In the past few days I've heard lots of comments from different people at the fashion weeks. Some nice, some bitchy.

But this one takes the cake. Here's what a fashion editor of a prominent foreign magazine that's just made inroads into India had to say, about the Manish Arora show

That was Alice In Wonderland on crack!

Yet another comment by a photographer, post the Krishna Mehta show, "Did she use her bed sheets?"

Another journalist from an international magazine who works out of Kolkota asked me with a quizzical brow if I liked the Rohit Bal show

.

"Sure. What do you think? "I replied.

He shook his head and said stressing on the word 'astonish', "Overall nothing astonishing and I want to be astonished. But the last piece on the ramp (a chocolate brown embellished skirt) of his collection was astonishing because the fall was excellent."

This last collent gave me some food for thought. All said and done, we've seen lots of good, bad and ugly shows at the Delhi fashion week.

But we still haven't seen anything 'astonishing', something that simply takes your breathe away.

With the exception of — Sabyasachi. But then that was at the Mumbai fashion week.

Wendell Rodricks and 24-year-old Rahul Sharma are two more designers that also come to mind, again two people at the Mumbai Fashion Week.

In Delhi, all the established designers seem to be serving the same old wine in new bottles.

And in some cases, the wine seemed to have gone bad.

Image: Jewella C Miranda
The Krishna Mehta show

Style & Substance

We’re here at the Wills Lifestyle India Fashion Week in Delhi and from what I’ve seen so far, the event promises to be a showstopper in terms of the actual collections to be showcased on the ramp.

All that Bollywood bruhaha is fine to rev up the media hype, but for the business of fashion to progress, the real meat is in the designs.

Originality, concept, cuts, wearability and detailing…we’re keeping a strict watch on all of these. Also, well-made peices that nip any possibility of wardrobe malfunctions.

Of the brigade of celebrated designers, I am especially looking forward to seeing Rohit Bal’s collection which always seem bold, classy and exquisite, all rolled into one. Someday if I have enough money to go designer (sign!), you’ll find me sporting a Rohit Bal.

Among the younger breed of designer Gaurav Gupta, 27, is one to look out for. This chap has already worked with a bevy of foreign designers like Vivienne Westwood, a UK based designer who is known from her strict adherence to non-conformist, and yet is so classy, no one can bat an eyelid.

We also have a new face on the ramp — Shweta — who was shortlisted from amongst a whol lot of entries. She will be walking for designer Raghuvendar Rathore’s show tonight. And now I have to dash of for the first show of the day and event by designers Niki Mahajan and Pria Kataria Puri.

Today is Day 5 of the fashion week here in Mumbai and then we zip across to Delhi for more action. But here's the update of the happenings here in Mumbai.

Designer Narendra Kumar staged a protest in a rather dramatic way, and I must say ' I liked it! He 'speak-folded' his models (akin to blind folding), who made a dramatic entry as it is to the sounds of chimes which eventually went silent, only to rattle our ears a wee bit more, towards the end.

It was pretty obvious that the protest was against the Fashion Design Council of India's refusal to allow a designer to participate in both the fashion weeks, which I think is ridiculously autocratic.

Nari's (as he is known amongst the fashion fraternity) chimes were unbearable after a wee bit, but his clothes were smart and pretty wearable.

I especially liked his men's wear, which sported peace signs, yet were in military colours ' a bit of a dichotomy there.

And as long as we are on the subject of clothes and collections here's the verdict so far:

In terms of class, cut, fabrics and structures, Sabyasachi is numero uno. I used to wonder what the fuss was all about a designer who made clothes inspired by two very geeky looking women, but this collection really was a masterpiece. What's even better is that this stuff comes from a designer who is so down-to-earth and approachable. You'll find Sabya sitting on the stairs chatting with anyone who approaches him and standing in a corner and watching other collections on the ramp. No airs and graces.

Next, young Rahul Mishra's collection Ray of light, which is based on the Kerala handloom tradition was . You have trendy clothes, made of comfortable materials and very wearable. Rahul's pretty earthy too and is currently studying design at the . For all you budding designers out there, GenNext is an awesome platform for young designers to showcase their stuff. All you need to do is send in your sketches, concept and portfolio and a team of judges will select you.

Also, liked my fellow Goan's (chuckles J) Wendell Rodricks’ ethereal collection and lesser celebrated ones like Sonam Dubal's and designer Anshu Arora's stuff.

