Indian men are boring

In an exclusive backstage chat before she walks the ramp at the ongoing Lakme Fashion Week, actress Lara Dutta tells Shweta Shiware it's a waste expecting Indian guys to dress stylish, and why Sush topples Ash in the style chart. Plus a wrap-up of the finale

The backstage recesses of the show area is simmering with activity just before Raakesh Agarvwal's show, manifesting itself in an unsettling quiet before a stylish storm breaks through. Actress Lara Dutta walks in nonchalantly, and on time. She seets herself down to get her make-up and hair done, looking comfortable in a worn-out Ed Hardy tee, ripped jeans and animal print wedges. She juggles two phones - an iPhone and a Blackberry - alligning them on the dressing table to match her line of vision.

Fashion has been a familiar playground, she admits, with international supermodels Naomi Campbell and Linda Evangelista, and Indian counterparts Madhu Sapre and Mehr Jesia inspiring the little Lara to preen like a model in family photographs. "I understood couture as early as 10," she smiles before getting ready to take our volley of questions. "Shoot."
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Who is the most stylish beauty pageant winner - Priyanka Chopra, Aishwarya Rai or Sushmita Sen?
Sushmita, of course. I appreciate her personal style. She doesn't believe in sticking to rules.u00a0
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And what's Lara's personal style?
It depends on my mood. I am inspired by the classic styles of the 1920s, 40s and 50s. But I am not a fashion victim. I invest in pieces that stay relevant irrespective of cyclical trends.u00a0
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Which designers sit in your wardrobe?
Shahab Durazi, Tarun Tahiliani and Raakesh Agarvwal. Among the international lot, if I am feeling young, it's Dolce & Gabbana and Roberto Cavalli. For classic styles, it's Armani and Valentino.
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How long do you take to get ready?
If I am not walking the ramp or a red carpet, not more than 30 minutes. And that includes hair, make-up and dressing up.u00a0
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Indian designers are taking an active interest in styling Bollywood films. Has style overridden substance?
My experience in modelling has helped me in Bollywood, as far as confidence with clothes is concerned. With Bunty aur Babli, Aki Narula changed the way masses dressed. In Tashan, each character was individually styled, and the trailers looked fabulous. But the film didn't do well. A huge PR machinery was at work to promote Bebo's shoes in Kambakkht Ishq.
I've worn an expensive Alexander McQueen dress in my next release, Houseful, for all of 30 seconds. Producers understand the needs of global viewers. They know that the audience won't go, "Kya pehna hai!" after looking at a fashionable outfit. If they (producers) are spending lakhs on outfits and accessories, they will make sure it's all publicised.u00a0u00a0
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Who makes it to the most stylish Bollywood stars list?
Sonam Kapoor makes an effort to look fashionable. I like that about her. Among men, it's Shahrukh Khan and Hrithik Roshan. They have an inherent sense of style.u00a0
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Do you think Indian men need to make an attempt to dress more stylish?
Men don't really believe in taking chances. They are a boring lot (laughs).
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Actors who walk for designers are handsomely paid...
I haven't charged a dime for this show. I have done it because I genuinely like Raakesh's clothes - they are avant-garde and cutting edge. Else, I walk for friends. It takes me back to my modelling days (winks).u00a0
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Any fashion fetish?
I have one, a really bad shoe fetish. I can't divulge how many pairs I have. Easily over 100. Shoes matter. What sort, doesn't. So, I have everything from Kolhapuri chappals to Louboutins.


Girls have a heart of steel
Rimzim Dadu
Takeaway trend: cutwork is big this season
An hour before the big show, designer Rimzim Dadu wondered whether 19 (that's how many garments she showed) was a good enough number to entice a difficult-to-please audience. After the show, she received an applause for her disciplined, to-the-point styling.

She presented girly silhouettes with a heart of steel. Was the designer playing her life out on ramp?
The ultra-feminine silhouettes reflected a slew of architectural options, juxtaposing matte with shine, structure with drapes, weaves with cutouts, geometry with the abstract. Rimzim's last piece, a hand-burnt beaded cage dress over a draped jersey drape worn by model Candice Pinto, made a strong statementu00a0- that we are all tired of monotonous drapes.


