Sonam Kapoor: A Touch of India – style & sequins
Gladys Perint Palmer, executive director of the School of Fashion, Academy of Art University, and noted fashion illustrator, turned her pen on the charms of Bollywood actor Sonam Kapoor, spotted in the front row at the Paris shows. The drawing will feature in her book “Adam & Yves” (Firefall Editions) to be published later this year.
Palmer’s pen has caught the work of many fashion rajas and ranis from Jean Paul Gaultier to Zandra Rhodes. She says: “It is hardly surprising that when I saw Sonam Kapoor at Elie Saab in Paris, glittering with sequins, bugle beads and embroidery, I had to draw her!”
Palmer first visited India some years back with her husband Simon Palmer, a former tea planter: “I fell in love with the colors, the people, the gentle spirit and highly intelligent culture. I love drawing Indian faces, both chiseled and rounded. I love the combination of vibrant shades and textures. Only after my trip to Nepal, India and Bhutan did I begin to understand the Indian color palette, based on designers’ travels.
As an art student in London, I spent much time at the Victoria & Albert Museum drawing sexy Indian sculptures. The Maharajah exhibition at the V & A in October 2009 took my breath away!”
The work of Indian designer Manish Arora for Paco Rabanne is also the subject of her sketches. As she says, “Manish Arora has created some remarkable fashion. Over the top, maybe, but who wants to be under the top?”
Her next book Adam & Yves, a tongue-in-cheek history of fashion, will explore everything over the top, not to mention topless.
(All illustrations: ©2008-2012 Gladys Perint Palmer, All Rights Reserved)
