Touted to be a grand affair with some truly exquisite designs and loads of Bollywood, Synergy1 Delhi Couture Week, the second edition of the couture week, neither lived up to the 'couture' expectations nor could it justify a rather crammed venue.
Though it is worth a note that the venue, The Taj Palace, Delhi, was done up aesthetically with burning torches lining up the entrance on either side, a deck of red scented candles burning in one corner of the foyer and a spattering of displays by Manish Malhotra among other designers.
The wait was endless, the first couturier, Varun Bahl, was yet to showcase his creations, and the chatter about Madhuri Dixit walking the ramp was still in the air. Little wonder, no one seemed to mind the wait. But just as the lights went dim, in walked the diva with her entourage while being ushered to her seat by FDCI President, Sunil Sethi. Looking every bit the stunner she is even in the fading light, Madhuri exuded class in an ivory Anarkali kurta with colourful floral patterns on the bust, with little or no accessories, not to mention her easy, charming smile always in place.
Varun's knack for fusing the classic Western silhouettes with traditional Indian designs was reiterated in his latest line that attempted to bring alive an era of French courtly debauchery. We couldn't help get reminded of his previous couture collection 'Anastasia Found', which too had grandiose velvet jackets teamed with conventional lehangas, sarees and churidars. The designs were so familiar, and so were the colours that one began to wonder what new Varun had in store. So much so, he repeated his showstopper too, model Tinu Varghese, with his most elaborate design.
Theme: The designer's muse for this range was one of history's most celebrated and berated queens, Marie Antoinette, whom he portrayed with flowing lengths of air-like tulle, shimmering damasks and cascading chiffons teamed with dramatic jackets and corset-like structures. He kept the Indian aroma alive with lehangas, farshi-pajamas and Anarkalis while the colour palette progressed from a decadent pistachio hue to deep, drunken wines and maroons, and glamorous gold's to pure ivory shades. While the drama on the ramp was on, we had scenes from the French countryside playing in the backdrop. And, full marks to Varun for the presentation and some truly neat silhouettes and cuts.
Collection & silhouettes: We didn't miss out the pink velvet asymmetrical jacket worn over green lehanga with dazzling golden embellishments. There were a few other interesting jackets and blouses, particularly the dramatic-sleeved one in aubergine colour and the backless blouse with full netted sleeves and heavy thread word around the wrist.
The second leg of the show was a lavish display of whites with lehangas, netted white sarees and parallels teamed with majestic closed-neck jackets and flowy lace jackets. Model Pia Trivedi looked a show-stealer in a grand green lehanga teamed with pink choli and dupatta with gold work. Noyonika Chatterjee's green corset blouse coordinated with red lehanga was refreshing. The girls all sported suede footwear, be it pumps or boots.
Accessories: Kundan jewellery found prominence in Varun's collection with chandelier earrings and neckpieces created by Khanna Jewellers.
Glitzy front row: Among designers who had turned up to cheer for Varun were, Ritu Kumar, Namrata Joshipura, Poonam Bhagat, Rohit Gandhi, Rahul Khanna, Manav Gangwani and Rohit Bal. While Madhuri may not have walked the ramp, she was every bit the showstopper, for the audience sat glued to their seats well after the show to take another long look at the ageing Bollywood beauty.
Rating: 7/10
Source: TOI
The wait was endless, the first couturier, Varun Bahl, was yet to showcase his creations, and the chatter about Madhuri Dixit walking the ramp was still in the air. Little wonder, no one seemed to mind the wait. But just as the lights went dim, in walked the diva with her entourage while being ushered to her seat by FDCI President, Sunil Sethi. Looking every bit the stunner she is even in the fading light, Madhuri exuded class in an ivory Anarkali kurta with colourful floral patterns on the bust, with little or no accessories, not to mention her easy, charming smile always in place.
Varun's knack for fusing the classic Western silhouettes with traditional Indian designs was reiterated in his latest line that attempted to bring alive an era of French courtly debauchery. We couldn't help get reminded of his previous couture collection 'Anastasia Found', which too had grandiose velvet jackets teamed with conventional lehangas, sarees and churidars. The designs were so familiar, and so were the colours that one began to wonder what new Varun had in store. So much so, he repeated his showstopper too, model Tinu Varghese, with his most elaborate design.
Theme: The designer's muse for this range was one of history's most celebrated and berated queens, Marie Antoinette, whom he portrayed with flowing lengths of air-like tulle, shimmering damasks and cascading chiffons teamed with dramatic jackets and corset-like structures. He kept the Indian aroma alive with lehangas, farshi-pajamas and Anarkalis while the colour palette progressed from a decadent pistachio hue to deep, drunken wines and maroons, and glamorous gold's to pure ivory shades. While the drama on the ramp was on, we had scenes from the French countryside playing in the backdrop. And, full marks to Varun for the presentation and some truly neat silhouettes and cuts.
Collection & silhouettes: We didn't miss out the pink velvet asymmetrical jacket worn over green lehanga with dazzling golden embellishments. There were a few other interesting jackets and blouses, particularly the dramatic-sleeved one in aubergine colour and the backless blouse with full netted sleeves and heavy thread word around the wrist.
The second leg of the show was a lavish display of whites with lehangas, netted white sarees and parallels teamed with majestic closed-neck jackets and flowy lace jackets. Model Pia Trivedi looked a show-stealer in a grand green lehanga teamed with pink choli and dupatta with gold work. Noyonika Chatterjee's green corset blouse coordinated with red lehanga was refreshing. The girls all sported suede footwear, be it pumps or boots.
Accessories: Kundan jewellery found prominence in Varun's collection with chandelier earrings and neckpieces created by Khanna Jewellers.
Glitzy front row: Among designers who had turned up to cheer for Varun were, Ritu Kumar, Namrata Joshipura, Poonam Bhagat, Rohit Gandhi, Rahul Khanna, Manav Gangwani and Rohit Bal. While Madhuri may not have walked the ramp, she was every bit the showstopper, for the audience sat glued to their seats well after the show to take another long look at the ageing Bollywood beauty.
Rating: 7/10
Source: TOI
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