Favourite Recent Looks from Kareena Kapoor

Kareena Kapoor is usually on trend and stylishly dressed. So I thought I would pick out some styles from the actress that are uber stylish and look so good!

This is from one of her recent appearances for an event in Calcutta (Kolkata). She is wearing a very stylish 2 piece outfit. The top is a tunic that also has a cape style top part and the bottoms are either a skirt of relaxed fitted pants.

The embroidery on the cape is very trademark of the designer - in golden zardosi on a black base fabric. Does the mommy to be not look stunning?

At another recent appearance, Kareena wore a very stylish long olive coloured Tunic. Why do I like this? because it is simple and she kept the look so stylish. She just added a necklace and a clutch to complete the look. I am not sure of the designer.

I am starting to appreciate maternity fashion a little more, and am thinking that it can be done very stylishly if one looks at the inspirations from Kareena. I can honestly say, rock on girl!

Famous Indian designer duo Abu Jani and Sandeep Khosla to Unveil Lakme Fashion Week!

Get set for another fashion odyssey as Lakme Fashion week winter-festive 2015 is about to begin on 26 August 2015. The show will be held at the Hotel Palladium. Lakme Fashion week completes its 15 years of running this year. And to celebrate this grand moment, none other than renowned designer duo Abu Jani and Sandeep Khosla are all set to open the show. 

Abu and Sandeep make a fantastic designer duo and have earned recognition for their outstanding work. This pair has dedicated their 20 years to the fashion industry and has emerged as the unconquered kings of the fashion fraternity.

Together as a team, they have worked their magic wand and have created masterpieces. No wonder why every celebrity loves to wear their designs! Apart from Bollywood biggies, international icons such as Freida Pinto, Maggie Smith and Judi Dench are also big fans of their striking designs.

Their forte lies in bringing the best of both worlds by combining old world charm in terms of craftsmanship with the contemporary designs. They have revolutionised and reinvented the famous embroidery works like zardozi, mirror-work and chikankari and gave a personal touch to these age-old works of art. Also, their love for embellishments is very much prevalent from their lavish and royal bridal wear collections.

Along with the revival of traditional embroideries, this famous Indian designer duo has also restored Indian textile and fabrics. They believe in keeping the old tradition alive and introduce it in the modern-day designs. Being the veteran designers, they have been an indispensable part of many fashion shows and have wowed the audience every time with their spectacular creations.

This year too they are going to repeat the history by showcasing their youthful collection as they open Lakme fashion week winter festive 2015. They have dedicated this yet- to- unfold collection to the free-spirited present- day women.

In a joint statement the duo said, "We are absolutely thrilled to be back at Lakmé Fashion Week to open the upcoming celebratory season. This platform brings back many cherished memories for the both of us. Expect a befitting opening act, this season, as we reinvent the traditional to present an exciting, fresh take on fashion deemed fit for the youthful, modern day diva celebrating her harmonious, republican spirit,”.

I’m sure the upcoming five-day extravaganza will sweep you off your feet and why not when its Abu Jani and Sandeep Khosla are doing the opening act!

Who Makes to our List of Top 10 Indian Designers?

Indian fashion industry has made its presence felt globally. Fashion connoisseurs across the planet take cue from India’s rich cultural heritage and fashion forwardness.

The entire credit of taking Indian fashion to every nook and corner of the world goes to our very talented Indian fashion designers. Their belief and intense understanding of Indian textiles, fabrics and rich embroideries has let them carve their niche in the world of fashion.

Though there are many ace couturiers whose contributions are commendable, but we have jot down the few names who we believe are the top 10 Indian designers.

Ritu Kumar
This is one name that needs no introduction.  She is a diva and a true fashionista. Her designs are impeccable and her sense of fashion is beyond comparison. Known for her deep knowledge of traditional craftsmanship and vintage embroideries, she is the fountainhead of ‘boutique’ culture in India.  Her designs are a hit among both commoners and celebrities alike. She has many accolades in her kitty including prestigious Padma Shri Award.  Ritu Kumar indeed gets the top slot in our list of top 10 Indian designers.

