Designer Manish Malhotra makes heads turn with India's first couture party
As soon as the news went out, the glitterati world was abuzz with curiosity. The fashion press went to town with the news. The couture party invite wasn't giving away much either. He wanted to 'redefine and reimagine a couture night'. And he didn't want to do a formal runway for sure. He clearly wanted a larger-than-life royal party.
By definition, a fashion couture party is a high-fashion event, where designers showcase their latest couture collections in an exclusive, intimate setting. Unlike traditional runway shows, these parties emphasise a more immersive and social experience, blurring the lines between designer, model, and guest. They often feature elements like live performances, curated decor, and opportunities for guests to interact with the designs and the designers themselves. After more than five years, Manish decided to do something unusual. So, we spoke with the man himself.
'After over five and a half years, coming back to India Couture Week felt incredibly special and I knew I didn't want to return with just another show. It had to be personal. It had to be different,' Manish said in an exclusive interview to City Times.
The couture party was held on July 26 at the Taj Palace in New Delhi. Models glided through the venue wearing ensembles from Inaya, the designer's newest collection, merging eveningwear with global glamour and Indian craftsmanship. The event also featured a curated archival showcase of Malhotra's most loved creations and an exclusive presentation of his high jewellery line, bringing style and heritage under one roof.
'No formal runway, no front rows, just a couture celebration with music, legacy, food, flowers arranged just the way I like them at home, and an energy that felt like home,' he said. 'From showcasing cherished archival pieces and our high jewellery collection to debuting Inaya in the most intimate, immersive way, this night was about you, and me, and all of us, celebrating the spirit of couture together.'
The highlight of the evening were the iconic costumes from Manish's archives that were on full display.
Bollywood to Met Gala
An exclusive set up was done with mannequins placed one after another wearing creations that made history. From Bollywood to Met Gala, every piece that made news and created memories was on display at the party. They included Kajol's famous neon green lehenga from the evergreen Bollywood hit Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge, Kareena Kapoor Khan's outfit from the song Bole Chudiyan from Kabhi Khushi Kabhi Gham, Natasha Poonawalla's Met Gala gown, Rekha's unforgettable look for Vogue cover and many more from the designer's timeless archives. This was a beautiful way to tell the story of these timeless creations.
The highlight at the party was Brazilian supermodel Alessandra Ambrosio, flown in exclusively for her first-ever collaboration with an Indian designer. Making her debut as 'the muse' in The Lady Crystal Diamond, a bespoke creation by Manish Malhotra, she embodied the spirit of the evening: global sophistication fused with Indian artistry.
The look, featuring crystal embroidery and structured draping, shimmered with restrained opulence, cementing its place as the most talked-about couture moment of the season. For her second look, Ambrosio unveiled The Pearl Story, an evolution of the couture house's signature pearl ensembles, following the iconic appearances of Adriana Lima and Coco Jones. Ambrosio wore a structured crinoline skirt paired with a layered tulle corset, drenched in cascading pearls and sequins.
The evening also marked the launch of a trend forecast by Manish Malhotra: cocktail saris with crystal pallus, envisioned to redefine after-dark dressing for the modern Indian woman. Alongside these were swirl skirts with hypnotic movement, contoured and rouged gowns, and sculpted blouses, each designed to bring a sense of fluid glamour to the night. For men, sculpted silhouettes came through in sharply tailored suits, cropped bandhgalas, and elevated eveningwear that redefined the rules of formal dressing.
From regal brooches and heirloom jhumkas to sculptural cufflinks and collar pins, the Manish Malhotra High Jewellery showcase added an opulent dimension to the night, enhancing both womenswear and menswear with signature sparkle and precision craftsmanship.
The guest list
Every VIP, socialite and influencer wanted to be on the guest list.
Celebrities included the acclaimed actors Tamannaah Bhatia, Fatima Sana Shaikh, Taha Shah Badussha, Shalini Passi, Kalyani Saha and many more.
But the party was something more exclusive, according to Saha.
'Fashion shows are a colossal expense. As important as it is to showcase every season, I feel the need to do it depends on the commercial viability of mainly sales and also branding which is necessary,'she said.
'But a party such as this, also cleverly showcasing the brand, is a brilliant idea instead of having the usual format. Models, celebrities alike wearing the brand but also socialising and having fun. Most importantly, Manish always does everything so beautifully and tastefully. The Couture Party was definitely so much fun and special,' Kalyani said.
Fashion shows are getting saturated indeed. During fashion week, shows can be overwhelming — crowded seating, delayed starts, and a mad dash to the next event. In contrast, after-parties offer a welcome respite, providing a more relaxed and intimate setting for designers, celebrities, and industry friends to unwind and socialise after a hectic day of shows. 'These exclusive gatherings allow guests to shed the formality of the runway and connect with others in a more laid-back atmosphere. So what Manish did is perhaps pick a cue from there and create his own magical world and termed it a couture party. This one was very inclusive, everyone was interacting, enjoying a beverage while showing some fab fashion,' content creator Saru Mukherjee Sharma said.
