Who What Wear

Pic courtesy: Sidney Sladen

A survival guide to help you sizzle through the last few days of this year

You’ve worked really hard all year and now have every reason to celebrate, have the perfect party plans to unleash your wild side and ring in the New Year. What comes next is the trauma of finding something great to throw on with that little time for shopping (year ends can be hectic) and that many parties to attend. When dark wash jeans and a flattering top or a nice black shirt with a smart tie will just not do, a survival guide on what works, to help you sizzle through ‘end of year’ dos.


Hot hues
Purples, blacks, midnight blues (a very dark shade of blue that looks like black), bottle greens and neon pinks (think fuchsia or rani pink) have definitely been the hottest colors this fall. The best thing about these colours is that with a little thought they can work for just about any complexion. Shop for purple for party princess glam, black when in doubt, midnight blue for chicness, bottle green for sheer luxe and hot pink for attention. Reds and whites are safe. You can never go wrong with these classic colours. Metallic hues are a little last year so save them for just the accessories. For men, dark purple, pinks and reds worn in combination with black and plain black (with interesting self detail) are strongly recommended.


Body con
For women one shoulder dresses, jumpsuits and 80’s inspired slouchy trousers are big this year but if a shift dress or cocktail salwar flatters your figure better, then that is definitely your best bet. You can afford to be adventurous with colours, prints and accessories but when it comes to choosing a style opt for something that you are comfortable in and focuses on your best features. For men its slim fit shirts and narrow trousers right now.


Wearable art
Abstract forms, geometric patterns and animal prints are huge, which makes it the perfect time to invest in a shirt with news print or a leopard print dress. The bold prints trend extends to accessories as well.

Must haves

• Black opaque leggings and bright coloured or embellished shrugs are definitely the season’s hottest buys for women. Work them into your party looks for max effect.

• Slim ties and scarves with interesting prints figure right at the top for men

Scarlet fervor

Brighten up your fall looks with this eyeball grabbing hue

Nothing spells hot and demands attention like the colour red, be it at a Christmas party or a New Year’s bash. Post holiday season red will still brighten your Mondays, energise you mid week and perfectly draw attention to your fun side during the weekend. For the attention shy, red is still a colour that exudes genuine warmth and if you are still wary of being able to carry it off, layering or accessorizing are options. Fire engine bright and scarlets for women, burgundy and deep crimson for men. Go ahead and paint the town red!


Red tape

Give any outfit an instant style update with this waist cincher in chilly red. Priced at Rs 450, available at Ego Fashion, Gopalapuram. Details: 9380790151


Comfort zone

As understated as red can get but still making a statement. Strappy sandals priced at Rs 300, available at Ego Fashion, Gopalapuram. Details: 9380790151


Colour block

Glam up with a sleek red wallet or use a string of beads( that can do double takes as a belt) to punctuate a monochrome look. Wallet priced at Rs 400 and beads Rs 250, available at Mee, Cathedral Road. Details: 42329525


Hot stuff

Zod never disappoints when it comes to offering interesting clubwear options for men. Black perfectly tones down flashy red. Striped shirt priced at Rs 1695 floral print shirt Rs 1795 , available at Zodiac, Khader Nawaz Khan Road. Details: 65245084


Red haute

When in doubt wear black but when you want to turn every head at the party red is your friend. With a pair of sky high heels and loads of confidence team this lycra top with a fitted skirt or dress pants. Priced at Rs 650, available at Mee, Cathedral Road. Details: 42329525



Crimson tie

Not metrosexual enough to wear red trousers? Bring life to an otherwise boring shirt with a red tie or cufflinks. Tie priced at Rs 999 and cufflinks at Rs2500, available at Zodiac, Khader Nawaz Khan Road. Details: 65245084


Gimme red

T his hooded tee with a relaxed fit is a great way of showing a little holiday spirit without going all out. Priced at Rs 3990, available at Esprit, Khader Nawaz Khan Road. Details: 43084827

Chennai fashion week- Day 5

Rahul and Gunjan’s line of flowy dresses inspired by USA pears was prismatic. Missed Neeta Lulla’s show, thanks to all the rescheduling. Loved Lida Oreilly’s collection that was all ruffles, rosettes and romance. In conclusion the most interesting designs came from the international designers and the newbies who did not really come with any preconceived notions about the city. What was really missing throughout was the drama and entertainment factor that is expected of a fashion event of this scale. Think Manish Arora's 'Circus' or Rohit Bal's Ashta Dhatu. Chennai Fashion week - a beginning, but definitely the best is yet to come.

