Fashion weak on Day 1

The 15th edition of the much awaited Wills Lifestyle India Fashion Week was poised for a crackling start with accessory designer Shilpa Chavan’s show ‘Littleshilpa’. Designer Nida Mahmood was next in the line-up. The passes were collected and scribes had assembled outside the Main Show Area (MSA) waiting to gain entry, when news of a brief delay sprung up. “It’s a routine happening on Day 1 of any fashion week,” journalists were heard discussing. And why not, “It’s only a matter of 20 minutes,” as the WIFW crew told us.

12 noon Moving out from MSA : We were trying to tell models and fashion designers apart from journos who had turned up rather fashionably themselves. Small wonder, a colleague complained of shutterbugs trying to get her frame the moment she stepped out of her car! At this point all and sundry were happily oblivious of what Day 1 of WIFW had in store. For there was much to discuss and speculate, from the new venue – how it was convenient for some and inconvenient to the rest, to which celebrities were to ‘showstop’, the designers to watch out for, etc. While most sat soaking up the exuberant atmosphere, designer Leena of the Ashima-Leena label passed in a flash with young Masaba in tow, dressed in a diaphanous white cotton outfit.

Spotted scuttling to the backstage was supermodel Diandra Soares in her latest bald avatar, clad in pink hot pants and tee with a huge handbag dangling from one slender shoulder (by the way, did anyone notice that trendy gold nose stud she was sporting with élan). The said twenty minutes had long passed, and with unabated curiosity we continued our quest of locating designers, models, basically every who-is-who.

Ritu Kumar sat sipping coffee with another designer at Olive, the café lounge done up in an attractive Mediterranean style. Fashion diva Nandita Mahtani looked suave in a grey outfit and bright pink strapped slippers, as she talked to guests.

2.15 pm Why is there a delay : The media centre was buzzing with anxious media men wanting an explanation for the delay. After much speculation and probing, it turned out that the event was planned without a ‘no objection certificate’ from the Delhi Fire Service department, and subsequently the Delhi Police. Ostensibly, the latter had turned up in full force to put a spanner in the event until all the papers were in place. Even now the media managers of FDCI kept promising that the show will begin in a couple of hours. Disgruntled and exhausted from the long wait, we downed more cups of coffee, and looked about in anticipation.

When we asked ‘Wills Twitter Face’ Farah Khan Ali on what she thought about the chaos and the resultant delay, she said with her trademark nonchalance, “Oh, it is all a part and parcel of a big event. There are some great shows lined up for the day and we can wait some more.” Then, has she started tweeting yet? “Well, not yet, I will soon go and look for a wi-fi connection,” comes her spontaneous reply. Farah in her purple Nandita Mahtani number looked a show stealer, which she coordinated well with a golden Walter Steiger’s bag and golden sandals. Flamboyantly acknowledging complements she said, “Nandita’s designs are fashionable, feminine and flirtatious, just like Farah.” Not to mention, the delicate piece of jewellery around her neck is self designed. So, which designers will she be watching out for this fashion week? “I am looking forward to Ranna Gill, Ritu Beri and JJ Valaya’s shows,” she shares.

Enclosed by a swarm of shutterbugs was supermodel Sheetal Mallar busy getting her lovely curly locks styled by hair expert Sapna Bhavnani. Sapna herself was quite a display of curious body art, and sported pink-streaked cropped hair. So, what made this model turn photographer? “I like photography, have shot some documentaries and art photographs in the past. Thought of pursuing this side of me further for a behind the scene dope,” says Sheetal looking as gorgeous as ever in a pretty black figure-flattering dress. Those beige gladiator sandals complemented her dress well while making a heavy statement. Would she call herself fashion conscious? “Not at all. I wear clothes I feel comfortable in; it could be a dress, jeans and t-shirt or shorts. I dress up according to my mood and the weather. Though I love dresses best,” she adds as an afterthought.

5.00 pm Time to go home : The sun outside was beginning to relinquish. Good news was yet to come our way. A mild breeze had picked up in the little garden where jaded models and journos were smoking away to great glory. Just then, in walked designer JJ Valaya sporting Ray Ban shades, a summery white shirt, his trademark pony tail. “Day 1’s last show is mine. Please do come for it. Though I wouldn’t like to talk much about my range, all I can say is that the collection is based on a dream,” says he. Does the delay not put him out? “It is the calm before the storm. I am confident the show will happen and it will go well,” he assures.

As we walked back to the Fiama di Wills lounge, model Indrani Das Gupta wearing full makeup, perhaps in preparation for the upcoming shows, was seen scurrying to the backstage. Nida Mahmood waited, distressed and disillusioned. While supermodel Jesse Randhawa strode in looking confident. In the interim, designer Puneet Nanda for Satya Paul told the media that he has calling off his show and the day too. We managed to ask designer Rocky S a few questions on his collection. “I will be showing a traditional range, not only for the bride but clothes that can be worn at family gatherings, marriages, engagement parties, receptions and sangeet. The colours are traditional, the cuts modern, for women who are young at heart,” he explains. His showstopper for 26th evening will be the mother-daughter duo Hema Malini and Esha Deol.

All aspirations for Day 1 bit the dust after Sunil Sethi, President FDCI walked in to announce the cancellation of all shows. Reckon most of us had anticipated this. A rather unusual Day 1 of a FW – the first till now, and hopefully the last as well.