Can Plus Size Be Aspirational?

At the previous season of Lakme Fashion Week a designer’s PR manager politely asked me, “can plus size ever become socially acceptable and mainstream? Can plus size be aspirational?”

One would assume, with India finally having its first ever plus size fashion show such questions would be a thing of the past.

No such luck! For someone who has been plus size most of her life, questions like these are common. However, what is infuriating is, the more inclusive the fashion industry strives to become, the louder these questions get. 

The one thing that is holding the fashion industry back from including plus size and visibly fat bodies is a set of rigidly imposed rules and norms.
It is the same rules and norms which made us believe that dusky and dark skin can not be beautiful and to be anything in life we all need to be fair and lovely!

The real question is: how can something that represents more than 60% of the country’s population NOT be mainstream?

It's no secret that the fashion industry - in India and globally - has long struggled to adequately represent plus size and fat women, failing to offer her quality fashion, fair representation, and excluding her from runway shows and editorials.  

Before plus size can become mainstream and aspirational, it first needs to be normalized and socially accepted. 

Since plus size and fat bodies have been marginalized for a very long, it needs a serious change in the attitude and narrative. For fashion to become an inclusive industry, we need to fight and end all kinds of size hegemony. 

The only way to normalize plus size and fat bodies is by breaking all stereotypes and myths about it. 

Let’s start by breaking the most common myth: All plus size women are fat.

This is absolutely not true. All plus size women are NOT fat. But all fat women are plus size. However, that doesn’t stop society from labelling every non-thin woman as ‘fat’.

The first step is to reclaim all negative words and terms associated with plus size bodies.

Who Is Afraid Of The F-Word?

FAT: It is that one word women are indoctrinated to detest. Just a mention of it has then freaking out and there is no bigger insult than being called that. A three letter word that has forced women of all ages to go to war with their bodies. The fear of ever being labeled that has been the root cause of body dysmorphia and eating disorders.

In a thin-obsessed society, being a fat woman is to fail on every single level; it is not just a physical flaw but a moral one as well.

Now, thanks to the fat acceptance movement and fat activism, the word ‘fat’ is losing its negative status. For many of us it is just another word, an adjective, that describes us.  Fat and thin are just descriptors. Neither is fat an insult nor is thin a compliment.

“Does This Make Me Look Fat?” 

The ultimate aim is to pretend you’re not fat. Instead of telling plus size and fat women to be comfortable with their bodies, women are encouraged to “look slim”, to buy clothes that are “flattering” and to avoid certain type of clothes because they don’t hide the fact that fat women are fat. We have been taught to want to look smaller than our natural size. More often than not, we shun an outfit because it makes us look our real size and is not “flattering and slimming”. 

Plus size and fat women need to understand that designers and brands are not magicians. They can’t make your body looks 4 sizes smaller with their clothes. 

Let’s face it - If you’re fat, you’ll look fat no matter whatever you wear, and the sooner you accept that, the better. 

The fear of “looking fat” or being called “fat” has terrorised women to such a large extent that they will torture their bodies to avoid that label. This is also one of the reasons why most plus size and fat women don’t experiment with fashion and deny themselves the joy of fashion. 

First, you need to accept you are plus size/fat. Whether or not you choose to label yourself as fat or plus size is your individual choice and not a norm or compulsion. You just need to acknowledge it to yourself.

Once you do that, it will give you the freedom and confidence to dress the way you want for the body you have, instead of trying to dress in ways you think will give you the body you don’t have.

One Size Doesn’t ‘Fit’ All

Even though over 60% of India’s population is plus size, disdain around “the f-word” is one of the main reasons why plus size fashion hasn’t yet managed to gain mainstream momentum in India.

Plus size and fat bodies are often depicted as the unhealthy ‘other’, the unattractive ‘before’, a warning sign for heart diseases and a poster child for obesity epidemic. 

Like all forms of media and pop culture, fashion too is a part of the body politics.

Plus size hasn’t been an aspirational look because mainstream media is constantly selling: “Look at this woman. Don’t you want be her?”

