Kareena Kapoor Khan stopped the Lakme Fashion Week Winter Festive 2018 finale show #likeadiva 

The Lakme Fashion Week Winter Festive 2018 grand finale designer Monisha Jaising greeted us with a cheery hello when we dialled her ahead of her show at St. Regis in Mumbai on Sunday night. “Every woman has the personality of a diva in them,” said Monisha, who interpreted Lakme’s beauty theme of the season — Shades of a Diva — through her collection for the LFW endnote. Monisha decoded her ‘diva’ for t2...

Who is a diva for you?

You are a diva! 

Thank you so much! But a ‘diva diva’?

I actually feel that every woman has a bit of a diva in her. That’s the reason I said you are a diva.  

What are the traits of a diva?

Basically, a diva has many shades in her personality. That directly relates to her mood and her lifestyle. Sometimes she is looking and feeling flirty. Sometimes she is fierce and bold. Sometimes she is even looking angelic and divine. 

How have you interpreted Lakme’s beauty theme Shades of a Diva in the collection? 

It is the Lakme beauty statement for the season. I was like wow, this is fantastic! You can play with shades and then it’s the diva, which means you can go from laid-back to glamorous. When they came to me, I was like, this is it! 

The collection is very colourful. The spectrum of colours has electric to soft, sorbet colours, from dazzling blues to seafoam. Basically, it’s representing the moods of the diva. We have lots of different shapes too — short dresses, party tops, gowns… keeping the diva’s personality in mind. 

When I think of a diva, I think of someone who is absolutely comfortable in her skin. She can walk out in anything and look effortless. It’s just the way she is. She can carry off anything with panache and with that laid-back, effortless glamour. These are the key words — laid-back, effortless glamour. Every piece exudes that. Whether it is a long or a short dress, it all brings out the diva’s personality. 

An international celebrity who you think personifies a diva?  

Jennifer Lopez.

Aditi Rao Hydari looked ethereal in a Jayanti Reddy lehnga. The embroidery was offset by the subtle rose gold tone of the garment. 

Jacqueline Fernandez, walking for Ashish N Soni, looked dewy fresh in an asymmetrical top — part drape-y, part waistcoat — teamed with a pair of boxy pants. t2 tip: Slip on a pair of clear heels and you are sundowner-ready.  

Amit Aggarwal put Shahid Kapoor in a snazzy and sexy all-black party look. The actor walked in a black bandhgala teamed with fitted, cropped pants and brogues for the designer’s inaugural menswear line. 

Neha Dhupia and Angad Bedi were the star draws at Payal Singhal’s wedding-wear show. The parents-to-be were twinning — she in lehnga with an asymmetrical blouse and he in sherwani over kurta and churidar.

Janhvi Kapoor took the ramp for Nachiket Barve in a cobalt blue and pink lehnga. Wavy locks and pop lips lent a girl-next-door vibe to the Dhadak girl. 

October star Varun Dhawan rocked a monochrome #mereyaarkishaadihai ensemble by menswear designer Kunal Rawal. Kunal paired an ivory sherwani, kurta and slim trousers with a black bundi for Varun. Ruffled hair, the hint of kajal, chunky jewellery and that black nail paint spelt desi swag. 

Kangana Ranaut rocked a navy blue Pankaj & Nidhi high-low dress. Minimal make-up, pulled-back hair and lace-up clear heels made the look edgy.

Kalki Koechlin walked for Gaurav Katta in a fusion look — a gown with a zardozi-embroidered dupatta, accessorised by a fascinator. 

Soha Ali Khan looked corporate chic in a top by Poochki teamed with a brocade pencil skirt by Shanti, with an oversized jacket by Kanika Goyal. 

Radhika Apte was quite the stunner in a Punit Balana halter gown with a plunging neckline and a dash of bling. Those statement earrings upped the glam quotient. 

He shaved off one side of his face, slipped on gender-neutral clothing by Chola and made merry on the ramp. Prateik Babbar pulled off those boxy pants, black jacket and quirky accessories!

Sheer, minimal, black. Karisma Kapoor looked cocktail-ready in an Arpita Mehta sari and cape.

Bipasha Basu sported an experimental lehnga by Calcutta-based label Ruceru. An oyster pink silk floss tassel lehnga was paired with a wrap-up tied blouse and a crimson veil. 

Pictures: Sandip Das & LFW