JJ Vallaya gives feminine twist to men's wear at IBFW

New Delhi: From fusing a sherwani with lehenga and anarkali to teaming up a kurta pyjama with a dupatta, ace designer JJ Vallaya's collection exhibited bold experiments with the men's wear at the BMW India Bridal Fashion Week.

Titled, "The Bolshoi Bazaar", the elaborate line was a combination of Indian and Russian culture. The designer said much of his collection was dedicated to men's outfits.

"Men are true peacocks. Peacock is a male bird. In my 24 years of being around, there has been a tremendous evolution in men's wear.

"Women still wear sarees and lehengas, of course the cuts are changing but men from basic suits and ties are moving to this territory, which is commendable. A significant portion of our collection is dedicated to men," Vallaya said in an interview.

The stage was designed as a snow-rain forest of Russia. "If one goes to Russia and any forest, it will be like this."

Over the course of 20 minutes, Vallaya showcased 45 outfits, which included anarkalis, sarees, sherwani-lehengas, sherwani-anarkalis, sherwani-pyajamas and saree-pyajamis.

An all-black lehenga-choli, a heavily embroidered pink dress, a velvet burgundy anarkali suit, were the highlights of Vallaya's rich and regal line.

The show moved to a haunting, captivating background score, matching the stunning collection.

"The show was like a tale in a snow-rain forest. We went from completely clear sky to mild snowfall to a blizzard and then finally when it clears, you saw a multi-cultural city emerge. It is almost fantasy," Vallaya described.

It took the designer around six-nine months to come up with the collection. "Research work is one of the most important things for me. I worked a lot on this line. It took me six-nine months from conceptualising to putting it together."

On why he chose the Indo-Russian theme, the designer said, "I always mix influences. India remains constant and every other part keeps moving. I intended to mix two very rich cultures in this line, which speaks its own language."

The collection was marked by peculiar golden belts, which enhanced the traditional look of the clothes. "Women love their waists. Also it keeps the hands free, so I think belts become important," Vallaya said.

The last segment of the show featured heavily embellished lehengas and brocade cholis, teamed up with blue capes and a huge crown-like headgear.

Vallaya said the wives of Czars of Russia were his inspiration for the headgears.

"The wives of the Czars in the Russia wore headgears similar to this. They are beautiful," he said.

Vallaya's guests included designers Manish Malhotra, Rohit Bal, Rahul Mishra, and celebrities like entrepreneur Suhel Seth and actress-social activist Nafisa Ali.

For a few minutes during the act, the artificial snow distracted some, Seth in particular, as he looked irritated removing it from his hair and clothes, much to the amusement of others.