Neelam Saxena

Neelam Saxena enjoys the distinction of being among the few Indian women couturiers who design for men. Her latest collection makes you ask if that distinction should be speedily withdrawn.

It was as much of garish mis-match of suits and formal dinner jackets as one could possibly imagine. In fact the evening would have been a complete washout were it not for the handsome hunks who strutted their stuff on the ramp and provided some degree of relief from the endless parade of semi-clad women.

Using OTT embellishments like oversized gold bowties, opulent buttons, bells and tiger print velvet appliqué on the garments, Saxena failed to offer men that 'extra fashion edge' she so loudly promises.

The colours were barely tolerable in hues of slate, pigeon, steel and charcoal, and the styles vacillated from two button, single breasted and open front. Although the unusual fusion-wear 'sherwanis' and long jackets came in beautiful optical illusion fabrics of red and black, and gold and black, huge embroidered roses on the front and back ruined them too.

While designing for men is admittedly no mean task, all that Saxena managed to create was a line that can at best be described as unusual and extensive.