Formal wear suddenly became important with the launch of Kenneth Cole and Thomas Pink. I’m especially excited about the Kenneth Cole though the Indian tax-laden prices could stretch anyone’s wallet.
WonderBra lifted Indian women’s hopes (pun intended) by making their debut on Zivame.com, while Furla’s accessories made for a colourful display at their Palladium store.
And Sephora’s first store in India was the best Christmas gift ever! Can’t wait for it to come to Mumbai, even though a friend has promised to bring me some goodies from the Delhi flagship at Select Citywalk this week. Fingers crossed.
Coming soon
Lipsy for party dresses and red carpet gowns; Stuart Weitzman for pricey men’s and women’s accessories; Dune for footwear and accessories that are a bit more affordable.
With Indian law now allowing 100% FDI in single-brand retail, we can expect many more brands like Topshop and H&M to consider setting up shop on Indian soil.
Almost disappeared
Esprit called off their deal with Madura, so the brand’s flagship stores in India are already shutting down. Miss Sixty is nowhere to be seen either—any idea if the Italian brand’s around at all?
This is the second in a series of posts rounding up the Indian fashion scene in 2012.
As a British upper class business woman who moves around in a chauffer-driven Rolls Royce, Katrina Kaif’s character Meera’s style is a modern take on elegance. She sticks to simple silhouettes and colours, with almost zero feminine frills.
How to wear:
Opt for comfortable A-line and shift silhouettes in knee-length dresses and coats. Choose bold colours like red, blue and green. Make sure there is only one eye-catching colour in your ensemble.
Where to buy: Coat from United Colors of Benetton, dress from Sisley
Katrina covers up a Manish Malhotra lehenga on a snowy day with a bright red quilted anorak, while both women wear vintage-style leather jackets on different occasions. Meanwhile, Shahrukh Khan’s jackets are limited to light woollens and vests in muted colours like grey and dark blue.
How to wear:
You can wear your winter jackets over anything and everything…. go crazy!
Where to buy: Calvin Klein Jeans (women’s jacket), Mango (women’s anorak), Celio (men’s jacket)
Boots for women
Worn by: Katrina Kaif, Anushka Sharma
While Katrina pairs knee-length boots with short skirts in winter (really!), Anushka Sharma wears outdoorsy laced boots meant for camping.
How to wear:
Very few women can carry off knee-length boots, so I suggest ankle and calf-length boots with jeans instead. The laced heavy boots are for the adventurous types or those living in the mountains.
Where to buy: Vanilla Moon, Steve Madden
Military camouflage pants
Worn by: Shahrukh Khan
He’s an army man, it’s standard issue.
How to wear: Military detailing and camouflage prints were a hot trend couple years ago, but they are always around if look carefully. Pair military print pants with plain tees in earth tones like olive green, mud brown and black.
Where to buy: Zara (men and women)
Winter checks
Worn by: Shahrukh Khan
How to wear:
Look out for checks in dark colours like blue, grey and dark green, and shirts in heavier fabrics like twill. Details like elbow patches and contrast pockets will add a fun twist to classic checks. Pair with jeans, chinos and trousers.
Where to buy: French Conection, Allen Solly
Snoods & scarves
Worn by: Shahrukh Khan, Katrina Kaif, Anushka Sharma
Mufflers, scarves, snoods, in solids and prints, cotton and wool- they were all there in the movie. The lead actors all wore their scarves differently from the others.
How to wear:
Choose the type of scarf depending on the weather in your city (wool or cotton) and how you plan to wear it (as a fun accessory or to keep warm). There are great stripes, shiny, metallic finishes, prints and colours for every fashion personality!
Where to buy: Esprit and French Connection for women’s and scarves, men’s scarves at Celio (bottom)
In my previous post, I introduced you to the 4Ps of summer 2012 trends– pleats, peplums, pastels and printed pants, highlighting the first two trends.
Here’s my take on wearing pastels and printed pants this summer. Enjoy!
Trend 3: Pastels
Yes, we Indians love bright colours, but fashion mags have declared summer 2012 as the season of pastel colours. I say, why not give bright colours a break to try something that makes you look a bit more dainty?
How to wear: Wear pastels any which way- blouses, skirts, dresses, accessories!
Chic tip: Mix solid pastels with light or delicate prints. Opt for a casual breezy fit to get in the summer mood. 🙂
Rihanna’s worn them, so has Jessica Alba. From floral to tribal to geometric, prints on pants and shorts are rocking this summer. This promises to be a super fun trend and I hope to get my hands on cool printed trousers soon.
How to wear: Pair with solid blouses or fitted tshirts. Printed pyjama-style pants are also in, and you can wear them with a similar-print blouse. If you plan to wear a bold print,wear minimal jewellery and makeup, and a simple no-frills blouse.
Chic tip: Printedtrousers come in a range of fits—from fitted (like skinny jeans) to flowing. Choose one that suits your personality and mood (Bohemian girls will love printed palazzos).
