The Wills Lifestyle India Fashion Week Summer-Spring 2012 culminated with designer duo Rohit Gandhi-Rahul Khanna’s ‘Theatre of Illusions.’
After travelling down the Spring-Summer lanes of ‘digital romance’, rustic routes of ‘my village’, rhapsody of ‘Tamasha’ and aestheticism of Tagore’s ‘Poetry’; the finale show of the Wills Lifestyle India Fashion Week Summer-Spring 2012 by designer duo Rohit Gandhi-Rahul Khanna opened the gates (though a little late) of ‘Theatre of Illusions’ to a curious and an inquisitive audience.
Atmospherics of reflections and refraction
The enchantment of illusions came alive once the mirror lit runway came into view. Gigantic mirror walls strategically placed at the entrance resembled that of a theatre’s where scene sequences are separated and get unfurled with withdrawing and closing of curtains. The elevated ramp equipped with a smoke curtain witnessed the models cutting through the mystic air like a fantasy.
An opening dance sequence performed by veteran choreographer Shiamak Davar’s protege Aneesha Dalal and a complimenting musical chord struck by pianist Anil Chawla formed a seamless prelude to an actual theatrical engagement.
Series of LED TVs fixed on either side of the seating furniture showed eccentric yet stylish moving images of models while the symphony of violin strains in the background infused the collection with the much required bling of theatrical imagery and audio-visual appeal.
Weaving a colourless Summer-Spring
The designer duo did not replicate a colour palette on their designs usually associated with spring-summer. Instead, sombre and monochromatic tones of black, grey and white with occasional bursts of coral and turquoise were immensely relied upon to redefine the season otherwise associated with bright hues and vibrant shades.
However, this is also true that to be suddenly exposed to a ‘colourless’ Summer-Spring representation in fashion takes time to have an easy acceptance. So one can safely presume that even though the cuts, designs and silhouettes were high on sophistication, technical skill and ethereal quality, the Summer-Spring motif as far as the colour sequence goes, seemed to be displayed as an ‘illusion’.
Ruffled and crinkled skirts of varied heights, butterfly shaped drapes around tops, dhoti-like patterns experimented over loose pants and skirts were some trends to watch out for. Swim wear was rediscovered this fashion season with every designer weaving the beach wear in innovative styles and colours. Designer duo Rohit Gandhi-Rahul Khanna for instance incorporated a lot of metallic and layering in organza, silk yarns, voiles, mesh and tulles.
Live opera on stage hit the right note
Theatrical resonances made their presence felt again at the middle of a shifting segment of clothing line-up when live opera singer, Christine Singh, gifted with a mellifluous voice texture took to the centre-stage as the models sauntered down armoured with panache and oomph.
Jackets embossed in wide gold borders teamed with sultry transparent tops worn beneath, slim-fit pants in razor-sharp cuts, blazers and coats pasted with pipe-like borders on outlines, flowy kaftans and jumpsuits concealing the seductive bikini wear in shades of white and black were some of the highlights of the dramatic collection.
Sequinned necklines, tuft of threads and knotted ribbons stitched all over the attire and manifest in corsets, tubes, tunics and asymmetric drapes credited the clothing range with an impression of high-society fashion.
Accessories
Strapped leather anklets, large width plastic bangles, satin belts tied around and tucked neatly at one side of the waist and high heel wedges and stilettos enhanced the entrancing collection.
All’s well that ends well
As Rohit and Rahul were ushered onto the stage for their customary bow, the music reached a peak and the models broke into a playful jig with the proud duo.
Post show a content designer duo explained their use of metallic and sombre shades in Spring-Summer collection and said, “Blacks and metallic conveyed a union of strength with the feminine and that justified our sublime take on the season’s wear.”
Finale glitterati
The final day gathered a massive crowd including the dedicated lot of prospective buyers, fashion icons of the likes of Varun Bahl, Rohit Bal, Rina Dhaka and J J Valaya; media honchos, Times Group MD Vineet Jain, fashion editor Vinod Nair and others from Delhi’s social circle.
