Dior X Harper's Bazaar India - A High Tea Affair

As you all may have seen by now, the highly celebrated November issue of Harper's Bazaar India is now on the news stands with a very FABULOUS Chitrangada Singh in head to toe Dior on the cover. This very special issue included a stunning photo shoot in Paris featuring a Dior clad Chitrangada. 

For the launch of the November issue, the House of Dior hosted a high tea at their press office in Vasant Vihar and of course the who's who of Delhi were attendees. The decor was done by the couture house itself and was extremely elegant and chic especially the floral arrangements. I also loved the 3-tiered trays with macaroons and other bite sized desserts. Nom Nom Nom! 

Moving on to the fashion bit of the event, Kalyani Chawla looked lovely in the all black silhouette paired with the Mise En Dior pearl jewels. Being a handbag lover, I was obviously checking out the bags more than anything else. It was great how a few of the ladies stayed true to the theme with their Lady Diors and even cooler when Niamat Bakshi was carrying her limited edition Andy Warhol clutch. 

Please scroll down to enjoy the photographs from the launch.

The lovely Kalyani Chawla & Chitrangada Singh

How gorgeous is her Dior ensemble

L-R: Prerna Subha , Tanisha Mohan and Chitrangda Singh (Aren't the Andy Warhol shoe prints exquisite?)

L-R: Akanksha Aggarwal , Kalyani Chawla , Chitrangda Singh and Priya Sachdev

Anisha Sabnai with Niamat Bakshi (notice her Andy Warhol Clutch)

Ayesha Thapar

L-R: Bindya Judge, Kalyani Chawla, Preah Narang

Loved the floral arrangement by Dior

Lisa Lal

Niamat Bakshi & The Cover Girl

L-R: Nishat Fatima, Chitrangada Singh, Samara Gupta

Priya Kapur

L-R:  Priya Sachdev, Ayesha Thapar, Niamat Bakshi

Image Courtesy: Christian Dior

Must Have Handbags!!!

Hello everyone, my name is Hanadi and I'm a bagaholic...

It's true guys, if there's one thing I truly obsess over, it's handbags and I'm sure you all must have figured that out by now. I spend hours and hours online just looking at handbags, finding that perfect bag to spend all my savings on (sadly there are too many perfect bags out there which means I'm perpetually going broke!).

Here are my latest must have bags.. Happy Shopping!!

Totes

1. Victoria Beckham Liberty Leather Tote - I'm a huge Victoria Beckham fan. I just love her design aesthetic. So chic, understated and fuss free. Which is why I have been digging this leather tote for a while. Beautifully crafted, its roomy enough for most of your stuff and it also comes in some delicious colors including bright yellow. Click here to purchase or check with Kitsch in Defence Colony on 011 46098212.

2. Balenciaga Classic Suede City Bag - You know my bag posts will never be complete without featuring a classic beauty and so here it is, in a deep indigo-blue and scrumptious suede. This bag has been around for a while but never gets old making it the perfect investment handbag. Click here to purchase.

3. Manish Arora Large Leather Bag - Every time I see Manish's stuff on the runways and on international e-commerce websites, I swell up with so much pride. It's so amazing to see Indian designers go global and even better when you see international celebrities wear their clothes. I came accross this fun leather tote on the corner and thought I had to feature it. Prints are really big these days so his eccentric print is bang on with the trend and it's roomie enough for all your essentials. Click here to purchase.

4. Kenzo Eye Embellished Leather Tote - My love for the Kenzo goodies is now moving on to their "eye" catching accessories. I love the scarves, the caps and of course this super fun tote. The blue color is so nice and the embroidery makes such a statement. Pair with a simple silhouette for maximum impact. Click here to purchase.

Cross-Bodys

1. Ralph Lauren Equestrian Vachetta Saddle Bag - As you all know I'm married into an equestrian obsessed family, so the husband, his siblings and his dad love all things horsey. From horse shoes, to tent pegging sticks I have all sorts of horse paraphernalia used to decorate the house not to mention a million riding boots that eat up the entire store room. Naturally this has rubbed on to me, so no surprises there that this bag swept me away. The sleek minimalist design in superior leather (made in Italy by the way) and a simple silver-toned stirrup; this bag is perfect for all those who love horses. Sadly I can't order it to India but I do have a friend coming in ten days from the US, so YAAY for me. Click here to purchase.

