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

Footnotes

From office appropriate to party chic, boots can be anything you want them to be.


Balmain’s Suede buckled ankle boots. Priced at £957.50. Available at www.netaporter.com

Chennai has no fall, no winter, but when it comes to following this hot fall trend that you just cannot afford to miss, we think you could just make do with air conditioning. While thigh high or knee high (also available at these stores) might be a little impractical and difficult to attempt, ankle boots can effortlessly be worked into your everyday wardrobe. Not to forget December happens to be our coldest month and also marks the beginning of the holiday season. So what’s keeping you from popping a pair and taking off on a Euro trip?
Psst! Retailers if you are listening, we would love to see pinks, purples and reds on the racks as well. The typical Chennai shopper today is anything but conservative.


Buckle up
With a sturdy heel and bordering on the androgynous this one works better with jeans. Opt for skinnies to show off the belt and buckle detail. Priced at Rs 1700. Available at El Torro, Nungambakkam. Details: 65175899


Grey sells
Ground a kaleidoscopic legging with this shoe in solid grey.Priced at Rs 1895. Available at Koblerr, Shanti Colony, Anna Nagar.Details:45500173


Colour blind
If you’re looking for something prismatic to jazz up a monochrome fall outfit or basic denim, the psychedelic boots from Manish Arora’s ‘Fish fry’ line are still a good idea. A little last year, but just as HOT. Priced at Rs 7990. Available at Reebok Women’s World, Khader Nawaz Khan Road. Details: 43084555


Hot shoe
As feminine and covetable as a boot can get. The pointed toe-pencil heel-bling detail combination is killer. Priced at Rs 1990. Available at Mochi, Shanti colony, Anna Nagar. Details: 42172347


White hot
White seems to be the new black when it comes to men’s footwear. Perfect for a night out. Priced at Rs 2490. Available at Mochi, Shanti colony, Anna Nagar. Details: 42172347


Fuss free
Laid back and cool, boots in suede work best with denims or cords. Priced at Rs 2690. Available at Mochi, Shanti colony, Anna Nagar. Details: 42172347

Decoding Denim

20 Things you need to know to wear your pair like second skin

1. Forget the blues. Spruce up your fall wardrobe with denim in bright pop colours like red, pink and if you think you can carry it off even yellow (now available in Chennai)

2. When in doubt team a dark wash with a cleverly cut white shirt. A classic pairing that can never go out of style

3. Denim on denim can often be a faux pas. If you have to, stay away from one tone and experiment by teaming different washes

4. Degrade or tie –dyed denim is HOT! Team with a simple blazer and ankle boots for max effect

5. The 70’s wide leg is back but very wide legs can make petite frames look shorter

6. Ragged hems are so not stylish, so use the original hem for a finished look

7. For lasting colour always wash jeans inside out in cold water

8. To avoid shrinkage hang dry instead of using a machine dryer

9. The best way to wear boyfriend jeans is by pegging it at the ankle. The cuffs should reach right above the ankles. To make it more casual roll it twice or three times

10. The must haves are skinny jeans, flares (or the universally flattering boot cut) and black jeans

11. When buying stretch jeans always go one size down

12. To prevent bunching always choose zipper over button fly

13. When paired with the right accessories a black pair that fits well can be anything from office appropriate to party chic

14. Skinny jeans are not just for skinny girls. It actually gives women who are curvy a lot more definition

15. When trying on a jean, you should be able to comfortably slide you hand between your tummy and the jean. Also, try sitting down and make sure they are not cutting into your midsection.

16. Boyfriend jeans must be loose on the hips, but do accessorize with an interesting belt.

17. Embellished white denim is a great alternative for dress pants for a night out

18. Get an instant tummy tuck with a high waisted pair.

19. Jeans cropped at the ankle works best for boyish frames

20. Opt for a straight cut narrow leg style as opposed to the regular skinny jean if you are curvier at the bottom

Wild Bride

You don’t have to exchange vows with a mod-goth skull ring. But doesn’t the new age bride who is mysterious, eclectic and free spirited, deserve a trousseau as distinctive as her?

