As a fashion designer based out of Goa — and an ELLE First Cut alum — Suman B has always taken the creative path less travelled. While Bollywood celebrities from Shilpa Shetty Kundra to Diane Penty can’t seem to get enough of her easy, breezy designs, Mumbai’s glitz hasn’t lured her away from the Sunshine State, where she’s recently opened her flagship store in its capital of Panjim. “Goa has a lot to do with who I am today and a lot of my inspiration as a designer is drawn from Goa, which is why I felt it was the perfect place to open my first store.”
To celebrate her milestones — and to announce the launch of a limited edition collection — Suman dreamt up the first Lola’s Night Out, an event that allowed her to indulge fashion with food. She partnered with the culinary wizards at the ‘Danda Food Project’ who also chose this occasion to debut their exquisite Pod to Plate dinner concept in Goa. And ELLE was invited to experience this unique synergy of (we’ll be honest) our two favourite obsessions.
Hosted at the fine-dine restaurant Maracas, the exclusive chocolate-themed dinner featured nine courses paired with alcohol.
Through the decadent meal, we experienced thoughtfully plated food and every outfit was accompanied with its cuisine equivalent: the Casablanca Rosé Spumante and cacao vinegar mignonette oysters and seasonal salad was paired with a Lola by Suman B rosé maxi inspired by the colour of rose and smooth texture of oysters. The Cacao Butter-roasted vegetables, confit green tomato, smoked eggplant and pepita were paired with her lime green gown inspired by the colour of the course, and going a step further to create a drape that moved all around the body with a cold sleeve detail.
We left with every sense tantalised, and longing for more…
Check out Lola by Suman B here.
