Mumbai at it’s best

When designers are straight out of school, one sees the discipline of design in their clothes.
They dream, visualise from their inspiration and create. They don���t think beyond that, obsessing only their vision. As they graduate to ���an emerging designer��� category, one sees the influence of the outside world seep in. The mould of their perfect world gets twisted by public taste and marketability.Somewhere during this, their voice quivers; some stray, others find it stronger than before.
Ayan and Preetika���s gold fish scale tights were interesting, however, I thought there was too much mix of influences in their collection from jardozi to roses. Jenjum and Jasleen were inspired by the ���vagabond��� look which in their version were laidback and easy-cut clothes. They showed an interesting single detail, like a flower necklace made of chiffon on flowing feminine clothes. Sailex���s clothes were for a confident and a witty woman who may be eccentric in someway. His inspiration came from a woman from mythical Rome who he chose to make modern. His Gaultier-inspired bra on the bodice of an otherwise languid cut dresses spelt that. I loved his backless pleated shirts!
Fashion���s most popular wardrobe item of the century, without exaggeration is undoubtedly the dress. Since the dress revolution in 2002 all other else was swept aside. The Araiya collection took this seriously and showed several version of the classic shift dress. Pleated bodice with rhinestone trimmings and embossed fabric made them not so prim and unsexy. Definitely demanding good legs and a flat stomach!
I bumped into Mehma Tibb, a talented designer who graduated from Parson���s School of Design in New York. This young girl who has worked in Bollywood in Tashan and Bachna Hai .... is itching to get into the mainstream of high fashion. In a world where fashion designers vie to get in Bollywood she has a dream to show on LFW, and she will ��� successfully I am sure! Grass is always greener, huh?
I discovered a couple more party corners which I did not know existed. The Skoda bar upstairs had interesting works of Vikram Bawa the talented fashion photographer who makes anything look good, even the engines atop models��� heads!
In the vast democracy of fashion choice, there is one section that acts like a law unto itself: what the girls like! Racy fashion creates its own trends. Vikram Phadnis���s splash of colour on his garments was like an artist���s canvas.
His paint was in the form of sequin, cleverly blending into interesting design. Sheath dresses in pastel sequin to psychedelic glitzy creations, Vikram pulled off an entirely different collection from his otherwise Bollywood directed ones in the past. The quintessential white shirt worn under embroidered linen jackets on men was elegant and striking. Priyanka Chopra shone once again, this time as a bride in a white leather corset with tulle flounce.
Shaimak Davar was the surprise finale. His show was fabulous with energy perpetrating into the audience. It was Mumbai at its best: Fashion, style, Bollywood, Page 3, dance and drama!