JJ Valaya
This man from the royal state of Rajasthan is next on our list of top 10 Indian designers. JJ Valaya is one of the nation’s most celebrated designers. Calling him the fashion revivalist won’t be an exaggeration. Valaya, knows his art like no other. His forte lies in fusion clothing with the perfect blend of modern haute couture and age-old craftsmanship. His work speaks for him and his designs are on every fashion lover’s wish list.  Being one of the founding members of FDCI, JJ Valaya has seen fashion industry grow from an infant stage to the full bloom in his 20 years of dedicated career as a fashion designer.

Manish Malhotra
Manish Malhotra is undoubtedly the most loved designer among Bollywood actors. He has prettified bigwigs of film fraternity with his out of the world designs. This phenomenal designer has made his mark among the top-notch designers in India.  His larger-than-life creations ooze glamour and sophistication. Every girl dreams to wear a bridal lehenga designed by Manish.  His fashion career rose to the peak when he designed clothes for none other than the renowned pop icon, Michael Jackson on his tour to India. The singer was so impressed with Manish’s creations that he asked him to design for his other tours as well. That is why we proudly put the king of fashion on the third place in our list of top 10 Indian designers.

Sabyasachi Mukherjee
Sabyasachi has emerged as the rising star in the design circle. He is one humble man from Kolkata who let his designs do all the talking. His love for ancient Indian embroideries, embellishments, antique jewellery and vintage textile brings the old world charm in his designs. He has an eye for fine detailing and his forte lies in bridal and trousseau collection. He likes to blend the rich Indian culture with contemporary silhouettes. His originality and uniqueness has let him earn the title of being the only designer from India to present his collection at the prestigious Milan Fashion Week. No wonder, why he makes to our list of top 10 Indian designers.

Rohit Bal
Rohit Bal justifies the title ‘India’s Master of fabric and fantasy’ given to him by the Time Magazine.  He has redefined Indian fashion and has taken it to the international level.  His clientele includes who’s who of Bollywood, Hollywood, media and big corporate houses who respect and appreciate his signature style of strong aesthetics combined with the sheer attention on fine details. The designer is blessed to have the access to the best material and talent in the industry.  His approach towards fashion is ecstatic and exquisite which is prevalent from his impromptu dance performances at the end of every collection he showcases at fashion weeks. So, without him, our list of top 10 Indian designers is incomplete.

Abu Jani and Sandeep Khosla
Abu Jani and Sandeep Khosla make the awesome twosome designer duo. Together they create nothing but history with their designs. Their profound understanding of Indian fashion has let them make their noticeable place in the fashion circuit. Their sense of styling is both individualistic and complimentary at the same time. This designer duo has earned recognition especially for their ethnic wear. We would happily place them at the sixth position among the top 10 Indian designers.

Tarun Tahiliani
He lives fashion, he breathes fashion. After completing, his graduation in fashion from New York, Tarun Tahiliani realized the huge potential for designer wear in India. Keeping this in mind, he worked hard to revolutionize the Indian fashion industry as a whole.  Now he is a proud owner of multiple flagship stores across the cities. His creations are unconventional and way beyond the obvious.  So, without another thought we include him in our list of top 10 Indian designers.

Masaba Gupta
She is the reigning queen of prints. No one understands the impact of prints better than her. She is like the whiff of fresh air as she introduced quirky prints and flowy silhouettes when everyone else was revolving around the embroideries. Her designs are young, fresh and vibrant and are liked by people of all age groups. Her USP is quirkiness and she holds the title of being the youngest designer to open the Wills Lifestyle India Fashion Week in year 2010. Do we need to say more why she makes to our list of top 10 Indian designers?

Wendell Rodricks
He is a man who dons many hats as he is not just a premier fashion designer but also a fashion journalist and trainer. His key to fashion is chic minimalism and he believes in philosophy that simplicity is the highest form of sophistication.  His love for white color is prevalent in his collections. Being from the beautiful state of Goa, he promotes local Goan artists and craftsmen by organizing exhibitions and fashion shows. Wendell Rodricks is on number nine on our list of top 10 Indian designers.

