Natasha Poonawalla pairs archival Versace with Banarasi brocade and Gota Patti Dior

Natasha Poonawalla has always had her iconic way of bringing archival fashion, Indian craftsmanship and high jewellery into the same frame. Her latest look does exactly that, pairing a bespoke interpretation of an archival Atelier Versace design with a rare Dior Saddle Bag and layered Bvlgari jewellery.

Styled by Rhea Kapoor, the ensemble draws from Look 3 of Atelier Versace’s Fall 2002 collection. The original silhouette has been reworked in richly detailed Banarasi brocade, giving the archival design a strong Indian textile identity.

The result is a sharply tailored skirt suit in candy pink, yellow, green and lavender, finished with an oversized feathered jacket. Every element adds another layer, from the structured tailoring and vibrant brocade to the ornate accessories and statement jewellery.

Archival Versace gets an Indian textile makeover

At the heart of the look is the bespoke Versace-inspired skirt suit. The sharply cut silhouette is defined by structured lapels, a fitted waist and a colourful play of brocade panels.

The saturated palette moves between pink, yellow, green and lavender, creating a deliberately high-impact composition while keeping the tailoring precise.

The look references Donatella Versace’s Fall 2002 couture language, a collection known for elaborate textiles, embroidery, patchwork and sculptural silhouettes. Here, the use of Banarasi brocade shifts that visual vocabulary towards Indian craftsmanship without losing the character of the original Versace design.

The fabric is particularly important to the reinterpretation. Instead of functioning simply as surface decoration, the brocade becomes part of the silhouette, bringing its intricate patterns and sheen into an archival European fashion reference.

The feathered jacket adds another layer

Over the structured suit, Poonawalla wears an oversized blush-pink feathered jacket. Its volume contrasts with the precise tailoring underneath, adding movement and texture to the look.

The jacket also brings a distinctly retro element to the ensemble. Paired with sleek hair and narrow sunglasses, it creates a styling language that keeps the focus firmly on the clothes and their dramatic proportions.

The feathers extend the maximalist approach already established by the brocade, creating a softer counterpoint to the sharper lines of the Versace-inspired tailoring.

A rare Dior Saddle Bag gets the Gota Patti treatment

The accessories continue the meeting of global fashion and Indian craftsmanship.

Poonawalla carries Dior’s Gota Patti Saddle Bag from the house’s 10th-anniversary Saddle collection. The pink bag retains the recognisable curved Saddle silhouette while being embellished with traditional Indian techniques.

Gota patti and zardozi detailing cover the bag, while a nath-inspired embellishment appears across the front. The combination gives the iconic Dior accessory a distinctly Indian finish.

The pink of the bag ties into the brighter tones of the brocade, while its gold embellishment complements the jewellery. Rather than introducing a contrasting accessory, the bag extends the colour and craftsmanship story already running through the outfit.

Bvlgari jewellery brings emeralds, diamonds and pearls

The jewellery follows the same layered approach.

Poonawalla wears Bvlgari high jewellery alongside pieces from Indian jewellery houses, including Rare Heritage, Amrapali Jaipur, Birdhichand Ghanshyamdas and Prabhu Dayal Sons.

Emeralds take a prominent place within the jewellery styling, echoing the green in the brocade. Diamonds, pearls and gold add further dimension without taking the look away from its Indian craft references.

From the statement jewellery to the Gota Patti Dior, the accessories maintain the same conversation between heritage techniques and international fashion houses.

Natasha Poonawalla’s maximalist fashion language

From the archival Versace silhouette and Banarasi brocade to the feathered jacket, Gota Patti Dior Saddle and emerald-heavy jewellery, the look brings together several distinct fashion references in one carefully styled ensemble.

The result is a full-length study in colour, texture, craftsmanship and archival design, with each element contributing to the overall fashion story.