Gudda Darling

Bal,in an expansive mood,thronged by his newly converted fans in the men’s green room post the 45-minute show.

To celebrate its 15 years in India,Oriflame,the Swedish cosmetic brand,organised a ticketed fashion show for its consultants and the masses. Among the people who waited for four hours,sitting through the obligatory series of stories shared by Oriflame consultants,to watch Darling,the tantalisingly titled fashion show,was 31-year-old Roopali Arora,an Oriflame consultant,in a heavily embroidered salwar kameez. “I have watched it on TV before,but as I am such a huge fan,I could not have missed his show,” she gushed. Another fan walked into the men’s make-up room after the show and said to a beaming Bal—better known as Gudda in the fashion industry— “You are God for me”.

Eighty top models peddled 80 outfits (all from three previous collections),strutting down the runway to tracks such as Men on the dance floor. The show was far removed from the Capital’s more highbrow Wills India Lifestyle Fashion Week,organised by FDCI. There was no drama,elaborate sets or a showstopper sashaying down the ramp. Instead,the male models walked to Raat Baaki,Baat Baaki and played to the crowd,throwing red and white long-stemmed roses.

There was no clever choreography either. Models sported clothes from Colours of Ash,a collection unveiled last July at Aman Resorts,Sharaarat,a mens’ collection with embellished jackets,lace shirts and jodhpurs,and a collection that had walked in Milan.

Meanwhile,Oriflame’s Managing Director Marcus Sandstrom,dressed in a Rohit Bal cream sherwani,who also compered the show,gave his textbook speech. “Rohit Bal is truly fantastic and this is our second show with him. He first did a show in Hyderabad with 1,000 people and now he showed it to 10,000 people,” said Sandstrom.

Bal,who has so far designed bags for Oriflame,unveiled a bridal clutch,priced at Rs 5,190.