New Delhi: Narender Kumar is a designer who does not lose sight of the practical aspects of fashion in his quest or making a unique design statement. This morning (Apr 29, 2004) at the 'Lakme India Fashion Week', Kumar presented 'Chai', a collection, which effectively conveyed the essence of his design idiom - practical, wearable prêt in a price range that lay largely in the very affordable Rs 300 to Rs 1,200 bracket.

Using natural fabrics like cottons, poplins, chinos, denims and also georgettes and leather, he created a range of Autumn-Winter 2004 clothing comprising of day wear essentials like pant suits, dresses and separates like shirts, pencil skirts and chic knit sweaters; evening/ club wear in form of fitted off shoulder dresses in stretch cotton knits printed in electric coloured funky prints that had a distinctly retro feel; and floaty evening options in form of sexy one piece georgette dresses.

Embellishment was done using visible seaming, hand painting, zippers, pleating and coin sized copper coloured sequining.

The colour palette included sedate blue, mango, salmon and pink, maroon, army greens, and midnight. 'Chai' was prêt as it is expected to be - ready to wear, affordable and trendy.

Think back to a time when Hollywood glamour was at its peak, the 1930s and 1940s, when actresses like Ava Gardner, Marilyn Monroe, and Ginger Rogers were the stars of the silver screen, always dressed in beautiful dresses, with hair done to perfection and make up in position.

Now, the Gauri and Nainika Karan sister duo has succeeded in recreating the magic with their collection. Using to advantage their understanding of draping, they create skirts, blouses, and dresses that are sexy in a very sweet way. Nothing overt, just the hint of cleavage, cinching of the waist, tie-ups on a bare back, and hip skimming silhouettes that flare into dancing volumes, their ensembles are like puffs of cloud on a spring morning.

The Grecian drapes in the georgette dresses and skirts conceal all flaws and enhance flirty femininity, while the seductive stretch satins add glamour to basic pant and skirt suits. Asymmetric hemlines, corseted waists, noodle ties and folds and pleats are the focus of the collection. The colour palette varies from candy pinks, sea greens and lemons to the attention grabbing siren reds, lush greens and elegant ivories.

The look is distinctly girly and sweet on first sight, but subtly naughty as an afterthought.