Geisha Designs is coming to town with glamorous occasion- wear to showcase at the daylong 85 Lansdowne Party Edit. A hint of mystery and lots of drama and allure marks their collections. The Telegraph caught up with Paras & Shalini of the more-than-two-decade-old label to know more.
What: 85 Lansdowne Party Edit
Where: 85B Sarat Bose Road
When: November 11; 11am-7.30pm
Welcome to Kolkata! You are showcasing here after how many years?
It’s a pleasure to be coming back to Kolkata after more than a decade for a formal display of our evening-wear collection and to share our recent collection from FDCI x Lakme Fashion Week.
The collections you are getting are all so dreamy. What kind of a muse do you have in mind?
Flowers, art, mystique, life and nature’s pride always form a source of inspiration for our creations. A Geisha muse is a woman who celebrates being unique, being different. A girl blossoming with self-belief, unperturbed by society’s expectations. She isn’t demure or coy any more. She is connected to her roots and has an eye for intricacy and precision. She is a storyteller of opulent elegance and is a world traveller. It is evident in her personality as she loves dressing up to cheer herself.
If Kolkata were your muse, what would you design for her?
Kolkata is a land of craft and culture, festivities and celebrations. We would do a lovely floral organza sari with metallic highlights appropriate to transition across timelines. Maybe we would even take inspiration from Rabindranath Tagore’s literary works or the beautiful legacy of Satyajit Ray. There is so much history that a collection wouldn’t alone do justice.
Diipa Büller-Khosla in Geisha Designs’ Lakme Fashion Week in partnership with FDCI collection, Luminescent
What do you associate festive-party with?
Festive-party looks are all about glitter and shine, there’s no such thing as too much bling. Sparkly numbers in statement details like puffy, voluminous sleeves or risque cut-outs in eye-catching reds or classic silvers is all you need to make a head-turning appearance this festive-party season.
What are classic festive-party looks?
When we talk of classic party looks we think of the little black dress, the most timeless and versatile fashion piece ever. It is a look that works for most women and we totally recommend having one in your wardrobe. Our latest collection features a lot of black dresses just perfect for the upcoming party season and our favourite is the ‘Jocelyn’ dress which is a short strappy black number that is done in a cording technique with ruffles and beaded strings all over. You don’t need to do much with this dress, all you need is a few statement accessories to put together a great party look.
If a millennial were to dress for a party, what would you give her?
If we were to dress you for a party we’ll definitely give you our Shirley jacket set which is basically a metallic silver jacket with over the top rhinestone fringing, paired with a tiny metallic skirt. This set has party written all over it! We really believe in the power of a good blazer, one that is simultaneously sharp and seriously sexy; and this set will make you feel just that.
What are iconic party looks that come to mind from among the celebrities you have seen globally?
There are so many iconic looks that come to our mind but our most favourite look of all time has to be Bianca Jagger’s super glam head-to-toe sequin look from the ’70s, a sequin red Halston dress that she paired with a matching beret, proving that there’s no such thing as too much red or too much sequin.
What are the colours of the season for you?
This season is all about rich jewel tones and metallic tones like antique gold and silver. Our latest collection ‘Luminescent’ features gowns and dresses in jewel tones like emerald, ruby, topaz; along with statement jumpsuits and jackets in high-shine metallic gold and silver. You’ll also see a lot of black pieces in this collection interpreted in different techniques, we’ve something for everyone in this collection whether you’re planning to attend a wedding or deciding on outfits for the upcoming party season. We’ve got you sorted for your social calendar this season.
What are the brides wearing for their cocktails this season?
When it comes to dressing for cocktail parties, there is a lot of room for interpretation especially for the bride. When we think of cocktail dressing, glamour is what comes to our mind instantly. This season we’ve tried to interpret glamour in a lot of different ways, in various techniques. You’ll find everything from a high-slit gown to a structured floral number to a short dress or a metallic jumpsuit to serve you inspiration for your cocktail night.
If you had to pick one all-season look, what would that be and why?
Again we would say that black dresses are an all-season style, whether it’s your cocktail parties or Christmas or New Year’s Eve, it is that one style that works year round without being monotonous and it has our stamp of approval too.
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