Be it a sumptuous fairytale wedding or an intimate nuptial ceremony, the emphasis on the bride is pretty much the same. On that one day (a week if it’s an extended celebration) when everything is about you, it would be a sin to look ordinary or unsurprising. Whether it’s a hiked up sari hemline (a la Sabyasachi), or swapping regular gold jewelry for intricately crafted pieces in antique silver, extend the individualism of your personality to your wedding ensemble. Go ahead and be defiant, after all, you have the rest of your life for regular styles.
Even a jean and tee girl looks for a certain amount of traditionalism in a bridal ensemble and even if not, there is the issue of pleasing everyone from elbow nudging aunts to a scrutinising mom in law. With a little thought you can have the best of both the worlds. If you have to wear a kancheevaram sari why not wear it a little differently. The heaviness of the fabric does not permit much experimentation in terms of draping, so, try stitching two saris that look good together into a lehnga and embellish with a touch of swarovski. Dare to wear a sportswear inspired racer back choli or replace the done to death ghagra with a billowy patiala style bottom.
If you are a beach bride take it up a notch with cheeky innerwear as outerwear, team a net and jersey corset with see-through detail and a sequined lehnga. Use a chiffon sari to create a Grecian style drape dress. Think beyond just silhouettes and styles and experiment with fabric. Go organic with benarasi silks or indulge in long forgotten trousseau regulars like brocade and velvet that are hot right now.
An offbeat outfit has to be complemented with quirky jewellery, hair and make up. The statement necklace is fall’s hottest bridal jewelry trend. So invest in a super sized choker and lose the earrings. Alternatively try layering necklaces of different lengths remembering to play with stones and metal tone (gold does not always have to be yellow, innovate with rose and white versions of it). Attempt the extreme with diamonds, stack oversized cuffs on the hand or try shoulder dusting chandelier earrings.
Loosely styled, tousled strands are a lot sexier than stiff updos for the hair. If you have to have a structured do, try a voluminous beehive bun. Forget bronze or blonde and go for highlights in deep wine, burnt rose or cinnamon. Give metallic eyeshadows a miss and double line your peepers with a pen liner in ubiquitous black or midnight blue. Make up artist Cory Walia’s ethnic rendition of the double lined look for Anamika Khanna is strongly recommended.

Pink Fever

Whether it's shots of acid or a burst of candy, colour blocks of draped silk or artistic graphic prints, this fall, pink is potent

No, we are not talking rose blush or a baby hue because pink right now is anything but the stereotypical pretty. Neon, bright berry or fuchsia, the bolder the better. Going by other hot trends, including an 80’s revival, Barbie’s 50th birthday and the global interest in India’s celebratory colors (thanks to “Slumdog Millionaire), now is the perfect time to flaunt this sassy, OTT, attention demanding hue. Nose rings, bra straps, nail lacquer, stoles, toe rings slim ties and even cuff links are great ways of incorporating this shocking shade into your regular looks.

Random musings

To the common eye it’s a red dress, to a fashionista it’s a beautiful red drape dress, to a fashion writer it’s yards of fabric (silk/chiffon/tulle) in rose red, skillfully swathed to hug ones curves at the right places. This post is not really as random as it may seem. It’s my reaction (purely a point of view) to a whole lot of presumptions, assumptions and misconceptions about fashion journalism. For reasons unknown to me there are a whole lot of people who conveniently believe that the easiest thing in the world is to write about fashion. While it’s no rocket science, it still requires just as much as creativity and spontaneity as does writing about any other topic under the sun.
It’s one thing to spot a painted wooden bangle at a store and know it would look great if worn, but to describe the smoothness of it’s finish, the intricacy of it’s design, the vibrancy of its colour and actually coax the reader into coveting it, well that’s a whole different game. When you write about a pair of jeans you don’t just stop with describing it’s fit and cut (even a press release can do that) but actually go on to tell what it can do to a thin woman, a fat woman, a tall woman or a petite woman. And unless what you write actually helps the reader in making sensible wardrobe decisions, they do not come back to read your column. The fashion world is filled with complexities, paradoxes and even eccentricities, decoding these complexities that keep the average Joe/Jill from the joys of high fashion is what a true blue fashion writer does.

