Flavours of Punjab for Ritu

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Ritu Beri’s show on Day 4 of the ongoing PCJ Delhi Couture Week at Taj Palace was every bit Punjabi — loud, celebratory, and full of funjabi flavour. It was also a well-attended one with politicians, socialites and designers occupying the front row. As BJP’s Sushma Swaraj sat in the front row, the other side of the rani pink ramp saw Shashi Tharoor play a doting husband to Sunanda Tharoor.
A dense gold tree, complementing the pink, was erected on one side of the runway whereas a huge gold peacock was placed near its opening for the models to emerge in Beri’s opulent designs. As the show started Punjabi folk singer Jasbir Jassi and Sunanda Sharma engaged the audience wirh some classic Punjabi numbers and created an ambience of a North Indian wedding.
Beri crafted some voluminous bejewelled lehengas with tonnes of embellishments adorning the Indian motifs, Patiala salwars, off-shoulder cholis, jackets, kurtas with asymmetrical hems, and sari-inspired gowns in deep maroon, bright red and tan for this OTT collection. The exciting part is that the designer has no qualms calling it “over the top”.
“That’s what couture is all about. You have to go crazy. I have done what I felt like doing. My collection is dramatic and yet very wearable. The idea was to create pieces that can be teamed with different silhouettes to give it an interesting look,” she said.
Silk, velvet, rich brocades, satins and nets along with intricate embroidery and layering took the story forward. The show was high on bling, it displayed Beri’s signature silhouettes, her love for drama, but more importantly it showcased the designer’s respect for her roots.