Esha Deol – Bharat Takhtani Wedding

After days of preparations, Esha Deol & Bharat Takhtani tied a knot in traditional South Indian style at the Hare Rama Hare Krishna mandir in Juhu, Mumbai. The wedding ceremony was a pleasant mix of South India & North India where the bride was dressed in Kanjeevaram saree style lehenga and the groom opted for a sherwani. The outfits for both bride & the groom were designed by Neeta Lulla………..she sure made Esha look beautiful on her D-Day. Designer Neeta Lulla combined Kanjeevaram sarees to create the look for Esha.

Father of the Bride – Dharamendra & mother Hema Malini welcomed the groom and the other baaratis at the entrance of the mandir. Abhay Deol & his partner Preeti Desai attended the ritual as part of the family. Preeti Desai wore a fabulous peach Anita Dongre saree and looked gorgeous in it. Hema Malini also wore a Kanjeevaram saree which was redesigned by designer Neeta Lulla.

Many A-List celebrities like Amitabh Bachchan, Abhishek Bachchan, Neeta Ambani, veteran actors Manoj Kumar & Vyjayanthimala, Vinod Khanna, Shaina NC, Rani Mukherjee, Madhoo, Poonam Sinha, Fardeen Khan and many others. Just a glimpse of who attended the ceremony.

Photo Courtesy : Gulte.com & Deccan Chronicle

Esha Deol’s Mehendi Ceremony

As the D-day approaches, the pretty bride-to-be Esha Deol is definitely glowing and giving us pretty bridal looks. No wonder we were pleasantly happy to see her in this orange & green Neeta Lulla Lehenga which had me on the color part. Bright and thankfully ‘not-over-the-top’ look works for this daytime ceremony.

 

It was again peach color with a touch of green saree by designer Neeta Lulla for mama Hema Malini while sister Ahana opted for tangerine color anarkali by Nishka Lulla. IFP loves the colors seen in this ceremony that makes it look so ‘oh-so-festive’…………….surely you can never have a dull moment.

Photo courtesy : Rediff India

Esha Deol – Bharat Takhtani’s Sangeet Ceremony

A wedding in the B-Town is just what we fashionistas needed in this dull month of June where most of the celebrities are out shooting or enjoying a holiday. Esha Deol is all set to tie knot with her beau Bharat Takhtani. IFP gives you an exclusive look at the event and the celebrity red carpet style.

The couple were dressed in traditional Indian attire….Esha wore a beautiful orange lehenga designed by Rocky S while Bharat complimented her look in a blue & golden velvet kurta. IFP says they both make a cute pair together.

Mom Hema Malini caught our eye in this dazzling Neeta Lulla saree. The color, the detail work and the lady……IFP loves it all. The only thing we would like to ignore is the shining pink clutch which we find a bit out of place. But Hema Malini’s grace makes up for it.

Abhya Deol and Preeti Desai also attened the celebrations where Abhay looked dapper in a basic black suit, Preeti looked fabulous in ‘Anita Dongre’ lehenga. IFP gives a thumbs up to this couple for dressing perfectly for the occasion.

The newly wed Riteish & Genelia Deshmukh were also seen at the Sangeet. Genelia opted for a Neeta Lulla designed Lehenga. IFP likes the color combination of pairing a nude color with a bright maroon choli. Even Mr. Deshmukh looked good in the suit……….hoping to see more fashionable looks from this couple on the red carpet.

Actress and Page 3 celeb Madhoo also opted for a lehenga though IFP feels the corset choli is not gelling too well with the red lehenga. Wish Madhoo would have opted for a short sleeve choli instead of a corset fit one.

The sen sisters were seen at an event after a long time. Though fashion wise, we are liking Raima Sen’s anarkali style more………….Riya Sen did look cute in her Anarkali ensemble. Wish she would try out new hairstyle than stick to the same ol’ hair since the past decade….IFP thinks she desperately needs a fresh look.

Ranveer Singh who was seen partying after ages since his injury. The best part was he did not disappoint us fashionwise……….Ranveer wore a ‘Manish Malhotra’ designed Bandhgala in black and had grown a beard to complement his look. IFP likes to see him in this Indian look…………..

