Trip the light fantastic

Grand Finale sees models struggle to navigate

Gauri and Nainika 9.30 pm
It was a Grand Finale indeed as designer sisters Gauri and Nainika's Fantasy collection brought down the curtains on a week of haute couture. The little more than an hour's delay was forgiven as an enchanted forest in place of the usual ramp greeted guests.

Walking through dry leaves to get to their seats, everyone speculated what the sisters would be presenting. No one however, had expected what happened next, as a woman on stilts took to the ramp in a long white gown. Mesmerising the audience with her fairy-like movements, the tone was set as the audience was already drawn into the fantasy world. Models in flowing tulle and lace gowns, with sharp cocktail silhouettes and majestic drapes followed.


O Tulle balle:u00a0The curtain fell with this show, which was dramatic but
had its goofy-gaffe moments Pic/Satyajit Desai

In true Gauri and Nainika tradition, the gowns were adorned with giant flowers and long, tulle trails. Light colours like pinks, turquoise, limes and silver added to the surreal themed line. Mid-way, the ladies-on-stilts took over the ramp again. Thank god for the dancers, that segment rescued the show by coming in at a time when the audience was wondering if there was more to the designs than trails and layers of tulle and lace. It wasn't a show without hiccups though. The long, tulle trails had most models struggling with the dresses. Most managed to pull it off with a smile, while others unfortunately got caught on the ramp and needed the front row attendees to help them untangle the trail before they could move on.

When presenting the Lakme faces, there was an audible murmur through the crowd as the compere introduced the versatile Indrani as Liza. Quickly correcting the gaffe, Indrani smiled bravely as Liza followed her soon after. Just when you thought it was over, Gauri Karan almost tripped on her own creation and was saved by sister Nainika. They both had a hearty laugh about it as they took a bow. Like they say, all's well that ends well.

Horse d' oeuvre
The good news one heard at the Fashion Week is that choreographer Anu Ahuja has decided to come back to India for good. Previously, she was shuttling between Australia and India because her husband was working in Australia. Now, hubby dearest is back in Delhi.


Kya Chukker haiu00a0Polo players walking for Rinaldi Pics/Rane Ashish

So Anu has moved bag and baggage to her country. She has her 11-month-old twin boys to take care of. They were not with her for the event, they are in Delhi. Anu plans to shuttle between Delhi, Bangalore (her hometown) and Mumbai (she's looking for a one-bedroom flat here).
For a change: Just when you thought that you had to settle down to Bollywood babes and Bollywood's big boys besides the TV types as showstoppers, there came a refreshing change. You had three polo players, Angad Kalan, Kamran Ahmed and Shrinivas Bobade, walking with game gear as showstoppers for Rina Shah's polo chic collection show.

Prabhat, Rachana, Rinaldi, Rohan 12 pm
Bringing on another round of accessories this fashion week, Prabhat Kumar showcased faux leather clutches and totes. It looked like the jungles had invaded the ramp as Kumar presented funky turtle shell and armadillo-like collapsible backpacks.


Backpack babe:u00a0For Prabhat Kumaru00a0

Rachana Reddy had some nice designs in the form of leather and wooden etched and carved clutches in geometric and other designs.u00a0 Rina Shah of Rinaldi designs showcased her Polo collection, complete with riding boots and cowboy belts. Rohan Arora, had sandals with the Devnagri fonts, hand painted block and circular heels. The heels on some shoes were detachable, so they could be transformed.u00a0

Atithi, Harangad, VJB 1:30 pm
Atithi Gupta's collection played around with silhouettes and thankfully, had minimal bling factor. Pleats, folds and twists made up her line,The collection was tasteful and chic.
Harangad Singh started off with an outfit and then followed it up with a collection that left everyone wondering if it was the same designer in the first place. Intended to be European chic, the line ended up looking confused. Singh tried creating an impression with silhouettes, but they looked like something hastily tucked in and put together, instead of being precise and definite. Some of the garments needed ironing and the plastic embellishments looked anything but haute.

VJB's collection used bright colours, cottons and block prints with cord and loop embellishments to create a line that was high on energy and the fun factor. A good, funky collection with some noteworthy craftsmanship, but like all others we've seen this season, the line remains low on recall value.

Abhishek, Linau00a03 pm
Abhishek Dutta's collection was called the Kite Runner and maybe that will explain why the collection had so many kite-shaped holes in cutwork tops and dresses. In greys and oranges, the line consisted of uneven hemlines, pleated pants and flared silhouettes.u00a0


Don't I look Idiotic?u00a0The Kite Runner collectionu00a0

Lina Tipnis's collection Fantastical Land was high on bling and circular sleeves. The collection could not take us into the fantasy world, but had the crowd day dreaming about escaping to another place. Same old silhouettes, uninspired designs and a very blah collection. Tipnis will have to try harder.

Abdul , Pallavi 5.30 pm
Showing to a half-filled hall, Abdul Halder's collection was mostly in mustards, oranges and yellows, with strappy gold belts and embellishments. One wonders what was going on backstage though, as one of the dresses had beads falling off and another had loose strings.


Girl just wanna sun: For Pallavi Mohanu00a0u00a0

Pallavi Mohan's Not So Serious was a fun, girly collection celebrating spring. Laces and nets, flowers and funky clutches, the line was uber feminine and included lots of pleats, beadwork and different fabrics. The models looked happy to walk in creations that let them let down their hair and soak up some sun.

Satya Paul
7.30 pm
Satya Paul presented a collection of evening wear inspired by the sea. The saris, lehengas and gowns were in various shades of blue and blinged to the hilt, most of the times, unnecessarily so.u00a0Flares and ruffles added an extra swirl to the saris, giving the Indian garment a western touch. Fish scale sequins work and prints carried the marine theme forward.u00a0
The collection also included a series in black and white, which didn't really make any sense, either in terms of the theme or design.u00a0Showstopper Sarah Jane Dias wore a blingy (obviously) red mermaid dress with a poorly done perm that did nothing for the soon-to-be actor or the collection. This collection left me with a sinking feeling.

Marcellus Baptista adds: Looking like a fish out of water was Sarah Jane Dias who was the showstopper at Satya Paul's Jewel of the Sea show. She seemed to be having trouble swimming, or rather gliding, across the ramp from one end to another -- so much so that when the designer Jyoti Narula came on she just walked alongside him for a little bit. Off the ramp, sitting in the front row, was the radiant Raageshwari Loomba.u00a0