Day Four of Lakme Fashion Week winter-festive 2015 saw models for Masaba Gupta’s On Your Mark collection sashaying down the runway and Monisha Jaising showing on Indian terrain after five years with her Riviera line. International shoe brand, Bugatti, which is sold in 35 countries, showcased their eclectic line of footwear making it a fashionable day from head to toe.
Masaba
Masaba Gupta’s bold-stroked collection at her showing on Saturday afternoon in Mumbai was as distinctively fresh as it was unorthodox, like always. The beguiling and playful line had abstract art, big-headed lollipops, horses and horseshoe motifs on organza, linen, tulle and cotton that bore the unmistakable, and by now, identifiable, Masaba stamp. Red, mustard, burnt orange, white and black comprised her design palette with watercolour splashes and chalk accents merged in with broad and languid brush strokes.
Her On Your Mark line was inspired by the gait and prowess of horses. She must have been in quite an equestrian frame of mind to come up with such a dynamic line of deconstructed coats, baby doll poncho dresses, horse motif capes, one-shoulder tops, saris, cropped pants, sheer pants, backless numbers and asymmetric shirts. The last segment of the show was awash with a blood-red hue, the very same shade that dots her label, making a dramatic impact.
She had Sooraj Pancholi, the latest Bollywood debutant and son of actors Aditya Pancholi and Zarina Wahab, walking as her showstopper. He wore a two-buttoned black and white printed jacket over a classic white shirt and dark trousers. Shahid Kapoor and his wife, Mira Rajput, wearing a Masaba ensemble, added star appeal with just their presence in the front row, such is the lure of Bollywood. And the track that comprised the background score of her show was a contemporary spin on the Lakdi Ki Kaathi Kaathi Pe Ghoda track from the Shabana Azmi and Naseeruddin Shah film Masoom that oddly complemented her fashionable, not to mention winning, equestrian pursuits on the runway.
Bugatti
Bugatti, of the European shoe brand that AstorMueller AG in Hunenberg, Switzerland, exclusively holds the license for, showcased their footwear line at LFW. Rugged ankle boots, derbies and sneakers for men in shades of blue and tan and heeled boots, pumps, lace-ups and comfortable moccasins for women in champagne, taupe and cerise made up their collection made from Italian tanned Napa crust and full-grained leather. Bollywood star Arjun Rampal, who hasn’t made any news with his films of late, walked down the runway in brown Bugatti brogues to a delighted audience. Once a model, always a model.
Monisha Jaising
Monisha Jaising’s show on Saturday night in Mumbai was a highly anticipated one as she was showing on Indian terrain after five years and the Indian fashion world’s biggest export to the runways of Milan, Paris, London and New York, model Ujjwala Raut, was walking for her.
Largely inspired by the French actress Brigitte Bardot, whose beach side shenanigans and photo-ops in Cannes and the French Riviera in the ‘60s and ‘70s are legendary, Jaising’s line was brazen and unapologetically glamorous. From kurtis to flared trousers and flirty pop dresses, racer back dresses and halters to sequined blazers and kaftans to mirror-work swimwear and red carpet gowns, she went all out on bringing the ‘70s back.
Raut walked onto the runway in a sheer, shimmering, full-sleeved gown that did justice to the sexy, Riviera vibe that Jaising was going for in the collection.
— Rubina A. Khan is a Mumbai-based writer.