2. Alexander Wang Lia- Cross-Body - Bag - This simple yet chic bag with a stingray embossed front flap and Wang's signature studded base make this cross-body a must have. Click here to purchase.

Shoulder Bags

1. Marni Small Leather Bag - How adorable is this mustard yellow shoulder bag? It's perfect to add that pop of color to brighten up a simple outfit and its one of those cool get set go kind of bags. I adore it! Click here to purchase.

2. Stella McCartney Beckett Faux Leather Shoulder Bag - Ladies, this bag is actually super super super cool. It has this funky shape which can actually be folded flat to be worn as a clutch and you can open it out into a funky triangular shape to wear as a shoulder bag! Isn't that so FAB? Oh and by the way, this is a runway bag and has been a celebrities' sweetheart aka, the latest IT bag. We LOVE. Click here to purchase or check with Kitsch in Defence Colony on 011 46098212.

Salma Hayek using it as a clutch

Miranda Kerr

On the runway

The bag folded flat

3. Valentino Va Va Voom Leather Shoulder Bag - I've realized, off late, every one of my product page has a Valentino in it. Can you blame me? The rockstuds on their stuff has created another unhealthy obsession. This one is simple yet edgy and can be worked during the day or the night. I also love this bag in blue. Click here to purchase.

Clutches

1. Alexander McQueen Embellished Box Clutch (or should I say WEAPON OF MASS DESTRUCTION) - Heavily laden with Swarovski, gold beads and other embellishments, it's a no-brainer that this is one beautifully crafted clutch. The best part is that it still doesn't look OTT, well not to me at least. The skull looks like it's got a bit of a crazy Mohawk and I LOVE it. Click here to purchase or check with Kitsch in Defence Colony on 011 46098212.

2. Lanvin Love Beaded Satin Clutch (more like pouch though) - I like pouches, they're softer and can expand when you're running a little low on space and they're still fabulous. This one is extra special because it has LOVE embellished on it. Alber Elbaz always creates knock out accessories every season. I'm still saving up for the LOVE necklace I saw on the runway of the FW 13 show. Click here to purchase.

3. Olympia Le Tan Peter & Gretchen Embroidered Book Clutch - Who needs to read an entire book when you've got an OLT signature book clutch! This clutch's cover is embroidered with a 1930's children's tale on it and has a pretty liberty print lining. Oh and it's also limited edition. Click here to purchase.

Dior X Andy Warhol Bags

When I saw the Christian Dior FW 13 show a few months ago, I was enamored by the surrealist and pop art inspired collection. I remember looking at the bags especially and thinking, I have never seen a prettier Lady Dior bag -- what with the Andy Warhol shoe sketches on them! That’s just plain genius delivered by Raf: I mean reinterpreting something as iconic, and I daresay common into such gorgeous accessories.

LARGE LADY DIOR BAG IN GRIS POUDRE SMOOTH CALF SKIN WITH SILK SCREEN AND GOLD AND SILVER LEAF TECHNIQUE

CLUTCH IN BLACK SMOOTH CALF SKIN WITH SILK SCREEN AND GOLD AND SILVER LEAF TECHNIQUE

Now the legend that Andy Warhol already is, inspiring numerous forms of fashion and art the world across, I believe that nothing ever inspired by his sense of aesthetics and personal touch can ever be clichéd. He came into limelight in the 1950’s with his playful shoe illustrations that are now one of most famous sketches during his career. His Marilyn Monroe numbers, and the ever-green muse-artist affair with Edie Sedgwick ring fancy with all that love popular culture. And perhaps, one would even find deep meanings within the wildly famous Campbell’s Soup can lithographs -- mundane as they might seem. And here is precisely why this adage -- the Dior collaboration with the Andy Warhol Foundation -- results in some of the most coveted accessories of the season.