Manish Arora
Last but certainly not the least; we conclude our list of top 10 Indian designers with Manish Arora.  He is an acclaimed Indian designer whose designs are handcrafted to perfection.  His collections are high on lively colors that give him an edge over the others. Apart from designing clothes, he has keen interest in cosmetics as he collaborated with the international cosmetic line Mac to bring a new range of lip glosses and eye palettes with bright yellows and candy pinks.

Image Source: www.mid-day.com, www.snipview.com, www.whizsky.com, www.indianexpress.com, www.womenfashioninfo.co.in, www.glamcheck.com, www.zimbio.com, www.theamazingmodels.com, www.kashmirobserver.net

An artistic show for contemporary Indian textiles at Devi Art Foundation

For those who often attend of Indian Fashion weeks, you will probably be aware of the phrase "reviving ancient Indian textiles". Meanwhile, a Baluchari bustier or a Kimkhab sari dress being showcased on the runway may seem a slightly futuristic and non-traditional in comparison. Nowadays, we are now seeing ancient crafts being fused into the contemporary 21st century through radial and unique ideas.

Mayank Mansingh Kaul, Sanjay Garg and Rahul Jain have recently organised talks at Devi Art Foundation, Gurgaon about Fracture – Indian textiles,  showing a wide range of hand-made Indian textiles that have been introduced in a modern context.

The Devi Art Foundation showcased a variety of items such as a series of Indian clothes and silk thread cloths presented as a futuristic sculpture in 3D. All of these works have been part of a project that gathers together a plethora of hand made Indian textiles from across India.

“Though, in India, textiles are such a visible concept, there are no museum quality masterpieces” said Mayank Kaul, all these textiles were ordered between 2000 and 2014. “We wanted to discuss and deliberate what contemporary means in textiles today and what it means to break away from tradition” he completes. 

Here is a variety of creations that are exhibited in the show:

Fashion designer Rimzim Dadu, chose to use another original material such as silicon rubber sheets shredded to thin yarn which he displayed as a given the length of a sari. This textile piece showcases a stunning pattern that looks like the Jamdani weave. The material is graceful and light as a feather, and the stretched yarn brings an undulating pattern.

To represent earthly silhouettes, Shaikh Mohammad Hussain used block print on cotton to illustrate nine concentric spheres. We can see the work of two different views, nearly every sphere differs in pattern. When observed from a distance, it just looks like a repetition of sphere, all thisis  to remember the diversity of these textiles and patterns.

Astha Butail created 'Yoking of the Felicity', this installation takes inspiration from the Rigveda, where cloth has great importance. The artist constructed the piece in a contemporary way, by changing a simple product into a three-dimensional format, crafted from the loom itself.

Top 2015 Tips and Trends for Indian Beach Weddings

Beach weddings are becoming more and more popular, and we can definitely understand why! A light fashion filled suitcase, tanning necessities, and flowers in your hair, what more could you want! But it’s not always that simple, with a number of beach events it’s hard to know what bridal Indian wear to select to suit both the event and the destination.

Here are our top 2015 tips and beach wedding trends:

What to wear to the beach:

Swimsuits are a must for a beach wedding, and 2015 is all about going all-out with your swimwear choices! Think Fringing, bright prints and sexy cut outs. If you are not completely comfortable bearing all in a minimal swimsuit, team with a flowing kaftan or light jacket for the perfect layering technique.

Further to the cover-ups, kaftans and floaty jumpsuits in bright and sunny tones make for a perfect combo when it comes to beach wear. Go for simple prints or all block colours so not to over-power your outfit.

What to wear to the cocktail wedding party:

This can be tricky, as you want to dress to impress but also want something that is both easy and comfortable to wear. Go for sheer materials or glamorous sparkles and you are sure to stand out. Opt for a mid or full-length outfit for a classy and glamorous look.

