August 5, 2022: Indian designer Dolly J. raised the bar at the 15th edition of FDCI India Couture Week in New Delhi as she presented her ‘Meraki’ Collection, inspired by Jazz.
The designer elaborates on her collection by explaining, “Given that it is a couture collection, we wanted it to be opulent and so we started with tones of molten gold and iridescent silver for the lehengas and gowns for our brides. This then progressed into a variety of other metallic hues, including deep yellows, maroons, and metallic charcoals, amongst other striking jewel tones.”
To reinforce the collection’s connection to Jazz, Dolly J.’s set for the show was reminiscent of a New York jazz club with velvet drapes, a crimson floor, cracked-leather barstools, well-worn armchairs, leather-bound books, and a grand piano where jazz singer, Shreya Bhattacharya, wowed the audience with a live rendition of much-loved retro jazz numbers.
Speaking about her couture show, the designer says, “We really wanted to create a captivating experience for our guests and given the overall aesthetic and vibe of the collection, we felt that a sexy jazz club setting would be perfect. As it turns out, the audience loved the uniqueness of what we did.”
To further enhance the sensorial experience, the designer has created a unique perfume with heady notes of cocktails, honey, and woody notes of cigar boxes – whose fragrance permeated the air in the room, giving it authenticity of a jazz club.
The lehengas and gowns in the collection showcase various metallic colours ranging from effervescent champagne to dusty pinks, moving towards powdery lilacs and glistening golds. Jewel tones of earthy reds and romantic pinks have been used for the bridal lehenga segment.
Shimmering tulles, metallic organzas, intricately embroidered chikankari, elevated with Kamdani work, raw silks, and glistening lurex comprise the fabrics used in this collection. Silhouettes showcased are body contouring gowns, elegantly draped saris, flamboyant bridal gowns and dreamy lehengas.
Bollywood icon Shilpa Shetty walked the ramp in a signature ensemble with masterful structuring, cut, embroidery and other embellishments, which embodied Dolly J.’s inspiration and brought the show to a scintillating close.
