The mood was romantic at The Ball Room in Residency. Old Hindi retro songs such as Khoya Khoya Chand and Aa Janeja played as models, with smouldering eyes and sensuous smiles, sashayed onto the ramp. Flashes from cameras and cell phones went off and images were promptly pasted on FB newsfeeds and Whatsapp. The second edition of Volvo Coimbatore Fashion Week, presented by Storm Fashion Company, opened with the line of Nazia Syed’s collection, The Sweetest Thing . The fashion fest also featured Hari Anand, Jules Idi Amin, Nazia Syed and Jatin Kochhar.
Nazia’s chiffon kurtis, flowing gowns and ghaghras and saris were contemporary and elegant. The colour palette was made up of soft yellows, blues, greens and pinks. “I want people to identify with my clothes,” said the Chennai-based designer. “I wanted to showcase a breezy, feminine and soft look. I have tried to veer off from the usual heavy work saris.”A student of London School of Fashion, Nazia says the elements of Victorian couture such as Peter Pan cuts, pearls and retro style find their way into her collection. She chose the Bollywood songs to add a touch of nostalgia. “These songs also make the women feel beautiful.”
The male models strode in wearing casual, formal and party wear. They modelled the line by Classic Polo. The denims and check shirts found their place along with colourful jeans and cargos. The men explored their dandy side through floral shirts and sleek leather bag accessories. Miss Tourism 2007, Priyanka Shah, showstopper for this collection, waltzed in with Anand Seeya, the manager designing at Classic Polo.
Shoe loveThe shoe line deserves a mention. There were shimmering gold and silver stilettos, worn by the female models. The suede boots and the black leather shoes blended beautifully with the classic denims and the check shirts worn by the men.Minimalism was the highlight on the second day. Two collections were exhibited; one of Jatin Kocchar and other of Hari Anand. Hari’s simple yet grand philosophy dominated his collection. His saris, gowns and skirts came in shades of monochrome, purple and coffee-brown. The black and grey attires were studded with sparkling beads that gave off a subtle sheen. There were wolf whistles and applauses as Hari Anand walked in with guests from Tinsel town, Abhishek Vinod and Poorna.
Abhishek came in a mundu and a black shirt. He wears something similar in Papanasam . “I play Kamal Haasan’s brother-in-law, who is a politician. Hari asked me to sport the same look that I did in the film.” The model-turned actor said Coimbatore was special for him. “I have done more than 15 shows here.”
Minimal and stylishThe traditional sari got a new life with Jatin Kochhar’s line Bleeding Lust . Soft pastels, leopard prints and funky blouses with bold necks added a quirky and contemporary touch to the six yards. Film celebrity and model, Tanvi Vyas was the show stopper for the collection. She was draped in a black sari with a backless blouse, and a choker around her neck. Jatin said his trademark was minimalism. “I believe in the Zen look. If you see my collection it is all black. Just to break the monotony, I have added a leopard print there and a few cuts.” Speaking about the sari, Jatin described it as the ultimate sensuous wear. “I have so many foreign clients who love to wear the sari. But, they do not know how. But, mine are easily wearable; you just need to slip into them like you would, a dress.”
The fashion sale at the Volvo Show Room gave the fashion fans an opportunity to own the designer collection. After Jatin’s show, the Coimbatore crowd broke for dinner and drinks. And a few joined the night party. Meanwhile, at the lobby, budding fashionistas hovered around designers to get quick fashion tips. The models and film celebrities sportingly posed for selfies and group photos. Erine Louis, General Manager of the Residency said that he was happy with the response. “Where else will you find such a beautiful, well-dressed crowd? Coimbatore will soon see one more fashion week,” he promised.
