So we might have crashed a fashion show...

...at the Leela Palace. It has been an aspiration of mine to attend Lakme Fashion Week in Mumbai while I'm in India, but how nice that the show saved me some effort and came to Bangalore instead? It was an invitation only event, but on the advice of a friend, we just showed up and acted like we were the primary shareholders of Kingfisher Plc and the only question I was asked was: "Would you like a drink Madame?"

We were the nerds that rushed for second row seats once the doors opened. I have no idea who we sat behind, but apparently they were the who's who of Bangalore. (I should have been making friends in high places to end bonded labour. I know, I know. I came stocked with visiting cards, but it wasn't a meet-and-greet kind of crowd. Maybe next time.)

Surily Goel started off the evening with vibrant interpretations of traditional silhouettes, modelled by the tallest Indian girls I've seen to date.

Goel studied at the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising in LA. I'm surprised she didn't try reinterpret LA's uniform--jeans and a fancy top--in her designs. Although that's already been done by designer Nida Mahood, pictured below.

I'm wondering what I'll do with all of my saris when I return to the states...could I pull this look off in New York? (Although, I'd do a skinny jean instead of bootcut.)

The second show, Ashish N Soni, was more modern and wearable. That is, if you have a party to go to every night. (Despite the content of this blog, I do still work at a non-profit and live in a developing country. My calendar is NOT a string of charity balls and ribbon cuttings.)

After the show my roommates and I contemplated having dinner at one of the hotel's 5 star restaurants, but decided to go home and order Chinese take-out instead. :-)