Spectacular curtain raiser gives a sneak peek to fashion week!

Mumbai: How does one describe a show so magnificent in a few hundred words? Adjectives are not enough, for when Rohit Bal, the Master of Haute Couture Chic presents a show; the audience has no option but to applaud every entry, for each ensemble is a work of art that should be preserved and savoured by generations of fashion devotees. Rohit Bal opened the Lakmé Fashion Week Winter/Festive 2011 season with his magnificent “Shaanti” collection at the off-site Tote Show in front of a deliriously happy audience, which was left breathless by the beauty of his creations. The pristine white interiors of the venue were appropriately decorated to match the theme of the collection. Bare branches were draped with bunches of Mogra Gajras and baskets of the flowers lined the ramp. The air had the soothing heady fragrant perfume as the audience settled in their allotted seats. The venue that was house full with room for standing only had many waiting outside to get a glimpse of the grand show. From the first entry the applause never ceased till the show ended. Grandeur, style and intense detailing for each creation turned into a labour of love from Rohit. Opening with a tasseled yoke ivory multi appliquéd border floor length ensemble, he followed it with an alternating net and cutwork diaphanous lehenga and voluminous skirts, as the show moved from one stunning entry to another. Swirling paneled floor length coats, glittering floor skimming gowns, the bronze kamarbund with trails of gold streamers on the lehenga, the intricately crafted antique gold corsets, the heavily textured halter gown with wine and black embroidery, the cutwork aprons with flares of black net peeping from the side, the beaded fringed shoulder interest for an almost Spanish inspired gown, the many net or velvet heavily embroidered floor length coats, the dazzling kurta jackets, the sexy will-power gown with embroidery, the lush flared horizontal ribbed sheer skirt - the list could go on as each piece had to be seen to be believed. Adding a touch of nostalgia, Rohit had his famous multi-tiered floor length kurtas in shades of wine, black and beige with sensational heavily embroidered long coats. Men’s wear was brief with wine and black floral embroidered sherwanis and Jodhpuri jackets in ivory, or just royal blue and black velvet jackets with multi floral placement embellishments and edged with triangular insets. Embellishments and some prints were lavish in gold, silver, velvet, and cutwork, hints of crochet, appliqué with flowers, leaves, peacocks, and roosters being the favoured motifs. It was an ingenious use of traditional crafts with ethnic as well as western silhouettes while zippers played an important role. The melange of different colours and embroidery came together seamless for the dazzling creations. Heavily textured fabrics and silhouettes that encompassed metres of net, organza, lace, velvet and silk were used creatively to create magic on the ramp. To match the Spanish look of the collection gold coils placed at an angle for the models’ hairdos, added to the drama and grace of the garments. The show stopper was the handsome Bollywood star, Arjun Rampal who cheerfully strutted down the catwalk in ivory pants, a zippered biker jacket worn over a long sleeved Tee with the word HERO glittering on the front. Taking his bow to thunderous applause, Rohit Bal showered the audience with the Mogra flowers from the baskets on the ramp. What a show! What a beginning! Lakmé Fashion Week Winter/Festive 2011 is going to really rock the fashion world when it starts. Bureau Report