Things that are OK to be worn again!!!

People have a big misconception that once you have worn an outfit, shoe, jewellery……………..that is the end of it and they would not want to repeat the same even if that piece is a classic. Just for your fashion info I have some basic necessity in a woman’s wardrobe that are absolutely OK to be repeated and should not be considered a fashion crime…………I might be no one to re-write the fashion rules but a ‘vintage’  or a ‘classic’ deserves to be worn again and again.

Jewellery

This is one of my most favourite things in this entire world — Jewellery……………but why are people not open to the idea of wearing it again. I wear mine since the past so many years…………….gold, silver, platinum, precious, semi-precious or even not so real ones……………wear it as many times as you desire it. Women wear their wedding bands and engagement rings all the time……………..then why not your beautiful pair of earrings.

Deepika Padukone has worn her pair of Kundan earrings at many different occasions on the red carpet………Like the first one for Chandni Chowk to China Premiere, Cannes 2010 and the Miss India Contest where she was one of the judges. Earrings are a Stunning piece of Indian Jewellery and I see no reason why such a fabulous piece not be worn again……………Kudos to Deepika for carrying it like no other………………Love those classic earrings.

Handbags

Handbags are something I advice all you ladies to buy a good piece every year and stick to it all year round. I you can afford more than more the merrier but avoid buying fakes at all cost. If you cannot afford the high-end range it is better to go in for a brand that fits your pocket. Carrying a fake is definitely a fashion crime but carrying a brand within your budget is a ‘must have’. There are infinite number of colours and designs available in today’s market………..go ahead, take your pick.

I might not be a ‘Birkin’ fan but Shilpa Shetty definitely makes her Birkin bag in chocolate-brown work pretty hard…………she takes it wherever she travels………..with a classic bag like this one I can carry it for more than a decade.

Shoes

Love, adore and take good care of your shoes……………….literally. They are the most hard-working of all fashionable buys………..so own a good pair. Have at least 4 pairs of shoes  – everyday wear, basic flip-flops, party wear and casual wear. Flats or heels………..wear whatever you are comfortable in………………it is not necessary a woman should only be seen in a 4 inch above heels at all times………even Sarah Jessica Parker wears flats when she is not on a movie set. So clear off that misconception in your heads, ladies.

Check out Kareena Kapoor wear the lovely pair of platforms at different venues along with different outfit…………..a good pair of shoes no matter how old are always ‘In Vogue’. Same goes for men……….seen below is Abhishek Bachchan wearing a pair of Blue colour crocodile leather shoes…………PETA might not be very happy but the shoes are unique and different from the usual black pair of shoes. Pair it with denim or formal it works well. [Maximise by clicking on the pics]

 

Sunglasses

Once you have found a perfect pair of sunglasses…………….STICK TO THEM…………..honestly I don’t understand the obsession with people and their sunglasses……….does one really need that many pairs of sunglasses. I feel one pair is good enough for a year or max 2 years but a pair like Raybans ‘Aviator’ or ‘Wafers’ last a lifetime. But a good pair that is not just stylish but also gives you UV protection from the harsh afternoon tropical sunrays. Go for a shape which is unlike the shape of your face………..kinda a square frame for an oval-shaped face and find a pair which can be worn with formal as well as casual.

Seen here is our very own King Khan sporting a pair of Aviator for his daily outings at the IPL……….he is stylish that is beyond doubt but he also is smart enough to make the pair work with a pair of denim with T-shirt as well as a blazer.

Watches

This glorious tiny little things which makes the world go around is an absolute must have in every person’s wardrobe. Can be an Indian brand like Titan which makes one of the best watches in our country and I have 2 pairs of it which I have been wearing for the past 10 years……….it is still working amazingly………………else you could get yourself an international brand like Tagheurer, Omega, Rolex, Guess, Rado the list is endless………..whatever fits your pocket. You might be able to afford the best brands but the watch should suit your personality and most important should suit your wrist. A young guy’s sports watch does not suit an old man claded in a three piece suit and vice versa………………so see to it suits and enhances your personality. The choices are infinite  in Indian market today……………so go ahead buy a stunning piece of time for yourself.

Shahid Kapoor seems to love his watch since he has been seen sporting it on many different occassion………..the watch is smart, nothing flashy and suits him well.

 

 

Pearls Infrastructure Delhi Couture Week 2010 – Finale

 I was just not that happy on the last and final day of the Couture week………………as the shows came to an end I realized that the finale shows were either done up in a jiffy or just for the heck of it since the clothes lacked creativity and innovation. The designs were something I had seen since past many fashion weeks. Read on for my review designerwise.