Pret-a-porter

The pursuit for affordable sartorial indulgences ends with designer pret

Anybody who loves good clothes would agree that a beautiful garment is an unfathomable source of joy; the most mood lifting of all therapies. My mother never fails to reminisce of the times when every birthday/festival/ special occasion would mean a trip to Mangharams or India Silk House, the then popular textile stores, where yards of taffeta silk, hakoba, net nylon and casement would be purchased only to be transformed into fine-looking skirts, blouses, dresses, shirts and pinafores by the handy family tailor. Readymade garments were scoffed at and considered more of a last resort as finding the perfect size and fit was a rare occurrence with off the rack clothes.
Westernisation and a remarkable turnaround in the pace of lives popularized ready-mades. Custom made clothes soon became more of a once in a while indulgence with retailers like Boston, Sarang, Sharkskin, London Stores, Raymond, Naidu hall etc redefining the way people looked at ready-to-wear clothes. Sizes were precise, choices many and soon shopping around for that perfect fabric and running behind an absent minded tailor, who almost always had a labor problem seemed like a very cumbersome process. Unlike before when the middle class urbanite mostly associated good clothes with the celebration of a significant occasion, today a sartorial indulgence is more about celebrating oneself, which means shopping more often and investing only in clothes that look good and feel good, which is why the affordability and allure of designer prêt have made it an easy winner.
Until very recently designer wear meant expensive and opulent clothing that was the preserve of the very wealthy and the affluent. Indian designers sat in their studios and drew creations for a select clientele that primarily comprised of rich socialites and Non Resident Indians. The clothes were termed haute couture and the creations priced at nothing less than a small fortune. But soon the burgeoning middle class with its increasing disposable income and growing aspirations to look wealthy had the entire designer world succumbing to the lure of prêt, with cleverly cut, chic designer wear being available within a very affordable price bracket of Rs 300-3000. World over any fashion house’s primary income is derived of prêt. Couture serves to indulge the designer’s creative urges but is hardly as lucrative as prêt. And the consumer is hardly complaining because designer prêt means availing the style sensibilities of Ritu Kumar or Vivek Karunakaran at a little less than a thousand rupees. It might mean a few sequins less but it’s designer wear any way.
Pic courtesy: label Ascot designer pret by Vivek Karunakaran

Reel fashion was never more real

From outlandish and bizarre to chic, made–to–fit and comfortable, Kollywood’s style sensibilities have come a long way over the years

Unlike inanimate magazine photospreads and split second runway appearances, in films, as clothes and accessories are set to motion and given context, fashion comes alive.Which is why world over, fashion or the fashionability of cinema never fails to have a direct impact on retail. But for ‘A Place in the Sun’ (1951) or ‘Hum Aapke Hain Kaun’(1994) the ‘White party dress’ or the ‘ventilated choli’ would neither have received the same mass appeal nor have sold numerous replicas. Closer home, Kollywood itself has seen many an onscreen style translate to street fashion and something that’s difficult to ignore is how over the years, the industry’s style sensibilities have come a long way from outlandish and bizarre to chic, made–to–fit and comfortable. There is still the ‘odd’ shocking pink harem pant in a Vijay dance sequence, but one look at Meghna (Vaaranam Aayiram), Karthik (Unnaale Unnale) and you know wearable fashion is now more the norm than an exception.
Much has changed since the costumer gave way to the stylist and brocade gave way to chiffons. Film fashion today is a lot more practical and even accessible. “Nobody wants to wear something very uncomfortable, neither do actors. Definitely, there is still a tendency to look for something a little larger than life while shopping for a film, but not to the extent that it’s impractical”, explains stylist Nalini Shriram. Does the probability of the costume or style catching on with the audience determine the wearability of the outfit in anyway? “If something catches on, it feels wonderful. But there are a million other larger issues like the background colour, lighting etc to be concerned about while designing for a film. So it’s virtually impossible to actually think in terms of how well the outfit would work with the retail market” she clarifies.
It’s not a rare occurrence anymore when you notice that the nicely cut shirt on your favourite actor is the exact same one that you were eyeballing at the mall the other day, only worn with a clever twist. Most stylists today claim shopping out of regular places like Lifestyle and Addidas that are known for their very stylish yet wearable clothes. “It normally depends on the budget of the film. If the budget is huge, we customize the costumes and if we have to work within a smaller budget we shop around. But as a rule costumes are never hired to ensure exclusivity”, says Designer Sidney Sladen.
We’ve seen the CEO (Sanjay Ramaswamy in Ghazini), the working woman (Divya in Autograph), the yuppie( Anbarasu in Anbae Sivam) , the school teacher (Maya in Kaakha Kaakha) and the college goer (Munna in Boys) and what’s difficult to ignore is that styling has played a crucial role in lending credibility to these characters. Sanjay Ramaswamy in a velvet jacket or Divya in a brocade salwar would never have had the same impact. Says stylist Erum Ali, “Nowadays there are some directors who go down to the last detail and specify everything from the motifs to the shade of the colour to be used when the character’s clothes have a lot to do with the image portrayed.” “This especially happens when you’re styling a villain. There are a lot of times when you are asked to use black or black leather”, agrees Sidney.
With regards to film fashion the differences between reel and real have blurred to the extent that sometimes outfits designed for a film actually find their way into the actor’s personal wardrobe. “I had put aside a very beautiful sherwani that I had designed for one of Abbas’s films and did not get used and it works well for special occasions”, laughs Erum. While designing for an actor I normally choose to keep their film look separate from their regular look, but there are lots of instances when they want a particular style or outfit replicated for their own wardrobe” says Sidney.

