Dressed in Tarun Tahiliani's 'goddess dresses', a molten liquid jersey that drips onto the body like lava and folds around the curves, and Anamika's deconstructed, tasselled outfits, models rewrote the fashion agenda at the ongoing Wills Lifestyle India Fashion Week (WIFW). "There can be nothing more powerful than drapes. I just can't get out of their spell. This is what all men and women wore since the times of Adam and Eve," Tahiliani told IANS after presenting his collection on the ramp.

Stimulated by the railroad track and Kraftwork music, Tahiliani's collection - 'Trans Orient Express' - marched out of the hangar here on Thursday. "The railroad track symbolises the need for you to reach any corner of this world to get what you want. In my case, it is about fabrics. To get the fabric of my choice, I can reach anywhere," Tahiliani said.

The line offers Nehru trenches and smoking sherwanis mixed with tuxedo or a sharp pair of high-waist pants and peasant trousers constructed in deep pleats with patch pockets. Also, saris, kurtas teamed with churidars, halter and smocked tops, kaftans and the goddess drapes in high lustre jerseys from Italy, devoid of any embroidery but jewel chains.

"I do not work on a theme. I celebrate men and women and design for them. I think globally and nurture a dream to take Indian fashion at par with the west. The main attraction of my line are the sleek and contoured sherwanis," he added.

Fabrics like brocades, silk shantung, chiffons, georgettes, hand woven tweeds, wool crepes and poplins were textured, smocked, fluted, tucked and ruffled to create ramp magic. Swarovaski, zardozi, appliqué and chikan embroidery sprinkled the collection.

The palette possessed minimal colours of black, beige and coral. The accessories used were belts, bags, and jewels such as baju bandhs, rings and earrings.

Marked with tassels and deconstructed outfits, Anamika's collection 'ANA MIKA' caters to the contemporary woman who is unfazed by the rules of the world.

"My collection is aggressive, dark and subtle marked with sudden bursts of colour. It is for a woman who defies the world," Anamika told IANS.

The palette encompassed dark and deep shades of browns, chocolate, green and beige. The collection offers tank tops with pants bodices, evening gowns and dresses in odd shapes. The day-to-eveningwear line, devoid of accessories, was tossed up with scarves.

"The fabric is the USP of my collection. We have developed it using the texturing technique," added Anamika.

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