|
Lascelles Symons: The Badshah Of Bustiers
|
The Badshah of the bustier unravels the bikini, as his latest collection gets ready to sashay with Delhi Designer, Malini Ramani's ensemble next month in Mumbai.
Symons known among the fashion elite as the Valentino of curvature knows how to sculpt a woman's form to its advantage. Since launching his exclusive label his corsets have adorned women from all walks of life from the Bollywood belles to industry babes.
He has exported his haute couture line to Italy in addition to a couple of exclusive boutiques in Mumbai. "I don't want to do prêt. I think it requires a different mind-set. My designs are meticulously constructed and for my brides each design is one of a kind made to individual specifications giving close perusal to the bride, her requirements, the wedding and the budget."
Shaaditimes caught up with the designer at his atelier in Mumbai. View his collection.
His Bikini Collection
From sunny yellows, fresh limes, tangy oranges... the lycra tugs away any insecurities you may have had. Looking at Symons' latest bathing wear molded to entice even the most conservative woman to reveal her wares one realizes that each piece is a vision of art. Side openings highlight the waist hip ratio, and the shimmery metallic textures make men drool.
"It doesn't matter how big or thin a woman is... her femininity should not out shadow the outfit. In other words she should wear the outfit...the outfit should not wear her and that applies to the concept of the bathing suit where you can have throws to hide the bulges."
A pioneer in meshing street chic with haute couture Symons introduced a stylised Indian corset to Indian sensibilities less than a decade ago, and his loyalists keep returning as his client base increases. "Actually I have never advertised. It's usually word of mouth. My brides are my models and my work speaks for itself," he muses.
Do men understand women more objectively?
"Yes and no," he laughs. "We have some really talented women designers, but yes men do look at women differently, and then again women look for a man's opinion with a different degree of seriousness."
His corsets this year evoke a provocative hue inspired from another era. There are chignons of thread work embroidery scalloped with real crystals. "I looked at the Russian royals, the crown jewels, for my latest collection of corsets," he says. "The colors on my canvas this season are deep aubergine, and my corsets are more flirtatious," he believes. "I have introduced the dress and evening gown in sheer textures to be worn over the corset with etched openings revealing a woman's curves," he says mischievously.
From champagne ochre, saffron, deep vermilions and burgundies he has ventured to the futuristic metallic in a variety of pewter, rusts, and burnished tones. "I feel the deeper shades accentuate a woman's beauty." He also concentrates on drapes. "Many women are not model thin, thus one has to be careful how much fabric you use. You don't want to look heavier than you are. This year I have introduced pleats and A-line with my corsets."
The bodices are tight - opening into an A-line figure or an opulent drape depending on the dress and style. A regular at Fashion Weeks in past years Symons opted out of presenting his collection last year, "I think there was so much hype about media and with a wardrobe malfunction with model Gauhar's dress coming undone the media focused on the incident rather than my collection."
He sums it up, "Indian fashion cannot be exclusive from media or from Bollywood. Bollywood is a powerful force in itself; thus, when Designers have a star wear his / her clothes automatically the brand power is increased. This changes the configuration of the presumed appeal the Designer may or may not have." Thus the clothing industry in India may be considered slightly nebulous as opposed to the West.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ask our Experts :
Hair Care, Tarot, Face Value, Immigration (US), All About Food, Shaping Up, Expert Advice, Your Interiors, Life, etc, Lifestyle, Unique Ideas. |
|
 |
Our Content Partner
|
|
|
