Lakme fashion Week Winter Festive 2012 Preview - Vaishali Shadangule

If her previous collections are anything to go by, it’s anybody’s guess that Vaishali Shadangule’s young fashion label is a power house of talent and creativity. Her contemporary designs crafted from Indian hand woven textiles have brought her into the style file of the discerning Indian Fashionistas. Her clothing line is a delightful and contemporary mix of traditional Indian wear, Indo-western and western wear. For her collection at the upcoming Lakme Fashion Week, Vaishali finds her muse in Colors of Indian Festivals! Her collection, titled “Reverb” is an all out celebration of the Colors of Indian Festivals. It encapsulates the joy that is an integral part of the Indian cultural fabric, weaving together the many diversities found in the country’s many regions. Going beyond creating designs that fuse many influences, Vaishali is creating silhouettes that play with the form, while retaining the authenticity of their origin through conventional drapes and cuts of traditional garments. Using Indian textiles like silk, chanderi, organza, brocade, and khand with colours like blue, red, white and gold, she seeks to capture the true spirit of life’s most vivid celebrations. All these fabrics have a very strong and deep association with celebrations and festivals and set the correct look for the collection. The garments are embellished with red, blue and gold flowers to give a feeling of celebration. Vaishali hopes that the progression and variation of layers and contrast featured in her collection will grow on its audience.

Say hello to Mr Olowu...

Breath in. Breath out. Relax. Calm down.

Okay. So this is pretty much my reaction to anything Duro Olowu. I gasp, I pant, and generally misbehave. The London based designer, who trained as a lawyer, and is now among Michelle Obama’s preferred designers, believes that fashion should be joyful. That it shouldn't dictate to women but it should invite them into the fantasy of the designer who is making them.
Hoo boy, Mr. Olowu, look up, I am right there, fantasizing about your designs!

Olowu, first discovered by Vogue's Sally Singer and Julie Gilhart, of Barneys, makes stunning fluid dresses, from vintage fabrics that he finds all over the world as well as new prints that he's been designing himself. Mixing prints on a background of cheerful patterns and vibrant hues, his Fall 2011 collection had plaids alongside watercolor prints and polka dots as well as different stripes juxtaposed against one another for a statement-making look.
Fur-trimmed coats, voluminous long skirts, form-fitting column gowns, printed capes ... There is so much to covet! Okay, there I go again.

Breath in. Breath out. Relax. Calm down.

Weekend with Friends and Blog Award!

Saw the new movie AISHA over the weekend. It's the latest Cinematic adaptation of Jane Austen's "Emma", with Sonam Kapoor playing the title character in this slick, glossy movie. Actor Sonam Kapoor is increasingly being known as one of India's leading style icons from Bollywood, and AISHA goes on to reinforce the image.

With great styling and impressive production values, AISHA is visually pleasing, but goes DUH! on story-telling. As a saving grace, Sonam, Abhay Deol, and company look really great on screen, and the lead characters have some decent chemistry going for them. That's about all that can be said for the movie.







And the lovely Rachel of the blog INSPIRATION IN ITALY has given me the Tanti Baci (many kisses award) to mark her 100th Blog post! Thank you SO much, Rachel! Love your gorgeous blog.



I would like to pass on my Tanti Baci to my following friends...

Republic of Chic
In Honor Of Design
Bombchell
Gorgeousglam
Frenchleave
Take Me Out To The Runway

Anaikka - Fashion Jewellery Goes Forward

Combining architectural shapes with vintage aesthetics in bold “statement jewellery” is Anaikka. Their stall at the Lakme Fashion Week took my breath away. Metallic grey and gold neck pieces, shoulder pieces and shrugs stood tall, beckoning the independent new age woman, who isn’t afraid to flaunt her strength and her grit. A unique blend of the edgy and the luxurious, these pieces are as modern as jewellery can be, while at some point finding their origin in tradition. The stall was a delight, giving form to that clichéd but not often followed term, Fashion Forward.

My Chic Blue Top For the Fashion Week

I have had this cool blue Atmosphere top for some time now. I love how versatile it is. For the Lakme Fashion Week Show, I teamed it with jeans, for a casual but chic daytime look. With a pencil skirt and the right accessories, it makes perfect evening wear. I love the color and the beautiful silver details on the wide neck.




And thank you dear Anya, from Couture Millinery Atelier For the beautiful "Doll Face" award. Thank you so much! You made my day...

Gitanjali Luxury Style Fest 09 - Day One

Last night, Gitanjali Group Chairman, Mehul Choksi and Massimo Carraro joined Priety Zinta and Neil Nitin Mukesh in hitting the gong to announce the launch of the Gitanjali Luxury Style Fest 09. Other faces spotted were Rituparna Sengupta, Narendra Kumar with Kadambari Lakhani, Nisha Jamwal, Bobby Kishan, Nikasha Tawadey, Rahul Sharma, Gayatri Khanna, Shatrujit Tikka singh, Parvez Damania, Krutika Desai, Vikram Raizada and Shaina NC. GLSF 09 is a three-day fest and Day 1 saw Rohit Bal, Ritu Beri and Wendell Rodriguez showcase their collections on the ramp.

