Biba

I’m excited that I am double vaccinated, and maybe, just maybe I could step out to meet a friend or two (who are also vaccinated).

I haven’t shopped anything for myself in a long long time and any social event needs good clothes. So I will definitely need a mini wardrobe update. Here are three fashion pieces I want to add to my wardrobe.

A crisp smart shirt

A shirt that will work for me well for formal social occasions. I will pair it with my favourite M&S beige treggings or black trousers and kitten heels (can’t remember when I last wore heels, can my calves and ankles bear the pain again?). I’m looking for a shirt with minimal print and colour, but with a sharp cut to enhance my curves.

Dressberry shirt from Myntra

An ethnic print dress

I love dresses and I think I’m lucky that in Mumbai you can wear cute dresses all year round. But what I do want is a smart knee or midi length dress with an ethnic print. They would be great for a lunch or even to work from home (super comfy!). When it gets cooler, I just wrap a little stole around, and I’m set!

Indigo dress from Biba

A relaxed tshirt

We’ve been carrying the relaxed vibes with us for most of 2020 and 2021. So what’s the harm in wearing one now as well? Worn with a pair of skinny jeans, it’s the vibe I’m feeling now.

Breathe tshirt from Pause

How are you updating your wardrobe this season?

In Bollywood Fashion, Celebs, Fashion, trends

Bollywood Fashion Guide: Kangana Ranaut in Tanu Weds Manu Returns

Speaking ChicMay 29, 2015May 29, 2015Leave a comment

In my previous blog post, I did a look breakdown of Deepika Padukone’s indo-chic look in Piku. In Tanu Weds Manu Returns, Kangana Ranaut’s character Tanuja Trivedi (Tanu) is also seen in contemporary Indian wear but her definition of indo-chic is drastically different from Piku’s style.

Tanu is a free-spirited quirky girl who loves having fun. As a married woman in London, she opts for Indian styles. So she wears saris in public, complete with mangalsutra and very noticeable sindoor. Her saris are mostly retro-style lacey ones, and in the opening scene she has bundled up in a beige trench coat over her sari.

Once back in India, the pre-marriage Tanu takes over, and she’s back to her colourful self. In the earlier film Tanu Weds Manu Kangana Ranaut opted mostly for greens and blues, but in this film her look is bolder than ever, choosing bright pinks and oranges.

Kanagana Ranaut in Tanu Weds Manu Returns look breakdown

Printed kurta or tee

Printed patiala

Bright printed or crushed dupatta

Accessories: Jhumkas (her favourite carried forward from Tanu Weds Manu), necklaces and stacks of bangles

Makeup: Lots of it, and usually very matchy-matchy. So if Tanu’s wearing a pink kurta, she’s applied pink blush and pink lipstick. And oh, there’s also a tiny bindi and tonnes of mascara and even fake eyelashes!

How to get Kangana Ranaut’s Tanu Weds Manu Returns Look

Kurta from Biba

Patiala from Soch

Dual-toned dupatta from Aurelia, available on Fashionara

Sari from Pernia Qureshi

Jhumkas from Fida

Pink bangles from Vidhya Kangan, available on Craftsvilla

In Bollywood Fashion, Celebs, Fashion, News, trends

Style & Shopping Guide: Deepika Padukone’s Piku look

Speaking ChicMay 27, 2015May 29, 2015Leave a comment

FOUND: Deepika Padukone’s kurta from Piku! (Read on to know more).

In Piku, Deepika Padukone has one of her most unglamourous on-screen avatars. Here’s a complete style breakdown of Piku and where you can shop Deepika Padukone’s look.

Deepika Padukone as Piku

Deepika Padukone’s character Piku is a working woman and always in a rush due to her father’s morning drama. No high-end designer wear or heavy makeup for her. Instead there’s minimal styling and accessories. Piku’s look is relatable and girl-next-door and indo-chic but deliberately non-colourful.

Clothes seem to be thrown together, her hair is almost a mess, and there isn’t much time for makeup and accessories either. She carries one big bag in which she can dump everything.