What to wear to the brunch:

The day after you may be dealing with a bit of a sore head, but if you dress to impress no one will know! Opt for soft  cheerful colours and floaty styles– the loose maxi dress is coming back for 2015 and creates an effortlessly elegant look!

Now here’s the tricky bit, what Indian bridal wear to choose for the wedding:

For the bride: Opt for fresher and brighter tones than a traditional Indian bridal wear colour palette which normally comprise of deep burgundy, gold’s, and dark greens, and go for sunny hues such as yellow and bright reds. Opt for subtle and pretty embellishments to stay perfectly in synch with the beautiful and chilled landscape.

For the friends of the bride: Opt for more contemporary Indian bridal wear like classy palazzo pants with pretty tunics, simple and subtle full skirted lehengas teamed crop tops, elegant and light gowns and sheer saris in bright colours, for elegant and comfortable looks. Add fun and quirky turbans and fresh flowers to your hair for that exotic beach look!

Sources: Vogue India

The Multiple Facets of Jewellery Adornment

In Sanskrit, the word for jewellery is ‘aabharan’ that means to admire and protect. Jewellery is thus believed to be worn to take care of and protect our body and sensibilities of mental and physical well-being.

Adorning ourselves in beautiful jewellery and accessories is meant to enhance our beauty and aesthetic appeal. History reveals that, in ancient times doctors would recommend an amulet that can be worn to guard the body from diseases.

Today, magnetic belts are commonly worn to increase the circulation of blood to specific body parts that can help these parts heal.

Gold and many semi- precious stones are considered auspicious and are believed to be tokens of wellness. Adornment does not always need to be elaborate, flamboyant or expensive. Adornment can also be simple. Adornment occurs in tribal areas, in the mountains and in villages where even though the lifestyle is simple, people still consider wearing jewellery significant.

Design characteristics and embellishments are commonly found in all parts of nature and design draws inspiration from this using plants and animals to create stunning jewellery designs that are be used as forms of adornment. We can see adornment and design all around us. For example in the stripes of a zebra, peacock feathers, swans eyes, butterfly wings etc. and all of these designs help us in our design sensibilities.

While adornment has always been an important factor in design with multiple meanings and uses, teamed with comfort, it acts as a personal expression of ourselves.

Have a look at other pieces of Indian jewellery!

Latest Indian Fashion Trend Predictions for 2015

We’re now in 2015 and are soon to be entering the crazy fashion season which includes hundreds of shows across a number of cities, showcasing an influx of new fashion ideas and trends. This can be slightly overwhelming in the fast pace of the fashion world, especially within the ever-evolving Indian fashion sector. But don’t panic, we’re here to help!

This year will bring a huge variety of new and exciting Indian trends that can be worked into almost everyone's wardrobe, whether you are looking for a casual day outfit or stand-out evening attire. Here are our top 4 trend predictions for this year,

Colour Blocking

2014 saw an influx of neutral tones and toned down hues swarm the runways and high streets, but colour seems to slowly creeping back into the limelight. The colour-blocking trend is one that has come and gone many times, but this year we’re seeing it come back with a point of different to keep up with the latest Indian trends; layering! By layering up contrasting colours it creates bold and stylish look that can be worn in variety of ways to suit peoples personal styles.

Feminine Sheers

Sheer has also been a popular trend in the past but this year we’re seeing it take a feminine turn. In the past the sheer trend is been somewhat edgy in it’s aesthetic, but this new sheer trend takes on a feminine embodiment in the form of stylish evening dresses and gowns. This trend can be worn as a daring skin bearing look or teamed with other garments such as underskirts as a classy layering technique.

Gold Embellishment

Black is a trend which will never go out of fashion, and what better way to embrace it than with a stylish gold embellishment. 2014 was the year of bold and basic trends with minimum detail, but 2015 is always seeing an influx of pattern and embellishment. Black and gold are definitely the colours of choice within the latest Indian trends for 2015; a match made in heaven!

Fringing

Tassels and fringing is a trend that has been on and off for a while now, but mainly within festival fashion. The 2015 trend is all about dressing up the fringing look; think evening gowns and girly dresses. Bright colours are also a key part of this trend, forget the natural brown and nude tones of 2014, and go for bright and bold hues for a quirky and stylish look!

