Tom Alter’s Jalwa and Shoes That Didn’t Walk

Raj and Rajput

Who doesn’t love a hint of drama on the ramp? Delhi designer Samant Chauhan known for Bhagalpuri silk revival,delivered it just in the right measure. On Sunday,he brought Tom Alter,an unlikely Bollywood face,as showstopper. “Rajputana”,juxtaposed the colonial influence on the Rajput culture of Rajasthan. Off-white and golden coloured angrakhas in organza,Bhagalpur tussar silk,Rajputana zardozi,and golden block print,lehngas,dresses and gowns in Victorian silhouettes recalled the era of the Raj. Alter stole the spotlight on the ramp wearing a grin,gleaming silver hair and a bright red jacket with a golden chain on the side and black pants. Eight on 10 just for the showstopper.

Morphing Into Death

Amit Aggarwal was perhaps the only designer who paid attention to footwear. Also,because his collection,titled “Threshold of Heaven” tried to trace the journey from birth to death and then on to rebirth. If the collection that walked on the second day of the Week was divided into four phases,so was the footwear. From simple stilettos with a flower on top to meshed ankle straps,the footwear toed the line of the progression of the story. The clothes were imaginative with new textures and unusual materials,shapes unfamiliar to the Indian wardrobe and colours like copper,gold,silver,grey,navy blue,oranges and yellows.

Bal Bats for Pratap

When a designer walks for another contemporary designer,Indian fashion makes a new statement. Aal Izz well,it says. While numerous designers have walked earlier for Rohit Bal’s Siyahi in 2009,it was a pleasant surprise to see Bal,always chirpy and gaga about fashion,walk down the ramp for Rajesh Pratap Singh’s show titled “A Road Trip with Rta and Rakesh”. Singh is now a beloved of sponsors. For the second year in a row,he collaborated with Tata Manza on Saturday,the first day of WIFW Spring Summer 2012,to create a collection. Bal wore a well-cut star-motif jacket and brought a smile on everyone’s face.

Out of Step

Quirky is fun in fashion,but if it is used literally,without the styling of a collection upholding the fun,it is a miss,not a hit. Somebody,please tell designer Shipra Gupta that. On the second day of WIFW,her show started with Carol Gracias sauntering down in tiny black shorts,a fitted top and a pair of shimmery white ballet flats hanging from her neck. Funky idea,but where was the fun in the clothes,the hair,the makeup? Gupta,a graduate from the Pearl Academy of Fashion,sought to reposition ordinary accessories in her collection,but the shoes didn’t do much talking.