Delhi … A Fashion struck City

“Ohh…what a pretty dress… must be one of the renowned designer’s creations!”, oh my god, how many times have I heard people asking the same question and incidentally only in Delhi … just makes me wonder, is Delhi struck by the ‘fashion’ bug? Or …

The previous day, I was invited to this Delhi’s ‘Most happening’ party, which was to be attended by the ‘who’s who’ from the film fraternity, modeling industry, etc. Getting little excited and inquisitive to know, what happens at these parties, I was all set to go… BUT… what do I wear… after a lot of thought, I decide to keep it simple… a jeans and a T-Shirt is the best I could think of, since i have always believed in the fact...'Be comfortable in what you wear'

On reaching the venue, I was surprised to see all women and girls, totally decked up… i did make me feel little out of place... but now that i was there, didn't really care mch about the same.

The path they passed by, smelled of different kind of perfume fragrance, which the nostrils got habituated to, after walking a few steps on the perfumed path, few trying to walk straight in their stilettos and the others, walking fast towards the area, to avoid heat, that would kills the hours invested in painting their faces… few fighting with their partners on reaching late, few frowning, for… god only knows why!!

Once inside, all the women in the house, transformed to something that they pretended to be… ladylike! And men… chivalrous, to an extent that they stood near the door, to open it for those, who appealed to their eyes, smiling at every passing women, who very generously displayed their cleavage and inwardly feeling victorious to have had a glimpse of it!

The room was really done up well… awesome ambience, colour coordinated, if there were places that was not really well lei, women in bright clothes lit them up!

The host of the party was a dear friend of mine, hence he took the pain to take me around and get me introduced to people, from different walks of life, few renowned fashion designers, few aspiring designers, few celebrities, few models… and the list goes on… by the end of the introduction exercise, I was left wondering, if they would even remember, those they meet tonight or have they got use to just being cordial to whoever they came across? Must say, these parties are the best place to network!!

During the intro session, I found one thing that was common amongst all groups - clothes, accessories… and fashion… apart from bitching and gossiping!

Lady 1: That’s a nice bag… where did you get it from
Lady 2: This is from Bangkok… you know, you can never find a classy, upmarket bag in India
Lady 1: what are you talking? The previous day, I was in Khan Market and I saw a diamond studded bag for Rs. 60,000/-, can you believe, a beauty like that was so reasonably priced… I thought to myself, I have to have that bag… so I picked it you… now, I had to buy clothes matching my bag… and I really don’t wear anything that is not Branded… hence, i went to South Ex, Select City walk… bought miss sixty jeans, a halter top from******* (renowned designer) and… (the list went on…)

The minute she said, halter top, her finger pointed at the top she was wearing… I assume, this is the same top, she was talking about… pardon my expression, she was oversized for that top… she had love handles, if she let out a relieved sigh, her stomach might just burst out of the top… BUT, she had to wear it, even though it meant, holding on to her breath for hours together and going to the washroom from time to time, to ensure, the top is intact! Ahh, how can i miss this… the diamond studded bag she was talking about and the pain she took to buy clothes matching it, was equally horrendous…

There were many others who spent time, comparing their branded clothes with others… until; it was time for them to leave… they all kissed each other goodbye, ensuring, their cheeks never touched, or else, they might land, rubbing their paint (makeup - foundation, blush on.... etc...) on each other!

Overall, the night out was worth the pain taken… atleast it was entertaining…

This wasn’t the end of it… few days back; I planned to meet my friends at Khan Market (Delhi’s most happening market), where men, just drove around to sooth their eyes, watching women… We (my friends and I) planned to have lunch at Big Chill, where you are bound to wait for atleast 10 minutes, to get a table. Instead of walking around, we just chose to stand and wait for our turn to get a table. During the waiting time, I heard few girls (in their early twenties), who were shouting on top of their voices (behaving as if they are deprived of attention in their life), that got all of us to hear their conversation (you couldn’t have avoided it, they were really very loud)… and you guessed it right, the conversation was… Fashion…

Girl 1: Hey did you go for any of the fashion week shows?
Girl 2: Ofcouse yaar, I had all the passes, but chose to go for ****, ****, *** (names of all renowned designers. I even got a dress designed like the one in **** show… It is awesome…
Girl 3: Where did you get it stitched from?
Girl 2: From the same designer. You know na… I just can’t wear clothes, which are not designed by ****

And the conversation went on… and fortunately, we were saved from the further details, since it was time for us to chill at Big Chill…

All these things do make me wonder at times, if we all are becoming a victim of fashion… Will there be an end to it…Does it just sound cool to say ‘you should not wear, what is in fashion, but wear something, you are comfortable in’ even though, when it comes to application, they also exhibit the fashion victim syndrome’