2010

In 2010, Bollywood Fashion, Fashion

Fashion highlights: Adios, 2010!

Speaking ChicJanuary 1, 2011Leave a comment

As we bid goodbye to 2010, here’s a quick recap of the fashion scene in India and overseas. Kicking off this fashion trends!

Top Fashion Trends we liked

Graphic prints
Clutches everywhere
Lace
Mixing prints

Fashion Trends we didn’t like

Boyfriend anything (it’s not for everyone)’
Kurti and jeans
Too much 1970s!
Innerwear as outerwear (can anyone really wear this on the street?)

Bollywood

Bollywood fashion took the high fashion leap this year with Aisha, starring Sonam Kapoor and Abhay Deol. Sonam wore Chanel, Vivienne Westwood and Christian Lacroix, while toting her Lady Dior, and Abhay Deol made a dapper style statement in Kunal Rawal’s custom-made suits.

Even as the world sought retro inspiration, very few people (and movies) captured the essence of the 1970s without going OTT. One of the few Bollywood hits Once upon a time in Mumbaai got the decade just perfect, right down to Ajay Devgn;s moustache and white-clothes obsession. And we’ve already mentioned how hot Randeep Hooda looked in Ray-Bans.

At the risk of starting another debate, we have to say that we liked Aishwarya Rai Bachchan’s clothes in Guzaarish though they seemed completely out of character.

Shopping

Every self-confessed shopaholic/ fashionista in India (or at least in Mumbai and Delhi) flocked to Zara when it opened two stores in July. A worthy competitor to Mango (another Spanish fashion brand), Zara quickly became a must-visit shopping destination for visitors to the two cities. My relatives from Amritsar wanted to visit Zara, so did my (not-so-fashionable) boss (sincere apologies in advance!). We were excited enough to take some spy shots there (see this initial Zara review of the Mumbai store).

In the latter half of the year, Delhiites got lucky when a huge Forever 21 store opened at Ambience mall (Vasant Kunj). I briefly visited the much-hyped store in Delhi recently, and I must say I was impressed with the sheer size of the collection, and most of the clothes weren’t too bad either.

And then there was Diesel and plenty others joining the fashion party. Looking forward to more high street brands coming to India in 2011. Fingers crossed!

Advertising

Internationally, well-known celebs bagged a number of ad campaigns: from Madonna for Dolce & Gabbana to Julianne Moore (wearing almost nothing) for Bvlgari. Even as the latter ad was banned in Venice, Madonna’s portrayal of a housewife told an enchanting story. Lovely!

On the Indian advertising front, the Levi’s Curve ID TV ad disappointed. A LOT. The Curve ID concept is great (you choose jeans by your body shape rather than size), but the most of the ad shots were focussed on the girls’ umm… behinds. Seemed almost voyeuristic. Great track, though.

Meanwhile, Longines’ Dolce Vita advertisement starring Aishwarya Rai Bachchan is becoming increasingly popular.

What were the fashion highs (or lows) for you in 2010?

In 2010, Accessories, Fashion, trends

Chic and easy party looks: Sequinned & studded

Speaking ChicDecember 31, 2010Leave a comment

There are party dresses, and then there are some more party dresses. But how do you transform a cocktail or evening dress into a complete party outfit? It’s all in the accessories! We show you how to get the right party looks with two classic sets of accessories: Sequins/ shimmer and studded.

Speaking Chic tip: Start with your dress as a “base” and play around with colours, accessories and jewellery till you find the right combo. You can choose one offbeat accessory if you like to experiment.

Sequins and shimmer

Dress from James Ferreira and Savio Jon’s After Eight collection at Ensemble
Headband from Zara
Watch from ToyWatch (Gems collection)
Violent Thunder Clutch from French Connection
CELO shoes from Tresmode

Studded

Dress from James Ferreira and Savio Jon’s After Eight collection at Ensemble
Hairband from Zara
Studded clutch from Aldo Acccessories
Shoes: CENT and CULT dressy peep toe with laceup, both from Tresmode

Which party look will you opt for tonight?

