Lakme Fashion Week Winter Festive 2013: Day One Round Up

This year's chapter of this annual event kicked off with Manish Malhotra's show called Reflections that comprised of pre-bridal and festive ensembles at Grand Hyatt, Mumbai. Surprisingly demure, the ensembles were non-fussy and stylishly classy in a palette ranging from champagnes to tans to pruces and wines. 

Manish Malhotra, Lakme Fashion Week Winter-Festive 2013

Rajasthani and Kutchi inspirations were imbibed through mirror-work, colour blocking and native fabrics in silhouettes ranging from Indo-Westerns to the newly derived 'ghagra-pants'. And I sort of feel, this collection is truly an extension of his PCJ ensembles, presented within a more subtle aura -- especially through combining absolutely astute upper garments with full skirted bottoms.

Manish Malhotra, Lakme Fashion Week Winter-Festive 2013

Then we had Ranna Gill present a resort-oriented collection in a palette of white and brights. Always been a fan of sheer skirts and I loved the two ensembles shown below.

Ranna Gill, Lakme Fashion Week Winter-Festive 2013

Jatin Varma presented an array of sculptural gowns in monotones of red, blue and purple.

Jatin Varma, Lakme Fashion Week Winter-Festive 2013

Payal Singhal played with opposites to create an abject, contrasting balance.

Payal Singhal, Lakme Fashion Week Winter-Festive 2013

I am totally lusting after these super elegant Anita Dongre lehengas. Love the geometric influence on the embellishment motifs!

Anita Dongre, Lakme Fashion Week Winter-Festive 2013

Nikhil Thampi also played with black and gold contrasts in saris, backless gowns, and key-piece pairings.

Nikhil Thampi, Lakme Fashion Week Winter-Festive 2013

Nishka Lulla presented a collection that was almost bling free, bringing in a range of metallic fabrics paired against muted ones, and a selection of floral prints.

Nishka Lulla, Lakme Fashion Week Winter-Festive 2013

Priyadarshini Rao incorporated multiple fabrics into her collection to create ensembles with a very layered demeanor. What do you guys think?

Priyadarshini Rao, Lakme Fashion Week Winter-Festive 2013

The exaggerated shoulder was presented in full glory by Shilpa Reddy, that too in ethnic wear!

Shilpa Reddy, Lakme Fashion Week Winter-Festive 2013

Vijay Balhara's ensembles did not deviate even a tad from simple chic!

Vijay Balhara, Lakme Fashion Week Winter-Festive 2013

And finally, here's some new sari lovin' courtesy Debarun!

Debarun, Lakme Fashion Week Winter-Festive 2013

Lady Gaga's Looks From Her Latest Video APPLAUSE!!

I Live For The Applause Applause Applause; I can't stop singing this song! Being a huge Lady Gaga fan, I was just dying for her new video for her single Applause to release. And when it was finally released I sure as hell wasn't disappointed. In fact, I think it's one of the best videos I've seen (Bad Romance now is second best!). Lady Gaga is such an enfant terrible and can pull that attitude off in a way very few can. Even with regards to her crazy dress sense, GAGA can look fabulous wearing anything, that includes the meat dress. Her videos are so theatrical and ALWAYS include avant-garde clothing which is a treat for anyone who LOVES fashion. I almost always go online and check out fashion credits to find out who she wore! Lets face it guys, no one can wear those Lee McQueen armadillo heels or a crazy Garteh Pugh outfit better than her.

Anyways back to her latest video for her single Applause, well it’s no surprises that it included OTT make up, couture clothes, an element of DIY in some of the outfits and a crazy GAGA writhing away on the floor! You can watch the video below and then scroll down to see each look deconstructed.

Here are some the looks and the designers behind these creations in no particular order.

Here she's seen wearing a Mila Schon Fall 2013 Catsuit with bell sleeves paired with wings made out of broken umbrella spokes by Junker Designs.

Mila Schon Fall 2013

For the next look, she's wearing a bra from Pretty Wild Lingerie,Valentino Fall 2013 Couture lace shorts paired with Azzedine Alaia ankle boots.

