Suneet Varma's Kashi collection turned the second night of Lakmé Fashion Week 2026 into a love letter to Varanasi. On Thursday, 15 October, the designer's SV label presented its second ready-to-wear line at the Taj Palace in New Delhi, as part of Lakmé Fashion Week in partnership with the Fashion Design Council of India (FDCI). Black-and-white images of the city's ghats, boats and old buildings played on screens behind the models, and Laapataa Ladies star Nitanshi Goel closed the show as showstopper in a wine-coloured fishtail lehenga. Here is what the collection looked like, the pieces worth knowing about and how to wear the trend.

What is Suneet Varma's Kashi collection about?

Kashi, the ancient city on the banks of the Ganga, is the starting point. Times Now reports that the line takes its cue from the city's temples, ghats and narrow lanes, and the ANI report on the show says the designer set out a "modern interpretation of the garments, colours, textures and visual language" of Kashi. The palette is described as distinctly Indian: reds, purples, maroons and blacks that, according to ANI, symbolise the changing light across the Ganges.

What makes it a Suneet Varma collection is the glitter. Sequins, shimmer and mirror work run along hems, trousers and accessories, and oversized paillettes cover skirts, sleeves and bags. Even the tailored pieces carry some metallic detail.

The key looks from SV by Suneet Varma

The embroidered black cape

The show opened in black and white. Times Now singles out a flowing black cape with silver embroidery forming a city skyline along the hem, with multicoloured floral vines rising towards the shoulders. Threadwork across jackets, capes and kurtas depicted temple spires, palm trees, riverside steps and grazing cows, a literal map of the city stitched into the clothes.

Plum and silver

Purple and silver were the collection's signature pairing. One standout was a plum tunic embroidered with ivory birds and deer, cinched with an embroidered belt and worn over a full silver skirt covered in large mirror discs. Pink satin appeared as oversized sashes tied in loose bows across the shoulder or chest.

Separates with a festive twist

This is ready-to-wear, so separates lead. Kurtas came with sequinned pants, glitter harem pants reworked the dhoti silhouette, and corset kurtis appeared in several looks. Times Now describes a black-and-silver embroidered corset layered over a short kurta with sequinned palazzos and a pink sash, plus crochet dupattas draped across the body. ANI adds jackets, dhoti skirts, draped saris, tunics and trousers finished with handwork, embroidery and tassels.

Bandhani meets evening wear

One of the most wearable ideas was a mustard bandhani top with an asymmetric hem, worn with black sequin pants and a cropped jacket of oversized black paillettes, with tasselled ties at the waist. It places a traditional tie-dye technique right next to party fabrics.

Nitanshi Goel's showstopper look

Nitanshi Goel, the Filmfare award-winning actor who broke out with Laapataa Ladies, walked as the closing showstopper and joined Suneet Varma on the ramp for the finale. According to ANI, she wore a wine-coloured, embellished fishtail lehenga with a strapless top and an attached drape, finished with plum and silver paillettes. Times Now describes the same look as a strapless top with a drape over a fitted mermaid skirt.

The silhouette is the interesting part. It reads like a pre-draped saree, with the pallu falling from one shoulder, but the fitted fishtail skirt gives it a sharper, red-carpet line. PTI photographs from the show capture the outfit on the runway and at the finale beside the designer.

Why the Kashi collection matters this festive season

Lakmé Fashion Week's autumn edition sits right before the wedding and festive calendar, and Suneet Varma's collection answers the question many shoppers have at this time of year: how do you wear Indian craft without looking like you are going to a wedding every time? By breaking threadwork, bandhani and mirror work into jackets, corsets, sashes and trousers, the line gives you pieces you can mix with what you already own.

How to wear the Kashi trend at home

Pick one statement texture. A paillette skirt, a mirror-work jacket or a heavily embroidered cape should be the hero; keep the rest of the outfit plain.

Try plum with silver. It is less expected than red and gold for Diwali and photographs beautifully under evening light.

Use a satin sash. A pink or plum satin scarf tied in a loose bow across one shoulder instantly adds the collection's soft drama to a black kurta set.

Mix bandhani with sequins. A bandhani top with black sequin trousers is an easy festive-party formula.

Borrow the showstopper drape. If you love the pre-draped saree idea, look for a strapless top with an attached drape over a fitted skirt for cocktail and sangeet nights.

FAQ

Who was the showstopper for Suneet Varma at Lakmé Fashion Week 2026?

Actor Nitanshi Goel closed the SV by Suneet Varma show on 15 October 2026 in a wine-coloured embellished fishtail lehenga with a draped strapless top.

What is the theme of Suneet Varma's new collection?

The collection is called Kashi and is inspired by the ancient city of Varanasi, its temples, ghats and lanes, in a palette of reds, purples, maroons and blacks.

When is Lakmé Fashion Week 2026 Delhi?

Lakmé Fashion Week x FDCI runs from 13 to 18 October 2026 in New Delhi, with runway shows at the Taj Palace.

More from Lakmé Fashion Week 2026

See the full day-by-day line-up in our Lakmé Fashion Week 2026 Delhi schedule at https://thecoverissue.com/lakme-fashion-week-2026-delhi-schedule-designers — and revisit the opening night in our review of the Péro x Barbie collection at https://thecoverissue.com/pero-barbie-collection-lakme-fashion-week.