CITYist

Bibhu Mohapatra’s first collection down Fashion Week runways was a luxurious treat for the eyes. The young designer’s simple yet elegant collection will have women dying to wear brightly-colored furs and flowy ombre dresses.

When you hear the name Bibhu Mohapatra, Claudette Colbert and Veronica Lake might not be the first two names to jump to mind. But that’s exactly the kind of clothing the Indian born, FIT-educated designer has produced for his Autumn/Winter collection—with a discernible contemporary edge, of course. After drooling over Marion Cotillard’s wardrobe in Public Enemies last summer, we’re still in the throes of a serious 30s and 40s obsession. Mohapatra’s fitted coats, screen siren evening gowns and sleek suiting dresses, all paired with vintage-looking heels, fit the bill perfectly. Angular, skin tight leather gloves add a dose of femme fatale to the look, while sleek color blocking, structural asymmetrical details and a palette of charcoal and blood red update what would otherwise be a collection of pure nostalgia.