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ShareAs I write this, I am feeling good. Shantanu Goenka showed how a designer can grow steadily and yet be constant. His line was inspired by the Ascot races, and the music and setting was straight out of My Fair Lady, as were the first opening creations.
But Shantanu saved his show from being a replicated costume drama with a few deft touches. Indian embroidery, for one, and a lovely mix of Indian fabric with Chantily lace, and net. Also his collection, beautifully fitted, exquisitely finished swung from the theatrical to the practical. There were flouncy net gowns, and smart swinging cocktail dresses any young ingénue can wear. And enough skirts that could at a moment's whim, be recreated as bridal lehengas...very clever indeed. Loved the footwear, the hats, the works! At last we are starting to see some real fashion.
But AmitGT was a bad idea after Shantanu. He told us clearly how not to use lace, or fringes, or hats.... Ill fitted, bulky, overdone clothes that should not be on anyramp, and definitely not after Shantanu's impeccable line. It was like having quinine after chocolate.
Reynu Tandon's change of spelling and the fact that she had the main cast of Bhandarkar's Jail on stage didn't do much to lift her clothes to the level that they would meet expectations. And the resort wear, though pleasant, was just about competent. No spark here!
Virtues, earlier in the morning did a turnaround by sending out western prêt, when their Indian line, sweeping and colourful and embellished with kalamkari has won them accolades over the years. It was a tentative experiment which will need time to become something really exceptional, but the clothes moved into the familiar, and all as well.
Nida Mahmood stole the day with her high energy show, as she recreated Bollywood kitch in her poster colourful collection. Don posters, Amitabh's dialogues, Amjad's voice...all of it added to the lighting and the colour to create high voltage magic. The saris were wearable, even over jeans, mixing bling and net and painted silks. The outfits equally irreverent were full of fun. Bags with colours loud and blaring were add-ons to the look, and so were the shoes. Quite a statement, which should find favour.
Hard on its heels was the sedate, almost classic line by Anky. Greys, whites, beige, single line dresses and shifts in Egyptian cotton, with some gentle details...as sharp a contrast as was possible in one show. Her pristine white sequin blouses teamed with grey and white and blue and white sequined saris were really nice.
Varun Sardana made news with his carefully structured mosaic squares and diamond shapes and swinging lengths of silk over sheer silhouettes. Very colourful and mobile. Gaurav Gupta's one colour, and all white fitted pants and tops were pleasant and wearable.
In all, a day that was well spent, with some real sightings of talent!
