New Delhi, July 31 -- For far too long, Indian couture has been synonymous with the ostentatious lehnga-choli. At the recently concluded India Couture Week in Delhi, too, there seemed to be a competition among designers to create garments that could light up any room, figuratively and, at times, literally.

Yet scattered among the 13 collections were pieces that borrowed the dress codes of ready-to-wear-a monochrome parade of balloon pants and bodysuits, oversized blazers for all genders, Victorian era-inspired skirts, and long shirt-style kurtas.

It mirrors a broader movement in global couture. Houses such as Fendi and Chanel are increasingly infusing their collections with the ease and functionality of ready-to-wear.

This change in mo...