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| Manish with Shah Rukh and Deepika on the ramp |
The curtains came down on the PCJ Delhi Couture Week on Sunday night. Manish Malhotra played Pied Piper to not one but two showstoppers at the finale!
The inspiration
“India in the 1930s. A country trying to find her voice, the age of opulence and affluence, the age of viceroys and the cross-cultural ties that created a unique genre of fashion and culture. I imagined a maharani, dressed in a layered lehnga embellished with antique gold and wearing heirloom jewellery,” said Manish. The result was a couture line that “was not an out-and-out bridal collection”.
The show
White lilies, rajnigandha and white roses. Candle stands, velvet sofas with fringed cushions, hardwood salon-style runway, town hall-like pillars... it was a decadent set-up for Manish’s finale. The audience took their seats; everyone settled down well after 10.30pm. ‘Where’s Shah Rukh?’ was the buzz in the air. Word was out that the Bollywood badshah was coming tonight. Will he walk with Deepika? Will he watch? Where will he sit? Will he give a photo op? Questions and more questions and no answers.
The show finally began. A stream of red appeared. Those girls came swathed in the MM school of style. Unapologetically glamorous. Plunging necklines, super-plunging backlines. Floor-gazing hemlines.
Christian Louboutin specially created a collection of shoes to go with these clothes. The red soles peeped out of some outfits. The hair and make-up simple, a ’30s-style updo and wine mouths.
The ladies in red gave way to his signature nudes and champagne. French lace mingled with antique gold embroidery. Kashmiri threadwork was juxtaposed with bling borders. Velvet balanced with tulle, the Anarkalis had lace-edged bottoms peeking out, a Chantilly drape trailing along. The collection had sparkle and shine, in a yesteryear sort of way. The so-modern silhouettes screamed wear-me-now.
The showstoppers
Chennai Express co-stars Shah Rukh Khan and Deepika Padukone. The last time SRK walked for Manish was at Lakme Fashion Week in Mumbai. His hand was in a sling and he had worn gold and black, KKR’s then colours. This time, he came back on the ramp for a photocall, to show his support. His Chennai Express leading lady, looking lovely in a navy lehnga, towered inches over him. Together they walked in with man of the moment, Manish, and Delhi erupted in excitement.
Manish had dressed Deepika for her debut film Om Shanti Om. A blockbuster called Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani under his belt, next in line is Chennai Express. The former model doesn’t need any ramp pointers. She comes on like a pro but it’s hard to keep a straight face when the audience goes so crazy. Because “you can’t help but smile”. Deepika dimpled.
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stars talk style
SRK: “I can’t even pronounce couture. (Turns to Deepika, asks her to pronounce it. She dimples. Says ‘couture’. Rolls her ‘r’ a bit). I like the bridal part though. I think women look beautiful as brides. As for my style, I don’t have one. I wear Dolce & Gabbana. And black.”
Deepika: “My personal style has evolved over the years. It’s simple and classic, and I don’t like to experiment. It’s about wearing your personality. You can know what’s in style, but you should wear it only if it suits you.”
He said: “The Telegraph! Then we already know each other!” I smiled: “Yes, home team. ”He smiled.I almost passed out.The He is Shah Rukh Khan.The Me is starstruck.The He punctuates the sentences with a “darling”. OMG.
