It's 5 pm, and the party hasn't begun. But Tarun Tahiliani is already playing the best host urging magazine writers at the do to sip their Chandon, and savour canapes.

The reason to clink glasses is the his revamped store on Apollo Bunder that now has more room to stock his pearl embroidered couture pieces. But it is not just the heavy lehengas that are his pride but his weightless crinkled garments and light net fabrics that come in subtle shades of dusty blue, white and ivory. "We don't want to pretend we are royalty. Everyone thinks I have become old and fuddy-duddy. We are contemporary. Spread the word! We designed it because we want to be relevant and I feel you should have a nice day dress for an event by an Indian designer," he reasons.