I love the way Raf Simons always revisits the Dior house’s past for inspiration. Christian Dior owned a little art gallery where he sold artwork including that of Pablo Picasso. Raf Simons himself is an art lover leaning more towards mid-century art, so the connection in terms of their love for art is evident.  Pertaining to the collaboration with the Andy Warhol foundation, Simons says “For me Warhol made so much sense. I was interested in the delicacy and sensitivity in the early work he did, I was drawn to that graphic style naturally in this collection. It was that notion of hand work and personal signature that fitted throughout.”  And indeed he was right to think it made sense.  I have never seen a more beautiful artistic union.

 LADY DIOR BAG IN LATTE SMOOTH CALF SKIN WITH SILK SCREEN AND GOLD AND SILVER TECHNIQUE

As I was planning my finances for my new bag, (I usually have an annual bag fund), I was contemplating between a Lady Dior with the shoe sketch on it or the Chanel boy bag. I ring up Dior to find out about the prices et al, only to discover that it is strictly limited edition and that the entire collection is sold out worldwide. YES WORLDWIDE! GREAT, just my luck. If I wasn't already struggling to sort out my bag fund, I go on to find out that the bag is not available; this only makes me want it more! Why god WHY?! Being an Andy Warhol fan myself, you can imagine my current plight. I even missed his auction on Christie's. Life can be cruel at times. 

CLUTCH IN SMOOTH CALF SKIN WITH SILKSCREEN AND OXIDIZED GOLD LEAF TECHNIQUE

LADY DIOR BAG IN SMOOTH CALF SKIN WITH SILK SCREEN AND BLUE SILICONE FINISHING

CLUTCH IN CELESTE SMOOTH CALFSKIN WITH SILK SCREEN AND BLACK INLAID PATENT

The classic silhouettes of the bags (Lady Dior & Lady Dior Clutch) in this collection, combined with the playfulness of the legendary illustrations give these accessories the much deserved IT bag status. Now, how to get my hands on one is the big question. The bags are priced at INR 400,000 and upwards. I suggest you start sweet talking a Dior sales person right about NOW.

Chitrangadha Singh in Dior in the Harper's Bazaar India November issue  

Chitrangadha Singh in Dior in the Harper's Bazaar India November issue 

Store Locations: DLF Emporio, New Delhi - +91 11 46005900  & Taj Mahal Palace, Mumbai - +91 22 67499091

Image Courtesy: Christian Dior

Designer and High Street Collaborations - Yaay or Naay?

While checking out the much anticipated Isabel Marant for H&M collection, I got thinking about designer- high street collaborations and my stance on it.

One may at the risk of sounding slightly elitist assume that the whole point of designer wear is to be seen in one-of-a-kind creations -- to wear exquisite clothes with superb craftsmanship, luxuriant fabrics, and the “made in Italy” or “made in France” tag. Then come along these collaborations which of course are an excellent way to bridge the gap to masses. But what I don’t like in this phenomenon is that most of these designs in such arrangements are hand-me-downs from the label's previous collections. I would go as far as to say that these make me feel slightly cheated. 

Lanvin SS 2009

Lanvin for H&M

Lanvin SS 2008

Lanvin for H&M

Now it is given that this transcend comes with assembly-line construction methods, and more consumer-friendly fabrics. Trickling down designs in these unions is what I have a bit of an issue with. I think it’s unfair for the consumers who are expecting something new, something trendy from the designer. I know I would at least -- how great it would be to see new retail-oriented design innovations while maintaining the signature at the same time.

Maison Martin Margiela for H&M

Maison Martin Margiela SS 2011

From the designer’s perspective, it is a fantastic opportunity to create brand awareness and to reach out to a greater audience. Also, high street chains do end up copying runway designs to death every season. So by doing these collaborations, at least the designer gets their name stamped on it and they get their fair chunk of returns. Then maybe, this is a way to stay afloat as the big money always lies in numbers. From the consumer’s point of view, most people cannot afford to dish out a few thousand dollars or so for a Lanvin cocktail dress. For them, these collaborations are the ideal way to sport a high end designer’s label minus the steep price tag.

