A Fairytale Wedding

Nishka Lulla and Dhruv Mehra’s wedding

Fashion designer Nishka Lulla, daughter of veteran designer Neeta Lulla got married recently with her sweetheart, Dhruv Mehra at ISKCON temple, Juhu, Mumbai. This wedding was a classic example of simplicity, splendor and colours weaved deliciously in sacred threads of our rich Indian culture.

Nishka Lulla at her wedding

Nishka looked like a delicate princess in a bright pink lehenga coupled with a lime yellow dupatta and parrot green choli. She adorned the look with elaborate kundan jewellery and a golden clutch. Her better half, Dhruv donned a simple yet very elegant yellow kurta.

Nishka Lulla and Dhruv Mehra’s wedding

The post wedding celebrations took place in Bangkok, wherein a two day celebration planned by both families took place at the Anantara Bangkok Riverside Resort & Spa. The mother-daughter duo designed décor for most of the functions themselves along with a Bangkok-based wedding planner, Ragini Modi.

Hema Malini at Nishka Lulla and Dhruv Mehra’s wedding

The ceremony was a very intimate affair with family and friends; amongst tinsel-town dwellers, actress Aishwarya Rai and Hema Malini graced the occasion.

The Surrealistic Designer

Chhaya Mehrotra

There is something very strikingly beautiful about Chhaya Mehrotra’s simplicity in designs. Modern silhouettes, subtle color palette and almost-bewildered cuts make her clothes perfect for Indian women. She shares a slice of her beautiful journey with The Lifestyle Potpourri…

How do you start your day?

The first thing I do is switch off the alarm and get that extra 15 minutes of sleep! After waking up, I glance through the newspaper with a morning cuppa of green tea and spend some time with the kids before we finish breakfast and pack for the day at factory. Breakfast is the time where, me and my husband plan out the entire day.

What shaped your outlook as a designer during your formative days?

My origins are rooted in Banaras and the variety of exposure I had across all platforms in the domestic textile industry right after NIFT molded my creative realm as a designer—from hand block printing to digital printing, hand embroidery to computerized embroidery, and designing for ethnic wedding wear to designing furnishing fabrics for Heimtextil, or high-end fashion fabrics for Texworld Paris; I knew my biggest strength lies in versatility. I take my education and experiences as the alphabet…what I write with it depends on my mood and requirement!

Chhaya Mehrotra

What inspires you to create newer designs?

Inspiration could be from almost anything. It could be a faint memory of childhood or a poem that I wrote. Sometimes it’s a place or a craft, and sometimes it could be a conversation with a kid or a friend. But inspiration isn’t enough to keep you going; it’s the instant mood lift you get when you see a sketch perfectly turned out into a garment—that excites me to create newer designs more than anything else.

Tell us an anecdote that has been consequential in your journey as a designer…

We had shifted to Noida from Banaras mainly because of family business. I just started with three tailors for my label and did exhibitions often; I was doing decent business. However, one day a long-lost family friend walks into our factory for some work and instead looks at my collection and threw a barrage of questions at me—“Why don’t you participate in fashion weeks?” and etc… On that guest’s insistence we applied and got the required membership; this was 2011. Looking at how our label is positioned now, you bet this anecdote was consequential!

Chhaya Mehrotra

Who is your favourite designer and why?

How can you pick one when it’s a sea of stunning work out there!
Amongst international designers I like Stella McCartney and Ted Baker’s creations—their sense of colour palette is very intense. Amongst Indian designers, A&T and Rajesh Pratap Singh are my favorites for their perfect approach to minimalism; Ritu Kumar inspires me for her timeless appeal to every piece of clothing; whereas Sabyasachi has touched my heart with the grandeur of detailing in his work; I also admire Rahul Mishra for the magic he created with wool, and Rajdeep Ranawat for the perfection he can bring to any cloth with a riot of colours. Lastly, I am very fond of Raw Mango and Anavila because their simple work can exude a whole lot of beauty!

Five must-haves in a woman’s wardrobe…

A handloom saree, crisp white shirt, pair of blue denims, nice perfume and an all-purpose shift dress

Baroque – creating bags of your dreams

Baroque – Bespoke Process

Baroque is all about simplicity, elegance in design, effectiveness in use and adding fun to functionality. Their products stress on utility and the growing need for fashion to translate through the day.

Baroque – Woven Duffle

Baroque brings to you customization at a whole new, resourceful level. They work with you and help you create the bag (or book or case) you’ve always dreamt of having, with keen attention to personal details, wants and needs.

Baroque – Bespoke Process

They design, customise and personalise the product to be just as you want it. You choose everything—from the leather to the pockets, and to the words embossed. However, if you don’t require such an order, they are always happy to tweak an existing design to make it uniquely ‘you’ by accommodating personal taste or necessity, including, altering the colour or embossing your initials.

Baroque-Bespoke Suitcase

They have four different lines: Professional, Travel & Weekend, Casual and Small Accessories, along with a seasonal collection. In these different collections you can find, briefcases, weekend bags, gym bags, laptop bags, shoulder bags, sling bags, iPad covers/sleeves, travel kits, tie cases, garment bags, passport holders, visiting cards & credit card holders to suit all tastes and style. Every Baroque piece goes through a rigorous design process with an eye towards the smallest of details.

Diamonds for the Savvy women of today

Diamond floral necklace by Entice

Fine jewellery brand, Entice by KGK group has unraveled its new diamond collection—‘Irresistible Diamonds’, to adorn the finest in you. Each piece in the collection signifies clarity and eternity that a woman holds with effervesce of diamonds.

Marquise round diamond zig-zag classic bangles by Entice

An absolute stunner, this new collection induces feelings of allure. A classic line of jewellery, these ornaments have undertones of simplicity and regalia in them. The ‘Irresistible Diamonds Collection’ by Entice truly reflects the brand’s spirit—international in style, and contemporary yet very traditional in its essence.

Diamond floral earrings by Entice

Boasts of talented craftsmanship, infused with the best quality of diamonds, handpicked from KGK’s own diamond manufacturing units, each bauble is like an unsurpassed addition to anybody’s treasure trove. With this enthralling range, Entice has collated intricate designs with detailed artistry and has redefined the meaning of truly ‘irresistible’ jewellery.