City-based designer Mrunalini Rao is all set to preview her Festive Collection 2018, titled Sarah, at her studio in Banjara Hills, today. “This collection is inspired by ancient Persian art that has been on my mind for a while now,” says the designer. It features easy-to-wear Indian ensembles, like lehengas, which look more like coordinated separates, says the designer.
Detail queen
To make lehengas less hackneyed, Mrunalini did away with zari borders that one usually sees at the hemline. Instead, she added ruffles, pleats, pearl-encrusted geometric designs and floral embroidery that’s spread throughout the outfit. She also created striking bejewelled blouses that turn the glamour quotient up a few notches. For instance, one of the highlights of the collection is a blush pink tulle lehenga, paired with a crop top with floral embroidery. “I made it a point to not create the usual round neck blouses with lehengas. But I have crafted off-shoulders and boat necks,” says the designer. Apart from pearls, one can spot bead work and zardosi on the blouses as well.
Easy movement
The couturier, who has dressed leading ladies of Tollywood such as Keerthy Suresh, Trisha and Lakshmi Manchu, says that she has used pastel colours mostly for the collection with pink, icy blue, peach and mint green. What instantly grabs our attention are the hand-embroidered motifs of leaves and twigs in metallic threads. From a practical standpoint, these lehengas allow more freedom of movement. So brides-to-be listen up, swaying at your sangeet will be a breeze in these lehengas. Keeping that in mind, the National Institute of Fashion Technology alumnus has used lighter fabrics like tulle, raw silk, crepe, chiffon and net.
Rs 25,000 onwards.