Ensemble

Indulge in a “precious” bag

Each piece in Hidesign’s Blossom Collection by Alberto Ciaschini takes more than 30 hours to create, and the delicate ‘flower buds’ are embedded with Swarovski crystals. With only 60 pieces available of each design, this is luxurious craftsmanship at its best. If you’d like to indulge some more, check out Audelade’s bags of handcrafted and hand-woven fabric made of gold / silver in combination with finest quality natural leather.

Below: Blossom Collection from Hidesign, bag from Audelade

Blossom Collection available at select Hidesign stores across India. Prices Rs 12,500 (clutch), Rs 18,500 (evening bag). Audelade available at Skyzone, Phoenix Mills, Mumbai. Prices start at approximately Rs 25,000 for clutches.

Cheer in style

Skip the team jersey this T20 World Cup, and opt for more stylish clothes to show your support for your favourite team. Check out Sher Singh’s country polos that “represent” India, Australia, South Africa, West Indies and other T20 teams. And then there is FreeCultur’s T20 range of crew neck cricket-centric tees. While these tees are designed for cricket-loving men, I don’t see why women can’t wear them too!

Below: Regular fit India Polo in Nawab Blue from SherSingh.com, Tshirt from Freecultr.com

Available at SherSingh.com (Rs 799 onwards) and Freecultr.com (Rs 599 onwards).

Get updated

Here’s the latest news from the fashion and shopping world:

Furla’s first India store is now open at Palladium, Mumbai. It’s got brightly coloured bags, clutches and wallets in its launch collection.

Accessories brand Stuart Weitzman will soon be in India through a long-term franchise agreement with Reliance Brands. The India launch will be early next year with stores in Delhi and Mumbai. The price range is expected to be Rs.25,000-Rs.75,000.

Also, Myntra now sells saris from a dozen brands like FabIndia, Satya Paul and Satyavee Designs.

And Amit Aggarwal now makes has saris too- under his eponymous label (available at Ensemble). Expect his expertise in fluid drapery in his saris too.

Doll up your eyes

Highlight your gorgeous Indian eyes with some interesting products- Lakmé Eyeconic kaljal and curling mascara. The Eyeconic Kajal claims to last 10 hours, while Eyeconic Curling Mascara comes with a curling brush for defined lashes. The more interesting mascara is from Maybelline New York- it’s called the The Falsies Mascara which hopes to give a false-mascara look with more visible and fuller lashes.

Below: Lakme Eyeconic kajal and mascara, Maybelline New York Falsies Mascara

Available at leading department stores across the country. Prices: Lakmé Eyeconic kajal Rs. 199, Lakmé Eyeconic mascara Rs. 250, Maybelline New York Falsies Mascara Rs 425.

Discard old season styles

I’m bored of the overtly feminine look of spring/ summer 2012. So pack up the girly prints, pastel blouses, pleated skirts and pussybow blouses. The new fashion season is here- enjoy it!

In 2012, Beauty, Fashion

Chic February Guide: What to do, where to shop, what to buy this month

Speaking ChicFebruary 1, 2012February 1, 2012Leave a comment

It’s February already! And while it’s time to take stock of broken resolutions, it’s also time to figure out your fashion agenda of the month. Here’s my guide to being chic this month.

Buy Valentine’s gifts: Fragrances

It’s the month of romance so it’s the right time to buy some chic gifts for your special someone and close friends. Give your guy the newest launch from the Giorgio Armani perfume stable—Code Sport. The fragrance is a woody aromatic citrus and an explosion of freshness on a base of torrid sensuality. I know why the ladies will love this one. 😉

Guys looking for a special fragrance for their special gal could try Ralph Lauren Romance Valentine’s Day 2012 Limited Edition, a fresh sparkling floral. The pink-silver carton enveloped with delicate metal-grey entwining flora and vines would make her swoon. 🙂

Buy Valentine’s gifts: Gizmo

The Diesel Noise Division’s VEKTR headphones are the perfect gift for a fashionable music lover (or a musical fashionista). These headphones fuse Monster’s secret experimental audio savvy with Diesel’s iconoclastic design.

The gizmo has a sharp and faceted look and translates Diesel’s obsession for innovation and details: head of the Mohican inside the cushion and on the metal piece, contrasting colour, and clash of different finishing outside-inside (shiny and matt). Even the cable is designed not to tangle. Can’t wait to hear music on this one!

Shop at: Ensemble

Ensemble’s end-of-season sale kicks off today, and if I was in the mood for designer wear that’s where I’d be headed. (I shopped at their Lion Gate store during the sale last year). Running up to February 4, you can get up to 70% off on outfits from designers like Savio Jon, Tarun Tahiliani, Anamika Khanna, Gaurav Gupta, Gauri & Nainika, James Ferreira (picture below) and many more.

Attend: ‘Demystifying the Drape’ workshop

At Mumbai’s Kala Ghoda Arts Festival, fashion designer Shaina N.C. will shed light on the different ways the sari can be re-vamped. The workshop is meant for those who wear saris regularly and those who don’t. I’m hoping I can make it to this workshop.

The workshop is on February 6, 2012 from 2 to 3.30 pm at Artisan’s Centre, Kala Ghoda, Mumbai.

