Manish Malhotra dazzles fash fare at Lakme Fashion Week

A starry end to Day II of the Lakme Fashion Week Summer/ Resort 2011 broke the erstwhile quiet yet occasional Bollywood presence at the event so far. Rounding up the day was a bevy of B- town beauties who turned up to support tinsel town’s favourite designer Manish Malhotra and to watch his Indian evening wear collection.

Spotted in the front row were actress- buddies Kareena Kapoor, dressed in a white anarkali kurti and Amrita Arora. Sophie Choudry, a front row staple, Sushma Reddy and Bollywood debutant, model cum VJ Sarah Jane Dias, all added to the glamour quotient.

Despite all the glam distraction, nothing could take the focus away from the designer’s delicate yet resplendent collection. It was an exquisite mix of embroidery including chikankari , silver zari work, Kashmiri embroidery, Rajasthani gotta work , voluminous lehengas, and kalidar kurtas. Tiny cholis, deep low backs, and sheer fabrics made the feminine ensembles flirtatious and sexy.

The men’s wear collection included chikankari churidars, pleated salwars, jodhpurs and trousers worn with cream, beige and white kurtas that were stitched to perfection. With a blend of the traditional and the contemporary, the designer once again dazzled with an opulent yet chic collection.

If Manish showcased traditional haute couture for men, then the Italian label Energie presented causal and denim menswear. The show divided into six sets included an Electro Arcade line, eighties college fashion, beachwear in the lost surfers collection, a trunk collection and a luxe line.

Trendy shirts and T- shirts, peppy sportswear, premium and luxury denims were the highlight of the show. Actor Kunal Kapoor dressed in a pink T- shirt and black jacket with denims was the appropriate showstopper.