Photo Courtesy : http://www.chitramala.in

Celebrities who look their best in Saree

A Saree is something not all women can carry off……… as it requires a lot of attention to details when i come to selecting the saree material, type of drape and how to wear it.  Only few women in the fashion scene have done justice to a Saree. This is perhaps one of IFP’s most read articles, so had to add a couple of names more and present the write-up in a new look.

Vidya Balan

Vidya Balan is the epitome of old time charm when dressed in a saree. The only designer who does justice to her looks is Sabhyasachi Mukherjee whose designs are not over the edge yet feminity is at it’s classic best. In the initial days Vidya Balan did mess up a lot with her looks………………remember the hideous Orange Salwar Kameez she wore while hosting Filmfare Awards……………long are those days gone and I am glad that the lady knows what looks good on her. She does make heads turn at red carpet events with her beautifully crafted sarees. Loved her look in movies like ‘Bhool Bholaiya’ & ‘Paa’ but off-screen she is the one responsible to bring the 3/4th sleeve blouses and handloom sarees back in fashion. In a saree, Vidya could do no wrong and is today regarded as one of India’s Best Dressed.

Shilpa Shetty

No one on the Indian Fashion Scene could have looked so hot and sexy in a Saree as Shilpa Shetty did. She has simply re-defined the trend of wearing a ‘Saree’. Thanks to her Designer Tarun Tahiliani, Shilpa has never looked better. The world actually stopped to take a look at her as she walked down the red carpet looking dazzling in a Saree during Big Brother in UK. We loved her red and green saree with ethnic Kundan and Emerald jewellery. I love Shilpa for her originality and the fact that she has been a trend setter all along. She has styled her sarees with halter and off-shoulder blouses for red carpet events.  She has graced the ramp as shop stopper for Tarun Tahiliani’s collection for the consecutive 3 years.

 

  

 

Aishwarya Rai Bachchan

I still remember Aishwarya as an upcoming model in advertisement of ‘Garden’ Sarees. No one before her and after her could do justice to the Saree brand. Since then she has graced numerous fashion shows and magazine covers.  I simply love her colour selection in pastels and pinks. From Traditional South Indian Kanjeevarams to Crepes to Chiffons to Silks give her any type Saree to wear and she carries it off with utter ease. Women just drooled over her two toned and heavily embroidered Sarees which she wore in ‘Devdas’. Aishwarys gives credit to her designer Neeta Lulla for giving her that look as she portrayed the role of ‘Paro’. In recent times, Aishwarya has worn Sabyasachi and Abu Jani- Sandeep Kholsa sarees to red carpet events.

 

 

Kajol

Her smile simply lights up any room that she enters but when she combines it with a beautiful saree the end result is ‘AWESOME’.  Manish Malhotra transformed her into a Style diva when he designed for her in ‘Kuch Kuch hota hai’ . We have seen her in designer Salwar Kameez but I feel she looks stunning in a Saree. The best part about her choice is that she has never worn anything which is has too much of detail work.  She keeps the Jewellery to the minimum emphasizing on earrings only. People love the fact that she is always herself in any silhouette and does not have to pretend that she is a celebrity. No wonder how style comes easily to Kajol.

Sridevi

Sridevi has been an example for all Designers in India for the way she carries herself in a Saree. She oozes grace and elegance for which I call her ‘Timeless Beauty’.  As a child I remember seeing her in sizzling blue saree in Mr. India or in pastel colour sarees in ‘Chandni’. Even when she is not in her on-screen glamorous avatar I love her simple look in a Kanjeevaram Saree.  These days Sridevi has started experimenting with western wear  but i still feel she should wear more of Indian Outfits as it suits her tall frame. Designers like Queenie Dhodhy, Manish Malhotra and Neeta Lulla design their creations for her and she has graced many fashion week shows as a Show stopper.

Sonia Gandhi

Sonia Gandhi wears a crisp Khadi and silk sarees with such a refinement I have ever seen. She might be of Italian origin but Indian women can learn a thing or two about how to carry a saree in whatever situation you might be in. I love how she combines her saree with a winter coat and uses her saree pallu as a scarf around the collar making it quite a style statement. Even as she is maintaining her style she never loses her dignity and focus that she belongs to the most affluent ‘Gandhi’ family. While other celebrities go in for glamorous looks in saree Sonia has always opted for simple clean look making a unique style statement. Sonia Gandhi has made a mark for herself in the Indian Politics and was third in the Forbes ‘Most powerful woman in the world’  list.

