Hidesign

In Accessories, Fashion, News, Shopping, trends

SUMMER CHIC: 20 pretty pieces you will love

Speaking ChicApril 24, 2015April 23, 2015Leave a comment

Pastels, pops, prints and pinks,

All these chic choices make me blink,

In wonder I look at these summer faves,

Twenty reasons to make me rave!

Enjoy these drool-worthy picks for summer. 🙂

Pretty Prints

Dress from French Connection, Peplum top from Trendy Divva, Sling bag from Toniq.

Pretty Pinks

Tunic dress from Label by Ritu Kumar, Shorts from Elle, bra from Amante.

Pretty Palettes

T-shirt from Being Human, Dress from Superdry, Bag from Holii.

Pretty Pops

T-shirt from Ed Hardy, Studs from Fida.

Pretty Pastels

Polo from US Polo Association, Pencil skirt from Miss Selfridge, Shoulder bag from Viari.

Pretty Pairs

Heels from Clarks, Ballet shoe from Melissa, Sneakers from Superdry.

Pretty Purses

Tote from Hidesign, Tote from Accessorize, Cutwork bag from Lavie.

Which pretty piece are you buying on your next visit to the mall?

In Accessories, Fashion

Chic Bags: What’s new this season from Lavie & others

Speaking ChicSeptember 23, 2013September 22, 2013Leave a comment

Lavie: Haute Hues!
Bold colours on bags are so in vogue, and Lavie’s got just the right ones this season. At a recent bloggers meet, the Lavie team introduced me to the colours of the season– corals, beiges and browns and the more daring ones like red and bright green. The colours were seen on all types of bags– structured, totes and shoppers, and even on slings. Slings are THE BAGS this season for Lavie, and no doubt they’re a cute style!

If you have a favourite colour or style, you will find it at the Lavie store this season. My colour picks at the Lavie store were blue and red. BTW, though some say black is NOT a colour, a good black bag can make quite an impact and there are several excellent options at Lavie. BTW, I’ve always found Lavie bags a good choice for day and work bags, and this season’s collection lives up to that expectation.

I loved a sling bag at the Lavie store (which is perfect for my tablet), and I managed to get my hands on it. I’ve been using it almost ALL the time now, and it got me a number of compliments too. At office, it occupies pride of place on my desk. 😀

Hidesign: From the Sixties
The boxy bag from the sixties make an appearance in Hidesign’s new collection. You can’t miss the retro appeal of the Courtney bags, and the unique shape of the Kylie photographer bag.

Esbeda: Bling it!
Special occasions call for shiny accessories, and Esbeda’s dazzling clutches are just what the fashion doctor ordered for the festive season. These clutches will take you and your lipstick from Diwali parties to destination weddings.

In Bride & Style, Shopping

How I am fighting the SALE shopping temptation

Speaking ChicJuly 18, 2013July 17, 2013Leave a comment

The mall is a bad, bad place to visit these days. The SALES are extremely tempting, and my upcoming wedding has given me the best reason to shop. So the question I’ve been asking myself is – should I shop during the end of season sale? I mean, everyone shops during sale, right? (And the cool gif from Hidesign below makes it even more alluring).

It’s not an easy answer, so I’m just going to put you through a YES and NO debate that went on in my mind for the longest time ever.

YES, a bride should totally shop on sale, because:
She will get the best prices so she can shop on a budget. And there is so much choice because all brands stuff their stores till they overflow.

NO WAY, a bride should not shop on sale, because:
It’s old season stuff, honey. Not the right options for a stylish trousseau. You don’t have place in your cupboard to hold all the lovely new clothes. She will end up splurging on clothes and accessories she doesn’t need or want.

Still no answer to my original question. So here’s what I did:

Step 1: I made a shopping list of things that I need to buy. (The key word here is need, not want).

Step 2: I then struck off those things that I don’t need immediately, like a watch, clutch etc. (I own these accessories and can use them for a while).

Step 3: This left me with just a few things on my list, such as a pair of office shoes, a good moisturiser, casual slippers (for the house) and similar stuff.

Step 4: And then I went and bought these things– they were all important because I didn’t have a good pair of work shoes and my home slippers broke. And what of the rest?

Step 5: I went back to my original list, pondering each item carefully. I figured out the things I didn’t need immediately, but would be a good price during sale, and were unlikely to change with “trends”. This included staples like black pants, classic white blouse and a pearl necklace. And oh, lingerie.