Maison Martin Margiela FW 2011

Maison Martin Margiela for H&M

Another thing I always wondered was how the customers who buy designer wear feel about these collaborations. Would a die-hard Versace ready-to-wear fan be okay to see Versace-labelled designs being sold at H&M after having spent so much money on the original designs? I save a decent amount of money every year to splurge on one or two handbags, so if I were to see one of them designed for a high street collaboration, I know I wouldn't be happy. 

Finally, what factors make a couture house such as Maison Martin Margiela to be a part of these associations? Being a couturier is in itself the epitome of being exclusive -- what about the mixed message it may send out, and brand value dilution? Again, I don’t mean to sound elitist in any way but this does strike some curiosity. Dior and Louis Vuitton don’t even go on sale (Dior used to though, but not anymore), hell neither Dior or Chanel even participate in e-commerce and that in some way is one of their USPs: to keep themselves completely away from the high street. 

I guess this post makes my take on the collaborations pretty evident but maybe that might change if designers started creating some new and original designs for the high street as opposed to recreating past collections with the odd tweak here and there.  Using older designs for a collaboration to me sends out the message "since you can't afford my original designs, here's a cheaper version of the real thing" which I feel is a little demeaning. If designers choose to associate with high street brands, it would be great if we see some super cool and unique stuff.

WIFW SS 2014: Samant Chauhan, Pero by Aneeth Arora, Virtues by Viral, Ashish and Vikrant - Shows we love!

Folks, do not say I didn't warn you about how big this post is. I am kind of already delayed in writing about things we love at WIFW -- but it is never too late to showcase fabulous fashion. And keeping the mood precisely fab, I would love pointing out Samant Chauhan's collection first. 

I am always interested in literally (mentally) dissecting collections by designers who stick to working within a light-coloured palette. Let us not think about the spring-summer factor of it -- I beleive it is risque, that is making it work. It  is done to death, what with Rohit Bal, TT and Anamika Khanna showcasing lights to their best advantage. Still Samant's collection made me feel 'pleasant'. The nudes with peeping-reds, and dull-gold embellishments might not seem to be spectacular at the first look. Yet once you absorb in the details, it sinks in that the combinations are working beautifully. And being a big advocate of green fashion, I have nothing to complain about here. Minimal and classy with silhouettes ranging from gowns to separate!

Next up is label Pero by Aneeth Arora. I remember attending her first ever fashion week showcase back in the days and thinking that "is she for real (in a good sense)"! I mean I never could have thought that traditional weaves and texturing, and multiple-layering could enthuse casual, easy, and chic vibes -- that too all at the same time, and look so darn good. Now that style has indeed become Arora's signature. The very talented designer proves that Indian techniques can actually transcend into ensembles that need not necessarily incorporate touches of fusion.

For WIFW SS 2014, she also struck to a light palette, with some outfits incorporating black as well. And dashes of English florals and polka dots lent an uber feminine touch on the runway. A first look suggested easy construction, but these garments were all hand-stitched with non-OTT, painstakingly created traditional surface ornamentation from Andhra, Gujarat, et cetera.

Fresh, non-fitted silhouettes dictated the dresses, with sheer-play and delicate upper bodices.

Separates incorporated checks that Arora has always favoured, alongside crushed fabrics that I frankly never thought can work. However, she makes it happen. All in all, here was a show that was a pure dose of fashion coupled with a deep thought presence, with an end result that can't help but make me a huge fan girl of Aneeth Arora.

I also loved the collection from label Virtues by Viral, Ashish and Vikrant. That lehenga shown in the first picture below caught my fancy the most. You know I love my bling, yet this particular number has oodles of impact minus it! Ink blue-dominated, the ensembles were an easy mix of Western and Indian aesthetics, and very very sexy.

I loved how the styling with headscarfs were a tad Islamic, a tad sixties, and superbly sophisticated. When I look at shows for my research, the way ensembles are presented really tends to leave an impact on me. This is the reason why I always take a note of the details -- the shoes, the hair, the beauty looks. And charming the details were in this show, even if nothing extra-ordinary.

These ensembles below brought back reminiscences of the nineties in me -- the halter necks, the sheer-bra layered combo, the ruffled hems.

I am sorry about not getting a closer look at the ensems by skipping out on this show. But just like how I have said in numerous posts before, fuss-free always had a thumbs up from me. Until later darlings!