Delhi Buzzers: Anna at Jantar-Mantar; Vidya Balan-Sabyasachi at Delhi

My maiden visit to the Wills Lifestyle India Fashion Week 2011 in Delhi was buzzing in more ways than one. At Jantar-Mantar, social activist Anna Hazare broke his fast on Friday April 8 and many socialites and actors made a beeline to serve him nimbu paani. And right next to it at The Park Hotel, models including Hemangi Parte, Minu Verghese and Bhawna Sharma and designers like Anamika Khanna, lined up sans make-up to make their way to Pragati Maidan where the Wills Lifestyle India Fashion Week Autumn Winter 2011 was taking place. I was put up there too, so all the action was delighting me to no end.

For starters, I was immediately consumed by the humongous size of the venue where two show areas kept switching fashion shows in gaps of 30 minutes. The buyers area was thick with transactional activity with designers. Yes, I witnessed some real buying and selling there. Pradeep Hirani of Kimaya was placing orders for horse hair handbags. Alka Nishar of Aza, was happy to do her buying adding that Delhi was the real place for designer ware.
Sunil Sethi, President, FDCI, an evidently busy man, was constantly glued to his phone but effortlessly managed to welcome everyone with open arms and extended a warm hospitable stay. Truly impressive!
Incidentally, Lakme Fashion Week, CEO, Anil Chopra too was there at the grand finale at Delhi Fashion Week. Thanks to his wife Sabina Chopra who handles designer Sabyasachi Mukherjee's work. Sabyasachi presented the grand finale at the WIFW on April 10. Actress Vidya Balan was his special guest and sauntered in wearing a 'willpower blouse' and canary yellow saree. At the Front row, a wannabe came and pushed us demanding for a seat. When we asked her which publication. She said 'I'm with Pushpesh'. Naturally, we asked Pushpesh who? And she retorted, "You don't know Pushpesh." Well, interestingly, no one in the entire venue knew Pushpesh. And this crazy incident got people giggling way after the show too. Incidentally, two Delhi socialites peered on the ramp, looked at Vidya Balan and said 'Yeh ladies shayad Genelia D'Souza hai'.


Girl with Blue Scarf says: Whichever way I chose, the Delhi trip was so worth it. The post party after the WIFW grand finale went on till 5 am. Designer Rohit Bal mingled with people. And Delhi boys flocked around Bombabes with cheap elan. Very typical. But great fun, indeed.