Step 6: Meanwhile, my mom added a few things to the list- gifts! Mom’s wishlist can’t be ignored, so it got added to my list.

Step 7: I will be heading to the mall as the discounts go deeper, armed with this list. And I intend to stick to it! (I know I will).

Now, is that the path to being a smart, stylish and financially-savvy bride? I say YEAH!

PS—Do try this at home (and the mall)! No expert guidance needed.

In 2012, Beauty, Fashion

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

Speaking ChicSeptember 25, 2012September 25, 2012Leave a comment

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, Accessories, Beauty, Fashion

Chic Guide: Top 5 things to do this week

Speaking ChicJuly 16, 2012July 16, 2012Leave a comment

Watch: BE BLUNT with Adhuna Akhtar

Every fashionista loves a makeover show. This time, celeb hairstylist Adhuna Akhtar, along with Osh Bhabani wield their styling tools to transform girls from across India. The women get a fab hair makeover and a new look in this six-part series. And they get to meet their fave Bollywood stars too. 😉

BE BLUNT with Adhuna Akhtar will air every night, 10 pm starting July 16- only on TLC.

Buy: Batman tees

Batman fans are in for a double treat this week. First, The Dark Knight Rises releases this weekend, and second- exclusive Batman tees! French Connection’s limited edition range of Batman tees feature comic book illustrations that fan boys will love (sorry, girls- tees are for guys only).

Batman tees are available at select French Connection stores across India for Rs 1699. Limited stock available.

Look After: Your leather bag

A wet leather bag is never good news. Here’s what you can do to keep it looking as good as new in the monsoon:

Pat your wet leather with a soft cloth.
Let your bag dry out in a naturally dry place or air-conditioned room. Don’t leave it under direct sunlight!
Invest in an appropriate cream or wax for your bag- choose one that actually “moisturizes” your accessory. Use it after the bag is completely dry.
Store your leather bag in a cloth bag to protect it from dust and moisture. Do remember to air it once in a while.

(Tips from Hidesign).

Shop till you drop: 50-50 at Oberoi Mall

This Wednesday, Mumbai will head to Oberoi Mall for its bi-annual 50-50 sale. During this one-day-only offer, 50 brands at the suburban mall will offer FLAT 50% off on their merchandise. There’s fashion (Jack & Jones, Wills Lifestyle, Jashn), beauty, department stores (Lifestyle, Central) and even food counters participating!

50-50 sale is on Wednesday, July 18 only at Oberoi Mall, Goregaon.

Talk about: Superdry coming to India

Superdry is not a new dry cleaning service. It’s a casual wear brand with unique urban clothing that’s set to enter India in partnership with Reliance Brands. Superdry fuses design influences, from Japanese graphics and vintage Americana, with the values of British tailoring, and has got unmistakable branding. Superdry offers mostly casual wear- t-shirts, jeans, sweaters, joggers, shirts, rugby shirts, polo shirts as well as bags and accessories. They have a premium approach with vintage detailing, tailored fits and bespoke fabrics- so expect higher pricing than other casual and sports wear brands Jack & Jones, Levi’s, Puma, Adidas etc. BTW, celeb fans of Superdry include David Beckham and Zac Efron.

What are you planning to do this week?

In 2012, Fashion, News

Chic News: Junglee is here, brings limited fashion choices

Speaking ChicFebruary 7, 2012February 7, 2012Leave a comment

Amazon.com’s Junglee is here! I was quite excited to know Amazon.com had finally made a foray into India so I’ve spent good amount of time over the past few days on the website.

Junglee.com’s got over 1.2 crore products to choose from with over 14,000 brands selling books to electronics to clothes to garden furniture. But of course, I’m more interested in the fashion. 🙂

Brands, brands, brands

On the fashion front at Junglee, there’s not-so-good news- the fashion choices on the website are still limited.

While there are quite a few big fashion and accessories brands on their seller list, Junglee still has a long way to go to make a mark. Especially if you compare it with amazon.com and amazon.co.uk’s brands- they’ve got some really cool brands like Mango, Desigual, Diesel, Gas and Esprit, among others.

Currently, the fashion (clothes and accessories) brands on Junglee.com include Label by Ritu Kumar, Satya Paul, Fab India, Hidesign, Gitanjali, Bata, Puma and a handful of others.