Rakesh Agarwal

 Rakesh Agarwal presented his collection which had Indian as well as western outfits………………I I have to go by the looks of it I would rather prefer his western ensemble since the silhouettes were better designed and looked good on the ramp. I am sure if our celebrities were to dress up in those outfits and walk on the red carpet they would surely look like a million bucks. But as for the Indianwear……………after seeing the creations of other designers in this fashion week I honestly feel Rakesh’s Indianwear lacked the glamour factor. Nonetheless the western attire gets a thumbs up from me……..Jacqueline Fernandes walked as a show-stopper for Rakesh.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Rina Dhaka

Rina Dhaka’s new collection had a rather dark, mysterious style of background setting which is why it was difficult to review her outfits. But by the looks of Lara Dutta walking down the ramp as show-stopper I felt the collection was not up to the mark. The emphasis was given more on styling up the models than the outfits……………not that others had not done the same but their outfits spoke volume too. Here I am sadly not convinced that the outfits are gonna be a big hit with the audience. Sorry Rina………………this was just not that happening show.

Photo courtesy : www.daylife.com, www.prokerala.com

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Abu Jani-Sandeep Khosla

Abu Jani & Sandeep Khosla the famous designer duo are back on the couture week scene but the clothes were bigger than last time they have presented a collection on the runway but not that appealing. Shimmer……………..loads of shimmer was used in womenswear, menswear was much more subtle and elegant. The embroidery was beautiful as the duo is master in it but the designs were a bit repetitive. Layering was a dominant feature…………………overall was just satisfied since I had expected a lot new designs this time around since the gap between their previous show and now was many years. Gorgeous detailing but new something ‘in vogue’. Celebrities like Shweta Nanda & Bret Lee looked fabulous as show-stopper on the ramp……………no complains in their styling.

Photo courtesy : www.daylife.com

Tarun Tahiliani’s Bridal Exposition 2010

When the emperor of Indian Bridal Couture invites you for a showcasing of his best Bridal creations………….What do you do??? I would leave every damn thing in the world behind and attend the gala affair. If you are like me who does not have an invitation…………..just don’t worry. I will try to get as much of details as I can from the Tarun Tahiliani’s Bridal Exposition 2010 event. The event will be held from 24th to 26th July, 2010 at DLF Emporio Luxury Mall in Vasant Kunj, New Delhi and the theme for this year’s event is ‘The Procession’ or for better indian way of understanding ‘Baraat’ . ‘Forevermark ‘ diamonds which is part of De Beers will be brand partners for this event.   This one you just cannot miss………………….for more details visit the official website www.ttbridalcouture.com

Here are some of the latest photos of Tarun Tahiliani’s Bridal Exposition though have to say I have already seen one piece out of this collection on the red carpet………….remember Ms. Neha Dhupia wearing a black chained number at the IIFA 2010 awards………..Tarun had displayed the same outfitin off-white but the styling was much better here.

Photo Courtesy : www.prokerala.com

 

Pearls Infrastructure Delhi Couture Week 2010 – Day 5

Day 5 kicked off with display of collection from renowned designers Varun Bahl & Suneet Verma. I am happy to state that Indian designers have been truly very innovative with Indian ensemble and this couture week proves their creativity.

Varun Bahl

I felt as if I had gone back to the Victorian era………..this season I am simply loving the head pieces……….they look so stylish on the runway and very Indian. Coming back to the collection, Velvet was a dominating feature of this collection………elaborate zardozi work loved amazing on the fabric. The entire collection had a very regal look. With royal colours like purple, maroon, red, green, navy blue all combined with matt gold detailing. The corsets and cholis in  while the lehenga & sarees in fabrics like satin, silk, georgettes, crepe…………..rich, beautiful, wearable and elegant is my verdict for Varun Bahl’s new collection.

Photo Courtesy : www.daylife.com

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Suneet Verma

Suneet Verma’s new collection was visually very pleasing to the eye with vibrant colours fit for the upcoming Autumn-Winter season. The detailing and use of fabric was artistic but the use of tassels and fringes were not needed since they took away the beauty of the outfit on the whole. I wish he would have avoided it all together. Loved his Bridal wear done in pastels like beige, peach, yellow with silver & golden thread plus sequin/crystal work. The layering & draping were a work of art and Suneet did a commendable job.Overall I was happy that Suneet’s collection was much, much better than his earlier collection displayed in Lakme Fashion Week Resort 2010 which was inspired by the 70s disco era. This on the other hand was regal yet very contemporary. I am kinda off falling for the turban look for ladies………….transforms a woman into a powerful figure. That is the magic of accessorizing I guess………………

Photo courtesy : www.daylife.com, www.prokerala.com

Pearls Infrastructure Delhi Couture Week 2010 – Day 4

Day 4 saw Bollywood not just cheer for the designers but to also walk down the runway for them……..Kangana looked fabulous in the JJ Valaya designed bridalwear and Anil Kapoor along with his home production ‘Aisha’ gang rocked the ramp………….though I must admit that I missed Sonam a lot since the father-daughter duo would have looked very cute on the ramp………..

