Malgudi Days on the ramp

Celebrated actress Sharmila Tagore was one of the few to walk the ramp at the recently concluded Wills Lifestyle India Fashion Week (WLIFW), Autumn/Winter 2011 edition. Inspite of the fact that the main focus was on clothes and creativity, rather than on induced Bollywood glamour. As the showstopper for designer Joy Mitra’s Malgudi Days inspired collection of ethnic wear, she looked radiant in a red and brown sari offset with intricate metallic jewelry. Walking the ramp for her favorite designer is not a first for the actress who favors saris for its variety and glamour, as she had walked the ramp for Ritu Kumar at the event last year also.

"We have all seen and read Malgudi Days and it is so ethnic and Indian at heart. Joy’s creations are also very traditional, but it has a contemporary edge. I usually wear saris and I love this one by Joy. Its elegant, beautiful and definitely a fashion statement," said Tagore.

Joy Mitra’s ethnic collection saw saris, scarves, anarkali kurtas and long jackets. As a surprise element, there was also men’s wear comprising of elaborate kurtas in his collection this time. Keeping it earthy and simple as an ode to Malgudi Days –a book by R K Narayan about an imaginative town called Malgudi where he plays out the rural life of his imaginary characters -- the designer stuck to tones of black and brown with hints of maroons. Some of his models also wore the famous Gandhi topi which brought back a nostalgic feeling of a bygone era.