Currently Trending: Fringed Bags - YEEHAWWWWW!!

Whilst florals, bright colours, sheer fabrics, all signify the arrival of spring, this year however, one of the biggest SS 14 trends was the fringe. Not just on clothes, but on accessories and handbags too. Long sweeping fringes that flow fluidly as you walk, leaving somewhat of an imaginary trail like the Gucci Nouveau featured previously or short leather fringes that just make a bag so much fun like the Valentino clutch featured below; this summer its all about the fringe. Here are my top picks on fringed clutches.



1.Celine Laser Cut Fringed Pouch - Celine is one of my most favourite brands when it comes to handbags. There is never a time that I pass by a Celine boutique and don't inside to check out what's in store. Normally its various colours of the Trapeze, Mini Shopper and the Phantom that I admire but now its this pretty funky clutch. The black laser cut leather playing peek-a-boo with bright yellow underneath (Phoebe Philo loves colour blocking so no surprises there!) makes a real statement. Also, since its a pretty soft bag, you can sort of fold it and as the black leather stretches, the yellow really stands out. Pair that with the dramatic fringes and you've got yourself quite a unique clutch. 

A word of caution, do not pair this clutch with an equally eye popping outfit or you'll end up drawing focus away from the bag. Wear it with a clean, minimalist silhouette and let the bag be the focal point of your outfit. Sadly Celine doesn't retail on e-commerce portals so you will have to wait till you fly out of Delhi or simply check with Kitsch at Defence Colony for availability.

2. Valentino Gryphon Handle Fringed Leather Clutch - Trust Valentino to create the most covetable accessories season after season. For the last few seasons and still is, was the Rockstud, now its their fringed bags. This particular clutch is having a major moment and is sold out on quite a few e-commerce platforms. The gilded gryphon (a mythological creature) serving as a finger handle adds a very mysterious characteristic to the bag don't you think? Also I love how the edges have knotted fringes. Very cool, very raw, very sexy. Click here to purchase.

3. Sara Battaglia Teresa Soft Leather Clutch - Another name to add to your designer dictionary like ASAP is Sara Battaglia, the newest handbag designer on the block. Despite being a newbie, her bags have already been worn by numerous celebrities with one of her biggest fans being her super stylist sister Giovanna Battaglia. The Teresa bag has a very fresh take on the fringe. Instead of fringes on the main silhouette of the bag, they are on the detachable handle which makes it very versatile. The day you don't feel like being dramatic, take off the strap and off you go with your very streamlined and minimalist clutch! I also adore the triangle shaped hardware. Click here to purchase.

Brands To Know - Perrin Paris

As a self-proclaimed professional instagram stalker, on a particular day, I was as usual stalking random people on instagram, you know doing my thing. Whilst checking out pictures from Sutton Stracke's profile when she was in Paris for the Haute Couture shows, I noticed her and friends were posting images of a clutch from a certain luxury brand which I wasn't aware of. Perrin Paris. The ladies were wearing these very edgy glove inspired clutches and me being a crazy bag lady had to find out more. I started doing some research on Perrin Paris and am so in love with the brand now. So I thought I would blog about it and share it with you guys because our Delhi ladies LOVE their bags.

Perrin Paris is one of the oldest luxury glove makers around. Founded in 1893, their gloves became extremely popular in the twenties and they were actually one of the few brands to have boutiques around the world. Eventually, due to the lack of demand for gloves, the family closed the brand. They did however continue to manufacture and supply leather to other haute couture houses thereby safeguarding the family's tradition and techniques.

A few years ago, Michel Perrin (CEO of the brand) and his wife Sally decided to revive the brand by launching a line of handbags along with their gloves. Their bags, much like their gloves, are all handmade and a result of beautiful (and painstaking) craftsmanship involving techniques that have been passed down generations spanning over a century.  Only the finest leather and exotic skins are used to create their products. It's not only their quality that is a class apart, it is also their designs which are extremely unique and innovative.

