Anita Dongre

It’s the wedding season, ladies! With so many options out there, I’ve handpicked my favourite pieces for this wedding season by theme- colours, styling, silhouettes etc. Take a look and let these gorgeous outfits inspire you for the sangeets, mehendis, weddings or receptions you attend this festive season!

Which theme is your fave and which outfit makes it to your must-have list?

Minimal embellishment and simple silhouette with a heavy dupatta (Shyamal & Bhumika)

Print and embellishment worn two ways: on separate garments (Monisha Jaising) and on the same (Krishna Mehta)

Kurtas with pants: 3 ways! Worn with dhoti pants (Sva), with straight-cut pants (Anita Dongre), and with loose pants (Vikram Phadnis)

And now for the colours…

Unusual colour combos: Red, beige and blue (Ritu Kumar), yellow and dark blue (Vikram Phadnis)

Reds and pinks (Anju Modi, Anita Dongre, Anushree Reddy)

Turquoise (Shehlaa Khan and Sva)

White and off-white, looks great with gold! (Ritu Kumar and Vikram Phadnis)

Black… yes, it’s now a legit festive colour! (Arpita Mehta)

Happy wedding shopping and dressing! 🙂

In Bollywood Fashion

Bollywood Fashion: Wear Matru ki Bijlee ka Mandola’s looks the easy way

Speaking ChicJanuary 17, 2013January 16, 2013Leave a comment

As expected from a movie based in rural India, there’s not much fashion in Vishal Bharadwaj’s latest venture Matru ki Bijlee ka Mandola. With costumes by Payal Saluja, the clothes are rustic and raw as they should be, with each key character having a distinct style statement. Here they are (and how you can wear them):

Matru (Imran Khan)
Matru is not what he seems to be. Though he serves the zamindar, his revolutionary spirit is camouflaged well. Hence his look is decidedly blend-in-the-crowd and inconspicuous.

What he’s wearing: He dons a cotton kurta with sleeves folded or rolled up, teamed with worn-out waistcoat or leather jacket, jeans and long scarf (the rural gamcha) wound around his neck.

How to wear: Both guys and girls can ape this ambiguous look, except perhaps for the gold balis and kada on his wrist. Instead of kurtas, try a long-sleeved tee for a more “cityish” look.

Recommendation: Kurta from Fab India

Bijlee (Anushka Sharma)
She’s cute but bold, and has got tattoos at the oddest of places to prove she’s rebellious.

(Picture courtesy: Official movie page on Facebook)

What she’s wearing: Anushka is in chunky knits/ shawls and oversized crochet tops over camisoles, with a skirt or hot pants and lace stockings. Her hair is usually a mess, but the eyeliner is never out of place. On her wedding day, she changes from shorts to a calf-length ghagri in what seems to be a jiffy.

How to wear: Baggy tops are hot right now so wear them much as you like, but skip the shorts and wear jeans with boots instead. It’s grungy enough without being inappropriate.

Accessories tip: Anushka’s accessories are quirky earrings (like the long feathers-on-chains in Oye Boy Charlie) and several leather bands around her wrist. All of these are easily available at local and high street brands.

Recommendations: Cable knit cardigan from Zara, Color Carnival earrings (available on ShopInOnIt).

Mandola (Pankaj Kapur)
The most complex character in the movie, Mandola is the rich zamindar who lives a luxurious life. On an ordinary day, he chooses between a Rolls Royce, Bentley and limousine and has a guy to hold his sunglasses for him.

What he’s wearing: He dresses elegantly in tailored suits, complete with matching pocket squares and scarves. And oh, very British hats! Unfortunately his Haryanvi paunch requires him to wear unattractive suspenders. Pankaj Kapur may not be a handsome actor, but his character’s irony is not lost given the context of rural India.

How to wear: Most men may choose to wear coloured suits now, but the best bets are still black, grey and navy. Ties are optional.

Recommendation: Suit from Anita Dongre

In 2013, Fashion, Shopping, trends

2013 Crystal Ball: Shopping trends, big fashion headlines

Speaking ChicJanuary 15, 2013January 14, 2013Leave a comment

Loving the lingerie
Women are enjoying the sexy inner wear options they’re getting online, from lacy corsets to G-strings. And there are plenty of websites to choose from (Zivame, Peri Peri Skinwear and Straps and Strings). Now I wouldn’t buy a bra without trying it on first, but things like straps, stockings and free size tube tops can be bought easily!

