white

I’m excited that I am double vaccinated, and maybe, just maybe I could step out to meet a friend or two (who are also vaccinated).

I haven’t shopped anything for myself in a long long time and any social event needs good clothes. So I will definitely need a mini wardrobe update. Here are three fashion pieces I want to add to my wardrobe.

A crisp smart shirt

A shirt that will work for me well for formal social occasions. I will pair it with my favourite M&S beige treggings or black trousers and kitten heels (can’t remember when I last wore heels, can my calves and ankles bear the pain again?). I’m looking for a shirt with minimal print and colour, but with a sharp cut to enhance my curves.

Dressberry shirt from Myntra

An ethnic print dress

I love dresses and I think I’m lucky that in Mumbai you can wear cute dresses all year round. But what I do want is a smart knee or midi length dress with an ethnic print. They would be great for a lunch or even to work from home (super comfy!). When it gets cooler, I just wrap a little stole around, and I’m set!

Indigo dress from Biba

A relaxed tshirt

We’ve been carrying the relaxed vibes with us for most of 2020 and 2021. So what’s the harm in wearing one now as well? Worn with a pair of skinny jeans, it’s the vibe I’m feeling now.

Breathe tshirt from Pause

How are you updating your wardrobe this season?

In 2013, Fashion

Chic First Look: Vero Moda Spring / Summer 2013

Speaking ChicFebruary 18, 2013February 17, 2013Leave a comment

What to Expect from Vero Moda’s Spring/ Summer 2013 collection

Get stylish casuals to dressy club wear at Vero Moda this Spring / Summer. They’ve got a wide colour palette (bright fuchsia, mint green, white) in simple easy-to-wear silhouettes. The prints include two-tone bold stripes, ombre effects, tie and dye and the ever-popular florals.

Detailing includes beading, with lace and neon hints on lightweight and sheer fabrics like silk, satin and organza.

PS—British model Poppy Delevingne is the face of Vero Moda for 2013, chosen for her fresh look and easy elegance.

Bang on Trend

The “True Summer Look”: Lots of soft hues in pinks, whites and washed blues, seen on light fabrics.

Updated Florals: They’re on dresses, tops, pants and shorts—but get a 2013 summery twist with the new colour palette.

Black and White: This classic combo gets a bold edge at Vero Moda from Spring/ Summer 2013, with larger-than-life stripes and prints.

What to Buy

Floral printed pants and shorts

Black-and-white pieces (as stripes or colour blocked dresses)

Feminine white tops (the basics for the season)

In 2012, Fashion, LFW S/R 2012

LFW S/R 2012 grand finale: Glimpses from the Rohit Bal show

Speaking ChicMarch 7, 2012March 7, 2012Leave a comment

Lakme Fashion Week Summer/Resort 2012 drew to a close last night, with Rohit Bal presenting his collection in the lawns of Grand Hyatt, Mumbai. I loved the decor, enjoyed the ambience and was mesmerised by the entire presentation. There were live musicians, pristine white and off-white cut-out trees and a two-level structure!

And here’s a video I shot during the show. Enjoy!

In Fashion, LFW W/F 2011

LFW W/F 2011 Day 4: Drashta makes waves, Rehane presents unfinished garments

Speaking ChicSeptember 6, 2011Leave a comment

Drashta
Marine life has served as inspiration to fashion designers since aeons, and Drashta Sarvaiya is among the most recent ones to have caught the bait (pun intended). At her show at Lakme Fashion Week Winter/Festive 2011, Drashta’s focus on marine life reflected in the fluid silhouettes, shell cut-outs and motifs, marine prints and colours that reflect the ocean (think aqua and sea green).

But that wasn’t all. Drashta also played with colours and detailing as she introduced pastels (mauve, pink) and neons (electric, fuchsia) on one-shoulder short and halter neck dresses with touches like capes and crystals.

The most interesting bit of her collection was the expert ruching along with the quirky accessories placed on the waist and neck. The accessories were handmade pieces created from pearl finish and hot neon leather, and coral shell and fish cut-outs. Cute!

Rehane
Rehane, the designer known for her baby doll and cocktail dresses, dared to step out of her comfort zone at Lakme Fashion Week Winter/Festive 2011 with a new concept. This all-white collection was created with raw mulmul and kora fabrics and left unfinished with notes to tailors for alterations. (You could read “Check line” and “Cut here” on skirts and blouses).

