Bright flash lights, ethereally beautiful models and superb collections defined the spirit of the fashion lovers at Chennai International Fashion Week (CIFW-2011) that was held in the city recently. The event also saw various designers from all over the country come together to showcase a spectacular show on the latest summer trends.

The main focus of this year was, needless to say, summer fashion, which showcased the combination of traditional and modern wear. The designs were concentrated on the traditional and ethnic beauty of the country, portraying the saris with unique thread and embroidery work, colourful skirts and intricate designs. The designs were truly a portrayal of elegance and stylistic sense of the modern woman.

Elegantly traditional

Among the various designs Aruna Singh's unique style of Jaipur designs was a clear winner. Aruna's collection, which was a basic sari draped innovatively with a lehenga and accessorized to pretty perfection with a unique collection of exquisite diamonds, attracted plenty of catcalls and many a nod of appreciation.

The jewelry this season was exceptional thanks to the sister duo Mona Palli's designs. The collection named 'Jewels of India' was a mix of chains, bracelets, hip chains and cloaks. This collection consisted of heavy designs studded with jewels of various sizes and colours. The Mona Palli collection also combined traditional jewels with intricate hip pieces.

Modern musings

The modern side of the summer collection was the collection of modern dresses by Jules Idi Amin, a Chennai based designer. Jules' was designed using a single piece of cloth. The colours red and white were predominantly featured in his work, which concentrated on elegant gowns and trendy skirts.

Colours galore

Colours made a huge impact on the selections where most designers played it safe with pastels. Cool colours like blue and purple and summer shades like pinks, gold, and browns, were the colours most designers experimented with. Keeping the season in mind, the fabrics used was mostly cotton.

Shine on!

Make up wise, the focus was clearly on simplicity. Most designers played it safe with the natural and nude looks. Those who dared to be different opted for the use of light pinks, reds and golds. Bouncy curls and elegant up-do's seemed to be the preferred hairdo's this season.

All in all, this is one show that will be remembered for a long time to come!