E-Paper
Malini Ramani
Three women went looking for God but ended up finding clothes instead! Malini Ramani rocked the ramp with this unusual theme and a collection that was surprisingly wearable and very very funky.
Three women went looking for God but ended up finding clothes instead! Malini Ramani rocked the ramp with this unusual theme and a collection that was surprisingly wearable and very very funky. "The women were so spoilt, they reached the pit of hell," said Ramani.
Maya is the Bombay Bohemian, the new-age chick with lots of goodies but no purpose in life. Once she finds the self-confidence within her, she transforms into a stylish and proud young woman. The models wore strong colous of red, white and black with subtle gold appliqué work.
A surprising change of track for Ramani were the pearl necklaces which are usually associated with subtle elegance, and nothing about Ramani is subtle.
Her playfulness, however, came through with the ruffled sexy blouses and mixing fabrics like corduroy, knits, satin and brocade.
Next came Maria the Carnival Girl who is the virginal schoolgirl who experiences desire for the first time. Maria sheds her schoolgirl image and metamorphoses into a desirable diva. Ramani was in her element in this segment. 60's inspired psychedelic Indo-Westerns with lots of sheen and shine.
Full-waisted lehengas that double as skirts with loads of embellishments on them. The audience was treated to the first set of bikini bottoms on the ramp yet! Sexy dresses with thigh-high slits, flared sleeves that were accessorised with feminine scarves and funky handbags. Funnily, there was still an underlying elegance to the sexy garments.
And last came Tara, the divorcee who is a stylish 'Swami' Guru Gir. Terribly lonely, she goes from Benaras to Bali - looking for something but she doesn't know what. Finally she finds her true calling in the fabric of the sacred.
Temple bells boomed in the background as 'Hare Rama Hare Krishna' came alive in 2005. Hippy hair, marigold necklaces and wild belts accessorised a collection that was all about layering. Dozens of layers of saffron and red chiffon formed asymmetrical dresses. The angrakha necklines on kurtas with mirrorwork on the sleeves were really great.
The makeup by Cory Walia lay emphasis on the eyes with gold shadow and exaggerated lashes. "The lashes was a last-minute surprise by Cory, I just wanted the girls to look absolutely stunning," Ramani said. The hair was quite bohemian - long and curly - apparently the look of the season.
A very hot and hip show that was high on style and even higher on wearability.
THE OTHER VIEW: A portrait of the designer
Arati Thapa/HT City
Malini Ramani opened her Fall/Winter collection at the Lakme India Fashion Week with a collection titled `Carnival Chic'.
The collection showcased three lines titled Maya-Bombay Bohemian, Maria-Carnival Girl and TaraGuru Girl Supreme. A reflection of the designer herself Maya was all about funky, new age, wearable outfits with huge prints on pants, capris, skirts, tops and corsets while Maria showed flirty ruffle skirts, in bright red, fuchsia pink on white background and sexy corsets that can do well as a party wear too.
The Tara collection was reminiscent of the 60s - the hippies who live between Bali and Benaras - which was fun and full of colours ranging from maroon, orange to brown. The collection- retro chic and bohemian was a combination of layered skirts in asymmetrical shapes.
Rate-o-meter
Wearability: 7
Presentation: 6
Front Row: Kamayani and Raja Kanwar, Bina Ramani, Neha Hirani, Ameeta and Chetan Seth
Buzz factor: 7
Late-o-meter: 20 mins
