The month of July is globally the most flurried times for the couture world. Merchandisers, fashion voices, editors, critics and the lotus eaters all head to Paris and Milan, the citadels of haute couture. Where reside the studios of most globally acclaimed luxury brands. To witness the annual soiree of fashion: The Paris Couture Week. The one platform where impossible is an unheard of word and OTT is done in style.
In our desh as well July gains a special importance. It’s that month when all brides-to-be, getting set to wed in the better months of October, November, decide their wedding attire… That one element from which her jewels, wedding décor, the groom’s ensemble et al will be themed. It is a tough decision and needs to be preempted months before one can say “I do” in decadent style. Wedding Shows, India Couture Week, Bridal Week, tres outre — all keep the Indian upper crust busy in this otherwise hot and humid month.
Cut to 2020 and in comes the pandemic, toppling this ephemeral world, turning it turtle so to say. When jobs are being axed, global giants in luxury are calling it quits, how can the champagne be popped and the arch lights come on? Well, they did, right through the first week of July when Paris announced its first online couture week.
Many master orchestrators promised an online show but mum was the word from the powers that be. Till the futuristic, uber luxe, innately talented guru Tarun Tahiliani shocked all from their stupor. Chance visitors to his Insta page were stunned to see an audience of over 2,000 followers at any given time loving his online, 2020/21 Couture Show which he called “Pieces of You”. Which was actually every piece of him: A small window to every whimsy he had ever created, every pin tuck, every plisse and every cinched waist with which he made the Tahiliani bride such a diva.
He echoes the prevailing sentiment when he says, “The year 2020 has forced us to look inwards. And some of us have embraced that challenge. Hitting the reset button has been nothing but an act of bravery.” And it was with immense bravado, dollops of distancing and the signature restraint that Tarun has mastered that a handful of models emerged on a very ingenious ramp constructed right inside what he calls his “garden of creation”, in other words his studio.
The OTT was missing. Possibly eliminated with a lot of deliberation with his inner voice. Given that the pandemic is proudly proclaiming: Honey I shrunk the big fat Indian wedding. When histrionics got eliminated what remained was a play of classic Tarun, timeless Tarun. He romanced with drapes, he structured his odhnas over a fitted blouse, the chikankari came back, his love for lattice design got interpreted so perfectly in a white on white collection. The bride and the groom were both given new structures and silhouettes to play with. It was said simply so. Yet it was simply beautiful. Bravo Tarun, the man with the guts and gung-ho. So has he woken the rest from their scared stupor?