lace

When it’s dark and cold, I’m usually not in the mood to put on something chic, trendy or fun. Besides, it can be a bit difficult to think out-of-the-box with winter wear. So I’ve put together this this mini-guide to help you wear your timeless winter essentials with a twist. So your winter days don’t need to be dull. 🙂

The basic: Sweater/ jumper

The classic sweater is comfy, soft and available in a range of colours.

Below: Basic sweater from Zara, Santana stretch jumper from French Connection

Wear it different: Sweaters can be fun. If you like colours, opt for jumpers in pop colours or with patterns.

Below: Look from S.Oliver, Sweater from Benetton

The basic: Cardigan

The buttoned V-neck and round-neck cardigan is a winter essential for both men and women. Dark colours are especially great for the incredibly short days and long nights.

Below: Cardigan from Zara, Knit cardigan from Mango

Wear it different: The “unbuttoned” cardigan (aka “cover-up”) is a chic way to show off your top below or keep it casual. Think kimono-style cardigans with no buttons, cardigans with in-built belts and loosely worn cover-ups.

Below: Cardigan from Sisley, Dymo LS Long cardigan from Vero Moda

The basic: Winter dress

Long sleeves, muted colours, simple patterns and a hint of detailing—that’s a winter dress.

Below: Pleated studio dress from Zara, Linda 3/4 mini dress from Vero Moda

Wear it different: Try a knitted or crocheted dress with feminine frills like lace or other sheer fabric.

Below: Woollen dress from Sisley, Lace details dress from Mango

How are you wearing your woollens this winter—the basic way or with a twist?

In LFW W/F 2011

Day 1 at LFW W/F 2011: Rina Dhaka, JJ Valaya dazzle with their Indian wear

Speaking ChicAugust 24, 2011Leave a comment

Two veteran Delhi designers (Rina Dhaka and JJ Valaya) showcased their collection in Mumbai on the first day of Lakme Fashion Week Winter/Festive 2011 and lived up to their reputation.

Rina Dhaka

Rina Dhaka’s collection of easy-to-wear court couture was completely feminine in colour, silhouette and fabrics. The colour palette included delicate hues like lilac, plum, soft pink and champagne. The fabrics were sheer, and as Rina Dhaka later explained, “from the 1990s”, such as tissue, chiffon and organza. We loved the use of lace and lamé (both contemporary fabrics).

The metallic embellishments, however, were modern, with gota, plisse and sequins, along with pewter beads. While most garments were simple straight-cut kurta sets, Rina Dhaka also sent long sheer skirts, lace and cut-out tops and even a pre-stitched sari.

JJ Valaya

Meanwhile JJ Valaya, who loves photography almost as much as fashion, showed his collection in a viewfinder-and-lens themed set as giant screens played a series of photographs in black and white, sepia, colour and digital formats. Each theme formed the colour palette and mood of that segment. The garments included saris, lehengas, churidar-kurta sets for women and bandhgalas for men.

Hence there were waistcoats with white motifs, paneled sheer kurta and black churidars, brown and off-white printed saris with crystals, lehengas and cholis with net dupattas and paisleys for men’s Raja coats.

Taking a step forward into colour, Valaya used red and blues in long coats, jackets with saris, bandhgalas and lehengas. Embellished yokes, printed saris and floor-length kurtas decorated with rich crystals, stones and sequins rounded off the Tasveer collection. Embellishments also included precious stones, gold detailing and velvet embroidery. BTW, we especially loved the waist pouches and hair jewellery.

The mainstay of the collection was JJ Valaya’s Alika jacket in raw silk, shot silk, brocade and lame, pairing it with a variety of garments—saris, lehengas and tunics. Can’t wait to get my hands on one!

In Fashion, LFW W/F 2010

LFW: Little Shilpa’s Inception

Speaking ChicSeptember 19, 2010Leave a comment

Little Shilpa’s collection at Lakme Fashion Week Winter/Festive 2010 was a surrealistic journey to a utopian land, with the use of soft colours like baby pinks, whites, and fluid lines. Shilpa twisted see-through fabrics like net and lace into headgear and body gear to reflect her land of “honesty and transparency”. The shapes that arose from her craft were petals, spirals, peaks and towers. Instead of using nude fabrics to drape the models, Shilpa used exaggerated plastic bustiers and skirts, providing a perfect contrast to the soft fabrics.

As Shilpa said after the show, smaller version of these creations are available for retail. I’m sure those would be just as interesting.

In sports

Tennis: Fashion aces & faults at Wimbledon

Speaking ChicJune 23, 2010Leave a comment

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Know how tennis players love making fashion statements on court? Well, trust the Williams sisters to go crazy with their fashion choices, then explain them away with unlikely inspirations. So while Venus Williams donned a Tina Turner-inspired dress, younger sis Serena borrowed the strawberries-and-cream colour palette.

Venus’s fringed dress rides up a bit too much while playing, and has a deeply plunging neckline apt for red carpet dresses. And while the dress incorporates a major trend this season—lace—it’s not a dress for the genteel All England Tennis Club. Venus defends her dress, saying:

“Here it is all about white. There is no illusion this time…[It] still has the lace motif. I think it’s just a fun, elegant dress.”

A bit too fun, perhaps?

Meanwhile, Serena’s simple white tennis dress with pink piping is a quick reminder of the quintessential snack at the tournament—strawberries and cream. And the fashion-conscious young lady has perfectly coordinated her look with matching underpants, the Nike swoosh and laces on her shoes, and even her nails!