Lacklustre

I am almost five seasons old at the Lakme Fashion Week,but I have always wondered how it must have been in the days when style icons like Arjun Rampal and Milind Soman walked the ramp together at a fashion show.

I am almost five seasons old at the Lakme Fashion Week,but I have always wondered how it must have been in the days when style icons like Arjun Rampal and Milind Soman walked the ramp together at a fashion show. My prayers were at the Vikram Chatwal sponsored Mai Mumbai Fashion for Relief show where I saw the two hunks march down the ramp. It was a packed house,with even Preity Zinta finding it difficult to park herself. She hooted and clapped when her friends Vikram Chatwal,Mehr Rampal,Farhan Akhtar,Rahul Bose,Firoze Gujral and Malaika Arora Khan sauntered down the ramp in designs by Roberto Cavalli,Versace,Sabyasachi and Raghuvendra Rathore,amongst others. Narendra Kumar was scheduled to show next. His collection had them all – pintucks,blind tucks,pleats,piping and satin insertions; but it was an exercise in futility I thought. Only his muse Kangana

Ranaut dressed first in a tuxedo and then in a taffeta gown managed to liven up the show. But the day didnt end there for me. I still had Vikram Chatwals party to attend. And what a party it was. After partying the night away not many could make it to the Gen Next show the following day; not even the help. I say this because,as I was entering the venue droopy-eyed,I noticed Anil Chopra and Ravi Krishnan moving hoardings. The main show area too looked very dull. But Atithi Gupta and Sonam Mehta pulled out some brilliant designs out of their hats. Gupta was futuristic in her approach,while Mehtas pure georgettes layered with tulle and finely finished with brocades and flat embroidery looked fabulous. After the show when I bumped into Kallol Dutta,he didnt seem quite impressed. In between I scanned through lounges to look for some of my celeb friends,but there was nobody around. I finally cheered up when Rimzim Dadu pulled out some intricately woven dresses and beautiful cutwork. I was left spellbound. Well,clothes do make the world go round. But then why are the designer stalls empty? Hopefully the constant announcements will remind people that they can also buy the clothes they see.

The dull day was eventually livened up when celeb guests began pouring in for Neeta Lullas show. But even the presence of the gorgeous Hema Malini and Lara Dutta couldnt divert the fact that the collection,with its chiffon gowns and satin tunics was dull.

Good Goss
Looks like Naomi Campbell’s love for Mumbai was shortlived. Photographers kept hounding the diva when she was trying to enter Vikram Chatwal’s party. Exasperated,Naomi left in a huff.

Tasty Trend
The way it goes,if you aint got pockets this season,you got nothing. From cute kangaroo pockets shown by a few Gen Next designers to little pockets at the side on dresses by Neeta Lulla,Deepti Toor and Rimzim Dadu,this trend is super cool.

Pooja Pillai

Pooja Pillai is a Senior Assistant Editor at The Indian Express, working with the National Editorial and Opinion section. Her work frequently explores the intersection of society, culture and technology. Editorial Focus & Expertise Pooja’s writing spans several key domains, often blending analytical commentary with cultural critique. Art & Culture: She writes extensively on cinema, books, and the evolving landscape of arts and entertainment. Technology & Society: Her work examines the human impact of the gig economy, the rise of AI in creative fields, and the cultural shifts driven by digital platforms. Food & Lifestyle: She often uses food as a lens to explore history and politics, covering everything from the origins of pantry essentials to the impact of nutrition policy. Politics: She closely tracks political developments in South and West India and provides commentary on international political transitions, including the shifting landscape of American politics. Multimedia & Podcasting Pooja is a prominent voice in the Indian Express’s digital ecosystem. She is the host of 'DeshKaal with Yogendra Yadav', weekly video podcast where she facilitates deep-dive conversations on Indian democracy, social movements, and current political affairs. Notable Recent Works Cinema & Identity: “SRK@60: Why Shah Rukh Khan is Bollywood's last, and only, superstar” – an analysis of stardom and the changing face of Indian identity Global Politics: Commentary on the Trump administration’s misguided “war on woke culture” via typography and analysis of the visual semiotics of Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s attire during successive visits to the White House. Art & AI: “An unequal music: AI is lowering barriers at the cost of music itself” – a critique of how technology is redefining artistic value. Professional Presence Pooja is active on X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram, where she shares her latest columns and editorial insights. Her full archive and latest updates can be found on her Indian Express Author Profile. ... Read More

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