Fire and Ice

Gold epitomizes plush luxury and silver exudes understated glam. Wear them both together and the amalgamation is nothing less than dramatic.

What’s Diwali minus the bling? The exotic zari that borders our kanjeevarams, the intricately woven embroidery in lehngas and cholis, the mirrors that adorn clay diyas and the silver that we so lovingly scatter on our mithai’s are all metaphorical of prosperity and abundance, which is precisely what the festival is all about. While our country’s love affair with gold and silver is legendary, combining these two ‘attention demanding’ colours was always considered a faux pas until now. However this season, from Marc Jacobs to Manish Malhotra, everybody seems to be embracing the trend of blending the two show stopping hues together.
In the world of fashion when you do something which is not supposed to be done it always turns heads, which explains D&G models strutting down the runway in mirrored black dresses with chunky gold necklaces and Manish Malhotra’s silvery gray saris with gold borders that came down the ramp, breaking one of fashion’s golden rules and kicking off a raging trend. With A-listers like Paris Hilton, Gywenyth Paltrow also having given the style the affirmative nod and this being the festival season, it perfectly works for us that gold and silver are the season’s new neutrals, that it’s no more a critical either/or choice you have to make and that both these colours can now happily co-exist.

Dress code

• To produce an effect that’s chic and not gaudy tone down bright silver with dull gold or vice versa
• The two tone effect increases wearability which means with a little thought you can mix and match with a larger palette of colours
• For minimalist chic opt for a look that also uses neutrals like black, white or beige
• If your outfit or accessories are overdosed with two toned bling, stay away from metallic shades for hair and make up. You don’t want to end up looking like a Christmas tree

Who, What, Wear?

Choose from pre-stitched saris, bias cut kurtas and brightly coloured kurta pyjama sets to make heads turn this Diwali

Shopping for Diwali is a ritual in itself that is more religiously observed by most of us than the traditional oil soak or bhai dooj. As amusing as it may seem even the most culture confused of NRIs and Gen X brats confess doing the rounds for an embellished silk lehnga or at least a cocktail sari to flaunt during the festival. With numerous silhouettes, cuts and fabrics to choose from it’s now that much more easier to invest in ethnic wear that’s both comfortable and chic. We have 5 top Indian designers, each known for their unique style sensibilities, telling you what works this year


Designer Kavitha Bhartia
Trademark style: Experimental and re inventive designs
“I think this year it’s all about having a little fun with the sari. Pre-stitched saris work great for this fun festival that is all about get-togethers, meeting people and parties. Embellishments are minimal allowing a lot of experimentation with mixing of different types of fabric. Accessorise the sari with metallic bags and embellished footwear.”

Designer Rina Dhaka
Trademark style: Bold and offbeat
“It’s the perfect time for well preserved hand me downs. Blacks, navys, bottle greens and midnight blues are the colours to look for. Choose a style that works for your body type. It’s very important to go Indian and western wear and fusion dressing is a complete no no.”


