Open Season

EYE CANDY

Besides the several forms of entertainment to distract visitors (read the ritzy lounges serving free booze),there are on hand,34-designer rickshaws that looked more like candy shops—spruced with canopies and cutesy umbrellas in flouroscent pink,blue and black. Originally designed for the Commonwealth Games,the rickshaws finaly found its parking spot at the WIFW. “We were assured of participation at the CWG,but at the last minute we were not allowed to,” complained Sethi.

OPEN HOUSE

Anand Kabra’s opening show failed to pull out the fashion masses — the torrent of well-dressed Christian Louboutin-shod ladies (read Tanisha Mohan,Kalyani Chawla,Priya Chatwal,Ayesha Thapar),were missing in action. Instead,designer Manav Gangwani,Anjana Bhargava,Priya Paul of Park hotels and Indophile Catherine Gouin,from Paris’s boutique MC2 took over the front row,heartily applauding Kabra’s vison of bridesmaids who strutted out in shirt-length blouses and swinging lehengas. He made the starchy sari a top priority,worn with velvet jackets and full-sleeved belted blouses. The party ended with short,snappy embellished skirts paired with black blouses.

Bummer: The odd black swimsuit which sent the audience in to a clicking frenzy.

FASHION PIRATE

As the guests flocked in for the opening show,bystander Julien Carr,CEO of the store TOB (Things of Beauty) snorted in annoyance. “All they have to do is put on a hat. That gets you noticed,not pimp pumps!” he exclaimed,pointing to a lady in a particularly jarring shade of pink stilletoes. Carr is here to support young designer-duo Ritika and Gaurav. “Indian fashion used to be all over the place— silhouettes hidden by floaty loose cuts. Thank god,we’re seeing some shape and texture now,” he says with an exaggerated sigh.

CHILD’S PLAY

Walking the ramp at Pallavi Mohan’s show were kiddie models. While some strutted with confidence,others nervously chewed on their nails. Closing the show was the most confident kid of the lot,Reia,daughter of Miss India-Asia Pacific,1982,Arpana Sharma. “She was insisting on going alone,I had to force her to let me accompany her,” trilled the proud mother. Did we mention Reia is only all of three?