Anamika Khanna

Anamika Khanna is surely very creative in her work and that reflects in her designs…………..but sometimes the mix-n-match of outfits just does not give the desired effect. Well to some extent that is what happened with her new collection…………where the pieces if worn individually would have looked much more appealing. The western designs were classy the problem was the Indianwear fused with western……………..I can say overall I was just merely satisfied by the creations since I have seen Anamika’s earlier works and feel the lady has loads of talent. But she made Anil Kapoor look so good on the ramp in the Achkan combined with churidhars. Loved that look which I feel Anil can sporton the red carpet too since even at this age he is the most graceful actor in Bollywood. As for the rest of cast of ‘Aisha’ …………..Amrita Puri & Ira Dubey looked good………the outfits suited them well but Lisa Haydon’s outfit needed more refinement since it looked like combining leotards with a glamorous dupatta………..my apologies to Anamika but that was just not appealing. I would have looked amazing it Anamika would have combined black trousers with another dark shade top and then the dupatta comes in. Overall my verdict is………’Yeh Dil mange more’ …………….hope Anamika gives us more next time around.

Photo courtesy : www.daylife.com

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

JJ Valaya

For people who want to see the detailed embroidery on Kangana’s Bridal attire can click on the pic below in order to zoom in. Check out the beautiful work which is by far the best work seen in this fashion season. The lehenga and the dupatta seem to have resham dhaaga embroidery combined with colourful stone & gotta work. Simply Awesome.

 

JJ Valaya new collection ‘Alika’ has proved that he indeed is the Guru of modern Indianwear…………..I was really happy to see his stunning creations this season which were breath-taking and definitely better than his earlier season which he had presented at the Wills Lifestyle India Fashion Show. But the menswear certainly confused me since the kurtas which were long enough to touch the model’s toes????? I am certainly going to overlook that fact since the detailed embroidery work was the best that I have seen so far in this fashion week……………….thumbs up for choosing the beautiful Kangana as the show stopper………she truly did justice to that gorgeous bridal lehenga and vice versa. Styling was perfect on the models and the show stopper……………sarees and cholis for the Lehengas in metallic hues…..now that is a first one, loved it. Overall this collection will go a long way and I am so happy for JJ Valaya got his groove back.

Photo courtesy : www.daylife.com

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pearls Infrastructure Delhi Couture Week 2010 – Day 3

The third day had Manav Gangwani & Pallavi Jaikishan [Pics to be uploaded ASAP]  presenting their respective collection. Will the collection work magic with the audience or just fade out. Let’s find out…………..

Manav Gangwani

Manav Gangwani combined the old-time charm with Indian culture to present his new collection ‘An affair to Remember’ which had both Indian and western outfits. It was definitely an affair to remember since this time around Manav went more for the westernized look in his outfits but the gowns seemed more fit for the ‘Barbie Dreamland’. But I somehow loved the creative head pieces which the models wore with the outfits…………….stylewise the show was great……………clotheswise some western designs were not wearable……………honestly not many prefer to walk down the red carpet wearing a huge ball gown which reminds people of a doll birthday cake. Though his Indian designs rocked…………..the Swaroski crystal detailing was beautiful. The collection had sarees, lehengas and gowns in bright colours…………..Manav captured the essence of Indianwear by creating outfits which had loads of bright hues. My verdict on this collection : Indianwear definitely will rock, some gowns will also do well but the big ball gowns………..Manav please avoid those…………..I feel that is not your style.

Photo courtesy : www.daylife.com

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Pallavi Jaikishan

 Pallavi Jaikishan’s new collection revolved around three themes – Nostalgia, Maharani & Sitare……………I must say these inspirations did reflect a lot in her clothes. She is the ‘Vera Wang’ of Indian Bridal Couture in fact she started way before Vera Wang started her label…………but 36 years of experience does make her creation a ‘vintage’  since they are classic, elegant and can be handed down to generations. The ‘dreamy collection’ as I would call it had beautiful creations in lehegas, churidhars, sarees with velvet cholis………….Pallavi’s signature style of combining chantily lace, crystals, sequins, embroidery with fabrics like net, georgette, satin and velvet was also seen in the outfits. Subtle, alluring, striking hues were the focus point of this amazing collection. The entire ramp looked like a bridal wonderland with models sashying down the ramp wearing colours like peach, yellow, beige, pinks, sky blues, ash grey fused with darker shades like maroon, orange, black and purple. Loved the clothes, loved the works…………….but the background setting of the show was similar to Pallavi’s earlier shows…………..a little bit of drama would have added that much required glamour quotient to the collection. Nonetheless Pallavi’s creation were fabulous, spoke a lot of volume and were very,very Indian.