Designer Varun Bahl
Trademark style: mix of old world charm and contemporary chic
“It’s neither about bling nor minimalism. It’s all about individualism. Light ghagras or anarkalis work for women and men can abandon the usual white and black kurta pyjama sets for brightly coloured ones.”

Designer Sonam Dubal
Trademark style: fusion of eastern traditions with western aesthetics
“Opt for a causal meets formal look. Tunics with craft oriented intricate embellishments teamed with jeans and accessorized with a beautifully textured and printed scarf or stole works well for women. Men can opt for ikat or pin tuck kurtas.”

Designer Nikasha Tawadey
Trademark style: Bohemian chic
“Wear a nice bias cut kurta (anarkali if it works for your body type) paired with churidhar or salwar pants, depending on the wearer’s comfort, with a brocade waist coat and pretty kohlapuris or gold wedges. Accessorise with just one statement piece.”

Mixed Bag

6 hot, sizzling, never before twists to your regular festival looks

Year after year festivals give us that much needed excuse to deck up and dazzle, a time when we do not mind swapping the comfort of our no fuss jean and tee look for the sheer opulence of nine yard kancheevarams and flowing tissue ghagras. With experimentation being the key word in the world of fashion today it would be a crime to not infuse a little bit of fun and glam into our regular festival looks while not taking away from the self possessed elegance of these classic styles. So, go ahead have fun playing stylist this Diwali

• Think backless cholis and noodle strap blouses are too tame? Structured and bold shoulders are so Fall 2009. Try a blouse with shoulder pads with your sari for the perfect exaggerated shoulder look.

• Swap your dupatta for a fitted shrug (the shorter the better) and your traditional salwar kameez /churidhar gets an instant lift. Opt for a sequined shrug if the rest of your outfit could use a little bling. Printed shrugs work best if your outfit is heavily embellished.

• Team an embellished anarkali kurta with transparent black stockings for an evening out and watch heads turn.

• Colour co ordinate a long flowing ghaghra with a simple slim fit white shirt worn with an intricately detailed spaghetti over for interesting effect

• A voluminous patiala pant works better with a fitted tee than the regular kurti. Add a corsage or a printed scarf for quirky edge if the tee is plain.

• A quilted jacket worn with churi pants in a basic hue is a safe bet if you love androgynous styles

What's in a nail?

Think pink nails are passé and kohl tips, done to death? How does a Da Vinci miniature on your talons sound for a change?

No longer is painting your nails about matching the colour of the lacquer to your outfit. Right now, it’s all about wearing your attitude. From mismatching your toes to your fingers to getting yin yangs and cross bones on your tips, nail trends are more personalized and quirky than ever before. Wanna look ‘with it’ but not game for something as permanent as a tattoo or radical as an eyebrow piercing? Nail art is an easy and fun alternative to exude cool.
According to Rachel, Stylesmith, “With regards to the city I think nail art is still more of a once in a while indulgence”. “We normally offer it as a part of our bridal packages and women sometimes want their nails done according to what they are going to wear for a special occasion like a wedding or a festival”, she says. Contrary to popular belief, it’s not just the college goers and teenagers who are all for fun nails. “It’s more about anyone who is young at heart”, she laughingly adds. And how quirky are design preferences we enquire? "Well, I have had a college goer get an Om, a cross and a crescent moon done on three of her fingers”, she says. Easwari, the manicurist at Salon Nayana, believes that pink is easily the most favoured colour when it comes to nail art. “Most people seem to prefer floral designs in pink and white and white swarovski stones are a hot with brides, she observes.

Gender issue

From spa treatments to manicures, beauty treatments are no longer the preserve of the fairer sex, so, we wonder aloud if the metrosexual male has also taken to nail art and Farida.M, Operations Director, Bounce Style lounge clarifies,” The basic idea of nail art is to prettifying one’s nails. So, it’s more of women belonging to a more matured age group who go in for the service.”

Nail TLC
Like any other cosmetic service the longetivity of nail services also depends on after care and maintenance.

• Reapply a clear top coat every two or three days to protect your art and to keep your nails looking shiny, and apply cuticle oil daily.
• Treat your nails with care—wear gloves while doing household chores
• Exercise caution while opening soda cans, container lids etc. The excessive pressure can damage your nails.


