Funky, flowing 'n' futuristic

Alongside professional models, there were jockeys and trainers walking the ramp and showcasing designs from Sailex N G and Manoviraj Khosla.

“The Kingfisher Derby is not just about racing and horses. It is the most important event in the the racing calendar with the total prize money in excess of Rs 1.18 crore. It is a lifestyle and glamour brand that we have been assiduously building for the last 22 years,” said Gurpreet from Kingfisher.

Choreographed by Ashok Malik, the show started with Sailex N G, a Milan-based designer of Indian origin, before moving on to Manoviraj Khosla’s collection.The collections were a mix of casual day wear and formal evening wear.The men wore a combination of different styles, ranging from sherwanis teamed up with boots, knee-length capris, short shorts, sleeveless vests, and dinner jackets.

One has to feel sorry for the slightly-built male models, who wore really strange drainpipe trousers and pin-tucked shirts with bow ties, all in solid colours of pink, red and orange teamed up with black belts and long-pointy elf like shoes.

The women, however, wore outfits that varied from the really funky futuristic to flowing draped creations that were  well designed with fine embroidery detailing and figure-hugging silhouettes.The cuts and fabrics were interesting and varied from very dressy with pleated or gathered tunics, cocktail dresses and flowing evening gowns that were feminine and wearable. Of course, there were also the absurd and the simply strange designs which even looked odd on the ramp where over the top is the rule rather than the exception.

The impromptu segment, that had trainers and jockeys like Mallesh Narredu and Irfan Ghatala doing their thing in the spotlight, had the crowd cheering them on vociferously. Wearing linen shirts, jeans, semi-formal jackets and focusing more on the smart casual rather than the dressy formal look, they were quite a hit with their buddies who were present at the evening.