WLIFW

It’s February already! And while it’s time to take stock of broken resolutions, it’s also time to figure out your fashion agenda of the month. Here’s my guide to being chic this month.

Buy Valentine’s gifts: Fragrances

It’s the month of romance so it’s the right time to buy some chic gifts for your special someone and close friends. Give your guy the newest launch from the Giorgio Armani perfume stable—Code Sport. The fragrance is a woody aromatic citrus and an explosion of freshness on a base of torrid sensuality. I know why the ladies will love this one. 😉

Guys looking for a special fragrance for their special gal could try Ralph Lauren Romance Valentine’s Day 2012 Limited Edition, a fresh sparkling floral. The pink-silver carton enveloped with delicate metal-grey entwining flora and vines would make her swoon. 🙂

Buy Valentine’s gifts: Gizmo

The Diesel Noise Division’s VEKTR headphones are the perfect gift for a fashionable music lover (or a musical fashionista). These headphones fuse Monster’s secret experimental audio savvy with Diesel’s iconoclastic design.

The gizmo has a sharp and faceted look and translates Diesel’s obsession for innovation and details: head of the Mohican inside the cushion and on the metal piece, contrasting colour, and clash of different finishing outside-inside (shiny and matt). Even the cable is designed not to tangle. Can’t wait to hear music on this one!

Shop at: Ensemble

Ensemble’s end-of-season sale kicks off today, and if I was in the mood for designer wear that’s where I’d be headed. (I shopped at their Lion Gate store during the sale last year). Running up to February 4, you can get up to 70% off on outfits from designers like Savio Jon, Tarun Tahiliani, Anamika Khanna, Gaurav Gupta, Gauri & Nainika, James Ferreira (picture below) and many more.

Attend: ‘Demystifying the Drape’ workshop

At Mumbai’s Kala Ghoda Arts Festival, fashion designer Shaina N.C. will shed light on the different ways the sari can be re-vamped. The workshop is meant for those who wear saris regularly and those who don’t. I’m hoping I can make it to this workshop.

The workshop is on February 6, 2012 from 2 to 3.30 pm at Artisan’s Centre, Kala Ghoda, Mumbai.

Look forward to: Wills Lifestyle India Fashion Week

FDCI’s Wills Lifestyle India Fashion Week Autumn/Winter 2012 kicks off February 15 in New Delhi, and it’s going to be the fashion event of the month. Designer duo Shantanu-Nikhil will open the season and pave the way for over 130 designers to showcase their collection. WLIFW A/W 2012 promises to bring awesome fashion and fresh trends!

What are you looking forward to this month?

In WLIFW SS 2012

WLIFW S/S 2012: Day 5 highlights

Speaking ChicOctober 21, 2011November 5, 2011Leave a comment

Highlights of Day 5 at Wills Lifestyle India Fashion Week Spring/Summer 2012 in Delhi:

Prints galore!

From nature-inspired prints to geometric and the increasingly-popular digital prints, the mind-boggling range of prints have got us excited for next year’s summer already!

Below: Rajdeep Ranawat, Vineet Bahl, Geisha by Paras & Shalini

Drapes dominated

Drapes are feminine, flattering and can be sexy. Ruches, ruffles, gathers and more—you can never run out of ways to wear them.

Below: Amit GT, Rohit Gandhi-Rahul Khanna, Rehane

Subtle is sweet

The fashion scene today reflects the urge to grab five seconds of fame with statement accessories, plunging necklines and rising hemlines. So it was refreshing to see subtlety on the ramp in a country obsessed with larger-than-life style. The subtle looks meant delicate accessories and lighter or no embellishments.

Below: Rehane, Geisha by Paras & Shalini, Vineet Bahl

Contrasting looks of the day

The sweet, understated, modern Indian woman at Virtues.

Rohit Gandhi-Rahul Khanna’s diva from the future—bold and adventurous.

Accessory of the day

There’s a feather is Rajdeep Ranawat’s hat! Cute!

In Fashion, WLIFW SS 2012

WLIFW S/S 2012: Day 4 highlights

Speaking ChicOctober 18, 2011November 5, 2011Leave a comment

The highlights of Day 4 at Wills Lifestyle India Fashion Week Spring/Summer 2012:

White and blue make for a fabulous summer combo

While white was all over the WLIFW S/S 2012 runway on Day 4, the non-colour found an unlikely colour complement in blue. Mynah’s Reynu Taandon used white and blue prints in her resort wear collection, while Rahul Singh used splashes of blue (literally!) on garments for a dreamy abstract look to his collection.

Below: Mynah’s Reynu Taandon, Rahul Singh

Material Mix

Mixing materials has not been as rampant as it has been in the past few months on Indian ramps. After Swapnil Shinde used acrylic and PVC at LFW W/F 2011, Alpana-Neeraj used transparent plastic with flowy chiffon and drapes to create an unlikely world dominated by body-hugging non-fabric shapes. Meanwhile, at James Ferreira I loved his use of khadi with fabrics like crepes and silk for a modern Indian look. And BTW, Anand Bhushan used feathers on his dresses!

Below: Alpana-Neeraj, James Ferreira, Anand Bhushan

East meets West… again!

