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#WearableWednseday with designer Eka Lakhani

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FWD Life WearableWednseday with designer Eka Lakhani

In light of her latest release Kaatru Veliyidayi, FWD caught up with costume designer Eka Lakhani who garnered a name for herself with movies such as OK Kanmani and Urumi

Words: Fathima Abdul Kader    Images: Eka Lakhani

There is nothing like learning from one of the masters of design in the nation to ensure the right education in costume designing. Eka Lakhani, with a number of great projects to her name, started her career as an assistant costume designer to Sabyasachi Mukherjee in Raavanan and Raavan. Her later works garnered mass acclaim, especially with movies such as OK Kanmani, NH10 and Kaatru Veliyidai. When asked about the response to her latest work Kaatru Veliyidai, Eka Lakhani said “While I have received some negative feedback here and there, generally it has been great. Since Aditi Rao Hydari is stunning anyways, she pulled everything off with such ease. I think a big part of a great costume is when whoever is wearing it is comfortable wearing it and they look at ease.”

Meant to be

For someone who swoons at the thought of raiding Sonam Kapoor’s wardrobe, it is surprising to know that Eka Lakhani rebelled initially at the thought of studying design. The designer’s father – Bharath Lakhani is a pioneer in the field of textile in Mumbai and she recounted how she fought tooth and nail not to study design, “There was a point in time when my father took me to National Institute of Design to show me around, but I rebelled profusely claiming that I am an intelligent girl and how can you assume that I’d want to go into the arts field just because that is our family business.”

Her father honored her wishes and asked her to try her hand at studying what she wanted, but said that he had hopes she will come back to the field. What her father foresaw happened two years into her undergraduate studies and she went on to join SNDT PVP to get her degree in fashion/apparel design and winning two awards at the final show – for best construction and collection of the year – was the right ego boost to pursue the career even more. She later went to Fashion Institute of Technology in New York and did courses on fashion design, fashion styling and costume designing.

After coming back to India, she was still torn between choosing her area of focus but her first movie project helped her to make up her mind and she went on to say “when I started working on Raavan, I was still contemplating doing high fashion, but the one year when I was working as the assistant costume designer for Sabyasachi Mukherjee, helped me make up my mind and realize that costume design is what I want to.” Eka Lakhani made her solo costume design debut with the Malayalam film Urumi, followed by the Tamil film Kadal and a number of other great movies.

Making a signature

That particular skirt that Nithya Menon wore in OK Kanmani, the striped tee shirt and jacket that Anushka Sharma wore in NH10, there is a reason behind every piece of apparel that a character wears. While every costume designer’s process varies, for Eka Lakhani designing starts from the script level – look at the story and the character and start creating character sketches. She went on to say,  “while working with Sabyasachi Mukherjee for Raavan, it was hammered into my head that every piece of clothing that we give to a character needs to have a reason; whether she wears a big tote bag, backpack or sling bag all depends on the character’s occupation, mood, situation in the movie etc. If the character is going through a hard time, they wouldn’t necessarily dress in the way they’d normally dress.”

While “the bigger the better” is a mantra many like to use, Eka Lakhani is a lover of realistic costume designs and prefer such works to elaborate costume dramas. Especially movies like Highway or Udta Punjab where you can only work with a limited number of pieces is a great challenge that she would have liked to have worked on. That being said, Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s theatrical movies are a costume designer’s dream come true and getting to work in something like Ram Leela or Bajirao Mastani is a dream that she has been nurturing. Eka Lakhani’s latest work Haseena starring Shraddha Kapoor opens on July 14, 2017. The costume designer with a love for realistic character designs has worked with the likes of Santhosh Sivan and Mani Ratnam and has a number of intriguing movies that are awaiting release.

Wardrobe Staples:

FWD Life Eka Lakhani 1

This Gucci bag is 4 years old and I still use in every alternate day. It goes with everything that I wear and however old it looks, it still has its charm. Its perfect for office, shoot and semi-formal day occasions.

 

FWD Life Eka Lakhani 2

These brass earrings are nearly 35 years old. My father had bought these for my mom after their engagement. My mom passed these on to me when I grew up and stated loving ethnic earring. I usually wear these for all my first meetings and consider them very lucky.

 

FWD Life Eka Lakhani 3

Amrapali is my favorite jewelry brand. These earrings were love at first sight and I keep looking for occasions to keep wearing them.

 

FWD Life Eka Lakhani 4

 

FWD Life Eka Lakhani 5

This ring is a gift from Saloni, head stylist from my team. I love the intricacy the design has inspire of the big size. Its my favorite ring.

 

FWD Life Eka Lakhani 6

These Rayban shades and quirky yet classic. Suit my face and my attitude perfectly.

 

FWD Life Eka Lakhani 7

This dupata from Vrisa was a gift from my favorite designer duo Rahul and Shikha. I love the colors. Its a perfect add on for any summer outfit.

