Beach wear gets a desi twist in Goa

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The sex symbol of the 70s and 80s Zeenat Aman and the bubbly actresses Genelia D’Souza and Shahzan Padamsee were among those who scorched the ramp on day two of the India Resort Fashion Week (IFRW) in Goa.

The second edition of the glamorous event being held at sunny Candolim beach showcased a curious mix of collections inspired by Picasso, Japanese beaches, cupcakes and more. Pegged as Asia’s largest fashion festival, the IRFW inspired some designers like Vikram Phadnis to carry along 40 bags of luggage!
Fifteen young designers from the Rachna Sansad School of Fashion and Textile Design opened the second day with a collection doused in vibrant colours like orange and blue, paired with bronze and silver accessories. Next up was Arti Vijay Gupta’s work summing up her one-liner ‘I love to doodle’. Souina Gohil’s fluorescent and blue ensembles celebrated the irresistible charm of the ancient Greek goddess in a collection titled ‘Aphrodite’.
Riyaz and Reshma Ganji’s collection exuded the ‘wow’ factor with models dancing on the ramp, clad in chic traditional Indian ensembles. Inspired by the beaches of Japan, the outfits were high on glitter and intricate embroidery.
But the question on everyone’s mind was — how can saris, gowns and anarkalis qualify as resort wear? “Even though weddings take place at resorts and the themes are contemporary, it’s still important to retain the Indianness,” answered Riyaz.
Eye candy was not the only ‘sweetness’ one could get at the IRFW, as people were greeted with cupcakes at the entrance; all part of the drama presented by designer Sushma Patel. “I was inspired by cupcakes and the sugar rush they offer. I tried to convert this inspiration into something more sensual with my clothes,” said the designer of the collection titled ‘Cupcake Massacre’. A burst of candy colours, the outfits included innovative jumpsuits in lace. The show-stopper for this one was young B-town actress Shahzan Padamsee.
Paying tribute to the paintings of Pablo Picasso were Pria Kataria Puri’s ensembles in black, white, tangerine and shades of blue.
Neeta Lulla’s showstopper was gorgeous Genelia D’Souza (now Deshmukh) in free flowing and spirited resort bridal wear. “I’ve been to Goa five times in the last six months and I’ve attended so many weddings that by the end, one is usually so tired. Neeta’s light and flowing outfits are ideal for a destination wedding,” said the fairly recent bride herself, who drew quite a few whistles from the audience.
“This is my first time at the IRFW and I love Goa, so it was natural for me to accept the offer to be here,” she added, throwing in the tid-bit that when it comes to fashion, shoes are her ‘poison’.