Fashionvilla

“If I could describe my collection in two words,it’d be effortless opulence,” says Khanna in between flitting from guest to guest and playing the perfect hostess. The collection does have an effortless feel to it although we’d think twice before terming it opulent. The resort wear,with the cavernous kaftans and kimono dresses in graffiti prints (a trend that Khanna seems to be single-handedly towing into the fashion spotlight) has hippie luxe written all over it while the accessories with the studded sack bags,shell slippers and floral flip-flops are fabulously funky.

The holiday line is named ‘Villa Tara’ after Khanna’s Portuguese villa in Goa “where I would escape to after hectic months in the city and where ideas would always come to me in a flash.”

She breaks off to greet Sonam Kapoor who’s just waltzed into the room in a blue jumpsuit. Fashion’s two pin-up girls engage in a lengthy discussion of the holy tenets of style,we presume,but everyone knows that launch parties are not about intimate conversations but small talk of the two minute ‘Hey,you’re looking great. Enjoy the shrimp cocktail’ variety. So we decide to butt in.

With her impeccable sense of style,has she considered designing clothes? Khanna vehemently shakes her head. “I’d much rather design a table than a dress.” But does she do any designing at all; say hubby Akshay Kumar’s clothes perhaps? “I don’t design anybody’s clothes,” she reiterates. More’s the pity as some designing might have benefited Kumar’s attire for the evening.

The collection seems to be a family effort. While Kumar’s the picture of spousal subservience,mom Dimple designed the scented candles in the store and sister Rinke helped with setting up the collection although,Rinke emphasizes,the two sisters’ sense of style is poles apart. “I like loose clothes and flats while Twinkle loves body-cons and stilettos.”

As we’re about to sign off,Karan Johar walks into the store with a petulant pout,the reason for which we’re soon apprised of. “Darling,why no men’s wear?” Wrong question as Khanna’s stand on men’s wear is stauncher than her stand on designing clothes. “Men can go to some other store if they want clothes but not mine.” Ouch.