Women are not just taught to hate the word fat; they have been brainwashed into believing that being plus size or fat is a temporary point in their life and they should not buy clothes for their body as it is now.

The not-so-subtle message being sent is, for women to participate in fashion they first need to become the ‘after’ picture and they should only buy stuff when they reach a socially and fashionably acceptable weight.

With so much negative stereotyping how can any one expect plus size to be seen as aspirational?

When you constantly tell plus size and fat women that their body shape should be considered temporary, that their current body is not the body they want, how can you expect them to look at plus size fashion as an aspiration? For then, plus size fashion is a means to an end, something to cover their plus size or fat bodies, not something they want or desire. 

Yes, there are many plus size and fat women who are not happy with their shape and size and genuinely want to change it. However, that should not be used as a yardstick or an excuse for all plus size and fat women. Just because some women are not comfortable with their plus size/fat bodies doesn’t mean you assume all women are.

A lot of women have found a balance between fat and fit. I am one of them. I have always strived to be fit and healthy, both, physically and mentally, rather than kill myself trying to be thin. I don’t see thin as a prerequisite for being fit, healthy or stylish. 

Fat activist and body positive advocates like me don’t see fat as a temporary phase of our life until we figure out a way to get the ‘perfect body’. My current body is my perfect body. I should not be told to lose weight so I can fit into a top I like. I should not have to workout till my back breaks so that I can fit into a pair of jeans. These things should be available to me, just like they are available for thin women.

Why Plus Size Fashion Matters

Here’s how plus size brands play a significant role in changing fashion industry’s attitude towards plus size and fat bodies. Unlike other brands, they have chosen to create clothes for a marginalized section of society. In a way, plus size brands are also making the most invisible woman, visible. Props to them for doing that.

The pertinent question is, are the clothes created by plus size brands tasteful and fashion forward? Are they aspirational? Or are they just easy-to-make, tacky clothes with questionable aesthetics. Are plus size and fat women who are buying your clothes happy with it or are they craving for something better and stylish?

A question every plus size fashion brand and designer needs to ask: are my clothes a convenience because of size availability or are they a choice because of good aesthetics? Will women of all sizes buy them?

Globally, plus size and fat women are leading the body positive and fat acceptance movement. Fashion designers like Ashley Nell Tipton and Christian Siriano, plus size fashion brands like Lane Bryant, Eloquii and Torrid, magazines like Volup2, Slink and PLUS Model Magazine and events like TheCurvyCon are constantly breaking stereotypes and pushing towards making fashion more inclusive and diverse. There has been a conscious effort to create a space where plus size and fat women can express themselves, share their stories and celebrate their bodies.

Indian Fashion Industry Needs A Fundamental Change In Attitude

Unlike the west, plus size fashion in India is still struggling to find its footing. While baby steps have been taken in a positive direction, by large, plus size and fat women have no real representation. 

While some of us have been speaking about lack of size diversity and representation, our voices don’t really get heard nor does our work get noticed. There has hardly been any effort from the Indian fashion industry to include vocal body positive and fat activist into their narrative. In India, plus size and fat women like me are barely seen, hardly heard and never applauded. In the current social climate, the only time plus size and fat bodies are seen is when a brand or magazine want to create a social buzz. Otherwise, we are relegated to the back of the line. 

This needs to stop!

A serious attitude change is needed towards plus size and fat bodies. I have said this before and I say it again, lack of representation is the biggest hurdle for plus size fashion in India.

Until you don’t represent plus size and fat bodies in a positive light how can you expect plus size to become mainstream and be considered aspirational.

All around the word, it has been plus size fashion blogger, body positive advocates and fat activist who have fought to have their voices be heard. We need to do the same in India. 

Global Desi Embroidered Top | Global Desi Palazzo | Coach Bag | Van Heusen Sandals | L'Oreal Paris Star Collection Lip Color Pure Rouge | Loreal Paris Superliner Waterproof Gel Eyeliner | Maybelline Volum Express Colossal Waterproof Mascara 

Can Plus Size Ever Be Aspirational? 