Hema Malini

This ‘Dream Girl’ has been on the Bollywood scene for more than 40 years but she seems to grow more elegant with the passing years. She might be above 60 years but she can give today’s young actress a run for their money with her style. She was the reigning queen of Bollywood in the 60s and 70s. She made a comeback in bollywood again after a long break of more than 10 years.People loved her look created by Neeta Lulla in recent movies like ‘Baghban’ and ‘Baabul’. She played her age in the movie and has redefined the image of a ‘screen mother’ in Bollywood cinema. A trained Odissi dancer Hema Malini still performs on stage along with her two daughters. The fact I love about her is that she dresses up according to her age and never once worn anything revealing or shabby.  Give her a Saree made out of any fabric and she carries it magnificently. She is the ‘Original Diva’ which the Indian audience love, still remember and cannot get enough of.  I have seen her personally several times and asked for her autograph and was always awestruck by her beauty. If I were to ever age, I would love to be as dignified and graceful as Hema Malini.

Kirron Kher

Kirron Kher who is a very versatile actress is well-known in the Indian Social circle for her Saree Collection. She has said in one of her interviews “I love to wear only woven handloom silk and cotton sarees. While I buy my tusshars from the Weaver’s Studio in Kolkata and tangails from Kanishka, I buy silks and Kanjeevarams from L’Affaire in Delhi, India as the collections are larger, more beautiful and embroidered. In Chennai, I pick up my Kanjeevarams from Usha Ranganathan and from Sundari Silks owned by Rajaram who has good taste.” No wonder she gets that amazing look by going out-of-the-way to find the perfect Saree. I like the way Kirron is at ease when she is wearing a Saree and the Potli/Batua bags she wears matching with her Saree. She says that she has inherited her taste in Sarees and jewellery from her mother Late Diljit Thakar Singh. Well I must give the credit to her mother, for even at this age Kirron Kher rules the Saree collection among Indian Celebrities.

Rekha

Whenever I think of the beautiful ‘Kanjeevaram’, Rekha is the only celebrity that comes to my mind. This silk silhouette is carried with utmost grace by Rekha since I am seeing her on the red carpet. She adorns herself with classic, traditional jewellery along with beautiful clutch bags on a Kanjeevaram saree. It would be a fashionista’s dream come true if they ever get to go inside her wardrobe and check out her amazing saree collection………….that is one think I would give my tooth and nail for. One of our readers reminded us that Rekha should be included in this list and IFP couldn’t agree anymore.

Photo courtesy : Rediff India

Aamby Valley India Bridal Week – Day 4

Neeta gave the audience a glamorous double offering with the regal Hema Malini in a floor length white silk panelled kurta with a gorgeous lace dupatta walking down the ramp with her daughter, Eesha looking stunning in a full silver and crystal embroidered bridal creation.

Vintage and zardozi embroidery along with kundan beads and semi-precious stones glittered under the ramp lights. The beautiful collage of fabrics played with each other to create dazzling bridal wear. Luxurious brocades, delicate lace, yards of soft sensuous silk and textured nets were embroidered with amazing designs. Swarovski crystals gleamed under the catwalk lights; while the thread and pearl embellishments, added to the beauty of the pre-stitched saris, lehengas, cholis and ornate dupattas. The colour story was vibrant and festive to match the mood of the collection.

Moving into the pre-stitched creatively draped sari segment, Neeta’s imagination was extreme in its creativity as drapes and moulded net, chiffon, silk and georgette were presented as lehenga/sari combos or as lehenga/gown duos. Yokes hugged the hips of pleated saris and one shoulder blouses made dramatic entries. Sarong style saris were teamed with long sleeve backless cholis and hip high slits on pre-stitched draped lehenga/saris almost resembled costumes worn by Amrapali.

Finally for the bridal lehenga/choli/dupatta offering, Neeta created embroidery that almost looked like prints on fabrics as the craftsmanship was truly amazing.

The designer duo opened the show with the only male in the presentation – it was the handsome hunky Jacky Bhagnani in a sharply cut black and gold embroidered sherwani escorting the radiant and beautiful Rachel in a white net lehenga choli with a feathered edge dupatta with crystals and appliqués to highlight the creation.