Rohit Bal is known for incorporating an edgy attitude in his every collection. All his collections have a strong Couture element that many have tried to emulate, and failed. The highlight of his collection, as usual, was the use of fabric and textures to create sheer drama. See for yourself.









Photo courtsey: Filmicafe.com and oneindia.com

Where is the Winter?

It’s October, and no sign of winters. Mumbai is as warm as it was in mid-summer! The city usually has just two seasons- summer and monsoon. And both are quite inconvenient. Mumbai summers are humid. You don’t know what I am talking about till you visit the city. So I am not at all surprised that the two girls are dressed for summer. I love the prints on their dresses. And check out the flip-flops; quite appropriate for the weather.

And the lady in the second picture, I love her hair! She had so much spunk. And her clothes were so unusual for Mumbai. But she looked so cool and relaxed in them. AND she had so much spunk! Colaba is perfect for a warm day shopping so I am not surprised to see the shopping bags in both the pictures. The ladies were trying to kill the heat with some cool bargains.

Rains Make Me Miss My Friends

Monsoons are in full flow. Well, sort of. And this is around that time of the year when I really start missing Lonavala, favorite monsoon picnic spot of Mumbaikars like me. Being the most easily accessible hill station from Mumbai, it’s a favorite weekend spot for me and hubby, throughout the year. More so during the monsoons when the natural splendor of the place is at its beguiling best. The thing I miss most about Lonavala is the Rainmaker’s. I miss just relaxing at the shack, not doing anything, not going anywhere. Just sitting, watching the rain fall.

And I love watching Dhanya and Mathew working at the shack, interacting with the guests. It’s amazing how she manages all the work in her tiny kitchen and still be around to greet the guests and share a casual conversation. She seems so much at ease with her work and life, it sort of makes me envious. Ever so slightly. No meaningless deadlines to chase, no stress-spills, no lots tempers. Just a husband and wife team, going about their life, bringing some color into other people’s life while at it.

Another thing that I find really interesting is Dhanya’s cool style. I have always found her to be effortless and casual. Needless to say, she dresses for comfort and stays away from brands. But she is a classic example of how the right attitude can make a simple jeans and tees attire the ultimate style statement. Her accessories show her love for colors and I have seen her carry even the most mundane outfit with a bohemian panache that somehow elevates the outfit, making it look “cool”. Maybe staying away from the pollution-laden, illness-inducing city has its benefits. But mostly, I think it’s just my pal Dhanya.

I decided to do a short style profile of her different looks. All casual, but different. Outfits or sassitude, you be the judge!

The Very Lovely Laurel Stovall

At 5’11”, she literally has the world at her feet. Shotcouture profiles, blogdom’s sweetie, the very fabulous Laurel Stovall… A lovely girl from Nevada, Laurel is stylish, witty, fun, and very, very deserving of the top spot in the online V Magazine Supreme Management Model Search for 2008. Her personal style inspires many, and her zany comments on other blogs can light up your day. But don’t take out word for it. Get to know the girl better. Here is a brief glimpse into the life of the brilliant young lady.

• Tell me about yourself.
I'm Laurel Stovall, I was born June 29, 1986 in a small rural town in Nevada called Lovelock. I'm an only child with two very loving and amazing parents, who are my number one influences in my day-to-day. I am currently attending the University of Nevada, Reno and in my 4th year, graduating with a degree in Journalism, minor in English Literature. I love music, cooking, running, photography, design and Ernest Hemingway - and I'm a HUGE lover of giraffes. I'll crack you up and talk you up about current events anytime.

• What are your greatest strengths as a model?
I guess it's hard to really answer that question since I haven't been directly involved with the industry but as I've grown as a student, daughter and friend, I discover the real drive and potential I have to do things I set my mind to - my strong-willed nature and levelheaded nature will definitely serve me and my future endeavors in modeling, career, family, etc.

• Biggest fashion influence?
My best friend, Ashley - she (along with her art) helped me to discover the side of myself that I feel so compelled to share with the world.

• Favorite designer?
Yves Saint-Laurent

• Favorite model(s)?
Freja Beha Erichsen and Anja Rubik

• Favorite fashion magazine?
WWD collections issues

• If you had a choice of all designers in the world, who would you prefer to work for? Why?
Nicolas Ghesquiere, he is definitely designing with something so different in mind - I would like to be there as his designing technique gets stronger and stronger.

