Rahul Mishra Haute Couture AW24

OMG. Just... O.M.G. The level of work in Rahul Mishra's Haute Couture Fall 2024 collection, 'Aura', is just above anything I've seen in person recently. The embroidery must have taken so many artisans months to create. I think I watched this entire collection with my mouth wide open, it was just devastatingly brilliant.

Rahul Mishra has a phenomenal way of displaying pure opulence. Every look was striking, many of them remarkably spectacular. The idea behind this collection was that we all have an aura - an electromagnetic field that connects us to the rest of the universe. It's like we're all part of this gossamer, omnipresent plane of energy that exists before and after our physical presence. The show began with the resonating voice of Senegalese artist Youssou N'Dour. His music has been popular for decades worldwide, and it visibly stirred something in the audience emotionally. When the couture looks appeared, I completely understood it. The radiating voice of Youssou N’Dour intensified the presentation of this collection and it was just pure magic.

Mishra's collection celebrated the multicultural world of couture, sparing no extravagance. Every look was sparkling in some way, whether through sequins or beading. Tulle fabric emoted the aura, and sewing techniques were used to translate radiance. There were also many looks that featured two profiles looking outwards, representative of the different faces that we all possess - like a nod to the Hindu god Brahma with his four heads contemplating all directions at once. The predominantly black and greyscale palette represented the depth and mystery associated with aura. As you stare into these designs, you can't help but wonder, are you observing nothingness or an abundance of the unknown? It's like looking into an infinite black sky.

The final look featured a veil that was both reminiscent of traditional Indian sarees and a completely reinvented veil. It was as if Mishra was trying to articulate how this omnipresent aura interacts with a living body, making us vessels for part of this cosmic energy. Rahul Mishra continually produces these beautiful collections, and I am still in disbelief that he keeps one-upping himself every season. This collection was like a journey into the depths of curiosity, trying to comprehend the imperceivable. This show was not just fashion, it was a philosophical experience.

For more about Rahul Mishra, click HERE