This is the first in a series of blog posts covering the Spring/Summer 2012 collections hitting stores this season! Take a look at the collections and our summer trend quotient to know how trendy it is, decide what you like, and go shop! Happy shopping! 😀
In this post, I’ve written mostly about casual wear brands.
S.Oliver
s.Oliver Casual brings the joy present in nature to their clothes.
Summer trend quotient: 7/10 (florals and greens)
Selection by s.Oliver (the premium line) is about holidays, luxury and being relaxed and carefree in style.
Summer trend quotient: 6.5/10 (resort and relaxed wear)
QS by s.Oliver is for those outdoor summer days with friends, enjoying music, love, spontaneity and youth.
Summer trend quotient: 6.5/10 (lots of colour, non-seasonal prints)
Esprit
Women’s wear at Esprit is about whites– formal and informal summer dresses, elegant blouses and jackets. And then there are the audacious flower prints on chiffon, linen and soft silk—seen on skirts, shorts, blouses, leggings, jumpsuits and dresses.
Summer trend quotient: 6/10 (needs some excitement!)
For guys there are daring plaids, box checks and chess board prints. The colour of choice is blue—from light to navy! Laidback guys will enjoy the Jamaican short pants and trousers in a range of colours, best worn with Esprit’s hats and tees.
United Colors of Benetton
It’s a season in Technicolor, says Benetton! And they’re right.
For men, there are bold chromatic combinations, multi-coloured solutions, with cable-knit designs, patterns and vibrant stripes.
Summer trend quotient: 9/10 (love that they’re big on patterns!)
For the ladies, the explosion of colours and prints continues at UCB. Don’t miss the spots, stripes and bold colours (orange, pink and blue).
Summer trend quotient: 9/10 (dots are hot this season!)
It’s time to party and ring in 2012 in style! Dresses, makeup, accessories—confused? Here’s our party style guide for you.
Little Black Dress
I’m not going to bother saying the LBD never goes out of style (you already know that). But you can wear it differently: wear it in tiers or with detailing like lace, sequins and beads.
Below: Dress from Esprit, dress from Zara
Bling for 2012
Bling works if you want it to work. Metallics, rhinestones and faux crystal embellishments are perfect for the party night of the year.
Below: Jacket and dress both from Vizyon
Party in prints
Crazy, funky, colourful prints have been the rage in 2011 and they will be around next year too. Choose a bold print that reflects your attitude.
Below: Look from Pria Kataria Puri Lakme Fashion Week W/F 2011, dress from S&N Drape by Shantanu-Nikhil at Wills Lifestyle India Fashion Week A/W 2011
Long-drawn beauty
If you’ve got the right figure (lean) and plenty of confidence, choose a light-coloured gown for a dreamy feminine look.
Below: Look from Wendell Rodricks at Lakme Fashion Week W/F 2011
Skip the dress…
… And wear trousers instead. Or a jumpsuit. Or even shorts. And don’t be surprised when the heads turn in your direction. 😉
Below: Look from Hemant-Nandita at Wills Lifestyle India Fashion Week A/W 2011, look from Nachiket Barve at Lakme Fashion Week W/F 2011
Accessories
Wear high heels, even if you hate them. Come on, it’s only one night a year!
Below: Partyy shoes from Steve Madden; Veruschka sandal on bestylish.com
Party. Clutch. Need we say more?
Below: Amoures clutch from French Connection, Lucy sequinned wallet from Toniq
Jewellery- dangling earrings, cuff and a long necklace.
Below: Cuff from Mango
Bonus party tip: Inglot’s “Crazy Nails” nail enamel gives your nails the salon look with funky patterns. Can’t wait to try this.
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As far as I can remember, I’ve been a fan of brand’s stand-alone stores like Mango, Levi’s, 109F, Promod etc and rarely visit departments stores for clothes shopping. I always felt that department stores like Central, Lifestyle, Shoppers Stop or Westside had clothes that weren’t trendy, of poor quality, the staff wasn’t well-trained and the whole experience was no fun.
But a few weeks ago on my way to a lingerie brand’s store, I stopped at Sobo Central and explained to the sales assistant (SA) that I was looking for a sports bra. She immediately guessed my size and within a couple of minutes handed me sports bras from multiple brands. I tried them on, selected one, and bought it without thinking twice.
A few days later I won a Shoppers Stop gift voucher at an office event and went to the store at Inorbit Mall. Again, I had a surprisingly satisfying experience, despite the crazy crowds (it was the sale period).
And last weekend, I had another good time browsing at Lifestyle at Phoenix Mills. The SA at the Baggit counter helped me with laptop bags and I liked most of the accessory collections I saw. And when I hit the clothes section, I saw some known and not-so-well-known brands offering great deals on tshirts.
(Below: Esprit)
Result: I’m sold on department stores now!