Photo Courtesy : www.prokerala.com, www.daylife.com

 

 

 

Pearls Infrastructure Delhi Couture Week 2010 – Day2

Day 2 started with Gaurav Gupta’s collection and ended with Rohit Bal’s sizzling creations.

Gaurav Gupta

Gaurav Gupta’s Indo-Western line of clothes were better than his last fashion week collection but still a lot was left to be desired. Gaurav tried his level best to create the glamour factor in his creations but there was nothing new. Plus many, many outfits were simply not wearable. Extravagent gowns with much more extravagent styling did make the outfits worth a watch but without the extras it would not be worth the look. Styling does not mean taking a vintage piece of jewellery and wearing it on the hair just for the heck of it……………It is important for that piece of jewellery to blend in as well…………….which in this collection was evident that the styling was not upto thebenchmark of global fashion. On the whole not much impressed with this collection………….apologies to Gaurav Gupta but I feel clothes more than styling need to speak volume in fashion sense.

Photo Courtesy :www.prokerala.com

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Rohit Bal

 

Ever seen a fashion show where the models swim in a pool wearing couture dresses…………….nothing is impossible when it comes to Rohit Bal. He too jumped into the pool for a fun-filled evening……….the only difference was that it was in front of a huge crowd………but nothin can stop ‘Gudda’ as he is affectionately called by his friends. From the looks of the outfits I felt I am watching a ‘Dior’ show and Rohit Bal is our native ‘John Galliano’. The clothes were big in terms of the ruffles & layers combined with big hair………..the outfits were fit for red carpet or a gala ball but some pieces were not very wearable…………that is where I was a wee bit disappointed. But thankfully there were not much of those clothes in this collection. The colour scheme was dominated by off-whites and style had loads of gowns which looked straight out of a modern-day fairy tale………..Cindrella would have been happy seeing this collection. It also had long kurtis combined with skirts or traditional lehengas which were in vogue in early 1990s………..remember our very own Aishwarya Rai strutting down the ramp in these styles during her modelling days??? Loved the off-whites, the achkans for men, the Indian fused with western outfits, traditional attire, the way Rohit has played with the fabrics giving them an artistic twist and turn but some gowns were over the top and I honestly feel the Indian audience would still wanna go for something simpler and traditional. The gowns are fit for a Diva who wants to be demure and the centre of attention at any event abroad.

Photo courtesy : www.daylife.com

Pearls Infrastructure Delhi Couture Week 2010 – Day 1

Fashion Week is here! Fashion Week is here! Oh I do get excited whenever a new collection is launched coz that is where the future of fashion gets decided. The Pearls Infrastructure Delhi Couture Week 2010 kicked off in the capital city with a lot of hoo halla……… with some problems with regard to the name of the event……….you can read about that in the leading newspapers……….coming back to fashion…..Let’s check out what is in store for fashion fraternity.

Sabyasachi Mukherjee

The nite started with Sabysachi Mukherjee presenting his new collection. Of course his two muse Rani Mukherjee & Vidya Balan were there not just to cheer for him but also to walk down the ramp for him. Both were wearing a Sabysachi creation…………Rani wore a black colour jump suit accessorized with black heels & a clutch but went for matt gold jewellery whereas Vidya Balan looked gorgeous in a Sabysachi red saree………….reminded of my husband’s fave song ‘Lady in Red’…………….something about a lady in red clothes makes guys go all dreamy………coming back to the collection named ‘Aparajito’ which literally means ‘the undefeated’ was inspired from classic indian traditions and also had a kind of Moroccan feel to it when combined with the elegant ‘topi’. The fabric used was mostly khadi withembroidery, block printing and other works from different parts of India. I get good vibes from this collection…………….classic, elegant, alluring and can be easily mix ‘n’ matched with other outfits in your wardrobe. The colours were black combined with earthy tones plus had menswear as well as womens wear in it. I do wish that budding designers take inspiration from Sabysachi for keeping India’s textile and traditional craftmanship alive.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Manish Malhotra

The desiger was at his best when he presented his recent collection which was glamorous and would make every woman look like a million bucks. I am truly happy that Manish has got his groove back with this recent collection of his, since the earlier collection presented in Lakme Fashion Week Resort 2010 earlier this year was not up to the Manish Malhotra style benchmark…………..the collection had menswear basically in black and colourful womenswear. the collection consisted of sarees, lehengas, jackets, skirts, long flowy dresses,  achkans, ahhhhh the glorious outfits with beautiful detailing. Take a look at the recent collection below.