Chennai Fashion Week-Days 2,3and 4

Hooded tops, shift dresses, tunics, aubergines, blacks and cinnamons- Sanchita Ajjampur’s collection on day 2 was breathtaking. Totally waiting for the designer to get back from Paris to get some interesting fashion bytes. Rehane’s ‘Looks like love’ was very ‘Rehane’. A romantic and whimsical collection that was totally wearable, but wouldn’t we all love to see more of ‘Space Age Sundari’ instead? Got to have a word with choreographer Sunil Menon during the show and he remarked how he would have loved to have seen a more Chennai oriented team behind the event though he definitely was excited about the city witnessing its first international fashion week. His thoughts were shared by Jewellery Designer and Stylist Ratika Kaul Haksar (spotted during the earlier part of the day in a stunning blue number), who mentioned how she would have liked to have had Designer Chaitanya Rao showing at the event. Micro shorts, ruffled blouses and skinny pants in white, white and more white. A monochrome colour palette, but Revathy, Radhika and Rays’opening collection for Day 3 was anything but monotonous. Hopefully we will get to see a lot more of this very young designer trio and their very uber cool clothes. Satkrit’s ‘Kanchipuram’ was understated and elegant. Vikram Phadnis’s line was sheer opulence. Something that Day 3 could definitely have done without is the Reebok Easy tone show that left most of the audience squirming. On Day 4 Nishka Lulla’s line was everything that was expected- youthful, kitschy and vibrant. I am still wondering why we did not get to see more of Louie Mariette’s bejeweled head pieces. Something that everybody seemed to be looking forward to after having caught glimpses of the man, his muse and one or two of the totally attention demanding head pieces at the Kingfisher Lounge. Looking forward to the grand finale today by Neeta Lulla.

Chennai Fashion Week-Days 2,3and 4

Hooded tops, shift dresses, tunics, aubergines, blacks and cinnamons- Sanchita Ajjampur’s collection on day 2 was breathtaking. Totally waiting for the designer to get back from Paris to get some interesting fashion bytes. Rehane’s ‘Looks like love’ was very ‘Rehane’. A romantic and whimsical collection that was totally wearable, but wouldn’t we all love to see more of ‘Space Age Sundari’ instead? Got to have a word with choreographer Sunil Menon during the show and he remarked how he would have loved to have seen a more Chennai oriented team behind the event though he definitely was excited about the city witnessing its first international fashion week. His thoughts were shared by Jewellery Designer and Stylist Ratika Kaul Haksar (spotted during the earlier part of the day in a stunning blue number), who mentioned how she would have liked to have had Designer Chaitanya Rao showing at the event. Micro shorts, ruffled blouses and skinny pants in white, white and more white. A monochrome colour palette, but Revathy, Radhika and Rays’opening collection for Day 3 was anything but monotonous. Hopefully we will get to see a lot more of this very young designer trio and their very uber cool clothes. Satkrit’s ‘Kanchipuram’ was understated and elegant. Vikram Phadnis’s line was sheer opulence. Something that Day 3 could definitely have done without is the Reebok Easy tone show that left most of the audience squirming. On Day 4 Nishka Lulla’s line was everything that was expected- youthful, kitschy and vibrant. I am still wondering why we did not get to see more of Louie Mariette’s bejeweled head pieces. Something that everybody seemed to be looking forward to after having caught glimpses of the man, his muse and one or two of the totally attention demanding head pieces at the Kingfisher Lounge. Looking forward to the grand finale today by Neeta Lulla.