 

FWD Life Eka Lakhani 8

Haseena

eka2

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FWD Life 2WearableWednseday with des

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Kaatru Veliyidai

FWD Life 3 WearableWednseday with designer Eka Lakhani

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FWD Life 4 WearableWednseday with designer Eka Lakhani

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Ok Jaanu

FWD Life 5 WearableWednseday with designer Eka Lakhani

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FWD Life 6 WearableWednseday with designer Eka Lakhani

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Urumi

FWD Life 7 WearableWednseday with designer Eka Lakhani

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Urumi eka

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Sonam Kapoor Ahuja’s Traditional Ladakh’s Heritage Attire

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 The Mogos, a gown-like item with a shimmering zari border and pistachio green brocade, was part of Sonam’s ensemble. She wore a rani-pink shawl called a “Bok,” which is usually made from silk or goat skin and is worn to keep warm by the locals. This outfit was made of silk by Benaras artisans, and it had intricate phoenix embroidery, which stands for knowledge and vigor. It also had a crane image, which stands for prosperity and peace.

Her jewelry selections also honored custom; she wore a neckpiece set with diamonds and an emerald stone in the center. She accessorized this with striking statement rings and copper handcuffs, all tastefully matched with pearl earrings. She chose metallic juttis to complete her look, and she carried a bespoke purse by re-ceremonial.

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Decoding Wedding Looks of Rakul Preet Singh & Jackky Bhagnani

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The most anticipated nuptials of the year were that of Rakul Preet Singh and Jackky  Bhagnani. When the famous couple released official images from their wedding ceremony a while back, the anticipation surrounding seeing them in their wedding finery finally subsided. The couple looked stunning together as they exchanged vows in a sundowner ceremony in South Goa, becoming husband and wife. 

The wedding outfit of Rakul Preet Singh has everyone in awe! In terms of bridal style,she is a shining example of grace and elegance. Examine her gorgeous lehenga in great detail, taking note of its elaborate design and the symbolic significance of its colours. Examine her jewelery selections, beauty tips, and hairstyle specifics. Take inspiration from Rakul’s sophisticated and magnificent wedding look and pick some style advice for your own unique occasion.

Rakul Preet Singh and Jackky Bhagnani, the romance of the hour, likewise made the choice to forgo the vivid colour scheme in favour of delicate pink and ivory tones. The couple held their partners close to each other while flashing their million-dollar smiles in the official pictures they shared on the internet.

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The groom looked great in his ivory-coloured Tarun Tahiliani sherwani, which was embroidered with more elaborate flower patterns. He wore an achkan-style attire that gave off a royal vibe, and his exquisitely tied pagdi matched his choodidaar. It was covered in little studs all over and bordered with embroidery. The actor-producer channeled his inner Akbar by wearing a traditional mojris and carrying his drape in an elegant manner that matched his turban. Jackky also had a sarpech on his safa and a layered neckpiece made of kundan in shades of green. He was observed donning a sophisticated watch, his wedding band, and an additional emerald ring on his other hand.

Regarding Rakul’s jewelry, she opted for a stunningly crafted choker instead of the lengthy neckpieces. Her necklace’s enormous, blingy stones may easily cause blindness in anyone. Pearls, beads, and a few more medium- and small-sized gemstones were used to balance and assemble them. A maangtika and large, hanging earrings finished her ensemble. The massive, elegant, and shimmering engagement diamond she flashed on her ring finger was the talk of the town. Additionally, she donned pink kaliras and custom-made, minimalist choodas by designer Mrinalini Chandra.

The actress chose to use soft glam makeup in hues that complemented her wedding attire for her makeup look. For her D-day, she accessorized her eyes with eyeliner, a glowy base, and dark arched eyebrows, all complemented with a delicate pink lipstick shade. The actress also sported a modest mehendi on her hands, in keeping with the trend. They even decided on a backdrop and décor made of flowers. Baby’s breath flowers and enormous pink roses were used to make the varmalas.

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The saree is a timeless fashion item. Because of its unparalleled elegance and timelessness, sarees are referred to as classic ensembles. Even though sarees come in a variety of styles, nothing compares to a genuine Banarasi saree. A Banarasi saree has it all: a royal vibe, elegance that will make you the topic of the town wherever you wear it. Genuine Banarasi sarees are expertly crafted by experienced weavers using the finest silk yarn, paying close attention to every last detail.

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Check the saree’s reverse side.

Simply examining the saree’s reverse side will allow you to identify its authenticity. There will always be floats inside the weave and warp grids of loom-woven Banarasi sarees. Sarees woven by machines will be smooth to the touch.

Ask to see a certificate

Another crucial item to check for when buying pure silk sarees is the Certificate of Authorised Use of the Silk Mart Logo. Make sure to always ask for a certificate if you are purchasing a real silk saree.

Seek out the minor “imperfections”

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Think about the cost.

In general, price is a good way to tell if a Banarasi is real or not. Handmade items are expensive and require time to complete. Making it takes hours, but the finished product has a touch and sense of absolute quality. Therefore, if you’re finding a fantastic “deal” online, it’s usually not real. The history, craftsmanship, and quality of a Banarasi are unparalleled, and as buyers, we ought to be prepared to shell out a reasonable amount to guarantee its continued existence.

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