India Couture Week 2014: All things bridal and beautiful
Bollywood stars take to the ramp in golden creations by ace designer Manish Malhotra on Day Five of the Shree Raj Mahal Jewellers India Couture Week 2014.
After a long wait on Day Five of the Shree Raj Mahal Jewellers India Couture Week 2014, ace designer Manish Malhotra treated the guests gathered at Capital's Taj Palace hotel with a splendid show. With three ramps around a beautiful stage lined with flickering candles, the showcase began with models sashaying down the crossing paths in heavily embroidered bridal wear, mainly in shades of gold. Certainly aimed at lavish nuptial affairs and blingy Bollywood weddings, the ensembles included lehengas, saris, embroidered jackets with shararas and anarkali dresses with a generous helping of gold embroidery, mirror work and luxe fabrics.
The women's wear progressed from gold to a rich palette of red, maroon, green, brown and champagne pink. While Malhotra's atypical low-cut backs featured regularly in the garments, special emphasis was also given on the necklines which included zari-embellished polo necks, high-necks and Peter Pan collars. Special vintagestyle shoes in old gold were added details. In comparison, the men's range was better executed, offering both simple renditions as well as elaborate ones. The designs centred on fitted bandhgalas and sherwanis ranging from non-fussy silk designs with embroidered collars to plain black velvet styles to those with ornate foliage patterns across them. Usual for a Malhotra show, plenty of Bollywood faces graced the ramp.
Besides Alia Bhatt and Aditya Roy Kapoor, Huma Qureshi and Urmila Matondkar also did the catwalk. The tall and strapping Aashiqui 2 star looked handsome in a goldembroidered sherwani, cream-coloured palazzo pants and gold juttis while Alia looked elegant in a red and gold lehenga with a scoop neck full-sleeved blouse and net dupatta. Talking to the media, the Bhatt beauty said: "It's like a dream-cometrue for me to walk in Manish's creations.
Two years ago, I was sitting in the audience at his show and Kareena Kapoor was the showstopper and I wondered when I would get to walk for him. I didn't realise how heavy the clothes were until I actually walked in them today." When asked which was her favourite design by him, she said, "The pink lehenga I wore in the 'Radha' song has to be my most memorable creation by Manish." Aditya agreed with the young star, saying it was a big achievement to be Manish's showstopper.