Nov 1-2, Tito’s Courtyard
They dazzled. The ramp temperature soared. Baga has given Goa’s fashionistas a new address to UP their style barometer, reports Goa’s Fashion & Lifestyle writer, Ethel Da Costa.
The Goa Couture Fashion Week (GCFW) presented by Hema Art & Fashion Company on Nov 1-2 at Tito’s Courtyard, concluded to a stylish, colourful finale with the coming together of some of the country’s most talented, versatile and unique designers.
Opening Day 1 saw Designer Verma D’Mello presenting a collection that drew an emotional response with an evening wear presentation that flirted with the colour Black dedicated to the Blind: `The Dark Room.’ Moist eyes were seen everywhere when Verma escorted her showstopper – the pretty, sight impaired Rina Dourado dressed in couture – do the ramp walk and bow. Warm, heart-felt accolades exploded from the audiences starting off the Goa Couture Fashion Week to a great season start.
Designer Felix Bendish with `Lost in Paradise’ brought the wild to the spotlight. Sequined parrots, cockatoo beak belts, beaded lizards, shiny frogs on suspenders, tribal and funky neck wear, feathers and twig headsets, jumpsuits, cocktail dresses with wide play focus on animal-inspired accessories added a dash of Nature. Young Designer Anees Deen then juxtaposed the charm of vintage, old world Victorian summers with `Nostalgic Goa’ as white tea roses, sun hats, lace on brocade, white on cream, corset dresses and layered gowns set a romantic tone for the night. Shravan Kumar Ramaswamy brought out all the stops with his fabulous weaves, embroidery on ethnic eco-friendly fabrics weaved by the master weavers of Hyderabad.
Day 2 of the Goa Couture Fashion Week saw Opening Designer Ramesh Dembla add some oomph and glamour with `Sheer Ecstasy,’ a collection designed with the style diva in mind, and he did not disappoint with fashionista and showstopper for the collection Yellow Mehra doing justice in a black layered mermaid tail gown. (You may also know Yellow as owner of the fabulous restaurant Fiesta!)
Lucknow Designer Arshi Jamal displayed classical tradition, with motifs and stitch focusing on the roots of his city. The surprise of the evening was the talented, young and upcoming Designer Sparsha Deshpande. Her work is young, fashionable and shows a play between prêt and sophisticated evening wear. Well done. She was supported by upcoming jewellery designer Pravita Vernekar, who brought out the bling on chokers, bracelets in gold and diamonds.
An apt finale by Designer Manali Jagtab to the 2-day fashion extravaganza included a dramatic entry of models clicking champagne flutes in elegant black evening couture as they walked from the audience onto the ramp, drawing wide applause and whistles.
Pulled back hair, red pouts and smoky eyes added heat to haute by Hair & Make-Up executed by Bina Punjani Studio.
The GCFW 2014 headlined by Showstopper Supermodels Parvathy Omnakuttan, Himangini Singh, Prachi Mishra, Natasha Suri, Anita Kumar and Gauri Jambalikar. Fashion direction by Shie Lobo added much pizzazz to the proceedings.
