CHENNAI: Fashion fanatics. Apparently namma Chennai has plenty. From the number of takers of the Kingfisher Premium Chennai International Fashion Week’s sixth edition in collaboration with the Storm Fashion Company, this much is clear from the get-go. And if you thought, well ‘no ya, people are there for the pretty models’— check this out. Between the wait for fashionably late designers to get started and the half hour intermission taken after each showing (three per evening) — each night ended well beyond the clock struck Cinderella hour. And people, who attended the event at the Hyatt Regency stayed till the very end. There were no early departures, only late arrivals. And this was understandable given that the best is usually saved for last.
Perhaps the only odd factor was that very few city models participated in this three-day fest. And they weren’t spotted in their high-heeled best off the runway either. Other than that, music, Kingfisher spirits and a liberal dose of bling ruled the night(s)!
Slip, trip, uh-oh
No fashion week is complete without the occasional trip and slip. Fortunately, no one so far went so far as to fall at this fashion week, but here are some notes of some of the fairly memorable ‘oh no’s’ from this edition of CIFW
n Loose threads hanging from the linings of skirts
n Some of the clothes still had tags on them
n One model actually ‘pushed’ her way through on the runway
n One wedding gown was so ill-fitted at the waist, the lower half could have been a T-shirt
n Stretch marks, red line imprints on fair midriffs from a skirt tied too tightly and of course the ever abundant belly flab
Chaitanya Rao
Gold, black and leather. It’s hard to go wrong with those ingredients. And Chaitanya Rao who probably got to the loudest round of applause being a home favourite on day one of CIFW, clearly got everything right. From bold statements like sexy black panties showing through a gold netted to a bubble gum pink leather jacket, this collection was both sensuous and playful and the audience couldn’t seem to get enough
Showstopper: Actor Andrea Jeramiah looked stunning and regal at the same time in flowy black number, with just enough sparkle for a gala awards night
High point: A figure hugging bronze dress with a deep V-neckline that almost touched the model’s navel — very ooh-worthy
Sanjana Jon
For once, we got to see a designer before her collection hit the runway. She spoke in Tamil, dedicated her collection to the fight against female infanticide and had not one, but 18 celebrity showstoppers to help her spread the message.
Showstoppers: We won’t list all the names, but here are a few: Actors Khushboo, Partheban, Kanika, Aishwarya Arjun, Iniya and Bindu Madhavi, singers Unni Menon and Vijay Yesudas and photographer Karthik Srinivasan.
High points: Khushboo walked the ramp with her daughter (who incidentally is taller than her) to promote the cause. And on a different note, Karthik Srinivasan borrowed a camera from a media person, and clicked away at the audience from the head of the ramp!
Rocky S
He never disappoints. And this Resort wear collection was starkly the opposite of what Chennai saw from the designer’s all-black line of red carpet gowns last year. Bright colours, nude tones, floral prints, lace and leather trimmings - this line was fun in the sun all the way
Showstopper: Raai Laxmi walked the ramp beside Rocky S in a black and heavily-embroidered gold ensemble looking a vision of grace
High point of the collection: The prints, baby!