LFW'14: Gaurang's Chitr-Sena Takes The Ramp

Things have just started heating up over here at LFW 2014. On Day 4, the first really big designer's collection has gone live. The setting was beautifully set up by Subha Mudgal singing classical notes instead of playing a readymade background score. Gaurang Shah's collection for LFW 2014 was titled 'Chitr-sena' or an army of art. So when the army took to the ramp, we were defeated without a battle.

This year's collection Chitr-Sena revives the art of korvai weaving of Kanchipuram. Each garment narrates a story from the Indian culture and mythology. Chitr-sena will have some unique colour twists which include the military colours like tantubha-yellow, zyama-blue, hasti-green, ayasa- grey and kasaya-brown combined with ahead of its time colours like sutara-yellow, succhaya- pink, suka-green and uditi- orange.

Silhouettes in the Gaurang Shah's collection are inspired from Afghani history resembling flowy ghaghras, anarkalis, ghararas, anghrakhas, Ijar pants tailored in matka silk and maheshwari-khadi, embroidered with fables in zardosi and badla.

Chitr-Sena features traditional motifs garuda, rudraksh, hamsa, shikarga,sher, bhagha, haathi, morni, and shikariare woven in kanchipuram silk dupattas and sarees in a distinctive fashion.

Southern siren Tapsee Pannu walked the ramp of LFW 2014 for Gaurang Shah. She looked dazzling in a yellow silk saree draped over a orange blouse with zardosi work on it. Tapsee has done many photoshoots with Gaurang but she has never walked the ramp for the designer before. She looked just as lovely on the ramp as she does in the pictures.

Half Sarees

There were a number of half sarees in this collection. The half saree is the traditional Tamil outfit for young girls. The brightness of the silk in these two outfits is overwhelming.

Silk Drapes

Gaurang Shah used drapes of bright coloured matka silks with khadi outfits. The contrast was fascinating.

Zardosi Gharara

As the forms of the forms of the garments have been inspired from Afghani tradition, the sharara with zardosi work found a place here.

Flare Kurtas

Another interesting feature in this collection was the highly flared kurtas worn over churidars. It was paired with traditional drapes from Kanchipuram.

The Green Sharara

This outfit is a typical sharara with wide bottomed pants teamed up with a short kurta. The drape is pink in colour and has a golden border.

Kanjeevaram Drapes

Gaurang Shah is famous for cultivating the richest Indian fabrics. For LFW 2014 Winter Festive, she charms us with his Kanjeevaram drapes.

Pathani Suit

This suit is like a Pathan woman from Afghanistan. The kurta has a lot of frills and the salwar is a little shorter than usual.

The Showstopper

Tapsee Pannu was the showstopper for Gaurang Shah's collection. She looked radiant in an yellow saree with a very wide pink border. It was draped over an orange full-sleeved blouse with zardosi work.