Imran Khan with Dar at the latter’s new South Delhi salon

When you style the crowns of celebrities like Goldie Hawn, Aishwarya Rai and Imran Khan among several others, and lend your name to a swish salon, expect the buzz to be loud. Which is exactly what UK-based hair expert Dar got at the launch of Dar Salon in Delhi’s South Extension. The salon is a partnership between Nitin Gupta, Vijay Singh and FJ (he likes to be identified by his initials) and Dar.

For the next six months, Dar (who is of Indian origin) will train the staff at the salon and teach them every snip ‘’ style trick in his big book. “Hair styling is not about making the hair look good. It’s about making the person look good with a particular hairstyle. I’ve been planning to open a salon in India for a long time and now that I’ve got the opportunity to do so, I’m going put Indian hairdressers on the map,” said Dar. What’s his take on the look of the season? The wavy and ‘out-of-bed’ look for women is hot right now while for men, long hair rules.

The show stealer at the launch though, made a fashionably late appearance. Dar’s longtime friend, former cricketer-turned-politician Imran Khan turned up after 10pm and then took a quick tour of the 3,000 sq ft salon. Appearing reluctant to pose for photographs, Khan said, “I appreciate something creative and attractive, but how it comes to look that way is something I have no clue about, as I do not follow fashion.”

Back to the beauty basics. Dar’s Salon has an exclusive make-up studio, nail bar and spa as also a portfolio studio for those interested in getting one done after a makeover session.

Bedazzled

Actress Neha Dhupia with designers Anjalee and Arun Kapoor

This one was high on the bling factor! Not only were the couture creations by designer duo Anjalee and Arun Kapoor soaked in shimmer and shine, the two also launched their brand new jewellery line in association with Belgium-based company, Fine Facets in Delhi recently.

Held at The Intercontinental Eros, the show choreographed by Harmeet Bajaj incorporated plenty of drama. A beautiful ballet performance by Russian dancer, Alla kicked things off. Then the clothes took over. Though the mood of the collection was modern, traditional elements like Mughal motifs and Victorian embellishment techniques like leafing and appliqué held it together.

“For an antique touch, the hand embroidery is in burnished gold and silver to complement the precious stones and crystals,” said Anjalee. The collection dazzled the audience with an abundant use of precious and semi-precious stones. Rock emeralds, rubies, turquoise and aquamarines encrusted the lehengas, gowns, kurtas and corsets, which were teamed with sassy salwars and palazzo pants. Bringing alive a feel of the swinging 60s were the fully embroidered saris coupled with sexy blouses.

The grand finale saw actress Neha Dhupia walking the ramp in a vibrant pink lehenga-choli ensemble. Another Bollywood beauty, Koena Mitra was seen making a special appearance with the Kapoors at the end of the show — but off the ramp. Most of Delhi’s Page 3 regulars were spotted in the audience along with fashion designers Rahul and Gunjan of Sirali, tarot card reader Poonam Sethi and emcee Ramneek Paintal.

Glamming it up

Models flaunt designs from Neeta Lulla and Shaheen Abbas’ latest lines at Aza

Neeta Lulla is a name long associated with glamour having dressed some of India’s most dazzling divas. And her latest collection is without doubt a glam-slam again. Unveiled at the store Aza in Mumbai, the collection which reflected her signature styling, cuts and silhouettes, comprised saris in vibrant hues like lime-green, sunset yellow and bright pink — all offset by neutral and pastel shades. There were also stylised churidar-kurtas, corsets, skirts and tunics and a variety of cocktail dresses and tops in a combination of textured fabrics embellished with rock stones, sequins and metallic work.

For fashionistas piling up on Lulla’s line, there was the added allure of jewellery too. Designer Shaheen Abbas’ signature line of jewellery was also unveiled at the event. The new line incorporates a strong Indian influence in the form of intricately hand-crafted pieces with age-old motifs like paisleys, stars and moons and abstract shapes for those bold enough to experiment. Abbas has also used filigree and jaal-work extensively. Her collection sees silver take on new shapes with an interplay of stonework in colours like pink, blue, white and more with a splash of gold polish. Abbas’ collection includes anklets, jhumkas, chandelier earrings, hair pins, bracelets and bridal sets. Cheering Abbas on was husband, television host Roshan Abbas who along with actor Arshad Warsi and wife Maria Goretti, and television personality Rakshanda Khan dropped in to have a dekko.

Art talk

Pheroza Godrej, Namita Saraf, Ratan Tata and Laxman Shreshta (left to right) at the Grand Hyatt, Mumbai

Hotels have always been big buyers of art. Delhi’s Maurya Hotel, for instance, has a huge mural by Krishen Khanna. Now Mumbai’s Grand Hyatt Hotel has a new giant work of art for guests and visitors to gaze at. A huge 17ftx8ft triptych by Laxman Shreshta was unveiled by Tata Group Chairman Ratan Tata. The event marked the addition of one more masterpiece to Grand Hyatt’s collection — incidentally one of the finest collections of commissioned art in a public space.

Arun Saraf, managing director, Juniper Hotels, which controls the Grand Hyatt Mumbai, was the force behind the show. Saraf said, “My wife Namita and I have been pursuing Laxman for the past two years to paint something for the hotel. Last November he called us and agreed to take up the brush for us.”

Shreshtha is known for his abstract art and in the triptych, he presents nature in its myriad forms. Arun and Namita Saraf played perfect hosts to art lovers and seen making the rounds were Kumarmangalam Birla, Pheroza Godrej, Shyam Benegal and others.

Photographs of Delhi events by Rupinder Sharma