 

Photo courtesy : www.daylife.com

Where have the Indian Super Models gone????

The recent death of super model Viveka Babajee makes me wonder “Is it all hunky dory all the way for these super models?” …………………Looking at famous faces like Nafisa Joseph, Viveka Babajee, Kuljeet Randhawa who made it big but had tragic end to their life…………….. but there have also been survivors and successful people in this fashion world as well……………….some of them are worth mentioning here.

Milind Soman

Milind Soman might be the very first male super model to make it big in the Indian Fashion Scene. Women went crazy when he starred in Alisha Chinoy’s music video ‘Made in India’ and posed nude along side Madhu Sapre for the Tuff shoes advertisement. But Milind ruled the ramp for more than 2 decades. He entered as an actor in Indian teleserials and later went on to make his movie debut though did not attain much success. He has turned into a producer and few plans in his kitty. How so ever his movie career be, till date there has been no male model to match his successful modelling career. Maybe somethings are rare………………..Milind just proves to be one of them.

 

Madhu Sapre

Madhu Sapre came into limelight when she won Femina Miss India 1992 contest and became the 2nd runner up in Miss Universe contest the same year. She ruled the runway in India for an entire decade before giving it all up for a blissful married life. She is married to an Italian Gian Maria and now lives in Italy. Though she has walked the ramp as a show stopper numerous times post her marriage………….I still wish to see this gorgeous lady back on the runway.

Sheetal Mallar

Sheetal Mallar was the first model from India to be in the top 12 list of finalist at the Elite look of the year contest. She has done fashion shows around the globe and had even got married to Italian tennis player Moses Navarra………….but her final calling was always in her home country India where even today she continues to model and is the face of many leading brands. She is often seen on the runway these days but only for big labels.

 

Ujjwala Raut

The only sentence I can think of whenever I see Ujjwala Raut is ‘Been there, Done that’  —  fame, love, booze, success, addictions, money………..she was the girl from a middle class family in Mumbai but went on to be one of the top International Model from our country. She has walked the ramp and done photo-shoots for big labels like  Yves Saint-Laurent, Roberto Cavalli, Hugo Boss, Cynthia Rowley, Diane von Furstenberg, Dolce & Gabbana, Betsey Johnson, Gucci, Valentino, Oscar de la Renta, Emilio Pucci, Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show……………….ahhh the list is endless. She got married to fellow model Craig Maxwell and had a baby daughter but the couple as split and are currently in a custody battle due to which Ujjwala has been off the fashion scene.. She was on top of the modelling scene and I feel she can still rock the runway with her attitude if she decides to make a comeback.

Jesse Randhawa

 

She came into focus when she took part in Femina Miss India 1994……………..the same year where Sushmita Sen and Aishwarya Rai won the crown……………Jesse Randhawa was a finalist in the top 5 contestants. I remember sitting in front of the TV, seeing this confident lady and thinking……….”Where did get that weird haircut from?” WhatI failed to recognize was that this lady was surily ahead of her times and that is what came handy when she walked the ramp for all the top Indian designers. She still rocks the runway despite being a model for more than a decade and has oodles of experience in this bitchy modelling world. She was married to fellow model Inder Mohan but the couple split years back. She has recently tied a knot with well-known choreographer Sandip Soparkar after dating him for 5 years. The only thing that makes me wonder is why did she never take up International

Shivani Kapoor

 

She came, she conquered……………………….then she simply disappeared. One of the most sought after models in India, Shivani came into the modelling world as a 17-year-old new face of Lakme Cosmetics in India. She walked the ramp for many well-known designers during fashion week but then left India abruptly when the rumours of drug abuse and broken relationship surfaced in media. Some people say that the character of Kangana Ranaut in ‘Fashion’ was inspired by her life……………nonetheless this lady definitely had that charm to woo the entire fashion fraternity and I am sure her comeback will also be the most sought after things in the modelling world. She is currently back in London with her family.

Shyamoli Verma

Our very first super model who graced the face of Lakme cosmetics in the 1970s & 1980s and walked the ramp for deisgners like Rohit Khosla, JJ Valaya, Rohit Bal and Tarun Tahiliani. She also modelled for Pierre Cardin in Paris before coming back to India. She has had her share of ups and downs in life but today is happy being a mother to a teenage daughter. She resides in Pune and writes for Pune Mirror. Despite her age, she still has that grace which reflects from her beautiful face. As per my opinion……………..she should be back in Mumbai modelling again since her looks and figure can give even today’s young models a run for their money.

