Fusion sets ramp aflame

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Models walk the ramp in creations by Manish Mal-hotra

The fourth day of PCJ Couture Week 2012 was a blend of two different time zones — the gothic Elizabethan era that inspired designers Shantanu and Nikhil, and the Indo-Pak of the late ’50s which stimulated designer Manish Malhotra to churn out a fabulous line of high-end bridal outfits.
The first show of the day by designer brothers Shantanu and Nikhil Mehra highlighted the aristocratic gloom through a line of vintage gowns, heavy lehengas and bridal saris paired with elongated jackets. The ramp had an imprint of world map and amidst the heaps of gold-painted wooden chairs and dim-lit candles. As the models, wearing smoky eyes and bouffant, displayed the profoundly ambiguous outfits, the audience cheered for the designers.
The fusion of the classic Western silhouette and Indian handicrafts on a vintage colour palette was murky yet interesting. The multi-layered gowns and lehengas in taffeta, satin and net were crafted in signature S&N style. The designers used metallic coloured asymmetric blouses and paired them with lehengas and saris. The high shoulders and ruffles were used to emphasise the collar area; and the bold embroidery with appliqué work at the bodice area defined manifold aspects of the bygone era.
The last show of the day by Manish Malhotra started quite fashionably late but the wait was worth it as the designer enthralled the audience with his dextrous Indian clothing line. The show starter was hunky actor Vidyut Jamwal, who flaunted his chiselled torso in an unbuttoned sheer jacket and gold pants. However, cherry on the cake was actress Katrina Kaif, who walked in the show shopper ivory-gold lehenga-choli and dazzled the ramp as a gorgeous bride.
Manish revealed that it took him almost three months to complete these ensembles for women and men, which were inspired by the regal nuances of the late 50s of India. The rich Indian colours like mint-green, watermelon red and gulabi pink juxtaposed with ivory and beige painted a beautiful picture on the durbar-like ramp, which was decorated with opulent chandeliers and mirrors.
The embroidery work in metallic gold and bronze wires and the intricate use of Kashmiri tilla work on sherwanis, and bandhgalas accentuated the menswear line.