DIY

• Want an intricate design but don’t want to pay a pro? Buy stickers or preprinted artificial nails.
• Add swarovski stones to to the edge of your French manicure. White flowers on any color is a classic look too.
• Flowers and letters work best for beginners. Build up gradually to complex designs.
• Use tweezers or a special applicator to dip small nail jewels or stickers into nail gel or nail glue.



Try these

Nail graffiti
Lace patterns (created with gels and airbrush paint)
Domino dots
Nail glitter
Piercings (preferably on ring finger or little finger)


Services:

Stylesmith: nail art services are priced at Rs 300 upwards, nail piercings at Rs 200 and nail extensions at Rs 2500++.
Salon Nayana: nail art services are priced at Rs 200 upwards and nail extensions at Rs 2000++.Details: 28343064
Bounce Style Lounge: nail art services are priced at Rs 700 upwards and nail extensions at Rs 1800++.
Details: 28330508

The Royal Superstar

Browsing through magazines while waiting in the study of a very popular image consultant and page 3 socialite, I chanced upon a feature in ‘The Economist’ mourning the loss of the iconic Maharani Gayatri Devi, who was once listed by Vogue UK as one of the world’s ten most beautiful women. While her innate sense of style has never failed to captivate me, belonging to an era that iconises Angelina Jolie and Aishwarya Rai, I have always regarded her more as a symbol of quaint charm than as a present day muse. But a certain paragraph in the article on how the princess poured expensive French perfume into the sewer of her prison cell and on further research reading anecdotes of how she used to listen to the BBC on a smuggled radio, and play badminton with prostitutes and pickpockets during her 156 day imprisonment in Tihar jail completely altered my fallacy and had me thinking, ‘here’s a woman who can put just about any modern day cosmo girl to shame with her attitude, spirit and spunk’.
I have always believed that personal style is never about what brands you wear or what jewellery you flaunt, but instead an extension of your inner persona to everything from the clothes you wear to the way you live. And in that sense this woman is indeed one of the most stylish women the world has ever seen. Not just because she chose to drape herself in five yards of airy chiffon at a time when women of regal bearing normally dressed in heavy silk brocade or fine muslin embroidered in gold thread or even because she favoured Baroda pearls over ostentatious jewellery, but simply because her sense of style extended well beyond what she wore into every aspect of her being. She might have learnt from her grandmother that emeralds looked better with pink saris rather than green, observed from her mother not to wear diamond-drop earrings at cocktail parties, but when you read how she left Asia’s largest prison and easily one of it’s worst wafting with intoxicating vapours of French perfume, you know that her sense of style and air of regality is way beyond something that can be cultivated. Never again will yards of chiffon and strings of pearl appear as enthralling

Mad Monochrome

Simple and classic, this winning colour scheme never fails to gain attention when done well. Make the most of this timeless trend as it reinvents itself with sequins, stripes and rollicking retro accents.

You hardly require a stylist to put together a black and white look, but with designers presently reworking the yin and yang with everything from animal prints to mondrian style colour blocking, the possibilities of having a little fun with your clothes, while still limiting yourself to austere neutrals, are more. The uninitiated can experiment with little black dresses and white clutches or pumps but,nothing less than an indulgence in exotic graphic prints in contrasts of paper white and dense black is recommended for the pros. Thoughtfully invest in a few wardrobe inclusions and they will last long after your prismatic ensembles have faded into last season’s oblivion.

Mono mania
As referred to in high fashion circles as ‘mad monochrome’, suggesting something more daring than just a white shirt and black trousers, black and white currently is bold and over the top. So, abandon the usual pin stripes and checks for an outrageous tribal print or degrade and go ahead and break a few rules:
• Team stripes with prints, but make sure the stripes are thin and the prints small.
• If you’re experimenting a retro look, opt for oversized polka dots. Small dots will date you.
• Leave the ‘black dress pant- white button down shirt’ style to waitresses. Try white cigarette pants with a ruffled black top for a formal do.
• Make the best of both worlds. Introduce a burst of colour to your outfit in grey scale, in the form of a scarf or a string of beads
• Black tights work for just about any figure, while white tights are best left to little girls
• Black shoes are done to death, but a black shoe with white detail can pull just about any outfit together
• White shoes work perfectly well with white bottoms

