Lakme Fashion Week x FDCI: Ananya's As Pretty As A Rose

Nineteen days before he passed into the ages, Designer Rohit Bal presented his last show at the Lakme Fashion Week x FDCI in Delhi on October 13.

It was an amazing celebration of Indian aesthetics and craftsmanship.

The 17th century Quli Khan's tomb in Mehrauli shone with lights and resonated with Shubha Mudgal's powerful voice as model after beautiful model walked the ramp in his exquisite creations, with the lovely Ananya Panday taking the final bow.

His carefully curated ensembles were poetry in motion, symbolic of timeless luxury and the beauty of nature.

And, of course, if it was a Rohit Bal show, it had to be hatke.

He brought back the gorgeous Sheetal Mallar on the ramp.

He danced a jig that thumbed a nose at his recent cardiac ailments.

The show was joy, effervescence and beauty and no one knew Bal's luxurious ode to the rose in the grand finale would be his last-ever show.

The designer, who was just 63, had played a pivotal role in changing India's fashion landscape and will be sorely missed.

Rohit Bal with Ananya Panday

IMAGE: The stunning designer with his stunning muse.
All photographs, video: Kind courtesy Lakme Fashion Week/Instagram

Ananya Panday walks for Rohit Bal at the Lakme Fashion Week

IMAGE: Ananya's black velvet lehenga was magnificently embellished with red roses, does, fawns and gold embroidery reminiscent of the baroque era.

Ananya Panday walks for Rohit Bal at Lakme Fashion Week

IMAGE: A closer look at the stunning detailing.

Rohit Bal takes a bow

IMAGE: Rohit Bal, who did a little jig for the audience, was joined by Ananya, his friend Lalit Tehlan, and model Arya Bhat.

Watch Gudda as he got the audience to smile.

Sheetal Mallar

IMAGE: Supermodel Sheetal Mallar with Lalit Tehlan.

Rohit Bal: Lakme Fashion Week

IMAGE: Sartorial storytelling at its best, this was an incredible use of Indian embroidery using animal and flower motifs.

Rohit Bal: Lakme Fashion Week

IMAGE: Rohit gave us a dose of maximalism -- printed parakeets, dramatic cape and pill box-hat.

Lakme Fashion Week: Rohit Bal

IMAGE: A heady cocktail of tropical prints, sumptuous fabrics and button deets.

Lakme Fashion Week: Rohit Bal

IMAGE: The design maestro proved that monochrome can be playful too.

Lakme Fashion Week: Rohit Bal

IMAGE: The fact that he used red velvet for menswear was so delish.

Rohit Bal's Last Hurrah!