Bollywood actress Deepika Padukone may have been the showstopper in G. Pia Fleming's collection at the Wills Lifestyle India Fashion Week (WIFW) but the designer's show itself was no less than a Broadway musical.
And rightly so, as Fleming was inspired for her red-carpet collection by the Oscar nominated movie Nine, a vibrant musical.
In pictures: Wills India Fashion Week
"I was greatly inspired by Broadway musicals and Italian opera for this show. I wanted to bring in an aspect of retro Hollywood glam on stage, a little bit of New York to India. I had recently seen Nine and was totally enamoured by it. So this idea of getting dancers set in," Fleming, who designs under the label BIAN, told reporters after her show on Saturday night.
The show had seductive chair dancers to begin with. Frank Sinatra's New York, New York played as models sashayed down the ramp flaunting sleek hourglass sheaths, flirty full-skirted cocktail dresses and sophisticated gowns and jackets with embellishments.
Designer Namrata Joshipura too showcased her autumn-winter collection after Fleming and received much appreciation for it. It was green laser lights cutting all across the ramp that brought in the drama in Joshipura's show.
"All this was done to create a mood for the show. I would rather call it ambience. The lasers supported the aesthetic, sharp and contemporary clothes that were part of my collection," Joshipura said.
Her collection was defined for a woman with a sense of purpose, sensuality, accomplishment, love and ambition. It was dominated by colours like graphite, winter moss, fiery red and blues on jackets, dresses and skinny pants.
Fleming's garments were detailed using rich hues of emerald, pea green, blue and tanzanite. Fabrics like washed velvets, chamois, organza, tulle, textured satin and lace were used with trims of fur and leather.
Fitted silhouettes, flirty cocktail dresses and understated goddess gowns studded the ramp which were teamed with jackets, boleros and capes.
Padukone, who walked the ramp for both designers, said their designs were completely different from each other and she liked them both. "Pia's collection is girly, flowy with pastels and greys. The mood for her show was very dreamy. Whereas Namrata's stuff was stronger and higher on attitude," the actress said.
