International celebrities' fascination with Indian fashion is evident - delicate embroideries, brilliant zardosi and gota work, unique motifs, and an enormous variety in fabrics, all of these continue to inspire them to shed their gown-and-trouser look to sport the ethnic attire.
Hollywood actors and actresses along with several world famous models have made appearances in creations by Indian designers in the past putting India on the world fashion map. This year too, the trend was no different. Let's take a look at the prominent international fashion icons who went Indian in 2012!
1. Oprah Winfrey sizzles in a Tarun Tahiliani saree
Oprah Winfrey pulls off the corporate look of pleated skirt and blouse rather impressively but when the famous talk show host came to India in January this year, she had saree on her mind. On duty was master couturier Tarun Tahiliani who left no stone unturned to clothe her in a traditional Indian saree, much desired by her. Tarun had a vibrant colour in mind for her and after sifting through a bunch of colours, he settled for a bright orange and golden Kanjeevaram silk brocade saree, embellished with beautiful gota work. He combined the nine-yard fabric with a corset blouse with zardosi embroidery. Looking radiant in the burnt orange and gold combination, Oprah set off for Parmeshwar Godrej's bash in Mumbai.
2. Designer duo Shivan and Narresh style Dita Von Teese
Burlesque star Dita Von Teese made her maiden appearance in India at New Delhi's The Leela Palace in a figure hugging black lace saree designed by none other than ace couturiers Shivan and Narresh. The designer duo who had been exclusively commissioned to style her through the trip accessorised her saree-look for the evening with the traditional Indian tika and gem-studded earrings, along with her trademark scarlet red lipstick. 40-year-old Von Teese is the global brand ambassador for Cointreau, and she was in the capital as part of the 'Be Cointreauversial' campaign. Besides the saree, Shivan and Narresh sketched two other looks, both in black - one a belted black saree with an elegant silver clutch and brooch, and another georgette saree with large golden leaf motifs.
3. Judi Dench's favourites, Abu Jani and Sandeep Khosla
It was on the sets of the Bond movie 'The World Is Not Enough' when Dame Judi Dench first noticed French actress Sophie Marceau sporting an Abu-Sandeep creation. Intrigued by the unabashed Indian aesthetics, she got in touch with the duo and immediately marked them as her favourite. Naturally, it wasn't a surprise when Dench wore one of their creations to this year's London Evening Standard Theatre Awards on November 25. A long powder-grey coat with intricate white chikankari work in floral patterns teamed with cigarette pants and plain black stilettos completed the look for the British icon. Abu Jani and Sandeep Khosla's relationship with Dench has spanned over a decade. So when the duo asked her to launch their coffee table book, 'India Fantastique' in London this year, she gracefully accepted. She wore a blood-red long dress adorned with heavy golden embellishments in leafy motifs to the event.
4. Naomi Campbell and friends wear lehengas by Manish Malhotra
British supermodel Naomi Campbell decided to throw a traditional Indian party for her billionaire boyfriend, Vladimir Doronin's 50th birthday and what could be a better destination than Jodhpur's Mehrangarh Fort to celebrate the 'Royal India' theme. And to justify a theme like that, the host wore two Manish Malhotra creations. One was a white saree with bright orange and pink borders to the star-studded brunch and the other, an anarkali kurta from his Mijwan collection. She was joined by her close friends, Kate Moss, Demi Moore and Karolina Kurkova later in the evening, all three dazzling in ethnic Indian dresses styled by the celebrity designer. While Moss chose a beige and ivory coloured lehenga with detailed Kashmiri embroidery, Moore picked up a lehenga with red and green border with elaborate zari work and former Victoria's Secret Angel, Karolina Kurkova pulled off one of his creations in pink.
5. Paris Hilton showstops for Falguni and Shane at IRFW'12
Paris Hilton resembled a mermaid on the ramp when she opened the show for Falguni and Shane at the Indian Resort Fashion Week 2012 in November this year. In a glittering gown reflecting colours of the sea, she smiled and pouted in the sparkling silver and stunning blue ensemble. The 31-year-old American socialite set the ramp on fire by walking in to the beats of the popular Korean number 'Gangnam Style' that left the audience asking for more. The heiress had met the designer duo at IRFW last year as well as at the New York fashion week, and was truly enthralled by their futuristic designs. <
Hollywood actors and actresses along with several world famous models have made appearances in creations by Indian designers in the past putting India on the world fashion map. This year too, the trend was no different. Let's take a look at the prominent international fashion icons who went Indian in 2012!
