Sunday 7 September 2014

Lakmé Fashion Week Winter/Festive 2014: Different Strokes For Different Folks! (A Fashion Industry Overview)

Twice a year - in pleasantly warm March and then again in rainy August- Mumbai’s streets overflow with fashion editors, stylists and buyers alike. For summer/resort as well as winter/festive collections, Lakmé Fashion Week showcases India’s best fashion talent to the world. Both big name designers and up-and-coming talents are found under one roof impressing the fashion denizens with their latest offerings.

Between shows and while unwinding at the LFW Apartment, I had a chance to chat-up with some of the brightest and rising names of Indian fashion industry. While we all agreed on some points, it was very interesting to see how differently each individual views the same season of fashion week.With everyone having his or her point of view about it, here is what these 5 fashion mavens and mavericks have to say about Lakmé Fashion Week Winter/Festive 2014.
MANISH MISHRA; Principal Features Writer, DNA After Hrs
Hands down one of the best dressed men at Lakmé Fashion Week and in the fashion industry, Manish’s astute observations and keen understanding of fashion makes him one of the most sought-after and respected writer of the fashion world.

Manish’s Top 5 Lakmé Fashion Week Winter/Festive 2014 collections
Masaba for prints, Amit Aggarwal for reinterpretation of futuristic bride, Anju Modi for easy and modern bridal line, Payal Singhal for prints and evening separates, Shruti Sancheti for beautiful use of textiles and colour blocking.
Manish's Winter/Festive 2014 Trend Prediction: Sporty chic, which has been prevalent for the last few seasons continued with zippers, lettering and surface texturing finding favour in most collections.

Along with being the Principal Features Writer for DNA After Hrs, Manish is also a blogger. His blog, Made To Pleasure, is a fashion and luxury blog.

SANAA KHAN; Fashion Stylist, Harpers Bazaar India
While India gets to see her creative genius every month through the glossy pages of Harpers Bazaar, I was lucky enough to witness Sanaa’s impressive styling skills firsthand. Not only does she know how to style others well, she also managed to totally kill it all the days with her stellar streetstyle chic looks.

Sanaa’s Top 5 Lakmé Fashion Week Winter/Festive 2014 collections
Sanaa's Winter/Festive 2014 Trend Prediction: Sports Luxe, Metallics, Chunky Footwear, Vibrant Colors and Androgyny

ANIKET SATAM; Creative Director, label ANIKET
Designer, dreamer, diva- Aniket (ex Gen Next designer) is blessed with a sense of humour that rivals Oscar Wilde and designing skills that would make Charles Worth proud. A fine blend of fierce and fashion forward, Aniket-the man and the label- is the one to watch out for.

Aniket’s Top 5 Lakmé Fashion Week Winter/Festive 2014 collections
Ka sha by Karishma Shahani Khan, no one does 'organic-cool' like her. Loved the mixing of rustic hand knits with clam dyed kaleidoscopic, functional footwear with hand-embroidered texture. Anavilla by Anavilla Misra, for its modern yet modest, rural meets punk. Frou Frou by Archana Rao, her foolproof equation of part masculine, part European meets part vintage and part delicate never fails to surprise. Pinnacle by Shruti Sancheti, knows how to upgrade and update the classic heirlooms. Keeping the soul of the textile, it's all about easy chic with Desi twist. Gaga by Tanya Sharma, for its kitsch pop in wearable form. Mrinalini Chandra’s ‘Shakuntala’ fave accessory collection.