Chennai Fashion Week- Day 1

Kudos to Storm fashion and Galatta cinema for bringing a fashion week to Chennai. Kimaya, M.A.C , Jimmy Choo and now a fashion week, our city is definitely on a roll. The choreography and Koena Mitra hardly did anything to the ‘not so exciting’ colour palette of Pria Kataria Puri’s 80’s inspired opening collection. With relaxed silhouettes and abstract prints the collection was wearable but definitely lacking in imagination. Delhi based Chirag Joshi’s three lines, the very chic Cotton Couture, prismatic Flora and Fauna and Kamasutra (very interesting, indianised interpretations of the LBD) are perfect for Chennai. Nothing OTT, but very sleek and stylish. Ishita Singh did justice to fusion wear (a much abused term nowadays). Her floor length skirts with suspenders and embellished waist coats and showstopper Genelia were both contagiously effervescent. Jason and Anshu’s line was vibrant with fruity hues. The Sri Lankan designer Yolanda Aluwihare and our city’s own Sidney Sladen gave us the high energy drama that we were all looking for and something that the other showings had greatly lacked. Looking forward to Day 2

Stylist Diaries

Some of Chennai’s well-kept shopping secrets revealed. Incredibly, interesting places that most city guides may forget to include.

We all love multi brand stores and high end boutiques. Love the way they have made picking up something that looks good, fits well and will last a while so convenient.But shopping at popular stores sometimes has the downside of lack of exclusivity (remember secretly cursing a colleague for having the same dress/bag just when it was drawing the right kind of attention?). Which is probably why a few shopping places that may not exactly be googleable but offer equally exciting buys at very affordable prices are the well guarded secrets of fashion stylists, costumers, design students and even fashion obsessed college kids. These stores do not follow rigorous marketing or advertising strategies and their locations are sometimes anything but attention demanding, but this seems to be a case where the products do all the talking.


Rajesh fancy stores
Location : 128, Fountain Plaza, Egmore
This little store tucked in a corner of one of Chennai’s oldest plazas has
the most interesting of sequined clutches, oversized bangles, printed bags and shoulder dusting earrings available at decent prices.
What we love: The fact that the accessories are so tasteful and exclusive that their clientele includes even fashion biggies like Sidney Sladen and Chaitanya Rao.
Contact: 28193514


Beauty World
Location : 39/2 Rattan bazzar
One visit to this store and you may never have to schedule an appointment with your salon, because chances are their supplies came from here. (They supply Studio Profile, Naturals, Green Trends, Kanyas and Bounce to name a few)
What we love: Straightening irons, curling rods and head steams available at prices ranging from affordable to expensive. Hair spa creams and oxygen facial kits of leading beauty brands.
Contact: 43233503


V2 Boutique
Location: Basement of Fountain Plaza, Egmore
Finding a store in the city that retails good party wear that is neither too expensive nor trashy and overdosed with bling is quite a task, which is probably why college kids who frequent this store normally choose to stay tight lipped to keep fashion zebras( copycats) at bay.
What we love: The bold, backless halters as well as the comparatively tame long black dresses. Basically, the fact that there is something for everyone.
Contact: 9840066749


Rumours
Location : F 113, Spencer Plaza, Phase II
While their name might have escaped the credits of quite a few Kollywood films, their well-cut tops and dresses have certainly not escaped the notice of fashionable Chennaiites. Chicness is something that this store seems to have understood very well
What we love: Very, very chic dresses and tops. A tube dress in black and fuschia with a broad belt.
Contact: 42140163


Belt spot
Location : Opposite Jainsons, T.nagar, Pondy Bazaar
This stall that has been around for 25 years now has belts of all kinds. Wide, narrow, linked, woven, you name it.
What we love: The belts with their quirky, oversized buckles look anything but cheap or off-the-street, which is why a lot of film stylists and costumers shop from here.


Bead corner
Location: Outside Spencer’s Daily in Besant Nagar.
It’s difficult to believe what these prismatic beads can do to an outfit if you know how to mix and match. Every fashion design student has picked up something from here at some time or the other.
What we love: The prices. If you know how to bargain you can accessorise practically every outfit that you own