John Abraham

Who doesn’t know this dude??? This good boy with a bad boy attitude set the ramp on fire when he walked down for big designers. Of course films was the next thing on his mind where after initial struggle John managed to win big banners. He came into limelight after winning Gladrags Manhunt 1999, since then there has been no looking back for him.He has several movies under his belt and has also turned a producer for future ventures.

Noyonika Chatterjee

Looking at Noyonika, I always wonder ‘How is it possible to stay free of scandal and speculation in this bad, bad world???’ She ha truly set an example of being scandal free and still have a strong career till date. She still walks the ramp and organizes shows for leading brands and designers. She shuttles between Delhi where she lives with her family and Mumbai where her major work assignments are. Despite having a daughter, Noyonika is ‘The Body’ of India.

Arjun Rampal & Mehr Jesia

They are power couple of the fashion world and also the only one couple whose relationship has been going strong ever since. They met when they both were successful models……………..Arjun Rampal was dating designer Malini Ramani while Mehr was dating fellow model Rajeev Mulchandani…………….but destiny decided to bring these two talented people together. Mehr is Ex-Miss India who walked the ramp for I think all leading designers whereas Arjun was discovered by designer Rohit Bal and has worked for many designers.  The couple have surpassed the highs & lows in life………………….now enjoy being a celebrity. They have two daughters who I guess will create fireworks if they decide to enter the fashion world. The couple still walks the runway for designer friends during fashion week. They have successfully kept their relationship out of the media glare………………I think that is what makes them ‘Hot & Happening’. Arjun is one of the few models to make it big in bollywood and Mehr enjoys being by his side in whatever venture Arjun takes up.

Bipasha Basu

Bipasha Basu………………..she is the ‘It’ girl in Bollywood…………..but funnily this demure lady started out as a shy girl when she won Ford Godrej Cinthol Contest in 1996. She has walked the ramp, done advertisements and now is a leading actress……………..but has also had her share of scandals throughout her career. Despite the lows, Bipasha always comes back stronger. She has set an example that ‘dusky women are not just beautiful but hot as well’. This gorgeous lady has an equally gorgeous partner John Abraham.

Dino Morea

Dino Morea was the ‘Italian Hunk’ on the runway with his long locks of hair and killer looks………………….but somehow the looks could not create a lot of magic on the silver screen. Dino Morea walked the ramp with an attitude which I feel is lacking in today’s male models. He was the next big thing after Milind Soman and still walks for some designers. He has restaurant business with his elder brother…………………..I feel a handsome guy like him should train upcoming male models on how to carry off themselves on the ramp. And yes would love to see him more often on the runway than in movies.

Bridal Trousseau must haves

              

Many people visit my blog in search of Indian Bridal wear or subjects related to Indian wedding outfits. I am no expert on it but I have vowed that I will try to keep all of you updated with the recent trends in Indian Bridal Fashion and hence have included a new category ‘Bridal Couture’. I will try my level best to cover the topics relevant to a new bride-to-be  since she wants to look her best on her wedding day which is the most important day in any woman’s life. Men might never understand the big deal we women tend to make out of it……………….but we do cherish this moment for a lifetime.             

Red is traditionally the color of choice of the Wedding Dress as it symbolizes luck and is believed to bring happiness to the couple in the future. Indian Wedding Dresses are normally made of materials which reflect light like silk, chiffon and satin. Silk is the preferred fabric, especially in southern India. Certain sarees like Baluchari, Bandhani, Kanjeevaram and Konrad are specifically worn on wedding day not only because they are super expensive but because they have religious significance too. Nowadays brides are experimenting with lighter shades of red which is not too gaudy and can be worn on other semi formal functions and even work.             

In today’s modern world, brides wear shoes that are not too different from those worn regularly in parties. However, the bridal shoes used from times immemorial are different from the ones that are used today. They have soft cushion and are medium heeled or generally flat. Satin cloth, silk and sequin work give it a different look altogether. Basic clothes to be included in your trousseau :          

  Wedding and engagement outfit  

             

           

This should be your most important shopping which should not be done in a hurry. At least give a full day to shop for these two outfits. These days you can try out many wearing different colours for ring ceremony like royal purple, peach, turquoise blue, baby pink, bottle green, golden , silver etc which are definitely away from the typical bridal colours like red, magenta, maroons. As per Indian traditions brides should avoid wearing black and white since these are not auspicious for such occasions. Engagement dresses can vary from Saree to Lehanga to Salwar Kameez to even a Gown these days. Marriage outfit should be ideally a Saree or Lehanga or a Salwar Kameez [which is ideally worn in Sikh Community]. Again you don’t have to stick to the traditional colour palette. Ideally go for lighter colour for a Day wedding and a darker colour for a Night Wedding.             

