The new check trouser for men teamed up with a sherwani has foresaken the churidar and pyjama just like the iced coffee and white tones have replaced the reds in Manish Malhotras new bridal glossary.
By Asmita Aggarwal
He has the power to make women squeal, and he did just that when he took the catwalk by storm on a packed Sunday night, Taj Palace, at his friend Manish Malhotras ICW 2017 finale. He blew kisses, he galloped on stage and gently held Alia Bhatts hands among many other endearing things. During rehearsals, he was on the floor swooning making models giggle, dancing and singing; thats Ranveer Singh unadulterated for you. He knows how to work a crowd and he is fully aware of the effect he has on girls as young as 14 and as old as 60.
Unlike his rather sweet and demure showstopper Alia, who never missed a step despite the full girthed, muddy brown lehenga with fabric roses, she wore, like a true veteran. Though what was an undisputed winner in Manishs burgeoning repertoire was menswear, which he executed with the alacrity of a polo pony, and the skill of a loom worker as he gave the age-old churidar a miss and replaced it with super cool check, drainpipe pants, which was teamed up with embroidered, violet sherwanis. Thats the bridge he created by mixing something ultra-traditional, a threadwork sherwani with something you would wear with a suit, check pants.
The reflective lead grey ramp, with a powerful front row, Huma Quereshi, Shweta Bachchan looking like a French model in a crisp white shirt with a belted, poodle shirt, the Mumbai boy conquered the Dilli Darwaza. The tingling bells, revolving lights and a very Bollywood entry saw Kanishtha Dhankhar stride in, in a sheer net gown worn with a vintage-y lace shawl shimmering in the halogen lights.
Then came the ruffled lehengas with trains and Manish kept his love for the sexy back alive, with framed keyholes to sweetheart, strapless, cutwork, corset and jacket blousons, some reverberated with jewelled necklines. The feathered shoulders of the cholis, were teamed up with 3D flower lehengas with beaten gold zari, though pearls are enjoying their moment in the sun with a rather generous dose.
Designers are courting white like never before, whether it was the kurtas worn with embroidered shoes or the organza duppattas that were wrapped around like shawls with the gowns. The very lovely Leno wore a tube blouse to perfection much like the four-layered tiered gown in ash greys. Interestingly, Manish totally abandoned the bright reds, magenta and rani pinks and kept the colour palette subdued, minimal with roasted coffee bean colours (iced tea, mocha and Swiss coffee) and woody tones that dominated the runway.
He also used exaggerated shoulders to his advantage by adding them in sherwanis as well as Army details and embroidered high collars. Some cholis were created out of just tassels, while others came bugle beaded, while the batwing sleeves, long and flowing that kissed the runway were as charming as the cutwork, maroon flowers on raw silk lehengas. Manish Malhotra gave us star power, bridal shimmer, a new deadly combo and a night to remember!