“Fashion changes, but style endures” said Coco Chanel.
Fashion is generic. Style reflects individuality. It is an art form that allows an expression of personal aesthetics through fashion. While earlier it was the privilege of the select few, in the recent times fashion styling has reached to the masses in India. Thanks to the Bollywood mass mania and portals like Miss Malini, Pinkvilla and High Heel confidential, aspiring youth has better style references documented on these portals.
Talking about local scenario in Ahmedabad, there has been a rise in personal stylists and shoppers in the city. Gujarati Film industry is growing big and the bi-product is hiring right kind of people for each job; that includes hiring a stylist. However, there is a dearth of talent in this pool. The ones available aren’t essentially good and the rest are still figuring of its viability.
For the rookies, a fashion stylist selects the clothing and accessories for published editorial features, print or television advertising campaigns and all kinds of public appearances made by celebrities and public figures. They are the musketeers of fashion. Inspired by the new designs, the stylists come up with infinite combinations and multiple ways to wear the given apparel. They define the red carpet looks for the celebrities that are remembered for generations to come. They also inspire and influence fashion designers by recreating their creations and decode trends. They help real people to shop for their daily and wedding wardrobes.
‘Styling’ a phrase that was once limited only to fashion magazines and red carpets has now become a trending career option among fashionistas across the globe. Ahmedabad, the hub of textiles and design in the country, has given our country the best of stylist and designers.
Ahmedabad’s INIFD Gurukul recently hosted the Women’s Style Awards Season 3 at Pandit Dindayal Upadhyay Auditorium. The Fashion design students of INIFD participated in the styling and modelling award show hosted by the institute. After rigorous training by the college faculties and external workshops, the students displayed their creativity in full glory at the award show in the form of 5 thematic fashion shows.
1. Delightful drapes
As the name suggests, students were given fabrics from F-Studio Ahmedabad to create apparels without using any machine. The students walked in different styles of drapes in varied colours and patterns. The stylists made use of fabrics such as silk, georgette, chiffon, velvet, satin, linen, zari, crepe, cotton and digital prints that were highlighted with sequins and hand embroideries. A melange of Pink, Turquoise Blue, Green, White, Black, Red and Navy Blue fabrics swayed across the ramp walk. The stylists transported the audience from Victorian era to mythology, from Sadhu inspired white drape to one shouldered dhoti drapes and from glamorous evening wear to intricately detailed floral co-ord sets.
2. Angelic Anaya
Angelic Anaya was the display of the new bridal couture and summer collection of Anaya Fashion Luxuries, earlier known as Omana Fashion Luxuries, a boutique that specialises in bridal wear and high-end occasional wear. The indo-western bridal collection comprised of gowns, lehenga cholis, shararas with asymmetrical hemlines and ready to wear sarees with palazzo and garara bottom accentuated with ruffles and layers. One could imagine a summer wedding scene in hills of Himachal with their pastel collection rich in embroidery, floral prints and laces in hues of pink, green, red, peach, sky blue, cream and maroon. Designed by Asha Jaiswal and Usha Jaiswal, the stylists added their own imagination to style the models by adding variation in the drapes of dupatta, hair-do and make-up.
3. Grandiose of Goa
The Grandiose of Goa Collection showcased summer holiday collection that consisted of colorful casual vacation wear and beach wear. The students featured apparels like one–shouldered dress, layered dresses, polka dotted frocks, crop tops, beach shorts and skirts in floral prints, sarongs and gowns, all in vibrant summer color palettes like white, lavender, purple, red, sky blue and green. To complete the holiday look, the outfits were accessorized with sun glasses, beach bags and hats. With Despacito playing in background, one only wished to sip on Martini while enjoying the bohemian style parade in Goa set-up.
4. Capricious cocktail dresses
The walk depicted the famous capricious cocktail dresses that are considered to be the perfect wardrobe choices for parties. Part bitter, part sweet; capricious cocktail was true to its name. On display were the red cocktail dresses with fringes, shiny slip dresses, wrap dresses, velvet gowns, net crop tops, floral skirts and black backless dresses to create the cocktail party vibes. Students had used interesting props of wine glasses while the choreography had some interesting moves to take the audience in the party mode.
5. Relishing Roller Coaster
Relishing Roller Coaster was all about apparels that were mixed and matched with various accessories and apparels that depicted a bohemian look. The bohemian apparels like maxi dresses with floral prints, umbrella cut frocks, floral co-ords, black gypsy co-ords, kaftans, long skirts, palazzos, patiala paired with hoodie and Boho- chic tops were styled by the students to express the free spirited lifestyle. It was the most energetic sequence that described the mood of the students. It seemed the design students loved bohemia and thus the styling improved a notch better in the last sequence.
From drapes and bridal couture to cocktail dresses and holiday wear, the students walking in the outfits designed and styled by the students was a visual retreat and it also got the audience to foresee the upcoming models and stylists in the country. The fashion show was aimed at encouraging students to pursue Styling and modelling as career options in the times to come.
We say, we love the change in the way Fashion and styling is being taught and perceived.
