If you thought models were impossibly tall pancake and bronzer wonders, it’s time for a reality check. Either they are embodiments of the sort of kindness only Tulsi Virani had the copyright to, or they read Socrates between fittings — such is their detachment. Otherwise, when a designer wakes up in a jatra dressers’ store room and decides to drape the models in their white lace and net princess dresses, the latter shows not a single sign of wincing deep inside their lacy coffins. Rather, they stride gracefully down the ramp, twirl around to show the satin, lace and net they are trussed inside and even throw you a ‘don’t you wish your girlfriend was hot like me’ smile. Phew!

While a new designer’s tryst with the second edition of the Kolkata Fashion Week left you shedding a secret tear or two on the fate of the gorgeous women left at her mercy, a few others did make them look just unreasonably lucky. Soumitra Mondol is a case in point. His Spring Summer 2010 collection comprised neat, short capped sleeved dresses high on the mosaic print pattern. The base colour palette that revolved around tonal hues like greys, deep purples and whites were brought alive by clever splashes of yellow and black. Also what stood out were the batik prints that were given a sharp international twist with the graphic mosaic prints superimposed on them and the non-fussy Western silhouette of the creations.

Monapali, known for their Indian numbers, surprised with a reasonably attractive collection of dresses, skirts with suspended belts and kaftans apart from the usual suspects – sarees and salwar kameezes. However, if there wasn’t a robust tribal music thumping on your head, you wouldn’t know of the collection’s seemingly tribal inspiration. The monotones of kaftans were broken in at the back by colourful applique work.

... contd.