(Lace leggings from Zivame.com)

My precioussss!
From a diamond engagement ring to a polki necklace, people may end up buying fine jewellery online. I’m sure our moms would prefer to go to the trusted family jeweler, but hey, who has the time, right?

Niche wins
If you’re a gothic-loving young lady, or a new mom, or a designer-obsessed fashionista, there are already brands (and websites) especially for you. And you will get plenty more options this year.

Your favourite brand- now a click away
More brands, big and small, will take the online route in 2013. Many Indian and foreign fashion, accessory and jewellery brands have already adopted online shopping (Bombay High, Forever New, Shoppers Stop, Metro) and many more will follow this year. Zara’s India website seems to just a payment gateway away from ecommerce.

Big news to expect in 2013:

“[Online brand] sponsors big fashion event.”
Online fashion brands have got big marketing bucks to spend, and they will. Zovi, for instance, is sponsoring the GenNext show at Lakme Fashion Week coming season.

“Indian designers introduce affordable lines”
Anita Dongre ventured into menswear last year, and has several affordable options in waistcoats, bandhgalas and sherwanis. Sabyasachi, meanwhile, has quietly launched a line of saris that are under Rs 10,000. Word is that he’s on the lookout for investors to expand this sub-brand (called Sabyasachi by Sabysachi), and it’s likely he will find some in 2013.

“H&M to open in India”
Now that single brand retail ventures can have 100% foreign investment, I’m hoping H&M, Topshop and others make their “We’re coming to India” announcements soon. I am very very keen on shopping at Dorothy Perkins!

In 2012, Advertising, Fashion

Chic 2012: Best fashion ads of the year

Speaking ChicDecember 31, 2012December 30, 2012Leave a comment

Fashion ecommerce sites ruled the fashion ad space in 2012. And they caught attention with the decades-old funda- Sex sells!

Myntra’s Hottest December Sale promo had gorgeous Lisa Haydon doing a striptease on primetime television. I’m sure I’m not the only one who initially mistook it for a Fastrack commercial.

The BeStylish promo was about sexy shoes and seduction. Enough to excite shoe lovers and then some!

And Tanishq brought in a refreshing change to boiler-plate jewellery advertising with their Mia commercials. Go-getter office girls dealing with real problems like parking space and not-so-good appraisals.

Special Mention: Fashion videos

Anita Dongre’s Jaipur Bride was beautifully shot and made every woman want to be an Indian bride.

Fastrack’s Like Bunnies We Multiply was funny, irreverent and unconventional. Just like the brand!

Which fashion commercial / video did you enjoy this year?

This is the first in a series of posts rounding up the Indian fashion scene in 2012.

In 2012, Fashion, Men

Chic Guide: 5 things guys need this December

Speaking ChicDecember 18, 2012December 18, 2012Leave a comment

Winter jackets and coats

Trench coats are classics, wool jackets are reliable, and shiny finishes are hot right now!

Trench coat from Zara

Lined Reefer jacket from La Redoute (available on Rock.in)

Jacket from Celio

Party essentials

A fun evening shirt, smart blazer or coloured jeans- what are you wearing to the Christmas and New Year parties?

Shirt from Calvin Klein Jeans

Blazer from Diesel

Look from Rajat Tangri Lakme Fashion Week Winter/ Festive 2012

Sherwani/ Bandhgala

There are plenty of weddings to attend this month and the next, so an embroidered or brocade sherwani is a smart fashion investment. Gentlemen will also love the classic bandhgala in a contemporary colour.

Look from Debarun Lakme Fashion Week Winter/ Festive 2012

Look from Anita Dongre

Scarf/ muffler

Scarves and mufflers say a lot about you while keeping you warm. Are you Mr Safe Grey or Mr Experimental?

Decking stripes scarf from French Connection

Scarf from United Colors of Benetton

The right shoes

There’s lot of places to go this month and the next, and you need shoes to take you there.