Nari fumbled for an idea, Wendell brought Rio to Mumbai
Narendra Kumaru00a0
Takeaway trend: highwaisted jeans and trousers are back. for the slim-waisted only, though
We have a question to ask. Did Narendra Kumar actually design the Tangier collection? It was far too uncomplicated, devoid of any breakthrough ideas that he's known to come by. And it doesn't matter if it was kept deliberately simple because the theme, Pru00eat Wear for Students, demanded it. When the show area thundered with Black Eyed Peas' latest chartbuster, Tonight's gonna be a good night, we expected the mood of the song to translate on to garments. What we got, instead, was a medley of voluminous tops, high-waist jeans, printed tees and summer dresses in a palette that blended neutrals with red, cobalt blue, yellow and brown.

Wendell rodricks
Takeaway trend: viscose is a sexy fabric, if you have the body for it
It's something to watch high-end fashion bow down to greet its not-so glamorous step sister, pru00eat. The Goa-based designer's collection showcased under the Westside umbrella, had enough tempting moments to lure luxury shoesmith Manolo Blahnik into this multi-city store chain.
Wendell brought the sensual calm of a Rio de Janeiro sunset to Mumbai with his Copacabana Sand line-up. Known to create drama with easy silhouettes, he presented them with a multifarious identity (one had a ghagra skirt turn into a poncho top, and a dhoti pant that worked liked a tunic). Sporty jerseys took on a sexy garb in this affordable fashion line.
Density of Brazil Forest saw cotton viscose so tightly knitted that it didn't wilt under a heavy drape, staying gentle on the skin. An interplay between shades of olive and khaki created a dual effect on an asymmetric dress, and a single sleeve dress with contrast drape. We loved his brand new version of the saree u2014 one in viscose knit with a built-in choli.
Gizelle Glam, the last range, saw silhouettes that won't forgive a flabby body; especially the fushcia Brazilian goddess gown in viscose jersey worn by model Pia Trivedi.


When lavatory logos walked the ramp
Kallol Datta
Takeaway trend: bizarre prints are sure-shot headturners
Did someone, did anyone see Kallol Datta steal bathroom signage? Inspiration comes and whacks you in the face, when you are at the weirdest of places, compelling you to drag it to your drawing board, before it appears phantom-style on to garments. It's this knack of transporting what'su00a0 not meant to be here, right here, that makes Kallol whimsical, but talented.

His collection, Avant Garde F*uck (he called it that because his friend dared him to), was a melange of twisted or misfitting (in his own words) fabrics, coming together to form quirky silhouettes. Custom-making titles to compliment his creations, tickles Kallol. This time, we had Landmine survivor (men and women symbols with cut off limbs) winged back dresses worn over Hospice PJs, Junta Abaya sets, Swinging dresses and the Infestation series. What was particularly amusing was the Bulletwound hindrance dress, a gory take on pretty Shibori (Japanese term for methods of dyeing cloth with a pattern by binding, stitching, folding).
And then he tried pulling a fast oneu00a0- hoodwinking the audience into believing he's making pretty clothes all of a sudden, with a stray saree and the Infestation series. Stripped off femininity, the constructed dragonfly saree had a 3D waistcoat blouse tucked in for company. He didn't just stop at that. What looked like a cute snowflakish floral print splashed over beautifully folded dresses, on closer look was actually a cluster of cockroaches. While making that one, we bet Kallol sniggered, "How's that for commercial!"


Tahiliani draws curtains on LFW
Freak rain plays spoil sport. Tarun Tahiliani flits from backstage to main show area. A 9.30 pm show starts at 10.50. The thunderstorm outside mirrors the commotion inside. A Kashmiri carpet sleeps under a colossal chandelier veiled in a fisherman's net that flanks the runway. Actor Arjun Rampal walks in with wife Mehr, flagging a green signal for the show. Finally.

Lakme's new face Lisa Haydon opened the finalu00e9 wearing a satin saree studded with revets, while U2 crooned Magnificent. Tarun's spectacle saw an Indian yogini meet the seductive apsara. The designer's signature drapes were seen in sarees, saree gowns, toga tunics and fringed kurtas, paying homage to Lakme's finalu00e9 statement, Flashback to Glamour. Tussar silk, aari-coats, Phulkari aari kurtas, Mughal Anarkali kurtas and Maharashtra's Navvari caught his fancy this season. WE LOVED the range of bolero jackets in tweed and zardozi, in racer back style.

pics/Pradeep Dhivar, Rane Ashish