Shashank Chouhan
Oops, it slipped again! This time at Rajesh Pratap Singh’s show. On Day 3 of the Wills India Fashion Week, I understood the purpose of the existence of cowls and hoods- used aplenty in Rajesh’s collection. You see if there is a loose strap in the top or if the top itself is not stitched properly (for reasons ranging from low paid darzis to publicity hungry designers) and it comes off just at the right moment when a hottie donning it reaches the end of runway- she can always hide her face in the hood or the cowl.
But clearly the Belgian model, whose strap of the shiny blue cowl dress slipped, didn’t feel embarrassed. She calmly pulled it back and moved on with life. True professional. Where was the designer? Somewhere in Paris.
OK so one malfunction doesn’t spoil the show. Rajesh Pratap’s love for black and silver, with an occasional orange thrown in, was evident in his show. Hooded dresses, waist coats, jackets, floor length and knee length, sheath dresses, fitted biker jackets, hybrid garments where the silhouettes were different for back and front - all flattering, feminine and very pleasing to the viewer.
If Rajesh’s collection raised a few eyebrows on the dropping of a dress, Manish Arora’s show made us skip a heart beat. But first it scared me- ghostly masks with models wearing dead serious expressions; and then it kind of made me laugh as Mickey Mouse prints on wraith like models made an appearance. But hey this is the warrior themed collection that made ripples at the Paris Fashion Week this year.
The Disney cartoon characters in battle gear and the work of Japanese artist Keiichi Tanaami were rendered as embroidered prints on silk, velvet and brocade dresses inspired by Japanese samurais, gladiators and medieval knights.
"For me, fashion is glamorous and happy and shiny - that`s why I show all this," the designer told reporters after the show.
"My clothes always have a sense of humour and Walt Disney provided that for me." The result: awe-inspiring ghagras, shiny fitted pants, a lot of embroidery (digital and traditional), glamorous and metallic tops and colours- oh my what a breathtaking range of the palette. This was clearly the most well received show as a jam-packed hall watched in stunned silence.
Designer duo Rohit Gandhi and Rahul Khanna took inspiration from city life for their `Lost in the Urban Maze` collection - the grid lines of the city mimicked in sleek suits and dresses in various shades of brown and blue. The line was young, funky and contemporary. And there was Bollywood actor Kunal Kapoor in a showstopper, looking every inch the star in shades and a long, button-down coat. Colours related to the theme through tones such as asphalt, cement, foggy neutrals and subdued purple and wine. A well fitting, well groomed, ready to wear prêt line teamed with fashionable shoes made for perfect and stylish office wear.
Ashima and Leena showcased a lovely line of eveningwear, both ethnic and Western, at the Fashion Week. The collection comprised saris tied in a never seen before fashion, cholis, in-cut one piece dresses with imaginative necklines, long jackets, gowns, short jackets with jodhpurs, some glittering sequins on nice colour combos- emerald green, ruby red, sapphire blue, amethysts, topaz, gold.
