The second off-site show of the Wills Lifestyle India Fashion Week by drape czar Tarun Tahiliani was the most awaited show of Day 2. The venue for which was Blue Frog, the latest and most talked about watering hole of the city nestled in the heart of Mehrauli. After an extended entry protocol, the guests jostled, nudged and pushed as apparently the passage to the show area was narrow. Those who managed to grab a seat on time considered them to be lucky as the show started without much ado or delay while others kept battling the army of bouncers.
Cut to rooftop where the models in signature Tahili-ani silhouettes, cuts and prints sashayed down the extremely long runway. The collection screamed multicultural eclecticism and straddled both Indian and Western sensibilities of drape and form. Des-igned around the magnificence of the Ottoman Empire, the collection drew inspiration from its art, architecture, textiles and culture. The designer blended the old world rom-anticism with modern technology to create an opulent and dramatic collection. So there were structured pieces — inspired from the bridle and chest straps of medieval Turkey — which included shirts, tunics, saris with sculpted cholis, skirts, mid-calf dresses, evening dresses, long and short jackets, draped tunics and kaftans. Brocade jackets teamed with kurtas as well as saris made for a vintage look. Gold and silver zari on velvet was another highlight. Motifs such as tulip, rose, hyacinth, carnation, pomegranate and artichoke kept the eye busy. Embossing, cording and tucking took care of the engineering part. Irregular fringing details also called for attention.