The ambience was designed to reflect Manish Malhotra's signature style, with moody lighting, mirrored accents, and sculptural florals that brought his vision of decor to life in Delhi.
Without a traditional runway, the evening flowed naturally and allowed guests to engage more closely with the couture as it moved through the space. So, will India fashion weeks see the couture party trend becoming a norm anytime now? Diet Sabya, an anonymous yet popular fashion watchdog on social media, said, 'I don't think so. It'll take a special kind of designer to pull it off because guests, clients and editors hate watching a show standing. Like they hate it. They want to be seated. So probably a one-off.'
For the first time ever, the designer featured an all-women line-up of musical talent. DJ Kayan opened the evening with her distinct blend of electronica and soul, followed by noted singer Jonita Gandhi's live vocals and Lush Lata's genre-bending sounds that kept the energy unexpected and dynamic throughout the night. It was also good to see iconic model Sonalika Sahay walk for the designer. One of the highlights of the evening was the expansive grazing table, personally curated by Malhotra. Cascading blooms, subtle pastel palettes, and unstructured wild textures by Interflora India transformed the venue into an extension of Manish's world making it feel both elegant and personal, bringing his signature decor vision to Delhi in a beautifully organic way.
It depicted a celebration of couture and most importantly a celebration of Manish Malhotra's history with fashion, creativity and Bollywood. 'Couture party is a fantastic idea. Manish's attention to detail is incredible and he loves to come up with fun ideas. Couture Party is a trend to watch out for. It's interactive, free flowing and intimate,' says Shalini Passi who wore a vibrant yellow sari gown for the party.
The couture party's creative direction and set design was led by Sumant Jayakrishnan, known for his cinematic approach to immersive storytelling.
Jayakrishnan worked closely with Malhotra to ensure the spatial design aligned with the vision: intimate, fluid and unbound by convention.
Amid all the media madness, fashion commentary, glitterati and showbiz, there's a valid point that Manish is trying to make: fashion has a history and it must be told. 'I created an archival of my work as I wanted the audience to watch, observe, admire and honour the fashion icons who have worn my creations and made them iconic,' he said.
'Be it Rekha- ji, Kajol, Kareena, Natasha, Coco Jones, Rihanna and so many more. Every look of these celebrities tells a story,' he said. 'It's 35 years of my work in cinema and 20 years of the label. It is the brand's commitment to artistry and craftsmanship. I don't want couture to be serious. I want people to have fun with fashion, fashion that creates history.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Khaleej Times
20 hours ago
- Khaleej Times
Shah Rukh Khan wins his first Indian National Award, shares honour with Vikrant Massey
Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan on Monday bagged his first-ever Indian National Award for his performance in the film Jawan. This feat is an ode to his illustrious career spanning over three decades. The actor shares the Best Actor award with Vikrant Massey, who won for his role in Vidhu Vinod Chopra's directorial 12th Fail. The names of the winners of the 71st Indian National Film Awards were revealed at a press briefing at the National Media Centre in New Delhi. "This is huge! Shah Rukh finally receiving his first National Award win," an X user wrote. "So so happy. Both SRK and Vikrant deserve it," another social media user commented. In January 2023, Shah Rukh made his comeback to the big screen after a four-year hiatus with YRF's Pathaan. The film created a storm at the box office, drawing in a huge audience. After the blockbuster success of Pathaan, he treated fans to another blockbuster, Jawan. Directed by Atlee, Jawan also starred Nayanthara, Deepika Padukone, Priyamani, Sanya Malhotra, and Ridhi Dogra. Previously, post the success of Jawan, the makers held a press conference in Mumbai, where SRK expressed his gratitude to the makers for their love for the film. "It's a celebration. We rarely get a chance to live with a film for years. The making of Jawan has been going on for four years due to Covid and time constraints. There were a lot of people involved in this film, especially people from the South who came and settled in Mumbai and have been living in Mumbai for the last four years and working day and night for this film, which is the hardest work ever," he said. Jawan was one of the highest-grossing films of 2023. 12 Fail was also released a month later. With his versatile acting skills, Vikrant left everyone speechless. Based on a book by Anurag Pathak, 12th Fail chronicles the life of Manoj Kumar Sharma, who overcame extreme poverty to become an IPS officer. The film puts the spotlight on his journey and how his wife, IRS officer Shraddha Joshi, was instrumental in his rise. The film emerged as a word-of-mouth hit towards the end of 2023, grossing nearly Rs6 billion (Dh25,272)worldwide at a time when mid-budget films were not even getting theatrical releases.
