Rocky Star spring/summer 2018 collection catwalk show for LFW

We’ve all seen those headlines about Love Island’s Gabby Allen being “a party anima”‘. And if they are anything to go by then it was no surprise seeing her front-row at Rocky Star’s show tonight.

The go-to designer for Bollywood’s popular divas, Rocky S – as he’s famously known as – returned to LFW this season with a fresh, bold approach. Marrying his Indian heritage with modern psychedelic influences and glow-in-the-dark sort of embellishments, Rocky would have been better off launching this at a full-moon rager. There was shimmer, chains, fringes, bling – lots of bling – and illusive graphics; need I say more.

The show began with an earthy colour palette, shorter hemlines and structure gradually moving into fluid silhouettes and iridescent fabrics dripping in fantasy-like embellishments. The designer’s accessory game was on point for those shiny little mobile pouches can make for great keepsakes. In contrast, the wrap-around travel pouches were more a case of being lost in translation.

Little fitted dresses came with peplums and ruffles while some classically beautiful ones had accents of lace. But chainmail flappers remained a constant. Particularly exciting was a figure-hugging column dress made using soft, wispy chiffon in ecru and gorgeously enhanced with intricate geometric patchwork all over and clusters of glittering sequins. It was a perfect combination of romantic and sexy.

While part of the collection rung a more feminine, sweeter note, the mysteriousness of Rocky’s mythical inspiration,”Maya” became more evident in the forest-depicting prints with neon blue eyes and exaggerated tribal adornments bringing the dark, enigmatic siren he was going for to the fore. If it was unabashed confidence he was hoping for, he managed to express it in the right way. And even though there were moments where cohesiveness seemed lacking, there was a lot of wearability available for the party starters. Here is to a powerful collection that did not hold back.

By Nida Hasan
Photos: Krish Nagari