Chic List: Things that shine! (Part 1)

Chic List: Things that shine! (Part 1)

All that glitters this season is ….. worth wearing! I don’t just mean the sequinned party dresses, but the shiny fabrics and textures! They glitter and sparkle in just the right amount to bring some holiday cheer to winter wardrobes.

The metallic finish pieces I’ve seen recently in stores look HOT (I’ve written about it earlier)! If I had an occasion or more to wear them, I’d have at least a few such in my closet by now! I’m almost feeling bad I don’t. 🙁

Here’s the first part of my list of things that shine! What’s your favourite?

Dress

Rajat Tangri (LFW W/F 2012)

Rajat Tangri dress at LFW Winter Festive 2012

Chic Tip: Accessorise with a dull-finish bag or statement jewellery.

Tops/ blouses

Calvin Klein Jeans

CKJ draped top

Only

Only shirt

Zara

Zara Metallic top with elastic waist 2790

Chic Tip: Metallic finish blouses look hot when worn with dark slim or skinny pants.

Skirt

Mango

Mango Shiny Straight Skirt 3590

Chic Tip: A shiny skirt goes well with printed blouses or fitted tees. Wear with heels for a killer party look.

Pants

French Connection

French Connection Connie Rock Slim trousers

Sisley

Sisley metallic pants

Chic Tip: Sexy halter top, peek-a-boo lace blouse, or a corset—let the mercury rise!

Jackets

Calvin Klein Jeans

Calvin Klein Jeans jacket

Mango

Mango Metallic Brocade jacket 2790

Bollywood Fashion: Key pieces from Jab Tak Hai Jaan (and how to wear them)

Bollywood Fashion: Key pieces from Jab Tak Hai Jaan (and how to wear them)

Monotone outfits

Worn by: Katrina Kaif

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.

Jab Tak Hai Jaan- Katrina Kaif

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

Coat from UCB Dress from Sisley

Jackets- puffed and leather

Worn by: Katrina Kaif, Anushka Sharma, Shahrukh Khan

Jab Tak Hai Jaan Katrina Kaif

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.

Jab Tak Hai Jaan Shahrukh Khan Katrina Kaif

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)

Jacket- Calvin Klein JeansMango feather quilted anorak 4590CELIO_Pulana

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

Vanilla Moon boots-WALLIS-GINGER Steve Madden Troopah Tan leather

 

Military camouflage pants

Worn by: Shahrukh Khan

Jab Tak Hai Jaan 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)

Zara camouflage chinos 3790 Zara camouflage trousers 3790

Winter checks

Worn by: Shahrukh Khan

SRK in Jab Tak Hai Jaan

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

FC grapple twill check shirt 2999Allen Solly check shirt

 

Snoods & scarves

Worn by: Shahrukh Khan, Katrina Kaif, Anushka Sharma

Jab Tak Hai Jaan Shahrukh Khan

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.

Jab Tak Hai Jaan Anushka Sharma

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)

 

Esprit IC6245FC Twinkle Me Lurex Snood 2299

CELIO_Pirouett

Chic Guide: Fashion to invest in this season (for women)

Chic Guide: Fashion to invest in this season (for women)

October’s just begun and Autumn/Winter 2012 collections are in stores. But with so much choice and a limited budget, what should you buy this season? I’ve put together a guide to help you decide what clothes will take you through the season (hence a good fashion investment).

The idea is to select pieces that you can wear from October till January based on function, fashion and wearability.

The Winter Dress

Cold weather calls for knit or wool fitted dresses that can be paired with opaque tights or even slim-fit trousers. Depending on the weather in your city, choose a dress in a neutral or favourite colour in solids or simple prints, but with a great fit or interesting detailing.

Below: Cable Knit Dress from Mango

Mango Cable Knit Dress

The Evening Dress

It’s still too early in the season for bling, and heavy sequins are not something you really wear too often, unless you’re a party animal. So smartly choose an elegant luxurious and feminine dress that says it in style. Lace is the best bet- and it will take you from evening to night!

