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Turns out that flashing underwear is not just a wardrobe malfunction or a teenage style statement- it’s a cause for punishment!

Picture courtesy: AP

So Danish footballer Nicklas Bendtner flashed his underwear last week before millions of people, and the UEFA police is now after him. For flashing an unauthorised brand.

Paddy Power (which appeared on Nicklas’s underwear) is a betting company. According to UEFA rules, no player’s kit can include or endorse brands not approved by the football body. So Nicklas might be in trouble for ambush marketing.

More absurdly, there’s actually a rule on football players’ underwear. It states:

“If undershorts are worn, they must be of the same main color as the shorts.”

This just means one thing to me- a football association decides your underwear!

BTW, footballers do crazy things on the field, from illegal diving to taking their jerseys off, so baring one’s undies isn’t something new.

Team jerseys- analysed!

If you want to show support for your team, you can buy the team jerseys if you know who their sponsor is. Adidas has designed the jerseys for Spain, Germany, Russia, Denmark, Greece and Ukraine, while Nike has done for a host of nations France, Portugal, Croatia, Netherlands and Poland.

And if you’re football-challenged like I am, just buy the jersey that looks good. Here are my picks:

Boldest colour

The Dutch team’s bright orange. Also liked the deep red of the Spain jersey.

Most elegant kit

The French kit, no doubt. I love the combo of gold accents and classic blue.

Most confusing

The red and white chessboard on the Croatian jersey reminds me of the black-and-white chequered flag of a Formula One race.

Best white uniform

Germany- three thin diagonal stripes. Cool!

Where to buy

Spain and Germany jerseys are available at Adidas stores across the country. Nike country jerseys are available in Nike stores and on Myntra.com.

Which Euro 2012 team jersey is your favourite?

In 2012, Bollywood Fashion, Fashion

Bollywood Fashion: Why Parineeti Chopra’s Ishaqzaade is intelligent costume design

Speaking ChicMay 26, 2012August 1, 2012Leave a comment

I saw Ishaqzaade (starring Parineeti Chopra and Arjun Kapoor) recently, and was quite impressed with the delicacy shown to the costumes of the heroine Zoya. The costume designer (Varsha-Shilpa) and director’s (Habib Faisal) attention to detail is astounding, as everything Zoya wears, carries or drives defines her personality in a unique way. For instance, she drives an open jeep with confidence, fires a gun with brashness, and talks on her iPhone.

Every element of Zoya’s wardrobe represented an important aspect of her personality and the urgency of the situation. Here’s a look at what stood out the most from Zoya’s wardrobe (and her character).

The black waistcoats

Zoya has no qualms about “borrowing” and altering her father’s black waistcoats for herself. As the darling of the family, she gets away with her gender-bending wardrobe.

Resourceful and tomboyish.

Simple silhouettes

Simple cotton kurtas and tunics with skinny jeans and churidars define Zoya’s basic style statement. The silhouettes are straight-cut and easy to wear. So no kalidar kurtas, embellishments or heavy prints. The detailing is limited to block prints, chikan work and pleats.

Practical and fuss-free!

Comfort over fashion

When was the last time you noticed shoes in a movie? In Ishaqzaade, you most certainly do, because Zoya doesn’t wear pretty heels or sandals. Instead, she wears floaters as she campaigns for her father. Yes, floaters! And when she’s on the run, she’s in casual canvas shoes. No heels, bows or buckles.

She’s a girl ready for action.

Yes gun, no gold

In her introductory scene, Zoya is seen checking out guns for herself. She finally selects one and pays for it with gold jhumkas! Now how many girls would barter jewellery they’re supposed to wear to a grand party for a gun?

Cheeky and fearless.

The all-important sharara

Zoya’s pink sharara paired with a blue dupatta is the outfit that marks important turning points in the movie (and her life). Both times she wears this pretty outfit are happy occasions become tragic milestones. Quite obviously, she opts to wear the outfit for her secret wedding ceremony, because it’s perhaps the only one of its kind that she has. And when tragedy struck after her wedding, I couldn’t help but feel that the outfit was an ill omen for the girl.

Who would think that a pretty outfit like that would spell the beginning of doom?

What did you think of Parineeti Chopra’s costumes in Ishaqzaade?

