Know your Saree – Kanjeevaram

 

We talk so much about gowns & the big designer brands but often forget the beautiful textile creations from our own soil. The fabulous silks, the zari work and handwoven fabric which incidentally do end up on the international runways without our knowledge. More than half of the world’s designer use fabrics, embroidery, stone-work and zardosi from India to create their outfits and sell them at exclusive price…………….Isn’t that astonishing???

It is a pity that we fail to recognize the hardwork put in by the people or a better way to call them would be  ‘artisans’, who put in their life to create such wonderful works. In fact I am sure that not many of us even know how many different weaves or types are there in a saree. ‘Indian Fashion Police’ dedicates this month to explore the beautiful world of Indian saree and it’s type. After all this is one tradition we ought to nuture & be proud of.

IFP starts off this series knowing about the queen of Indian saree – ‘Kanjeevaram’. Kanjeevaram sarees which originate from Kanchipuram district in Tamil Nadu are known to be the highest quality of weave in sarees. Traditionally it is pronounced as Kanchipuram saree, it has depictions of the beautiful temple art in threads of silk, silver & gold. The sarees usually have zari work in gold dipped silver thread on the borders and the pallu. A bridal saree will have all over zari thread work for that rich feel.

A wide range of colours with motifs of nautre, animals, paisley and flowers are woven by artisans. Amazingly these hand woven sarees are never alike so any saree you own will be  absolutely unique. Kanjeevaram is six yards to nine yards in length and suitable for women of all ages. The price of Kanjeevaram saree is determined by the quality of silk yarn [count per square inch], intricacy of the design and the amount of gold zari work used.

In India this saree is passed on to generations and is often given as family heirloom during weddings.  IFP says this is a ‘must-have’ in bridal trousseau for every Indian women.  In fact Indian celebrity are looking fabulous in these sarees at major red carpet events. Don’t believe me then have a look  below………

Who was seen wearing Kanjeevaram Sarees?

Tamanna 

Rekha

Vidya Balan

Kirron Kher

Sridevi

Saree Brand Courtesy : Sarangi Sarees

Photo Courtesy : Indiatimes & Rediff India

Trend #8 : Tangy Tangerine

Tangerine better known as ‘Narangi’ in hindi, may be just a shade of  orange but is making waves in style. IFP feels this is gonna be a huge trend especially in bridal-wear, come this summer season. Move aside reds & maroon, tangy tangerine colour is here to shock everyone.

In earlier times, women in northern India have applied sindoor in tangerine colour & some still continue to do so. Today this color has found a place in the modern woman’s wardrobe. Kurtis, anarkali and sarees in this color are for the bride who loves to make heads turn.

Tangerine color is best combined with metallics hues as well as dark blue & green in sarees or anarkalis. One can opt for monochrome design combined with black for jackets. Tangerine colour paired with golden detail work in a lehenga is pure royalty and will definitely make the bride stand above the rest.

If  tangerine might be too loud for you, then opt for jewellery, nail paint, clutch, stilettos and belts in your look. Earrings & bangles with minakari work look beautiful on a lehenga or a saree during festive season.

Eminent designers like Suneet Varma, Manish Malhotra, Sabyasachi, Varun Bahl, Kiran Uttam Ghosh, Gaurav Gupta &  RohitGandhi+Rahul Khanna have used shades of tangerine in their recent festive & bridal collection. One of the best examples of Tangerfinr in bridal trousseau are celebrity brides Kareena Kapoor who wore a tangerine orange lehenga for her sangeet & Vidya Balan who opted for a tangerine colour silk saree for her D-day.

Brand courtesy : Suneet Varma, Manish Malhotra, Gaurav Gupta, Rohit Gandhi-Rahul Khanna & Sabyasachi for the outfits & Alpana Gujral for the jewellery. Clutch by ‘Love to Bag’ & shoes by Jimmy Choos.

Photo Courtesy : www.perniaspopupshop.com

Trend #7 : Flaunt your ‘Animal Instinct’

I have personally seen people creating style collage with western designs but seldom have come across a collage that is made displays design by our very own Indian designers. IFP wanted to display it’s love for Indian styles via these recent collage trends by portraying outfits, accessories by designers from India.

Another trend which will do amazingly well this year are pieces & prints which are inspired by animals. IFP detest wearing fur or clothing made by slaughtering these beautiful living beings. Instead we urge our readers to opt for animal prints, motifs and patterns in your style.

IFP shows how you can flaunt your love for animals in a stylish way by wearing an animal print saree, kurti or top. This trend is for women & men of all ages, but avoid wearing animal print from head to toe. If you are just getting started with this trend, opt for animal prints in minimal quantity like wearing an animal print belt, clutch or just a top. Sunglasses with animal print frames are very fashionable and the right amount to flaunt this trend. Indian jewellery too has many animal motifs in form of elephants, leopard, peacock, snake, birds and butterfly displayed in the intricate designs. One of IFP’s favorite is Farfalla collection by Indian origin UK based designer Aruna Seth which are effortlessly classy.

