The bling land pops up once in a year, and the dazzle is uncanny. From the glittering ramps to bejeweled beings and glowing hearts, the second edition of Synergy 1 Delhi Couture Week 2011 traversed a glitzy journey of high fashion, cruising through troubled waters to the land of mystique.
Twelve flourished couturiers along with a brigade of tall and slender seductresses invoked Dionysus, and the four days of revelry whispered the tales of seduction, Indian royalty and French luxury; evoked nostalgia; hailed photography; called for inner peace. The ornate backdrops and rich elaborately done sets, sometime adorned with the revolving wheels of time and the other with the flowers, stuffed animal figurines, bells and Victorian antiques, the progressing shows kept infusing drama and life galore on the ramp whereas the click frenzied photographers, sniggering critics, scoop hungry journos, business sniffers, conscious cross-legged-twiddling-with-hair fashion enthusiasts and muttons-dressed-as-lambs socialites, retained pizzazz off the ramp. 
Bellwether-ed by Mr. Sunil Sethi (undoubtedly, titanium toed), and his Harvard-ly management, the couture week was in its grander, better and more glamorous avatar this time. Enticingly flavoring the confection of couture were the royal halls of The Taj Palace; dim yellow lights, hard-to-budge ornate doors, dangling chandeliers, candle beds and torches on the walls. Though jinxed by front row brawls and thus grudges, less-seats-more-to-accommodate issues, delayed shows and bridal versus couture debate; spare Anju Modi Ashima-Leena heated verbal volleys, but all in all nothing seemed undermining the motive of this luxury stirring jamboree.
Couture as being synonymous with extravagance and glamour, the Bollywood expectedly landed on with its array of juvenile young and faded to falling stars, stoking excitement and buzz throughout the four days. Madhuri Dixit graced front row for Varun Bahl whereas Sonam Kapoor and Sonakshi Sinha strutted for Manish Malhotra and Shantanu & Nikhil, respectively. Designer Manav Gangwani encrusted blinding bling on and off the ramp with Fardeen Khan, Zayed Khan, Soha Ali Khan and Dino Morea along with dozen others occupying an entire row. The Couture-cum-Bollywood festivities finally concluded with Arjun Rampal walking for Rohit Bal.
Unlike last year, couture week this time was more versatile and eclectic with the designers putting forth their best in terms of creativity, distinctness and drama. With the designers poetically expressing their love for Swarovski Elements and economically for bridal wear, the couture week as a whole turned out to be a fruitful affaire, serving delicacies for every taste. Structured gowns in western silhouettes strutted with very Indian heavily embellished and embroidered lehangas, and flowing anarkalis while mingling umpteen influences and traditions, making whole week a melting pot of cultures Palazzo pants, puffed shoulders, embroidered hems and embellished bodices appeared frequently on the ramp. Dramatic big headgears, formidable heavy make-up and loads of accessories glaringly inspired gape and justified the couture. Rohit Bal culminated the four days of sartorial celebrations with breath bating ensembles along with the sprinkle of fragrant flowers bidding adieu to fashion lovers to appear again after a year with new hopes and surprises.
Posted by : Chaitanya Garg at 12:50 AM