In 2012, Fashion, Men, trends

Chic Trend: The Linen Buying and Wearing Guide

Speaking ChicMay 14, 2012August 1, 2012Leave a comment

Where to buy linen:

A number of high- street fashion brands have included linen in their summer 2012 collection. For men, the top choices are Tommy Hilfiger, Zodiac, Allen Solly and French Connection. I loved the delicious colours in Tommy Hilfiger’s menswear collection.

Solid linen shirt from Tommy Hilfiger

Women can check out linen tops and tunics at AND and Allen Solly. Again, there’s a good choice in colours though styles are limited.

White and navy linen dress from AND.

Alternately, you can buy linen fabric that you like, and get it tailored into fabulous jackets and trousers. Siyaram’s just-launched Royale Linen collection (with Manish Malhotra) offers high quality linen in a range of patterns, colours and textures.

Linen buying tips:

Linen shirts mostly have looser fits, especially for men. So men may need to buy a size smaller than the usual. I learnt this the hard way when I bought a Tommy Hilfiger linen shirt as a gift for a friend.
Opt for shirts, jackets and trousers that are close to linen’s natural shades such as ivory, ecru and grey if you want a classy look.

Arklow Washed Linen shirt from French Connection.

How to wear:

My favourite formula to wear linen- Linen shirt + chinos = Smart and sexy!
Skip the jeans if you can. Denim makes you feel warm, which is the opposite of what you want to be in this weather.
Wear beige or white linen jackets with pastel shirts or blouses.
If you want to wear an all-linen outfit, then pair coloured linen shirts with neutral linen pants (white, gray or beige). Pure white linen shirts go with all colours, from indigo to tan.

Ultimate linen inspiration

Shah Rukh Khan in Don 2! Loved the linen jacket.

Also read: Chic Trend: 5 reasons to wear linen this summer

In Fashion, trends

Chic Trends: The other 2Ps to wear this summer- pastels and printed pants

Speaking ChicMay 2, 2012August 1, 2012Leave a comment

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. 🙂

Top from Sisley

Jeans from United Colors of Benetton

Tshirt from Jealous 21 (available on Myntra.com)

Ribbon bracelet from Swarovski

Trend 4: Printed pants

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: Printed trousers 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).

Printed pants from Vizyon

Printed shorts from Esprit

Pants from Remanika

In 2012, Fashion, trends

Chic Trends: 4Ps for summer fashion (Part 1)

Speaking ChicMay 1, 2012August 1, 2012Leave a comment

Ladies, I’ve just coined a simple term to remember the hot trends for this summer: the 4Ps (not to be confused with the 4Ps of marketing!).

And the 4Ps for summer 2012 fashion are

Ta-da!

Pleats
Peplums
Pastels
Printed pants

Now, repeat the 4Ps over and over again till you know the list by heart.

In this post, I’ve highlighted the first two trends (or Ps): pleats and peplums.

Trend 1: Pleats

Pleats this summer are all in the skirts! Long or short, bright or pastels, regular hemline or asymmetrical, wear pleated skirts with grace. The other day I saw a woman wearing a maxi pleated skirt that was transparent below the knee, and it didn’t look as funny as it sounds. Really!

How to wear: Wear a bright pleated skirt with neutral or printed blouse.

Chic tip: While accordion pleated skirts are hot right now, they may be fashionably far-fetched from some. You could opt for a formal box pleated skirt or a pleated dress instead.

Skirt from Mango

Skirt from United Colors of Benetton

Dress from French Connection

Trend 2: Peplums

Peplums came in to serious public view after Michelle Williams wore a peplum gown to the Academy Awards in February, and Kate Middleton has been spotted at least a couple times in peplum-ed outfits.

So what is a peplum? It’s a strip of pleated, gathered or flared fabric that is attached to the waist line of a skirt, dress, jacket or top. It could even be an overskirt of sorts.

How to wear: Wear a peplum on a dress or skirt that ends at the knee or just below. When wearing a solid dress or skirt, wear classic jewellery.

Chic tip: A peplum can be unflattering if you got zero curves around the waist and hip area- so wear with caution. Also, choose a peplum dress or skirt that is sleek and sculptured rather than slouchy or loose.

Dotty peplum dress from Fever London (available on Rock.in)

Zara skirt with frill

What’s your choice among the pleats and peplums?

