On The Runway

Designers Malini Agarwalla and Payal Singhal shared the first show slot. Actress Vidya Malvade was the showstopper for Agarwalla who showcased footwear,accessories and handbags – very colourful and very African. Even Singhal received a thumbs-up. She played with shades of black,silver and grey for her heavily embroidered suits and lehengas collection. Flowers bloomed in designer Surily Goel’s show. Her spring/summer line of Indian wear had dainty embroidered flowers on flowy fabrics in lemon yellow,baby pink,sky blue,and soft peach. Next up was Sanjay Hingu (a last minute addition after city-based designer Deepak Shah backed out). Hingu’s menswear collection was a refreshing break from all the attention given to women’s wear. Grey trousers,smart jackets,chequered pants,and bright shirts livened up the runway.

The highlight of Day 2 was the ‘Majestic Realms’ grand finale with its high glamour quotient. There were rumours of Kareena Kapoor being the showstopper for Nivedita Saboo,but no one was disappointed when her sister Karisma Kapoor gracefully walked the ramp instead. With a dazzling smile,a figure to die for,and a voluminous cream-gold lehenga,a long purple-gold jacket and pink dupatta,Kapoor stole the show. Actors Anjana Sukhani and Randeep Hooda also walked for Saboo in blingy Indianwear. While the in-your-face bling and flowy silhouettes work for the festive and wedding season,what we really liked were Saboo’s western outfits – very chic fitted dresses in cream and gold,psychedelic printed pants and jumpsuits with belts as straps at the back. The collection progressed to different colours – pink,orange,purple. The latter colour particularly stood out in the kaftans,stoles,sarees. While Saboo has a stronghold in the city for Indian wear,she has proved that her western line can please just as much and maybe a little more.

Who we spotted at the show? MP Suresh Kalmadi,actor Ajinkya Deo,Vatsal Seth,Yohan and Michelle Poonawalla,the Bhosle clan,Seema Malhotra,Varsha Chordia,Monika Trivedi and Vishal and Preity Mody to name a few.

Day 3

The final day had designers Ritika Bharwani,Shraddha Mayank and Nitya Bajaj in the first slot,followed by Babita Malkani and her Beach Bonita resort wear collection. Designer couple Anjalee & Arjun Kapoor then showcased bodices and corsets,blouses and skirts,lehengas,Anarkalis and gowns. In their signature style,the hand embroidery in gold and silver matched the stones and crystals– rock emerald,rubies,turquoise. The silhouettes reflected their inspiration – the Renaissance era in France and Victorian era in the UK. The gowns were like contemporary versions of the ball dresses described in Jane Austen books. The lace trimmings,the feathers in the hair completed the look. But the patterns and the shine on the clothes did get repetitive.

Those who missed the Adam Saaks show will wish they hadn’t. The Los Angeles custom t-shirt cutter worked his magic with live demos. In a matter of minutes,he snipped cotton jersey t-shirts on models and created ultra-sexy pieces of ‘art’. His fingers worked on the strings as though he were playing a musical instrument. From the bust to the stomach to the sides and the back,his pair of scissors completely transformed the t-shirts. While his talent and showmanship were his showstoppers for sure,we really enjoyed how he cut on Sarah-Jane Dias and converted her light yellow tee into a choli for her pink lehenga – it was the first time he worked with Indianwear. Saaks has also released an e-book which tells his story and serves as a how-to guide for his art.

The fashion week concluded with designer Vikram Phadnis’ collection of gowns and Indianwear. His show began after midnight,post which the crowd let their hair down at the after-party at Kue Bar .