First day of WIFW showcases home-grown talent, as Bollywood stars come out to show their support

One of the biggest fashion galas is back in the Capital. The long-awaited Wills India Fashion Week Fall-Winter 2012-13 kick-started at Pragati Maidan on Wednesday.
Though Day One started on a smooth note, it was a mixed bag of goodies.
The ensembles presented on the runway were more or less been-there-seen-that, and even the Bollywood faces spotted at the shows were the usual one.

Given the great line-up for Day One, there were no big surprises in store in terms of design and innovation.
Delhi's hot favourite and home-grown designer duo, Shantanu & Nikhil opened the fashion extravaganza with their autumn-winter S&N Drape collection.

Model-actress Jesse Randhawa strikes a pose in a shimmering, short S&N number
While the designers improvised on their trademark drapes and wraps, the creations did little to showcase the duo's creative genius.
The collection was inspired by Indian vintage colours and culture with a contemporary twist.
The short body-hugging numbers, sparkling bodices and trendy sequinned shrugs on display were tailormade for the sensual woman of today.
The line-up also presented a myriad of long evening gowns and cocktail dresses in bold monotones of deep autumn colours.
Red, gold and black were interspersed with emerald greens and sapphire blues. Wrap sari gowns in purple and cream were the highlight of the collection.
As opposed to the usual Bollywood showstoppers who take away more than they add to a collection, Sameera Reddy and Dia Mirza chose to applaud the collection from off the runway.

The Bollywood girls looked glamorous in their respective S&N designs. There was, interestingly, a discussion on Congress' star campaigner Priyanka Gandhi-Vadra at the show.
While Dia said she loved Priyanka for her fuss-free style, Sameera called her uniquely fashionable. Nikhil too praised Priyanka, saying she's a 'good combination of Italy and India.'




if Shantanu & Nikhil showed us the glam side, designer Anand Kabra offset it with an ascetic flavour. The designer, known for his deconstructed and flowing creations, played on juxtaposition for his 'Becoming Kami' collection.
Inspired by Misogi-No-O-Harai in Shinto (the act of purifying the three temporal worlds, the past, present and future), the show highlighted a cleansing and spiritual side of fashion. It was a lineup of ethnic fashion blended with western minimalism.
The designer played with pyjamas - churidaars with zippers, elephant pants and palazoo pants combined with churidars - for a refreshing new-age take on the done-to-death lowers.
Designers Preeti Chandra and Vineet Bahl showed tiny and long numbers in black and white in their respective prĂȘt collections.
Sheers, translucent gowns and girly short dresses were present in both the collections.