India Couture Week Day 1

HDIL india couture week an event people were fervently awaiting; and when it arrived, those present were nothing less than inundated. Though people were a bit apprehensive as it was raining cats and dogs on day 1 of the HDIL India Couture Week, the event couldn't have had a better start than an opulent Ritu Kumar show. It evident that, Kumar had geared up to enchant the audience by her collection, come rain or shine.

Indian diva of fashion designing, Ritu Kumar, marked her 40 years in the Indian fashion fraternity by opening the country's first ever indigenous 'Couture Week' on September 16 at Grand Hyatt, Mumba Opening the couture week with a bang, the ace designer put together a retrospective anniversary collection with a blend of classical designs and modern twists. A beauty beyond praise, Priyanka Chopra was dressed in a red 24 kali ornate lehenga with intricate embroidery and an emerald green short sweetheart neckline choli with churi sleeves made up of net.

An exquisite work of traditional embroidery in the front and back epitomized this unique oh-so-sexy choli with a curve-hugging fit. Hemline was beautifully done with tassels (ghunghru). Fully sequined dupatta enhanced the look of the dress. She stole the heart immediately with her typical bollwood jhatka matka style like kajra-re hairstyle and a teeka. Ritu also had Neha Dhupia in traditional look trying to cash her Julie look, the big bindi, cleavage-showing choli and purple dupatta. It seemed that Ritu was very much inspired by the traditional Indian paisley and prominent use of brocade. Riya Sen's golden choli with deep neckline and Raima Sen's tunic with Rajasthan-inspired motif was an astonishing creation of Ritu Kumar.

Models such as Carol Gracious, Jesse Randhawa, Nayonika Chatterjee, Shamita Singh, Dipannita Sharma, Tapur Chatterjee and Miss India World 2008- Parvathy Omanakuttan, Miss India Earth 2008- Tannic Vyas, Miss India Universe 2008- Simran Kaur Mundi and Miss India Earth 2006- Amruta Patki strutted down the ramp wearing kutchi gathered coats worn over divided loose pants, ghararas, khara dupattas with intricate embellishments, interspersed with a line of antique textiles like kalamkari and jaamdaani. Ritu Kumar's collection perfectly bridged the gap between traditionalism and modernity.

Ritu Kumar, a gem of a fashion designer, has developed a unique style of her own, reflecting the ancient traditions of Indian craftsmanship in a contemporary vocabulary. Ritu Kumar's understanding of ancient designs and the innovative use of traditional crafts has created a new classicism. Ritu holds the status of a revivalist in the Indian Fashion Industry

Indian Fashion Designers

Diamonds are girl's best friend but what if it is not within your budget? No worries, Gordon Max has the solution to it. Satisfying the needs of today's women by providing them with affordable elegance and everlasting brilliance, the brand recently opened its new store at the Great India Place in Noida providing exceptionally brilliant stimulants that have the same appeal as the highest grade, naturally formed diamonds. "Gordon Max premium quality stimulants are hand cut and hand polished into the proportion of ‘hearts and arrows', giving a visual effect seen in round shaped diamonds ensuring maximum brilliance and fire and providing a wide selection of old mine cuts to modern and contemporary ones" said Ms. Saraswathi Arjun an, Managing Director, Zuna International Ltd (master franchise of Gordon max India and subcontinent).

The store provides in house certification for cut, size and colour. A hologram certifying every single Gordon Max diamond stimulant is hand cut, hand polished by master diamond cutters. "India is well known for its diamond jewellery. However, there is lack of choices and quality when it comes to these manmade stones. Although no one has introduced premium quality stimulants in a big way in India yet, we are confident that consumers would appreciate that now they have a choice of wearing diamonds at a very affordable price tag without compromising on the quality or the eye", she shared. From pristine colour less to fancy vivid colours, the store will provide you exquisite and limited European designs.

The pieces can be found in various sizes from 0.25ct up to 12ct, in many cuts such as round brilliant in hearts and arrows proportions, princess, emerald, heart and many others. But what attracts us the most is the excellent quality versus price ratio which is 90% of the natural diamonds characteristics with just 4% of the cost. Here comes the price range, the lowest is Rs 6100 for 0.34 carat and it goes to Rs 53,700 for 8 carat. Earlier it was in the habit of all those women to keep their natural diamonds safely locked away in security deposits due to the high value and huge responsibility that comes with wearing one. But with Gordon Max around the corner, every lady can enjoy wearing her diamonds every day, without losing her peace of mind.

We promised to keep you posted on the efforts Miss Universe aspirant Ekta Chaudhary and the best designers of the country are putting in to bring back the crown. here we are with one more update. Gauri and Nainika who is designing her Grand Finale gown which she will be flaunting at the Miss Universe 2009 pageant in August held a fitting session recently at their well equipped design studio at Saket in the capital. "Ekta is very different from others," Nainika opines, "While others are eager on portraying a sexy image for the beauty pageants with cleavage revealing and back displaying gowns, it was very sensible of Ekta to go for a classic look."