As I check out their handbags online on their website, I am completely obsessed with each and every one of them especially their clutches and the super edgy ball bag. Their glove inspired clutches come in three different types Le Zip, Capitale and Cabroilet and make a serious statement. Skull, studs, laser cut spider web, leopard print, metallic and exotics; these clutches have got me hooked and I'm just dying to get my hands on one (its a simultaneous bag fund situation currently).Their very avant-garde and architectural Riva Ball Bag is another favourite. Made out of woven leather and grosgrain, and inspired by retro wicker baskets it comes with a leather interior pouch to store all your belongings. I don't think there will ever be the need to make small talk when you walk in to a party with this bag! It's an immediate conversation starter.

Glove Clutches

Riva Ball Bag

Even though the brand has been revived, the family doesn't feel the need to expand in a rush. The leather goods are produced in limited quantities simply because they want to ensure that quality is never compromised. A point one has to agree with. As long as they ship internationally from their website, that's all that matters to me!

P.S, if any of you fabulous Delhi ladies happen to be in Paris, Los Angeles or New York this summer, be sure to check out their boutiques!

Paris: 35, Rue des Petits Champs, 75001, Paris, France
LA: 346 North Beverly Drive, Beverly Hills, CA, 90210
New York: 987 Madison Avenue at 76th Street, New York, NY 10021

SS and Resort 14 Printed Accessories

Hello lovelies! Summer's indeed peaking in Delhi (40 degrees plus) and it seems to be absolutely impossible to even think of clothing at the moment. Flimsy fabrics, flowy silhouettes and light colours is what is probably on everybody's mind. And to amp up the style quotient, what better way then to don stylish printed accessories that are all the rage this season -- on your feet and on your head (literally).

Shoes with delightful prints can perk up the most boring of summer days. Showing up in a multitude of heel types and with prints ranging from Pop culture to classic florals, I suggest you dress in one single shade from the print and let your feet do all the talking.

I love the colours on these Stella Jean printed fabric sling backs -- what a ravishing shade of cobalt. Featuring a flower motif here and there, with classic cars, these are definitely my favourite out of all. Walter Steiger -- known for putting the curves at the right places -- incorporates a very Impressionist-like print in his canvas pair. Mary Katrantzou's lace-up booties with airy cut-outs are crafted in satin with a delicious pink-green print. And these Oscar de la Renta sling backs are loud yet understated -- and can easily slide from day to night wear. And while you are at it, check out these adorable new pumps from the J Crew and Sophia Webster collaboration. Click here for the shoes.

Apart from shoes, caps are definitely needed this season to protect our pretty faces from the harsh sun. Personally for me, caps are a big no-no but looking at these, I am quite swooned and tempted. A very stylish way to add quirk to your travel wardrobe, printed caps are the new sporty essentials.

The first cap by Kenzo is from their Resort 14 collaboration with New Era, featuring a swirl print in four shades. The House Of Holland twill baseball cap features a dove print inspired from Baz Luhrmann's Romeo and Juliet and is totally quirky. Eugenia Kim's suede-trimmed canvas cap features a tropical hibiscus print making me reminisce of a Goan holiday. And finally, I love this number by Etro with the house's signature paisleys. This cap seems to be selling out everywhere -- an indicator for you to pounce upon it as soon as you can!

WIFW AW 14 - Rahul Mishra

Without a doubt, the most awaited and important show during fashion week was Rahul Mishra. From being the first Indian to ever win the Woolmark prize to being the first Indian designer to have clothes on Rent The Runway, and creating a new fabric that consisted of merino wool and silk, Rahul has crossed major milestones in the last one year and has made India proud. Considering he grew up in a town where electricity was a luxury and his school fees was merely seven rupees, what he has achieved is simply remarkable.

The hall was packed to say the least with people craning their heads to catch a glimpse of the clothes (I was one of them). The set itself was beautiful with 3D paperwork along the centre of the runway. An amazing start already.

