Dato Bernard Chandran waving to his fans with daughter Thanya Kumari
The coolest daddy in town stretches out his arm to pick daughter Thanya Kumari, 9, to join him on stage for the victory walk.
FLOWN IN SPECIALLY FOR MIFW FROM LONDON, THE SPRING 2012 COLLECTION BY DATO BERNARD CHANDRAN WAS A SENSATIONAL SUCCESS.
THESE ARE GARMENTS THAT ARE FUNCTIONAL YET FASHIONABLE. THEY ARE PRET-A-PORTER BUT WITH INTERESTING DETAILS THAT ARE ALMOST COUTURE. MOST OF ALL, THEY ARE EMINENTLY WEARABLE, THE SORT YOU CAN THROW ON AT A MOMENT'S NOTICE AND KNOW YOU WILL LOOK SLICK AND STYLISH AS YOU STEP OUT OF YOUR PENTHOUSE OR HOLE-IN-THE-WALL.
This time round, there are no sequins, beads, embroidery or applique. Nothing wrong with having them or dispensing of them. Perhaps as a nod to the prevailing parlous economic headwinds buffeting Europe and USA, Dato Bernard Chandran is paring down the fripperies. Here, form follows function and vice versa!
Instead, his Spring/Summer 2012 heralds a new age of comfort, toned down sophistication and sentimentality. After all, the 50s and 60s were a fab age of carefree living without the stress of changing your iPhone 4 to 5 and 6 et infinitum!
Even the make-up is a nod to the easy-living era---very light, practically nude with a wicked and sexy upward curve at the end of each eye. Look at Datin Mary's eye---she was wearing the identical make-up as the models.
Hair was kept simple, straight, fuss-free and clean. No need for diamante hairbands, hats or elaborate headgear this time. Just maintain your hair in its healthiest condition and off you go!
The music was a constant replay of the hit song 'Hurt So Bad', the 1965 hit single by Little Anthony and The Imperials, from their album Going Out of My Head. Explained Dato Bernard Chandran, "I chose this song as a tribute to the blacks trying to make it big in the 1960s as they had to work extra hard and it hurt so bad when they hit a glass ceiling."
As for fashion, Dato Bernard Chandran used much bias cutting to achieve his lop-sided and truncated look. This is an expensive procedure involving huge amount of fabrics since large swathes are needed as the panels are not stitched but is from a continuous uncut piece. Of course the results spoke for themselves! Always remember---patchworks are the cheapest and mist cost-effective but you don't get the luxurious flow!
Altogether a well thought out collection meticulously cut and realtively timeless.
Despite their looks, fabrics, cut and prestige, these garments start from under a thousand ringgit so you should stock up on them!
For the finale, Dato Bernard Chandran's models strode out in threes, resulting in a dramatic effect. Why the other designers did not think of this formation or copy him is beyond me.
SINCE I SAT NEXT TO DATIN MARY BERNARD CHANDRAN, I TOOK THE GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO KILL 2 BIRDS WITH 1 STONE---I COULD TAKE DATIN MARY'S LOVELY FACE/PROFILE AND THE MODEL ON STAGE IN ONE PHOTO!
DUE TO MY GENIUS, I MANAGE TO COMPILE THESE FABULOUS IMAGES!
Datin Mary is wearing the same outfit worn by the model on stage!
HERE ARE THE REST, ALAS WITHOUT DATIN MARY!
I love this outfit the most!
THE END