The Lakmé Fashion Week has been one of the most prestigious fashion events of the country right from the time it was inaugurated in 1999. Almost two decade old now, the event has grown manifold with each passing season. This season, the event will was ‘unfolded’ by Gaurav Gupta and will also have other big names like Varun Bahl, Gauri and Nainika, Anita Dongre, Rohit Bal and Shantanu & Nikhil showcasing their craft. So let’s hope you’ve got your sartorial glasses on, for we’re about take a dip in the fantastically chic word of the Lakmé Fashion Week Summer/Resort 2019.

It was the first time for designer duo Shantanu & Nikhil to close the momentous Lakme Fashion Week and the designers, did not disappoint. 'Recruit SR 19' was a collection of bold black and red gowns, saris, jackets and leather pants. Kareena Kapoor Khan walked the ramp in an all-black tube gown for the designers as the showstopper at the grand finale which took place at the Sophia College in Mumbai.

Bodice by Ruchika Sachdeva bent towards realism with a casting that spanned from songstress Rachel Verghese and DJ Zokhuma aka Arman Menzies to actors Kalki Koechlin and Jim Sarah. Even Ayusman Khuranna’s daredevil wife walked the ramp, showing off her post-cancer bald head. In collaboration with Reebook, the collection was a minimalist’s dream. Think solid colours, stripes and breathable silhouettes.

Nikhil Thampi’s return to Lakme Fashion Week was worth taking a second look at. Aptly named ‘Semi Colon,’ the collection took to a new territory for cuts that travelled low along the neck and back, while slits ventured higher up the thigh. Inspired by Dynasty, the dresses had strong shoulders. The tuxedo dresses were homage to the ’80s maximalism—think Bianca Jagger at Studio 54. When a model glided down the ramp in a side-slit dress with nothing but semi colons holding the fabric in place, we were reminded of that iconic Liz Hurley safety pin dress that has gone down in history, and possibly made it to Nikhil Thampi’s mood board as well.

Anita Dongre’s latest offering consists of capsule pieces for destination weddings and also serves fresh spin on conscious clothing. ‘A Summer Reverie ‘ has airy, lightweight silhouettes in a happy palette of blush, sea foam and sunshine. You’ll find light lehengas, maxi dresses, jumpsuits and crop tops with skirts, while the menswear line consists of kurtas and bundis with happy colourful prints. Delicate hues dominate the shade card made of yellow, apricot, sea foam, surf blue, onion pink and blush.

The renowned Australian wool company has joined forces with Aneeth Arora’s péro for the very first time to showcase a handwoven collection made with Merino wool. The collection was a quintessential péro showcase with an animated runway – from hip hop artistes to graffiti artists and models navigating the ramp with bicycles on their side. Woollen blazers and jackets were combined with mashru stripes, handwoven silks and chanderis to make the outfits look as much at home in an English countryside as it would in the valleys of Kullu.

Antar-Agni (by Ujjawal Dubey), showcased Eri and Muga textiles in their collections, which were hand-woven by artisans in these clusters. ‘Balance’, saw a capsule collection that promotes sustainable development from northeast India. Each garment has been created by artisans in Assam, who have used weaving techniques to work with fibres like cotton, eri, tussar and muga silk in neutral colours of ivory and grey with accents of green and citrine.

The event was ‘unfolded’ with Gupta’s collection ‘The (Un)folding.’ Gupta’s collection of celestial dresses, lehengas, sari-gowns, pant suits saw a beautiful melange of delicate hand embroidered chikankari and Benarasi brocade. His signature style of gravity-defying silhouettes also incorporated origami folding as well as fluid-structural construction. The evergreen Tabu and sartorially-forward filmmaker Karan Johar walked the ramp for Gupta.

The Delhi based designer duo latest offering, ‘The Art of Latte’ is designed keeping the free-spirited, well-travelled woman of today’s time in mind. The line boasts luxurious high-low and breezy wrap-arounds dresses with strong floral prints and vibrant monochromes in the shades of reds, pinks, nudes and browns. With fabrics like chiffon, crepe de chine, silk taffeta, organza and micro crepe, the collection is all about glamourizing your next holiday to the beach! Yami Gautam closed the show for the designer duo.

For his summer/resort line, designer Rohit Bal joined hands with sustainable fashion label Usha Silai in an effort to champion sustainability and empower women. The collection, ‘ Guldastah’ features exquisite embroiderey by female Kashmiri artisans. (Who also graced the ramp!) Organic fabrics like cotton silk blends, Chanderi, silk organza, silk and velvet took centre stage to show off the beautiful like thread embroidery, gold wire and zardozi, in floral motifs, naturally all reminiscent of Kashmir.