Khaleej Times
20 hours ago
- Khaleej Times
Siddhant Chaturvedi, Tripti Dimri's 'Dhadak 2' is powerful cinema
'When injustice becomes law, resistance becomes duty.' Dhadak 2 opens with this famous quote by Thomas Jefferson. I can't remember the last time the words 'resistance' and 'injustice' were invoked in a big-ticket Hindi film. Seeing these lines written boldly on screen, one immediately gets the sense that this movie from Dharma Productions — a banner known for fluff and fantasy — is going to strike a very different note. Let's give credit where it's due. Bollywood has long been (rightly) called out for its pusillanimity in depicting uncomfortable social issues. While the parallel cinema of the '70s and '80s produced powerful films that questioned the status quo, they were largely categorised as 'arthouse,' with mainstream movies avoiding or whitewashing trickier subjects like politics, caste and communalism. In recent years, the industry has more or less fully acquiesced to the dominant narrative, with filmmakers choosing to play it safe rather than risk inviting the wrath of the online or offline troll brigade. This stands in sharp contrast to the South, where Tamil and Malayalam cinema in particular, continue to produce hard-hitting films on these very issues. (Do watch Jai Bhim in Tamil and Nayattu in Malayalam to see the difference for yourself.) So once again, kudos to producer Karan Johar for backing this 'spiritual sequel' (the new term for unrelated part 2 and 3 of a popular title) of Dhadak that has one of the most polarising fault lines facing India — caste discrimination — as its premise. Directed by Shazia Iqbal, Dhadak 2 is a remake of the acclaimed Tamil film Pariyerum Perumal. I haven't watched the original to comment on it but going by the plot, it appears Iqbal and co-writer Rahul Badwelkar have added a nuanced layer of gender to the potent mix of caste and poverty. What's most applause worthy is that the makers do not flinch from taking the tensions head on. The screenplay and narrative grants each character an identity that defines their fate and action - strikingly different from the standard Bollywood template, where identity and representation are often flattened to fit into a homogenised narrative. Of course, this is a huge irony in itself, considering Indian cinema emerges from a country as multi-lingual, multi-religious and multi-cultural as India! Set in an urban landscape, Dhadak 2 follows the life of Neelesh Ahirwar (Siddhant Chaturvedi), a lower caste law student seeking to upgrade his life through education. The National University of Law, where he enrolls, has students from all backgrounds but it's people like him who get singled out and ridiculed - sometimes subtly, at other times blatantly - because of his identity. Triptii Dimri plays Vidhi, his classmate, an upper caste privileged girl who falls for his simplicity and unassuming nature. However, the term 'privilege' loses its meaning when you realise that while Vidhi may belong to a rich family that 'allows' girls to study and become independent, she is caged by her gender; in her home, it's the men who decide the women's fate and the limits of their independence. Yet Vidhi is no wallflower. When push comes to shove, she knows how to stand up for herself and the man she loves. Neelesh hesitantly enters into a relationship with Vidhi but soon enough, faces the consequences when her all-powerful family harasses him physically and emotionally for daring to cross the line. The fightback comes but not before an internal awakening (resistance) that is a direct call to action to stand up against injustice. Dhadak 2 is far from perfect. For one, the romance is rather wishy-washy for a film that was promoted as a forbidden love story. Neelesh and Vidhi fall in love way too quickly and their interactions lack the passion which make you want to root for them. Secondly, the focus of the movie is on the role caste identity plays in Indian society - from the smallest of interactions to the biggest life decisions - which leaves the screenplay with little to no time to spotlight the emotional conflicts of the protagonists. This approach weakens the first half considerably as, despite the good intentions, you don't really feel that invested in their stories. Fortunately, the portions post the interval pick up steam and pack an absolute punch. Neelesh's slow but steady evolution from a timid student to a man ready to fight for his pride and self-respect is entirely believable. In some parts, it does get a bit too 'Bollywood' but thankfully the hero remains human and not a superhero. The female lead too is given enough agency that leads her to question the choices she's been dealt with. But what makes the film an important one is the conversations it triggers. Through supporting characters and situations, the makers try to answer the regular questions surrounding discrimination, reservations, affirmative action, campus politics and the like. At times, the film seems to counter the arguments dominating WhatsApp discourse in the country. But by simplifying the complexities of these subjects, it makes a plea for greater understanding - from the perspective of the oppressed. It also calls for more political engagement, confronting the privilege of those who can afford to ignore society's harsher realities. 'You got into politics the day you were born,' says a character to Neelesh, who later reminds his upper-caste friends of their luxury to overlook what they never had to endure. Definitely, there is a lot of empathy in the writing which is rather rare in this day and age of aggressive cinema. What helps the case immensely are the dialogues and the performances. Some of the lines hit hard which is precisely the purpose. The supporting cast deserves a special mention. Saurav Sachdeva as a cold-blooded killer under the garb of 'protector of culture and caste supremacy' is excellent as is Vipin Sharma as Neelesh's helpless father. Others including Saad Bilgrami as the hotheaded Ronnie (Vidhi's brother), Harish Khanna as her sensible but rigid father and Zakir Hussain as the college principal are fabulous too. As for the leads, Siddhant Chaturvedi and Triptii Dimri have done a fair job. Siddhant brings out the vulnerability of a Dalit man hopeful of a better future pretty well but he can't shake off his inherent urban sophistication. Nevertheless, it's a commendable performance and in some sequences of torture and harrassment, his rage-filled eyes speaks volumes. A few years ago, when Dhadak was released, a number of critics lamented it diluted the impact of Sairaat, the Marathi blockbuster of which it was a remake, by almost obliterating the caste reference and instead, making the conflict all about class. Dhadak 2 corrects that mistake. Given the divisive and very vicious rhetoric around caste and its politics, it's a brave (even if not the best) attempt to highlight an important aspect of Indian society that everyone knows exists but is reluctant to acknowledge.
