Crystals, sequins and beads. Bold colours. Indo-Western cuts. Manish Malhotra designs dazzle at Dubai bride show
The tenth edition of The Bride Show Dubai opened on Tuesday with a dazzling show by leading Bollywood designer Manish Malhotra. As expected, Malhotra's latest bridalwear collection was glamorous and colourful.
His vibrant palette included flaming reds and oranges, verdant greens, festive pinks and various hues of blue with plenty of gold and glitter.
The garments combined Indo-Western silhouettes with traditional Indian embroidery and ornamentation.
Silk and chiffon skirts in various cuts were coupled with sexy velvet corsets and halter tops; and long brocade jackets worn over flowing chiffon lehengas gave a new look to traditional Indian bridal wear. Also on display was a range of evening gowns and dresses for the bridal trousseau.
The garments were richly embellished with floral motifs, gold sequins and bugle beads. As usual, the designer's blend of colours and fabrics was eye catching.
Pink roses embroidered on a blue skirt, red satin lining peeping from underneath a malachite green net dupatta and a nice interplay of various shades of pink in an outfit were typical Manish Malhotra signatures. His use of animal print panels and pleated inserts in some of the skirts and dresses was a nice touch.
Showstopper
Despite his rainbow palette, the designer's showstopper was in white and gold. Bollywood star and Malhotra's favourite muse, Urmila Matondkar, walked out in the beautifully embroidered fitted skirt and corset to enthusiastic applause from the audience.
The surprise appearance of Arjun Rampal on the ramp was greeted with even more applause. The suave model-turned-actor wore stylish stubble and a simple blue pleated sherwani with a maroon lining.
The designer
Manish Malhotra has over 15 years of experience as a costume designer for Bollywood films and has won several awards.
He has also designed for international celebrities such as Michael Jackson, Jean Claude Van Damme, Reese Witherspoon and Naomi Campbell.
He opened his flagship store - Manish Malhotra - in Dubai last year and has added a line of jellabiyas, shaylas and abayas for his Arab clientele.
"I have designed this collection especially for The Bride Show Dubai with my Arab clientele and the city's cosmopolitan community in mind," he said.
"This collection is inspired by Indian culture but I have contemporised it for the modern bride who yearns to look different on her special day."
The bridal collection displayed on the ramp is available at the Manish Malhotra stall. It will be available at his Dubai store in a few months.
