Dior Cruise 2017 Review

For Cruise 2017, the couture house chose the stunning and historic Blenheim palace to stage the show. The palace is embedded amongst Dior's history books with two previous shows held there. One in 1954, designed by Monsieur Dior himself and the other in 1958 when Yves Saint Laurent was the creative director. Both were attended and loved by Princess Margaret.

The duo managing the design team took to the English country life and posh post war wardrobes as inspiration. The collection consisted of quirky and young silhouettes as opposed to the elegant ones we had been seeing in the past. Rounded puffy sleeved dresses were layered with slightly flared pants, skirts or worn on their own. Whilst there was lots of floral embellishment, I adored the way flowers were embroidered on to printed fabric. Case in point: The black cotton embroidered printed shirt. There were blazers with a thin silk scarf like fabric flowing through from one side to the other. Whilst the blazers were nice, the flailing fabric seemed unnecessary.The bar jacket was reworked and instead of a peplum, they came with a soft U-shaped drape on the waist. The same draping technique was seen on dresses and tops too. Amongst the outerwear, an off white crepe and wool jacket that folded over below the waist with oversized buttons was a favourite and so was a powder blue tweed number. Hunting imagery was depicted on casual jacquard knits and there were lovely English style tea dresses. Accessories included fun bangles made from wood, leather and metal. A flap bag brought in the old Christian Dior logo and was reminiscent of their iconic saddle bags from more than a decade ago. There were also these oversized shopping bag kind of purses which I wasn't a fan of.

Overall, it was a nice collection that worked on revamping the house's codes, but I wasn't bowled over by it. There needs to be the guidance of a solid creative director to get that WOW factor we have been used to by geniuses like Simons and Galliano. However, having said that, hats off to the design team for still putting in a solid effort because Dior loyalists will still be queuing up to buy their favourite pieces.

 

Desi Snob X Rock'n'Shop

 

 

 

Just about two weeks ago, I collaborated with the fabulous e-commerce platform Rock'n'Shop for an amazing shoot where I talk about how to take care of your Celine purses. Naturally, I was all glammed up by their lovely stylist Puja who had created a bunch of looks for me. And because I loved my outfit (especially the first one) so much, I thought I should talk about it on the blog.

The first look she curated for me, a monochrome outfit from Bodice by Ruchika Sachdeva, couldn't have been more apt for the summer. I had been wanting to wear Ruchika Sachdeva's clothes for a while so I jumped in excitment when Puja sent me my list of looks. A beautiful cotton silk shirt with an uneven pleated hem paired with black denim culottes was not only very chic, but extremely comfortable and easy to move around in. In my previous post, I have talked about why a few pairs of culottes are a must have for the summer and this one in particular tops my list. The shirt was the kinds you slip on and had a loose silhouette so it wasn't sticking to my skin which was great. I also adored how flirty the hem was. It made the outfit slightly less formal and added a playful touch to it. When wearing neutral coloured clothes, it's important to add a pop of colour through accessories, so this bi-colour Cabas tote from Celine which has been a favourite for a while was an obvious choice. This look can easily transition from day to night by further accessorising making it an important investment for your closet. Shop the look below.

Culottes - Bodice (Click here to purchase)
Top - Bodice (Click here to purchase)
Handbag- Celine (Click here to purchase)
Shoes - Dune
Images via Rock'n'Shop

Gucci Cruise 2017 Review

The first fashion house to ever host a show at London's Westminister Abbey, Gucci's Resort 2017 collection just took my breath away. The historic setting, followed by The Schola Cantorum of Oxford singing Scarborough Fair, (we used to sing that in Grade 4 music class) literally gave me goose bumps.Once I was done watching the show, I had to sit back for a few minutes just to absorb what I had witnessed.

There was a strong focus on separates, clashing prints and textures. This collection was Michele's version of various British cultures mixed with his philosophy of more is more. There were punk references throughout the show. A tartan ball gown with an embellished big cat across the bust, colourful kilts (one even came with an embroidered King Charles Spaniel) and a Union Jack sweater made to look glamorous with a bejewelled brooch were some of my favourites. A black leather dress with a laser cut bib and border and gold spikes around the collar paid a fashionable tribute to the eighties Goth subculture. I loved how despite the Anglophilia, the collection was every bit Italian too. The craftsmanship and the detailing was exquisite.

