January 2005
Designer Gosh showcases fusion collection
New Delhi:
Renowned fashion designer Kiram Uttam Gosh today showcased
her latest collection "1920s Flapper Girl meets Indian Diva
" in New Delhi. Epitomising the spirit of freedom -- the creation
included lean long jackets, backless halter dresses, slim
long skirts and ponchos with uneven hemlines. The designer
used bright colours and the palette monochromatic -- white
and black with a dash of red. The hemlines and necklines were
asymmetric and hair had a boyish crop. The accessories included
elegant cigarette holder, compact cases, beaded hip levels
belts and vanity bags giving the models that very look of
a flapper girl of 1920s. Embellishment included coloured stones,
Swaroski, golden and silver threadwork. Gosh said she believed
in creating clothes that have style and are wearable and also
that her style appealed to women who are intelligent, well
travelled and aware. "I am introducing the 1920s Flapper Girl
meets Indian Diva, which is basically inspired by the 1920's
flapper girl who we keep hearing about in the 1960s, look,
actually it came from the 1920s and it was a time of rebellion,
the time of spirit. The first time the women really broke
out of not wanting to just look pretty-pretty and they wanted
to have a sense of chic," said the Kolkata -based designer.
Gosh used fabrics like silk, cottons, georgettes, crochet
and tulle to create an exciting collection that is inspired
by Lloys Morri's impression of the 1920s Flapper girl who
stormed through the decades immortalising the "flapper dress".
Models wearing
the collection were all praises for Gosh's collection and
termed it as very wearable. "Well about the collection, I'll
say the poncho and the dress which I am wearing right now,
the beaded tassel is giving me a very classy look. It's very
wearable, at the same time very comfortable. So if I wear
it in a party I am sure it will look very classy," said Ramneek
Paintal, a model. The collection that ranges from Rs. 27000
onwards and can go up to any limit is a mix of Bohemia and
Bourgeoisie, glamour, chic and hard work. Her clothes labeled
under "Kimono" currently retail from Ogaan in Delhi, FFolio
in Bangalore, Melange in Mumbai, Elahe in Hyderabad, Variety
Silk House in London, Sanskrit in Hong Kong and Designer lounge
in Dubai.
-Jan 22, 2005
Has the Miss India contest lost its charm?
New Delhi:
The initial euphoria that followed after Sushmita Sen
and Aishwarya Rai bagged titles in International beauty pageants
has died down, and winning these contests seems to be no more
than a short cut to the Hindi movie industry. After the two
beauty queens clinched world titles thousands of girls aspired
to follow in their footsteps and there was a boom in the beauty
industry. Indians were introduced to the concept of manufactured
beauty, with cosmetic surgery churning out the perfect figures
and million dollar smiles. Mother Teresa and world peace gained
importance in every models priority list.
But what now?
Why has the initial enthusiasm died down.? Is it because we
have become accustomed to winning or was the whole winning
spree a fagade by the west to form a market in third world
countries like India? Sceptics were sure of the latter after
Priyanka Chopra walked away with the crown by resurrecting
mother Teresa. The question that arises now is that why haven't
the recent Miss India's been successful in their endeavours.
Has the western world had enough of the Indian market and
is on the lookout for greener pastures or the pageants have
lost their appeal for young girls. "There may be some truth
that the western cosmetic industry tried to tap markets in
regions like India by focusing on Indian beauty queens but
we only go as participants and so we do not really have an
idea about the criteria the selectors of the pageant have,"
former Miss India Nikita Anand said. As for the pageant being
a shortcut to Bollywood, Ms Anand said, "That's not really
true because there are a lot of beauty queens who are doing
other stuff . Miss India's who enter Bollywood get more visibility
and so people know them and think that that's where all beauty
queens end up. But that's not true." "I think people have
got tired of seeing the same plastic smiles and listening
to premeditated answers. When Sushmita and Aishwarya won the
crowns it was a novelty but now I think people are getting
bored of the whole idea," Neha Verma a marketing executive
with Info Vision, a call centre, said.
However, there
is no dearth of young girls who still dream of a Cinderella
like transformation after entering these beauty pageants.
"I hope to make it to the contest this time," says Pallavi
Nair a Miss India hopeful who will be trying her luck for
the second time. Whatever be the reason as long as the glitz
and glamour of the fashion world seems appealing enough millions
of young girls will continue to dream of making it big in
the fashion industry.
-Jan 1, 2005
