The Desi Chanel

Ever since the '90s when Gwen Stefani and Madonna rocked bindis and wore henna tattoos, it's been considered fashion forward to do the whole East meets West styles. There has always been waves of Indian influence on fashion collections from the 60's Nehru jackets to the embellished and embroidered sari fabrics incorporated into mainstream fashion for the past couple decades. Major fashion powerhouse Chanel's latest collection "Paris-Bombay Metiers d'Art Show" amps up the desi (all things related to South Asians) influence with a collaboration between two great cultural capitals of the world: Paris and Bombay.

Karl Lagerfield's interpretation of Indian women fashion through Paris Haute Couture, took familiar desi looks and dressed them in classic Chanel fabrics such as tweeds. With their heavily kohl-rimmed smokey eyes to the bejeweled teeka perched on their foreheads to the layering of ornate chokers and pendants, these women would have fit in at any Indian/Pakistani wedding.

But did Lagerfield push the envelope far enough in his homage to Indian fashion? I actually don't think so. I feel like he just slapped the Chanel label on to fashions and styles that desi women have been wearing for generations.  While I think his clothes are beautiful, it is isn't anything I haven't seen before. Still for certain label-loving desis, dressing up in an Indian outfit from the venerable house of Chanel is a treat in itself. But if you are looking for cutting edge desi fashion, then you will probable need to head to leading Indian fashion designers such as Ritu Kumar or Manish Malhotra.

Thanks Karl for affirming what we have known for centuries, Indian fashion is jaw-droppingly gorgeous and versatile enough to dress up or down depending on your fabric choice. Also, yes while it was the famous Coco Chanel who said before you leave the house take off the last accessory you put on, for desis, the opposite holds true. We love our bling.

But how clever is this white shalwar khameez with sari draping across the shoulder? It totally makes the whole dupatta (coordinating shawl) unecessary.

So beautiful readers, anyone on the market for a desi outfit courtesy of Chanel? I bet you have a $6000 Hermes sari sitting in your closet too. ;)







Photos courtesy of: Yannis Vlamos / GoRunway.com