Yes! First thing first, we need stop glorifying skinny and thin bodies and treating fashion as a thin privilege; an exclusive club where only a select few have access to it. We need to stop celebrating only thin bodies and and we need to stop looking at plus size and fat women as the “ugly, unhealthy other”. We’re not that. 

We need to change the narrative, create space for a new, inclusive narrative and let women of all sizes have a stake and say in it.

Photography by Abhishek Arora

Till then, tra-la,

    Amena!!
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LYF On The Go at Lakmé Fashion Week

When the theme for Met Gala 2016 was announced, a lot of people were intrigued by it. What does “Manus x Machina: Fashion in an Age of Technology” really mean. Many wondered, what do fashion and technology have in common?
Contrary to popular belief, even before the digital age, fashion and technology have always coexisted together. In fact, technology is applicable in all aspects of fashion. From the yarn stage right up to the finished product, fashion and technology work hand-in-hand.
Taking note of the importance of technology in the field of fashion, Lakmé Fashion Week had a panel discussion on: “How technology is shaping the future of fashion”.

As a fashion blogger and digital content creator, my work is predominantly in the digital space. Technology and apps are as important to me as fashion. From clicking pictures to sending mails to updating my social media, most of my work is done on my phone and it is very important for me to have a phone that can keep up with all my needs. And if I am getting all of this at an affordable price – that’s a boon!

I recently had the opportunity to try out LYF Wind 3 4G smartphone and I decided to put it to good use at the epicentre of fashion – Lakmé Fashion Week Winter/Festive 2016.

As glamorous as the fashion weeks look from the outside, there is a whole lot of work that goes on behind the curtains. From live tweeting, to Instagram posts, and Snapchat stories, to designer interviews, photoshoot, and dozens of other stuff goes on between the shows. The one thing I need to depend on most is my smartphone. During fashion week days, my smartphone is not just a phone, it is my lifeline. It is very important that I have something that is sturdy and stylish and can last through the day without multiple charging. For fashion bloggers to survive fashion week, we need powerful and high performing smartphones.

The LYF Wind 3 smartphone is a polished and sophisticated looking phone. The classic black colour with curved edges gives it a refined look. It has a compact design and compared to other Android phones it is light in weight. The phone is powered by a 1.2 GHz Quadcore Qualcomm Snapdragon 410 processor and it comes with 2 GB of RAM that ensures smooth browsing process even while using multiple apps simultaneously. The phone does not stutter or hang. It has a 5.5-inch 720p HD display that is sharp and crisp. The screen is made of scratch resistant Asahi glass, so you don’t have to put an additional screen guard on it. LFY Wind 3 offers 16GB storage that can further be expanded up to 32GB using a memory card.
The phones has an 8MP LED flash rare camera and a 2MP front camera. The camera clicks decent picture in natural light and well-lit conditions.

Smartsphones have evolved and become far more than just phones. I don’t just use my phone as my primary source of communication and connectivity only. I also use it for entertainment. Many times while travelling or when I’m stuck in traffic, I use my phone to keep myself entertained.

For me, any phone that offers more than just the basic requirements is worth investing in.

One of the best part about LYF Wind 3 Smartphone+ is, it comes preloaded with Reliance Jio Apps like My Jio, Jio Play, Jio On-Demand, and Jio Beats that adds value to the phone. These apps paired with Jio preview 4G connection, allows you to seamlessly listen to music and watch videos.

Jio Beats is a music app. It offers HD songs in 20 different languages. Thanks to Jio’s 4G network, you can listen to your favorite songs anytime you like without downloading it or subscribing to third party apps. As a music lover, I need music to unwind and rejuvenate myself, it was always so easy to log in and listen to music on the Jio Beats app between shows at the Lakmé Fashion Week.