Hand woven shoes from RUOSH (for weddings)

Shoes from Kenneth Cole (for parties)

In 2012, Fashion

Chic Watch: Anita Dongre’s Jaipur Bride is a fascinating fashion video

Speaking ChicAugust 28, 2012August 28, 2012Leave a comment

Fashion videos are not new. Internationally, luxury brands like Dior and Prada have created fascinating videos that are beyond product showcases, and standalone works of art.

In India, I think Anita Dongre is among the first Indian designers to present a fashion video (for her Timeless label). And what a video it is!

The Jaipur Bride is a two-minute video featuring Jyothsna Chakravarthy twirling in Anita Dongre’s signature lehengas with gota patti work. In the flared skirts and sexy cholis, the sublime bride wanders around the hauntingly beautiful Vidyadhar Ji Bagh in Jaipur.

The new age rendition of the Gayatri Mantra, Jyotsna’s mesmerizing eyes and the empty centuries-old fortress gave me goosebumps. I felt I was looking at a Rajasthani princess at her maternal home, waiting for her long-lost beloved prince. Take a look:

With ace cinematographer Colstan Julian’s skilled eye capturing the arid royal residence, and soundtrack by DJ Sayem World of Flowers, this video is not to be missed.

I can’t wait for more designers to give video creation a shot. I would love to hear stories narrated through the videos- they would make epic short films. What better way to portray the twirl of fabric, the beauty of a garment than the audio visual medium?

In 2012, LFW W/F 2012

LFW W/F 2012 Trend: History lessons from the fashion ramp- decoded

Speaking ChicAugust 13, 2012August 13, 2012Leave a comment

We love the present, but we can’t help looking back into the past especially when it comes to fashion. Every fashion lover seems to have a favourite moment from the days gone by. But I’ve looked back into the past to figure out whether the designers’ claims about the era are historically accurate.

Pernia Qureshi

Drop waist dresses from the 1920s. Bead work on luxe fabrics from the Fifties.

Historical accuracy: High

Anita Dongre

Knee and calf-length pencil skirts, dresses with pleats and gathers (1950s)

Historical accuracy: Moderate

Ritu Beri

Glamour, beauty and indulgence. (1950s)

Historical accuracy: Low (Nothing Marilyn Monroe about the collection, as the designer claimed)

Archana Kochhar

Prints from the 1970-80s- like checkerboard, geometric, zig zag.

Historical accuracy: Low (Prints from the 1970s-80s include florals, animal prints and even ink splattered.)

In 2012, Fashion, LFW S/R 2012

LFW S/R 2012 Day 3: Indian Textile Day (and a sneak preview of Debarun)

Speaking ChicMarch 4, 2012March 4, 2012Leave a comment

The third day of Lakme Fashion Week Summer/Resort 2012 has been designated “Indian Textile Day”. Curated by Krishna Mehta, all designers today will showcase Indian weaves and crafts.

One of the designers today is Kolkata-based Debarun, and he’s using pure Indian fabrics like chandari, dupion silk, crushed mal mal and Indian-made pure cotton. The colour palette is predominantly white with some pastel shades. BTW, Shahana Goswami will walk the ramp at Debarun this afternoon.

Take a look:

Paromita Bannerjee

Paromita has always been a fan of Indian fabrics, especially hand-woven fabrics. She has using them in the past to create fusion silhouettes for universal appeal.

Below: Paromita Bannerjee at LFW W/F 2011

Anita Dongre

Anita’s penchant for ethnic style is well-known, and season after season this veteran designer has extensively worked with silk and cotton brocade weaves, tie and dye, and ikats of Andhra Pradesh.

Below: Anita Dongre at LFW W/F 2011

In 2012, Fashion, LFW S/R 2012

LFW S/R 2012 crystal ball: What to talk about this fashion week

Speaking ChicMarch 1, 2012March 1, 2012Leave a comment

Eighty-three designers will present their collection at Lakme Fashion Week Summer/ Resort 2012, ranging from the well-established Anita Dongre and Sabyasachi Mukherjee to the debutantes Megha Garg and Archana Rao.

But what will the people at fashion week really talk about? Some predictions as I peek into the fashion week crystal ball:

Bibhu Mohapatra’s show: This will be the New York-based designer’s first fashion week showing in India, and with his international fan following, I predict a packed house for his show on Saturday evening and plenty of fawning after that. But will Bibhu buzz be louder than (Rohit) Bal buzz? Can’t say!