Combine leopard, tiger & zebra print tops with pastels or black bottoms and vice-versa.  For a ‘pop of colour’ you can choose neon colour accessories with animal prints. Sarees in zebra & leopard prints are perfect for the evening cocktail parties and kitty lunch.

For casual outings, how about picking up a stole with cool flamingo print on it or a T-shirt with beautiful bird motif. The options are infinite and you can search for a unique piece that is close to your heart. Through this article, IFP requests it’s readers not to try products made out of animal skin, tried or tested on animals.

Brand Courtesy : Saree by Satya Paul, Shoes & Clutch by Aruna Seth, earrings by Manish Arora for Amrapali, Bracelet by ‘Amrapali’, ring by Farah Khan Ali & stole by Janavi

Renault Star Guild Awards 2013

Star Guild Awards held in Mumbai and hosted for the very first time by Salman Khan [can’t wait to watch that] ……the red carpet had many Bollywood haseenas strutting in their designer wear. IFP takes a look at who wore what at this event.

Priyanka Chopra opted for Shehlaa Khan glittery outfit that she paired it with what seems like a ‘Pinky Saraf’ clutch and blue-golden sandals. The look which was again in pastel colour did not stand out plus the shoes made the look even worse. Just not feeling this styling which could have been way better.

Anushka Sharma manages to do a 360 degree turn around on the red carpet when she walked in in a saree, pulled back hair and jhumkaas. The ‘MAnish Malhotra’ saree looked good on her but it was the earrings that IFP is absolutely in love with. Anushka rocked this look especially after seeing her in series of mini dresses & gown.

Ekta Kapoor was promoting her upcoming movie ‘Ek thi Daayan’ by wearing this one shoulder ‘what-to-call’  outfit. Pair it with space jumping shoes and voila you have a modern day style diva from hell. As good as her movies are and as much as money she makes from them, she could afford the best in fashion to style her. Sigh……

Vidya Balan again opted for ‘Sabyasachi’ but this time there was a twist in form of shimmer blouse. The blouse alone is somewhat too loud but Vidya seems to have played this look well by combining an understated saree & avoiding heavy jewellery. A good look but not one of her best for sure.

Ileana D’cruz wore a floral ‘Dolce & Gabbana’ outfit which seemed too busy with the print & net combined. Plus the hair too was not  working with this outfit. Wish Ileana could have opted for simple silhouette than this one.

Aditi Rao Hydari in a peach ‘Payal Singhal’ saree looked as if she put the entire look in hurry. The big curls with the draping of her saree spoilt this entire look which could have been so elegant if styled differently. This look lacked grace in it……….not liking even a bit.

Hema Malini wore a ‘Neeta Lulla’ saree in pastel which was just too shiny for me. But Hemaji worked the look with her choice of clutch and diamond jewellery. On anyone else the look would have come across as garish but not on Hema Malini.

As much as I love Neetu Chandra’s yellow saree, it is her halter blouse & make-up which makes me twitch.  The saree could have been paired with a contrasting brocade blouse with short sleeves rather than a stringy halter. The foundation appeared too light on her face than her neck…………wish Neetu would wake up from a bad dream.

Sonakshi Sinha in a ‘Abu Jani-Sandeep Khosla’ design which did look elegant on the red carpet but with the designer dupatta trailing the floor, Sonakshi should have worn it better. The look lacked colour since the accessories, the shoes and the outfits itself were done up in pastels. Wish Sonakshi would have added emerald or ruby earrings for that ‘pop of colour’.

Sophie Choudry who is immaculately dressed on the red carpet, seems to have take a day off………Sophie wore ‘Alice+Olivia’ gown in black combined with a red lips. This outfit which had sheer skirt, screamed for bold accessories. A contemporary neck-piece might have worked better. Not a fan of this look which was evidently too simple & boring.

Sridevi in ‘Sabyasachi’ lehenga which was an unusal choice for the red carpet but definitely an excellent one. Sridevi combined this outfit with a potli bag, dangling earrings & a side swept braid. Love this look on her which was classy, sophisticated and beautiful.

Photo Courtesy : Bharatstudent.com, Style&sparkle.com

 

Falguni & Shane Peacock’s Fall 2013 Collection at New York Fashion Week

Designers Falguni & Shane Peacock once again took the stage with their recent most collection which they presented at NYFW. The collection which primarily had gowns, pants and dresses was done up in dark hues. The 3D prints, the feathers, exaggerated shoulder, the glitter on sheer fabric……all of their signature designs were evident in this collection. Metal detailing in form of peplum was seen in certain outfits.

