The big moments of 2021 that redefined fashion

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The growing interest of Indian corporate companies in homegrown designers is a new chapter in the country's fashion history. The year 2021 started with the news that Aditya Birla Fashion and Retail has bought 51 per cent stake in brand Sabyasachi. It ended on a high note as well, with Reliance Brands Ltd joining hands with designer Anamika Khanna on a joint venture to develop the AK-OK label (in photo).  (Courtesy AK-OK)

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Punjab's Harnaaz Sandhu brought home the Miss Universe crown after over two decades. (REUTERS)

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Balenciaga and Gucci rewrote the laws of high fashion when they got together for #TheHackerProject, offering a range of products that had Alessandro Michele’s retro vibes and Demna Gvasalia's signature edgy undertones.  (Courtesy Gucci)

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The 2021 FDCIxLakme Fashion Week, held phygitally in March, was special for more than one reason. It brought together powerhouses Fashion Design Council of India (FDCI) and Lakme after over a decade, along with RISE Worldwide, and marked the return of designers to the physical runway since the pandemic started.  (Courtesy FDCIxLakme Fashion Week)

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Despite all the social media trolling, the Sabyasachi collaboration with fashion retail brand H&M was an instant hit, selling out within minutes. It was a big moment for India. With this collection, ‘Wanderlust’, the Indian bridal couturier joined names like Karl Lagerfeld, Moschino, Giambattista Valli and Madonna.  (Courtesy Sabyasachi)

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The latest it thing: NFTs. Designer Manish Malhotra entered the crypto world with his first collection of non-fungible tokens (NFTs), digital items bought using cryptocurrencies. He launched five NFTs, including a couture piece worn by actor Kareena Kapoor Khan. (Courtesy Manish Malhotra)

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Exaggerated-Shoulder Pinstriped-Twill Jacket: If there’s one trendthat defines this season, it’s the exaggerated shoulder. Here, Saint Laurent’s exaggerated take on 1980s suiting. Available onMatchesfashion.com; around ₹2.15 lakh

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Balmain’s Women’s Spring-Summer 2024: Red and coral shades and 3D florals showed up again and again, such as in this polka-dot playsuit from the luxury house’s Spring-Summer collection at Paris. For more,Balmain.com

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Air Jordan ‘Tartan Swoosh’ Sneakers: It was time for tartan. Re-create the trend with the Air Jordan 1 Mid high-top sneaker featuring a “Tartan Swoosh”. Available on Farfetch.com; around ₹20,000

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Moon Phase Varsity Bomber: Street style continues to rule. Bring it home with this bomber from Off-White studio in Italy, established by the late Virgil Abloh. Available on Revolve.com; around ₹29,000

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Carson cropped high-rise flared jeans: Buttermilk yellow is the new white. Here, Veronica Beard's 'Carson' jeans cut in a flared shape in a vintage '70s styles made from pastel-yellow denim. 

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Opera Stilettos: Gladiator sandals made a strong show, such as Gianvito Rossi’s nappa leather pair with a 105mm stiletto heel. Available onLuxe.Ajio.com; ₹99,000

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Nazar Mini Annacapri Coral Earrings: Red was everywhere. Channel its energy with Turkish designer Begüm Khan’s ‘evil eye’ earrings made with real coral. Available on Matchesfashion.com; around ₹1.25 lakh

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Valentie Tie: Ties are back in formal fashion. Here, Valentino’s slim wool and silk tie with a metal ‘V’ appliqué. Available on Valentino.com;around ₹40,000

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That Red Shirt: Fine Khadi shirt edged with hand-embroidered details on the panels and pockets in fire-engine red. Available on Khanijo.com; ₹16,900

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Periwinkle Bandhani Printed Co-ord Set: Batwing sleeve shirt pairedwith a smocked, slit skirt from Saaksha & Kinni. Available on Ensembleindia.com; ₹25,000

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Forest-Themed Floral Set: Floral jewellery, all the rage at celebrity weddings, made using a combination of fresh and artificial flowers andleaves. Available on Floralart.co.in; ₹12,000

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Serendib Cake Stand: Hand-painted fine bone china cake stand accented with 24-carat gold for those special celebrations. Available onGoodearth.in; ₹6,500

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In The Clouds Jug: Designer Jonathan Hansen’s lead-free crystal jug with an exquisite hand-engraved cloud motif. Available on Modaoperandi.com; $650 (around ₹54,000)

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Taylor Twins Moccasins: Quirky and stylish low-heeled, colour-blocked moccasins with a square toe from Camper.Available on 24s.com; ₹13,707

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Brown Dragon Zara Necklace: Statement neck piece from Mayabazaar by Rosalind Pereira made using zari yarn, brass chain and a dragonfly brass pendant. Available on Ogaan.com; ₹2,060

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Chand Mati by Anjul Bhandari: A new festive collection from thedesigner celebrating chikankari blended with earthy neutrals, taking inspiration from lunar luminescence. Enquiries on Anjulbhandari.in; price on request

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Hoop Set: Gold-tone metal hoops from Australian designer Charles Lichaa’s 8 Other Reasons. Available on Revolve.com; ₹5,160

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Half-Zip Merino Long-Sleeve Top: Made from merino wool, DistrictVision’s longsleeved tee is breathable, antimicrobial and thermoregulating, with a half-zip construction and shell patch pocket.Available on Matchesfashion.com; $275 (around ₹23,000)

