Indian fashion with a modern twist in Family Man Season 2

Priyamani as Suchitra (Suchi) Iyer

In both seasons of Family Man, Priyamani (playing Suchitra) has stayed close to the style that would best be referred to as Indian chic.

In the second season, her wardrobe ranges from long kurtas to chic tops, and each look has an unmistakeable Indian element. It could be the silhouette (long buttoned dress resembling a flowy kurta) or the makeup (thin eye liner on the upper and lower lids).

Priyamani in Family Man S2
Photo courtesy: Amazon Prime Video

Despite the popularity of the Indian chic style on actors across the board (Deepika Padukone in Piku and Kangana Ranaut in Tanu Weds Manu Returns), Priyamani’s look is unique in its own way. For starters, the colour palette is not typically Indian. She goes for subtle colours instead of rani pink or crimson red. Her eyeliner is visible yet thin, not thick and bold.

Priyamani in Family Man S2
Photo courtesy: Amazon Prime Video

How do you personalise the Indian chic look?

Get Priyamani’s look

Dress from Fab India

Fab India teal cotton dress

Kurta from Libas

Green printed jurta from Libas

Lakme Eyeconic Kajal available on Amazon

Lakme kajal

Seema Biswas as Prime Minister Basu

As the Indian prime minister, Seema Biswas plays a no-nonsense, authoritative role. She’s a woman in a world of men. Men are always telling her what to do, advising her on everything from external affairs to international defence. But with a single-minded focus and mincing no words, she tells them to do their job and she will focus on hers.

As a representative of India on the global platform and the most powerful woman in the room (and in the country), Seema Biswas has dressed modestly, keeping in mind Indian sensibilities.

This means no pant suits or skirts, or even salwar kameez or churidars. She sticks to the sari with a sharp silhouette, stiff fabrics, ethnic motifs and elbow-length blouses that cover up most of the back and the upper arm. Loose, open hair is a huge no-no in formal Indian settings, no matter how well styled, so Biswas’s hair is tightly tied back in a bun.

Seema Biswas in Family Man S2
Photo courtesy: Amazon Prime Video

And since Indians generally don’t trust “fancy” women with makeup or glamour, Seema Biswas doesn’t wear any visible makeup.

But there’s one aspect of her wardrobe where PM Basu experiments. No, it’s not a sari with her name printed all over it, but a unique blouse cum jacket.

What’s that, you ask?

If you look closely at Seema Biswas, she is wearing a standard-styled sari blouse. It fits perfectly well on the arm and the sleeves end in a simple border. Her pallu is perfectly draped on her left shoulder over the blouse. But on the right side, the blouse fits OVER the sari, like a jacket. And if you will take a close look at the back, it’s not a regular sari blouse. It’s longer and covers the pallu at the back too.

Say hello to the sari blouse-jacket!

Now sari jackets are not new, they’ve been spotted on and off the ramp since years. But Seema Biswas’s blouse is quite a new concept.

I’m a little surprised with this design choice, but it was nonetheless refreshing to watch something new on screen!

Get Seema Biswas’s look

Handweave Maheshwari sari from Okhai

Maheshwari sari Okhai

Sari blouse from Fab Dadu, available on Myntra

Maroon saree blouse

Nude lipstick from Faces Canada, available on Nykaa

Nude lipstick from Faces Canada

Get Taapsee Pannu’s fashionable look in Manmarziyaan

In Manmarziyaan, Taapsee Pannu plays a character whose fashion journey is as crucial as her personal journey. As she evolves, her clothing choices reflect the different stages in her life, and finally when it’s time to make a big decision she makes a style decision to reflect her state of mind.

Manmarziyaan’s costume designer in Prashant Sawant.

Pre-wedding style aka Rumi the Carefree

Rumi, played by Taapsee Pannu, is a tomboy and a badass. She plays hockey, goes for a run through Amritsar, rides a Bullet, works with her uncles at their sports goods store, and sneaks around to hang with her passionate boyfriend Vicky (Vicky Kaushal). She doesn’t hesitate to give non-committal Vicky a piece of her mind and a few kicks and punches when he pisses her off with his reluctance to take things forward.

