Turkish Delights,again

As the show unfolded on the ramp,one couldn’t help but notice the similarity in his present collection with the previous ones.

Titled “Azrak”,this Ottoman Empire-inspired line debuted on the Mumbai ramp,but those present in Delhi for his last two outings,experienced a feeling of deja vu. The set was reminiscent of a crowded bazaar in Istanbul,Turkey. Acrobats,belly dancers and a swirling dervish kept the crowd entertained between the segments.

The first segment showcased saris and anarkalis in white,black and grey with a hint of red. This was followed by the turquoise blue and green line of floor-length kurtas and embroidered saris,inspired by the tiles from Turkey. Valaya’s trademark grandeur was present in all his ensembles,but the black sequinned dress paired with a golden jacket,the white embroidered net sari with a lilac brocade coat and the silk empire line gown stood out.

The men’s line was interspersed with the women’s collection,with celebrities from different walks of life taking to the ramp. Restaurateur AD Singh in a grey sherwani,actor Rahul Dev in a black velvet jacket,DJ Aqeel Ali in a beige sherwani and shawl,music composer Salim Merchant in a black kurta teamed with a waistcoat,and designer Narendra Kumar Ahmed in a grey embroidered bandhgala walked for Valaya.

The final segment of the show had five bridal couture lehengas inspired by Turkey’s minarets. Model-turned-actor Nargis Fakhri,was the showstopper of the evening. Clad in a wine-coloured full sleeve velvet kalidaar coat layered over a white kurta and churidar,Fakhri effortlessly sauntered down the ramp.