Fashionwise, Bunty Aur Babli is being hailed as the first real kitsch film, a fusion arising from the clash between south Mumbai and small-town India. While the designer brocade collars, trendy kurtis and oversized fuchsia bag with a brocade sling that Rani Mukherji sports are appreciated for their fashion sensibility, there is some opinion that the film is too stylised. Do hardcore designers, in this case Aki Narula, create fashion that takes attention away from the film? Does fashion, rather than the character, become the message? Says Gaurav Kapur, veejay: "Fashion in small towns has a lot of Bollywood flavour, and the film got it right with Abhishek Bachchan wearing fake Nike shirts with two e's. But in some con scenes, Mukherji gets too sophisticated." Adds fashion watcher Harmeet Bajaj: "The kitsch idea was fine, but it didn't translate in the film in a subtle way. The clothes stood out and often made a designer statement, and sometimes conflicted with the character."

The Salwar Story, In Short

PICTURE SPEAK HOT PANTS: Sikh culture is seeping into fashion It is not just stylised films like Bunty Aur Babli or Rabbi Shergill's fusion of Punjab and the guitar in Bula Ki Jaana that are giving a nod to Sikh culture. The runway offered an ode to Sikhism in Nikhil-Shantanu's show, with shifley, a mass-manufactured phulkari, on western cuts. While Indian designers usually interpret global silhouettes rather than invent new forms, the Delhi designers did a fusion cut with the Akali outfit-inspired half-salwar. "The traditional outfit that inspired this silhoutte is tighter, but has the salwar hem," says Nikhil. The outcome is a capri salwar. One of its cousins has been seen on the runways of Stella McCartney, for one.

Boyfriend shirts: Runways are celebrating the art of borrowing (or stealing?) from the Other's wardrobe. Fashion says the oversized shirt highlights a woman's collarbones.

Scarves as belts: It is girly chic's new pink.

Paisley: As Indian inspiration rocks runways, designers "took a stroll through Paisley Park", says Style.com. It notes that the motif was seen at Monique Lhuillier's Raj-inspired collection, in Prada's weaves, Armani hosiery and Gucci boots. You can say we told you so.

Kolhapuri platforms: Street-inspired gold, silver or neon-coloured kolhapuris are in. But the platform kolhapuri is a great idea from Malini Ramani.

OUTs

Mallika bashing: Now that she has captured Cannes, it is time to admit that when Mallika Sherawat says she is "ready to kick some ass", she means it.

Layering: Mix-match layers are great, but at summer's peak, it's the right thing at the wrong time.

-Compiled by Kanika Gahlaut

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