EDITOR'S PICKS: Top 10 Collections From AIFW

This season’s Amazon India Fashion Week was rather mild compared to previous ones. There were less shows (and even less showstoppers), with presentations beginning an hour or two later in the day than they have in the past—giving ample time to those nursing hangovers from the night before to pull themselves together. Surprisingly though, the after-parties were few and far between—Which is a shame considering how they serve as the perfect icebreaker for diminishing the seemingly icy facades of editors, bloggers and designers alike.

Although the mood at AIFW ran tepid, the Autumn/Winter ’17 collections were anything but. Not to mention, it seemed every attendant at fashion week brought their street style A-game. Half the fun lay in people-watching between shows, snapping shots of self-assured fashionistas flaunting their fearlessly singular take on high-end style. Just check out our #MMStreetstyle hashtag on Instagram. The sartorial gamut ranged from trendy (fishnet stockings layered under denim and pulled above exposed belly buttons), avant-garde (larger-than-life parachute dresses), audacious (head-to-toe metallic), to the just plain brave souls in bold—and I mean bold—makeup (green lips and the most dramatic falsies I’ve ever seen).

As MissMalini’s Fashion & Beauty Director, it’s my job to decode trends from the runway and decide which styles are imperative (or not) to our seasonal wardrobe updates. However, this fashion week threw me for a loop in the fact that I couldn’t pinpoint one unified trend among the collective collections if I tried. Unlike previous fashion weeks, there were no reoccurring themes like cold-shoulder tops or the ‘naked dress.’ Each collection was as diverse as the street style we spotted, and at the same time, as true to the label’s iconic persona. Designers focused on their origins, recreating tried-and-true aesthetics that keep their clients coming back for more. Besides, if it ain’t broke, why fix it?

Check out the top 10 noteworthy collections from AIFW:

1) Tarun Tahiliani x Amit Aggarwal

Amit Aggarwal continued to incorporate industrial sustainability in his sculptural, avant-garde styles, while Tarun Tahiliani romanced us as usual with his dramatic drapes and heavily constructed traditional garments.

Tarun Tahiliana and Amit Aggarwal at AIFW AW17

Tarun Tahiliani and Amit Aggarwal at AIFW AW17

2) Sahil Kochhar

Sahil Kochhar presented their signature 3D cut embroidery and appliqué in the form of wild flowers.

Sahil Kochhar at AIFW AW17

3) Hemant & Nandita

Feminine frills and ladylike ruffles in artistic renditions of floral prints made a reappearance in the designers’ collection again this season.

Hemant and Nandita at AIFW AW17

4) Ashima Leena

Loose fits and the mixing of prints proved to be a winning combo at Ashima Leena yet again. A boxy crop top, dhoti pants, and maxi length dresses are almost always guaranteed to make an appearance in this designer’s collection.

Ashima Leena at AIFW AW17

5) Sahil Aneja

Sahil Aneja’s go-to: simplistic repeat-prints and linear details on androgynous suits. As per usual, their typically monochrome palette was punctuated by a single pop of color.

Sahil Aneja at AIFW AW17

Dino Morea for Sahil Aneja at AIFW AW17

6) Nikasha

Nikasha’s signature free-spirited silhouettes—dhotis, saris, ruffled tops, and capes—consistently pay tribute to traditional craftsmanship.

Nikasha at AIFW AW17

7) Verb by Pallavi Singhee

Verb by Pallavi Singhee displayed their familiar offbeat-yet-easy-to-wear bohemian pieces in a mashup of contrasting beatnik prints.

Verb by Pallavi Singhee at AIFW AW17

8) Anju Modi

The brand continues to implement well-crafted, timeless pieces in dreamy color palettes season after season.

Anju Modi at AIFW AW17

9) Nought One By Abhishek

Nought One by Abhishek stayed true to the brand’s edgy urbanwear with its reoccuring theme of utilitarian details.

Nought One by Abhishek at AIFW AW17

Anushka Manchanda for Nought One by Abhishek at AIFW AW17

10) Pawan Sachdeva

You can count on Pawan Sachdeva to provide bespoke tailoring defined by a distinct element pulling the entire collection together—in this case: metallic chrome detailing.

Pawan Sachdeva at AIFW AW17

What was your favourite collection from AIFW? Tell us in the comments below!

EDITOR’S PICKS: Top 10 Collections From AIFW