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Hide hungama
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Only swing and not much zing, says T. KRITHIKA REDDY about "Spirit of the 60s"
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WILLOWY WOMEN, hooded hairdos, micro minis, racy rhythms and lively dance numbers... There were bits and pieces of the swinging Sixties. But the quintessence of the flower power generation was missing in "Spirit of the 60s", the Leather Fashion Show in the city.
Psst. Is skin in? Certainly not in a perennially parched city like ours. Then what's this annual hide hungama all about? Well... it's about showcasing Chennai's major players in the export market. Label loyalists from Europe know pretty well that some of the sensations in skin come from this part of the globe! Reason enough to turn the spotlight on skin yet again, no matter that a fiery animal activist shouted "murder".
As hot models Vidisha Pavate, Fleur Xavier, Nethra Raghuram, Zulfi Sayed, Kelly Dorji et al hit the ramp, it was time to explore hide's haute side in the show directed by Lubna Adams. That the Sixties was about rising hemlines was apparent in the first round when designer Chaitanya Rao presented his inspiration in black-and-white for Tata International Limited. The textures were refined and so were the styles.
Black with white accents and vice versa lent interesting touches to his designs.
While R. R. Leather had conjured up trendy jackets with subtle embellishments, Orient Express' crinkled suit in brown and stylish jacket in lavender were scene-stealers, besides its coordinated collection for kids. Rishi Exports' fur-leather combos were standouts, as much as Bhartiya International's pretty pastel outfit with tie-and-dye effect. If Ramjee Leathers' suits in subtle shades beckoned attention, Supreme Overseas' designs with geometric patches on minis and trousers were an interesting departure from the routine (designed by Moon Moon).
It was not just couture. There were plenty of footnotes as well. From kinky boots in black and burgundy to trendy patterns in lollypop hues for kids, it was designs galore from Florence, Presidency Kid, Forward, Bonaventure, Farida and Bachi, among others.
Bagging accolades were A. V. Thomas and El Torro for their classy collection of bags. Ayyappa and Creative also proved their creativity in the accessories category.
The show could have done well without the theme! For there was nothing much to relate to Presley's pop palette, Monroe's sensuality, Zandra Rhodes' funky styling or the raw energy of the Sixties. Though minis and jackets that fitted like corsets were seen here and there, what really held sway were classic suits, casual trousers, and chic tops with fine accents. Shirts came with wide collars, for that button-down look.
Now and then, the ramp turned into a fashion theatre, with Shiamak Davar's dancers prancing about to peppy numbers - some of them hardly representative of the Sixties.
Though they tried to beat the boredom of the footwear rounds, the dancers only proved to be a distraction. Kudos to the kids who did a model act, flaunting their footwear and swinging to the beats with delight.
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