Fashion - Rohit Bal stole the entire HDIL India Couture week

Rohit Bal stole the entire HDIL India Couture Week with a show that blended surprise with flamboyance, with very wearable clothes that would do any wearer proud.
The drama quotient was kept at a high pitch, with classic silhouettes interspersed with the fantastic and heavily-worked ensembles alternating with smoothly fitted, layered gowns.
Burnished silver rosettes on silver, copper gota and dull gold were used effectively in saris, skirts, and gowns. Coloured velvet panels—inspired by perhaps, Jacob’s coat of many colours—were a recurring theme through the evening’s show, and could be seen on jackets and lehengas.
There was the token nod to the bridal client, with zardozi sherwanis and embellished salwars, and even a velvet dhoti.
The men proved that much of what he showed could be unisex, the sherwanis came across as effectively on the women as it did on the androgynously made up men, who were spared the nose rings and the sindoor in the hair this time but sported the same coiffeured hair as the women.
Gold, red, and black, with embroidery setting off the textures, showed off the perfection of the gowns. The showstopper was, of course, Vijender Singh, who looked very dapper in his black sherwani with little lines ziz-zagging through it, and when Gudda danced a jig and walked up the ramp with the Olympic star, it was a mood hard to beat, and a fitting finale to the week.
Earlier, Manish Malhotra showed a very typical bridal line, with the models made up as brides complete with bridal bangles and alta on the feet.
Benarasi silk and brocade mingled with velvet and silk, and there were the many many lehengas with cholis and dupattas, or with long jackets that would definitely have been booked before the show ended.
The men’s line that he sent out was really interesting, with textured sherwanis, and coats, in subtle panelling, well-fitted, sober and very elegant.
We also liked the look created by a very ornate neckline and a sari on dull slate that had a heavy border only waist upwards, and was completely unembellished otherwise. It was quite a conversation piece.ssaran@dnaindia.net