Couturiers Arjun Khanna and Shahab Durazi emerged as the true stars of the just concluded HDIL-India Couture Week. The showstoppers for their collections were Bollywood actors Abhay Deol and Arjun Rampal, respectively.
Khanna presented a vintage line for men that was high on detailed texturing, cutting and design, made with quality fabrics like cotton and pure wool. His line was titled October Dandy. His line, showcased on the last day of the couture week, had long coats, dungarees, leather jackets, sherwanis, slim-fit trousers, golf hats and stylised bags. The styling was done in a way that when models walked the ramp dressed in Khanna’s creation carrying vintage guns and cameras, they looked like warriors, pirates and travellers. The runway, too, was designed accordingly – while some models walked the ramp, others were seen sitting, gambling, chatting, drinking and reading in the background. The biggest applause came for the designer when he hit the runway on his vintage Harley Davidson bike and took the attention away from his showstopper, actor Abhay Deol.
Shahab Durazi’s show was also a treat as the designer was showcasing his couture line after five years. His designs are sophisticated and detailed. Shahab concentrated on women’s evening wear and most of them reflected high-end tailoring, finish and fit. The structure and tailoring of the garments was what stood out the most and he put in the elements of femininity in his line that included smart skirts, long gowns, asymmetrical jackets and belts. First, the models sashayed down the ramp in black and white prints, then they came clad in completely black outfits, followed by white dresses and in the end a fiery red line. The only male apparel Shahab showcased was worn by actor Arjun Rampal.
