Chuck the kurti as you knew it last year. It's now only being worn by pregnant women like Karisma Kapoor and Liz Hurley (seen in a pink number recently). It is getting itself a new avatar at home even as the Sporty Spice-meets-Mughal princess kurtis of Monisha Jaising are set to enter Harrods. Halter neck kurtis are hot items in ethnic wear stores. What Raghavendra Rathore termed the choli-kurti is quite the hit on runways in its backless and more bindaas improvisation. What is also interesting is the Victorian umpire line-the defining gathers under the bust-that is finding its way onto the kurti, as seen in Pam Mehta's design for Kimaya (picture, right). Says style sardar J.J. Valaya: "The blouse, even in wedding wear, is a take off of the corset." The kurti, which the western press insists on referring to as the "embroidered Indian tunic", is well on its way to becoming a true classic, reinventing itself season after season, like the West's little black dress.

MAN'S MAN: Is Bachchan Jr an anti-metrosexual?

Hrithik Roshan, with his body fits, ushered in the himbo. The Dil Chahta Hai boys introduced metrosexuality to Indian theatres. Now, the backlash comes with Abhishek Bachchan, who is evolving into a man's man. Aby Baby, who has lost 15 kg, is fit. Yet you won't see him in torso-hugging lycra. He was in full-sleeved shirts in Dhoom and Run. Says Anaita Shroff Adajania, who styled him in Dhoom: "He has a lanky frame so looks better in long-sleeved shirts and jackets." He has turned it into a style statement, opting for weather-worn jackets to complement his intense looks. Says director Rohan Sippy: "In the words of Austin Powers, he is totally shagadelic." Bachchan brings back the days when men were men, women were women. And metrosexuals still lived on Jupiter.

Pronounciation: th br ·zili· n. Function: noun. Is not a soccer player, but a wax. Also called thong wax and playbox wax.

"The Brazilian" became another name for the bikini wax when introduced to Manhattan in 1987 by seven parlour-owner sisters from Brazil. From Gwyneth Paltrow to Naomi Campbell, they have endured the pain and joy of the Brazilian. However, its latest usage has a far more naughty insinuation. In fashion-fiction Bergdorf Blondes, writer Plum Sykes gives "going to Brazil" a sexual connotation.

Afro Hair: Seen on Siddharth Tytler's runway and the Nokia ad. Quite an aphrodisiac.

Body Talk: Wonder what those girls on the runway put on their cleavage for that shine? It's not nariyal tel. Have men talk to your rack with Makeup Forever's Body Shimmer.

Fashion Tone: Mobiles as fashion accessory. After style dial Vertu comes Samsung's offer to download Satish Gujrals.

Crochet: Grandma's knit is cool. Can't wear it like Antara Mali in Naach? Play safe with a crochet cap.

OUTs

The Colour Pink: We don't care what the style forecasts say. The bubble-gum hue is making us nauseated.

The Fringe: Looks good only on Jassi or supermodels. Not for lesser mortals, unless they wish to look like Sylvie.

- Compiled by Kanika Gahlaut

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