Timeless treasures

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That vintage feeling! It defies the erosion of time and no price tag is worthy enough to announce its value. Do we even need to mention, every woman loves to inherit one?
You may adore the real zari saree your mother adorned while taking her wedding vows or perhaps you are the proud owner of an odd sharara that flaunts the royalty word. For a change, let your treasure trunk go on an expansion spree and create some space for a Givenchy right next to the Benarsi, let the 36 kalidaar lehenga accommodate a Balenciaga. It’s time to let the Westerns share the ‘heirloom’ status with the much cherished Indian creations.
The Indian mindset has evolved and that timeless piece can well be a Versace gown, a Yves Saint Laurent jacket, a Christian Dior pencil skirt, even a Zuhair Murad lace dress. Closer home, Rohit Bal’s confluence of European and Indian sensibilities or Sabyasachi Mukherjee making tradition meet the trendy, all qualify for the coveted heirloom label.
Designer Varun Bahl warms up to the idea with the words. “Haute couture is often mistaken for the very ethnic bridal wear. It’s time to clear the air and my latest collection is a step in that direction. I have created modern silhouettes and embellished them with embroideries, they look trendy now and are good enough to remain stylish for a really long time.”
Reminding of an Indo-French collaboration and exhibiting an old world charm, the designer offers well-fitted gowns as the perfect entry into the classic category. His timeless piece goes as, “The cuts are more classy than bold. Since it’s Western wear, the embroidery should be subtle and keep the primary colour black. In my opinion, black will never lose its sheen,” says the designer.
Whereas, Gavin Miguel has long been advocating to grant the gown, the “most favoured” formal wear label. He feels an ever lasting attire should be like a piece of architecture. “You can never go wrong with a sheer gown in fresh pastel shades. The silhouette can start in fit format and then go flowy or can be a well structured one. The emphasis should be on the construction and not on embellishment,” he points out.
However, designer Ayesha Aejaz settles for the power of red. “A pleated silk top clubbed with a striped element shaped in a vintage tone of silhouette comfortably makes it as a period piece. Remember a red silk top, plain or enhanced with embroidery, will never fade away from the style radar. A Valentino red dress is my idea of securing something special for the next gen,” she says.
On the other hand, designer Urvashi Kaur has eyes on the black magic. “A classic black dress, be it an LBD, a gown or a shift dress, is just perfect. Invest in a designer piece in black and you will not regret it,” is her advice.
Shifting the attention from gowns and dresses, designer Mona Lamba categorises the bustier as an ideal heirloom entrant. Shr believes, “A well crafted bustier is not just stylish, it’s versatile too. You will love flaunting it today and tomorrow.”