Aniket's Winter/Festive 2014 Trend Prediction:
Crop tops with Churi-skirt / Churi- Culottes: This is the new anarkali with a sassy midriff quotient. 
Red Alert: From heart racing fire engine to deep seductive ox bloods, candied rose to intense blood, time to put on the ‘suhagan’ mode and surrender to the colour of love and lust!
Heirloom High Street: It’s all about sporting rich textile heritage with a relaxed modern treatment. Silk Ikat jackets, zardozi on tee shirts, luxe jamewar trousers, tie and dye turbans, time to treat couture textile with causal coolness.
Chunky-Express: As the festive attire gets minimal, it's time to pull those chunky statements costume jewels out. From Suhani’s tribalesque macro floral pieces to outhouse Mohawk ‘Mangtikka’, this season is all about channeling that latent warrior goddess.
Salt and Pepper: The monochrome magic spell of last spring still continues over to winter. Blocks of extreme black and white have replaced the optical graphics. Layer it as Gen Next's Dhruv Kapoor or go chandelier chic like Farah Sanjana.

Along with being the Creative Director for his label, Aniket is also a freelance writer and educationist.

RADHIKA DHAWAN; Founder, Fashionably Connected and Radhika Dhawan Consultancy
This no-nonsense, soft-spoken businesswoman knows her fashion and, more importantly, she knows how to turn it into a lucrative business. A pioneer, a woman way ahead of her time, when it comes to fashion, Radhika is gifted with Midas’ touch.

Radhika’s Top 5 Lakmé Fashion Week Winter/Festive 2014 collections
Anju Modi for old world charm with refreshing silhouettes. Surendri by Yogesh Chaudhary for the blooming sunflower motif, the bright colours and wearable feminine silhouettes. Easton Pearson for a mix of quirky glamour, colours, and their strong emphasis on Indian and African crafts. Quirk Box for whimsical prints, the colours and silhouettes. Raw Mango by Sanjay Garg for beautiful display of traditional crafts in jeweled tone colours. 
Along with these, Huemn, Ilk, Frou Frou by Archana Rao and Debashri Samanta were also some of Radhika’s fave collections.

Radhika's Winter/Festive 2014 Trend Prediction:
Below Knee A-Line Skirt: As seen at Archana Rao, Urvashi Joneja, Quirk Box, Surendri and Karishma Shahani's collections. Skirts are here to stay and the longer the length, the more appealing they are for the cooler weathers.
Winter Floral: Flowers were blooming all the days and were seen at Varun Bahl, Arunima Majhi, Neha Aggarwal, Yogesh Chaudary. Even Frou Frou and Huemn had floral appliqués sprinkled on their garments. 
Checks: Checks ruled the ramp at Karishma Shahani, Pratima Pandey and Shruti Sancheti.
Nude Hues: For both apparel and beauty, nude hues were very apparent. 
Prints: Aartivijay Gupta with her Victorian prints, art meets fashion brand Quirk Box with their whimsical Bombay Balloons, Surendri by Yogesh Chaudary with the happy sunflowers, Payal Singhal's chintz prints, Debashri Samanta with the fish, Farah Sanjana with the chandelier motif, prints made their presences felt this season as well.

PURUSHU ARIE; Fashion Blogger, www.purushu.com
Purushu represents the contemporary, digitally savvy side of fashion. From his impeccable sense of aesthetics and knowledge of fashion, to the way he expresses it with words and his illustrations, Purushu is one of the brightest stars of Indian fashion blogosphere.

Purushu’s Top 5 Lakmé Fashion Week Winter/Festive 2014 collections
Huemn for minimal, contemporary and quirky designs. Asa Kazingmei for finishing of leather and treatment of rivets. Shantanu & Nikhil, favourite evening/red carpet ensembles. Anju Modi can never get the basic aesthetics wrong. Anavila Misra for the incredible handlooms & ajrak dyeing methods.
Along with these, Antar-Agni by Ujjawal Dubey, Gaurang, Sashikant Naidu and Aartivijay Gupta also are some of Purushu's fave collection

Purushu's Winter/Festive 2014 Trend Prediction:
Floral: Florals were seen at almost every other show either in the form of a print or 
appliqué or embroidery motif or laser cut work etc. 
Metallics: Metallics in the form of embellishment and hues. Asa Kazingmei and Armaan & Aiman used it interestingly in the form of rivets.
Sportwear Influences: As seen in the shows of Tanya Sharma, Farah Sanjana, Huemn
Traditional Weaves: Gaurang showcased his collection full of rich brocades. Anavila Mishra's collection titled Mohenjo Daro featured rustic handloom weaves. 
Vintage Prints: As seen at Aartivijay Gupta, Huemn.