Taapsee Pannu as Rumi style in Manmarziyaan
(Photo by Khamkhaphotoartist)

In this tomboy avatar, Taapsee wears men’s shirts as kurtas paired with loose patiala salwars. Makeup is markedly absent, while her jewellery is only a pair of tiny earrings. In her daily life, Rumi wears plain cardigans and hoodies over her shirts and rolls up the sleeves to look tough.

Rumi has streaks of red in her hair, perhaps to match her boyfriend’s blue highlights, and it’s a curly mess (her aunt calls her Amritsar’s “Laal Pari”). What’s just as outrageous is her pair of bright-tinted sunglasses (I found them bold!).

When Rumi carries a dupatta it’s completely mismatched with the rest of her outfit, showing her nonchalance for anything sartorial, too feminine or too conventional.

Taapsee Pannu fashion in Manmarziyaan
(Photo by Khamkhaphotoartist)

But guess what is Rumi’s most out-of-sync style choice? The sporty sneakers she wears with her salwars!

Want to adopt Taapsee Pannu’s pre-wedding Rumi look in Manmarziyaan? See our style picks below.

Checked shirt by Roadster available on Myntra

Checked womens shirt for Taapsee look

Patiala by Go Colors available on Myntra
Blue Patiala salwar for Taapsee Pannu look

Sneakers by Clarks available on Jabong

Post-wedding style aka Rumi as a Married Woman

Every Punjabi bride gets a trousseau from her family with clothes and jewellery that the bride will need in her new home, and Rumi gets a set of 21 outfits. Since Rumi doesn’t seem to be fashionable types, I get the feeling that her aunt chose her trousseau.

Once Rumi gets married, she wears her new outfits as she must, albeit a bit reluctantly, complete with her bridal chura and some jewellery. The little studs give way to small jhumkas but there is very little attempt otherwise to keep up the appearances of a blushing bride or bahu.

Taapsee Pannu Rumi in Manmarziyaan song
(Photo from Manmarziyaan official Facebook page)

As soon as they reach their hotel in Kashmir for their honeymoon, Rumi pulls out sneakers from her suitcase, ties them up and off she goes running, music in her ears to nurse her heartbreak.

The post-marriage wardrobe upgrade expands to smarter jackets, bright-coloured wedding embroidered kurtas and salwar kameez sets with (ahem…) matching dupattas.

Meanwhile, Rumi’s hair is still a mess but then there’s a hint of lipstick, nothing too obvious, just a nude shade to make her look a bit more well, married and grown-up.

As Rumi’s marriage goes through a series of ups and downs, her clothing choices fluctuate. At her family’s home, she is pretty much her old self. But as rapid changes happen in her life, she seems to grow. She begins seeing things more clearly and she makes some changes to her wardrobe to keep up with her newfound maturity.

Most notable is the final scene of Manmarziyaan, when Rumi heads out to woo her man (no spoilers here!). Rather than her usual careless look, she makes an obvious effort with her appearance, but without compromising on her crazy personality (she still asks impertinent questions and speaks random stuff to throw off people).

In this scene, Taapsee Pannu wears a knee-length straight-fit kurta with little embroidery motifs all over and carries a somewhat-matching purse. Then she applies lipstick and wears earrings, even though she doesn’t need to. Clearly, it’s a woman in love putting herself out for her man.

Get Taapsee Pannu’s post-wedding look in Manmarziyaan. Here are some suggestions.

Kurta suit set from Biba
Biba pink suit Taapsee Paanu in Manmarziyaan

Zaveri pearls jhumkas available on Myntra

Zaveri-Pearls-Jhumkas for Taapsee Pannus look Manmarziyaan
Lipstick by Kiki Milano available on Nykaa
Kiko Milano lipstick Taapsee Pannu in Manmarziyaan

What do you think of Taapsee Pannu’s look in Manmarziyaan?

Chic Reviews: Beauty buys of the season

Chic Reviews: Beauty buys of the season

This summer I tried on several new skin care products. Liked some, didn’t think much of some, and fell in love with a couple of them. Here is my take on the products I tried. Would love to know what you think of them.