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Dream Pumps: From New York-based brand Mansur Gavriel, lambskin pumps with a block heel and golden finish for chic comfort. Available on Shopbop.com; $495

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Block-Printed Soft Silk Shirt: Short, boxy shirt in 100% silk with an all-over pattern made using natural indigo dye through block printing.Available on 11-11.in; ₹16,900

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Red Sole Ribbon Ankle-Wrap Stiletto Sandals: Hot pink Christian Louboutin sandals in napa leather and crepe satin ribbon for that decadent feel. Available on Neimanmarcus.com; ₹88,756

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Floral-Printed Plisse Leather Midi Skirt: Showcasing Balenciaga’s “Lily” print from this season, this midi skirt is made from flexible leather into an A-line silhouette. Available on Modaoperandi.com (on pre-order); $6,890 (around ₹5.64 lakh)

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Lehenga From Imperial Minimalism By Sarah & Sandeep: The designer duo’s fresh, functional take on wedding wear marries Indian and Western silhouettes. Available on Sarahsandeep.com; price on request

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Amethyst Ribbon Ring: A playful and delicate ring crafted in 18-carat gold, set with natural amethyst baguettes along the band, from Akansha Sethi. Available on Akanshasethi.com; around ₹1.3 lakh

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Micro Bon Bon: Jimmy Choo’s iconic Bon Bon bag is re-imagined in miniature using napa leather. Available on Row.jimmychoo.com; €595(around ₹53,550)

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Emerald Set Salt & Pepper: With a glam Art Deco aesthetic, this porcelain salt and pepper set from Vista Alegre will dress up any dining table. Available on Luxe.ajio.com; ₹9,800

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Xander Johnson (L) of Bagel Tours takes the Messenger family from San Francisco around Midtown Manhattan to sample some on New York's finest bagels. Bagels are as synonymous with New York as pizza and the Statue of Liberty. Although there is no official count of New York's daily bagel production, Sam Silverman, chief executive of the trade group Bagelup, estimates there are about 500 specialty shops across the city's five boroughs. The ring-shaped bread has evolved and been reinvented since its arrival more than a century ago thanks to Polish Jewish immigrants.  ((Photo by TIMOTHY A. CLARY / AFP))

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The inside of a bagel preparation room is pictured during a Bagel Tour around Midtown Manhattan. Rainbow bagels are pictured here. Balinska points to the 1960s as the period when bagels attained broader popularity beyond the Jewish community. Innovations such as the rotating oven enabled bakers to significantly increase output. That led to the arrival of shops touting 'hot' bagels directly to consumers; before, they were only available wholesale.Central players in the further ‘bagelizing’ of America were the Lender brothers, who successfully mass marketed the frozen bagel -- pre-sliced, of course -- in the 1960s, expanding nationwide by 1977.  ((Photo by TIMOTHY A. CLARY / AFP))

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Ashley Dikos, wife of Bo's Bagels owner Andrew Martinez, shows cream cheese and salmon bagels at Bo's Bagels. ((Photo by Yuki IWAMURA / AFP))

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Andrew Martinez, owner of Bo's Bagels, boils bagel dough before his store opens in New York City.  ((Photo by Yuki IWAMURA / AFP))

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Andrew Martinez, owner of Bo's Bagels, points to fresh bagels at his bakery. While there is debate over just when the first bagels appeared in New York, historians agree that the bread originally arrived in the city in the late 19th century. By 1900, the industry had already expanded to 70 bagel shops, although working conditions were 'terrible,' according to Maria Balinksa's book, 'The Bagel: The Surprising History of a Modest Bread.' Balinksa chronicles a triumphant 1909 baker strike that upgraded pay and working conditions, helping to propel the broader labor movement in the early 20th century. Over the years, bakers began coating bagels with toppings including salt, sesame seeds, poppy seeds, onion and garlic.At Bo's Bagels, all of these play second fiddle to the ‘everything bagel,’ which includes a smattering of all these toppings. Bo's sells more everything bagels than all of the other types combined, said owner Andrew Martinez. ( (Photo by Yuki IWAMURA / AFP))

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Children watch a 2-wheel robot perform at the annual World Robot Conference at the Etrong International Exhibition and Convention Center on the outskirts of Beijing on 17 August. (AP Photo/Andy Wong)

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Visitors watch a robot dog Cyberdog developed by Xiaomi at the Beijing World Robot Conference (WRC) 2023 in Beijing, China, on 17 August. (REUTERS)

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Visitors look at the remote control robots perform. (AP Photo/Andy Wong)

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A man uses a mobile phone to take a picture of a robot kitten at the 2023 World Robot Conference. (WANG Zhao / AFP)

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A visitor touches robotic fingers during the annual World Robot Conference at the Etrong International Exhibition and Convention Center on the outskirts of Beijing, on 17 August.  (AP Photo/Andy Wong)

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Visitors look at a remote control robot perform a walk during the annual World Robot Conference. (AP Photo/Andy Wong)

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Human like robots and robotic faces that mimic human expressions displayed at the conference on 16 August. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan)

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A robot developed by Data Robotics displays throws a basketball at the Beijing World Robot Conference (WRC) 2023 on 17 August. (REUTERS/Tingshu Wang)