BEFORE THE CURTAINS CAME DOWN

Gaurav Gupta’s ‘Enchanted Forest’,inhabited by masked fairies,was full of yellow butterflies and a big,fat mushroom. Leggy fairies in pastel-coloured net and chiffon gowns,lehengas and saris came down the ramp as psychedelic tracks resonated. Gupta also used crystallised metallic drapes,drowning his pastels in the drone. Was it an Indian bride in white or Alice getting hitched in a forest in a lehenga? Actresses Shraddha Kapoor and Jacqueline Fernandes,dressed as Gupta’s fairies,were seen carefully observing the cut and silhouette on the ramp. The last garment,however,killed the magic of the mushrooms — a cut gone haywire left too much on display and got many talking. Fernandes,however,was completely bowled over by the designer and has apparently asked him to design her wedding outfits. We’ll be watching.

ROHIT BAL

Rohit Bal’s love affair with madness is what we are mad about. A packed house,with all guests sporting a gajra handed out at the entrance,jasmine petals on the ramp and a strong sweet fragrance,set the mood for the pursuit of Shaanti (Bal’s theme). Dressed in a cream linen jacket and white pants,the designer posed for the shutterbugs and preened as every garment was greeted with applause. White and cream layered gowns with thick golden borders,red and blue rosessettes,with models wearing glittery green and blue bangles,expressed his furious fashionable thoughts. Male models dressed in white pants,blue and black velvet jackets with embroidery,got some whistles. When actor Arjun Rampal,Bal’s longstanding favourite showstopper,walked down the ramp in a velvet jacket,wayfarer shades and a shirt that read ‘Show Stopper’ in golden letters,nothing remained unsaid. Rampal’s stylist stunt went slightly off as he dropped his shades,but he gracefully retrieved them on his way back. As soon as Bal came for the final bow,a flurry of jasmine petals greeted him,he did his little jig and played a floral Holi with Rampal. Shaanti,where are you? Somya Lakhani