Louis Vuitton Cruise 2017 Review

Nicolas Ghesquière gave a new meaning to luxury sportswear with his cruise collection for Louis Vuitton last week. Held at The Niteroi Contemporary Art Museum in Rio De Janeiro, where models came down a giant and curvy ramp (now you know why the models walked in flats) the clothes were spectacular.

The show opened with a series of colour blocked, scuba diving suit inspired maxi dresses featuring thigh baring slits and abstract cut outs. Some had buttons on the slits and some came with a ruffled mini dress overlay (the khaki one was a favourite). There were car racing motifs on most of the clothes and I loved how the iconic Damier checks were reinvented in monochrome to look like a NASCAR flag. There were cool basketball shorts and even a pair of slit track pants bearing the LV monogram on the sides. However, the most interesting part of the collection to me were the colourful windcheater jackets and dresses made from parachute fabric. I can't imagine how tricky it would have been to make such sporty elements look so fabulous. Light as air and easy to move around in, these babies are without a doubt going to grace most of the high fashion magazine covers when resort season kicks in. Ghesquière infused a feminine touch through the use of sequins as was seen from the shimmery short skirts and the shiny skinny scarves casually adorning the models' necks.

Amongst the mini dresses, the sexy A-line ones in suede with the bra shaped cut outs and leather detailing on the pockets and the flirty ruffled dresses with embroidered soccer player illustrations were to die for. And then there were jackets, especially a short black number boasting oversized metal hardware as buttons that stood out beautifully from the outerwear. Accessories, which are the bread and butter for most luxury brands were plenty at Louis Vuitton. A Keepall and Petite Malle bags with NASCAR graphics, multiple versions of the Twist, a new fringed half moon shaped bag and the most talked about Boom Box bags will leave bag lovers spoilt for choice. The ankle length, gladiator style flip flops are going to be a sure shot hit and so will the belts.

Making luxurious, yet comfortable sportswear inspired clothing is an art very few can master. And Ghesquière is one of them. This was a collection that will stay in my mind for seasons to come.

 

Gucci X Net-A-Porter

For a while now, I had been getting push notifications on my phone from the net-a-porter app about a special, 20 piece capsule collection Gucci was doing for the popular online shopping portal. Today, I sat down and finally checked it out. Albeit a little late in the day (it went live on the 12th of May) as most of the stuff is sold out especially the bags,  I still got a glimpse of what this special collection was all about. And it is exquisite. Alessandro Michele played around with floral motifs inspired from vintage tapestries, and released some fresh reinterpretations of the Dionysus bag, Ace sneakers along with some super fun ready to wear. If you have been converted into a Gucci girl in the last one year like I have, then a piece of this collection is a must have for your closet. Here are some of my favourites.

1. Floral Appliqued Wool Blend Skirt - Ever since I saw Kangana Ranaut wearing one of their pleated mini skirts, I was instantly a fan. Very kilt like in appearance, with flirty pleats, this blue piece is too pretty not to have. The little embroidered flower and the striped waist band add the perfect finishing touch. Click here to purchase.

2. Adonis Floral Print Silk Twill Scarf - If your savings account is on the lower side and you still want a piece of the action, then this scarf is exactly what you need. Featuring beautiful romantic florals and the signature stripes on the border, the scarf will be the focal point of any outfit. Pair it with a simple silhouette so it can stand out. Click here to purchase.

3. Horsebit Detailed Floral Print Canvas Slippers - The Princetown slippers have been quite the rage since they were launched. Especially in the fur variation. Comfortable, stylish and easy to slip on, at least one pair of these are an important addition to your closet for those days where heels aren't your friends. However, more than the fur ones, I like this pair the most! The vintage tapestry inspired roses, the horsebit and the quirky mouth printed on the inside of the shoe all make this a serious MUST HAVE! Click here to purchase.

4. Embellished Wool Sweater - There's nothing better than a well fitted, statement sweater that can be paired with virtually anything. Click here to be added to the wish list.