Look forward to: Wills Lifestyle India Fashion Week

FDCI’s Wills Lifestyle India Fashion Week Autumn/Winter 2012 kicks off February 15 in New Delhi, and it’s going to be the fashion event of the month. Designer duo Shantanu-Nikhil will open the season and pave the way for over 130 designers to showcase their collection. WLIFW A/W 2012 promises to bring awesome fashion and fresh trends!

What are you looking forward to this month?

In 2011, Accessories, Advice, Beauty, Fashion, jewellery, makeup, Shopping, trends

Chic guide: Fashionable (and affordable) things to do this week

Speaking ChicJune 13, 2011Leave a comment

Category: Fashion

Budget: Up to Rs 10,000

What to do: Shop designers for less

Designer steals aren’t restricted to online sales sites that deliver dresses by the time they’re out of season. Ensemble’s Styles for Less promotion is a great way to grab top Indian fashion designers like Rajesh Pratap, Wendell Rodricks, Tarun Tahiliani, Cue By Rahul and Rohit Gandhi, Savio Jon, Pankaj & Nidhi, Gaurav Gupta and Prashant Verma for Rs 10,000 or less! The range of designs will be a fashion lover’s delight: from casual tops to dressy numbers. Our cards are ready to be swiped.

Styles for Less is on till June 17, 2011 at Ensemble—Kemps Corner, Mumbai.

Category: Accessories

Budget: Up to Rs 5000

What to do: Go for blue

Oxidised silver jewellery will always be a great option to go with traditional wear, so bring a dash of turquoise to your jewellery box (we like this little set from Amrapali—below left). And while you’re at it, don’t ignore blues for casual wear (necklace from Toniq)!

Category: Beauty/ Makeup

Budget: Up to Rs 1000

What to do: Update your eye makeup for monsoon

The drops of joy every monsoon can be a nightmare for us girls who love our makeup. So stock up on Lakmé’s newest eye makeup products from its popular Nine to Five range. The Forever Silk Eyeliner and Kohl Ultimate are long-lasting, smudge-proof and water-resistant. The Forever Silk Eyeliner comes in seven metallic shades while the Kohl Ultimate is a kohl, smudger and sharpener all in one stick.

Forever Silk Eyeliner is priced at Rs 395; Kohl Ultimate is for Rs 650.

What chic things are you planning to do this week?

In Fashion, trends

Chic Trends: Dressed up ethnic whites to look nice

Speaking ChicMay 16, 2011Leave a comment

There’s a problem with wearing white in India—wear too much of it and you look like you’re off to a funeral; wear too little, and you’re soon facing an overdose of colour.

I don’t have too many white clothes, least of all in my ethnic selection. But after seeing the wonderful whites this season, I think it might soon add them to my wardrobe.

Here are some chic ways to wear white the ethnic way, that you can wear to your cousin’s mehendi or friend’s sangeet without looking morose.

Pair white with brights
Red and black make a deadly combo, but have you ever considered wearing red with white? Choose a flowy white kurta with gold embellishments and pair with a red dupatta. And hey, you can replace red with warm festive colours like orange and yellow and even funky neons.

Below: Kurta-churidar-dupatta from Alpa-Reena; Look from Archana Kochhar’s collection

Beyond borders
From the simple gold and silver gota to embellished pattis, your white and cream saris, kurtas and dupattas can get transformed in just a few stitches. In a variety of colours and widths, let the border be the highlight of your look.

Below: From Timeless by Anita Dongre’s Lakme Fashion Week Summer/Resort 2011 collection

Off the white track
True white is pristine, pure and very difficult to maintain. Opt for off-whites, creams and beige with thread, bead and pearl embroidery.

Below: From Ensemble’s Ecru collection.

How are you wearing white this season?

In Accessories, Fashion

Wedding Fashion: Brooch it up!

Speaking ChicFebruary 16, 20112 Comments

I love accessories—especially the smaller ones like hair clips, bangles and rings. They may be small in size, but they make a big (yet subtle) impact on my final look.

Which brings me to my accessory of choice this wedding season: the brooch!

How many of us have brooches? (I didn’t, until a short while ago). How many of us have brooches and wear them often? (I’m waiting for the wedding cocktail tonight to wear mine).

How to wear a brooch (some fun ideas!):

If you are wearing a kurta-churidar-dupatta, let your dupatta hang on one side and use the brooch to keep it in place.
Run a hair pin through it and use it as a hair decoration.
Wearing a long jacket? Pin it right in the middle!
Use it to keep your sari pleats in place (to draw attention to your envious waist).

Where to buy a brooch:

If you don’t have a brooch yet, fret not! Your friendly neighbourhood store (where you buy scrunchies, hair clips and other goodies) might have some.
Head to the multi-designer stores like Ensemble, Re or Amara—they stock accessories from clutches to sandals to art jewellery, and you might find brooches there.
Several Indian bridal wear designers also have brooches.
Hunt online! There are plenty of fashion sale websites that offer great deals. I bought the Tarun Tahiliani brooch I from a website recently, and it cost me approximately Rs 1500.

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?

Showing all posts tagged Ensemble

Chic Guide: Top 5 things to do this week (Sep 24-30)