Who says you must stick to sapped shawls as a cover-up with your occasion wear? Karisma Kapoor flaunted JJ Valaya’s signature Alika jacket over her ivory ensemble. For an appearance on a reality television show, the actor opted for an anarkali from the couturier and complemented with a pair of matching churidar pants. The monochromatic kurta, crafted in a billowing fabric, showcased a playful asymmetrical hem with an understated embroidered border.
The highlight of Kapoor’s look, however, is her Alika jacket—a biker-meets-bolero style that is characterized by its precise construction, meticulous workmanship and collarless design. “The Alika jacket is a USP of the JJ Valaya brand that we developed about 14 years ago. We do six limited edition versions of the Alika every year, and yet we have not changed its core design ever.
It has stood the test of time and remains as our most popular jacket. It is well accepted by patrons and celebrities due to its versatility—you can wear it with a sari, a skirt, a jumpsuit, jeans or an Anarkali like Karisma did,” reveals Valaya. Over the years, the covetable cover-up has found a muse among several stars, including Shilpa Shetty Kundra .
For a special occasion, the actor wore the Alika jacket embroidered with work inspired from Jamawar shawls, which was layered over a black anarkali. In contrast, Kapoor’s ivory jacket featured intricate hand embroidery done with antique metallic work along with beads, resham threads and crysta.