Columnist and novelist Shobhaa De often surprises people with her words, but here at the Wills Lifestyle India Fashion Week (WIFW), she left the audience ogling at her confident catwalk for fashion designer Ritu Beri's show.

The 62-year-old defied her age in an unconventional, black and white tie-and-dye sari with trademark Ritu Beri embroidery on it. She sported a long, white bindi and carried her latest book "Shobhaa At Sixty" with her on the ramp, and presented it to the designer as they took a final bow to the audience.

De said it was very "exciting" to be a showstopper.

"I might have been the oldest showstopper in the world... but yes, it was indeed very excitng. We were celebrating the spirit of women. Our message was that age has got nothing to do with life and experiments -forget age, do whatever you want to do!" De told reporters after the show.

"Just like I have shared in my book, Ritu and I have made our own rules and been successful in life, so it is all about having the right attitude, and making it big - despite the age, " she added.

According to Beri, who has completed two decades in the fashion industry, says De was the perfect choice as the showstopper because of her "timeless, ageless and classic appeal".