Sachin & Babi Resort 2021

The small recalibrations that many have begun as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic? Sachin & Babi started addressing them almost two years ago. The husband-and-wife duo launched e-commerce, lowered their prices, invested in sustainable fabrics, shrunk their collection to essential pieces, and met their shopper where she was, whether it was at a gala or at Gurney’s. So when other eveningwear businesses came to a screeching halt with the pandemic, the Ahluwalias were able to soldier on, first with their clientele in the American South, then in the Middle East, and now in hubs like New York and Los Angeles that are reopening slowly after months indoors. “The special occasion business was postponed,” Sachin said over a video call, “but people are now having events in smaller, tighter groups.” For the shopper who insists on looking her best for a gathering of any size, the Ahluwalias are offering rethinks of classic silhouettes in natural colors like ivory, ocean blue, and marigold. Wrap dresses, flutter sleeves, and silky separates hammer home a casual spirit without compromising on the glitz the brand is known for, courtesy of satin jacquards and spritzes of fringe. “She still wants to