1. Oprah Winfrey sizzles in a Tarun Tahiliani saree
Oprah Winfrey pulls off the corporate look of pleated skirt and blouse rather impressively but when the famous talk show host came to India in January this year, she had saree on her mind. On duty was master couturier Tarun Tahiliani who left no stone unturned to clothe her in a traditional Indian saree, much desired by her. Tarun had a vibrant colour in mind for her and after sifting through a bunch of colours, he settled for a bright orange and golden Kanjeevaram silk brocade saree, embellished with beautiful gota work. He combined the nine-yard fabric with a corset blouse with zardosi embroidery. Looking radiant in the burnt orange and gold combination, Oprah set off for Parmeshwar Godrej's bash in Mumbai.
2. Designer duo Shivan and Narresh style Dita Von Teese
Burlesque star Dita Von Teese made her maiden appearance in India at New Delhi's The Leela Palace in a figure hugging black lace saree designed by none other than ace couturiers Shivan and Narresh. The designer duo who had been exclusively commissioned to style her through the trip accessorised her saree-look for the evening with the traditional Indian tika and gem-studded earrings, along with her trademark scarlet red lipstick. 40-year-old Von Teese is the global brand ambassador for Cointreau, and she was in the capital as part of the 'Be Cointreauversial' campaign. Besides the saree, Shivan and Narresh sketched two other looks, both in black - one a belted black saree with an elegant silver clutch and brooch, and another georgette saree with large golden leaf motifs.
3. Judi Dench's favourites, Abu Jani and Sandeep Khosla
It was on the sets of the Bond movie 'The World Is Not Enough' when Dame Judi Dench first noticed French actress Sophie Marceau sporting an Abu-Sandeep creation. Intrigued by the unabashed Indian aesthetics, she got in touch with the duo and immediately marked them as her favourite. Naturally, it wasn't a surprise when Dench wore one of their creations to this year's London Evening Standard Theatre Awards on November 25. A long powder-grey coat with intricate white chikankari work in floral patterns teamed with cigarette pants and plain black stilettos completed the look for the British icon. Abu Jani and Sandeep Khosla's relationship with Dench has spanned over a decade. So when the duo asked her to launch their coffee table book, 'India Fantastique' in London this year, she gracefully accepted. She wore a blood-red long dress adorned with heavy golden embellishments in leafy motifs to the event.
4. Naomi Campbell and friends wear lehengas by Manish Malhotra
British supermodel Naomi Campbell decided to throw a traditional Indian party for her billionaire boyfriend, Vladimir Doronin's 50th birthday and what could be a better destination than Jodhpur's Mehrangarh Fort to celebrate the 'Royal India' theme. And to justify a theme like that, the host wore two Manish Malhotra creations. One was a white saree with bright orange and pink borders to the star-studded brunch and the other, an anarkali kurta from his Mijwan collection. She was joined by her close friends, Kate Moss, Demi Moore and Karolina Kurkova later in the evening, all three dazzling in ethnic Indian dresses styled by the celebrity designer. While Moss chose a beige and ivory coloured lehenga with detailed Kashmiri embroidery, Moore picked up a lehenga with red and green border with elaborate zari work and former Victoria's Secret Angel, Karolina Kurkova pulled off one of his creations in pink.
5. Paris Hilton showstops for Falguni and Shane at IRFW'12
Paris Hilton resembled a mermaid on the ramp when she opened the show for Falguni and Shane at the Indian Resort Fashion Week 2012 in November this year. In a glittering gown reflecting colours of the sea, she smiled and pouted in the sparkling silver and stunning blue ensemble. The 31-year-old American socialite set the ramp on fire by walking in to the beats of the popular Korean number 'Gangnam Style' that left the audience asking for more. The heiress had met the designer duo at IRFW last year as well as at the New York fashion week, and was truly enthralled by their futuristic designs. <
