Mumbai: 

Narendra Kumar

Westside show
At: 2.30 pm

The search for clothes created with the intention of reaching out to a wider audience, is one of the objectives of any fashion week. It's not often that it happens, but when it does, like with the Westside's Designer Prêt fashion showing, the effort must be acknowledged.

The retail chain roped in established designer Narendra Kumar, and two emerging names, Vivek Karunakaran and Vivek Kumar, to make contemporary urban wear for the burgeoning corporate crop.

Sound cuts and flawless finish had quirky details breathe an element of serious fun in Narendra Kumar's chic and cosmopolitan range of work-wear. Short blazers with subtle folds over pockets were teamed with stylised slim pants with belt loops, pinstripe shirts with pleated bib, shirts with exaggerated panel patterns, fitted skirts with slit details, and Kimono style shirts in shades of maroon, beige and brown were spotted on ramp.

Vivek Karunakaran presented a collection comprising after-work clothing for urban youth who give equal prominence to work and play. The crisp and clean line-up incorporated natural, light-weight blazers, shirts, slim city shorts and trousers. The colours were inspired by the sea, with relaxed silhouettes following the contours of the body.

The technique of drape and pleats dominated Vivek Kumar's order of only-dresses collection, which could have sank in a sea of monotony if it wasn't for the lifesaving colour palette that included deep oranges, coffee browns, matt greens, redeemed by gold trimmings, and the peculiar placement of cowls on sleeves and borders of dresses.