Opulence “Redefined”

The house of Valaya never ceases to amaze me. And, the latest collection of JJ Valaya did just that. Valaya is one designer who time and again has proved that rich fabrics and a talented designer alone can create “magic”.

Most of the bridal collections that I have seen on the runway are loaded with bling – heavy sequins, stones and over the top embellishments. So much so that it is hard to think of bridal wear without the bling. (Now, don’t get me wrong. I love bling when done in subtle way though not the Manish Malhotra kind of bling, but more on this in the next post) . But once in a while I also want to drift into simpler times - when the outfit is all about designs and fabrics and not about how heavily it is embellished. And, that's exactly why I love Valaya's collection.

He is one of the very few designers which can be worn straight out of the runway. Just like that. Sometimes he does it with innovative printing (read digital printing) on ultra rich fabrics and sometimes with intricate thread embroideries on classic fabrics. And, unlike so many designers he doesn’t resort to overuse of bling to prove that the outfit is perfect for the Indian Bride. And, talk about styling up the models - How dramatic is the disc shape maangtika and how so romantic is the red flower in the previous collection. Valaya scores it again for me.

(P.S.Reviewing designer collections is not what I usually do on this blog, but this time there are a few very interesting things that are forcing me to sit up and pay attention. So, please bear with me for a while.)

(P.P.S : Thank you all for your comments in the previous post and for your helpful suggestions. My hand is much better now and as you can see, I am back to blogging:))

33 comments:

Unknown said...

Luxury in doses I can embrace :)

Interesting write up :)

Jade Purple Brown said...

i love all the metallic patterns, great post!

jadepurplebrown.blogspot.com

Unknown said...

Interesting :-)..As I said earlier your blog is so colorful and the pictures are so perfect..Keep blogging !!

The Mommy said...

I love the richness of the fabrics!
Hope your hand is much better now.

Shantanu said...

First of all, how is your hand buddy?? Hope you are recovering.

Loved the collection. My favorites are second from the left top row..
and the one which Piya weraing.

Take care. :)

Tanvi said...

The center top - red ensemble is blowing me away ... I agree with your assessment. He is awesome at what he does. Time and again :) Welcome back to Blogging!

STYLE'N said...

Loving that lavendar sari on the left. Absolutely stunning.

kiran sawhney said...

I was invited for this Vallaya show and was in the front row (Can u believe it?- thanks to my blog).
Yes I did like his collection too. Specially because it was so very my taste. Less bling. More style, fabric and cuts. Vallaya's wife also is from my home town Jalandhar and studied in my school.
Kangna Ranaut looked something to die for.
Good to know that your hand is better now.

kiran sawhney said...

Tarun Tahiliani is more famous for his digital printing. Not Vallaya.

bollywoodstylediaries said...

I loved JJ Valaya collection - he is amazing..There were only a couple of pieces in Manish Malhotra's collection that i liked..rest were very boring..

Sherin said...

The collection is really gorgeous. I don't see enough of what South Asain designers are doing, so thanks for sharing this. I really love the red one.

Ruth said...

i absolutely love these less bling collection!! we don't mind the reviews at all... please continue to do so..:)

So glad to hear your hand is better now. Have a great week.
Underneath His Wrapping

Style, She Wrote said...

Wonderful post. Love the royal blue gown and the gold brocade jacket.

Splurgerina said...

Oh I'm dying to sit back and see all the collections..have been really busy!! But whatever I saw of Valaya..I loved it!! Kangna looks so beautiful in that lehenga..I need to get married in something like that..it's so royal!! Glad you're up and about btw!! :)

Ce qui m'inspire said...

These collections truly are beautiful! I love the red outfit from the collection at the top!! It's so gorgeous!

Ce qui m'inspire

Unknown said...

u know I loved that 2nd dress the moment I saw it, it was all over in the papers, I totally fell for it...beautiful intricate work!

Ashley/ MILK TEETHS said...

This is so pretty! My best friend is Bengali and her mom wears saris on special occasions and I have always thought they were so stunning!

xx
MILK TEETHS

HaRy!! said...

one word swell!

Killer Drama said...

grand. i love the collection, specially the red blouse pia's wearing...

Angels Never Lie said...

nice classic collection...i especially like the various cuts..they are beautiful

Sovina said...

@ Republic of chic & Jade - thanks :)

@vivek & mommy - thanks..glad you guys like my posts.

@shantanu - yeah...the ones on Piya are also my favorites..hand is much better now..and as you can see i could not resist not blogging even for a weeek.

2tanvi & naina - thanks:)

@kiran - wow! that's great..so you went to the show? your blog is amazing. and yeah i know tarun is all for his prints but somehow i find his designs very repetitive..and the way Vallaya used them in his april collection was great :)

@sonali - ditto on MM..but i guess he is moving away from those heavy sequined sarees and lehenga that are his trademark sorts and thats good.

@sherin & ruth - thanks

@style she - you know the blue one is also my favorite..i like it even better than the red one because of the color.

@splurgerina - hand is much better now ..doing those exercises regularly..thanks:)

Fé... said...

Wow.... Indian Sari looks gorgeous as a wedding gown. As fabulous as my Indonesian kebaya! I'm loving them all. I wish we can wear all those beautiful pieces on a single wedding day. It's so hard picking the right gown, so why not wear them all :p Hahahaha.

Tamanna A. Shaikh said...

You're right honey. these are definitely wearable straight out of the runway! And you write well. I like how you've described this!

Sovina said...

2 charlotte & upasna - i know red one seems to be everyone's favorite..i like the blue one too though :)

@Hary, dipti & angels never lie - thanks :)

@fe - i know ..it is definitely a hard to pick one single thing..unless and until you are rock sure what you want and how you want it..i spend 6 months hunting for my wedding lehenga :)

@tamanna - thank you so much for writing bit :)..coming from you means a lot ..

Anonymous said...

So many gorgeous things!

SabinePsynopsis said...

Such beautiful colours and designs. I'm glad your hand is better!
BTW, I left you a little tag in my post today. It doesn't even come with a lot of work ;-) xoxo

Suruchi said...

Hi Sovi...
I love his clothes too..
I mean look at that blue piece n those muted gold n beige ones...
The sari with dots...u simply wanna own then all!

Glad to know ur hand is better!
Keep writing n reviewing...nobody’s complaining:-)

Ranjani said...

LOVE LOVE LOVE JJ valaya's clothes...Manish Malhotra on the other, not the so much, his are way to blinged out and Tacky B'wood, though I will say I'm glad his affair with velvet is finally over!

mel said...

oh.my.god i am actually in love. these are so so beautful! those fabrics and styles! and the girls too
xx
mel

peterbellandtinkerpan.blogspot.com

Gorgeous Glam said...

Hi doll, I love the 1st pic on the 2nd row, just gorgeous! The color!! xoxo

anamika said...

Hey Sovina,

I am sorry but I missed this post..otherwise i love to catch every single post..and neither i know about your hand and stuff..don know why...

:(

romana said...

Its true. saree makes any woman look beautiful. I m not always wear saree. but i love to wear saree, saree gives you different look with simplicity.I like Rocky S Collection.

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