Very VIP

THE fashion world8217;s most important person comes in a pretty sexy package. Rita Dhody8212;a full-time mother, naturopathy doctor and a...

THE fashion world8217;s most important person comes in a pretty sexy package. Rita Dhody8212;a full-time mother, naturopathy doctor and a famous face of highbrow society she counts Valentina Pedroni, Verve editor Anuradha Mahindra, fusion king Claude Challe, stylish designers Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana among her closest friends has now found herself another profession. Dhody has landed the prestigious role of a buyer for Harvey Nichols8217; Middle East stores.

8216;8216;Their team heard about me when they came here last March,8217;8217; she drawls, in a voice that has been mellowed by many cigarettes, sprawled on a sofa in her very tasteful Juhu residence. 8220;After a series of meetings, they were convinced that I was right for the job.8221;

The 8216;job8217; is to attend almost every international fashion show of couture gurus like Valentino, Versace, Chloe, Givenchy and the rest, and decide what to buy from them and sell out of the reputed Harvey Nichols8217; stores in Riyadh and Jeddah. Dhody8217;s territory is Paris and Milan, and for a fashionista, this is as good as it gets.

She has just returned from attending the fashion weeks in Europe. 8220;I missed the early part of the Milan week, but I believe that Tarun Tahiliani made a huge impression,8221; she says. 8220;Europe is so fascinated with India, its splendour, love for colour and wisdom. They8217;d never seen an Indian buyer before and since the Middle East is a huge market for them and since Nick8217;s is so reputed, I was a VIP,8221; she chuckles.

The trip was a whirlwind of plush hotel rooms, being courted by designers8217; representatives, multiple 20-minute shows daily 8216;8216;in jeans and boots8212;no one dresses up8217;8217;, and private showings for important buyers, like her.

Dhody has been involved with fashion for close to a decade now. She ran a store called Vivarta in the mid-8217;90s. Then she moved on to studying naturopathy in the US she8217;s just been conferred a doctorate, even as she worked as a consultant with the likes of Versace, Escada, Dolce 038; Gabbana and Ronit Zilkha.

And those who know her swear by her impeccable taste. 8220;Being a buyer is not just about personal style and aesthetics,8221; she explains, 8220;One has to put together a look before it actually catches on. I have to get into a customer8217;s head a year before,8221; she adds. Dhody, raised in Kuwait, says the Middle East market is different from a New York-London market. 8220;There are more restrictions in one8217;s dress, also they have a passion for embroidery. So while I may just love a particular designer8217;s collection, I may have to walk away from it as it doesn8217;t work for my market. Harvey Nichols gave me a complete carte blanche to do as I pleased. Even when I had to refuse a designer who was contractually bound to them, they supported my decision.8221;

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There8217;s more. One hears that Dhody has been asked to come aboard a huge fashion house. 8220;How did you know that? It hasn8217;t yet crystallised but they have put forth a proposal,8221; she confirms.

But for now, Dhody8217;s both nervous and excited about her new venture. After all, in the fashion world, it doesn8217;t get bigger and better than this.