• What do you see in the stores that you think is really great (shoes/accessories/clothes)?
Shoes are a current art-form for me, and I've become extremely picky about them - I see them as the conclusion to most daily outfits and if it isn't right, your whole outfit isn't worth wearing.

• Clothes you wouldn't be caught dead in?
Anything mesh and UGG boots.

• Foolproof style tip that you'd love to share?
Eucerin Aquaphor ointment - BEST LIP TREATMENT, EVER. A little bit of that mixed with a tiny amount of concealer on lips creates flawless lips.

• What do you do in your free time?
Spend time with my parents, friends, shop (incessantly) and work on my blog.

• Forbidden foods you'd love to dig into?
I'm a total nerd, but I love fig cookies - LOVE. They remind me of being a little girl hanging out with my aunt and grandma in the summertime. I'm attempting a recipe for them very soon!

• Favorite outfits from your closet?
I'm loving a few pieces I picked up at Zara, especially this super tailored, cream colored vest - very Margiela. Also, I am incorporating a lot more color into my closet which always seems to do my fair skin/dark hair much more justice.

• Movies you could see over and over again?
Pretty Woman, of course!

• Books you would read a million times?
Garden of Eden by Hemingway. It is rare for me to want to read a book more than once, a second time through sometimes ruins it for me.

Dreams crafted in Silver --- Romika Johar

Markham-based designer and consultant Romika Johar, founder of Silver Jewelry brand, "Romika Jewels" is known for her bold and colorful jewelry designs. Romika’s creations have sparkled on actresses like Tonya Lee Williams of the Young and the Restless. Romika’s designs are also seen on the cast of ET Canada, as she sponsors all of the jewellery for the show.




She has spent years designing beautiful and wearable Jewelry and feels that it’s time for a change in the trend and thought process with which women go about selecting Jewelry. A lot of focus is given to expensive clothing, but when it comes to buying Jewelry, then cost-cutting comes to the fore. Romika believes that it’s important to know that poorly designed jewelry simply makes an expensive dress loose its sheen. It is important for women to celebrate and appreciate classy Jewelry with beautiful yet affordable designs. Here are some excerpts from an interview with this talented designer.


When did you start designing jewelry?

I started designing jewelry about 6 years back. Initially I started with gold and diamonds but about 3 years back I fell in love with silver! I found that jewelry is always either very high end and expensive or it is very low end costume jewelry but there was nothing in the middle. Considering the need for such jewelry I decided to launch my own brand, called Romika Jewels, of high end silver jewelry to be made available at affordable prices, where I can give different finishes while using a lot of precious and semi precious gemstones giving colours not seen in the market before. It was just not the designing part alone that I wanted to focus on but I also wanted to make a difference by providing highest standards of finish and class to my brand of silver jewelry.


What inspires your jewelry design?

There are so many sources of inspiration for me from people I converse with on a daily basis, including my wonderful clients, by asking them what kind of jewelry they like and hope to see more in jewelry. I will add here that I draw a lot of inspiration from the beauty of nature that offers us so much colour and ideas. Another thing that has always helped me is when I look at different women, their face cuts and body types, which makes me analyze what style will suit a certain face or body type. Different clothing types is another great inspiration for me where I like to judge what kinds of different gemstones to use that can match wonderfully well which certain types of clothing.


What are your other interests and hobbies?

I like to read… I love nature and I love the ocean; it’s so peaceful! I love to travel and experience new places, and of course shopping!!!


Were you creative as a child?

I was a very creative child. I loved arts and crafts and painting and always knew I wanted to do something artistic and creative.


Why have you chosen jewelry design as one means to express your creativity?

I personally love jewelry and think it is such a beautiful accessory. The great thing about jewelry is that you can be as creative as you like and you can experiment with shapes, forms and colors. There is no right or wrong. It’s all about being different, constantly creating something new. It is also personally challenging and it has helped me grow as a person. Through jewelry I have found that each day is new and different where you get a chance to have new experiences by meeting new people and understanding their needs and desires. Now ensuring to meet their needs and making them happy is the best thing I crave for and Jewelry designing helps me do that. I take immense pride when I say to my customers: "Wear Romika Jewels and start receiving compliments".





What makes your designs unique?

I am very passionate about what I do and I strive for perfection. I started with a new concept with this line of silver jewelry. I try to keep each piece unique one of a kind, I have a lot of clients who move in the same circle and then I have some high profile celebrity clients. So the whole concept is to keep creating something new and one of a kind so that no one else is wearing exactly the same piece. It’s like having your own signature piece.
What my brand promise is quality with affordability. Why should a woman spend thousands of dollars when she can have the same look at a fraction of the cost.
For us quality is key, we have a great quality control team in place to ensure each and every piece is perfect for our customers. Creative designing, perfect finishing, real gemstones with beautiful setting, anti tarnish plating etc are some of the key elements that make Romika Jewels as a brand unique and trustworthy.
I recently launched a service called "Build Your Dream Piece" where if you have ever liked or dreamt of a design of jewelry, we will actually build that for you in the finish of your choice. This has been a huge success and we have created some very unique items since the launch of this service.

