Tarun Tahiliani at LFW: The romance of Kriti Sanon

The Bareilly Ki Barfi star turned muse and showstopper for the celebrated designer.

Photographs: Hitesh Harisinghani/Rediff.com

Tarun Tahiliani Kriti Sanon Lakme Fashion Week

Tarun Tahiliani dressed his new muse Kriti Sanon in a nude tulle lehenga, choli and draped dupatta that glittered like the stars that he named his new collection after.

For Lakmé Fashion Week Summer/Resort 2018, Tarun Tahiliani 'brought the romance and fantasy of florals and the cosmic stars along with an ethereal flavour of his signature, layered and weightless fashion' with his Taarakanna (stardust) Spring/Summer 2018 collection.

'For some time now, I have been thinking about fashion's role, especially in evening and bridal wear, and how it has failed the modern Indian bride because the clothes are so heavy, stiff, uncomfortable and never to be looked at or repeated again,' Tahiliani said in a statement. 'We set out to create clothes that let women be comfortable and really have fun while still being as glamorous as they felt inside.'

The designer said the collection was in keeping with the global trend of movement and lightness, and true equality for women.

Tarun Tahiliani said his collection represents 'a new voice of tradition', and he found the perfect muse for it in actress Kriti Sanon.

He said in a statement, 'It is time for some wonderful freshness in the fashion, glamour space. I had the good fortune to see Kriti in Bareilly Ki Barfi, and I thought here's real star power. Beautiful, poised and the ability to play a small town Bareilly girl in drab salwar-kameez and yet be so incredibly full of spirit and life that you can't keep your eyes off her, that is what star power is.

'And at that moment I decided the new girl for Tarun Tahiliani is Kriti Sanon.'

Check out the highlights of the collection...

FULL COVERAGE: Lakme Fashion Week Summer/Resort 2018

Tarun Tahiliani Kriti Sanon Lakme Fashion Week

Tarun Tahiliani's first ready-to-wear collection of the season takes inspiration from the constellations of the Milky Way 'and their lightness of non-pattern and abstraction, to render a gossamer of floating elegance.'

Tarun Tahiliani Kriti Sanon Lakme Fashion Week

The collection, which includes traditional and fusion wear, was crafted out of chantilly lace, chanderi, cotton, georgette, crêpe and Italian tulle and enhanced with bead and resham work, as well as the sparkle of crystals and sequins.
The embellishments displayed the beauty of constellations with astronomy charts.

Tarun Tahiliani Kriti Sanon Lakme Fashion Week

Detailing like lattice work, hand painting and digital textile printing added to the layers of flowing fluid shapes brought forth by celestial hues.

Tarun Tahiliani Kriti Sanon Lakme Fashion Week

The collection in sheer and solid fabrics offered saris, kurtas, dresses, shirts, lehenga-skirts, jackets in shades of ivory, beige, blush, aubergine, red and midnight.

Tarun Tahiliani Kriti Sanon Lakme Fashion Week

The starry and floral embroidery that sparkled all over, was strategically placed on shoulders, collars, cuffs, sleeves and hemlines. Bold tassels added to the drama of the matching scarves, while grey T-strap printed stilettos completed the look.

Tarun Tahiliani Kriti Sanon Lakme Fashion Week

Tahiliani said, 'We don't want to torture people; we want the clothes to become lighter. That's what the modern Indian woman wants. They have a taste for finesse and energy. And they don't want to look like a Christmas tree anymore. We are consciously moving away from that.'
He added, 'The collection is mainly about sensuality. Yes, it is about technique too, but that is secondary to the sensuality a woman feels. A perfect fit and comfort are non-negotiable factors.'

Tarun Tahiliani Kriti Sanon Lakme Fashion Week

Tarun Tahiliani's men's wear matched the glamour of the inspiration.

Tarun Tahiliani Kriti Sanon Lakme Fashion Week

He used a palette of pastel hues of ivory, pale beige and deep blue in luxurious fabrics to create Jodhpuri jackets, kurtas, bundies, dhotis and sherwanis.

Tarun Tahiliani Kriti Sanon Lakme Fashion Week

The designer said, 'From the day wear trench coats in soft khadi, to the wonderful evening sparkly 'Tarakanna-esque' kurtas, lehengas and more, dotted with beautiful Indian handcraft and tiny Swarovski crystals winking at you, this is the new way forward.'

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