Gaurav Gupta’s Show at AICW 2015: A Laboratory of Couture

Gaurav Gupta’s collection Silt and Cipher is a romantic interpretation of the ephemeral moment of writing on sand.

Kalki Koechlin (L) and Gaurav Gupta (R) at the Amazon India Couture Week 2015 (Photo: Yogen Shah)

If you lost your way while at the show, we wouldn’t blame you – Gaurav Gupta’s set at the Amazon India Couture Week was called Enchanted Forest. In fact, there are few elements as intrinsic of a mystical forest as the collection he put up.

The set at Gaurav Gupta’s fashion show, Silt and Cipher (Photo: Instagram/gauravguptaofficial)

Day 2 of Amazon India Couture Week, therefore, saw Gupta pay continued homage to his theme; his show was called Silt and Cipher. One look at the incredible detail on each of his pieces and you’ll come to the same conclusion we did – couture was certainly not built in a day!

Details from a piece from Gaurav Gupta’s collection Silt and Cipher. (Photo: Instagram/gauravguptaofficial)

For the show, Gaurav wanted his models to look like ‘Nymphs and Goddesses of the Wood’. Mickey Contractor was roped in for the ‘metamorphosis’.

A model wearing a piece from Gaurav Gupta’s collection, Silt and Cipher at Day 2 of the Amazon India Couture Week 2015. (Photo: Yogen Shah)

The layers that dominated most of Gaurav Gupta’s Silt and Cipher collection seemed reflective of the unstratified silt that inspired the designer in this collection.

A model wearing a sari lehenga from Gaurav Gupta’s Silt and Cipher collection. (Photo: Yogen Shah)

Soft pastels dominated the colour palette of the show – besides the occasional touch of cobalt blue and burgundy.

A model wearing a pastel sari lehenga by Gaurav Gupta on Day 2 of the Amazon India Couture Week. (Photo: Yogen Shah)

Techniques such as zardozi, thread work and 3D boning were used in the collection. It was particularly pleasing to see how Gupta’s sculptural silhouettes treated the models to a wonderful fit.

One of the mythical ‘fairies’ wearing a Gaurav Gupta piece. (Photo: Yogen Shah)

Edgy jackets and signature tops were crafted, keeping in mind Gaurav Gupta’s ideal muse – a strong, bold woman who’s willing to experiment.

Model Carol Gracias wearing a Gaurav Gupta creation. (Photo: Yogen Shah) 

As a line of graceful models sashayed down the ramp, the sway of asymmetric hems lent their gait quite the ‘goddess’ touch that Gupta intended.

The Blues: Models wearing cobalt blue creations by Gaurav Gupta in different forms. (Photo: Yogen Shah)

While beautiful poetry was created out of ornate gowns with a dramatic bow at the neck and a flowing fall, the one-shoulder trend also made a surprise appearance on the ramp.

Model Lakshmi Rana at the AICW 2015. (Photo: Yogen Shah)

The celebrity appearance of the evening, though? Gaurav Gupta’s friend and long time muse Kalki Koechlin. The actress walked the ramp in a one shouldered gown with dramatic layers – the ombre colour of which complemented her skin tone perfectly.

Kalki Koechlin walking the ramp at Gaurav Gupta’s show. (Photo: Yogen Shah) 

There were highlights galore to Kalki’s look: her champagne autumn organza gown, signature earpieces and tied-up hairdo, in fact, made her look like the angel of Gupta’s “enchanted forest”.

Kalk Koechlin (L) with Gaurav Gupta (R). (Photo: Yogen Shah)