JOIN USDesigner Aparna Shrivastava focusses on blending beautiful Indian traditional styles with contemporary designs to create rich and elaborate outfits that take one back to the era of the royals. Her clothes are for anyone who wants to mix the best of both eastern and western cultures.
For the woman of today
Specialising in ‘Anarkalis’, ‘Lehengas’, wedding dresses and gowns, the label — ‘Aparna S’ — conjures up visions of opulence and glamour. The exquisite creations that showcase her expertise in mixing different fabrics and styles are part of an entire range of haute couture catering to all age groups and sections of the society.
“Vintage has been one of my biggest inspirations when it comes to designing clothes,” says Aparna. The rich fabrics and the elaborate designs are something she wants to bring out in her collection. Her aim is to showcase Indian craftsmanship in the garments along with the vibrant range of Indian colours and embroidery. Aparna showcases Indo-western wear with a heavy influence of European patterns and cuts.
Her line has quite a few attractions for the modern bride. “There are many functions like ‘sangeet’ and ‘mehendi’, that are as important as the wedding. So all girls, including the bride, want to wear something that will not weigh them down but will look stunning in the photoshoots too,” says the designer.
Cross-cut jackets and gowns are some of the outfits she designs keeping the weddings in mind. They are lightweight and the colour palette is more of subtle hues and pastels. The garments can also be broken down and reused for other occasions. For example, the jacket can be teamed up with ‘saris’ or ‘ghagras’ for a different look.
Her mix and match formula has led to the creation of elegant outfits that speak for themselves. Interesting experiments like teaming up ‘Lucknowi Chikankari’ work with Rajputana colours, using the traditional ‘bandhini’ style for short dresses and capes and fashioning contemporary gowns and drapes out of silk, have allowed her to carve out a niche for herself in the field. The fitting and finishing of the garments is something she is very particular about as she believes is her forte.
Kumkum Rathore, a student of Army Institute of Fashion and Design, wore a silk gown with Indian prints and mirror detailing.
Punchline: “The best part about the outfit was the cheerful colour with the shimmery effect. The gown was a perfect pick for any special occasion.”
Price: Orange gown (Rs 22,500)
Shilpa Deopa, of Army Institute of Fashion and Design, chose a deep Maroon skirt with embellishments and a netted cream top with embroidery.
Punchline: “The intricate embroidery on the top and the flowy pleats of the skirt was what struck me first. The garment was classy and comfortable to wear.”
Price: Maroon skirt and cream top (Rs 18,800)
Lydia Yeadus, a student of Mount Carmel College, wore a white gown which she teamed with an elaborately embroidered white jacket.
Punchline: “I love the simple colour and comfortable fit of my outfit. The
elegance of white is
evergreen and is perfect for any function.”
Price: Jacket (Rs 12,800) and gown (Rs 12,800)
Purvai Nehru, a
student of Army Institute of Fashion and Design, slipped into a full flowing ‘lehenga’ with velvet work and a cream hued
full-sleeved top with light flower patterns.
Punchline: “I like the colour scheme. It was easy to carry and I would wear it for weddings too.”
Price: Maroon lehenga set (Rs 27,800)
Chitra Naidu, a student of Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Technology, wore an off-white gown with a netted full sleeved jacket.
Punchline: “I liked the touch of the old world. The cut is perfect which makes the flare look great.
The net work on the sides adds to the glamour of the outfit.”
Price: Golden embroidery gown (Rs 28,500)
Ankitha Thakur, from Mount Carmel
College, picked an ‘Anarkali’ with elaborate golden work and a bright yellow ‘dupatta’
Punchline: “The rich colour of the attire gave it a vibrant look. There was no need of extra accessories due to the elaborate
detailing.”
Price: Pink anarkali
set (Rs 18,800)