Designer Diktat

The splash of colours,their irresisitble vibrant hues washed in an age-old tradition,the royal extravagance and grand opulence of a big fat Indian wedding – all this is almost out in Manish Malhotra’s bridal collection which the designer showcased at Krishna Auto Sales for Skoda Superb last night. Instead,we had the models sashaying down the ramp in pink,yellow,blue and gold. Divided over three stages of an Indian wedding,Malhotra began with the mehndi,then sangeet and finally,the baraat. While stage one was all about flowing gold edged tunics,straight tights instead of churidaars,the sangeet saw him add a little dash of colour to his chiffon sarees filled with silver embroidery. It was the wedding stage that had us in awe for it was here that Malhotra gave the bride a choice – of colour,design and look. “That’s why I stuck to gold,beige,burgundy and pink,” tells the designer keeping the whole ensemble sensuous with muted colours,a free flow with a good mix of tradition and modern sensibilties.

“The woman of today is coming into her own…she’s wearing her personality,and not hiding behind too much of make-up,colour or bling,and this is what I wanted to showcase,” tells Manish,who gave us barely-there cholis and skin coloured sarees. The showstopper was definitely the chilly red saree with cutwork in gold and the bridal outfit,of course which had a very pretty looking green petticoat peeping from below. “You know,we come from a culture where a good bahu means sleeves and bad is sleeveless,where a villain or vamp is made to wear western clothes while the hero or heroine stick to typical Indian wardrobe. I want to change that,” in fact the man already has for one look at all the leading ladies of Bollywood,and you can make out the stunning difference. But there’s still one thing he wants to change – the gowns. “I really wish they’d stop wearing gowns at every event they are invited to,” pleads Manish. According to him,Indians should ape the Japanese in this regard. “They’ve used their fabric and tradition,and weaved it into something completely contemporary yet global,” says Manish,who is now moving from the western look he gives his actors in films to the ‘Indie’ look. “India is everywhere,and we should use that to our advantage,” he remarks. Quiz him what’s in for the brides this season,and he says ‘one element’. “Keep it India,but stick to one element,cut the heavyness that comes with it,” he advises.

While the debate over designers pitching in for the plus size continues to rage,Manish manages his designer flock quite effortlessly. “Look at Cavali – the same cream and ivory has been doing the rounds for years,same goes for the bling in Versace and Louis Vuitton monogram…they didn’t change the basics,just re-invented with it year after year!”

With him doing clothes for Onir’s next,‘Omar’,a nexus between the cops and gigolos who blackmail homosexuals,Manish’s happy that Section 377 legalising homosexuality has been passed. “No one,not even Baba Ram Dev,has a right to question a Supreme Court judgement,and we are no one to judge it.”

Meanwhile,the man has quite a filmi kitty to his name – Dil Bole Hadippa,My Name is Khan,I Hate Love Stories (being directed by his nephew Puneet Malhotra),Main Aur Mrs Khanna,Stepmom,Toonpur Ka Superhero to list a few. “It’s interesting,and flattering how Bollywood still calls the shots in the fashion world,it’s still the trendsetter,” he pats his back. But why in all this is men’s fashion ignored…even his bridal line stuck to simple kurta pyjamas…”I love the classic look for men…a man looks dashing in black shirt and blue jeans. His fashion statement has to be structured,” Manish evidently doesn’t like making too much fuss over men’s wardrobes!

Finally,why Skoda Superb? “Let me answer that,” chips in Thomas Kuehl,Board Member,Sales and Marketing,SkodaAuto India. “The Skoda Superb stands for opulence,style and elegance and so does this exclusive bridal collection designed by Manish.”