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A new love affair

Always a creator, Shobhaa De moves from writing to designing. Read on about her new avatar

PHOTO: SUSHIL KUMAR VERMA

MODEL MIND Shobhaa De in a self-designed outfit at Samsaara

From cutting words she is now stitching designs. Shobhaa De recently showcased "Serendipity", at Samsaara, Rajouri Gardens, in the Capital. Shobhaa, who was launched as a fashion model, says, "My love affair with fashion has been consistent." A self-confessed sari lover, she asserts, "Indian textures and textiles need to be revived in a contemporary way." Sanjay Kapoor, Managing Director, Genesis Colors, says of Samsaara, "We aim to showcase the emerging image of Indian fashion."

Her collection reflects her sensibility and aesthetic sense. During the brief fashion show, she watches from the sidelines, deliberately swinging to music. Other designers had created the line with her inputs. Hip hugging tops with plunging necklines are coupled with casually draped saris in muted shades. Kurtas and dresses are made whimsical with diaphanous materials. The dresses are girly without being childish. The men's line is created around the festive season and young club wear. However, the shirts in pink stripes, bold pastel prints and with embroidery are too loud for comfort.

Asked if these clothes are intended for the metrosexual, she says, "It is a metro person today. A metro person is a professional who cannot be obsessed with appearances due to lack of time." The principle behind her personal style and collection is, "People should be able to get in and out of it in 10 minutes." Playing with a cookie-sized ring, she says, "Clothes have to reflect contemporary needs."

"An overdose" is how she describes the recent Wills India Lifestyle Fashion Week. She feels that at WIFW, fashion ceased to be about commerce and trade.

"The spring-summer collection had nothing spring-summer about it."

Acutely self-conscious, she smiles most at her reflection in the mirror. She is glamorous as Shobhaa De but seems disappointed that beauty alters with time. She surprisingly stays behind designer shades and constantly worries about her hair.

"A feminist is an activist who lobbies for change," she says, when asked about labels. "I am not that." Looking closely she continues, "I have lived my life believing in equality." She claims she fights for the underdog, be it man or woman.

Youth today

Having added attitude to the sexual revolution, De feels that even today our media and society treat sex like a taboo. "The strong anti-reaction to Kabhi Alvida Na Kehna is an indicator that we have not grown up. The moral outrage from your, not my, generation to the Rani-Shah Rukh hotel scene shows that we are yet to mature in our reactions."

Mother to six children and author of "Speedpost", De clearly has strong opinions on the youth. Jennifer Lopez, she once wrote, is an icon for today's 20-somethings. "Hot, successful, surrounded by men, a compulsive attention getter and hugely rich," these traits of JLo are aspirations of today's generation, she states.

As she rushes for her flight to Mumbai and asks for sandwiches to be packed, one wonders, why `Serendipity'? She quickly replies, "Because I like the word. Because people didn't expect me to do this. Because it means stumbling across something wonderful in an unexpected way."

NANDINI NAIR

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