Bollywood’s A-list designer Neeta Lulla presents her vibrant autumn-winter lineup for the city

If you like the way Aishwarya Rai is togged and if you are also impressed by how Hema Malini’s sarees are ever so elegant, then you already are a fan of designer Neeta Lulla. While Bollywood’s A-list designer has for many years dressed up the divas with panache, she has at the same time been pretty consistent with her pret lines. For the first time however, she’s now available to dress the fashionistas of Chandigarh by way of her weeklong exhibition at Samsaara, the ensemble designer store at the Taj. “It’s essentially a mix of wedding collections by Neeta Lulla where she’s put together bridal ensembles, sarees, salwar-suits and tunics,” informed Divya of Samsaara Chandigarh. The potpourri collection offers a traditional charm of Indian culture but at the same time echoes the flavours of Western styles. Leading the line-up are the popular kalidaar suits in beige with similar toned detailing. Interestingly, the designer’s pret line boasts of subdued as well as heavily-embellishment versions, giving the wearer the choice of both. Further, Lulla’s brought back old-style work like zardosi but given it a contemporary twist by bringing in Swarovski crystal work. For a bride-to-be, Lulla offers a lot of colour and elegant charm. Her sarees see an abundant use of Chantilly lace edgings while the vibrant-coloured tunics come with satin ribbon textures, tulle ruffle and layer accents. It is an interesting blend indeed.

This autumn-winter also sees the designer experiment more than she’s done in the past. The tunics and semi-formal suits bring in a tie and dye effect with heavy emphasis on necklines. To add designer appeal, Lulla’s worked on offbeat fabrics such as lurex and stretch lace and the likes. “The line-up sees the use of a variety of exclusive fabrics like georgettes, silks, nets and crepes. There’s also lycra, textures and chiffons in bright traditional hues like emerald green, Indian red and Rani pink, which compliment almost any complexion,” adds Divya. The collection offers an assortment of sarees in lycra, textured and stitched options. While there are umpteen trousseau treats to choose from, it’s nice to see that the designer has kept the semi-formal occasions in mind as well. It is then a perfect mix.