Sun care

Nivea Sun Light_Feeling_Face_Fluid
Nivea Sun Light Feeling Fluid SPF 50+
This sun screen fluid is Nivea’s attempt to stand out from other sun care products. For one, it’s really a fluid- the milky texture surprised me, and so did the saffrony tinge. The flowy liquid is easy to apply, and performs its job well (sun protection), though I found it a bit greasy initially. Also the price (Rs 449 for just 50 ml) is a bit steep.

Chic Score: 3.5/5

neutrogena-ultra-sheer-dry-touch-sunblock-spf-50-88-ml

Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Dry-Touch Sunblock SPF 50+
What can I say about Neutrogena?  The brand almost never disappoints, and this product lived up to its promise as well. The light fragrance and the equally light feel is just what I needed for summer. It has now replaced my Kiehl’s sun screen, which was four times the price! I use it on my face and rest of the body as well when I step out or go swimming.

Chic Score: 4/5

Face care

Burt's Bees Intense Hydration Day Lotion

Burt’s Bees Intense Hydration Day Lotion
I asked my friend to buy me this cream from the Sephora store in Delhi on a whim. All I had heard about Burt’s Bees was that the products were derived from natural ingredients. This cream is an excellent facial moisturiser for my dry skin, and I love the non-sticky feel. This cream has quickly made it to my top favourites list.

Chic Score: 4.5/5

NIVEA-Pure Effect-Total Face Clean Up

Nivea Pure Effect Total Face Cleanup
Despite the product packaging clearly stating that it’s meant for normal to oily skin, I was intrigued by the multiple uses (cleanser, scrub, pack) and the #just5mins claim. I’ve tried the face wash all three ways, and the product delivers on all its claims, from blackhead remover to visibly clearer skin. Despite my skin type, I just can’t stop using this “face wash”. If only they had a variant for dry skin, I would make it part of my daily routine immediately. (Anyone from Nivea reading this?)

Chic Score: 4/5

Body care

Forest Essentials Cream Vitamin_E
Forest Essentials Velvet Silk Body Cream (Vitamin E)
From the whole bunch of products I bought using a Forest Essentials gift voucher, this is my favourite! I have extremely dry skin, and this lightly aromatic cream is an absolutely rocking moisturiser. I loved the Vitamin E fragrance that lingered on my skin for hours, and the cream kept my body moisturised all day long. Unlike heavy creams, it was easy to glide over my skin. I’ve finished the 200 gram container already and I am very tempted to buy my next one, despite the price. The cream is worth every rupee of Rs 1,175 (MRP)!

Chic Score: 5/5

Makeup

Avon VitaLuscious lipstick

Avon VitaLuscious Lipstick

This affordable lipstick is deeply pigmented, has long-lasting colour (colour stays on even after lunch), and it really does soften my lips. I’m trying the Reviving Red shade, and it’s a lovely maroonish red—perfect for Indian skin tones! The best thing is of course, the price—Rs 329 wonly!

 

Which new skin products have you liked this summer?

Shopping spree: Accessories (belts, shoes, bags) and makeup galore!

You can’t shop fashion unless you’ve got the right accessories and makeup to go with your clothes! Here are my top accessory picks from the shopping I did on my Spanish holiday:

Shoes: Studded sandals and brogues

Studded sandals from Shana Brogues

Jewellery: Leaf necklace

(Note to self: Gold polish still rules the accessories world.)

Leaf necklace from Bershka

Belts for all occasions:

Super wide to slim…

Belts: white, purple, lace, black

Bags:

The floral summer tote and Blanco clutch define cute-n-casual chic.

Bags for summer

Makeup haul: Lips, eyes, face, nails… it’s all there!

 Makeup haul from Spain

Note the brands we’re missing here in India: Bobbi Brown, NARS and Sephora. I wasn’t going to let some of the world’s best makeup pass me by! BTW, the Bobbi Brown foundation is flawless and invisible, like second skin. No kidding.

Smashbox lip gloss set: I L.O.V.E [heart] lip glosses, and I got this Smashbox set for just Rs 1000 (approx).

Smahbox lip gloss set

NARS Blush: Makes me blush! 😉 Also bought orange-red lip colour in pencil form.