Soon it was a veritable feast for the eyes as net saris worn over sexy side slit petticoats or heavily embroidered ones, six tiered anarkalis some with asymmetric hemlines were beautifully crafted. Reds and whites with hints of green and black were a colour story ideal for bridal wear. Halter cholis with tantalising tassels, sheer net flesh coloured floor length kurtas over layered lehengas, moulded silver sexy cholis, empire line tiered floor skimming kurtas and lehengas with heavily embellished bunches of flowers dazzled the audience.

Show stopper Sameera Reddy created a sensation in the gorgeous red ruffled layered net bridal gown with a crystal encrusted bodice, a deep scooped back and luxurious trail as she glided down the catwalk to the strains of the finale music.

Some of the eye-catchers was the feathered tasselled sari and the Chantilly lace appliqué asymmetric kurta; while the dusty grey net sari and embroidered petticoat worn by Parvati was a dream to behold. Long trails on lehengas added that old world charm to the Indian garments while the gleaming long sleeve gilets over flouncy skirts had a European feel.

The gorgeous jewellery worn by the models was by Vijay and Sandeep Golecha whose bridal creations were perfect accessories.

The Peacock Bride collection by Falguni and Shane Peacock was undoubtedly aimed at the New Age couple who longs for glamour combined with drama for the most important day of their life.

Courtesy : Tandem Communications

India International Jewellery Week [IIJW] – Day 2

Day 1 starts with so much of Hoo hala………….hope the same is continued till the end of the jewellery week……here is your look at which celebrity made their presence felt on day 2.

Zarine Khan walked as a show stopper for Johra Jewels wearing this magnificent diamond and ruby encrusted set. She did look pretty in this get up…………..

The ever so elegant Hema Malini also walked the ramp for the label ‘Scintillating’ but to my dismay I think she was dressed and styled in hurry……..plus the jewellery is so not in sync with the outfit…………..sigh.

If given a chance I would have styled Hema Malini in Kundan & jadau with that saree or with that jewellery would have picked up a saree in black or a brighter hue. The blue colour with golden detail simply makes the jewellery disappear.

‘Singham’ star Kajal Agarwal also joined the list of celebrities walking at IIJW………KAjal walked as show stopper for CVM Exports………I think she did look cute for a first timer on the runway.

 

Photo Courtesy : Daylife.com

How to dress in your 60s and beyond!!

In a party where there are plenty of women in their 20s and 30s looking gorgeous in their designer outfits, only one woman wearing an elegant beige colour sequin embroidered Saree with minimal make-up on her face, a strand of white pearls combined with a beige colour shoe manages to gather admiration from me as well as the crowd…………..that is the power of a wise woman in her 60s………..she can still give the young pretty ladies a run for their money when it comes to style.

Somehow after doing a ‘Google’ search on Indian celebrities in their 50s and 60s I could hardly find a handful of celebrities of this age……………..are we biased only preferring the young pretty ladies, forgetting the women who was also a style icon in the earlier years………………. honestly I am yet to find a Meryl Streep or Barbra Streisand of India………….but I do admire few celebrities as seen in the picture gallery below,  since they have stood through decades with their timeless style.

Comfort is essential part for a woman in her 60s, hence many prefer wearing Salwar Kameez, Saree and Trousers with small heel or flats. Draping a stole around your neck or on the shoulder is another style I adore so have loads of them in your wardrobe………….colour choices can vary from neutrals to earthy tones to any colour that suits your skin tone. Baby pinks, beige and off-white colour are my favourite for woman of this age group. Diamonds might be a woman’s best friend but pearls work best for a woman in her 60s. I also like the style of Maharani Padmini Devi of Jaipur and Sharmila Tagore for wearing kundan jewellery with Sarees……………sheer grace when I look at them. At this age the simpler a woman dresses, the better are the results. Now by being simple I do not mean to go with out any glitter…………….add the shimmer factor but make sure it is not all over your outfit or jewellery. Salwar Kameez can be worn in any shades since this outfit is the easiest to carry off plus we Indians are lover of bright shades.

Go by your gut feeling when you want to buy an outfit for yourself…………no stylist is needed here. Have a bag for day wear, a clutch for night time  and a potli bag with your saree. Shoes can be mules, kitten heels, flats or our very own kolhapuri chappal………….designer or not, it does not matter but avoid too high heels. My personal favourtie are Charles & Keith’s collection for daywear/nightwear plus their shoes are so comfortable. The biggest advantage of being in your 60s is that whatever you wear you have been the trendsetter for ages. So go ahead and just be yourself lady.