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When you think of India, you might not think of necessarily a glamorous fashion boutique on Madison Avenue on the same block as Roberto Cavalli. This mindset is exactly what Soigné Kothari, owner of the brand new Soigne K boutique, is trying to change. "I think people have these preconceived notions of Indian fashion. It's always a colorful peasant skirt or a sari," she tells Vogue.com. "They don't imagine that we have looks for fall!"
Soigne's boutique exclusively carries up-and-coming Indian designers. It showcases wearable yet unique contemporary collections on its first floor and more traditional and less attainable Indian gowns and saris on the second floor. The first floor collections include internationally known contemporary design duo Rohit Gandhi and Rahul Khanna, the New Dehli-based print designer Prashant Verma, and up-and-coming Manish Arora, who has shown at Paris Fashion Week for the past two years. Each designer successfully infuses Indian heritage with western sensibility to create a unique design aesthetic. The second floor includes drool-worthy gowns by Tarun Tahiliani and Azara.
Our favorite looks include Manish Arora sequins pants for $525, a Rohit Gandhi and Rahul Khanna beaded chiffon dress for $550, a printed Prashant shift dress for $450 and a breath-taking Tarun Tahiliani asymmetrical gown for $1895. — Molly Vu
· Soigne K [Official Site]
· Soigné Kothari's New Madison Avenue Boutique is a Passage to India [Vogue.com]