LFW Winter/Festive2012|Anita ended with a gorgeous blend of traditional and contemporary fashion

It was glamour at its elegant best when Anita Dongre presented her collection called "Urban Goddess" to end the Indian Textile Day celebrations at Lakmé Fashion Week Winter/Festive 2012. Blending the traditional with the contemporary, Anita's fashion story was aimed at the jet setting Indian women. Bringing together the gorgeous weaves of Benares and combining them with the intricacy of ikat from Andhra Pradesh and the beauty of raw and Mushru silk, the result was a colourful mélange of silhouettes. From elegant cigarette pants, classy jackets, to trendy dresses and flouncy blouses, the look was ideal for easy comfortable wear. Adding to the beauty of the garments were the colourful vegetable dyed block prints from Bhuj, which gave the collection a perfect timeless touch. Opening the show with five sexy multi fabric silk knee length sheaths with strappy backs, Anita set the mood of the show. The colour story was a rich mélange of red, green, gold, beige, black, magenta, bronze and nude all glamorously woven with gold motifs or colourful prints for the predominantly western line of scooped hem dresses, floor length gowns, figure hugging skirts, soft unstructured jackets and hipster skinny trousers. Anita's main styling directions were the 1950's look, with knee and calf length pencil skirts, dresses - some pleated and gathered shapes for long feminine gowns with contrast bodices. Quilting played an important role and appeared for the jackets, hemlines and bodices of the dresses and gowns. Interesting touches were given to the sleeves with flyaway layers of fabrics. Occasionally, origami folds appeared for the outfits which were predominantly sexy and strappy. Sheer georgette blouses with slit long billowy or dolman sleeves were luxuriously embroidered in silver, gold, zari and sequins. At other times the multicoloured resham embellishments covered lean skirts. Mention has to be made of the very opulent jewellery studded with pearls, diamonds and precious stones, the very classy black stilettos and the elegant embroidered sling bags. Men's wear was restricted to grey ombré or maroon jackets, double breasted bundgala and single breasted Jodhpuri coats. Ending the show was Preeti Desai, Miss Great Britain 2006 and star of the Bollywood film "Shor in the City" in a regal white and gold gotta embroidered bridal lehenga, choli, dupatta and wearing the most exquisite heavy pearl jewellery. For women who desire a mix of Indian weaves and prints with western sartorial elegance, Anita Dongre's collection for Winter/Festive 2012 will turn the wearer into an "Urban Goddess" with all the right options.