  Saree  

           

            

 Saree is an integral part of any Indian wedding. It can be worn on the D-Day by bride or be a part of the trousseau. Saree has many designs & types to choose from. Brides towards South of India prefer silks, in North India they prefer sequin embroidery on chiffons or crepes, East Indian brides have a preference of hand woven sari & brides in West India carry off both silks & chiffons with equal grace and love bandhni in design. Every bride should have at least 3 sarees in her trousseau depending on her choice. One silk saree is a must since it can be worn on any formal family functions & pooja. Honestly I consider Silk sarees to have a timeless grace. In Indian households a Silk saree is passed on from generations to generations.  Sarees lend an air of elegance and gracefulness to a woman. Nevertheless it’s important to select one that compliments your body features. Thin women should stick to fluffy fabric like organza, cotton and tussar sarees. Women who are a bit heavier should buy light fabrics like silk, chiffon and georgette. It is advisable to avoid large prints as it is too flashy and gives the impression of a huge look. Shorter women should avoid large borders            

 Salwar Kameez  

      

      

A salwar kameez consists of a Kurti called as Kameez & salwar is loose pajama like trouser. You can purchase these ready to wear or get them stitched as per your accordance. These are available throughout India in numerous materials, colours & designs. A bride should have at least 5 Salwar Kameez in different lengths & designs in order to suit different occasions. Patiala Salwar and Chudidars with Short kurti are the recent trend. Combine Salwar Kameez with Starppy sandals or for more ethnic look with mojris or Punjabi juthi. Salwar kameez have been a symbol of comfortable Indian wear which anyone can easily adapt to. As a bride get embroidered work done on the kurti like Zardosi, Gotta work, mirror work, embroidery with sequins, etc. Matching embroidery work on the salwar is quite a rage in India. Don’t forget he dupatta along with it. How so fashionable it might be to go without a duppatta, as a newly wed it is more acceptable if you have your duppatta.           

Kurti 

      

         

 I honestly feel we Indians have given the world a sophisticated and modern version of Kameez that is usually worn with a Salwar. This one can be worn with Denims or Trousers they look good on both. Women of all age groups can easily wear this outfit and be graceful. Have at least 3 kurtis in your trousseau – 1 for party wear, 1 for formal occasion, 1 for everyday wear. Experiment with colours, don’t stick to a particular colour only. Kurtis can be worn when you go on your honeymoon where you don’t wanna be all decked up in order to have fun. Even your In-laws won’t mind you wearing kurti at home when they are around. You can get the kurti stitched or can purchase them from a store since they are easily available on the retail shelves.            

Blue Denim Jeans

     

 Your wardrobe is incomplete if  you don’t have a pair of Blue denims.  These can be co-coordinated with tops, formal shirts, kurtis and just about anything. You have a lot of options to choose from like straight, skinny, boot cut or flared with waist option of high rise – high on  your waist, avoid this fit if you are broad on the butt side,  mid or low rise – low on your waist , avoid this if you are heavier on your waistline.  Boot cut jeans are fitted at the hip and the thigh and flared below the knee. Straight Legs are also fitted at the hip and thigh but are neither flared nor tightly fitted below the knee. There are a variety of brands to choose from plus numerous colours too. For party wear Denims you can check out jeans having studded with crystals or sequin embroidered.           

  Top

Party Wear Top

  

  Buy a lot of Colourful tops to match with jeans or trousers. Please do not go in for the basic T-shirts. Look for tops with feminine appeal that make you look like a fabulous bride. Include 2 to 3 party wear tops which will be useful when you are entertaining friends. Outdoor and Casual Wear tops are a must when you are honeymooning. Formal wear tops for your daily office life.  You can include colourful kurtis which are widely available which I think are the best clothes which display a mix of modern and ethnic. Displayed below are just some tops in order to give you an idea about your purchases.                  

      Formal trousers 

 Black coloured trousers are a must in this category for their versatility to match with all colours. If you have been told not to wear the colour black for at least a year [Some Indian traditions do not allow the newly wed brides to wear black & white colours for a year as these colours are symbols of bad omens] then look for navy blue, brown or grey colours in trousers. You can wear trousers with tops or embroidered Kurtis.            

Nightwear

     

If you are planning to have a sexy strappy or backless night gown which will make your guy go weak in the knees, well that should not be a problem unless it is within the four walls of your bedroom. Have an alternative Nightwear gown that is decent enough for you to wear in front of your in-laws. To be on a safer side have at least 2 pair of nightwear. Colours can range from pinks, reds, peach to blue, purple, greens. Bridal Nightwear are easily available across all major stores in India. Pick according to your body type, is comfortable and yet looks elegant. Avoid following fashion over comfort.              

