Autumn’s boring greys get fresh twist on Day 3

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Models display creations by Ritu and Rochanaat the Wills Lifestyle India Fashion Week in New Delhi on Friday.PHOTOS: Bunny Smith

IT WAS THE Small Shop’s Anshu Arora Sen and Jason, who proved they had the biggest designs on fashion on the third day of the Wills Lifestyle India Fashion Week, at Pragati Maidan on Friday. The simple stitch got a coveted place on shirt dresses and the constellation sparkled on the backs of well-constructed drapes. The quiet designer, who believes in the power of remaining organic in a fashion world that is largely plastic, beautifully played with colour by giving autumn’s boring greys a fresh twist with fuschia pink linings.
The cutwork was perfect, the prints soothing, and those who remember her also recall her factory in Shahpurjat many moons ago, where she made sure the work was hand done and textiles were incorporated. And remnants of that Anshu can still be seen, in her line which was dominated by hand printed “lady-wrap” shapes that had a loungy feel to them. “Most of the shapes are tubular and the prints are all about the objects we love and wanted to preserve or re-create through our garments,” says Bengaluru-based Anshu.
On the other side of the horizon were the ones who liked the band, baja and barat, self-confessed darzis Hemant and Nandita, who managed to get animal rights activist Maneka Gandhi on the front row. Maybe it had something to do with the animal prints on their jumpsuits that found an admirer in the wildlife activist. The orange and sea green jumpsuits were a bit too loud and the sequinned shorts and skinny pants OTT. It was hard to miss the racy electric blue shiny wrap jacket that was a sure shot blinder. And as Roxette’s pacy number She’s Go the Look played in the background, and the lights dimmed for the next showing Varun’s mother made a discreet exit.
On the subtle side was the talented Divyam Mehta, who played with raw silk and smocked and pleated it so perfectly that it was a treat to watch. The crinkled front open jackets and monochromatic hues with the exception of merely one flaming red ensemble, was endearing and so was his jig at the end of the show that won the hearts of those present.
The other surprise of the day was Tanvi Kedia, who’s fluorescent colours made autumn a delightful affair. Her dupion silk jackets, sheath dresses, with ikat and Kutch embroidery inspired digital prints rocked the runway. As peacocks, camels, dragons and birds were dexterously placed on tunic dresses with embroidered necklines and quilted yokes, the designer gave winter velvet jackets and geometric multi-coloured scarves to jazz it up.
Mumbai has an undeniable charm of its own, and that quality could be seen in designer Gayatri Khanna’s uber chic line that was meant for divas who love their vertiginous heels and have bodies akin to Gisele Bundchen. The canary yellow satin dresses with cowls and rouched dresses cinched at the waist were glamorous, ideal for a Bollywood diva waiting eagerly for a shutterbug to court her. And as Delhi throws its weight behind activist Anna Hazare, with bigwigs ready to help the veteran in his battle against corruption, the buzz at Hall No. 18 Pragati Maidan was, “Where’s the party tonight”.