Decadence & Dhak Dhak

It is surprising that a former star could be allowed to delay such a prestigious event by more than an hour but that’s what Ms Dixit did and the audience waited,hearts beating for the Dhak Dhak girl. The minute she arrived with her entourage,the show began and was followed by a press conference that was more a flurry of mikes overlapped by Madhuri’s post-marriage patented answers from the “I am okay,you are okay” slice of life rather than fashion speak. “Nice collection,” that she said clearly though; we heard that.

Bahl’s couture collection,with some gorgeous pieces created from tulle,damask and chiffons,were intricately worked upon and thought through right from craftsmanship to styling of the models who showed them. This French inspiration-Indian reality spell,left us with lehengas,farshi pajamas and anarkalis. When gold lace arrived embraced by damask,yes,there was that hint of over-the-top exuberance of Marie Antoinette’s spoils,not that the video playing at the back allowed you to forget.

Bahl’s long time favourite palette—hues of green apple—lingered momentarily,then moved on to pistachio arrested with red and later,ivory and gold. It was bridal alright. But more than bridal promise,the clothes stood for flamboyance; a virtue sought not only by the about-to-be hitched.

The Valaya Photograph

Some months ago,when designer JJ Valaya made his debut as a fine arts photographer,he told this correspondent not to critique him for his designing skills. If there can be compartmentalisation of talents,Valaya blurred the boundary he had set himself by calling his couture collection ‘Tasveer’ and filling his press release with photography metaphors. The evolving palette,going by the collection note,started with Black and White,Sepia,Hand-stained,Natural,culminating in Digital. Photography seemed to dominate JJ’s mental topography,especially as insiders say that he’s cut short a research trip in Ireland as part of a Glenfiddich fellowship programme for fine art to make it for the couture week. Overlaps are a part of creative life but if you don’t read much into what’s perhaps the designer’s existentialist dilemma,JJ’s collection had some super pieces. Equally infatuated with the Alika jacket (his bid at an Indian wardrobe classic like the Chanel key piece),a cross between a sadri and a shirt,this collection too saw the Alika. A tad overdone though in some styles. With an Alika,you don’t need a heavily embroidered sari. If his saris in lame looked sensuously pretty,the garments that really ruled the collection were the long gown-dress strappy silhouettes in monochromes.

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