Along with being a fashion blogger, Purushu is also a designer, illustrator & stylist.


Now that you know what caught the attention of these 5 fashion connoisseurs, whose collection picks and and trend prediction do you most connect with? And what do you think of Lakmé Fashion Week Winter/Festive 2014?
Share your views in the comment section.

Till then, tra-la

Amena!!
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Wednesday 3 September 2014

Styled With India Circus

You know, when you love something so much that you want to give it the very best of words to describe it. However, no matter how hard you try, you just cannot, simply because, there are not enough adjectives to describe it! While I have looked far and wide for the right words, the only way to describe Krsna Mehta’s creative brainchild, India Circus, is, an artistic, colourful celebration of all things India.

Ever since I discovered India Circus I have been a major fan girl of the brand. From their quirky pop art motifs to their aesthetic play of multi-colours to how effortlessly they mix Mughal royalty and miniature paintings with modern styles.
Beautifully blending an All-Indian palette with tastefully done kitsch, India Circus seeks to showcase the spirit of life in India, and transcribe this loud and lively experience into contemporary and sophisticated style. From beautiful cushions, luminescent lamps, elegant dining accessories, unique furniture pieces, chic apparels to stylish bags, India Circus has a lot to offer for various corners of your life.

While know for being a popular home decor brand, last year when I won an India Circus Jalebi Riding umbrella through a Radio One contest, that is when I was introduced to their fashion accessory range. Ever since then I have wanted to get my hands on one of their vibrant fashion accessory.
Luck happened when I instantly found not one, but two such beauties: City Fantastic Jhola Bag and Funky Transport Document Holder. Along with being extremely attractive, both pieces celebrate one of the biggest loves of my life-Mumbai!

While I had gotten the jhola bag and document holder some time back, I needed the right occasion for my two new India Circus beauties to made their debut. What better place than India’s biggest fashion event- Lakmé Fashion Week Winter/Festive 2014 for me to flaunt my latest accessories!

Whether you are on-the-go or stepping out for a casual meeting, this India Circus City Fantastic Jhola Bag is the ideal everyday tote. Sturdy enough to carry the weight of all your goodies and stylish too, making it easy to pair it with just about anything.

Bag: India Circus City Fantastic Jhola Bag; Dress: AND; Sandals: c/o Steve Madden India; Necklace: Accessorize India; Makeup: c/o Lakmé Absolute


I decided to up the game when it came to styling India Circus Funky Transport Document Holder. Instead of using it as a document holder, I opted to style it as an oversized statement clutch. 
Before planning to style it in this manner, I thought the size maybe too big to pass it off as an oversized clutch and it may be a tad bit inconvenient, however, the size was not an issue or hindrance and I could easily carry the document folder as an oversized statement clutch.

Oversized Statement Clutch: India Circus Funky Transport Document Holder; Tunic: Global Desi; Leggings: Marks & Spencer; Loaders: Forever 21; Lips: L'Oréal Paris Color Riche Moist Matte Lipstick Orange Power



Let me tell you, India Circus pieces are serious compliment magnet. Due to the brand’s popularity and trademark designs, it is easy to spot an India Circus piece from a mile away. Literally, everyone who saw me with it instantly noticed that I am carrying an India Circus piece.
Incase you don't already know, India Circus now ship worldwide to over 200+ countries. 

Like me, are you also a major fan of all things India Circus? Which range of India Circus do you most love the most? Share your views and thoughts with me in the comment section.

Till then, tra-la,
    Amena!!
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