 

Pantsuit & Sneakers

I had been wanting to experiment with wearing sneakers under a skinny pantsuit for a while. But for some reason, my inhibitions had been holding me back. However, ever since I started personal style shoots for the blog, I have slowly been stepping out of my comfort zone and started to have fun with trying on various looks. For a predictable person like me, who almost always sticks to a set personal style mantra, it wasn't easy. Because I don't have the perfect body type, I'm always a bit conscious.

But that day, I said to hell with it! Lets do this. Especially since it was such an easy look to put together. I fished out my go to and extremely flattering black formal jacket, my skinny trousers and my favourite sneakers. Because a suit is on the masculine side, I wanted to add a feminine touch to it. I didn't want to wear a boring tank top so I used a twenty year old pale pink slip blouse (a hand me down from my mother) with lace detailing near the bust to wear under the jacket. I loved the sheer lace on it as it felt really sexy and the black bra I wore under worked just perfectly. In addition, slip tops and dresses are trending majorly so I didn't feel too off track.

The best part about this outfit was that I didn't have to buy a single thing. Most of the separates are wardrobe essentials, so they're probably in your closet already! All you have to do is pull them out.

Do you think I pulled off the outfit?


Blazer & Pants - Zara
Sneakers - Longchamp
Clutch - Victoria Beckham
Earrings (on my sister) - Pankaj & Nidhi
Photography - Surbhi Sethi
Location - Grand Hyatt, New Delhi
 

An Organza Jacket For The Summer, Why Not??

As you have seen from my previous shoots, I have a strong obsession with jackets. Even in Delhi's 46 degrees, I can manage to find an appropriate piece to wear over an outfit. This shoot was quite hectic as Surbhi (from headtilt.in) and I had literally two hours of daylight left to photograph each other. I rushed home from the airport, lay all the clothes on the bed and scratched my head in confusion as to what to wear. Luckily, Surbhi, who is a pro at layering helped me out a bit. We selected a boxy bi-colour mini dress with little pleats on the bust and rust coloured jacket. The problem for me is because of my body type, boxy silhouettes make me look slightly bigger. So to give the look a little bit of a shape, we added this gorgeous, sheer organza trench with oversized pockets and lovely detailing on the lapels. Instead of tying the belt around my body, we tied it up at the back so the dress doesn't stay hidden.  We didn't want to accessorise too much so I chose a simple gold cuff on my wrist and nothing else.

So instead of avoiding layering all together this summer, try hunting for lightweight pieces. The best part about this jacket was that it was so thin, I didn't feel the heat at all. It was almost like I was wearing nothing! Also, it's something I can wear through the summer and also during the fall.


Dress - Selvage by Chandini Mohan
Jacket - Quo by Ishita Mangal (Click here to purchase)
Shoes - Balenciaga by Nicholas Ghesquière
Sunglasses - Tom Ford
Photography - Surbhi Sethi
 

Minimalist Handbags You Need Right Now

There's something about minimalist handbags that never goes out of style. Clean cut and simple designs, paired with classic shapes and masterful craftsmanship make these purses eye catching without screaming 'look at me' in an obvious way. Here are my current favourites.


1. Mansur Gavriel Circle Leather Tote - Rachel and Floriana are always ahead of the minimalist game. Their design aesthetic has been highly successful resulting in sold out bags since they started their brand. Currently, I am absolutely in love with this circular bag. This piece is so contemporary but also takes you back in time reminding you of those hat boxes ladies would travel with. I remember, growing up I was crazy about the Louis Vuitton hat boxes and always wondered how I could carry one as a purse! Click here to purchase.

2. Victoria Beckham Half Moon Bag - First seen in a giant version on her SS16 runway, this baby is chic as hell. Be gone with you teeny tiny bags that can only hold my credit card and keys! Just kidding, there's a time and place for every purse. Moving on, the name itself makes me want to click 'purchase now' because it sounds so mystical. Virtually hardware free, this baby is nice and light to carry and also comes with a detachable suede pouch (BONUS!!). The best part is its shape which means you can carry it for a long time to come. Click here to purchase.