If visual medium is more your thing, then Jio On-Demand app is perfect for you. It is a video streaming service that turns your phone into an entertainment device. From movies to TV shows to music videos to trailers, it has it all. The app has around 1 lakh+ hours of HD content. With the Jio 4G network, watching video content was effortless. No buffering whatsoever. The whole viewing process makes you addicted to the app.

As much as I like, I just don’t get the time to keep up with all my favourite TV shows. Especially, during Lakmé Fashion Week. Most of the time I end up missing them. This time round, thanks to Jio Play, I could watch my beloved TV shows as and when I wanted. Jio Play brings live TV channels on your smartphone. It offers over 300 TV channels. The best part is, you can pause the live TV program and start from the point you left off. Plus, you get to watch missed episodes of prime shows aired in the last 7 days.

Compared to most 4G, Jio 4G has amazing speed. Around 22-23 Mpbs download speed and around 8-9 Mbps upload speed. Which is twice the number compared to all the other 4G data service available in India. Jio 4G has been a boon all through Lakmé Fashion Week for me. Thanks to this high speed, I was able to upload twice as much as I could before. Previously, due to 3G traffic, it would take forever to send a photo tweet and Snapchat stories. With Jio 4G, I could tweet, use Snapchat and Instagram, without any hassle or lag. All my post used to get uploaded within seconds.

Reasonably priced at INR 6,999/-, LYF Wind 3 is one of the most affordable phones available in the market. It looks sleek, is light in weight and the display has Asahi DragonTrail glass protection. Overall, LYF Wind 3 is easy to use, has a good battery life and the best part, it offers amazing inbuilt apps and free unlimited 4G data service for three months. You get far more than you pay for.

Heartfelt thank you to my dear friend Leo Alemao of Style File for taking time out from his Lakmé Fashion Week schedule and shooting these pictures for me. I am forever grateful to you.

Photography by Leo Alemao of Style File. Editing by Digital Daku

Till then, tra-la,

    Amena!!
Connect With Fashionopolis on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Bloglovin' & Subscribe
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Plus Side Of Indian Fashion

What does it mean to be a plus size woman in the India?

For starters, you are relentlessly reminded that there is something wrong with your body and you need to change it. You’re told to shrink your body until it fits into the prescribed (narrow) beauty standard. 
Next, you need to perform the near impossible, herculean task of finding fashionable clothing that fit your fat body.

Having worked primarily in the Indian fashion industry for the last ten years as a designer, stylist, consultant and blogger — and as a plus size consumer — I can confidently say that the plus size fashion industry in India is as good as nonexistent.

Fact is, while a large percent of women in India fit into this category, plus size fashion is mostly ignored, overlooked and under-represented.

Fashion’s problem with plus size is a complex issue. It is no secret that the film industry and the fashion industry have constantly equated beauty with thinness. Unfortunately, for the longest time, fashion industry’s outlook has been that plus size and fat bodies are not meant to be celebrated, validated, or seen.

When it comes to plus size fashion, the major problem is the elitist attitude of the fashion industry that believes fashion exclusively belongs to a select privileged slice of the population.

No Plus Size Representation

It is not just the Indian fashion industry that has ignored the existence of plus size women. The is applicable to most industries. Especially, the entertainment and media industry. 

Knowingly or unknowingly they have ignored plus size women to such a large extent that we have become invisible. There has been passive discrimination against plus size and fat bodies by formulating most dialogue around thin and straight size bodies only.

This is not restricted to just clothing. From toothpaste to dream vacation and from detergent to mobile network, it is only straight sizes bodies that are visibly using it, selling it and endorsing it.

The question is: would your product not sell if a plus size woman was seen using it and endorsing it?

Globally there are full-figured and plus size women who have broken body serotypes to prove that talent comes in all shapes, sizes and colour. From Adele to Mellisa McCarthy, from Gabourey Sidibe to Tess Holliday and from Ashley Nell Tipton to Gabi Gregg (Gabifresh) plus size and visibly fat women have had immense success in all aspect of fashion and entertainment industry.

On the other hand, Indian entertainment and fashion industry has been plus size averse.