Piku (Deepika Padukone’s) complete style breakdown

Minimal no-fuss kurta

Loose pants (salwar pants or palazzos), sometimes skinny jeans

Long printed scarf/ dupatta tied on bag or loosely draped on her neck

Footwear: Flat sandals/ chappals

Bag: Large leather carryall/ tote/ shopper

Jewellery: Small drop earrings that go with almost everything

Sunglasses

Makeup: Almost none. It’s mostly a nude-ish lipstick and a small bindi

Shop Deepika Padukone’s Piku look

Blue and white kurta-pants set from Biba

Black kurta from Aks (available on Jabong.com)- exactly the same Deepika Padukone is wearing in Piku (see the first picture above)

Maroon palazzo pants from Soch

Bag from Elespry

Glares from Titan

Drop earrings from Tanishq

In Fashion

Destination Wedding Guide: What clothes should I pack?

Speaking ChicDecember 10, 2014December 10, 2014Leave a comment

Headed to a destination wedding? If yes, you’re bound to be confused with what and how much to carry. I know, because I’m headed to one next week. I’ve travelled outside Mumbai and India a number of times to attend weddings (perks of a big family!), but packing for them can be quite a task. How do I decide what to carry, given the weight and space limit? The past couple times I attended a wedding out of Mumbai, I made some smart choices when selecting my outfits and what to pack.

My fashion choices for destination weddings are now quite different from weddings I attend in Mumbai. Here is a handy guide based on my experience. Hope it helps you select the right clothes for the destination wedding you’re attending! Happy packing and bon voyage!

Indian outfits for destination weddings

What to pack

Saris (preferably pre-stitched or draped saris): For the wedding, reception or sangeet. (Below: Gaurav Gupta Tribe collection available at Jabong.com)

Anarkalis or kurtas: These are easy substitutes for saris at weddings. If your family norms aren’t too traditional, anarkalis are the perfect option. BTW, they are my top outfit of choice for destination weddings! (Below: BIBA by Rohit Bal, Look from Shyamal & Bhumika)

Kurtis and tunics: You need these for smaller occasions (like poojas or family gatherings). These can be worn without dupattas and with trousers. (Below: Tunic by Rena Love)

Selecting your outfits

Look for easy-to-wear, light fabrics that are weather-appropriate and won’t wrinkle easily in your suitcase.

Sequins and stones tend to fall off, especially when crammed in a suitcase (I know, it’s happened to me!). Embellishments like appliqué, gota patti and thread work are great alternatives.

You will need to carry Indian outfits for each occasion at the wedding, but you can save space by carrying clothes that can work with more than one outfit, such as dupattas and churidars.

Choose outfits with minimal embellishments and fuss. They shouldn’t add too much weight to your luggage and be easy to drape.

Avoid packing lehengas since they are usually cumbersome to carry and occupy too much space!

Casual wear for destination weddings

What to pack

Dresses and tops: Maxi dresses are great for travel and can be worn for a family lunch or out shopping. Look at wrinkle-free tops and tees that you can pair with shorts or pants. It’s good to carry some fuss-free tops and dresses that don’t require special lingerie or camisoles. (Below: Maxi dress by Label by Ritu Kumar, dress by Being Human)

Shorts and pants: Carry at least two trousers of which one could be cropped. Make sure they match your tops! (Below: Top from Forever New)

Selecting your outfits

Places with warm climes are usually the preferred destinations for Indian weddings. Keep the location in mind when packing your casual wear- it’s also a mini-holiday though you still need to look stylish.

Depending on the duration of your entire trip (and not just the wedding), you will need to carry multi-tasking clothes that you can mix and match, such as shorts and trousers in neutrals like black and beige.

If you’re carrying something that is a bit tough to match, either leave it behind at home or make sure you have at least two options to wear it with, which can also be worn with other garments. For example, carry at least two matching tops with your printed pants (they are usually tough to pair).

Avoid jeans. They are not meant for warm weather and add too much bulk to your luggage. Opt for cotton trousers or jeggings instead.

Beach wear for destination weddings

What to pack

Swim wear: One piece or bikini, it’s your choice! Of course, do keep in mind the culture of the place you are visiting. (Below: Swimsuit available at TheBeachCompany.in)

Beach cover-up or sarong: Can be worn over your swim suit or as a dress. Make sure you carry one if there is going to be a poolside party or beach gig. (Below: Bikini and cover-up available at TheBeachCompany.in)

Selecting your clothes

There is almost certain to be a swimming pool or fun water sports at the location of the destination wedding. There might even be a pool party!