NARS Blush in Gina

Happy weekend shopping, ladies!

Related Post:

Shopping spree: What I raided from Mango, Zara

Shopping spree: Accessories (belts, shoes, bags) and makeup galore!

You can’t shop fashion unless you’ve got the right accessories and makeup to go with your clothes! Here are my top accessory picks from the shopping I did on my Spanish holiday:

Shoes: Studded sandals and brogues

Studded sandals from Shana Brogues

Jewellery: Leaf necklace

(Note to self: Gold polish still rules the accessories world.)

Leaf necklace from Bershka

Belts for all occasions:

Super wide to slim…

Belts: white, purple, lace, black

Bags:

The floral summer tote and Blanco clutch define cute-n-casual chic.

Bags for summer

Makeup haul: Lips, eyes, face, nails… it’s all there!

 Makeup haul from Spain

Note the brands we’re missing here in India: Bobbi Brown, NARS and Sephora. I wasn’t going to let some of the world’s best makeup pass me by! BTW, the Bobbi Brown foundation is flawless and invisible, like second skin. No kidding.

Smashbox lip gloss set: I L.O.V.E [heart] lip glosses, and I got this Smashbox set for just Rs 1000 (approx).

Smahbox lip gloss set

NARS Blush: Makes me blush! 😉 Also bought orange-red lip colour in pencil form.

NARS Blush in Gina

Happy weekend shopping, ladies!

Related Post:

Shopping spree: What I raided from Mango, Zara

Chic makeup: Lakme Fantasy Collection Review (Part 3)

In part 2 of our Lakme Fantasy Collection Review, we wrote about the face products. In the third and final part, we give a roundup of the collection.

Lakme Enrich Satin Lip Colour

Colours: Mostly pinks, peaches and light purples

Price: Rs 225 each (available in 8 shades)

Lakme LIPSTICK No 131 Fantasy Collection Lakme LIPSTICK SHIMMER No 137 Fantasy Collection

Review:

We tried three shades from the collection, and our favourite was No 131 (pictured above on left) which was a nude pink. I’d recommend this shade as a must-have for ALL Indian women. The lipsticks are what you expect from Lakme—last long but when they start to fade, you need to quickly touch up. All shades work well with our skin.

Verdict: 4/5

Lakme Eye Color Quartet

Colours in the quad: Dewy green, petal pink, gold pastels.

Price: Rs 425

Lakme Fantasy Collection eye colour quarter

Review:

While the green in this eye shadow palette is lovely, I don’t think so highly of the other shades. The pink reminded me a bit of last season’s purple eye shadow shade. Also, while the shadows are rich in pigment, they could go easier on the shimmer. After all, we we wouldn’t want the nudish shadow to shimmer too much at work. 🙂 Another issue I have faced with Lakme eye shadow quads: the colour “powder square” breaks after a while on its own. But if you intend to use the palette only till the next season, it won’t be a problem for you. On the upside, shadows stay in place for hours and are great for summer parties.

Verdict: 3.5/5

Lakme True Wear Nail Colour

Colours: Pinks, lilac, mauve (six shades available)

Price: Rs 90 each

Review:

I won’t write anything in this review—just show you pictures of their lovely shades. Gorgeous!

LAKME Fantasy Collection true wear nail colour LAKME Fantasy Collection true wear nail colour LAKME Fantasy Collection true wear nail colour

Verdict: 4.5/5

Lasting impressions of Lakme Fantasy Collection:

Lakme’s Fantasy Collection gives Indian women the versatility to try a variety of looks over the next few months, and all at an affordable price. I’m glad that Lakme has experimented with new products like the bronzer and multi-purpose eye pencils. Fortunately, most of the products in the collection deliver what they promise. Our two wishes? We would have liked to see orange in their range, as it is a hot colour this summer AND can work with Indian skin tones. Also, after last season’s Gypsy collection, we’ve seen plenty of shimmer and shine, so maybe some matte products would be good too.

Our final words: Good collection with some winning products.

