? Yes, Adani's redevelopment plan for these very 600 acres in the heart of Mumbai must have merit. He has called it his most 'transformative' project. Adani is 'reimagining' Asia's largest slum into 'townships', and the Dharavi Redevelopment project is estimated to cost Rs 95,790 crore. Bless Mr Adani's kind heart. So glad his view from 30,000 feet will improve by 2032. While on the subject, Mumbai's glorious and culturally vibrant Girgaon may soon go the Dharavi way under the guise of 'redevelopment'. The area is home to historic chawls—Mohan Building is 121 years old. It's where Bal Gangadhar Tilak first began the Ganeshotsav, back in 1893. Even worse, Girgaon's cultural milieu, which attracted the likes of Raja Ravi Varma, is likely to disappear altogether. The prospect of Girgaon turning into Gurugram… perish the thought, I say. I mean—Gurugram? Every Mumbaikar's worst nightmare. Noooooo! Shobhaa De is an author, columnist, social commentator, and opinion-shaper. She has written 20 books. She tweets @DeShobhaa. Views are personal. (Edited by Prasanna Bachchhav)
Hindustan Times
24-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Hindustan Times
Chitrangda Singh: I like when an outfit allows me to feel like the most authentic version of myself
As much as her acting skills are lauded, Chitrangda Singh creates equal noise with her classic style. But for her, it's all about showing your individuality. 'Fashion should never overpower who you are, it should quietly reflect your essence. I've gravitated towards styles that feel effortless yet striking,' she says. Outfit: Varun Nidhika | Jewellery: RK Jewellers | The actor stuns in a wave chevron pearl botanical ball gown with intricate lacework and embroidery details, and gold earrings. Both Varun Nidhika and RK Jewellers will be partaking in FDCI Manifest Wedding Weekend on August 2 and 3 at Taj Palace in Delhi(Photographer: Vivek Desai) Outfit: Supria Munjal | Jewellery:RK Jewellers | Chitrangda stuns in a one-shoulder gown, hand-embroidered with jewel-toned threads in magenta, teal, gold and bronze forming hypnotic concentric patterns inspired by Italian mosaics. The look is completed by intricate stud earrings from. (Photographer: Vivek Desai) The actor last seen in Housefull 5, adds, 'I love a classic silhouette with a hint of drama, something that balances femininity and strength. Whether it's a saree or a sharply tailored suit, I like when an outfit allows me to feel like the most authentic version of myself.' Outfit: Varun & Nidhika | Jewellery: RK Jewellers | Catch the actor in a strapless wave chevron pearl botanical ball gown featuring intricate lacework and embroidery details all over. The matching structured cape highlights that extra chicness. She finishes her look with a pair of gold earrings.(Photographer: Vivek Desai) When it comes to trends, Chitrangda Singh is not someone who rushes to be a part of them. 'I enjoy observing trends, but I'm never in a rush to follow them. For me, fashion is more intuitive if a trend aligns with my aesthetics and feels comfortable, I embrace it. But I do not believe in wearing something purely because it's 'in.' I think the most memorable style statements come from individuality,' she insists. Outfit: ATBW | Jewellery: ASV Polkis | Chitrangda wears a hand-embroidered organza saree adorned with delicate geometric floral motifs, pairing it with a classic corset blouse. Her look is completed with a 14k gold necklace, set with violet tanzanites and syndicate polkis in an open floral and crescent design.(Photographer: Vivek Desai) Having started her film journey in the 2000s, ask her what she misses the most of that era's fashion and she says, 'I do miss the playful, carefree energy of 2000s fashion there was a certain charm in how we experimented with colors, low-waist jeans, and chunky accessories. It wasn't always refined, but it was bold and expressive.' Outfit: Wazir C | Jewellery: ASV Polkis | Chitrangda is a beauty as she dons a delicate ivory saree featuring a soft organza drape and a georgette blouse, detailed with Kashmiri aari and Tilla embroidery. Her look is completed with a delicate necklace in 14k gold, featuring hand-painted enamel, sparkling polkis, and tiny emerald drops.(Photographer: Vivek Desai) However, she does admire today's style too for being bold and risque: 'What I absolutely admire about today's fashion, though, is the awareness whether it's sustainability, inclusivity, or body positivity.' Outfit: Chique Clothing | Jewellery: Soni Sapphire | Chitrangda looks beautiful in this emerald green kurta featuring a burst of hand-painted florals paired with loose pants. Her look is further elevated by a 92.5 sterling silver necklace set.(Photographer: Vivek Desai) But traditional or modern fashion, what is her go-to? 'There's something special about traditional fashion. It carries culture, history, and emotion whether it's a handwoven saree or heirloom jewellery, it feels rooted and timeless. At the same time, I love the versatility and freshness of contemporary fashion as it allows for reinvention and self-expression. I think the beauty lies in blending the two, bringing a traditional grace to modern silhouettes or giving ethnic pieces a contemporary twist,' she states. FDCI If you are looking to shop for your wedding then The FDCI Manifest Wedding Weekend is here to make your shopping journey smoother. From gorgeous pre-wedding attire to lehengas and enticing jewellery, this is the perfect place to be. The FDCI Manifest Wedding Weekend will be held at the Taj Palace, New Delhi on 2-3 August, 2025. CREDITS: Creative Director: Shara Ashraf Prayag Mishra Photographer: Vivek Desai Words: Akash Bhatnagar Stylist: Shara Ashraf Prayag Mishra and Sameer Katariya Makeup: Reshmaa Merchant Hair: Tina Mukharjee Footwear: Two Até Location: ITC Maratha, Andheri (E), Mumbai
Fashion Network
20-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Fashion Network
FDCI Manifest Wedding Weekend to celebrate bridal style in Delhi this August
The Fashion Design Council of India will bring together Indian fashion, jewellery, and lifestyle labels for a wedding themed shopping fair at the Taj Palace in New Delhi from August 2 to 3. "Bring your wedding vision board to life- from your dream attire to the finest jewellery under one roof," announced the FDCI on Facebook. "For all your wedding celebrations from haldi, mehendi, D-Day to reception, get to experience the top-notch designers and jewellers from the country at FDCI Manifest Wedding Weekend... Registrations are opening soon." The business to customer event is designed to galvanise shoppers ahead of the autumn wedding and festive season. Designer Archana Aggarwal will showcase a selection of fine jewellery at the fair with statement pieces featuring emeralds, rubies, and diamonds. Isvari Jalandhar will also bring a selection of occasion and bridal jewellery pieces to the fair, including traditional polki designs. For apparel, Tarun Tahiliani will present a selection of classic lehengas and sarees along with JJ Valaya. For menswear, eponymous designer Kunal Rawal will showcase his latest range of ivory suits featuring subtle details and metallic touches. Namrata Joshipura, Jayanti Reddy, Shantnu & Nikhil, and Shanti Banaras among others will also present their latest collections at the event, with tailored looks for traditional wedding celebrations from Haldi to Sangeet. By bringing together luxury brands from across the country, the event aims to give them a platform from which to reach new customers while promoting India's bridal and wedding industry.
