Howling chants, nude skull-caps, models with beige make-up walking the ramp like zombies. Ashish and Smita Soni's show on the opening night of the Lakme India Fashion Week evoked mixed reactions from the crowd.
Front-row occupant, Ra-ymond's Gautam Singhania, loved the quilted jackets and fitted pants. "I have already decided the pieces I want," he said. And if Singhania wants to wear Soni's clothes, choreographer Ha-rmeet Bajaj found them unwearable. "There was fine detailing, but I don't think the clothes were pret. And why didn't the models have any colour on their face?" she wondered.
The lack of colour was all over, including the layered skirts with black, sombre greys and dull blues dominating the ramp. And if globally the beaming bride signals the end of a show, Ashish and Smita's show-stopper Diandra Soares walked down in a black top, a minuscule skirt and a matching train.
The last word on the show came from designer Aki Narula. "When my show is fun and funky, the Press says it's too frivolous. And when Ashish does a show where the mood is serious and the emphasis is on the clothes, there still are complaints. How can one keep everyone happy?"
Just keep showing us great clothes during the fashion week, what else!