For the badass go-getter: Falguni and Shane Peacock

Designer duo Falguni and Shane Peacock always exude a sunny optimism which also reflects in their label’s maximalist zeitgeist. The couple-about-town have been eclipsing the glamour geography with an unfailing regularity since the label’s birth in 2004. FSP’s global ingenues (from Kendall Jenner to Paris Hilton) and seasoned heavy-hitters (Michelle Poonawalla to Elizabeth Hurley) have epitomised their core sexy forthrightness. Reconciling fantasy with grunge, punk with practicality, whimsy with modernity — Peacocks have come a long way. This season at Lakme Fashion Week, the duo are penning a new chapter by making a foray into menswear — (which includes clothing, accessories and shoes) with a line titled, Louche. Not surprising as it’s been a season of a flurry of menswear launches — internationally, Isabel Marant added menswear offering to her portfolio last season, Givenchy showcased made-to-measure menswear at Paris Couture Week and Celine recently announced menswear’s addition to theirs. So what prompted Peacocks to dress men? “We did a menswear line in 2005. Post that we decided to focus on our international retail which is primarily women’s wear,” says Shane.

However, with the current fashion movement strongly nodding in favour of unapologetic maximalism, designers decided to take a plunge into menswear as it’s close to their design ethos. Shane, who’s often seen in his signature black suits felt this was the time to let his freak flag fly high. “ The current mood is all about the statement-making embellishments and embroideries which excited us. Now we can go all out with it and that’s always been our strength. It reflects the style of today’s millennials who don’t shy away from space disco and statement logos. The main inspiration behind the line is the swinging 70s which was high on sportified masculinity besides cultural movements like glam rock and disco.”   

The duo have edited the suit lengths and made the silhouette rather lean and athletic. When I ask him who’s the Falguni & Shane Peacock man, he throws me off-kilter. “He’s completely psycho — a fellon, a badass, a gangster, a hustler, a go-getter, who gets the job done. Our muses are icons like Zayn Malik, Shawn Mendes and Bruno Mars,” says Shane with a tongue-in-cheek wink.

The line has a panoply of sequinned and velvet shoes, ruffled and feathered jackets and capes, belts with logo buckle. The designers have extrapolated the current logo mania with statement lettering on shoes, bags and belts. Shane, who swears by Alexander McQueen’s edgy punk vibes, hopes that after the line is unveiled, the country’s jaded sherwani brigade will probably warm up to this parallel and au courant aesthetic he’s offering.  

The line also flirts with androgyny and there are also a slew of boyfriend jackets which complement the menswear on display. “The jackets are such that I can easily picture one on Kendall Jenner,” says Falguni with a smile.   This is enough to whet one’s sartorial appetite and one can’t wait for the runway showcase.