 

 

Related Posts:

Chic makeup: Lakme Fantasy Collection Review (Part 2)

Chic makeup: Lakme Fantasy Collection Review (Part 1)

Chic makeup: Lakme Fantasy Collection Review (Part 1)

Earlier this month, Lakme launched its new makeup range for summer 2011: the Fantasy Collection. Besides introducing new shades in existing product lines like Enrich Satin lip color (lipsticks), Eye Color quartet (eye shadow palette of four shades) and True Wear nail color (nail polish), there are plenty of new and exciting products: Lakme Fantasy Collection products

  • Cheek Artist (cream blush)
  • Gold dust shimmer bronzer
  • All over shimmer gloss
  • Shadow artist shimmer stick (cream-based eyeliner-cum-shadow)
  • Fairy dust eye shadow (like an eyeshadow in pen/ stick form)
  • Fantasy shimmer liner (sparkle eye liner)

The colour palette of this collection ranges from bright tones in green, pink and blue. Gloss and shine are key elements of this product range.

In part 1 of the Lakme Fantasy Collection review, we test some of the eye products.

Shadow Artist Shimmer Stick

Lakme Shadow Artist Shimmer Stick in GREEN - Lakme Fantasy Collection Lakme Shadow Artist Shimmer Stick in GREEN BLUE- Lakme Fantasy Collection

These are creamy pencils that you can use in a number of ways: as liner on upper or lower lashes, or you can apply and smudge/ blend, or simply use all over the lid as eye shadow. And as the name suggests, they’ve got glitter!

Price: Rs 350 each (available in four shades)

Review:

I found the pencils easy to use, and I was also able to easily blend the colour. I wore the Green to office and while my colleagues liked it, one of them wished that the green was a deeper shade. I agree with her, as it isn’t always practical to wear such a colour to work or formal events and the darker colour would go well with our skin tone.

Anyways, my thick liner stroke stayed in place from morning to evening and faded just a little. I also turned it into eye shadow, by applying a few solid lines across the lid and then blending with my ring finger. The resultant eye shadow was wonderful—just the right hint of pigment and good dose of shimmer. Of course you can add more layers of colour if you want more colour.

Verdict: 3.5/5

Fantasy Shimmer Liner

The product description claims that it gives you twinkling eyes, and you can line, layer and blend this product without smudging.

Price: Rs 275 each (available in 8 colours).

Lakme Fanstasy Shimmer Liner in Midnight Moon You know what? Every word in the above-mentioned product description is 100% true. Though the product is in liquid form, it’s got a quick dry formula. So apply it once, blink, and there—it’s in place. And yes, your eyes do seem to twinkle. 🙂

The shimmer liner brush was just right to apply the liner comfortably and I didn’t have a problem applying it even though my hand tends to shake.

I tried Midnight Moon (picture on left), Gold and Pink Crystal—and I loved ALL of them! The’yre great for parties, weddings, shopping and fun! This product has to be on your makeup kit this summer (or rather, this year).

PS: I’d love to try the White in this range. If it’s transparent, I’m buying it!

Verdict: 4.5/5

Coming soon: Lakme Fantasy Collection Review (Part 2)

LFW: 5 things we liked on Day 1

The first day at Lakme Fashion Week Summer/Resort 2011 threw up a number of surprises, and we liked them all! Take a look at our top moments from LFW’s Day 1:

Sabyasachi had fun with fashion

Pop colours, fun with fabric, matching unlikely textures… Sabyasachi didn’t leave any creative stone unturned. With every outfit, he stunned me by the sheer wizardry of his craft. Wearable straight off the ramp? Yep, if you’ve got the personality.

Sabyasachi Mukherjee at LFW S/R 2011

Japanese designers: The show must go on

As the world remained glued to TV sets and news sites awaiting news from Japan, Japanese designers took it in their stride and put on the special Tokyoeye show as planned. While the creations were not particularly breathtaking, the designers certainly seemed to have designed for an international sensibility.

(Below left to right: Somarta by Tamae Hirokaro; araisara by Sara Arai)

Somarta by Tamae Hirokaro at LFW S/R 2011 araisara by Sara Arai at LFW

Variety of looks: geeky chic, bright lips, bindis

Strange… the bindi has almost disappeared from young women’s foreheads, whether in Delhi or Ludhiana, so it was a pleasant surprise to see them on the ramp at Myoho. And we also loved the oversized catty glasses (very chic) at Sabyasachi, bright pink and orange lips at Mineral by Priyadarshini Rao (super trendy for summer!).

