Aneeth Arora’s Pero brings 1980s nostalgia to Lakme Fashion Week
Pero Turns Lakme Fashion Week Into a Playful Barbie-Inspired World
Bharatmorningnews.com – Designer Aneeth Arora launched Lakme Fashion Week with an exuberant Spring/Summer 2027 presentation that placed imagination, craft and nostalgia at the centre of the runway. Her label, Pero, transformed the venue at New Delhi’s Taj Palace into an oversized pink Barbie dreamhouse, creating an immersive setting for a collection called “Dream Dress-Up”.
The presentation was held by Lakme and Tira in association with the Fashion Design Council of India. It also marked Pero’s global collaboration with Barbie, the well-known doll brand whose original figure was introduced in 1959. Dream Theatre, Mattel’s licensing agency in India, facilitated the partnership.
A meeting of fashion, memory and play
Arora’s collection joined Pero’s distinctive handcrafted approach with Barbie’s long-standing association with self-expression and limitless possibilities. Rather than treating the reference as a simple costume theme, the show used colour, texture and styling to build a world rooted in dress-up, childhood memory and individuality.
The clothes drew visual cues from the 1980s, Malibu Barbie-inspired proportions and the enduring appeal of the original doll. Lace, gingham, stripes and block prints appeared throughout the range, while crochet work, bows and detailed hand-finishing reinforced the label’s focus on artisanal construction.
Pink naturally had a major presence, reflecting Barbie’s instantly recognisable visual language. Yet the collection did not rely on one-note styling. Easy, flowing shapes and unexpected combinations gave the garments a relaxed quality, while also questioning familiar assumptions around gender and the way clothes are worn.
The Spring/Summer 2027 line presented a playful wardrobe in which decoration and comfort could coexist. The craft-led details gave the clothes texture and personality, while the looser silhouettes kept the mood informal and open. It was a runway built around the idea that fashion can be expressive without requiring a rigid set of rules.
An intimate runway experience
Models moved through the audience rather than remaining at a distance on a conventional catwalk, making the presentation feel more immediate. The beauty direction extended the show’s retro sensibility: graphic winged eyeliner, vintage-inspired hair and neon footwear referenced Barbie’s signature aesthetic and heightened the colourful atmosphere.
That sense of participation was especially fitting for a collection built around dressing up. Instead of presenting Barbie nostalgia as something fixed in the past, the showcase invited viewers to see it through a contemporary lens shaped by individuality, experimentation and personal style.
For Arora, the partnership aligned closely with the creative identity of Pero. The designer, who is the label’s founder and creative director, described Barbie’s imaginative freedom as a natural fit for her own approach to fashion.
“Barbie has always represented the freedom to dream beyond what is expected – to Dress-Up, play with identity and imagine all the different ways of being. That spirit feels very close to péro,” she said.
“With Dream Dress-Up, we wanted to bring our worlds together through craft, colour and play, and create a season that feels open to everyone,” she added.
New voices on the runway
The show also gave first-time runway models an opportunity to take part in the presentation. Nishant, making his debut, described the experience as demanding but rewarding, reflecting the energy required behind an elaborate fashion showcase.
“This is my first show, actually, and I just loved it. It was actually quite exhausting, but it was also a lot of fun, and everything went smoothly,” he said.
He also spoke about modelling as a field where ability can create opportunities for newcomers.
“In the fashion industry, if a model is capable, then there will be a chance for them, just like me. Anyone can do modelling if they are capable of doing it,” he added.
Another model, Vanessa, connected the collection’s imagery to personal memories of growing up around dolls. Her mother’s interest in collecting dolls made the Barbie collaboration especially meaningful to her, adding another layer of emotion to the presentation’s nostalgic premise.
“This show is so special to me because it’s very close to my heart. I grew up playing with a lot of dolls, my mom was a huge collector, and it’s really nostalgic. It feels like something I would do for my younger self,” she said.
With “Dream Dress-Up”, Pero used one of popular culture’s most familiar icons as a starting point for a broader conversation about creativity and identity. The result was a bright, handcrafted opening statement for Lakme Fashion Week—one that looked back to the visual joy of past decades while keeping its invitation to play firmly in the present.
Related Reading
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Aneeth Arora s Pero brings 1980s?
Aneeth Arora s Pero brings 1980s is the main topic of this guide. The article explains the context, practical details, and next steps readers should understand.
Why does Aneeth Arora s Pero brings 1980s matter?
Aneeth Arora s Pero brings 1980s matters because readers are looking for a useful answer, not just a short summary. Good content should match search intent and help them decide what to do next.