Indian textiles: This season the third day of LFW S/R 2012 is dedicated to Indian textiles, with designers showcasing Indian weaves and fabrics. There will also be workshops on the resurgence and importance of Indian weaves and crafts, in which designers like Krishna Mehta, Sabyasachi Mukherjee and Bibhu Mohapatra will participate.

Nina Manuel: Nina Manuel is back in India and has landed the LFW TV gig. The leggy super model will bring a regular dose of behind-the-scenes fashion, interviews and more on LFWTV.in.

Non-designers-turned-designers: From hair stylist Sapna Bhavnani to artist Payal Khandwala, fashion “outsiders” are taking a bold step into the fashion world at LFW S/R 2012. I’m really intrigued to know how their varied experiences translate into fashion. Good luck to them!

Mumbai’s missing: Word on the street is that Manish Malhotra has pulled out from LFW S/R 2012 because he didn’t have time from his Bollywood schedule to put together a collection. But the Mumbai designer I’ll miss most is Nachiket Barve (I always love his clothes!).

Below: Rohit Bal, Narendra Kumar, Swapnil Shinde

“Haven’t I seen that somewhere?”: Every fashion week as new collections roll out on the ramp, there’s a sense of déjà vu. Designers repeat themselves, get inspired by movies, actors, and, of course, Rajasthan. Let’s get over that already. I want to see original fashion, please!

Lakme Fashion Week Summer/Resort 2012 runs from March 2 to 6, 2012 in Mumbai.

In Accessories, Fashion

Five chic things to do before Diwali

Speaking ChicOctober 23, 2011November 5, 2011Leave a comment

It’s Dhanteras today, ladies! And if you are as unprepared as I am for Diwali, here’s a quick checklist of things to do in the next two days.

One: Get your outfit ready

If you’ve bought a new outfit for Diwali, it’s time to get off the packaging and figure out the best way to wear it. How will you drape your sari or pin up the dupatta of your lehenga? Does your blouse or choli fit you perfectly?

Chic tip: Stock up on safety pins and carry some in your clutch for emergencies.

Below: Anita Dongre at LFW W/F 2011; Payal Kapoor at LFW W/F 2011

Two: Choose your jewellery

Polkis are a big trend and they’re here to stay—choose a traditional piece for Diwali. “Indian” designs like flowers, petals and peacocks are fantastic for Diwali.

Chic tip: Younger women could opt for trendier pieces which they can club with jeans and blouses after the festivities.

Below: Earrings from Sia Art Jewellery; Mor-Peacock ring from Toniq

Three: Grab a clutch

If your outfit goes easy on the embellishment, you can choose a blingy clutch with it. Brocade clutches go wonderfully well with Indian ethnic wear.

Chic tip: If you prefer dangling a bag from your wrist or bangle, choose a cute potli.

Below: Nizam clutch from Holii, clutch from Esbeda, potli from Shagufta Quamar at LFW W/F 2011.

Four: Embellish your feet

If you haven’t got a luxurious pedicure done yet, get one immediately. Then step out to buy bejewelled footwear that will you will wear for the entire festive and wedding season.

Chic tip: Can’t find shoes that match your outfit? Don’t worry, shoes need not always be matchy-matchy! Just make sure they go with your ‘look’.

Below: Groom Multi from Steve Madden, sandal from Mochi

Five: Last-minute gifts

Some fashionable gift ideas that suit all budgets (depending on the brand):

Beauty/ skin care hampers
Perfumes
Set of candles/ diyas
Watches

Below: Juicy Couture light moisturising lotion, perfume: Guerlain Shalimar, men’s watch from Fossil.

Chic tip: I’ve recently turned into an advocate of gift cards or vouchers (giving my cousins gift vouchers for Bhai Dooj). Most well-known stores have gift vouchers, and we stumbled across a site called Gift Cards India, where you can shop for vouchers from an amazing number of brands!

Bonus: Shopping for the festive season

Diwali shopping is a great time to get wonderful options and offers on clothes, accessories, makeup and tonnes of others things. So for fashion lovers, it’s ideal to gear up for the upcoming wedding season NOW!

Chic tip: Pret-amoda.com has some excellent festive pieces. Type in the code bcNVoFAH2I when shopping to get a discount. (Valid till October 26, 2011).

Happy Diwali, everyone!

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