Fashion | A Flirtatious Season

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A Flirtatious Season

Photographs by Richard Pereira

Published: Volume 13, Issue 2, March-April, 2005

Our theme for this collection is change, with completely new shades, styles and designs.... The line spells timeless glamour. Our clothes have a story to tell and they tell it with quiet authority

-Abu Jani and Sandeep Khosla

Three designers kick-started the spring-summer fashion season with shows that underscored very definite trends for the coming months. Verve visits them backstage, at rehearsals and on the ramp, at the Blenders Pride Fashion Tour 2005 and gives you a glimpse of the year’s upcoming looks.

A Verve exclusive

BACKSTAGE BUZZ

Getting their masks in place

ROCKING REHEARSALS

Flashing their personal style

If you were to honestly pick one trend amongst a mixed bag, it would be a preponderance of snug stoles at the Blenders Pride Fashion Tour 2005 extravaganza. Models wrapped themselves in colourful wraps during 2 a.m. rehearsals and after, guests were swathed in warm jamevars to counter the windy outdoor setting, while Jaya Bachchan and Preity Zinta shared both, a shawl and a seat!

But the participating designers strictly presented breezy summer lines…gossamer chiffons, candy palettes, floaty silhouettes et al. Backstage, the ramp scorchers were in sync with this ‘airy faerie’ philosophy – Nina Manuel declared a newfound love for a ‘flirty, feminine look, very unlike me’, Jesse Randhawa preferred ‘loose fits and comfort clothing’ and Tapur Chatterjee described herself as a ‘clean whites and blues’ woman.

Rocky S launched the second day of the event at the ITC Grand Central (fittingly oasis-like, located in the dusty, commercial Parel district of Mumbai), where naturally, Bollywood made its presence felt. Hrithik Roshan, Arjun Rampal (who looked like he had taken tips from wife Mehr, such was his presence on the catwalk), Dia Mirza (in a figure flattering, unique outfit) almost stole the show themselves. The showcased clothes included the expected layers and leathers, sported some fluff and feather, balloon salwars and calf length tights. A ruffled kurta dress made a statement, but, other than that, this angel inspired theme did nothing to transport one to heaven.

Tarun Tahiliani reworked some old magic, again presenting digitalised prints (of the Nizam’s jewels and the Taj Mahal), cleverly placed to create the illusion of a clinched belt or a necklace collar.

Empire-waisted pastel dresses, coral jewelled tees, net chikan coats, ruched pants, were splashed on the runway. We may have seen versions of it all before but, when Tarun puts his hand to it, even the old looks refreshingly new. Two unhappy ladies though, were Simi Garewal and sister Amrita, not with the master couturier, but with the disorganised handling of the seating. (Looks like the PR guys under-calculated the numerous extra invitees, who were forced to stand on tip-toe to catch the show.)Abu Jani and Sandeep Khosla fittingly ended the three-day gala with Shweta (Bachchan) Nanda doing the introductory walk (in a ravishing embroidered, backless halter dress). Abhishek followed in an incomprehensible peacock concoction, escorting his bevy of models to and fro (especially sharing a couple of laughs with Carol Gracias). Dad, Amitabh, appeared in a bright gold sherwani that was over the top. The white chikan selection with scalloped sequin borders, lotus motif saris, twisted pink satins, dramatically draped lungi skirts with zardozi cholis and Anna Bredemeyer swooping across the stage in her gypsy desert queen avatar, were the ovation-inducing highlights in this overall satisfying mix.

In the end, definitely a welcome prelude to the much-awaited India Fashion Week to follow.

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