Facing the fashion competition

Junglee will have to face competition from the fashion and flash sales websites that have been around for a while (Fashion and You, 99 Labels, Myntra) along with the more recent launches (Freecultr, BeStylish.com).

I would love to see Junglee’s fashion section acquire a strong local flavour with focus on Indian brands and designers like Latin Quarters, Wills Lifestyle, Metro, AND, Seven East… you get the drift. Junglee could even seek to carve out a niche in this area as a supporter and an online store for several Indian brands.

Some cool international brands would be fun too! It would be good to see top brands on Amazon during the season throughout the year, instead of just seeing old maal on flash sales sites.

In terms of user experience, the website is easy to navigate, clutter-free and has a good range of filters—like price, colours, sellers and brand.

Waiting to grow

Of course, it’s still the early stages for the site and for Amazon in India (someone told me Amazon has big plans for India and Junglee is only a beachhead for them). I assume the folks at Junglee will be working hard to expand their fashion brand base… fingers crossed!

What do you think of Junglee.com?

In Accessories, Beauty, Fashion

Chic Launches: Lancome, French Connection fragrances, new collections by Metro shoes, Hidesign bags

Speaking ChicJanuary 28, 2012January 28, 2012Leave a comment

January’s been a month of launches, though February will see more as new collections hit the stores. Take a look at our picks this month.

Accessories: Hidesign Lizard Leather Collection

Fear not, animal lovers! Hidesign’s latest collection is made of faux lizard printed vegetable tanned leathers. The deep emboss and hand finished colours give the leathers a rich gloss. The bags in this collection are available in colours like midnight blue, deep red, forest green, brown and black. The styles range from clutches and wallets to totes and day bags. My favourite: Thelma grab handle bag (picture below).

Accessories: Metro Shoes’ Bling it on collection

Drawing inspiration from unconventional prints, metallics and nature, the Bling it on collection adds a tint of azure to monotonous wardrobe colours.

For women, there are flats, denim textured ballerinas, polished kitten heels, gladiators, wedges and slip-ons, mostly in shades of blue. My pick- the tie-up flats (picture below).

The guys can choose from zipper shoes, loafers, lace-ups and boots in cobalt blues, earthy browns and burnt sienna. For men’s party shoes, there are comfy slip-ons, buckled formals and high-tops in vibrant blue.

Fragrance: Lancome Trésor Midnight Rose

Endorsed by Emma Watson, this fruity floral is colourful and upbeat. Lancome Trésor Midnight Rose embodies mischievous femininity and embodies romantic yet contemporary love. Rose bring playfulness to the fragrance, with deliciously tangy raspberry tones, wooden shimmers and voluptuous vanilla notes. This perfume could be your signature with its spontaneous, irresistible charms! Spray it on and feel like you’re in Paris. 🙂

Fragrance: FCUK3

This set of fragrances for him and her is for the bold and witty. Think bright florals for the playful young lady (top notes of red berries, mandanrin oil and pink pepper, base notes of amber and vanilla), and creamy musk for the flirtatious guy (top notes: pineapple, mandarin, orange; base notes: amber, musk).

Packaged in a high-gloss shell enclosed in glass, these fragrances will add a fun touch to your life and your dressing table.

What’s your chic pick of the month?

In 2011, Accessories, Fashion, trends

Chic accessory trend: Cross-body bags for casual, smart, dressy (and all other) looks

Speaking ChicJune 27, 20111 Comment

Here’s one fashion trend that’s high on style and function. Cross-body purses are cute and stylish, and they’re also the Bluetooth of bags (they keep your hands free).

And because they come in whatever style you want them to, we suggest you make a cross-body bag your best friend for the next few months.

Here’s our pick of some cool cross-body bags to go with a variety of looks:

Casual

Take your pick of colour and embellishment to go with your jeans and tee.

Below: Ballestero cross-body bag from Aldo; Ambrosiana from Hidesign.

Satchel

Great for college or work, these spacious cross-body bags with extra pockets and buckles are great to dump your wallet, keys and makeup kit!

Below: Glasto linen satchel from French Connection; City bound foldover convertible cross-body satchel from Nine West

Dressy

Shiny, embellished or printed—match (or clash) your evening or day dress with a eye-catching sling bag or miaudière.

Below: Poppy Love clutchbox from French Connection; Party box animal minaudière; Patent shoulder bag from Zara

So which bag is your pick?