Below: Lori Lace Jersey Dress from French Connection

French COnnection Lace dress

The Knit Top

A knit top is the building block of winter layering. Before it freezes over, you can wear it under a light jacket or blazer, or as it is. A print, pattern or hint of embellishment would add some life to an otherwise basic piece.

Below: Knit top from Allen Solly

Allen Solly knit top AW 12

The Jeans

You can never go wrong with classic blue skinny or bootcut jeans. But with the range of options in colours, fits and textures, what should you choose? For daily wear, try a new fit you haven’t worn before- like the high waist or the flared styles.

Below: Bootcut skinny jeans from Levi’s.

Levisbootcut skinny jeans

The Light Cardigan

You’ll need plenty of light cardigans and sweaters over the next few months. Choose pieces with interesting details like zippers, buttons or even embellishments. Hot colours this season? Bold, brights, jewel tones!

Below: Cardigan from Sisley

Sisley cardigan

The Jacket

In the past couple of years, blazers have slowly crept their way into every woman’s wardrobe, and not just as office wear. For this winter, try a wool-based blazer to keep you warm and stylish. Choose either a subtle pattern or an eye-catching monotone. Androgyny is in so wide lapels and a slightly oversized fit would work well.

Below: Checked blazer from Zara

Zara checked blazer 3990

The Pre-Christmas Must-Have

Gold and silver metallic finishes will be hot this party season, not just on dresses and tops, but also on jeans! Buy gold finish jeans in the run-up to the party season (which means right now!) and get labelled a trendsetter.

Below: Liquid metal jeans from Calvin Klein Jeans

CWA702-EW1-PQ-D39-3 YES 6899

The Footwear

No more open sandals or chappals. Switch to boots, booties and closed shoes to avoid getting cold feet (sorry, pun unintended).

Below: Shoes from Vanilla Moon

Vanilla Moon booties

The Day Bag

I believe bags are seasonless, but there’s something about soft textured bags that say winter. Subtle prints make them all the more desirable.

Below: Bag from Lecoanet Hemant

Lecoanet Hemant bag

What are you investing in this season?

 

 

 

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

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

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

top from Sisley SS2012

Jeans from United Colors of Benetton

UCB jeans

Tshirt from Jealous 21 (available on Myntra.com)

Jealous21-blue-tee-Myntra

Ribbon bracelet from Swarovski

Swarovski RIBBON Bracelet - Copy

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

DC1093 - Copy

Pants from Remanika

image

Winter Guide: The best of boots!

Winter Guide: The best of boots!

It’s the season for boots, ladies! And with hundreds of styles to choose from, we girls are spoilt for choice… and confused. So here’s my pick of boots for winter 2011-12, along with chic tips to wear them!

The classic blacks

You can’t pass a winter without a pair of black boots for daily wear. Black boots go with almost every colour I can imagine, and are ideal for day wear, office and evening!

Chic tip: Bored of black boots? Try tan or brown boots, or look for blacks with a hint of detailing like lace or texture, or a cool buckle.

Below: Black boot from Metro, lace-up boots from Sisley, grey lace boot from Benetton

Metro Shoes black boot Winter 2011Sisley boots Winter 2011

Benetton boots Winter 2011

Boots for parties

Boots now come in fun styles! Decorated with sequins, rhinestones and beads, boots can be as embellished as your party dress. Spiky-heeled boots are a great alternative to stilettos and peep-toed pumps.

Below: Embellished boot from Metro, boot from Mochi

Metro shoes- Winter 2011Mochi boot Winter 2011

Chic tip: Let’s be honest—boots can make you look like a tramp. If your look is too grungy or blingy, then you run a serious fashion risk with embellished boots. If your boots are quite catchy, tone down the jewellery and the sequins on your dress.

Tall boots

Tall or knee-high boots can be quite intimidating for many women, but don’t think you’re too short or too tall for something. If a pair of tall boots looks great on you, wear it with confidence. They are great to keep your legs warm in the cold weather!

