Fashion's Queen of oomph has done it again. If fashion be a matter of the flesh, then Rina Dhaka's opening show at India Fashion Week 2004 certainly didn't disappoint.
One of India's boldest designers, Rina says this year it was conscious attempt at creating outfits that are sexy, sassy, and fun, but also wearable. According to her: "I have always been criticised for not creating wearable fashion, so this year was a conscious effort to create clothes which are more street-friendly. But there are some who are still not satisfied."
But despite the toned down mood, Rina's IFW collection had a definite sensuous appeal. Dhaka's collection was lusty in its flesh toned and ivory capris, bra tops, skirts and cat suits. The focus was on slinky body fits achieved through stretch knit skirts that skimmed the waist and then erupted into gorgeous volumes. Little ra-ra skirts were worn with tights and easy blouses. A party driven 20s mood came through in her dresses, all jazz music inspired sequining and fringing, with some Paco Rabanne style metal chain-mail looks. She topped it with a range of dresses and skirts that looked like granny's dresses had had a closet affair and got naughty. They were made of a myriad of antique looking fabrics patched together and embellished with laces, sequins, and plenty of glitter. The colours of this range were classic - ivory, sage and lavender.
While there was some excellent texturization - beautiful sequining in silver and gold done into fish scale perfection, use of gold shimmer which is very strong for Spring-Summer 2005, delicately compact mushroom-underside like pleating and joyously colourful patchwork enhanced with wool baubles and seaming - there was little of the vintage Dhaka in sight except the liberal use of pearl jewellery.
{{/usCountry}}While there was some excellent texturization - beautiful sequining in silver and gold done into fish scale perfection, use of gold shimmer which is very strong for Spring-Summer 2005, delicately compact mushroom-underside like pleating and joyously colourful patchwork enhanced with wool baubles and seaming - there was little of the vintage Dhaka in sight except the liberal use of pearl jewellery.
{{/usCountry}}The Delhi designer's foray into menswear was far more promising. The outfits in black and white looked wearable and had clean lines. The stuff was mainly cotton with some coloured embroidery added to offset the monochrome background.
Supermodel Noyonika Chatterjee was undoubtedly the star of the Rina Dhaka show. Dressed in a short body hugging simple sheer dress with metallic printing all over, the dusky beauty took everyone's breath away. The designer agrees: "Noyonika is just fabulous..I love her...she carries my clothes so well!"
Also, Rina focused on the back- by making all of them bare, cleverly mixing an element of 1930's Hollywood glamour with racy spy-girl pizzaz. That's Dhaka doing her thing.