              

          Lingerie & Everyday Inner wear 

     

Buy sexy lingerie but don’t buy them only. Make it a point to buy everyday wear undergarments as well. Choose colours like red, pinks, purples, etc anything that would look good on your skin shade.  Avoid buying whites only, experiment with some colour. Have the bra and panties co-ordinated in the same colour/pattern. Go in for lingerie which has a bit of sequin detail but not too much as you might end up look like a belly dancer. Lingerie translates to sensuousness and will bring out the best in you. If you feel good and confident within it is bound to show in your body language too.            

 Bags

     

 This just might be an accessory but it is an important one since the kind of bag you carry can make or break your entire look. Bridal bags should be small and matching with the bridal outfit. For the other outfit the key for a perfect bag is to match with not only the outfit but with your shoes and belts as well. Have at least 2 bags, one for party wear which a bridal bag can also be used as one and the other for everyday wear which you can carry to office, shopping or just an outdoor meeting. Colours common preferred are reds, pinks and golden for bridal bags and browns and black for Everyday Wear bag.            

                                                               Shoes

     

Bridal shoes generally match the outfit the bride wears. You can ask your trousseau designer or the retail store from where you are buying your wedding dress to co-ordinate and design the shoes as well.       The advent of light colored shoes is conspicuous because they can be re-colored to any other darker shade later and worn for any other festive occasions after marriage.
The bridal shoes should be comfortable. The various pre and post-wedding ceremonies require the bride to walk around and stand for long hours to meet people. Bridal shoes with a smaller hell are the most comfortable. There is a wide variety of Bridal Shoes like wedding pumps, high heeled sling backs, flats, sandals and pointed toe shoes. Bridal shoes vary in size and height and depending on ones need, one can choose from a wide variety of shoes that are available in the market. But you cannot always walk around wearing heels. Add on everyday wear shoes or flats. In India you will find beautiful traditional flat shoes like mojris or Punjabi jutti which look great with Salwar Kameez, denims, etc. Else you can buy simple flat sandals as shown on the left. The key here again is to buy shoes in different colours instead of sticking to the basic black ones. A person with beautiful shoes has conquered half the required look. You can never go wrong in your looks if you have stunning footwear. Beautiful footwear are itself a fashion statement. Make sure you have pedicured feet to show off in your shoes.   

 

The Dream maker – Manish Malhotra

“Mirror, Mirror on the wall, who is the fairest of all”…………….these days the answer from the magic mirror is usually the woman dressed in a ‘Manish Malhotra’ Couture………………beauty at it’s peak………simply divine. I bet every woman in India desires an outfit from his kitty of clothes. Indeed Manish Malhotra is the master at Indian couture work, he has transformed the women of Bollywood with his fashion forward looks and designs. Karisma & Kareena Kapoor, Urmila Matondkar, Kajol, Rani Mukherjee….all swear by his creations and do credit their transformed looks to him. Surily Goel trained under him and today is a successful fashion designer herself.

Manish started off designing for Juhi Chawla in movie ‘Swarg’ and since then there has been no looking back. Big banner movies like Yashraj, Dharma films, Red chillies, all have him to design the look of the leading ladies…………of course the result is a dream which we get to see on the silver screen. With an infinite number of movies under his belt, Manish Malhotra definitely acquires the crown of being the ‘Numero Uno’ in the glamorous tinsel town. He is the person solely responsible for adding glitter to bollywood.

Earlier the outfits of the actresses was rented from the dresswalas but after the success of ‘Dilwale Dulhania Le jayenge’, ‘Kuch Kuch Hota Hai’, ‘Rangeela’ and ‘Raja Hindustani’ Manish got a lot of fan following not just in bollywood but also outside. This ‘Punjabi Munda’ showed the world that his designs were original and unique. He has also designed wedding trousseau for numerous celebrities……………….they look ravishing on their D-day, remember Karisma Kapoor in the Pink Lehenga or Shilpa Shetty in the lovely pink saree she wore for her engagement.

He is the first designer who has done a successful cross-over from movies to mainstream fashion since usually the trend is vice-versa. He started his label ‘Manish Malhotra’ for the masses in 2004 and has been showcasing his latest creations in fashion weeks in India & abroad since 2006. Sequin work, crystal embellishment, embroidery are this designer’s forte which he elegantly uses in his Indian outfits. He has put the Sarees, Lehengas and churidhars back into fashion………………thank god for he has saved the element of Indianess in today’s fashionable world. Manish today not just rules the filmi dunia but also has a hold on the runway.

On the Red Carpet

Wish to see the woman of Bollywood wear his style on the red carpet abroad as well. Kudos to Kajol for doing that during the screening of ‘My Name is Khan’ in locations abroad.

On the Runway

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Manish Malhotra Bridal Couture