Lady Gaga Applause

Valentino Fall 2013 Couture

In the following image, she's wearing a Mila Schon catsuit with a custom  made Gareth Pugh silk gown billowing around her.

This mad hatter look is my absolute favorite with her in a Maison Martin Margiela Fall 2013 couture jacket. This particular jacket was an abstract reinterpretation of The Bust Of Frederick Chopin by the couture house and was embellished with marble cabochons in black, white and green and took 93 hours to create.  The look was complete with a mirror and safety-pin bodysuit; a creation by her sister Natali Germanotta.

Maison Martin Margiela Fall 2013 Couture

No one can pull off surrealist and avantgarde clothing better than Lady Gaga. The following image consists of Lady Gaga in a bra, undies and a choker in the shape of a glove by Jean-Charles de Castelbajac. 

Jean-Charles de Castelbajac Fall 2011

This custom made skeleton like Olivier Theyskens corset and skirt is just so cool! (Boots are by Pleaser)

For the DIY element, Perry Meek from Haus of Gaga creates a clam-shell bikini and uses glue and fresh flowers as embellishments. This look was inspired by Botticelli's painting, The Birth of Venus.

The final dress included digging into the archives of John Galliano. This gorgeous gown was was from his Fall 2009 collection inspired by Russian-Balkan folklore. Of course they didn't just use the dress alone, designer Mathieu Mirano created a harness made out of burnt duct tape, safety-pins and crystals. This extremely unique piece was inspired by World War I courtesan Mata Hari. P.S he's the genius behind the paper dress Lady Gaga wore at Good Morning America to promote the video. Also seen in this look is the Damien necklace by Halaby worn as a headpiece from the brand's FW 13 collection.

John Galliano Fall 2009

The harness which was originally created to be worn as bras

The Halaby Damien necklace

The closing of the video featured Gaga in a bejeweled mask by House of Lavande.

Tassel Earrings Fancy with Desi Houses

I have always been a huge fan of anything to do with tassels and fringes -- whether they be on accessories or those darling flapper era dresses. And while I was browsing through Pernia's Pop Up shop I was pleasantly surprised to see some desi pieces that I actually liked! I only wish all of them had been long enough to be shoulder-dusters, a.k.a Edie Sedgwick style.

Trending -- Tassel earrings at Pernia's Pop Up Shop

My first pick is this pair by Manish Arora for Amrapali. Crafted in 18-k gold and accentuated by a non-traditional enamel detailing, these earrings indeed do shimmy on your shoulders.

This  pair by Zariin is plated in 18-k gold and has pyramid motifs highlighted with citrines. These too caress your shoulders very stylishly.

Called Sky Diva, the pair in the centre by Isharya would look gorgeous paired with plain Indo-Westerns. Gold-plated and crafted out of fresh-water pearls and turquoise beads, I am loving the heavy fringe on these.

These Parker tassel earrings from the Outhouse feature a fabric lace detailing and coral beads giving way to an industrial fringe. Very Mawi do you think? I love them still!

Silken thread tassel earrings from Valliyan by Nitya feature Swarovski accents. I love the popping bubble gum pink shade and can totally imagine pairing them with sexy contrasts!

PCJ Couture Week: The Indian Peplum Brigade

As passe as one might consider peplums, the recently concluded PCJ Couture Week in New Delhi was replete with major style variations of this element. Redefined with the usual extravagance associated with what one might call couture in the country, designers incorporated it into Indian wear even.

Ritu Beri exaggerated the peplum silhouettes and how in a collection called Punjabi Rock' and Roll. In times when master crafters are moving away from excesses on to more structured and astute high fashion, do you think this collection that seems like a menagerie of too many things sits well? Then again, ain't Punjab always about a bit of extravagance :D? Christian Dior 2008 anyone?

Ritu Beri peplum styles, PCJ Couture Week, New Delhi 2013

In a collection worked around the headiness of opium in tones of champagne and gold, the Sabyasachi peplums were kept plain complimenting the beauty of the rest.