In 2010, Fashion, trends

Party dresses: Let’s paint the town red, white and green!

Speaking ChicDecember 30, 20104 Comments

Red dresses are this winter’s LBDs, or so they say. But red isn’t the only colour popping up all over town. Other rocking colours for party dresses I’ve been spotting are green and white. Check out our top trendy party dress picks in these colours.

Party colour: Red
Red is an instant attention-grabber. If you’re bold, love being the cynosure at a party, then red is your colour for 2011.

Dress from Chemistry.

(Picture from Chemistry Facebook page)

Party colour: Green
After seeing some fabulous green evening dresses, I’ve begun to believe that green is the most underrated colour in fashion. What say?

Gown from Gauri & Nainika, available at Ensemble.

Party colour: White
The colour of snow and winter, and can make you stand out among a sea of dressed-in-black partygoers. Add pop-coloured accessories and makeup to avoid looking too pale.

Dress from Prashant Verma, available at Ensemble.

Which is your favourite colour to party in? Red, white or green?

In 2010, Fashion, trends

Party dresses: 2010 trends you can still wear

Speaking ChicDecember 29, 2010Leave a comment

As you ring in the new year, you’re ready to look like you’re in 2011. After all, 2010 will be so last decade. But if you’re stuck with past season party dresses you want to wear for the big bash on New Year’s eve, don’t lose hope just yet. Some trends are still pretty much out there, and you won’t look outdated.

Trend 1: Military
Spring/Summer 2010 was hot on the militry trend. Khakis, epaulettes, camouflage prints ruled the ramps and streets. Choose to go all-out military with boots, or soften your look with a feminine accessory like a bow or rosette clutch.

Gown and shrug from Sailex NG.

Trend 2: Drapes
Draped dresses became popular early 2009. They’re feminine, graceful and can make a woman look really sexy.

Dress from Vizyon.

Trend 3: Bodycon
Another oldish trend. If you’ve been working out hard in the gym, slip into a bodycon dress to flaunt your toned body.

Dress from French Connection.

Have you decided your party dress yet?

In 2010, Fashion, News

Indian designer duo Walnut to be part of Japan Fashion Week

Speaking ChicDecember 27, 2010Leave a comment

Designer label ‘Walnut’ by Divya and Nidhi Gambhir has been selected to showcase their designs at the next Japan Fashion Week.

The designer duo will showcase their collection at the Asian Designers Collection in Tokyo in March 2011. ‘Walnut’ by Divya and Nidhi Gambhir was selected by the Asian Designers’ Collection Committee from a shortlist of five designers. The other shortlisted designers were Akaaro by Gaurav Jai Gupta, 5X by Ajit Kumar, Neelanjan Ghosh and 11:11 Cell DSGN.

Here are some glimpses Walnut by Divya and Nidhi Gambhir’s show at the recent Wills Lifestyle India Fashion Week (WLIFW).

The jury, comprising representatives from the Onward Kashiyama Co Ltd and New Designer Fashion Grand Prix Committee, announced their decision after they visited India mid-December for one-to-one meetings with the shortlisted designers.

“Japan is a comparatively new and growing market where Indians are making headway,” according to Sunil Sethi, President, Fashion Design Council of India (FDCI). The visibility and exposure this event brings to Divya and Nidhi Gambhir, and to the Indian fashion scene should have hopefully positive results.

In 2010

Merry Christmas!

Speaking ChicDecember 25, 2010Leave a comment

Speaking Chic wishes all readers a very Merry Christmas! Here’s wishing your holiday brings you joy, happiness and peace.

Stay chic!

In 2010, Fashion, trends

Party dresses: Shimmer, shine and sparkle

Speaking ChicDecember 22, 2010Leave a comment

Glisten like a jewel by blinging up your dress this Christmas or New Year’s eve. Show your shiny side as you let your hair down and dance the night away. Speaking Chic shows you the top trendy dresses to make you shimmer, shine and sparkle over the next two weekends.

