Thoroughbred Fashion

“I have focussed on colour blocking this season,” she says. Colour blocking,she explains,is the concept of wearing one or two solid blocks of colours in a single outfit,with matching shoes and accessories. A similar trend is followed at the Ascot races in Britain,where a few weeks ago,the Queen wore a mint coat by designer Peter Enrione with a mint and violet-coloured Angela Kelly hat.

As we look at the garments on display,we come across several jumpsuits that are part of her collection. These asymmetrical silhouettes,combined with bold colours give out a chic and playful vibe. “When we think about dressing for any equestrian sports,we tend to stick to dresses only. But you can wear jumpsuits as well. They are elegant,yet fun,” she says. For this collection,Poonawalla has used chiffon,georgette and silk,with a colour palette ranging from solid greys,navys and corals,to bolder tones of reds and pinks.

Poonawalla,who has studied at the American International University in London,has worked with noted Indian designer Manish Malhotra for three years. She also designed an exclusive menswear pret collection for designer duo Abu Jani and Sandeep Khosla.

As we move towards the accessories section,we are dazzled by the array of hats and fascinators on display. A must-have for the fashion conscious attending a racing event,the headgears drew a lot of attention from the customers present at the store. “Indian women are a tad hesitant in wearing bold hats and that’s why I have designed these fascinators as well,” she says,as she picks up a palm-sized purple hat which is to be fixed on to the head with the help of a small concealed comb. “You can wear something as small as this with a sari as well,” she says.

The dresses and jumpsuits are priced around Rs 15,000. Poonawalla’s collection promises to be a one-stop-shop for those gearing up for the racing season.