There’s a particular kind of excitement that comes at 5 PM. The laptop closes, the workday subsides, the evening feels full of possibilities. It’s this familiar shift in mood that Lakmē and Amit Aggarwal’s AM:IT brought to the runway at the Lakmē Fashion Week X FDCI Grand Finale, turning the transition from work to play into a celebration of style.
Titled On a Day Like Today, the collection explored what happens when the structure of the nine-to-five gives way to the spontaneity of after-hours life. Rather than treating office wear and occasion wear as two separate worlds, the showcase played with the space in between. It was about dressing for a woman whose day rarely follows a single script and whose style can change with her mood, plans and personality.
At the heart of the collaboration was Lakmē 9to5’s ‘5PM Glam Reset’, a beauty concept built around the idea that getting ready for the evening doesn’t have to mean starting from scratch. And brand ambassador Aneet Padda brought the story into focus as she walked the runway, embodying the modern Lakmē woman who can move between different roles without losing her individuality.
Reflecting on the collaboration, she said, “I love the idea of a look taking you from a long day at work to an evening out. Walking for the Lakmē 9to5 X AM:IT Grand Finale brought that to life for me. The AM:IT collection, paired with the new Lakmē 9to5 HYA Glam range, showed how the right makeup can complement an outfit and bring a whole look together. I think it’s that versatility, where a few thoughtful choices can take a look from simple to statement, that makes getting ready so much fun.”
On the other hand, for desigenr Amit Aggarwal, the collection was an opportunity to find inspiration in the familiar. Drawing on everyday Indian crafts, domestic objects and gestures, On a Day Like Today reimagined ordinary references through unexpected textures, colours, materials and embellishments. Pleated hats, woven bags, and an auto rickshaw on the ramp were some of the highlights of the evening.
Speaking about the creative vision behind the showcase, Aggarwal said, “Our collaboration with Lakmē 9to5 felt instinctive because both fashion and beauty offer ways to transform and express different facets of oneself. With On a Day Like Today, I wanted to draw from the visual language of everyday India, reinterpreting familiar crafts, domestic objects and gestures through unexpected materials, textures and techniques. The collection moves from the structure of the working day into the freedom of after-hours expression, bringing together utility, craft, colour and ornament to reflect the spirit of Lakmē’s ‘5PM Glam Reset’. For me, it is about finding the extraordinary in the familiar and recognising that while the person remains the same, their energy and expression can evolve.”
Four personalities — The Clock-In, The Unwinder, The Escapist and The Socialiser — shaped the collection’s narrative. These weren't rigid style categories, but reflections of the many moods one person can inhabit throughout the day.
That fluidity is what makes the collaboration feel particularly relevant. Modern dressing is less about following a fixed set of rules and more about creating a wardrobe and beauty routine that adapt to real life.
As the Grand Finale brought the season to a close, Lakmē and AM:IT offered a simple but compelling reminder: transformation doesn't always require a makeover. Sometimes, it's just the freedom to switch things up, embrace a new mood and step into the evening feeling entirely yourself. And if 5 PM is the moment the day opens up, a little glamour might be all the invitation you need.