Mumbai, Oct 9 (IANS) There was more couture and no Bollywood on the third day of the HDIL-India Couture Week as Rohit Bal’s splendid designs got a standing ovation from the audience for his Persian-inspired magical collection ‘Khakastri’.

As grand as it could get, the ramp Friday evening had a small artificial pond in the middle with rose petals and a subtle backdrop decorated with creme curtains.

Bal, also known as the master of fabric and fantasy, presented real couture with great detailed work on most of his garments.

Inspired by the Persian work of ‘Khakastari’, which means colour of ash, the line had colour tones like beige, white, earthy browns, black, maroon and electric blue.

The line had long jackets with detailed zari work, pleats, lotus motifs, intricate embroidery and they were teamed up with long gowns, giving the whole line a Persian-like feel.

Bal had interesting waistcoats, long and shorts jackets and dhotis in varied versions for men too.

The line also had a few non-wearable garments that showcased Bal’s creative best…and the audience was mesmerized by almost every piece on display.

But Bal’s show can’t be without drama, so at the end of it all, four models – all dressed in white – walked into the small pool and soon Bal, dancing and singing joined them. The crowd stood up to watch this magnificent presentation of design, art and drama.

With no Bollywood celebrity as his show-stopper, Bal’s splendid designs spun the magic and proved that if your designs have the weight, one doesn’t need a show-stopper.