Sputter and Start

Thankfully,the other designers on day one followed the brief — however loosely. Bright summer colours ruled the roost. Babita Malkani’s Bhutan-inspired line featured some yummy variations of the schoolgirl-sexy romper and the patchwork jackets looked funky enough to be worn by any discerning fashionista. Shyamal and Bhumika,however,had a less structured use of colours in their collection,“Holi”. Their flowing handkerchief dresses and loose tunics featured multicolored splotches,handprints and streaks. Very Jackson Pollock.

We’d prayed for a relatively bling-free Day One,but Pria Kataria Puri’s mission this year is to put the bling back in fashion after a year when fashionistas were forced to become recessionistas. The big question is did the bling ever go? Sadly no,but who’s to tell that to a designer who’s never happier than when drowning in a sea of sequins? Puri’s Royal Rajputana Collection was a tribute to Gayatri Devi’s timeless style. It’s a pretty gesture,but what would the late maharani have thought about the heavy-handed interpretation of her pearls-and-chiffon style? But don’t run away with the idea that it was all a waste. A pair of sequined boy shorts was to be lusted after.

One trend to keep an eye on this summer is the humble scarf and its variations. The scarf turned into a headband at Sabyasachi Mukherjee’s show. The Kolkatan used dusty floral patterns and earthy tones,and expertly blended folksy fabrics and techniques with western silhouettes to create highly individual resort pieces. The look was very Monaco -meets-Moradabad ,although sometimes the designer veered dangerously close to hobo,rather than boho. But slap on a pair of vintage Chanel shades and we can certainly see ourselves strolling down the promenade in St. Tropez in one of those roomy pants.