Michele loves to play around with animal motifs and so there were cats on sweaters and t-shirts, pooches on an astrakhan number, peacocks on a silk shift dress and king snakes on a shaved fur jacket. More British eccentricity came in the form of a printed granny skirt suit, complete with a wide brimmed hat, an oversized flower around the neck and gorgeous round toe shoes with tiger spur hardware. Over the top? Yes. But somehow, it worked. And beautifully at that. Overall, there was not one single theme that came with the looks. You had a Victorian collar peeping out from an androgynous and sporty sweatshirt and then something completely unexpected like a red pleated gown with ruffles and lace.

The accessories were equally important here and I cant think of a single piece I didn't like. A bamboo top handle Sylvie, in exotic skin featuring a King Snake on the border of the flap and it's head on the closure was enough to make any bag lover drool. The embellished oversized hobos were an instant hit and so were the painted cross body bags. More reinterpretations of the Dionysus, especially the one in blue, red and white is a piece I would like to get my hands on. Apart from the bags, I couldn't get my eyes off the studded leather hand harnesses, the oversized statement earrings worn over the silk shift dress and of course the embellished shoes. I could seriously go on and on, but I'll have to stop myself now.

In all honestly, words cannot describe the beauty that this show was. All I know is that Alessandro Michele is steering Gucci in a new direction. And we are all on board.

 

Bye Bye Jeans, Hello Culottes

Since the temperatures have been soaring (mid to high forties) I cannot bear the thought of putting on my skinny jeans. This presents quite a conundrum as that's what I wear on most days. Enter culottes! A solid investment, not only to beat the heat, it's an extremely versatile garment. Wear them to work with a pair of pumps and a white shirt, or throw on a motorcycle jacket if you're headed to a social gathering, or pair them with sneakers if you want. The options are plenty making it an absolute must have. I prefer getting them from Indian labels such as Rara Avis by Sonal Verma or Bodice by Ruchika Sachdeva as opposed to high street brands due to the natural textiles most designers use. Fast fashion brands don't always use pure fabrics so the quality is inferior. Plus, I love supporting Indian talent and we have so many amazing designers that are making some stunning clothes.

Moving on, as I had mentioned in my previous post, I am on a mission to recycle my closet and have been trying to use every single white shirt of mine in a new look. Therefore, it was only natural for me to lean towards the one I'm wearing to pair with these lovely green pants. I draped a distressed white motorcycle jacket to give you an idea as to how this look can easily transform by just adding another layer! Knowing me, I almost always have to add a statement accessory which in this case was this lovely necklace which had a lovely suede tassel attached to the oversized pendant. I love to colour block so a pair of purple shoes and a gold bag did the trick for me.

Culottes, Belt & Necklace: Rara Avis by Sonal Verma
Leather Jacket: 431-88 by Shweta Kapur
Sunglasses & Handbag: Dior
Shoes: Yves Saint Laurent
Bracelet: Bulgari

Recycling My Closet

More often than not, I find myself constantly feeling the need to buy new clothes despite bursting closets (I've now started stuffing things in the husband's and the baby's wardrobes). A couple of days ago, I realised that I need to start finding new ways to pair my old clothes. I went hunting inside my cupboard and was determined to succeed in this new project of mine. My first stop: the million white shirts in all shapes and lengths I own. A white shirt is like a blank slate. It works with almost every bottom: skirts, jeans, trousers, etc. You get where I'm going. In addition, since it's a neutral, all colours can be worn with it. The boyfriend shirt I chose for this look had always been paired with jeans. And the denim mini I'm wearing would always be worn with super high heels. This time, I decided to combine these two and throw in a pair of sneakers since I'm all about the comfort these days.

Since it was a relatively simple look, my accessories had to make a statement. I've been all gung ho about these Diorama Sunglasses that have recently hit the boutiques. I love how the frame has a cat eye shape outlining the square lenses. Furthermore, the metallic pink really makes them stand out and so does the signature Dior cannage detailing on the sides. It's a real must have piece for the summer. I used a Dior collar and layered it with their Number 8 necklace to add a little bit of excess and used a plum cross body purse. Hand embroidered sneakers completed my look.

Any thoughts?

Bag, Sunglasses, Collar, Necklace & Sneakers: Dior
Shirt: River Island
Skirt: Zara
Earrings: HnM

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.