Fashion Sparklers

Designer Rahul Mishra likes to keep things simple. “One can keep the packaging complex but the product should be easy to fathom,” he says,explaining the philosophy behind the collection that he showed at the Wills Lifestyle India Fashion Week. Even before the clothes walked the ramp,a quick glance at the garment cue sheet made it clear that the collection would be a medley of handmade garments. If working with the Chanderi weave has been his creative mainstay for the last few seasons,it is time to say that the weave now benefits because a designer as talented as Mishra innovates it. The clothes — all hand woven,hand-embroidered and titled “Just Like a Dream” — had a gossamer beauty. The dainty tunics,wraps,skirts,dresses and jumpsuits had silhouettes that were enticingly global and fluid. You could imagine Michelle Obama in them,even Cheryl Cole. But here was Gauhar Khan wearing them beautifully as she opened the show. Mishra’s palette alternated from pastel to powerful,bright to light,showing pinks,reds and greens apart from his usual whites and blacks. A designer to watch out for.

Spring Love

Remember the fragrance of Pond’s powder in a pink plastic can locked up inside a wooden cabinet,taken out of custody only for special occasions by our mothers back in the ’80s? Or the whiff of Charmis cold cream? In today’s clutter,if you can recall any of these fragrances,you would know what designer,Anita Dongre showcased on Day 4 at the WIFW Spring-Summer 2012. Spring pastels — Pond’s pink,Charmis white,baby blues,lovely lilacs and easy greys — accompanied with lots of lace were the highlight of Dongre’s collection. She stuck primarily to dresses with flowy ankle-lengths and knee-lengths,shirt dresses and one-shoulder dresses. She also had kaftans and a few shorts paired with translucent grey shirts. Digital Andhra ikat prints and Rajasthani blocks kept the collection breezy. A live band performance added to the Spring romance. It was a relief to watch the models smile,dance,sing and swirl around. The clothes seemed to ooze calm and,if you’re a fan of pastels,even a mild trance.

Of Feather and Shell

One of the most talked about collections of Day 4 was that of Anand Bhushan. Barely five years into the trade and Bhushan is a name folks in the industry have learnt to roll around their tongues too well. He deserves it. His clothes,most complex in their content,make a niche that is not easy to replicate. Twisted shells turned inwards to create embellishments,painstakingly made tiny fabric patterns,sequins stuffed into fabric to create the illusion and texture of a bone inside fabric,feathers and beads used the wrong side up,created a collection of memorable summer dresses and jackets.