The models walked barefoot on the ramp in slow motion, their limbs, faces and hair covered in talcum powder. Rehane later said her collection was inspired by the purity of a woman “Meera”. But we also felt that somewhere among the purity was the woman who is lost, struggling to hold on to her innocence and on the verge of being delusional.

Despite the blank colour palette, Rehane had worked meticulously on garment construction and detailing. There were rouches, gathers and pleats on blouses and yokes, uneven hemlines and even cholis with cowls. Silhouettes were mixed, as a tunic was paired with a pencil skirt and a loose cover-up had an empire line gathered body.

We left the show with mixed feelings—a tinge of sadness (the mood was sombre), but happy because we had just seen a designer’s fresh take on fashion.

In Fashion, LFW W/F 2011, Men

LFW W/F 2011 Day 2: Narendra Kumar jazzes up menswear with a swingin’ show

Speaking ChicAugust 30, 2011Leave a comment

There was live music, dancing and some very polished gentlemen. No, it wasn’t a dance club from the mid 20th century, but Narendra Kumar’s show at Lakme Fashion Week Winter/Festive 2011. The collection, presented to a live rendition of Frank Sinatra’s Fly me to the moon, comprised formal evening wear for men.

It was one of the few shows we girls could swoon, whistle and cheer (it was a virtually all-male show). Each model did a little jig or dance step on head ramp, spreading the joy of music and rhythm.

The collection’s focus was bespoke suits (especially classy tuxedos). The colours were beyond black—deep sapphire, wine, green, pale pink, midnight blue, along with neutrals. The men looked dapper in single and double breasted jackets, with broad, narrow, peak and notched lapels. The tuxedo lapels were inspired by Japanese kimonos, while we also saw draped and cut away collar jackets and the iconic “smoking”. The trousers were sexily slim with turn-ups.

The fabrics were just as luxurious with Dupion silks, velvet, smooth Ari silk, patterned and textured handloom silks and brocades. The beautiful jackets had hand and machine embroidery, quilting, appliqués and motifs from the Art Deco and Nouveau periods.

We were almost disappointed when the fun show came to an end, though Kabir Bedi in a white brocade tux and some more singing provided some cheer. 🙂

In 2010, Fashion, trends

Party dresses: Let’s paint the town red, white and green!

Speaking ChicDecember 30, 20104 Comments

Red dresses are this winter’s LBDs, or so they say. But red isn’t the only colour popping up all over town. Other rocking colours for party dresses I’ve been spotting are green and white. Check out our top trendy party dress picks in these colours.

Party colour: Red
Red is an instant attention-grabber. If you’re bold, love being the cynosure at a party, then red is your colour for 2011.

Dress from Chemistry.

(Picture from Chemistry Facebook page)

Party colour: Green
After seeing some fabulous green evening dresses, I’ve begun to believe that green is the most underrated colour in fashion. What say?

Gown from Gauri & Nainika, available at Ensemble.

Party colour: White
The colour of snow and winter, and can make you stand out among a sea of dressed-in-black partygoers. Add pop-coloured accessories and makeup to avoid looking too pale.

Dress from Prashant Verma, available at Ensemble.

Which is your favourite colour to party in? Red, white or green?

In Advice

Fashion Qs: White to wear?

Speaking ChicJuly 26, 2010Leave a comment

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Speaking Chic launches a new series: Fashion Qs. In this series, we answer readers’ style and fashion queries. Here’s a pertinent question from a reader:

White Lies

Hi Speaking Chic, recently I read that white is the colour of the season—little white dresses, white blouses, white pants etc. But it’s the monsoon here, and I want to avoid wearing whites for obvious reasons. But then I a celeb watch story that said pop colours are in. That’s in complete contradiction to whites! So what colours do I wear the next next couple months? And what do I do with my whites?

— Shaili, Mumbai

Dear Shaili, fashion trends are ever so confusing, especially when you like to read a number of mags or websites. Here’s the bad news: each editor has her own view of what to wear and what not to. But you’re right about the whites and the pop colours—both are in. High fashion stores were teeming with whites, while some some are brimming over with colours like electric blue, green and red.

And the good news: white is almost as timeless as black (especially in seasonless Mumbai). So it would be good to wear them on non-rainy days (you don’t want to be the next Zeenat Aman in Pukar), you could also keep them aside for later use. Or you could wear your whites during the day, saving the pop colours for night. Or team your white blouse with a dark jacket or fancy shrug for a dinner out with friends. And ride the bright colour trend with an eye-catching bag or clutch.