In something as universal as fashion, east and west are mere labels. And like most trends, fusion is fun! So when Dev r Nil combines batik with pop art (think Indian-style rosettes as funky prints) and Anita Dongre uses Indian embroidery on western silhouettes, there’s reason to cheer. And how can we forget James Ferreira’s contribution to nationalism—khadi worn in contemporary styles?

Below: Dev r Nil, Anita Dongre, James Ferreira

Fabric detailing

Pin tucks and applique have been around for a while, but their use has now evolved into being the centrepiece of a garment, creating shapes or effects that showcase the designers’ skill. Since we now see entire collections based on detailing like pleats, ruffles, gathers, twists and rolls, we know designers have better command over fabrics than ever before. Atsu Sekhose highlighted the neck and waist, Rahul Mishra created soft rainbow bands all over with pin tucks, and at Saaj by Ankita made rope by twisting fabric.

Below: Atsu by Atsu Sekhose, Rahul Mishra, Saaj by Ankita

Trend of the day: Sheer

Below: Atsu by Atsu Sekhose, Niket & Jainee, Anita Dongre

Prints of the day

Sunglasses on pants at Dev r Nil, animal print at Mynah’s Reynu Taandon.

WTFashion Moment of the Day

Dress that outlines your twin assets, an oddly-placed oversized rose with a trail, tulle wrapped around a dress, mismatching colours… sigh!

Look of the day

Feminine, formal and flattering shape at Atsu.

Makeup of the day

Thick blue eyeliner at Mynah’s Reynu Taandon. Super like!

Accessory of the day

Gandhi cap at James Ferreira—a political statement, perhaps?

Celeb appearance of the day

Gauhar Khan for Rahul Mishra.

In Fashion, WLIFW SS 2012

WLIFW S/S 2012: Day 3 highlights

Speaking ChicOctober 14, 2011November 5, 2011Leave a comment

A glimpse of the top collections on Day 3 of Wills Lifestyle India Fashion Week Spring/Summer 2012:

Divyam Mehta

The designer used bold kantha stitch with deliberate flaws along with Japanese techniques for a easy-going collection. Divyam used lighter fabrics like linen, mul and silk chiffon to offset the dark-ish colour palette (using lots of indigo).

Hemant & Nandita

Hemant & Nandita’s collection was called “Happily Unmarried” and we know why. Women walked freely wearing body-hugging bodices with gathered skirts. We loved the abstract digital prints inspired from flora. I’d love to wear them!

Ela by Joyjit Talukdar

Playing with “engineered” textures and multi-dimensional silhouettes, Joyjit treated fabrics in various ways to create a variety of textures and accessories. He paid special attention to waistlines and yokes.

Nida Mahmood

A kitsch lover, Nida Mahmood’s show and collection was Bollywood-inspired. This time the designer focussed on the geeky look, and combined bold colours with digital and tie-and-dye prints for the quirky Indian woman.

Nikasha Tawadey

Off-whites and soft colours, flounces and loose tunics—Nikasha Tawadey’s collection gears you up for a dreamy summer. This summer will be about keeping it simple and sweet.

Shantanu Goenka

From regal prints to rich zardozi, Shantanu Goenka’s Marie Antoinette-themed collection had it all. Using vintage silhouettes, the designer mixed colours like pastel colours like pink with beige and gold. The construction techniques used were ruffles, pintucks, life-like embellishments and appliqué. BTW, Kangana Ranaut made a ramp appearance for the designer.

Who is your pick of Day 3 at Wills Lifestyle India Fashion Week Spring/Summer 2012?

In 2010, Fashion, News

Indian designer duo Walnut to be part of Japan Fashion Week

Speaking ChicDecember 27, 2010Leave a comment

Designer label ‘Walnut’ by Divya and Nidhi Gambhir has been selected to showcase their designs at the next Japan Fashion Week.

The designer duo will showcase their collection at the Asian Designers Collection in Tokyo in March 2011. ‘Walnut’ by Divya and Nidhi Gambhir was selected by the Asian Designers’ Collection Committee from a shortlist of five designers. The other shortlisted designers were Akaaro by Gaurav Jai Gupta, 5X by Ajit Kumar, Neelanjan Ghosh and 11:11 Cell DSGN.

Here are some glimpses Walnut by Divya and Nidhi Gambhir’s show at the recent Wills Lifestyle India Fashion Week (WLIFW).

The jury, comprising representatives from the Onward Kashiyama Co Ltd and New Designer Fashion Grand Prix Committee, announced their decision after they visited India mid-December for one-to-one meetings with the shortlisted designers.

“Japan is a comparatively new and growing market where Indians are making headway,” according to Sunil Sethi, President, Fashion Design Council of India (FDCI). The visibility and exposure this event brings to Divya and Nidhi Gambhir, and to the Indian fashion scene should have hopefully positive results.

Showing all posts tagged WLIFW

Chic February Guide: What to do, where to shop, what to buy this month

WLIFW S/S 2012: Day 5 highlights

WLIFW S/S 2012: Day 4 highlights

WLIFW S/S 2012: Day 3 highlights

Indian designer duo Walnut to be part of Japan Fashion Week