Sexy, flirty and feminine, these three words best describe fashions most stylish sisters Gauri and Nainika Karan. With a rainfall of high slits, scooped backs, exaggerated shoulders, and fabric swirls around the body the girls made sure they stayed true to their signature—high on glam.
With oodles of support from model-turned-chef Joel Matthews sitting in the front row clapping feverishly, long trails on all white body hugging, red carpet style ensembles created a stir. We have always loved to do clothes which bring out the playful side of a woman, exclaimed Nainika. Peplum jumpsuits, one shoulder dresses, ruffles and frills made sure the mermaid styles accentuated every naughty curve.
Following suit was Malini Ramani who began with a bang—–a parrot green swimsuit, but it was the Mexican motifs and bead work that added a bit of international spice to her kaftans and dhoti pants.
And if you are craving a lesson in the human anatomy, Ashish N Sonis blood cell print on your midriff or well, arm, could take you there. The interesting idea of creating a print out of whats inside rather than focusing on the outside seemed to be Sonis mission. Bladders spilled, Vitamin C, artery and bacteria prints, 3D blood cells, blood clots found their way on to bodice dresses, linen blouses, asymmetric tops and gathered skirts.
Though the morning started on an arty note. Adil Hussian was overshadowed by the lissome Sridevi in the blockbuster English Vinglish and on the fourth day as he sat clapping on the front row at newbie Rahul Singhs show, the tall, dark and handsome actor let art film actress Tanishtha Chatterjee sparkle in the limelight. Checks, sunshine yellows, empire lines and thin gotta borders combined with neon green prints set the mood of the day.
Newbies got an opportunity to shimmer as Abhi Singh had models in roomy palazzo pants and fitted blouses as digitally printed dresses covered with a sheath of colourful fringes took over the catwalk. Prints were a constant, with florals clashing with abstracts and applique flowers on baby pink long dresses teamed up with boleros, gave Preeti Jhawars line a distinct identity. Black numbers surfaced with Prerna Bharadwaj using draping as her tool abandoning embellishments. Blacks then made way for emerald greens and it ended with pleasing corals.
The classic combo blacks with whites found their way on Kallol Duttas dresses with printed fetuses and paint splatter prints. While Anand Bhushan ode to the man of steel ingeniously used metal to create patterns on body hugging dresses, as patchwork tops and geometric metal cutouts was beautifully constructed into a dress. The star was Rimzim Dadu who elevated the humble straw and transformed it into a pencil skirt teaming it up with a cropped jacket. 3D has been a favourite with style gurus so Dadus flower and marble embroidered dresses made it a summer to remember.
Much like Vineet Bahls tone on tone embroidery, pristine white threadwork on a white canvas always works and lace-y churi pants found a perfect soulmate in Moroccan embroidery. It was heartening to see a celebration of crafts with the handloom kurtas, and dori work, cutwork, as crimson flowers lit up the ensembles.
Fiama Di Wills sponsored designer Ranna Gill, and the jersey lover paid a homage to tie and dye as bold embroidered flowers on flaming red and haute pink maxis made a play for the sexy tag. Ranna courted longer silhouettes, cross stitches and effectively used ombre to her advantage and flirted with bling with her silver sequinned pants along with neon green jumpsuit.