Chennai at the high end

The brands were high-end, and the city’s who’s-who had turned out to have a look. And, no, this wasn’t Mumbai or Delhi but Chennai, dispelling the notion that the country’s best in fashion and luxury trickle south a season late.

World of Luxury, an exclusive event celebrating the second year of The Hindu ’s luxury brands supplement Watches, Luxury and Beyond at the ITC Grand Chola last Friday, brought together the latest in the ‘it’ list, from watches and cars to jewellery and clothes.

For the discerning buyer, this was the perfect playground to splurge and indulge the senses. Spotted at the event were popular Kollywood stars Vijay, Jayam Ravi, Lakshmi Rai, and Vijay Yesudas.

Rolex, Bvlgari, Ulysse Nardin and Raymond Weil showcased the best of their watch collections, while the jewellery from GRT Jewellers and Navrathan won admiring and coveting glances.

In the living spaces segment the big names were Catalyst, Ashwini and Radiance. Driving up the chic quotient, the Mercedes and Audi displays effortlessly stole the show. While some admired the sleek wheels from afar, some made haste to slide behind the wheel, and a lucky few even got the engine to purr.

For those who could aim several notches higher and beyond fancy cars, Aquatainment showcased its range of leisure yachts and boats.

The feast for the eyes quickly extended to the palate… an elaborate selection of cheese and cold cuts tantalised the taste buds, and there were sufficient interesting options for vegetarians, and delectable ‘wine and cheese’ pairings too.

Towards evening, the action shifted to the ramp, with a fashion show compered by Chennai-based model Paloma. Models attired only in chic black displayed the stunning watches to great effect.

After Ulysse Nardin and Bvlgari, it was jewellery brand Navrathan’s turn. The ethnic jewellery was complemented by traditional sarees and lehengas . Erum Ali’s bridal couture closed the show with panache. The intricate embroidery work and dull-finish gold zari perfectly offset the royal-blue collection.

Well, the thing about glitzy cars is that you just can’t have enough of them. So it was no surprise that the after-show dinner saw guests gravitate once again to the beautiful cars on display. The Mercedes Roadster was by far the star of the evening.