Bajracharya is representing Nepal in Miss Earth 2010 in Vietnam and Bhutia is working relentlessly for the past month to prepare the wardrobe for the event. [break]
“Before stitching the final design, we even prepared a mock gown out of cheap fabric,” says designer Bhutia.
Constructed from silk dupioni, the traditional mermaid silhouette has been well-stitched and fitted. Additionally, the decision to select the fabric has been taken wisely as the particular silk shines and a slight change in color is noticeable in different lights. A gemstone brooch adds an element of bling to the gown.
“While designing the particular gown we kept this year’s theme –water –in mind,” informed Bhutia.
Royal blue and emerald green are the colors used for the gown coalesce seamlessly. Intricate pleating on the upper bodice and the side detailing complements the clean outline.
“The gown represents minimalism and simplicity,” said the designer, who also runs Himalayan Couture Pvt Ltd in Thamel.
Initially the duo was uncertain about the color. While Bhutia wanted to go for a red and black combo, Bajracharya was looking for an alternative. “Red was an over-exploited color as we can see a lot of beauty queens from Nepal wearing the color frequently in such pageants,” reasons the beauty queen.
To clear out the dilemma, Bajracharya even posted a status in Facebook asking for her friends’ suggestions.
Along with the finale gown, Bhutia has designed cocktail dresses for Bajrachaya. From the 90s silhouettes to the current military-inspired dresses, the designer has dabbled with different elements.
Trying two of the dresses—a medium purple gown with a long train and a red empire-waist dress—Bajracharya informs that she has yet to figure out which one to wear during the talent round.
A black sheath with the side draping seen above in one of the photos is the most commendable and interesting creation in the collection. “It can be worn in two different ways—with and without the side draping,” explains the designer.
One of the dominant features in Bhutia’s designs is the one-shoulder cut. When inquired about it, the designer observed, “I feel that it looks good on women. The particular feature is neither vulgar nor conservative. It is somewhere in between—sexy and elegant.”
(Make-up: Sophie Gurung)
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