This fashion show promises time travel in style, Tina Vincent shows us how...

We’re not surprised when Tina Vincent tells us that she is celebrating her 50th birthday with a massive fashion show next week. The crazy part? Some of her most looked forward to creations of the night were designed 20 years ago...

Paying tribute to the designer who brought XXL fashion into vogue way back in 1998, clientele from over the years ranging from actors like Poornima Bhagyaraj to business doyens like Latha 
C Mohan of Kanya and Oryza — will sport vintage creations from back in the day. “Expect 20 creations to take you back 20 years,” says Tina, who is giddy with excitement. We hear fun throwback stories of retro ‘reversible blouses’ crafted especially for journalist Jennifer Arul so she could make a speedy change while anchoring on the field. You might even catch it at the show. Others like Gitanjali Selvaraghavan (wife of director Selvaraghavan) will flaunt three generations of Vincent’s designs — between Gitanjali, her daughter Lila and mother Padmini Raman. 

This is not to take away from the marathon line-up in store, that is spanking new. “I am showcasing my latest collection of bridal wear, party and resort wear,” says Tina, giving us a sneak preview of a handful of finished pieces in muslin, light silk, and chiffon at her store in Bergamo Mall. Meanwhile, her 19-year-old son Kiiran Valentine who made his debut as recently as February this year, is already set with his second line of clothing, which will make an appearance on the day. Serving up an aesthetic starkly in contrast to his mother, he tells us to look out for “baggy blazers, graphic prints and a whole lot of the colour purple”.

Hoping to create pieces that are entirely original — Kiiran who is in his second year of Visual Communication tells us that he will be focusing on structures you’ve seen before, but with his own unique detailing. “Like for instance I have a jacket which wraps around with a sash,” he shares, sparking our curiosity. Another common thread running through his designs, he makes it a point to mention, is that whether blazer or trousers, all of his clothes are gender neutral.

The fashion show will take place on August 14 at The Park Chennai. By invitation only.

sonali@newindianexpress.com | @brightasunshine