Who has been your favorite client? Please name others who have worn your jewelry?

See, I would say that all of my clients are favorite to me but if I have to mention a name as one of my favorite then it would be Mrs. Shah, she is an amazing person and is one of my oldest clients, she is a very simple but classy lady, her support has been tremendous; she has recognized my passion and always encouraged me. I created a bridal package for her lovely daughter where I not only designed the Bridal set for her but also the arranged all the gifts and trousseau jewelry. Along with this I created over hundred jewelry piece as gifts for their family and friends who had flown in from all around the world. They gave me a budget and outlined what kind of gifts they wanted to present to different people, attending the wedding. I worked very closely with them and created very unique jewelry from Diamond earrings to silver bangles. Each gift was perfectly wrapped in special pouches to match the wedding theme. They were very appreciative of each and every little detail I had put into it.

I am an official sponsor for Entertainment Tonight, and Miss World Canada plus various other beauty pageants and TV shows. Some of my celebrity client list include names like Cheryl Hickey, Rosy Edah, Kim Dion, Miss India, Miss Canada, MP Ruby Dhalla, Actress Tonya Lee Williams and Hanna Simone -Much Music VJ.


Name some women whose personal style and jewelry you really like.

Jackie Kennedy Onassis - She was very stylish, and classy and owned some amazing jewelry and of course the classic Audrey Hepburn.

WLIFW - Ritu Kumar

Another collection that I just loved from the Wills Lifestyle Fashion Week was the Ritu Kumar Collection. Ritu Kumar has long been a favorite and I have several pieces from her collection in my own closet. In India, every bride must have at least a few clothes from her bridal collection. Of late, Ritu Kumar has become brighter and bolder in her color palette and designs. Designing for decades, Ritu Kumar is largely considered a revivalist in Indian fashion Industry. Her designs have been known to reflect the ancient traditions of Indian craftsmanship with a modern twist. Her new collection was a welcome change from her affinity for muted tones and earthy colors.

Here Ritu went all out with opulent floral motifs on brightly colored backgrounds. The accessories were an all too visible part of the collection, be it the massive handbags, or the very in-your face bangles! The lengths varied… as did the style and seeming inspiration. What remained common, however, was color, color and more color!








Mirror work made an appearance from pieces as varied as this sari with a captivating print and interesting fabric and this lovely poncho with a muted grey background.





The very Indian color, Indigo, found a new expression. My personal favorites were the very Western cuts blended seamlessly with distinctly ethnic motifs! Awesome!





Shiny, shimmery, sequined skirts made their presence felt, through different sections of the collections. Whether with the vibrant florals, or with the fiery Indigo, they made a chic statement.





The fabrics included jersey, silk, satin and indigo Khadi. And the color palette was, well, limitless. Crimson, however, seemed to be the designer’s real muse, appearing on the models’ lips, in the flowers in their hair, in the accessories and the shoes! All in all, a very satisfying collection from one of India’s foremost designers. I am waiting for it to hit the stores.


All images courtesy yahoo.com

Hip, Hip, Hippie!!!

I have been accused of being a bit of a Hippie; whatever that means. I am easily distracted, love changing cities, am a tad obsessed with the concepts of freedom and love. I do voice loud protests against any indication of authority, and have pretty sharp political views. Does that qualify? Even if it does, I am a couple of decades late, ain’t I?

So maybe I am a Hippie in spirit and philosophy; that much is possible. I love fashion, and like stylish people and proclaim to all who hear (and read) that dressing well is NOT inversely proportional to your IQ. I would not trust a man or a woman with anything, if I can’t trust them with taking good care of themselves. So hate me.

The movement is all gone and done with, but not the essence of it. It crops up, in art, in fashion. And now, more than ever before, the way this generation of people dressed up, is vindicated. From the fun and feisty Etro to the white and breezy Topshop Unique, the Hippie is back. Modernized and accepted by the fashion conscious, tie-dyed dresses, colorful sandals, peasant blouses and full-length skirts are a rage for this summer.




Etro's Colorful Prints




Topshop Unique Does A White Number




Roberto Cavalli Revisits The Hippie Culture




Veronique Branquinho's Tie-Dyed Stunner




Derek Lam Make It Floral And Feminine


I have made a conscious choice to prove the accusations right. I start my new job tomorrow, and my work wardrobe is full on hippie fashion statement – each piece is eccentric and unique, and is an extension of my own personality. There is no specific style, just unique clothes with a lot of color. So I guess, there is no denying now… maybe in a past life, I was indeed a Hip Hippie!

(All Images courtesy www.style.com