Sonam Dubal's clothes are really wearable and had elements from Tibetan culture. Anshu's stuff was colourful, and trendy, period.

Also, liked the boys from Kolkota, Dev r Nil, who are in a style zone of their own. All their clothes are so delicate, with lots of detailing.

In terms of bloopers, I think Shane and Falguni Peacock's gowns did not hold too well, though their lil’ dresses were FIESTY. Model Shivani Kapoor, walked with her hands cupped over her you-know-what — I was trying to figure out why.

One of the girls wore a black number constructed with individual pieces of cloth attached at the waist, which would ride up to all the way to her hip line to expose snatches of underwear – NOT a pretty sight. Why?

The underwear resembled one of those extra big sized knickers your mom bought you in your gawky teen years, oblivious to the concept of thongs — those wonderful under garmenta that help you do away from ugly looking underwear piping from tracing through your through your trousers.

All in all, a learning experience.

Raima goes bong-kers!

We bumped into Raima Sen looking all dolled up in a pretty girl-next-door sort of way with BIG curls in her hair, a simple white shirt, denims and white high heels.

Raima’s all excited about her film with director Anjum Dutt — The Bong Connection — and admits that her favourite director to work with is none other than Rituparno Ghosh.

Also overheard from designer Sabyasachi – he doesn’t like to mix fashion and Bollywood. So, you may not see any Bollywood celebrities walking the ramp for him.

But what’s this we hear from the grapevine?

The diva-esque Liz Hurley may do the catwalk for Sabya.

From Bollywood i-shtyle to Hollywood style — that’s a statement now.

How Ujwala Raut lost weight

Model Ujwala Raut who walked the ramp for designer Wendell looked slim and trim in spite of having baby recently.

I asked her, " How did you do it?"

Her foreigner hubby, who seems to have a naughty streak said something rather unmentionable with a twinkle in his eye.

On a serious note, there’s no magic formala to work off those kilos. It takes hard work and many hours at the gym.

This lissome lass got herself a personal trainer in New York where she lives, and worked out for about two hours every day, 4 times a week!

That includes about 45 minutes of cardio, a healthy diet, no fried foods, et al.

Definitly inspiration for us tubby types.

My first day at the fashion week was EXCITING, EXCITING, EXCITING!

Spotted a Cindy Crawford look-alike at the Surily Goel show.

When I looked closer it was none other than ex-VJ Kamal Sidhu looking AWESOME in a Surily creation, minus her signature 'mass of curls' hairdo.

She sported this very boho-chic kind of look, which I think complements her adventurous attitude.

For those of you not in the know, Boho is short for 'bohemian'. You have elements like ethnic-looking tunics, wood jewelry, lots of colour, embellishment like beading, jewelled or embellished flat sandals, colours, layers etc

This look is often used by designer Malini Ramani (often over the top) and has in fact been around for quite a while.

Coming back to Kamal, she sported a shimmery blue top that reached down to her hips, an eye-catching neckpiece fitted denims, and smart ankle knee-length boots and a smart handbag do match.

" I travel a lot and am big on flea-markets, especially the ones in Goa," says Kamal.

Quick tip from Kamal: When shopping for boots, make sure it's comfortable from the word go or else you'll have two big, fat (boots cost money!) white elephants hanging in your shoe closet.

Kamal’s all set for her new show on Discovery called Chasing Nature that will air in June.

At this very moment Rocky S is probably putting the final touches to his new autum-winter collection, which will be showcased on the ramp at 2 pm, exactly 20 minutes from now.

Hottie John Abraham is deemed to walk the ramp, donning Rocky S’ clothes.

Journalists and international buyers are jostling outside the grand Jamshed Baba auditorium (at the NCPA, Mumbai) waiting to be let in.

Just spotted a reporter wearing — picture this — a printed yellow-orange spagetti top with a knee length skirt in shades of yellow and orange and knee length leather black boots. Hmmm… (over)dressed for the occasion?

The Lakme Salon on the ground floor is being thronged by ‘high society types’ getting their hair all coiffered for the event.

We just had lunch, a sumptious spread of Lebanese delights — falafel, hummus, pita bread, et all — and are currently waiting for the action to begin.

So, watch this space for all the gossip, glamour and more to unravel at the Lakme Fashion Week.