Trend 1: Fabrics that shine

Opt for dresses in fabrics like jacquard, lamé, and even brocade. These come with inbuilt metallic shine that keep you in the spotlight. Some fabrics can bulk you up, so make sure you take a second (or third) opinion when you try on your dress at the store.

Dresses from Zara, Mango and French Connection.

Trend 2: Make sequins your best friends

Twinkle among the sea of partygoers with a dress that has the sequins in the right places and in the right dose. Or shine like the sun with a healthy overdose of sequins on your cocktail dress.

Dresses from Arpan Vohra and Mango.

How will you shine this party season?

Related Post:

Party dresses: Black is chic!

In 2010, Fashion, trends

Party dresses: Black is chic!

Speaking ChicDecember 21, 2010Leave a comment

It’s Christmas week; it’s time to get in the party mood. And it’s time to pick out the right party dress, accessories and makeup. We kick off our party series with eternal party favourites: Little Black Dresses (LBDs).

LBD with a twist

Wear your LBD in an unusual cut that will flatter your body shape. Cinch it at the waist with an eye-catching belt: it could be in a pop colour or studded, or both!

Dress from Vizyon; belt from Charles & Keith.

Asymmetrical Dresses

Asymmetrical hemlines are fun to wear and can play peek-a-boo if you want to flaunt your toned bod. Add on some shimmer and sparkle, and you’re set to party!

Dress from Vizyon.

LBDs: Little Black Blazers

If you like to defy convention and stay away from dresses, try a night-time blazer with interesting details like sequins or stones. Pair with super skinny dark jeans or mini skirt.

Blazer from mapxencaRS by Riddhi & Siddhi.

Which of these LBDs do you want to wear?

In 2010, Fashion, trends

Winter Layering Trends: Go Casual

Speaking ChicDecember 15, 2010Leave a comment

Layering clothes for winter is a tricky business. What goes or doesn’t go with what can be confusing, especially for those who want to stay trendy even while bundled up in layers.

Speaking Chic kicks off a series on layering for winter. In this series, we will bring you the top layering trends of winter 2010-2011 and give you easy, accessible and affordable examples so that you can get the looks. Do try this guide at home.

We kick off the series with a layering trend for all seasons: casual.

Go casual with tee and denim

Warm up your year-round staple of jeans and tee by starting with your favourite plain tshirt and pairing it with a fun wrap, shrug or cover-up. Choose winter accessories in interesting colours and prints to give your outfit a softer look.

Layering Formula:

Basic tee (cotton or wool) + knit cover-up + jeans + scarf

Row 1: Tshirt from Zara; Shrug from S.Oliver

Row 2: Tshirt from French Connection; knitted vest from S.Oliver

Washed denims with colored studs in “Catie Fit” and scarves, both from S.Oliver

In 2010, Fashion, trends

Trendy winter dresses: Fun with details

Speaking ChicDecember 14, 2010Leave a comment

Yup, it’s winter, and we’re all busy paring down our wardrobe to focus on simpler outfits that will take us through the next few months. But simple (and simplified) clothes need not be boring.

After all, it’s all in the details: opt for dresses with detailing that add an interesting touch to your outfit.

We’ve dug up some trendy winter dresses with detailing that you can wear to work, a formal event or just for the day you want to adopt your understated style.

Trendy Winter Dress 1: Ruffles

Ruffles are ultra-feminine and a fun touch to a knee-length dress. Pair this purple Marks & Spencer dress with a neutral jacket, but keep the buttons open to let the ruffles show.

Trendy Winter Dress 2: Rosettes and flowers

This is the perfect dress to take you from office to business lunch drinks to dinner and coffee. The floppy flower on this Vero Moda dress breaks the monotony of the black and white palette. Avoid a statement necklace with this dress. Instead, pile your wrist with thick bangles, choosing colours that depend on your mood and the occasion.

Trendy Winter Dress 3: Accordion Pleats

Pleats are not just for high school uniforms, as this knit dress from Zara shows. I also liked the fabric detailing around the neckline. I’d carry a catchy oversized bag with this dress, or wear sensible Mary Janes or pumps for a schoolgirl look. 🙂

Which chic trend do you want to wear?