The Review

Here's a hark back at fashion's biggest moments — celebratory and forlorn — of the year gone by

While we weren't looking, 2012 turned out to be fashion's busiest year in a long time.

It all began with Vogue India's absolutely amazing January cover girl — Mehr Jesia Rampal. Forty-three year-old Rampal, India's only supermodel, welcomed the year dressed as a Christian bride in Marchesa, looking every inch as fabulous, toned and taut, as she always has. Rampal's cover not only celebrates a gorgeous woman in her forties, it also bravely takes back the magazine covers from the Big Five of Bollywood — Kareena Kapoor, Katrina Kaif, Priyanka Chopra, Sonam Kapoor and Anushka Sharma.

In March, one of the fashion's world biggest recluses, Hedi Slimane, was offered to take over the Yves Saint Laurent label. Slimane, who had fronted Dior's menswear and made its slim suit an icon, famously upchucked fame and money for the life of quiet photographer and moved to California. His return made all the right noises. His debut collection was a modern retelling of Saint Laurent's biggest hits. But his online battle with the New York Times' Cathy Horyn earned him some brickbats. Now the news is that YSL's team is asking him to move to France or simply buzz off.

It isn't Katrina, Sonam or Kareena. Kalki Koechlin becomes fashion's favourite muse. Right from Christian Dior to Sabyasachi, everyone wants a piece of this Indo-French delight. Koechlin has graced several magazine covers, but it's her impeccable appearances at Cannes this summer that has turned her into the best-dressed actor around.

Wendell Rodricks' The Green Room was all that it promised to be and more. Not only is the Goan designer's book a wonderful memoir of a veteran, it so delicately captures the mood of the fashion in the '80s and '90s, when it all began and eventually took shape. Fashion shows had snob value, models were adored and Bollywood was booed. The book makes for great Christmas presents this month.

... contd.

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