Sabyasachi peplum styles, PCJ Couture Week 2013, New Delhi

Then we had Varun Bahl who did a classy version, Anamika Khanna who brought out a rustic ivory demeanour, and Manish Arora who funked it up!

Peplums, PCJ Couture Week 2013, New Delhi

Style Tips by Ines de la Fressange

When you see Parisians, they exude an air of “je ne sais quoi” as they’re out and about. Dressed up or dressed down, they have this nonchalant attitude paired with an effortless chic style which is envied by most. Whenever you see the streetstyle photos outside the Paris shows, it’s like WOW, how do they do it? Do they spend ages getting dressed, do they have stylists dictating what to wear, how do they do it?

So, a little while ago, as I was browsing some fashion related books online, I came across Parisian Chic, a book by long time model and a former Chanel muse, Ines de la Fressange which is a guide to the ultra-chic Parisian lifestyle (it came out in 2011, sadly I only recently discovered it). Of course without batting an eyelid, I clicked “add to cart” on Flipkart and I am currently blogging about it.

my very own Parisian Chic

the gorgeous Ines 

The Parisian culture isn’t simply about dressing up, it’s an entire lifestyle and that’s what this guide is all about. From style & beauty tips, to where to shop (luxury, vintage and everything in between), dine and even how to decorate your home (Parisian style of course!) this book is truly Parisian. Its not one of those boring books which simply go on and on about what to wear with what and what not to wear which after a certain point you’re so bored of you never want to see it again. This book on the other hand is far from boring; chirpy language paired with fun pictures of her daughter and Ines’s illustrations, it’s a fantastic guide for all those who want to attain the Parisian style.  Oh by the way, it even has a little section for notes at the end of the book. Sigh, J’adore.

Here are some tips by the woman who is the epitome of Parisian chic.

Logos and bling are despised by a true Parisian and they never like to look rich( I wish people in Delhi would grasp this concept!). Choose brands that provide good taste and quality.

The Parisian wardrobe is a mix of cheap and chic buys. So the next time you decide to pair that Hermes scarf with a monogrammed designer bag and in your face Louis Vuitton shoes and a belt, think. Think very long and hard.

Try and discover new labels, there are plenty of new designers around. In our case, check out Hauz Khas village as there are a lot of funky new designers there.

Keep abreast of all the trends but don’t blindly follow them. For example, colored jeans have been the rage here the last few seasons, I’ve seen girls with thighs on the heavier side wear them and it doesn’t look good.

You're better off buying a genuine straw bag than a fake designer bag. I couldn't agree more with this tip. It's okay if you can't splurge on a designer bag, there are so many non-branded stylish bags out there. NEVER buy counterfeit bags because trust me, because people can tell. And once you become "the girl with the fake bags" no one will believe you even if you have a real one! BTW, I know a few who parade around with their fake Louis Vuittons in Delhi thinking no one notices, too bad for them everyone knows everything they wear is 100% fake.

For an offbeat look:

Wear a diamond necklace with a denim shirt instead of a black dress.

Pair a pearl necklace with a rock’n’roll t-shirt (I cant wait to try this one out) and not a shift dress.

A chiffon print dress with biker boots.

Tuxedo jacket with sneakers (I recently saw a picture of Leandra Medine wearing a similar combination, its DEADLY!)

An evening dress with a straw handbag and not a gold clutch (trust me, in Delhi, people will LOOK, and then copy you).

For an effortless chic look:

Pair an old denim blazer with a silk shirt (I’ve done it and it’s FAB).

Wear two scarves, one on top of the other.

Wear a black velvet riding jacket a few sizes too small (just make sure you don’t rip the jacket whilst trying to put it on!)

One BOLD accessory with your ultra-simple silhouette.

power blogger Leandra Medine in a masculine jacket and converse shoes

Ines’s magnificent 7 wardrobe essentials:

Add caption

The blazer

The trenchcoat – DON’T buckle the belt, tie it in the front or behind with the buckle hanging loose and also DON’T wear it with a long skirt.

The navy sweater (in CASHMERE of course!). Pair with white jeans, high heels and a leather jacket et voila.