Below: Boot from Bootz Collection (at bestylish.com), Heeled boot from Zara

Bootz from bestylish.comZara basic heel boot

Chic tip: Avoid wearing knee-high boots with shorts, though they do look great with skirts, dresses and skinny jeans.

Which boots are you wearing this winter?

Winter mini-guide: How to wear woollens with a twist

Winter mini-guide: How to wear woollens with a twist

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

Zara-basic sweater Santana Stretch Jumper 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

s.Oliver Casual 1 29006 - Copy

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

Zara cardigan with contrasting detailingMango-knit cardigan

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

29780 - CopyVero Moda Dymo LS Long cardigan

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

Zara-pleated studio dressVero Moda Linda 3-4 Mini dress

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

29798 - Copy Mang-lace details dress

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

Winter picks: Have you chosen your coat yet?

Winter picks: Have you chosen your coat yet?

If you haven’t chosen a jacket or coat to keep you warm this winter, then here’s a guide to help you choose. And if you’ve got a coat already, maybe you could consider these for your next purchase this season. Either ways, I’ve got some tips to help you decide what to look out for while buying the perfect jacket or coat.

Neutrals

Black, grey and beige coats are winter wardrobe essentials—they’re excellent for office, college or an evening out.

Chic tip: While you can’t go wrong with black or beige, look for a coat that has some interesting details—like a matching or contrast belt, decorative buttons and shiny zippers.

Below: Black belted coat from Sisley, beige coat from Benetton, Colour Block Wonderland coat from French Connection.

Winter Coat from Sisleywinter coat from Benetton French Connection coat

Patterns

While prints for the cold season came into vogue in Fall/Winter 2010-11, they haven’t made as much impact on coats and jackets. Even so, you can look for coats with subtle checks or patterns.

Chic tip: The animal print trend refuses to die out (pun unintended), and you can choose to wear one if you’re bold enough.

Below: Coat from Marks & Spencer, Houndstooth coat from Zara.

Marks & Spencer coat zara-houndstooth check coat

Anoraks

If you live in a cold town with strong winds, you will need an anorak for cold weather protection. Some anoraks are also water-proof and hooded.

Chic tip: Anoraks can add more bulk to your body than other types of outerwear for winter, so opt for one only if absolutely needed.

Below: Anorak from Mango

MANGO - 53012559_10_B - Copy

Which winter coat do you choose?

Chic Picks: Casuals for winter 2011!

Chic Picks: Casuals for winter 2011!

The mercury is dropping, which means it’s time to update our wardrobe! This week, we bring you our picks for the season, starting with casuals.

Below: Look from Guru

Guru winter look

Tees and jeans

You gotta have tshirts and jeans in your wardrobe, no matter the season. And for winter, the full-sleeved sweatshirt is a must.

Below: Tshirt from United Colors of Benetton, jeans from Sisley, Beryl Denim leggings from French Connection, sweatshirt from Zara

Tshirt-UCBJeans- Sisley AW 2011

FC-Beryl Denim leggings Zara-sweatshirt

Skirts and shorts

So what if it’s cold? Women with gorgeous legs always want to show them off! Wear skirts or shorts with tights.

Below: Look from S.Oliver, tights from Marks & Spencer, shorts from Guru, skirt from United Colors of Benetton

s.Oliver Casual AW 2011 Printed Tights Marks & Spencer Guru shorts AW 2011Skirt- UCB AW 2011

Dresses

Striped dresses and LBDs are ideal winter choices. And don’t forget the casual and party dresses. Pair them with jackets, leggings or skinny trousers.

Below: Diagonal striped dress from Sisley, Dress from Zara, Sidney Jersey dress from French Connection, dress from 109F

Dress from Sisley Zara-dress1

FC-Sidney Jersey dress AW 2011Red Dress 109F

Which of these makes it to your winter wishlist?

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

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

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.

MFK5

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.

MFK4

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.)

Mango-racer-back1

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).

FC-stephanie-stripe-tshirt

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

levis-quilted-hooded-sweatshirt

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)

Levis-skinny-jeans1

Sisley-shorts - Copy

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!

MFK1

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