Ami Cholia
amic@mid-day.com
Mandira Bedi (right) was the showstopper for Satya Pauls show. Pic: Rajeev TyagiOver-the-top Satya
It seems Mandira Bedi is not invited to only glam up cricket events. The TV personality walked the showstopper for Satya Paul (the first Bollywood celeb to do so at fashion week), and though, she looked pretty in her saree, the rest of the show was extremely mediocre.
With splashes of colour, net, chiffon, metal work, the show was all over the place and by the end of the 30-minute display, we were quite bored.
The first collection was impressive (with a gorgeous net saree), but the rest were just over the top. Black sarees with arbitrary, kitsch colour splashed all over them Satya, what were you thinking? By the way, Satyas cheaper range starts at Rs 4,000. Ouch! Power puff designer
Fashion Week stalwart Ritu Kumar has lost brownie points with other designers. And from where we see it, we dont blame them. It looks like Ritu is using her role as FDCI chairperson and her close relationship with the director, Rathi Vinay Jha, to her advantage.
Show timings and designer stall placements at this years Fashion Week were drawn by lots, in an attempt to make it a level playing field for everybody. But beating all the odds, Ritu Kumar got a first-day-first-show setting and a very well-placed stall at the event. Too much of a coincidence huh?
Wendell Rodrickss show yesterday was all fun and
frolic. Pic: Rajeev TyagiChilds play for Wendell
Theatrical Wendell
Fashion Week 2005 has been pretty tame, until Wendell Rodrickss show yesterday. Wendell tried to recreate a flea market by the sea, and had models slowly strolling and chatting instead of actually walking the ramp. And though we loved the casual, fun presentation, we heard a lot of people complaining after the show. We couldnt see the presentation clearly. What was the point? In his defence, Wendell said, Well, they can always come to my stall and see the clothes if they really want to.
The collection had a fluid feel to it, with white, soft aqua blues, sand beiges and muddy browns. Incidentally, it also saw Wendell using print for the first time (inspired by a carving he saw in Montreal).
Candid Wendell
When we caught up with Wendell after his show, the designer was very upfront about the fact that he wasnt aiming at a global market. Id rather concentrate on the Indian market right now. Its hard enough meeting those production numbers. Besides, I dont want to go abroad and sell at Bollywood and film festivals. I want to be picked off the rack because I am a designer, said a candid Rodricks.
Journalist Wendell
We were wondering what had happened to Wendells catty critiques. The designer explained, FDCI has changed its rules; designers cant write during Fashion Week anymore. Now, I can focus on my collection and the buyers
Models display the creations of designers Paras and Shalini yesterday. Pic: Rajeev TyagiSixth senseIn the midst of all this craziness and chaos we noticed something inspiring. The public relations head of Shalini and Paras (Geisha Designs), Siddharth Sharma, is blind. Apparently, a friend sits with him through the shows and describes the clothes on the ramp. If you meet him, though, you would never know.
Even while describing our surroundings, the extremely astute said, Its out in the boonies. There are no trees and its completely brown and dry.
Sharma has been working with Shalini and Paras for the past three years and has made it a point to attend every fashion week since. We all have a lesson to learn from him.
A model wears an Anjana Bhargva creation yesterday. Pic: Rajeev TyagiFashionably on timeThe one thing great about this Fashion Week is that everything seems to have started only 10-15 minutes late (though it did get worse on the third day), but that is expected.
After all, if fashionistas dont take the phrase fashionably late literally, who will? Lifwbuzz
Rumour has it that Amitabh Bachchan might walk the ramp for Abu-Sandeeps show on Sunday