The tank top – keep it simple, don’t go for prints or loud colors, just black, gray, white, navy or khaki.

The little black dress

The perfect jeans – ill fitted jeans are just not a pleasant sight, keep hunting for days, weeks, months till you find that perfect pair even if you have to pay a little extra for them. Keep a pair of classic straight cuts as they never go out of style and get 3 colors, black, blue and white

The leather jacket – pair it with a chiffon dress or even with a string of pearls for an offbeat look.

her stunning daughter Nine in a cashmere sweater

Major fashion faux pas!

Bras with transparent plastic straps – I’ve see this happen in Delhi a lot. Ladies, just go to Marks & Spencer and simply pick up a well fitted strapless bra. Transparent straps are just plain ugly!

Never wear a necklace and earrings at the same time. The worst is looking like an ornamental Christmas tree when people wear necklace, earrings, watch, bracelet and numerous rings all at once. Owwww, my eyes, my eyes!!!

Chipped nail polish – this one’s my personal tip. I’ve often seen women neglect their nails and walk around comfortably with chipped nail paint on their hands and feet and its not attractive. It takes all of two minutes to take it off, so be a dear and do it please!

Hair scrunchies – choose a small almost invisible hair tie to tie your hair.

Leopard -skin dresses with plunging necklines – I’ve seen this at nightclubs here when leopard prints were the rage in Delhi.

Fishnet t-shirts – YUCK!

Shirts that are too tight .

Ines with a Roger Vivier bag and shoes

These are only snippets of small yet powerful tips to incorporate into your daily style files that can go a long way. If you want to know more click here to order it from Flipkart. They also have a Parisian Chic daily planner available. C'est vraiment chic!

Cleaning Out My Closet

Phewf, what a day! In case you’re wondering why I’m wiping the sweat off my forehead, its because today I chose to clean my closet and finally unpack. The husband and I have been on the move for almost 6 months now, so I decided why even bother unpacking since we are to leave Delhi again in two weeks. Then I opened my closet and the answer was right there. Half my stuff was in my suit case, half my clothes were rolled up in a ball inside my closet, the rest of it was distributed in the guest room wardrobes and even the tack room (aka a store converted to keep all the equestrian stuff which includes a gazillion riding boots, helmets, whips and all sorts of other horsey stuff).

Cleaning your closet is really a harrowing task filled with a lot of labor work, and all sorts of emotions.

Yeah Yeah you must be thinking what on earth does spring cleaning have to do with labor work? Well, imagine a million different silk shirts and delicate dresses all rolled up and crushed, what do you then? Enter my lean mean steam ironing machine! I took each and every one of my silk garments and steam ironed them myself and hung them inside the way they’re supposed to be. Its no wonder I’m always complaining my silk shirts are getting ruined. What did I expect if I toss them so carelessly inside. Another tedious task is when you have to sit and fold each and every one of those tops that cant be hung inside due to lack of space in all your closets combined.  Now you see what I mean by labor work?

Only halfway through the mission!

In terms of emotions, well there are plenty. Overwhelming guilt when you discover all those expensive clothes and shoes you bought and wore them only once or not at all. Then there’s glee when you find one of your favorite dresses that you thought you had lost only to discover it in the junkyard of a closet you have. Finally there’s despair and sadness when you realize those 4 year old Gucci Britt flats that are completely worn out ABSOLUTELY need to be thrown out (I have 3 pairs so you can imagine the grief). Your closet can either be a treasure cove or a junkyard. In my case it was a junkyard.

How cute are my padded hangers?!

Can you see how pink, coral and orange dominate this closet?

So amongst my discoveries was a pair of Agent Provocateur silk pj set that I bought for my honeymoon and forgot about post honeymoon. This discovery was the one that made me happy, of course so did the 3 year old Lacoste tennis dress I love that I found hidden somewhere in there. The following discoveries are the ones that made me feel guilty! Next up was this gorgeous dove grey silk Halston Heritage top circa 2012 (my best friend and I bought the same one) and I wore it only once for like two hours. Then there was this lovely stiff silk top from Max & Co. which I didn't even wear once as was the case with these sky high Brian Atwood heels I purchased online. Okay I didn't realize how high they were and it’s not my fault if all my life I've been wearing size 37 shoes and this particular size 37 seemed just way too big despite adding an insole!