Coming soon: The other 2Ps- pastels and printed pants!

In Bollywood Fashion, News

RIP Dev Anand, thanks for the fashion!

Speaking ChicDecember 4, 2011December 4, 2011Leave a comment

Dev Anand—the actor, the director and the producer? Yes to all! But Dev Anand as the style icon? I certainly think so.

For Dev Anand impressed not only with his versatility, but also his style statement. He was not too flamboyant or sophisticated, but his style was casual and insouciant, yet charming. Over the decades, his style remained more or less the same, but with a gentlemanly touch that was right for his age. I’d call his style old-school elegant (in the context of the 21^st century).

Dev Anand’s fashion trademarks:

Scarf/ cravat/ muffler: A simple scarf worked in a number of ways for Dev Anand—from a formal cravat to a casually draped muffler.

Hats: Dev Anand wore all types of hats in his movies—like berets, flat caps, and fedoras.

Hairstyles: Dev Anand’s hairstyles changed with his movies. His styles ranged from the “roll” to longish front bangs to the flat hair.

Pray a tribute to Dev Anand—wear a scarf today. I’m wearing one!

All pictures courtesy: Dev Anand’s official website

In Bollywood Fashion, Fashion

Sonam Kapoor covers Vogue India… again!

Speaking ChicNovember 5, 2011November 5, 2011Leave a comment

There’s only so much you can ask or write about a fashionista’s take on fashion. But then the rules are different for Vogue.

Actor Sonam Kapoor is Vogue India’s November 2011 cover girl yet again, this time in a Louis Vuitton blouse and skirt with diamond-onyx earrings. Sonam was last seen on the Vogue India cover in January 2010, wearing Roberto Cavalli.

I was mighty disappointed to know of yet another Sonam Kapoor piece in Vogue India, especially since she’s been there, done that. Besides, Sonam’s a regular in most fashion magazines—as a style icon, trendsetter or “how to wear” kind of pages. Are we on the brink of a Sonam-as-fashionista overload!

Thankfully, the Vogue people got “fashion-challenged” journalist Anil Thakraney to interview Sonam, perhaps to get a different perspective on her sartorial sensibilities. This isn’t an interview asking for fashion or style tips, so don’t rush to the page expecting any.

What I did read, though, were some wonderful nuggets of “wisdom” (and some gossip). Sample this:

“Indian men don’t understand fashion unless they are gay.”

Umm… I think that’s kinda true.

Currently, the actor wants to save up for a solitaire diamond (don’t we all?) and wants a Valentino gown designed by Valentino himself (wow, she dreams big!). Luckily for Sonam, a lot of the clothes are free.

Some fashion lessons we picked up from the story:

Sonam Kapoor is well aware of her body type and flaws (she says she has big feet)
She’s got loads of the right attitude which permits her to be a fashion rebel of sorts.
One fashion tip she does offer directly: “Never bare it all. You have to retain the mystery of being a woman. That’s why Katrina Kaif is who she is—a mystery. Men like mystery.”

That’s enough to keep fashion lovers busy for a while, but hey, Vogue India—can we see less of Sonam Kapoor henceforth? Would be good to see some more unusual fashion icons that aren’t done to death. Thanks!

Stay chic.

In Fashion, News, Shopping

Shopping News: Zara opens in Bangalore; Massimo Dutti, Kenneth Cole coming to India soon

Speaking ChicNovember 3, 2011November 5, 2011Leave a comment

Namaskaara, Bengaluru! Zara has opened its first store down south! Now now, we’re certain that this news brings great joy to us all, but let’s just take a deep breath now. 🙂

The brand-new Zara store brings Bengaluru shoppers (we mean Bangalore, of course!) over 17,000 square feet of pure fashion pleasure, with plenty of trendy clothes and cool accessories. Here’s a glimpse of their stores and their Autumn/Winter 2011 campaign:

So it goes without saying, Bengaluru gals—cancel all weekend plans and head to Zara!

Zara address:

Phoenix Market City, UG 7 & UG 4, Opp. Mahadevpura CMC, Whitefield Road, Mahadevpura, Bengaluru (Bangalore) – 560 048.