(Below left to right: Myoho and Mineral by Priyadarshini Rao)

Myoho at LFW S/R 2011 Mineral by Priyadarshini Rao at LFW S/R 2011

Gen Next show: Fresh dose of fashion

Six GenNext designers showcased their debut collection at Lakme Fashion Week Summer/Resort 2011. A couple of them managed to break through the clutter to present some interesting ideas. Manas Dash was one, Miriam Strehlau was another. Interestingly, both had very strong Indian inspiration. Whether they become more popular in a few years, only time will tell.

(Below left to right: Manas Dash, Miriam Strehlau)

Manas Dash GenNext designer at LFW S/R 2011 Miriam Strehlau GenNext designer at LFW S/R 2011

Wearable fashion

If there’s one thing Speaking Chic enjoys, it’s wearable ramp fashion! While Mineral by Priyadarshini Rao’s clothes will be seen on the rack in her new stores at affordable prices, there were copious amount of clothes that we would wear straight off the ramp. Examples: Shivaji Dutta’s dresses, skirts at Chaitanya Rao and several garments at Arpan Vohra.

(Below left to right: Shivaji Dutta, Chaitanya Rao and Arpan Vohra)

Shivaji Dutta dress at LFW S/R 2011 Chaitanya Rao dress at LFW S/R 2011

Arpan Vohra dress at LFW S/R 2011

Lakme Day Perfect Lip Color: long-lasting lipstick

A lipstick that lasts 10 hours? Maybe it’s not just a dream anymore. Lakme has introduced Day Perfect Lip Color that claims to stay for up to 10 hours. It’s a gel-based creme lip colour with a shine and creamy texture.

Lakme’s Day Perfect Lip Colours are from the Lakme Nine to Five range, among the more popular products in Lakme’s product portfolio.  I remember Indrani Dasgupta’s TV ad a couple of years ago: the coffee didn’t fade her lip colour, neither did the pencil in her mouth, nor the various things she did throughout the day.

Lakme Day Perfect Lip Colors are available in 12 shades.

Our favourites:

Apricot Nectar, Black Currant Sorbet and Twilight Flame:

 

9to5 Day Perfect Apricot Nectar-9             9to5 Day Perfect Black Currant Sorbet               9to5 Day Perfect Twilight Flame-2

 

We haven’t yet got our hands on this lipstick, but if you have, let us know how long the Day Perfect Lip Colors stay on your lips. 🙂

Bollywood Fashion: Kangana Ranaut teaches some fashion lessons

Kangana Ranaut appeared last night on Kaun Banega Crorepati 4 with her No Problem co-actors Anil Kapoor and Sanjay Dutt. For the few minutes she was on the show, her appearance screamed Fashion Disaster. Take a look:

Kangana Ranaut in KBC4

Here’s some fashion lessons we picked up from Kangana’s not-so-good look on KBC 4.

Fashion Lesson #1: Winter floral prints look great!

Fashion Lesson #2: You can dress for winter, even if you’re not bundled up in layers.

Kangana’s blue bodycon dress is perhaps the closest she could have got to a winter outfit in Mumbai’s non-existent winter.

Fashion Lesson #3: Trendy makeup is great, as long as it looks good on you.

Statement lips are hot this season, but Kangana Ranaut has chosen the wrong colour for her, and isn’t able to pull off the glossy bright red lips.

Fashion Lesson #4: Think thrice before changing your hair colour.

Kangana is proud of her curls and can work short hair, but her hair colour is completely out of whack. Along with the glossy red lipstick, it gives her a, well, not-so-genteel look.

Fashion Lesson #5: You can skip accessories

No earrings, no bracelets, no statement necklace, not even a watch. And why not? Kangana Ranaut’s dress does the talking.

Meanwhile, Anil Kapoor looked dapper on the same show.

Anil Kapoor in KBC4

What do you think of Kangana Ranaut’s look on Kaun Banega Crorepati 4?