The wedding and party season is upon us. Kiran Uttam Ghosh is all set to launch a chapter from her Wearable Art Collection at 85 Lansdowne. 'In these hectic, often stressful times when one is scrambling for what to wear, my suggestion to my clients is simple: Happiness looks gorgeous on you, drape it,” she says.

But it's not that simple, is it? She comes to your rescue. Her occasion wear collection features traditional pieces but with the signature KUG edginess. “The design sensibility of this collection, like all my work, has always been based on the beauty of traditional clothes, whether it’s the kimono or the lungi or the sari. The aim is to take the cherished garment and create something new, while respecting its original form. The new expression works with handcraft while keeping it relevant using technology too. It’s about finding harmony between yesterday and today,” Kiran says.

The collection has geometric gold hand-block prints that have been sprayed across along with digital print. Intricate hand-work with delicate geometric beading, gota work, zari and thread machine embroideries embellish the garments. Bold floral and leaf motifs are used on draped maxis, saris, cocoon dresses and jackets, some subtle and some definitely not for the faint-hearted. The line throws up stylised saris, drapes, wraps, kurtas as well as separates like shararas, ghagras, narrow pyjamas, and lungi-saris. The clothes feature a moderate dose of bling. “Today I find everybody looks like everybody else at weddings and often so over-embellished. While I love sparkle, I don’t want to look like a Christmas tree. This collection surprises with elegant bursts of bling sometimes near the feet or often at other unexpected areas. The aim was to keep it simple yet sensational… and so beautiful you want to wear it again and again,” says Kiran.

The shade card works with vibrant two-tone colours and ranges from shocking pink, ruby red, turquoise, emerald, sapphire to bright golden yellows and muted salmon and mother-of-pearl.

“The aim is to keep the collection refreshingly strong, carefully curated and independent. The woman the collection is designed for has curves and imperfections. Our ensembles are the canvas on which she creates her personal story. After so many collections, I have the luxury to design for mothers, daughters, grandmothers and granddaughters; the skinny, less skinny, curvy. The range is versatile. The collection is most often carried for destination weddings as they travel well,” adds Kiran.

Want to wear a sari but not confident of carrying it off? A sari-dress is all you need. A salmon pink crossover draped sari-dress with hand-embroidered pearl detailing Image: Agencies

If you want to give bright colours a miss at the next wedding you attend, this mother-of-pearl draped sari in a medley of crepe and pleated fabric, embellished with pearl hand-embroidery and threadwork, is a great way to do so Image: Agencies

This look is all about the drape drama. The red pleated wrap has been draped over a handwoven dhoti and a sheer black blouse. Ideal if you want to make a strong statement Agency picture

The red pleated kaftan kurta worn over shararas works well for a Sangeet. For a dinner, pair the kurta with narrow gold pants Image: Agencies

A full-on party look, this ensemble comprises a salmon pink hand-block printed circular drape overlayer with a mother-of-pearl pleated dress with delicate geometric pearl hand-embroidery Agency picture