Khaleej Times
21 hours ago
- Khaleej Times
Summer 2025: You need some linen in your life
I know what you're thinking: Barbiecore is so summer 2023, what is she doing harping on about a trend that's two years old? And you'd be right; on the face of it, pink gingham is quintessentially Margot Robbie on the Barbie press tour during a summer experienced through the haze of rose-tinted glasses. So why this year, when the performance of luxury fashion's megabrands looks anything but rosy, have I chosen to highlight a look that's core BBB (Before Birkenstock Barbie)? Firstly, yes, the outfit on this page is undeniably pink gingham, but it also comes in at least six other varieties, from cool girl citron to Bloomsbury-era blooms. However, it's not the colours or prints that make it a summer wardrobe staple, nor is it the simplicity of the A-line silhouette (with pockets), although both are key (as are pockets). It's that it is made from 100 per cent linen, and pure linen is, nine times out of 10, the answer to all your summer holiday wardrobe woes. Why? I find that much of what I wear in Dubai doesn't work in the rest of the world. It's either too boujee, too impractical for actual weather, or simply doesn't translate to a lifestyle of walking rather than valeting. Enter linen. With linen, you can still wear a girly dress or cute co-ord shorts and a bodice top, and not look like you took a wrong turn out of Bar Du Port. You can even wear pink gingham and not risk appearing like you're stuck in a summer 2023 time warp. Linen pink gingham is timeless. Polyester pink gingham is challenging. Linen opens up a wealth of footwear options; essential when you're either on foot or on public transport, and as likely to encounter cobblestone as a sudden downpour. It works with flip-flops, dad sandals, ballet flats, kitten heels, cowboy boots, even trainers. I can clock up to 25,000 steps a day on my summer hols and — despite fashion's insistence that they are over — I have yet to be prised out of my all-ivory Adidas Sambas (the key is to buy the decon rather than the OG edition, for the softest, collapsible leather that's blister-resistant). Aside from cotton and denim, no other fabric is as fashionably footwear fluid as linen. Linen is never over-dressed, nor under-dressed. You can wear it covered in floral print, gussied up with bows and frou-frous and it won't look muttony. Likewise, an oversized linen shirt and drawstring shorts is as comfy as pyjamas yet still reads chic. Summer 2025's linen brand of choice is the Australian label Posse, which has, over the years, been worn by the likes of Meghan Markle, Katie Holmes, and Selena Gomez, while Sofia Richie chose one of the brand's skirt sets for her wedding weekend. In the UAE, Posse is stocked by Ounass and Bloomingdale's, but you'll have to move fast, sizes sell out quickly. My longtime go-to for linen co-ords and dresses is US brand Reformation, also at Ounass in the UAE. Many of its styles incorporate a smocked back, for a flexible fit that looks bespoke. When I want to wear something a bit special, but not a project that I've tried too hard, Reformation is my go-to. Its relaxed linen 'Aubree' dress (Dh390) consistently sells out each summer. Right now, I'm eyeing the 'Janu' dress (Dh1,150) in a spun sugar shade that looks excellent with black accessories. On the high street, Marks & Spencer and Zara do brilliant linen — opt for solids or basic prints like stripes and polka dots, rather than florals when shopping the high street. Linen speaks to tousled hair and mismatched heirloom jewellery. It does not pair well with logos, Labubus and Louboutins. Yes, it creases like a beast, but — outside of Dubai at least — appearing artfully crumpled, whether of face or fashion, is increasingly a badge of honour. Like ageing gracefully, linen is the last word in low-key luxe living.
