Couture’s Day In

What’s a couture show without a bit of drama on the ramp? Similarly,an Ashima-Leena show would be incomplete without a high dose of shimmer and fascinatingly intricate craftsmanship. On the second day of the ongoing PCJ Delhi Couture Week,the drama was high pitched with well-known Sufi singer Zila Khan opening the designers’ show with a rendition of the popular song,Kesariya Balam. The collection,as the designer duo stated,has been christened “Raag Rattan” by Khan herself. And she was as much a part of the show as the collection itself. Seated to the left of the stage,Khan’s mesmerising voice,rather her selection of songs,played the role of a sutradhaar for the collection that was rich in tones and opulent in design. With Mast Kalandar flowed diaphanous outfits in the colours white and cream boasting of multi-coloured glittering accents (true to the name collection’s name) and beaten gold work. As Khan sang ‘Naina Thug Lenge’,the collection took on deeper jewel tones such as ruby,emerald and amethyst. That was also when the Ashima-Leena signature style came forward with more regal floor-skimming jackets (the Mughal Chakdar Jama made its debut) highlighting intricate embroideries,worn with full skirts. To sum up the royal vibe of the collection,the designers,once again,closed the show with their muse and showstopper,Sharmila Tagore. She looked graceful as always even though the coral-toned sari-jacket she wore is an otherwise tough colour to sport. Khan climaxed the evening with ‘Khwaja’ and it was witty on her part to address the nattily dressed FDCI president Sunil Sethi as she sang her final number.

Set Apart

The off-site show of designers Anamika Khanna and Gaurav Gupta was hosted at Evoluzione,a multi-designer fashion destination at The Kila in Mehrauli that’s also celebrating its first anniversary in the capital. A brainchild of entrepreneur couple Atul and Tina Malhotra of Chennai, Evoluzione played host to the twin sit-down shows,very reminiscent of Chanel’s Paris-Bombay show held earlier this year. The environs of the store to the courtyard and the special spaces in the complex were dressed up with the infinite ramp flowing effortlessly from one room to another. From individual table settings for guests to a special jaali artwork installation in the central courtyard,the setting was apt for a couture show.