New Delhi, Aug 30 (IANS) Touching, ogling, throwing passes on the runaway – that’s how celebrated designer Rohit Bal aka Gudda brought the curtains down with the grande finale of the second edition of the Van Heusen India Men’s Week (VHIMW) late Sunday. And joining the naughty league was Bollywood hunk John Abraham.
Kicking off with his signature vivacious, whimsical and Shakespearean drama, dot two hours late, the collection titled ‘Sharaarat’ was every word of it.
The drama started much before the show when it was declared to be a restricted media and guests area – all thanks to the golden headed, fairer-than-thou designer’s perfectionist attitude, who got the main show area and the adjoining areas sealed with burly bouncers as a blockade.
And when it all began, there were well-tailored curtains covering the gathering, the area filled with the aroma of rose petals kept in huge water cups over the ramp and a creamy white runaway floating among the boundary of shimmering light bulbs.
The setting was no less than a Victorian park filled with over a dozen metallic trees and the backdrop was cushioned with the golden aura of barbed wires. Then, there were pairs of four symmetrical classic mirrors guarding their bigger counterparts, on each side of the platform.
The collection – unbiased to any season – drew inspiration from a decadent India with a strong ensemble of western sensibilities. The line simply put Gudda’s motif ‘boys-will-be-boys’ on the runaway with an inundated raunchy energy and wicked vibes between the boys, who roamed around the park flirting with their male counterparts.
There was touching and caressing and there were ogles. Noteworthy was the presence of designer Varun Bahl, who sashayed the ramp in a bluish sherwani.
The audience came down on their knees when came the showstopper John Abraham in a black velvet blazer that boasted of an embroidered peacock spreading its wings, jodhpuris and aviators. The model-turned-actor left women gasping for breath when he returned without the blazer in his see through stalking t-shirt.
And like always, then came Bal dancing, throwing rose petals at the media and the audience which got him and his collection a standing ovation with an electrifying applause.
Expecting something unpredictable out of the designer, he vamoosed with his showstopper with no sign – calling off the post-show conference.
Anarkalis for men, red turbans from the Thar, intricate antique silver jewellery paired with chic and contemporary jackets, handcrafted embellishments – the line had quiet moments too with black and ivory tones.
The fabrics saw extensive use of muslin, tafeeta, silk, satin, chanderi and textures like shredded chiffon, crinkled muslin, and treated leather.
Known for his fashion fetes, the likes where drop dead gorgeous models strut their stuff on a poolside ramp and take the final bow in a pool (Pearls Infrastructure Delhi Couture Week 2010), Bal sure knows how to keep his admirers living in a utopia with disbelief.
As for the collection, this one’s got fruit that can be caked… oops, baked.
