HELLO! India Exclusive: Laced with lustre

Blush, black, beiges and whites blend seamlessly with the quintessential lace. The sculptural precision of the 24-karat gold-plated corset anchors the entire narrative. Delicate embellishments infuse the lehengas and draped skirts with lyrical beauty, while there’s depth and allure in the dramatic black lace gown. Evidently, in the latest prêt collection of Roseroom by Isha Jajodia, the magic lies in all the detailing and understated glamour.

At HELLO!’s dreamy photo shoot, Isha is like a proud mother, checking every minute stitch ever so carefully. Her muses — Alekha Advani, Ameya Shah, and sisters Simone and Alyssa Chesson — are the perfect allegory for her latest designs, all petite and ultra feminine. “We curated looks that embody Roseroom’s most refined interplay of craftsmanship, femininity and modern couture strength,” says Isha. “The story opens with soft blush tones in intricate lace placements and tonal appliqué, styled with an unexpected lace bomber jacket that brings a fresh, urban dimension to feminine silhouettes.”

HELLO! gets up-close and personal with the four stylish ladies, while Isha gives us a peek inside her creative mind.

Simone Chesson

For Simone, this shoot was incredibly special, for she got to be photographed with her sister, Alyssa. “Sharing that experience made it feel very personal. Isha Jajodia’s designs are bold, artistic, and impeccably crafted. The entire shoot felt effortless, fun, and creatively fulfilling,” says Simone, whose favourite look was the designers’ iconic metal corset.

“I never imagined I’d fit into a metal corset, let alone feel comfortable in one. It was surprisingly wearable after the first few minutes. I felt strong, special, and truly honoured to be her muse for that piece.” Simone prefers to keep her everyday style effortless. Think athleisure, oversized tees, jeans, simple tops, and flats or flip flops, with minimal makeup.

“Comfort always comes first. When it’s time to dress up, I love a casual-chic approach: modern silhouettes, statement jewellery, and playful styling,” she says. When it comes to celebrating festivities, she loves to experiment with “lehengas, sarees, Indo-Western looks, and mixing textures like jadau jewellery with contemporary pieces.”

Alyssa Chesson

Embodying style that leans toward boho-chic, infused with a modern, grounded ease, Alyssa — who co-founded Bono Boutique Ice Cream, a design-driven dessert brand, with her sister Simone — loves flowy silhouettes, earthy tones, soft linens, layered jewellery and pieces that feel lived-in but elevated. For her, this shoot felt like “stepping into a dream where luxury meets ease.”

“The collection had this beautiful balance of structure and softness — pieces that felt powerful but still moved with me,” she shares. “Slipping into each look felt like stepping into a different version of myself. It was one of those shoots where you forget you’re working because you’re having so much fun."

Alekha Advani

This graduate from the Nolan School of Hotel Administration in Cornell curates wellness events with her brand, Way Well. For her, a standout moment from the photo shoot was when she observed Isha pair boots with her Indo-Western outfit.

“I remember thinking what a cool idea it was! It was such an unexpected juxtaposition, but it worked so well! It instantly made me want to try that styling myself,” says Alekha, who especially loved the “Parisian sensibility” of the collection.

“Soft, feminine, and effortlessly wearable, the outfits were beautifully detailed, yet comfortable,” says Alekha, her everyday style rooted in comfort, with a strong boho-chic influence. “You could really see the craftsmanship and the hours of handwork that went into making each piece feel both artisanal and modern. My pink outfit was a favourite — the intricate lace paired with the bomber jacket felt like something I’d wear.”

Ameya Shah

A 25-year-old alumnus from London School of Economics, Ameya was a vision in her ivory corset dress paired with a jacket, an ensemble that made her “feel like a real life princess.” “This collection is the perfect balance between shine and structure,” she gushes. “The lace, the beads, the intricate design and the quality of craftsmanship was unparalleled. They were neither heavy on the eyes, nor in materials or silhouettes.”

The dominance of ivory and beige in the shoot was like an ode to her personal style: “Neutral on most days, even boring!” “I stick to whites, beiges, greys and blacks, and love to accessorise with a nice bag, jewellery, and my favourite Manolo Blahnik heels!”

On Isha’s aesthetic, Ameya emphasises how “her clothes reflect her personality — soft and delicate, be it a pant suit, or lehenga. This collection is the perfect fusion of Indian craftsmanship and Parisian couture!”

MEET THE DESIGNER

There’s a poetic intonation to the way Isha describes her journey in design, the tenor of her words resembling the delicate patterns she traces in lace, season after season. Beautiful and poised, Isha exudes charm, her pride in Roseroom, the fashion house she founded in 2014, palpable. “Roseroom was born from my realisation of a clear gap in the market for clothing that felt modern yet deeply handcrafted, expressive yet wearable,” she shares. “It was my way of creating a space where Indian craft, contemporary design and a strong sense of identity could coexist with intention.”

Surrounded by the designer’s latest creations during our tête-à-tête, we get a peek into Isha’s creative world of intricate lace work and tonal appliqué, of delicate details and statement corsets, of intention, purpose and exceptional skill. Dressed in a black leather skirt with cascading tassels, paired with a lace-lined corset and bomber jacket, Isha embodies both femininity and strength. “Jackets allow me to mix structure with fluidity and elevate even the simplest look. Each season, we refine the construction and bring in fresh ways of styling them. I pair them with dresses, sarees, corsets and even evening separates to create unexpected combinations,” she adds.

The quintessential “Roseroom woman” is contemporary, intuitive and globally aware, albeit firmly connected to her own identity. And the humble lace is Isha’s love language with which she creates magic. “Lace has always held a certain emotional charge for me,” she shares. “It carries femininity, sensuality and a sense of strength. I’m drawn to the way it can be delicate yet commanding, classic yet contemporary.” For Isha, the female body is a canvas, one on which she sketches a powerful vision of womanhood as she perceives it.

Guided by imagination and instinct, she weaves couture that speaks to a timeless woman, who dresses with intention, choosing pieces that reflect her personality rather than trends, and navigates different cultures and occasions with confidence.

“At NIFT, I spent most of my time experimenting with fabric manipulation, surface techniques and the emotional language of textiles. I realised there was a clear gap in the market for clothing that felt modern yet deeply handcrafted, expressive yet wearable,” she explains.

ISHA UNFILTERED

GO-TO BRANDS: Chanel for its timeless codes, Elie Saab for couture romance, Chloé for its effortless femininity, and Alexander McQueen for unapologetic artistry.

FAVE FASHION HOTSPOTS: Paris for its creative pulse, and Rishikesh for grounding and clarity.

FAVOURITE MUSES: Women who embody self-assurance and depth, like Queen Rania of Jordan, Priyanka Chopra Jonas, Dakota Johnson, Monica Bellucci, and Alia Bhatt.

CASUAL OR FORMAL: Some days, I lean towards refined, sculpted silhouettes, and on others, I elevate casual pieces with unexpected styling and couture accents.

MUTED OR BRIGHT: My palette shifts with mood and moment. I enjoy vibrant tones, though I gravitate toward ivories, muted pastels, neutrals and earthy hues when the occasion calls for subtlety

PHOTOGRAPHY: SARANG GUPTA
CREATIVE DIRECTION: AVANTIKKA KILACHAND RAJU
STYLING: ANUSHREE SARDESAI
ASSISTED BY: SIMRAN AGGARWAL 
HAIR & MAKEUP: PRUTHVI GANGAR & PUJA CHAURASIA  
LOCATION COURTESY: EVE, WORLI

This story was featured in the Vol 1. Issue 6 of HELLO! India. For more exclusive stories, subscribe to the magazine here.