Sonam, Rhea Kapoor on day 1 Lakme Fashion Week for designer Anamika Khanna

Sonam Kapoor, Rhea Kapoor, Rahul Bose, Sucheta Sharma, Manish Malhotra on Day 1 Lakme Fashion Week for designer Anamika Khanna in Tote on 10th March 2011 . Lakme Fashion Week Summer/Resort 2011 Opened With A Dazzling Off-Site Show At Tote By Anamika Khanna.

Mumbai March 10, 2011: Muslin draped trees and multiple ramps snaked through the venue of the very stylish Tote and were spread over two areas – indoor and outdoor as the dazzling show by Anamika Khanna set the mood for the Summer/Resort 2011 season of Lakmé Fashion Week.

Presenting one of the most ethereal collections, but with a marked androgynous touch; Anamika’s creations gave women’s wear an ethnic Indian look but with elegant masculine touches for silhouettes and detailing that ranged from regal Indian royal clothing to comfortable daily men’s wear with the dhoti being a major inspiration for the designer.

To the vibrant drum beats of Anup and Martin of Nirv-a-Funk, the show choreographed by Anu Ahuja, opened with a delicate white mul kurta splashed with chikan work teamed with fluid pyjamas and discreet shimmering embroidery on the hem. Anamika then unleashed a line of black, white, purple, red and grey ensembles which were all perfect summer wear.

There was exquisite silver cutwork for the luxurious long jackets and waistcoats, as well the lehengas and kurtas, while voluminous elephant pants, tiny figure hugging cholis, sober shirts with wide cuffs, belted jackets and tailored coats presented the right feminine line but with manly touches.

Embellishments were at strategic places like sleeves, as panels or edged hemlines and borders. The fabric line up was ideal for sultry summer with mul, cotton and silk being the favoured choice. The print story at the end of the show was in muted abstracts or large circular motifs.

Some of the stunners in the show were the silver cutwork waist coat, the embroidered cutwork asymmetric blouse, jackets and coats, the long sleeve blouse with rouched detailing, the very interesting black and white waistcoat with peplum edge, the swirling red lehenga with large embroidered hemline, long floor length sheer coats, the cute black short peasant blouse, the high slit lean kurta and the sheer voluminous skirt over churidars.

The trousers were either multi gathered or skin tight leggings/Jodhpuri pants. Collars made an impact as they rose to cover the neck while the gorgeous shawls with glittering silver embroidered borders were arresting in their visual beauty.

Indian craft and embroidery was used cleverly as Anamika ensured that they were additions to the beauty of the garments. The beautiful matching silk mojris were the ideal footwear created by Anamika.

Practical, timeless, comfortable and visually beautiful is how Anamika Khanna’s collection for Summer/Resort 2011 could be described; and from the way the ladies in the audience admired the creations, they will surely be great sellers too.

About Lakmé Fashion Week: Lakmé Fashion Week (LFW) is jointly organised by Lakmé, the No.1 cosmetics and beauty services brand in India and IMG, the global leader in fashion weeks and event production. LFW has been conceived and created with a vision to “Redefine the future of fashion and Integrate India into the global fashion world”. LFW is organized twice every year. LFW Summer/Resort 2011 will be held from March 11 to March 15, 2011 at Grand Hyatt Hotel, Mumbai. For further information log on to http://www.lakmefashionweek.co.in

About Lakmé: The contemporary and expert in the beauty industry, Lakmé continuously innovates to offer a wide range of, high performance color cosmetics, skincare products, and beauty salons. In addition to leveraging Unilever’s worldwide expertise, Lakmé also partners with the leading cosmetic house; Milan-based Intercos Italia, Schwann Stabilo Germany and Paris-based Fiabila. Combining international cosmetic technology with an in-depth understanding of the Indian woman’s needs, Lakmé also offers its consumers a holistic ‘Beauty Sutra’ experience through its products and services at the Lakmé Studio and Salons. For further information log on to www.lakmeindia.com

About IMG Reliance:In 2010 Reliance Industries Limited (RIL), India’s largest and most recognized private sector company headed by Chairman Mukesh Ambani, and IMG Worldwide (IMG), the world’s leading sports marketing and management company headed by Chairman and CEO Ted Forstmann, announced the formation of an equal joint venture to develop, market and manage sports and entertainment in India. The joint venture company, IMG Reliance Pvt. Ltd., will provide and operate first-class infrastructure and coaching facilities in the country to unlock India’s sporting potential and to create and operate major sports and entertainment assets in the country. In its first initiative, IMG Reliance entered into an agreement with the Basketball Federation of India (BFI) to create a new professional basketball league and manage all aspects of the commercial rights to the game in India. IMG Reliance signed a 15-year agreement with the AIFF, to improve, popularize and promote the game of football throughout India, from the grassroots to the professional level. IMG Reliance has also created a scholarship program to identify and train talented young Indians from sports including – basketball, soccer and tennis–at IMG’s world-class sports training facilities at IMG Academies in Bradenton, Florida.