Mellow autumn rules Bahl's Fashion Week line

Mellowed tones and fine embellishments mark the creations ofVarun Bahl but fail to bring in the much-looked for vibrancy.Expectations were running high as ace designer Varun Bahl unveiledhis brand new collection at the ongoing India Fashion Week. But there seemed tobe nothing over-the-top in his designs and the pr��t line was a turn-offcompared to what he had showcased at the last autumn-winter show.Theonly thing that attracted the media limelight was model-turned-actress VidyaMalavde who was seated in the front row. But surprisingly, Vidya neither sporteda Bahl creation nor seemed too keen to walk the ramp for her designerfriend.���He had sent me an outfit but it was a little loose. SoI couldn���t wear it,��� said Vidya who was seen in a Babita Malkanidress. ���As for walking the ramp, I was not too sure whether I could makeit to his show or not. So I didn���t promise anything as it wouldn���tbe fair to ditch the designer after an official press announcement,��� sheadded.Nevertheless, Vidya seemed to be in love with Bahl���scollection. ���Varun is the dearest darling of ours and he���s someone Ican always look up to whenever I want to get a makeover,��� she smiledbroadly.But after a heavy dose of high fashion and high drama fromthe Tarun Tahiliani show that preceded Bahl���s show, the designer���spresentation lacked the visual treat in terms of flair and hues.Thecolour palette was, indeed, grave with all muted shades and only a tinge of redmade a blink-and-miss appearance in a few garments.While colourslike browns, black, olive green and blue marked the entire line, the fabric talewas definitely richer. Bahl had used a combo of natural and synthetics ���delicate silk and handloom silk, soft satin, fluffy georgette and polyester��� all nicely crafted into varied silhouettes like dresses, skirts, tops,pullovers and coats. Both men���s and women���s ranges weredirectional in reviving the untold riches of India���s ancient past. Veryarchitectural in nature, the collection was accentuated with velvetappliqu��s, quilted silk, floral prints, cashmere sleeves, pleated net andtreatments like patch work, tassel pockets, sculpted roses, zari embroidery andgota work.���This particular collection is an endeavour tocommunicate the transformation of India from its erstwhile apathy to thedynamism that prevails in the country today,��� informed thedesigner.In all, Bahl���s line was an assertive yet extremelymellowed-down exercise that might appeal to some serious buyers but somewhatlacked the vibrancy and the ���fashionable��� appeal. However, it canstill be a suitable pick for the young, confident Indian who has moved on fromthe unidimensional image and stands up as a globalentity.monika.rawal@indiatimes.co.in