Want to see other designs from Indian fashion?

Best Dressed Celebrities from the Filmfare Awards 2015 in India

The most anticipated and loved award show of the season has now taken place, as well as eagerly predicting the winners, there was one thing we couldn’t help but look at; what the Bollywood ladies were wearing! Most went for formal Indian designer wear or gowns for the special occasion, while some went for more unique outfit options.

Everybody at the event looked fabulous, but here is our best dressed list from the event:

Sonam Kapoor has to be the star of the show for us, she looked amazing in in this gorgeous Indian designer wear which included a slinky beige two piece with a lace embroidered bralet and silky skirt. Her outfit was perfectly complete teamed with a matching sheer cape and layered up statement gold jewellery, just beautiful!

Illeana D’cruz was another favourite of ours in this simple and classy black tailored number with a flattering plunge neck and feminine cape. The whole outfit was bought together perfectly with a simple gold belt and subtle up do.

Deepika Padukone stood out to us as usual with this stunning white gown with a unique waterfall silhouette, lace embroidered body and simple white heels. She teamed the look with a classic up-do and dark lip, a perfect combo!

Shraddha Kapoor looked gorgeous in elegant and feminine Indian designer wear in shimmery tones of gold and nude. She teamed the fabulous gown with neutral make-up and soft wavy locks, a match made in heaven.

Last but not least, Sophie Choudry was a favourite of ours in this opulent and elegant gown with a faltering strapless silhouette and detailed gold embroidery, simple but stylish!

More interested in Male Celebrity style?

Sources: Rediff

Valentines Gift Ideas from Strand of Silk

Valentines day is drawing nearer, and weather you hate it or love it; it’s hard to escape it! With an influx of Valentines Day gifts swarming shop front displays, TV adverts and magazines, it’s hard to know where to look or what to select.

We are here to make it a little easier for you! We have selected our top 3 Valentines Gift ideas and Indian Accessories sure to put a smile on that special someone’s face.

First is this stunning clutch bag by Meera Mahadevia. This exquisite clutch bag in gold polish is the perfect and luxury gift for a special occasion such as Valentines Day. It features a maroon velvet base ornamented with gorgeous metal flowers at the front lower half. The dazzling big semi-precious embellished stones make it all the more striking and desirable for that special someone. This versatile and easy to combine shape is ideal for those days that require something really special.

A Meera Mahadevia clutch bag is exquisitely detailed with a variety of semi-precious stones to create luxury fashion forward Indian accessories. Hand-made to the last detail, no two bags are identical though each enjoys a life-long after sales service. She designs luxury clutches for Bollywood actresses to famous celebrities.

Second is this stunning Diagold ring, which is a playful take on fine jewellery with a distinct message and look. This Diamond and Ruby Encrusted Bird brings with it a Pear Cut Emerald for an awe-striking effect. Indian Designer Varda Geonka's 'Bird' ring is intricately crafted from 18-karat Gold and plated white for added brilliance. This signature piece will make a love-forever precious investment for that lucky lady.

The Diagold Designer collection by Varda Geonka offers fine and intricate Indian accessories created with passion for creation. Known for it's trendy designs, quality products and exemplary service. Each stunning piece undergoes the 4C's test: 'Cut, Clarity, Carat, Colour' with each stone cut with precision to create stunning master pieces.

Last but not least are these pretty circular dangling earrings by Roopa Vohra, in a stunning hoop design encrusted with five sparkling white stones. It also features a teardrop shaped striking red semi-precious stone with five golden chain danglers. This charming feminine style will make the perfect pretty gift for Valentines Day.

Roopa Vohra is a Mumbai based Jewellery designer who creates contemporary and stylish Indian accessories. Her trademark styles incorporate traditional Indian crafts like Thewa and Kundan into her contemporary styles. Her collections include a range of Necklaces, Bracelets, Cuffs and Earrings in sterling silver plated with 22 kt Gold.

See also other Indian Designers creations!