But to be honest, I fail to see anything new in this collection as I feel I have seen such designs over last 3 seasons. There was definitely nothing exciting in terms of new style. The designer duo should get their grey cells working & churn out something unseen in their next collection. Unfortunately this one is a very forgetful one & I cannot even differentiate between their earlier collections & this one.

Photo Courtesy : http://www.mbfashionweek.com

Prabal Gurung’s Fall 2013 at New York Fashion Week

Earlier IFP had shown you the works of designer Prabal Gurung for the label ICB……Prabal also showcased his signature collection at Mercedez Benz NYFW. ‘Military’ seemed to be the inspiration behind his work, for the colours like olive green with black, grey, red & white were used in this collection. Use of satin added the desired feminity to the outfits. The make-up was kept nude with hint of colour here & there while the hair was pulled back in a neat updo.

Peplum detail was used alot in jackets and tops but with sheer refinement. Not a fan of the attires made out of leather and fur as these looked ‘out of place’ in this collection. I do like the way the inspiration has been incorporated in Prabal’s designs but with so much of grace in it. Love the fitted jackets in this collection…….the fit, the cut and the look was simply amazing. The dresses with satin cut-out detail were another signature touch added by the designer which IFP liked.

This collection did stand out of Prabal’s earlier works but not a fan of the leather outfits. Thought those were unnecessary in this beautiful collection.

Photo Courtesy : http://www.style.com

Bibhu Mohapatra’s Fall 2013 at New York Fashion Week

Designer Bibhu Mohapatra presented his Fall 2013 collection at Mercedez Benz Fashion Week. The idea behind this collection was 1920s & 1930s in which the designer’s signature geometric prints were also seen. The styling was vintage with hair done up in side swept waves, dark lips combined with smokey eyes while handbags, clutch, vintage hats & platform heel completed the look.

The colours ranged from black, blue, grey, purple to amber yellow & pastels. The collection consisted of gowns, skirts, formal pants, tops, dresses, jackets &  stoles. A lot of fur & velvet was seen in Bibhu’s latest offering but it was the pastel colour gowns that I drew my attention as they were beautiful. Not a fan of the jackets as they lacked proper ‘fit’ which was also evident in few outfits as well.

Wish the designer would sway away from bulky fabrics and have more designs in lighter fabrics. Not a fan of this collection since I was hoping that Bibhu would come up with something new & much more fabulous as his last collection was.

Photo Courtesy : http://www.style.com

Naeem Khan’s Fall 2013 Collection at New York Fashion Week

Designer Naeem Khan showcased his recent work ‘Fall 2013’ collection at the Mercedes Benz NYFW. Vintage was the theme behind the look of the show…….models walked the runway in vintage formal braided updos while the make-up was au natural. Though I was not that thrilled when Naeem showcased his Spring 2013 collection at NYFW in the year 2012……..this time around I couldn’t help but smile ear to ear after seeing this collection.

The collection included gowns [how does he make them turn out so elegant??], knee-length dresses, velvet jackets, kaftans, formal pants, skirts and scarves. This time around, Naeem experimented with sheer & flowy fabrics like silk, chiffon, georgettes, lace in gowns & dresses while introducing velvet for that regal touch. Love the velvet jacket in maroon which was teamed with formal pants & lace halter top. The colours were red, maroon, blue & black with sequin detail work in gold & silver. The gowns in red & golden were so romantic……..I am sure these will get featured on the red carpet  soon.

All I can say that this collection was ‘BEAUTIFUL’ & ‘AWESOME”…… all in capital of course……..the vintage charm was reflected fabulously in this collection and the sequin work was class apart.

Naeem will be showcasing his works in upcoming fashion week in India……Can hardly wait for that. Watch this space for more update.

Photo Courtesy : http://www.style.com

Prabal Gurung’s Fall 2013 for ICB at New York Fashion Week

Prabal Gurung’s recent collection for the Japanese fashion house ICB was showcased at New York Fashion Week yesterday. The Fall 2013 collection had ample of autumn colours like grey, burgundy, dark blue, camel yellow and of course black. The collection described at ‘building block’ by the designer himself had a range of jackets, dresses, pants, tops, cardigans, stole and trench coats. In many outfits  gloves, skirt and detailing in leather was used which stood out well especially on short dresses with leather zip belts.

Like the dresses and the jackets from this collection. Here is your look at some of the pieces from this collection.

Photo Courtesy : http://www.style.com

Trend #6 : Wearing Art

Art is no more limited to the walls anymore, wearing art is the latest trend in India. Indian designers are including beautiful art from various parts of our country. Masaba Gupta,  Satya Paul, Surendri by Yogesh Chaudhary, Neeta Lulla and many more designers have incorporated art in their recent collection. Mughal paintings, Madhubani & Kalamkari are favourite but contemporary art forms like hand prints, animal motifs and other everyday prints are also making their way in fashion.

