(From top): A part of Ravi Bajaj?s new menswear line at Le Caf?; Kailash Surendranath, guests Neha and Suresh Miranda, Namrata Shirodkar and Aarti Surendranath (left to right) at the Pure Poison launch; Models in Satya Paul saris at the grand finale of Think Pink

Fashion for a cause took centrestage in Mumbai even as an international perfume launch had the city?s glitterati up and about. Back in the Capital, a noted designer launched a caf? with a difference

In the pink of things

The grand finale of Think Pink by Satya Paul in aid of the Women?s Cancer Initiative Tata Memorial Hospital (WCI-TMH) at The Taj in Mumbai left little doubt in anyone?s mind that the city is one with a big heart. After travelling to Delhi, Calcutta and Bangalore, the show?s final installment of high fashion helped raise funds for WCI-TMH, the brainchild of Devika Bhojwani.

Organised by Sharmilla Khanna, the event kicked off with a round of cocktails followed by an Art Walk at the poolside. Next up was the main event: the fashion finale and this was capped by the charity auction that saw the clothes showcased going under the hammer. All proceeds went to the Women?s Cancer Initiative Tata Memorial Hospital with several celebrities coming forward for the cause. The sponsors included Daks, Mont Blanc Pens, Abercromie Kent India Ltd., Spaces, Ishi Jewellers, Apparao Galleries and Taj Mahal Hotels and the event also took in a telling audio-visual on breast cancer. Actress Jaya Bachchan, who was the guest of honour, donated Rs 1 lakh on the spot and was also part of the audio-visual presentation put together by Devika Bhojwani.

Mandira Bedi conducted the auction and the fashion showing saw several celebrities walking the ramp flaunting creations from the Think Pink collection. There was Malaika Arora Khan, Dino Morea, Queenie Dhody, Aishwarya Rai and even first-timer Ajay Devgan. This was followed by a sequence, which had former models like Esther Daswani, Anna Bredmeyer, Sheila Pasricha and Nandini Sen gracing the catwalk, proving that they still have what it takes. Also making an appearance on stage was actor Sanjay Dutt who spoke about his beloved mother Nargis Dutt and wife Richa Dutt both of whom he lost to cancer. The highlight of the extravaganza was gorgeous actress Aishwarya Rai who presented the showstopper: a fuchsia polka dot sari.

A star-studded event, the Satya Paul show had some of Mumbai?s biggest names in attendance including designers Abu-Jani, actresses Kajol and Lillete Dubey and ghazal maestro Jagjit Singh.

Scentsational

As Mumbai?s beautiful people rubbed elbows at the Hilton Towers in Mumbai recently, the atmosphere at the rooftop venue was heady and infused with the beautiful fragrance of one of the world?s most famous perfumes. That?s because after almost two decades, the house of Christian Dior launched the sequel to its most famous fragrance, Poison. Called Pure Poison, the perfume was launched amidst much fanfare by Dior?s Indian distributor Euro Traditions.

The entire rooftop was done up in tones of pristine white and mysterious black, resembling a real-life chessboard. The evening opened with a scintillating dance performance by the Terence Lewis Dance Company, which metaphorically explained the new fragrance by showing the victory of feminine seduction. Pure Poison is priced at Rs 4,450 for a 100ml bottle.

The launch was followed by a party where Christian Dior?s delegates took time off to mingle with the media and guests. Said Dior official Nevine Thierman, ?The last time we launched Poison decades back, it sold one bottle every 20 seconds. Hopefully, this time, we?ll break that record.? Inviting the guests to try out the new fragrance, Nevine also unveiled the Pure Poison advertising campaign, which was met with much appreciation.

Unlike most events held in South Mumbai, the Christian Dior Pure Poison launch turned out to be quite a crowdpuller with even Bollywood bigwigs dropping in. Besides the usual party animals like adman Kailash Surendranath and wife Aarti, theatre personality Devika Bhojwani, Raja Dodhy, and models Nina Manuel, Katrina Kaif, Candice Pinto and Madhu Sapre, actors Bobby Deol, Namrata Shirodkar and Saif Ali Khan were also spotted doing the rounds.

Caf? Cult

They came for an espresso, and they never left? ? remember this famous caf? quote? Well, fashionista Ravi Bajaj recently launched Le Caf?, a coffeeshop, along this line. And if you had a mouthful of chef Ritu Dalmia?s chocolate brownies and bacon quiches, you would stay on, too. Leafy surroundings that evoke memories of a Parisian brasserie and a ceiling adorned with Italian frescoes for that classic touch make the new outlet a perfect place to kick back and dig into the sumptuous dishes on offer ? Turkey artichokes, Asian Sesame Chicken, Paninis and Fandango salad ? for between Rs 300 to 500 per head.

While the airy caf? is the hot draw on the top floor of Bajaj?s chic Menswear Emporio, the ground floor and first floor offers you an entire range of his menswear. Says Bajaj, ?Over the past few years, our menswear has emerged with three distinct looks. The Emporio houses each category independently.? Right from leisure and eveningwear options, comprising suits, jackets, kurtas, sherwanis, knits, shoes, belts and ties, the visitor has a refreshing alternative to formal officewear. Designer Suneet Verma, a close friend of Bajaj, says: ?Ravi has always been in charge of my clothes. His personalised touch finds expression in the caf? too. The ambience is like a dream. For the first time I have seen a caf? which makes a lifestyle statement while serving good food at the same time.?

Model Rajat Raina, MP Jai Panda and Pizza Express owner Lali Singhania were among the celeb circuit soaking in the caf? spirit.

Photographs by Gajanan Dudhalkar and Rupinder Singh