Style file
Monochrome works as the perfect foil if you’re shy of bright neon hues. The stark contrast and bipolarity of the combination create drama and the simple elegance of the palette makes it easy to dress it up or dress it down.
To dress up: wear large graphic prints teamed with pale silver accessories
To dress down: wear a black and white checked shirt with a slim fit jean

Optical illusion
• The rules of black being slimming and white adding width still apply, so use black to slim a thick waist and white to broaden narrow shoulders
• When in doubt wear black, when fatigued wear black and white. Black creates the illusion of a lightened complexion, while white instantly revives tired skin.
• White attracts attention while black camouflages. Combine white and black fabric in an ensemble in such a way that white highlights your best features and black camouflages flaws.

We better catch up...

Know what? We are not the fairer sex anymore. A conclusion I have reached after being in the middle of blazers and slim ties all week along while walking in and out of places like gabbana.life and Raymond. Would you believe me if I told you that I actually found a place in Chennai that customizes cufflinks?
Gone are the days when men just matched their socks to their ties, today I have a male friend who bribes me with mms to ensure I pick up his monthly copy of GQ every time I head to Landmark to grab a copy of Vogue. Of course metro sexuality has been around for quite a while now, at least since Karan Johar had SRK sporting pink and still looking just as male and ummm sexy. But I was really taken aback when sometime recently I was working on a story on sunscreens and a friend pitched in with a whole lot of interesting info on sunscreens formulated specially for men. Practical stuff that you can never read up on the web. And today if I occasionally venture to wear sunscreen on my face (something I would never have done before coz a tan is easier to handle any day than an unsightly breakout) it’s thanks to his advice of diluting one drop of sunscreen with water. Take notes women!
I love the fact that fashion is no more the monopoly of either of the sexes and infact is getting more and more androgynous by the day. Boyfriend tees work great for fat days and knowing all the effort that you put into that smoky eyed look won’t be met with a ‘why you looking like a raccoon response’, is great consolation. But then the feeling of superiority that used to ebb inside every time a male friend asks for style advice, I guess that’s something we now have to forfeit.

For the uninitiated, hers where to head
For the best blazers/ jackets/ dinner suits: gabbana.life, Khader Nawaz Khan Road. Details: 43084380
For tailor made tuxedos: Studio Bassam, Khader Nawaz Khan Road.
For the best clubwear: ZOD has an amazing collection at Lifestyle. Details: 28477788
For the best formal wear: Raymond, Mount Road.
For the quirkiest accessories: Rock, Greams Road. Details: 65287533
For the most interesting shoes: Dollars & Pounds. Details: 43514080
For stoles and scarves: Fashion folks, Adyar. Details: 244697886 or Casablanca, Nungambakkam. Details: 42141497

Good beginnings

There are two reasons why I finally got myself to sit down today, scratch my brains a little and make my very first post, a) Having just turned 23, I simply had to cross out a few more things from my list of 25 things to do before I turn 25. Time is running out you know and starting a blog definitely seemed more accomplishable as opposed to going bungee jumping or owning my own apartment b) The city is soon to host its very first fashion week and I just had to word my opinion on how this could mean so much to a destination that has always been sneered at as ‘not so fashion forward’. The good news came to me first when I was making small talk with a popular party columnist at a luncheon and then the link on facebook that promised 7 days of high fashion and the coming together of 30 designers apart from a whole lot of opportunities for budding designers, stylists and models, had me scoring the web for more info. Apparently there is not too much information available on what to expect of the event yet, except for the fact that a whole lot of people are just as excited as me and believe that this is indeed a premonition of good things to come. Shifting focus to the bigger picture, all of a sudden India seems to be global fashion’s latest muse. It wasn’t too long ago that Kenzo launched the fragrance Amour Indian Holi inspired by the Indian festival or Lancome gave us a make up collection inspired by the colours of Indian earth, but with Dior’s introduction of Escale a Pondicherry (fragrance inspired by the quaint town), we can easily claim that international designers’ current intoxication with anything Indian is no fleeting attraction and holds all possibility of turning into a full fledged fanatism. But then that’s a whole different story and you will have to wait till my next post to hear more on the topic. With styling a portfolio and a menswear shoot to look forward to during the next week, here’s hoping there will be lots more to write about when am back.