Incorporating ‘Art’ is not just limited to clothes……….try wearing jewellery that depicts ‘Art’ or carry a clutch with painting printed on it. Hindu god & goddess paintings are fine to be worn but make sure the use of such form is not done on shoes or in any insulting manner.

Brand Courtesy : Masaba Gupta, Artygator, Maya’s Arc, 

Photo Courtesy : http://www.perniapopupshop.com, http://www.limeroad.com

Trend #5 – Sorbet Colours in Indianwear

 

IFP is not just thinking of having those yummy sorbet ice-creams during the summer season but also using the sorbet colour palette in styling. During winters rich shades of burgundy, purple, auburn, magenta take over the wardrobe but during summers, lighter hues take centre stage. Though IFP loves pastels colours…… fashion wise it will be sorbet colours which will rule the Spring/Summer collections.

Which colours come under Sorbet colour palette? Think of fruits like lemon, watermelon, peach, mango & green lime. Also colours like baby blue & pink along with lavender come under sorbet colour palette. A beautiful Indian attire in sorbet colour can be paired with champagne pink pumps and diamonds to get this trend right. Sarees in these colours rock any evening party or daytime event.

Who says sorbet colours are just limited to western wear? IFP has given you an example by the way of the collage above at beautiful designer outfits in sorbet peach, pink & blue. Do keep the make-up subtle when you are wearing sorbet colours & try delicate jewels instead of chunky ones.

Brand courtesy : Raakesh Agarwal, Anita Dongre, Malaga, Christian Louboutins, Clinique & Bvlgari Perfume.

Photo Courtesy : Strandofsilk.com, Ulta.com & Christianlouboutins.com

 

Trends #4 – Floral all the way

Even though it is cold outside in many parts of India, that does not deter us to look forward to spring. IFP loves floral motifs and prints and believes this trend is evergreen for summertime. But that does not mean that only the girls get to flaunt it. Women of all ages can use this trend wherever they go.

Going shopping, carry a floral shoulder bag, a day at the beach……how about a hat with floral motifs on them, day out with girlfriends….wear a floral top or dress. off to office……how about wearing shoes with flowery details, at a wedding……a floral motif saree with some scenty gajra in the hair. If a blogger like me………..then don your best floral earrings & feel heavenly.

We might not even know this, but every women uses the floral trend in her day-to-day life. Be it the clothes, the perfume, the bags, clutch, jewels, shoes or even her stationery. Flowers are the best remedy to pep up your mood so IFP recommends loads of it stylewise. Just avoid the big, chunky pieces though … 🙂

Brand Courtesy : Forever 21, Topshop, Alexander McQueen, Chanel, Vera Wang & Clinique

Trend #3 – Pearls Galore

Wearing a strand of pearl is classic, but wearing shades of pearl is what IFP terms as ‘In Vogue‘ for this upcoming season. Think iridescent and lustre when you think about pearl finish. Ways to incorporate pearl look can be by opting for a pearl jewellery, shoes with pearl detailing, a watch with ‘mother of pearl’ dial, a pearl potli bag or even a nail paint with pearl finish.

Also one can combine pearly shades with golden, bronze or copper embroidery in their outfit. Pastels colours with pearl detailing are often the best combination for an outfit. The best part is that one can work this trend at any age.

Photo Courtesy : Strandofsilk.com, Manolo Bhalnik, Omega watches & Tanishq

Trend #2 for 2013 – Indian Ishtyle Clutch

‘Clutch’ has never been in so much demand as they are right now, but  IFP has been noticing the beautiful clutches designed by our desi designers, making it really big at red carpet events lately. The reason why IFP adores these clutches – the rich fabric, the ethnic detailing, the vibrant colours, the traditional motifs and the fact that these clutches are ‘Indian’.

Combine an ethnic Indian clutch with your denim, churidhar-kameez, saree or your even cocktail dress. The best way to work them, is to wear an understated outfit and bag it with a bright clutch………..you are surely gonna make heads turn with this look. The more colourful, the better this clutch looks but do keep the rest of the look simple.

IFP recommends clutches designed by Malaga Bags for the beautiful detail-work on every clutch, Art meets Fashion for the funky new- age Indian look and Fabindia for the inexpensive clutch in rich fabric like brocade. Also clutches by Ananya, 5 Elements, Anusha Lalwani & Cupidity make it to IFP’s trend list this year.

Brand Courtesy : Malaga, Art meets Fashion, Fabindia, Ananya & 5 Elements

Photo courtesy : Limeroad.com