You ideally would need just one set of swim wear, but if you’re keen, you can carry two sets.

Don’t carry your “sporty” swimwear that you wear for your daily pool workout. It’s too boring for a holiday.

Have fun with fun prints, bold colours and sexy cuts- you’re on holiday!

Coming up next: Accessories to pack for destination weddings

In Fashion, trends

5 top tips to trendy Diwali dressing

Speaking ChicOctober 22, 2014Leave a comment

While we don’t usually put much though into our festive dressing, ethnic Indian wear is moving rapidly when it comes to designs and styles, with new trends coming every season. Here are some tips to help you wear these trends and look super-stylish this Diwali.

Tip 1: Experiment with embellishments

Embellishment sprayed all over your anarkali or sari are passé. The trend is toward embellishments on specific garments or sections of garments. This means pairing a heavy embellished dupatta from a lehenga with a simple kurta-churidar set, or heavily-sequined blouses with light saris. Embroidered borders on light saris and anarkali kurtas look great too. If you’re wearing calf-length anarkalis, opt for styles that have embellishments limited to the bodice. Also, look beyond stones or sequins—gold thread work, latkans (danglers) and shimmery thread can be great embellishments for Indian wear.

(Below: Look from Peppermint Diva and Anushree Reddy AW 14)

Tip 2: Try prints for a change

We usually associate festive dressing only with embellishments, but why not explore the wonderful variety of traditional Indian prints? Block prints give a rich feel on luxurious fabrics, while leheriya saris with gota work are sureshot winners. Or try out any bandhini pieces lying in your closet, such as dupattas or saris. Of course, if you miss bling, look for pieces that have a dash of sequins or metallic embellishments.

(Below: Turi sari with gota border from Amazon, Block-printed suit set from Biba at Jabong.com)

Tip 3: Mix and match

I know, mix and match as a fashion trend may be done to death recently, but it’s cool to create new looks from existing outfits. Mixing colours is easy, especially when you don’t need to match them. So pair the kurta of one outfit with the dupatta and churidar of another one. Or the gold blouse of your traditional sari with a new printed sari. Or throw a long or short jacket over your kurta. And who says you need to wear only traditional jewellery with Indian wear? Try diamond (or diamante) earrings with your ethnic outfits- you will be surprised how the fusion look works!

Below: Look from Ritu Kumar AW 2014 and Long jacket from Wrap Studio.

Tip 4: Update your accessories

You use your go-to metallic clutch all year round. This Diwali, try the batua instead (also known as a potli). They’re spacious, embellished and look great with ethnic Indian outfits, like saris and kurtas. When it comes to jewellery, you don’t need to follow the earrings-necklace-bangles routine. Instead, try on hair accessories like a maang tikka or clip, and ditch the bangles for a cuff and a simple gold-finish watch.

Below: Batua from Toniq, Jadau kada from Falguni Mehta

Tip 5: Groom, groom, groom!

A gorgeous festive look is incomplete without the perfect makeup and hair, right? Go for fuss-free hair styles like a blow dry or iron for natural bounce and texture. As for makeup, make lip colours the focus—copper, champagne and burgundy are ideal for ethnic wear. And hey, red lip colours always work!

Bonus Tip: Always remember the basics of festive dressing (colours, fabrics, silhouettes)

Rich colours: Deep blues and greens, reds, pinks, corals, orange family. BTW, black is okay too.

Luxurious fabrics: Opt for silk and georgette over cotton and linen.

Flattering silhouettes: Anarkalis or salwar-kurtas to suit your body type, well-draped saris to create the illusion of height and curves, with thin borders for petite women.

Happy Diwali to all!

Showing all posts tagged Biba

3 fashion updates for your post-vax wardrobe

Bollywood Fashion Guide: Kangana Ranaut in Tanu Weds Manu Returns

Style & Shopping Guide: Deepika Padukone’s Piku look

Destination Wedding Guide: What clothes should I pack?

5 top tips to trendy Diwali dressing