Shah Rukh Khan, Deepika Padukone close Delhi Couture Week as Manish Malhotra's showstoppers

With superstar Shah Rukh Khan and Deepika Padukone on the ramp, stunning old world setting and 1930's inspired wedding collection, Bollywood's favourite designer Manish Malhotra brought the curtain down at the PCJ Delhi Couture. While model-turned-actress Deepika looked stunning in a navy blue velvet zardozi lehenga teamed with full puffed sleeved choli, her Chennai Express co-star SRK kept it simple in a black suit. For the first time in any fashion show in India, people were seated on the ramp.
 There were tables, chairs, ornate couches on the runway where VIP guests sat and enjoyed the show. Rajinigandha flowers adorned large vases and the table tops were sprinkled with jasmine flowers, adding to the old world ambience. "My idea was to make the stage resemble a very old world town hall. Very 1930's. I think this is how a couture show in the 1930's would have been like. It was very personal and that is how I wanted it to be like," Manish said. Deepika, who made her modelling debut in Delhi many years back, could not hide her excitement about walking down the ramp in this very different set up created by Manish. "I felt like I was in a fashion show in Milan. Manish's show was of international standard.
I have never seen such a sophisticated setting ever in the Indian fashion scenario till date. The atmosphere was so electrifying. I really loved the ambience that he created today," Deepika said. Manish was also all praises for his muse. "I have a very strong connection with Deepika. I have worked with her in Om Shanti Om, Ye Jawani Hain Deewani, Chennai Express and will be working with her in Farah Khan's next. "I share a wonderful relationship with her.
 We do have disagreements but eventually Deepika gives in. So far, her look in every film we have worked together has managed to become big trends," Manish said. Inspired by the princely states of India in the 1930s, Manish's collection for the finale blended cross-cultural influences - an old-world mix of traditional Indian motifs, and the influences of British culture on the affluent Indian Lifestyle. "I wanted a very clean show. The clothes were opulent and had the old world affluence. At the time of kings and viceroys, there was a lot of British influence on Indian clothes.
 That is what I tried to capture," Manish said. Models sashayed down the runway in saris, lehengas and lehenga-anarkalis, crafted using rich textiles like velvet and old textured silks. Sculpted silhouettes of the ensembles were further accentuated by the use of flowing and feminine fabrics, adorned with antique gold embroidery and dull silver thread work by Indian craftsmen. Manish also incorporated Chantilly lace, which was reminiscent of that time, reflecting old world charm of opulent India. The palette of this 1930s-inspired couture collection was coloured with saturated shades and tints of red, royal blue, mustard, olive, beige and ochre, which added to the vintage appeal of the outfits.