by Kirthi Sri Karunaratne
Fickle Dame Fashion has dance her way through 2000 and is into the new year 2001, foisting her whims and fancies, some of which lingers, while others pass you by.

Taking a look back into the year gone by and those who made style and elegance a way of life we recall a larger than ever group who turned fashion into news. Leading the list are a elite gathering among whom are Yoland Aluvihare, Otara Chandiram, Priyanthi Fernando, Pathma Maharaja and Bhadra Wijesena. Impeccable in the kandyan saree is Lalini Alwis. So is Swarna Ameratunge, who wears both styles with aplomb. Swaire Balendra never fails to make a statement in fashion even though she confines herself to the traditional saree. Ramani Fernando is another woman who always does her own thing with style and elegance, be it in the western idiom or the eastern. Mersumi Andriesz who we don’t see enough of is the role model for the western trends she follows from designer names from all over the world. Ranjinie Wijewardene has the knack for making heads turn by her fashion sense, as Janakie Fernando does.

Mano Caderamanpulle knows what becomes her and makes the maximum of her knowledge for style which she amply displays by the many trendy ensembles she sends out of her popular fashion boutique. Goolbai Gunasekera has charm that glows to enhance anything she wears, be it a fabulous saree or a salwar kameez. Making news in her field of architecture by winning a prestegious award, Nela de Zoysa took fashion into the limelight at the Architects Convention in Malaysia in her many outfits, both from the western and eastern lines of couturier fashions.

Ruki Tissanayagam favours the traditional saree, the best of which was a grey silk with a weave of pink roses and olive green leaves she wore to a party she hosted. Also showing a preference for the traditional are Rukmani Maharaja, who once again we don’t see too often. Thylene Nagendra too has not been in the spotlight as often as before in the year gone by, has her own interpretations of the styles that suit her. Several lovely sarees worn by Kamala Rockwood has kept her in the fashion forefront. A keen sense of style always makes everyone take a second look whenever they see Kumudini Anthony in the party circuit. Sharmini Serasinghe’s preference for strong contrasts of colour suits her to perfection. Exotic is the only term that can be used to describe how Upekha de Silva and Khema de Costa never fail to be an attraction. Making waves on the fashion scene are sisters Shobana Nagendra and Nadine Mahendran, the group of the Welgama sisters, Sriani Samarasinghe, Himali Nanayakkara and Pradeepika Wimalasena. Another group of sisters who have been constantly in the fashion limelight for many years, excelled themselves at the wedding of Sushani Wickremasinghe, whose mother is Chandra and aunts are Manel Wickremasinghe, Lilamani de Silva and Rohini Pandithage.

Two painters of great repute Marie Alles Fernando and Iromie Wijewardene makes indelible impressions like their paintings with the sarees they wear. Many other flashes light up with thoughts of Yasmin Wickremasinghe, her mother Rohini and aunt Rukmani Wijeratne, Mallika Hemachandra, Charmanie Karunaratne, Nirmala Gunatilleke, Reshmi Ukwatte, Romala Wijewardene, Ranmali Mirchandani, Rosy Senanayake, Lalitha Rajapakse, Sunethra Wijegoonewardene, Sheranee Sellamuttu and Maris Gardiner. Three women in the Public Relations field who never fail to impress are Narmada Muller, Nirukshi Rupasinghe and Yasmin Cader. New entrants of Grace and charm are youngsters Indu Selvaratnam, Chantal Illangakoon and statuesque Samantha Shucroft.

Finally hitting the headlines with nearly every appearance are Shyamalee Tudawe, whose sense of style progrsses in leaps and bounds and has been seen in many fascinating and graceful drapes of the saree and Harshini Nadesan who has become a darling of the fashion world which of course has brought with it signs of the green eyed monster. This selection has been made on the basis of how often we have seen these women and on how consistent their dress sense has been. A Happy New Year to all my readers and may we make strides into fashion and beauty, perhaps by giving the Misses. India a run in the beauty queen stakes.

Glittering Christmas party

Priyanthi Fernando never fails to make everything sparkle like her crystal when she entertains. This time around for her Christmas party complete with a visit from Santa Claus, the theme was in white and blue which from the Christmas tree to the table decor was nothing short of enchanting. As expected fashion struck a high note, with several of those refered to in the paragraphs above were there to enjoy the lavish hospitality of a gracious host. Priyanthi herself was clad in a saree of grey silk the pallu worked in exquisite silver and black lace. Her bare shouldered long blouse with shoe string straps was finished in the same embroidery at the hip.

A fabulous necklace and earrings of diamonds were her ornaments. Classic in style was the two piece outfit Yoland Aluvihare wore. The long cutaway top had a Cleoptra collar to it in biege lace worked in gold zardosi and beads. She wore dazzling stone studded earclips and a short hairstyle that was most becoming.

Shobana Nagendra teamed a simple red charmeuse saree with a blouse of gold lace on the red foundation. Jewellery and accessories were in gold. The hues of a rainbow made the diffused stripes on the saree Harshini Nadesan wore with a sleeveless pleated blouse and a choker of irridescent stones. A printed chiffon saree was Mano Caderamanpulle’s choice and Priyanthi’s daughter Sheranthi picked on a dress of blue in a brocade in a mini length with halter neckline, while Lillibet Prince the wife of the Ambassador for Netherlands teamed her tamarind coloured raw silk slim skirt, with a bare backed halter top of a snake skin print, with large hoop earrings.

Gourmet food, champagne flowers and dancing turned the evening into a gala affair to the delight of all those invited.