Date:31/10/2005 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2005/10/31/stories/2005103117030200.htm

Karnataka - Bangalore

Fashion for the festival of lights

Staff Reporter

The fashion buffs present at the event lapped it up all in glee

BANGALORE: We are right in the midst of the festival of lights, Deepavali.

Bangaloreans are busy sprucing up their homes with lights and colours, making the mandatory purchases, readying up for the big festivities, the crackers, the noise and everything that goes with it. For the fashion designers, it sure is the time for some twists and turns to make the right dress sense for the season.

The other day, designer Gunjaan Sandhu unveiled her Deepavali collection at her place in Koramangala with a fashion show.

The sari collection featured in a range of hues of deep reds, canary yellow, lime and turquoise and peacock blues, combined with elaborate embroidery, beads and crystals to create the right feel of the festival.

The fashion buffs gathered for the evening lapped it up all in glee. The traditional salwar kameez fashioned with flowing lines in an assortment of colours, featuring simple embroidery studded with crystals, to more elaborate and impressive work on the sleeves and salwars.

There were colours for everyone from white to black, pink to blue.

Western ensembles

Incidentally, designer Gunjaan also works with Western ensembles, and the evening had lots to offer on her Western collection too.

Showcased were long skirts combined with tops done in stunning colour combinations and teamed up with brocades to create fashionable, wearable Western ensembles.

Short kurtis teamed with jeans brought the festive collection to a spectacular finish.

Detailed embroidery along the neckline emphasised the fine cuts and the fabrics used to create a casual but trendy look. If the audience were looking for a Deepavali collection with a modern twist, this was it.

Women's clothes were not the only speciality of the designer. Showcasing her mastery over men's clothes, her models sashayed on the makeshift ramp showing off fine white shirts with intricate workmanship, blue with plenty of detailing in beads around the collar and the rest of the shirt.

Traditional kurti

If the audience preferred the traditional kurti with a Deepavali difference, the designer apparently knew to make the changes. Her creations were simple, yet the kurtis for men were exquisite, with detailing along the neckline.

The collection featured all the colours for the season. They were displayed by way of a walk through inside Gunjaan's outlet. The entire show was styled and choreographed by Prasad Bidapa.