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GLITZ & GLAMOUR
Fashion doyenne’s glad rags for this winter
Smriti Kak
The summer sun is still shining bright. That is, however, no reason why our designers should stick to the rotation of the climes, so what if we had no monsoon rains to drench us, we had plenty of clothes pouring in from the monsoon collection so painstakingly put together by the designer frat.
A doe-eyed ramp-scorcher.
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And if monsoon is here, can the winter collection be far behind. Ritu Kumar, the doyenne of the fashion scene, is ready with her submission for the winter. The LABEL (Ritu’s label), line for winter 2002, is an interplay of some not-so-familiar fabrics, which are being brought under the Ritu Kumar umbrella. The range consists of fabrics as diverse as wool, cotton Khadi, silk dupion, crepes, denim, lycra and leather. The prints range from simulated yarn-dyed Ikats, patterns created from India’s tribal cultures and the more traditional Indian techniques used as embellishments. For the winter, LABEL consists of svelte eveningwear and very contemporary daytime shapes. The collection has involved extensive research and development, which are a characteristic of the Ritu Kumar brand. Particularly noteworthy is the simulation of yarn-dyed techniques from the steppes of Central Asia and print variations from African motifs. There is a line of black silhouettes dotted with mukaish and combined with embroidered denim. Also, as parts of the evening line are patchwork sequences of prints, blended into jackets, blouses, skirts and jeans. The prints include traditional Indian textures inspired from Uzbekistan and African geometric’s. To bridge the contemporary and traditional wear, is a line of white cotton Khadi and white and silver sequence. The Khadi jackets and kurtas have a clean look, whereas the white and silver is a more classy, occasion wear line. This leads on to a line, which takes its inspiration from the textures of double tie-dyes and translates them into vegetable colours to create formal silhouettes. An impressive line that, just hoping unlike the monsoon, winter keeps its date. Bridal Asia
A starry-eyed beauty |
The annual Bridal Asia fashion for the brides is all set for an October 12 inaugural. The event now in its fourth year has Sunsilk as a partner. This year, the event will have a ‘City Spectacular’ segment instead of the usual three-day exhibition. Each city spectacular will consists of a bridal theme and sub-event dealing with topics like complete bridal makeovers, dedicated workshops on hair care and styling by experts, special interactive sessions on beauty care and grooming. Additionally, there will be two shows, one a hair show by Sunsilk and the second an exclusive fashion show to preview the work of select designers. For the honchos behind the event, it is a way to prove their commitment to the consumers. Says the Hindustan Lever Limited Business Head, D Shivkumar, “It offers us an ideal platform to interact with our end-consumers and adds to their lives a special Sunsilk touch. It reinforces our commitment to improved Indian Hair Care and leading the trends in hair fashion.” The three-day affair showcases products related to the bride. Renowned hair experts Jawed Habib and Samantha Kochar will conduct workshops on hair care. Skin care
Skin specialist Peggy Cheng
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Skin care always seems to be on the top of the list of things to do. Whether it is grandma’s recipes of homemade concoctions or fancy tubes and bottles that can often give you a mild heart attack.
Clarins, the specialists in skin care as they call themselves, also have an additional claim to their credit, ‘with Clarins you are never alone’. Perhaps the reason why Peggy Cheng, International Training Manager from Paris came down to the Capital to conduct a hands-on skin care workshop and launch the new hydra balance skin care line.
PARISIAN SKIN-FOOD: A workshop being conducted in the
Capital.
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The new Thirst Quenching Hydra Balance Serum that has been launched has the ability to revive even the most dehydrated skin. The company claims that the texture of the serum is extremely light and ultra- comfortable. Then is the Moisture Quenching Hydra –balanced Lotion with a SPF of 30 , which ensures the skin’s freshness and vitality and protects it from the harmful ultra violet rays at the same time. These skin care products also claim to protect the skin from premature ageing. A line, which we have certainly heard before. Vashu’s music
Promoting the music of ‘Jeena Sirf Merre Liye’.
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Producer Vashu Bhagnani was in town to promote the music of his forthcoming film ‘Jeena Sirf Merre Liye’. The producer had organised a video-conferencing with the music director of the film, Nadeem of the Nadeem Shravan duo, who is currently based in London. Sadly, the conference never took off and the media had to bid adios without getting the bytes from the music director, who wants to return to his motherland provided the Indian Government “gives permission respectfully”. Should we say the permission would be music for Nadeem’s ears. Tempting trinketsEgana, India’s Blue Fire line of jewellery, has launched a Solitaire collection for the ‘power women of today’.
Ritzy trinkets. |
The collection though is the conservative pieces of jewellery like earrings and pendants not power tools like a diamond-studded magic wand. Describing the collection, Biren Vaidya, MD,Egana India says, “If you haven’t worn solitaries before, you are missing out on one of the thrills in international fashion. Solitaries make a woman look and feel glamorous and youthful. Blue fire’s solitaire collection caters to the eternal desire of woman to look forever young”. Don’t know whether some of our self-respecting women can take umbrage to the notion of ‘wanting to look forever young’, but as for the glitter of the solitaries goes, that is something to which not many will like to give the go-by.
W for women
Working women’s couture
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W, a new store offering clothes for the working women, has opened its doors in the Capital’s Lajpat Nagar. The store promises to provide clothes to the women who work and need to be dressed for the
occasion. The brand dimensions of W were presented in an entertaining way through the enactment of ‘out of the closet’. The presentation seemed to buttress the claim that W will take away as much stress out of the life of the average urban middle class woman.
Food festThe third year students of the school of Hospitality and Tourism Management –IIMT- Oxford Brookes University, organised a Rajasthani Food Festival as part of their special events series. Held in South City club, the event was attended by more than 300 guests. The club was transformed into a mini Rajasthan, with specially designed Bandhini print overlays, chairs and floral decorations. A puppet show, dancers from the region and shops selling bangles and Rajasthani artefacts all added to the ambience. The special menu consisted of ‘dal-bhati’ and ‘lal maas’.
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