Lace and jewellery at ffolio

I’m a girly girl. My heaven’s made up of lace and roses, hand-crocheted pinafores and hand-smocked bodices. I outgrew pink teddy bears and miniature make-up kits but the lace-lust rears its head every so often, demanding satisfaction. And I found sublimation when I sneaked a peek at the new Petanu collection from Pashma, which goes on show for only three days this week.

Fusing European lace-making artistry with a retro glam flavour, the line-up is about sugar and spice and everything that’s wonderfully nice. It uses precious Chantilly and Venitzia laces with sprays of fine crystals and sequins from workshops across France and Italy in luxe sarees, ensembles, tunics, leggings and scarves. I loved the intricate detailing in luscious silks and chiffons, the subtly sexy drapes and cuts styled simply but elegantly.

I especially loved the light, white sarees, the gossamer fabric caressing the skin gently, the see-through quality adding an understated oomph. It’s something my grandmother could have worn, it’s something I can pass on as an heirloom.

While the Petanu lace line doesn’t really need additional embellishment, I loved the Paisley collection of jewellery by Monica G. Also retro, also girly (and also on show this week), it just shows how different artists interpret the same inspirations. The navratan and polki ornaments — she does rings, earrings, neckpieces and bracelets — use traditional motifs, stringing gold leaves with ruby drops and embossing hoops with the auspicious mango leaf.

I loved the very Indian jhumkis that dust the shoulders — I can just picture them with a South Indian silk or a zari-highlighted Banarasi.

Pinch me. Am I in heaven?

Petanu by Pashma lace eveningwear and Monica G jewellery on show only on September 10-12 at ffolio, No 1, Embassy Chambers, 5, Vittal Mallya Road, Bangalore. Tel: 2221 8142/ 4124 6053. Prices: Petanu by Pashma: Rs 5,000-Rs 90,000; Paisley by Monica G: Rs 2,200-90,000.