Masala time at LFW

OH MY GOD!

I am saying OMG and not IMG (ha-ha) because on Day 4 of Lakme Fashion Week Winter/Festive 2010, we spotted many guests including actors and their chamchaas and now hold your breath -2 transvestites. Dressed in dull polka-dotted frocks, they sauntered in, towering over many others peering at the lounges and Lakme salon, clearly inviting curious gazes. If you want to know who's guests the two were? One Mr Shah got them in, guffawing all the way.
Moving on to more serious matter now — of the shows. The day's last three shows were heavy duty. Good designs, sleek cuts and loads of Bollywood actors who came in to cheer.

Swapnil Shinde's designs were impressive. It revolved around a courtesan lavni dancer, Chandrakala, the poet Rafael and a club owner Zidler. With romance and villainy underlining the look of the collection, Swapnil dipped into the 17th and 18th century styles of Europe but added on the Indian lavni dancers of Maharashtra clothing for impact. Ghungroo peels filled the air on the ramp. This guy was good.

Troy Costa's menswear is enviably sleek. The show opened with singer Shaan serenading the audience with the theme from the movie Love Story that set the scene for the glamorous creations. Selecting the most sumptuous fabrics that spoke a sensuous language, Troy went for taffeta, jersey, chiffon, duchess silk and satin and then moulded and individually draped them with touches of embroidery. I liked his colour schemes.

Narendra Kumar Ahmed presented his denimwear for Killer jeans. Didn't find this too impressive but a fair try though. You can't do much experimentation with denims. I quite liked the short tunics in thin fabrics though. Sonakshi Sinha, the Dabangg girl walked as his showstopper.

Manish Malhotra presented Aircel sponsored show, supporting an initiative to save the tigers. His designs were let's say good yet regular. His bevy of Bollywood patrons on the F-Row got in great bustle amidst the photographers and the audiences too. There was Rani Mukerji, Prity Zinta wearing pink ruffled tunic, Sameera Reddy, Urmila Matondkar, Sangita Bijlani and Priyanka Chopra (who kept chatting and giggling all show-long) .
All in all, a good day. But nothing beats the transvestites (as Sabina Chopra puts it).