That doesn’t mean I will skip brand stores altogether, but I will make it a point to check out a department store when I’m looking for good deals, when I have a long shopping list, or even when I’m not looking for something in particular. It would be such fun to buy a tee from Esprit or Bossini, jeans from Levi’s, matching skirt from 109F, then pair it with earrings from yet another brand.
So where do you prefer to shop: department stores or brand stores? Take our poll and tell us why in the comments below!
It’s April already! The sun is out, and the days are getting longer and warmer. It’s time for a wardrobe upgrade. We bring you our list of chic summer essentials:
White shirt
Great for work and play, and versatile enough to be worn in several ways. Go casual with jeans, flats and an eye-catching clutch or wear it to office with tiny earrings or pearls and a formal office tote.
Below: white shirt from French Connection.
Capris
Capris, three-fourths and cropped pants are just what we need for summer! They’re available in a range of colours this season from the basics to the brights, and the latter are perfect to spice up the drabbest of looks. Get them printed or plain.
Below: Both capris from Mango
Shorts
If you’ve got great gams, flaunt ‘em! Cotton and linen ones will be comfiest for summer, and are great for casual outings and lounging at home. Dress them up a bit by pairing with a nice blouse, and you’re set for a movie with friends.
Below: Shorts from Marks & Spencer
Flip-flops and flats
Put your leather boots in your closet for the next few months, and shop for some fun flip-flops, flats and chappals. They’re everywhere, from the high-end stores to local street markets.
Below: Flip-flop from Catwalk
Summer dress
I love strappy, flowery, printed summer dresses. I usually cut down on accessories when wearing these, and let the dress do the talking. 😀
Below: Dress from Vizyon
Mini skirts
Fashion glossies say hemlines are longer this season (think maxis), but that doesn’t mean we ignore the minis. Wear sheath mini skirts with fun blouses and simple detailing, or with an over-sized tee.
Below: Denim skirt from Lee
Brights!
Yellow, pink, orange, blue… wear them bright, wear them with a smile! 🙂
Below: Pink blouse from Vero Moda, orange tee from Zara.
TGIF—yup, it’s that day of the week again. If you’re confused about weekend plans, let Speaking Chic be your guide.
Chic Thing No 1: Gear up for summer!
Its’ getting warmer, so it’s time to do some spring cleaning. Purge your wardrobe of clothes that really really need to be discarded: the sweatshirt you wore almost every week in the past few months, or the sweater you’ve had for years. Then reward yourself with a trip to your favourite store or mall for a spot of window shopping. New collections are in stores (Esprit, French Connection, Vero Moda, Chemistry), so take a look at the trends before you decide on the clothes you really really want this summer.
Chic Thing No 2: Get straight silky hair, go to Lakme fashion week!
Lakme Fashion Week starts March 11, and it’s going to be fashionable fun! Not got an invite to fashion week? Not a problem—just visit any Lakmé Salon or Studio in Mumbai, ask for the Sleek Mystique service. If you’re one of the first 500 customers, you could get into one of the LFW fashion shows!
There are four looks you can choose from. I liked the Creative Look (picture on the left)—great for layered hair like mine. (The service costs Rs 950.)
Chic Thing No 3: Buy a perfume, donate clean drinking water to children
It’s simple actually—every time someone buys one of two Giorgio Armani fragrances (Acqua di Gio and Acqua di Gioia), they generate a donation of 100 litres of drinking water per year to children and their communities.
Once you buy the perfume, you can log on to Facebook’s Acqua for Life application, enter the code on the perfume carton, and build your own community with friends.
FYI, this campaign was showcased at Giorgio Armani’s Fall/Winter 2011 show at Milan Fashion Week recently. The Acqua for Life project is part of Armani’s partnership with Green Cross International and the Unicef Tap Water Project. (Hey, this is a great piece of trivia the next time you want to silence a pretentious hobnobber).
Patterns are fun! Start with a basic formal shirt, and cover it up with a patterned sweater. Make sure the patterned is not too loud for office. Show off the pattern with an open-neck jacket or blazer. Accessorise with a patterned stole that compliments your sweater.
Shopping Guide:
White shirt from S.Oliver
Patterned sweater from S.Oliver
Knit jacket from Marks & Spencer
Stole from S.Oliver
Look 3: Coloured
Beat the office boredom with a splash of colour. Wear a pop-coloured cardigan or sweater over your office shirt. Play up the colour with a coat of contrasting colour, or sober up your look with a neutral trench.
Shopping Guide:
White shirt from S.Oliver
Crossover cardigan from Zara
Magenta trench from Esprit
White belted coat with faux fur from French Connection
Wear checkered trousers or jackets in black, white and neutrals to office and meetings.
Where to buy checks
Esprit and edc by Esprit both have checkered collections this season for guys and girls. Girls can also visit Chemistry for plaid shirts and short dresses.
Which plaid or check garment is on your wishlist this winter? Tell us!
ket: great for a formal event