As the velvet curtains parted on Day 2 of the 18th edition of Hyundai India Couture Week 2025, held at the opulent Taj Palace in New Delhi, the energy in the ballroom shifted—charged with anticipation and sartorial spectacle. Presented by the Fashion Design Council of India (FDCI) in collaboration with Reliance Brands, this year’s couture celebration has set the stage for designers to go beyond bridal tropes and explore deeper, more expressive narratives. On Tuesday evening, that sentiment came alive in two contrasting showcases: one by Isha Jajodia, known for her delicate, poetic couture; and the other by Sunit Verma, the master of statement glamour. Amplifying their creative visions were showstoppers Tara Sutaria and Riddhima Kapoor Sahni, each embodying the mood of their respective designers in looks that set the internet ablaze.
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Tara Sutaria Channels Moonlit Romance In A Frosted Couture Fantasy By Isha Jajodia
There’s a certain kind of couture that doesn’t need to shout. Isha Jajodia’s label The Raw Story has always whispered elegance, and at Day 2 of Hyundai India Couture Week 2025, her narrative unfolded with even more delicacy and detail. Tara Sutaria, ethereal and statuesque, walked as the showstopper in a look that could easily belong to a moonlit royal ball. The ensemble—anchored by a shimmering silver lehenga—was a study in restraint and romance, layered with handcrafted embellishments that shimmered like frost on silk.
The blouse, sculpted like a corset but softened by caped sleeves, was embroidered with floral threadwork so fine it resembled antique lace. Crystals trailed like vines across the fabric, while micro-beading and pearl florets formed constellations across the bodice. The lehenga itself floated with a soft structure—gossamer panels of net and organza, kissed by sequin work and barely-there metallic thread, offering glimpses of movement and mystery. Garnet and pearl accents punctuated the look, adding dimension and jewel-toned contrast.
Jajodia’s palette was one of dusky twilight—icy lilacs, soft dove grey, rose quartz, and onyx black—that echoed the in-between moments of dusk and night. The overall effect was cinematic, almost surreal, inviting viewers into a dreamscape where femininity is powerful, personal, and poetic. Sutaria’s poise, paired with her effortless charisma, became the perfect metaphor for this mood—a muse, yes, but also a memory one doesn’t easily forget.
Suneet Verma’s Power Glamour: Riddhima Kapoor Sahni Returns To The Runway
Where Jajodia painted a romantic portrait, Suneet Verma brought the fire. His latest couture offering was confident, sculptural, and unabashedly glamorous. Riddhima Kapoor Sahni’s return to the runway was met with applause—and for good reason. Dressed in a deep wine-hued gown with a metallic halter bodice that gleamed like polished armour, Sahni was every bit the commanding diva Verma imagined. A sharply tailored drape fell from her shoulders, forming a fluid cape that trailed dramatically behind, giving her the presence of a cinematic empress striding into battle—graceful, glamorous, and in control.
Verma’s aesthetic has always celebrated strength through sensuality, and this collection reasserted that vision. Think high-shine fabrics, corsetry reimagined through contemporary silhouettes, and capes that offered both concealment and flair. His use of jewel tones—amethyst, ruby, sapphire, and emerald—played against gold metallics and deep charcoals to create a visual tension that was as modern as it was opulent.
Riddhima’s ensemble served as the perfect finale: a lesson in how Indian couture is evolving past bridal wear into the realm of red-carpet drama. The silhouette was sculpted yet fluid, dramatic yet refined—designed for women who command a room without raising their voice. Her walk wasn’t just a runway moment; it was a quiet declaration that Indian couture is no longer confined to tradition—it can also be fierce, futuristic, and deeply personal.
Conclusion
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If Day 1 opened with whimsical couture dreams, Day 2 reaffirmed that Indian couture is in the middle of a reinvention—romantic, relevant, and ready to rule the global runway. With Tara Sutaria and Riddhima Kapoor Sahni fronting two strikingly different yet equally powerful visions, the evening proved that fashion, much like storytelling, thrives in contrast. And with more marquee names yet to take the stage, the drama at Hyundai India Couture Week 2025 has only just begun.
