Designers Shantnu Nikhil went all out to take us back in time with ‘The Studio Mix’, a couture tribute to the 70s. The exclusive presentation in collaboration with Grey Goose had all the trappings of a nostalgic blowout, starting with the fitting location of Delhi’s popular jazz bar, The Piano Man. The cosy space housing a stage with giant blue curtains played the perfect backdrop for Zeenat Aman, who opened the show with a monologue about her popularity as a 70s starlet.

Electronic music duo Madboy / Mink, featuring Imaad Shah and Saba Azad, then took over with tunes that were an addictive combination of Nu Disco and Harlem swing as models danced their way out to the stage in silhouettes that alluded to a glamorous era. All this before Sidharth Malhotra shimmied his way in.

Aparshakti Khurana, Suresh Raina, Angad Bedi and Shriya Pilgaonkar cheered on from the front row as an extended guestlist applauded with a Grey Goose blended cocktail in hand, curated by one of India’s finest mixologists, Yangdup Lama.

The real showstoppers, however, remained the designer brothers. In what is now their 25th year in the business, Shantnu and Nikhil Mehra have established themselves as potent forces, both creatively and commercially. 

Most recently, they’ve pushed boundaries like few would dare to in the industry, launching labels within their parent company and putting out audacious clothes like The Studio Mix entailed.  

Wide-legged trousers to pair with short jackets, mesh inners, louche striped shirts unbuttoned to the waist, silk frills billowing out on a shirt––think menswear made for a no-holds-barred party. While most designers play it safe with clothes that are accessible and easy to glide on, for Nikhil Mehra, the creative maverick behind the designer duo, experimentation was the name of his game and bold style was a mainstay on this runway. 

Clothes that harked to bygone era when men were peaking on the fashion front but made for the here and now. In doing so, the designers sent out a loud message that it was time for men to get out of their comfort zones made up of staid basics and bring out their inner peacocks.  

Perhaps there’s no better compliment than overall stylish guy Sidharth Malhotra attesting to this. “The fusion of luxury and nostalgia is truly inspiring, and it reflects a celebration of creativity and craftsmanship. As the showstopper for this collection, I felt the energy of the 70s come alive on the runway. This partnership pays homage to the elegance of couture. I look forward to seeing how this collection resonates with everyone who appreciates the finer things in life,” he said.