The Fall Season

Cap-Sized Trend

During Anna Hazare’s fast at Jantar Mantar in Delhi,the Gandhi/Anna topi made it to the heads of men,women and children. The topi,in khadi and matka silk,became a symbol of protest on the streets. It was of India,by India,for India. Predictable accessory for the fashion season that followed,it disappeared without a trace. Not one designer touched it.

Paris As Pastime

Paris Hilton came,she saw and the media went berserk over her. Indeed,the American socialite’s first India visit caused a media blitzkrieg but it ended up being one big party. Her three-day stay in Mumbai had her hosts make special arrangements for her,right down to the all-pink suite. But other than this,it was her trademark four-hour delay — both for her press conference and the party later that day — that caught everyone’s attention. Her line of bags and accessories barely had any takers,it was just Paris and her antics that made headlines.

Cannes Not Like

Designer Sabyasachi dressed up beauty queen Kanishtha Dhankhar for the Cannes red carpet this year. What could have been Indian fashion’s individualistic statement turned out to be an overrated ethnic turnout. An embellished black-and-gold lehenga with a black choli,was adorned with a floral net dupatta that covered the model’s head. Her traditional jewellery made her look like a long-forgotten Indian Princess. She could have done with less,she wore more.

Blingy Japanese Doll

The Delhi leg of the 7th edition of Blender’s Pride Fashion Tour saw more lows than highs. The starry line-up was all good — Ranveer Singh,Lisa Hayden and Minissha Lamba — but they all looked extravagantly unstylish. The worst off was Lamba who was dressed by designer Reynu Tandon in a cobalt blue jacket and lehnga that felt too overwhelming on her. Add to that a confused blingy design that seemed lost between Japan and India.

Dumbing Gown

Aunt and hostess Kiran Rao wore an Anamika Khanna-designed outfit for the reception of actor Imran Khan’s wedding with long-time girlfriend Avantika Malik. For someone with her personality and intelligence,the garment was a disaster. Uninspiring colours,wrong shape,it was neither a gown nor a lehnga,and made the petite Kiran look like a fashion victim. Hubby Aamir Khan had to help her from tripping a few times.