My Halston Heritage Silk Top

My Agent Provocateur PJ's

My favorite Max & Co. top which I've never worn :(

Finally, there was a pair of Giuseppe Zanotti heels which I bought out of pure greed and wore them probably twice (btw I saw the same pair in a yellow in a Vogue issue). Let me tell you something folks, if there were shoes that were pure EVIL, these Zanottis would be it. At a glance they look comfy due to the block heel, but trust me, when you put them on and walk around for even thirty minutes, you want to die. Although I don’t know how they seemed so perfectly comfortable when I wanted to buy them. Oh yes, its because all logic prevails when greed overpowers you.

The gorgeous yet evil shoes!

So finally after two hours of hard labor, my bed is clean again and the husband moved back in the room (he moved into the basement for a few hours as our room was reduced to a pile of clothes and shoes!).

Mission accomplished!!! YAAY!

In Search of The Little Black Dress

Every time I open my closet to decide what to wear on a night out, I notice the lack of one of the most important wardrobe staples, The Little Black Dress. I’ve got dresses in numerous colours, beige, brown, coral (LOTS of coral for some odd reason), pink, white, red and so on, but I just don’t have the LBD. Despite my eternal love for black, whenever I enter a boutique, corals and pinks somehow distract me and I end up with yet another non-black dress. My mission today is to find myself the perfect black dress. Here’s what I’m eyeing in three categories; feminine, funky and sporty.

The girly LBDs

The most important LBD has to be of a classic silhouette so it can be in your closet season after season without looking out of date. I chose these three very feminine ones and especially love a bit of frill.

1. Tibi Cotton-Blend Lace Dress - This particular dress is so me. I love the lacy look and the flared skirt. I have already created an entire look and I don't even have the dress yet. Click here to purchase.

2. Diane Von Furstenberg Prista Dress - Aaaah DVF, I can't stop stocking her clothes in my closet! This one is so pretty and the silhouette is so flirty. The crotchet sleeves, top and side panels are just so chic. This is definitely on my to buy list. Click here to purchase.

3. Atsu Dress With A Bejeweled Collar - Sexy, slick and a dash of bling, this dress needs no explanations! Click here to purchase.

The funky LBD's

When you've invested in the perfect classic LBD, its time to step things up with an funky LBD!

1. MCQ Alexander McQueen Leather Peplum Dress - There's the little black dress then there's the little black leather dress! The peplums add a bit of girliness into the dress whereas the leather exudes edginess. Click here to purchase.

2. Roksanda Ilinic Austen Contrasting Panel Midi Dress - WOW is all I can think of when I see this dress. Such a minimalistic dress yet makes such a statement. I love how it has such a futuristic look to it. Full skirted with a cracked laminated belt and peter pan collar this LBD is just to die for. Click here to purchase.

3. Versus Safety-Pin Embellished Stretch Jersey Dress - I loved the Versace safety pin dress on Elizabeth Hurley and I LOVE this Versus dress now. Simple with a dash of punk, this dress is extremely sexy and looks very comfortable too. Click here to purchase.

The sporty LBD's

Whoever said that LBD's can't be sporty?! Sometimes you just want to throw on the dress and pair it with patent leather gladiator sandals, brogues or biker boots instead of sky high heels all the time. 

1. T By Alexander Wang Jersey T-Shirt Dress - For the days you really don't want to go through any drama in choosing an LBD this super comfortable yet sexy t-shirt dress is just perfect. Click here to purchase.

2. Zara Stretch Dress - Pair with brogues or sky high heels, this dress can work with whatever mood you're in! For Rupees 3,490 I'd say its a steal. Check your local Zara store for availability. 

3. Rag & Bone RAE Dress - I love Rag & Bone dresses, they're so versatile and again can be paired with virtually anything. I love the A-line silhouette on this one and totally love the front zipper. Pair with biker boots for the ultimate biker girl look. Click here to purchase.