His collection, The Lotus Effect featured geometrical shapes (mainly the hexagon) along with lotus motifs intricately embroidered on garments constructed from his new fabric. The clothes, mostly non traditional, proved that Indian designers need not always send saris and salwar suits down the runway. Instead, the silhouettes focussed not only on beautiful designs, but a lot complicated and painstaking techniques, intricate hand knots and scientific innovation. The permanent texture of bandini on ultra-light merino wool was a prototype. What made the clothes so special is the lightness of the fabric. When I saw the dresses, it almost looked like they were made out of cotton as opposed to wool.

The colour palette was beige, black and monochromes towards the end with pops of red, yellow and blue. I loved some of the sheer clothes, especially the white asymmetrical dress with embroidered floral and geometric motifs on it, paired with cigarette pants. An off white dress with yellow tree motif embroidery was another favourite. The embroidered jackets, again, light as air, are most definitely going to be on every Delhi-ites wish list for next winter. Finally, the real show stopper was the very architectural jacket on the runway. The patches you see standing up on the shoulders are actually 2-D which were made to look 3 dimensional! The patches were supported by a metal wire first, and then sown on to the shoulders. BRAVO! The show ended with a throwback speech by Alexa Chung in Milan leaving me with goose bumps.

If you haven't already heard, Rahul Mishra's collection is now on Pernia's Pop Up Shop. What surprised me the most was how accessible his price points are for designer wear. A fully hand embroidered jacket in silk organza for 26,000 INR! After everything the designer has achieved, and still so humble; he is truly one of a kind. Next winter instead of buying a woollen dress from Zara or any other international brand, I am opting for a Rahul Mishra creation. Jai Hind!

Click here to see the entire show or scroll down for the video.

The very complex yet magnificent architectural jacket

N.B: Most of you are probably wondering what exactly is Merino wool. It is said to be one of the finest, softest wool available. It is mainly used in producing athletic wear because of it's wicking (drawing sweat away from the body) properties. In addition, due to its finer fibres and small scales, Merino doesn't retain odour making it anti-microbial.

Images via vogue.in

 

Currently Trending: Minimalist Totes - Getting Down To Business

When you're out and about running errands, going to work, or live out of a suitcase (like I do) you don't have time for fussy handbags that come with all that drama. You want a bag that fits the jet set go lifestyle. I like my bags streamlined, fuss free, NOT heavy but super stylish at the same time. It's all about the minimalist handbags in classic shapes that are devoid of too much hardware and are of course LOGO FREE. Here are my top picks:



1. Balenciaga Padlock Nude Work XS With Snakeskin Top Handles - This bag screams Mister Wang with its stark minimal design. However, it was the snake-skin top handle that totally stole my heart. It adds just the right amount of luxury to it which is great if you don't want to spend oodles on bag made entirely out of exotic skin. The size is perfect for the day or the night. I've put this one on my wish list on mytheresa.com hoping it will go on sale in the summer as the price tag is a tad bit steep. Click here to purchase.

2. Jil Sander J Large Leather Tote - Whistle Whistle, Tom & Jerry style!! Check out this slick baby from the house that defines the term minimalism. I am loving the shape of this bag. A little sporty (kind of like a duffle bag) and a little futuristic, this is an undeniably sophisticated tote. Six slit pockets make it easier to organise all your tid bits so you're not left fumbling whilst looking for your belongings. The beige leather lining means luxury inside and out and the minimal hardware ensures that the bag isn't too heavy to carry. Finally, the cherry on top is the price. It costs just about one lac rupees which in my opinion is amazing. Click here to purchase.

