Highlights from the Lakmé Fashion Week x FDCI Grand Finale

The finale day of Lakmé Fashion Week 2026 unfolded as a fitting crescendo, where fashion moved beyond garments into full-blown storytelling, blurring the lines between accessibility, heritage and playful experimentation. On one end, Max Fashion brought a high-energy, celebrity-led showcase that reimagined everyday dressing with personality, as Kalki Koechlin, Siddhant Chaturvedi and Alaya F translated high-street fashion into something expressive yet wearable. In contrast, Satya Paul, under the creative direction of Aditi Rao Hydari, leaned into fluid drapes and contemporary silhouettes, reinforcing its legacy of marrying print with modern femininity. And closing the narrative on a more whimsical, craft-forward note, Péro transformed the runway into a playful, almost theatrical workspace, celebrating maximalism, artisanal detail and a new-gen approach to everyday dressing.

Max: A Playful Approach to Everyday Fashion

Presented at the Jio World Convention Centre in Mumbai, the show captured a shift in fashion toward ease and authenticity. The Unserious Everything collection unfolded across three distinct style directions. The Urban segment opened the show with breezy silhouettes and soft summer hues such as butter yellow, ivory and washed denim blues. Citrus prints, crochet textures and relaxed co ord sets created a sense of effortless dressing that felt both relaxed and refined. From there, the runway shifted into Sports Core, an energetic chapter inspired by athletic aesthetics. Cropped fits, tube tops, oversized tees and graphic details brought a sense of movement to everyday clothing, reimagining athleisure as something designed for daily life rather than the gym.

Our personal hit? The choice of peppy and upbeat music! Songs like ‘Big Bad Mood’ and ‘Yougotmefeeling’ by Jordan Stephens and Parcels respectively amped up the atmosphere and you best believe I was Shazam-ing them whilst covering the show. The collection embraced the idea that getting dressed does not need to feel overly curated or performative. Instead, it celebrates spontaneity, individuality and clothes that move naturally with the person wearing them (and so does the music). Moments after walking the runway, actors Kalki Koechlin and Siddhant Chaturvedi paused backstage to speak with LuxeBook about style, personal rituals and the voices that keep them grounded.

Kalki Koechlin on Honest Critics and Quiet Rituals

For Koechlin, honesty plays a central role in both her personal life and her creative process. When asked who offers the most candid feedback on her work and style, the actor immediately points to the people closest to her. Her friends, she explains, are the ones who keep her grounded and never hesitate to share their true opinions. Yet, the most consistent critic in her life has always been her mother. According to Koechlin, her mother’s fashion sensibility leans toward something more classic and structured, while her own style often veers into a relaxed, bohemian space.

Her pre-performance rituals depend largely on the medium. Theatre requires warm ups and physical preparation, but runway shows move too quickly for elaborate routines. Acting for the camera is different again. Just before the camera begins rolling, she takes a brief moment to close her eyes and centre herself. Reflecting on the Max collection she had just walked in, Koechlin noted her fondness for relaxed silhouettes, particularly high waisted knee length shorts that felt easy and wearable.

Siddhant Chaturvedi on Energy, Gaming and Simple Skincare

Across the backstage space, Chaturvedi brought a lighter, more playful tone to the conversation. When asked about the most honest critic of his style, he offered an unexpected answer. The person who tells him the truth about his outfits, he said with a laugh, is Sandhya aunty, the woman who cooks for him and often irons his clothes.

Whenever he experiments with something unusual, she lets him know immediately. For Chaturvedi, that kind of unfiltered reaction is often more valuable than formal fashion commentary. Outside of work, the actor admits that his current obsession is gaming. Recently, he has been immersed in the latest installment of the ‘Resident Evil’ series on his PlayStation 5, a hobby that offers a welcome escape from the pace of acting projects and public appearances.

Before stepping onto the runway, Chaturvedi prefers to remain close to the action backstage. Spending time with the models before the show, he explains, helps him absorb their excitement and channel that energy into the moment on stage.

Satya Paul’s Printed Revival

Satya Paul presented a vibrant showcase that celebrated the label’s enduring relationship with print and fluid drapery. The show also marked a defining moment for Aditi Rao Hydari, who stepped into her new role as the Co-Creative Director for the brand. The collection explored expressive motifs including dragonflies, florals and abstract compositions, interpreted through modern silhouettes that balanced tradition with contemporary ease.

Saris appeared alongside breezy dresses, layered separates and sheer outerwear, reflecting a wardrobe designed for versatility. The interplay between classic drapes and contemporary tailoring underscored Satya Paul’s enduring ability to reinvent its signature language while remaining rooted in colour, movement and artistry.

A Poetic Grand Finale with Lakmé x péro

The season concluded with the Lakmé Grand Finale in collaboration with péro, where designer Aneeth Arora presented the Fall Winter 2026 collection titled ‘Out of Office’. The concept reimagined the everyday office as a metaphor for routine and escape, translating the quiet desire to step away from fluorescent desks and toward distant horizons.

Bringing the narrative full circle, Aneet Padda walked the finale, embodying a modern woman who moves seamlessly between ambition and moments of pause; a look that makes us happily forget the Monday blues. Inspired by the French Riviera, it is desk to drift dressing: soft textures, handcrafted details and understated silhouettes created a calm yet expressive aesthetic that resonated with Lakmé’s beauty statement, the 9to5 Hya Beach Edit where the actress features as the ambassador as well.

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