Manish Malhotra bowls over Mumbaiites

India's loss to South Africa not withstanding, Manish Malhotra brought in much cheer with his resortwear show on Saturday night

All roads on 12 March, Saturday night led to celebrated designer Manish Malhotra's Lakme Fashion Week Summer Resort 2011 show in Mumbai, quite literally though, for Indian cricket team was on its losing leg with South Africa at that hour and select invitees desperately needed for cheer.
Inside the LFW venue, as the lights dimmed from the beautiful Istanbul lamps hung from the ceiling, for the show to start, there was immense anticipation in the air. Well, that's something, that Manish always manages to offer, fairly effortlessly.
Choreographer Lubna Adam gave the cue for the show to start and male models came strutting in kurtas with rich textures of jute, Tussar silk and brocades in beiges, greys and navy blues, wearing Jodhpuris, Bandhgalas and slim pants (guys, take note).
A firm believer of giving a twist to the traditional with the contemporary, the designer's women's Indian evening wear collection had light shades of aqua green, powder blue and ivories. "Pastels will rule," he announced.
A closer look revealed intricate Chikankari and Kashmiri embroidery, beautifully complemented with Rajasthani gota borders. We spotted director Imtiaz Ali and the gorgeous actress Kareena Kapoor pointing at a pretty design and nodding their head in admiration from the Front Row.
As a 'directional' fashion designer, Manish upped his efforts to safeguard and promote Indian arts and crafts through his label and adopted 45 girl child workers from Mijwan in Uttar Pradesh. With 40 models, each in one design on the ramp, we saw Chikankari work apart from a strong element of Kashmiri embroidery (sourced exclusively from parts of Srinagar and Jammu).
Audiences whispered saying these outfits are so apt for the ones who find it tough to look sensuous yet elegant. Closing the show, Manish walked in solo to take a bow, just the way it's done internationally, leading his set of models, each sporting a showstopping design.