3. Celine Trotteur Bag In Calfskin - Ah, can one ever go wrong with a Celine? I was just about to start saving for a Mini Belt, but since I've discovered this, looks like my priorities might change. Sleek, slightly structured and lightweight, this timeless bag can transition easily from day to night. It comes with a unique, geometrically shaped clasp that stands out beautifully. And being a sucker for grained leather, it's texture really gets my heart racing. A zipper on the back of the bag make it easy to organise your immediate essentials. Click here to purchase.

4. Vitasta Mini Backpack In Tan - I've never featured an Indian handbag designer on my blog, but after seeing Aditi Dhar's designs, I have every reason to! This backpack really caught my attention due to its super slick design and the detailing. Both the geometrical flaps exude a futuristic vibe whereas the braided drawstring and woven grommets add a warm touch. Entirely handmade, this back is what understated luxury really is all about. Click here to purchase.

Dolce & Gabbana's Ugly Raffia & Straw Purses

I'm not one to talk about stuff I don't like on my blog, but then every now and then something just irritates the crap out of me and I just cant help myself but vent it out on a blog post. This time, it's Dolce & Gabbana's raffia and straw purses. Purses, baskets, whatever. Now I'm a die hard fan of their ready to wear (that sundress with printed lemons is still lurking in my mind) and their Miss Sicily handbags. But off late, some of their accessories are just plain ridiculous. Furthermore, their pricing is just absurd. The duo has worked with raffia many times in the past and have had lots of hits too, but not with these bags.

Take the straw basket bag (if you can even call it a bag) for example. Agreed it looked charming on the runway. But unless you're lemon picking in a farm in Sicily, a basket bag serves no real purpose. Also, I don't buy the whole handmade shenanigans this time around. I could get the same thing, with the pompoms and mirror work 'handmade' in Rajasthan for as little as 30 dollars if not less. The croc leather iPhone 6 case and another exotic leather pouch it comes with still don't justify the basket's obnoxious price. At almost 3 Lacs INR, I would rather get me a Chanel.

The raffia clutch and bucket bag aren't any better. Priced at over 4 Lacs INR for the former and approximately 2 Lacs for the bucket bag, I wouldn't give these pieces a second glance. Nor would I carry them even if someone paid me to do so. They're not pretty at all. It just looks like someone put some random riff raff they found lying around and stuck a hefty price tag on them! If you're spending that kind of money on a handbag, it better be worth it and none of these are.
 

Flared Jeans Kinda Day

When I got my hands on the Gucci Dionysus Top Handle bag, I knew I couldn't shoot it wearing just any outfit. I had to somehow get a seventies feel to it since that's what Alessandro Michele's Gucci is all about. So it was decided, flared jeans it is. Now I almost always only wear skinny jeans, so this was me having to step out of my comfort zone a little bit. And quite frankly, I'm really glad I did. I made a quick sourcing trip to the mall to hunt for the perfect pair and I was lucky enough to find it at Mango in Select City Walk. These boot cut jeans had a really big flare so it fit perfectly with my attempted seventies theme. Also, I love how tall they made me look. I'm a short person and skinny jeans don't really help, so in a way, this has encouraged me to really be more experimental this year as you never know what look ends up working for you.

I already had a nice green shirt that matched the signature Gucci stripes so my clothes were sorted. I didn't have a pair of those John Lennon style round sunglasses so I had to make do with my oversized Tom Ford's. Again, I wanted to keep my jewellery minimal as I wanted to focus on the handbag, so I just stacked up some bracelets and was good to go.


Shirt & Bracelets: Forever 21
Jeans: Mango
Handbag: Gucci
Shoes: Dune
Photography: Surbhi Sethi