If there was a time when international trends echoed on Indian ramps, then it was the third and final day of Van Huesen India Men’s Fashion Week. The day began with Rohit and Abhishek’s collection, which resonated designer Rohit Kamra’s Rajasthani lineage with the clinched waists and Jodhpurs in dual tones. The duo made show stopper Pooja Batra appear in a rich brown suit of fitted pants. And if old world regalia were a tad too much to handle, then designer Smit Raj Gyanani, who shared the same show, was a palate refresher with cool pastels and structured tailoring as he presented both his versions of casual and formal. Loose pants gathered at the ankles and calves with double-breasted jackets and kurtas with tailored pants, he accentuated each ensemble with the various versions of the scarf.
But if one was looking for a clear echo of the biggest trend of them all, then it came with Rajesh Pratap Singh’s show. The nineties, which have made a huge come back after glitter-struck eighties, were all over in his rock-and-roll inspired show. A drift between the rolling seventies and the grunge, crinkled nineties, his amalgamation of Delhi’s rock band members and models was an ode to up-turned shirt sleeves, feather-light tees, fitted cargoes, original denim that looked fresh out of a 40-year-old trunk, head bands, printed coats, combat boots and the pinstripe. Washed out in ajrak vegetable dyes, the earthy tones and spot on styling with chains made the show an absolute delight.
Sanchita Ajampur, on the other hand taught one to do the internationally ubiquitous insect trend tastefully. Though Wendell Rodricks, who shared the stage soon after, deemed fit to make his men stick a colour scheme of black and white with red accents.
Nehru jackets, dhoti pants, digital prints, hand painted tattoos on shirts and fedoras were order of the day.
Although it goes without saying that when Rohit Bal ends a season, it’s going to be grand, but he proved it yet again, not only with the finely crafted clothes but with heightened sense of drama too.
As boys maintained that they would be that, heedlessly flirting with each other, pacing on a stage set with old time benches and rose petals in bowls, the clothes bespoke and rich, stated otherwise. An elaborate show with velvet embroidered slims pants and coats and treated leather jackets, all spelt rich and tasteful glamour. But the high point arrived, when showstopper John Abraham came in dressed in a blazer, pants and aviators, which he later stripped to a sheer shirt, driving the crowd wild.