Meanwhile…

…Massimo Dutti and Kenneth Cole have India on their mind

Couple more brands are set to launch in India soon. Inditex Group (which owns Zara) and Trent Limited (retail arm of Tata Group) have extended their joint venture agreement to open Massimo Dutti in India. Massimo Dutti is aimed at shoppers with a different sartorial taste, those seeking sophistication, elegance and high-quality fashion.

Kenneth Cole will open five stores in India over the next three years, after their licensing agreement with Reliance Brands. Reliance Brands will also handle the brand’s premium wholesale distribution. The longer-term plan includes around 25 stores over the next eight years. Kenneth Cole stores will stock with men’s and women’s footwear, clothing and accessories under the Kenneth Cole New York and the Kenneth Cole Reaction labels.

Which brands are you waiting for?

In Bollywood Fashion

Bollywood Fashion: Tomboy casuals in Mujhse Fraaandship Karoge—Like!

Speaking ChicNovember 1, 2011November 5, 2011Leave a comment

When I was in college, there was no Facebook, no hot rock singers and certainly no chic-and-unstylish girls like Preity Sen (actor: Saba Azaad) in Mujhse Fraaandship Karoge.

Since I don’t get too many opportunities to wear casuals these days and because I see a bit of my teen self in Preity, her look makes me want to go to college all over again. Just to wear those clothes, and perhaps have a Facebook romance too!

The look

Saba plays the college bore/ geek/ serious girl who hates boys, so her look is tomboyish from head to toe. Costume designer Priyanjali Lahiri has devoid Saba of any feminine touch.

What Saba is wearing

Tank tops and racer backs, devoid of embellishments or prints
Checked shirts as jackets and sports jackets (resembling the famous Gap jackets of the 1990s)
Tight jeans and shorts
Sneakers
Masculine watch and pile of dark rubber bangles

So no skirts and dresses (though she does wear two party dresses). And certainly no girly accessories or clothes for this gal—no floral prints or hoops or jhumkas.

How to get Saba’s look

Step 1: To emulate Saba’s I-care-a-damn look you first need to get the right attitude. 🙂 And then work on layering.

Step 2: Start with a fitted racer back or tank top, or a sports bra. (Below: Racer back top from Mango.)

Step 3: Then add another layer, which could be another tank top or a plain or striped tee. Remember that you’re not layering for winter, but for casual wear. The trick is to NOT bother too much with getting the colours right. (Below: Stephanie stripe tshirt from French Connection).

Step 4: Cover up with a checked shirt or sports jacket. (Below: Quilted hooded jacket from Levis)

Step 5: Wear a pair of your favourite skinny jeans. If you’ve got the legs, wear shorts. (Below: Skinny jeans from Levis, shorts from Sisley)

Step 6: Un-comb your hair, and tie random strands into a loose pony.

Step 7: Apply tinted lip balm or a nude pink matte lip colour.

And voila—ready for college!

What did you think of Saba/ Preity’s look in Mujhse Fraaandship Karoge—“like” or “unlike”?

In Bollywood Fashion

Bollywood Fashion: Shahrukh Khan, Amitabh Bachchan wear velvet on KBC

Speaking ChicOctober 27, 2011November 5, 2011Leave a comment

Now here’s a Bollywood and TV fashion trend we didn’t see coming: Shahrukh Khan and Amitabh Bachchan wearing velvet on consecutive episodes of Panchkoti Mahamani Kaun Banega Crorepati!

On Thursday October 20, Shahrukh Khan played KBC with Big B wearing a black velvet waistcoat over a classic white shirt and black trousers, along with his oversized watch and still-cute dimples. We couldn’t help but be charmed with his self-deprecating humour and the ease with which he wore velvet.

The following Monday (October 24), host Amitabh Bachchan appeared in velvet, though wearing it in a completely different way. While the shirt’s yoke had horizontal pleat detailing, the rest of the shirt was completely velvet. Take a look:

FYI, Mr Bachchan’s wardrobe designer for KBC 5 is by Delhi-based designer Rohit Bal.

This is not the first time Amitabh Bachcan has worn velvet on KBC. We spotted him in the premiere of KBC 4 in a velvet suit designed by Vikram Phadnis.

The inevitable question here is: will velvet become a larger trend among men, or will it remain restricted to ramp shows and Bollywood stars?

What do you think of the velvet trend, especially for men?

Showing all posts tagged pictures

Fashion at Euro 2012: Of flashing underwear and stylish team kits