Lakmé Fashion Week {Winter/Festive 2011} - Archana Kochhar

It was a controlled stylish collection simply called “Urban Yogini” by Archana Kochhar that announced the launch of her prêt-cum-diffusion collection for Lakmé Fashion Week Winter/Festive 2011. Presenting four looks Archana restricted her colour story to dull shades of stone, raven black and pewter but added touches of canary yellow and bright tangerine and orange to highlight the garments.

Going for slightly androgynous silhouettes with modified shirts, the added drapes kept the garments within feminine parameters for the jet setting New Age diva. Chic shirt dresses, tunics, jumpsuits, fusion entries like lehengas and cholis gave the collection an unconventional touch. Using fluid viscose, Georgette, satin, Italian jersey along with touches of Kantha detailing, on raw silk and organza and adding calligraphic motifs in digital prints to the silks and chiffons but moving away from excessive Bling; Archana ensured that the creations were elegantly stylish.

Opening the show with a cowl striped hem satin dress, the interesting ensembles were the one shoulder orange Lycra top with crystal detailing and digital alphabet print churidars, the asymmetrical alphabet white top with white Lycra slip, black Jersey jumpsuit the white cowled overcoat with crystal mesh yoke, black georgette jumpsuit with an orange cascade, and gorgeous black georgette anarkalis with crushed skirts.

Particularly interesting was the trio of grey jersey draped tunics, jumpsuit and tops followed by the black elegant gowns with tonal glitter on the bodice. The mix of colours and the gradual journey from grey, orange, white to black was a detailed study. The final swirling black lehengas with sexy long sleeved blouses and orange bordered hemlines were teamed with alphabet cutwork boleros and were a dramatic end to the collection. Here was a look that was an ideal ready-to-wear offering for the global fashionistas.

The beautiful show topper was Ankita Shorey, Femina Miss India International 2011, who glided down the ramp in a digitally printed orange flowing halter gown with black sequins cascades down the front.

It was a very fashionable interesting creative move from Archana Kochhar as she scored with her beautiful “Urban Yogini” collection which will be ideal semiformal wear for the global fashionistas.