3. Fendi 3Jours Leather Tote - All right people, make space in your bag closet for the coolest revamp of the season! Karl Lagerfeld has updated the super popular Fendi 2Jours tote making it bigger and with wings. The bag has an open top with a snap button closure and because of its structured frame, it doesn't slouch. Also, the shoulder straps are longer on the 3Jours making it easier to carry on your shoulders. Perfect for a busy day with lots of running around. The metallic silver is in line with the SS 14 trends (metallic colours are HUGE this season) and it has this funky space age vibe to it. In addition, the protective feet means you can put it on the floor without having to worry about getting the leather dirty. Overall, one of the nicest updates I've seen this season. Click here to purchase or Check Fendi at DLF Emporio for availability.

4. Tod's D-Cube Small Leather Tote - I've always been a big fan of Tod's shoes and now their ready to wear stuff, but their handbags never rubbed on to me until I saw this one. I am totally loving the D-Cube bag with its boxy shape, roomy interior combined with the soft and smooth leather. And the colours, ah the colours it comes in especially this stunning blue. If you've been looking for that perfect day/travel bag, this is the one. Click here to purchase or check Tod's at DLF Emporio check for availability.


 

Discovering The Latest Lady Dior Ad Campaign

Of all the Lady Dior videos I've seen starring Marion Cotillard (I've probably seen them all!), the making of the this ad campaign was the best in my opinion. From playing a mysterious woman whilst hiding something in the black Lady Dior in Lady Noire Affair to leading a double life in Lady Rouge, this time, the French actress is jumping on a trampoline against a grey background.

Shot by Jean-Baptiste Mondino, Marion is seen floating in the air, almost ballerina like (notice how her toes are pointed in the shots) looking graceful as ever holding on to the most iconic handbag, the Lady Dior. The behind the scenes video is so beautifully shot with Like A Million Dreams by Yodelice playing as Cotillard jumps around wearing these ethereal dresses from Dior's pre-fall collection. Note how light the dresses are showing you can genuinely be so carefree when you wear them. My favourite shot was with Cotillard in a pleated dress holding a very feminine floral printed Lady Dior. That is the beauty of these bags, they are reinvented season after season whilst continuing to be timelessly elegant. Check out the video below. It is truly lovely.

Pre-Fall Lady Dior Bags In Deer Skin

Image Courtesy: Christian Dior

 

WIFW AW 14 - Arjun Saluja & Dev r Nil

Dev r Nil - Whilst the collection was portrayed to be about freedom of expression, to me it was all about the celebration of big bold prints -- geometrics, florals, and big birds all shone bright on the ramp. Also, it was actually the first time the duo worked with leather. I really enjoyed the way they used it throughout the collection. They incorporated leather accents on some silhouettes, however what caught my eye was the leather cutwork especially on the jacket sleeves, busts, dresses and skirts with an underlay of a bright contrasting fabric. Head-to-toe prints may have been the highlight of the collection, but it was also interesting to note the play of textures through the use of different fabrics and embroidery.

Currently on my wish list is the short bolero-style jacket with embroidered flowers and birds accentuated with a leather border along with a black and yellow printed double breasted jacket. This was paired with matching printed cigarette pants. Click here to see the entire show or scroll down for the video.

Arjun Saluja - Inspired the by the city of Lahore and its history Arjun kept silhouettes simple and fuss free with the drama being in the detailing -- such as the unexpected placement of zippers, or distressed leather.

Take the sari paired with somewhat of a biker jacket style blouse. "The zipper exposes reality when its opened and regresses us when its closed," said the designer when I asked him what inspired him to create such an interesting blouse. A leather blouse with an uneven asymmetrical hem worn under a sari with pleats on the opposite side which the designer adds was to show the contradiction in our society. I liked how grunge/ punk was so easily mixed with a traditional sari in these two looks. I am hoping to see one of the big fashion editors wear this creation to an international fashion week.

The collection was too metaphorical for me to translate but I loved seeing plaid in his clothes, especially in the dress paired with matching plaid stockings/ tights and the cape. Also seen were hoodies, trousers and dresses in menswear suitings paired with oversized jhumkis to add a bit of an Indian touch. Click here to see the entire show or scroll down for the video of both the shows.

Image Courtesy: Fashion Design Council of India and vogue.in