India don’t have a single body positive, plus size role model young girls can look up to and aspire to be like. The complete absences of plus size representation is why a country of 1.25 billion people doesn’t have a single plus size role model. NOT ONE!

We have a handful of plus size people in Bollywood and the entertainment industry. The most recognisable face is comedian Bharti Singh. And she is famous for her self-deprecating, fat shaming brand of humour.

When one of India’s biggest fashion weeks, Lakmé Fashion Week, wanted to host the first ever plus size fashion show in India, they needed to do an open audition. The fact that we don’t have plus size models in the Indian fashion industry speaks volumes about our discriminatory attitude towards plus size bodies.

The dearth of plus size bodies and lack of attractive plus fashion in mainstream Indian magazines is especially disconcerting when you consider that more than 60 percent of women in India wear some amount of plus size clothing.

The only time plus size consumers are represented in fashion magazines is when the magazine does its annual “shape” or “curve” or “body” issues inspire by the global body positive movement or when they want to cash in on the novelty factor. Otherwise, the magazines are mostly devoid of any plus size representation. 

The best way to bring about an attitude change towards plus size women is by normalising plus size bodies. This can only happen with equal and fair representations. Plus size women need to be seen alongside straight size women on a regular basis and not once a year.

Celebrating body positivity, body diversity and plus size bodies is not the same as celebrating Diwali, Eid or Christmas. It needs to be done regularly and not sporadically.

Lack Of Plus Size Clothes

I am a plus size woman who loves clothes. I am extremely passionate about about plus size fashion and I try out as many different looks as a I can with whatever limited clothes I can find in my size. But more often than not, a major part of my fashion life is spent yearning for things I can’t have and I am forced to make do with what is available. 

What infuriates me most is, brands that have a plus size range internationally don’t retail it in India. Forever 21 has an exclusive plus size range, but it is not available in India. H&M has up to size 20 in limited pieces; haven’t seen the H&M+ range in India yet. It’s one thing if a brand doesn’t cater to larger women globally, another, to have the range available in some countries and not in another.

Worse is, none of the major voices within the Indian fashion fraternity have questioned these brands. No one has asked them why they choose to ignore plus size women of India?

People often tell me, “but you get plus size clothes online. ASOS has great plus size pieces and they do free shipping to India. So, why are you still whining?” 

Here’s a scenario: Imagine if you don’t get electricity at your house. But your aunt who lives at the other end of the city does. Why whine about lack of electricity in your own house when you can go to your aunt’s place and use her electricity? Sounds about same, right?

Just because it is available online doesn’t mean we should not demand for more!

Online shopping is a great option but it is not the solution. What about impulse or urgent purchase? Some of us like to try things before we buy it. I don’t have the luxury to walk into a store like a straight size person and get what I am looking for. What is accessible for you is a privilege for me. That basic act of shopping that some have taken for granted is a luxury for me. ASOS may offer free shipping but most global plus size brands are charging quite a bit for shipping. So now, along with fat tax we need to also pay extra for shipping too. Ain’t that unfair?

Not just clothes but basic things like bra is a challenge to buy. Not one sports brand in India has sports bra my size. Same goes for many of the different types of bras. The choices are so limited most of us make do with whatever is available. 

If most women in India fall into the plus size category, why do so many designers and brands cater only to women who comprise the 0–12 straight size market? 

Truth is, most fashion designers and brands think plus size customers won’t buy what they make, won’t wear it, or don’t deserve it.

It will be completely unfair to say that no Indian brands are catering to plus size customers. We have a few progressive, plus size fashion brands like Alto Moda, All, Westside’s Sassy Soda & Gia that have chosen to to be size inclusive and body positive in their approach.

Indian brands like Global Desi, Biba, AND, Mustard, Fusion Beats and international brands available in India like Marks & Spencer, Dorothy Perkins, New Look, all offer plus size friendly clothing. 

While there are few brands in India who are making the effort to be more size inclusive, there is still very limited option for a country with a large plus size population. Most brands – Indian and International – only offer up to size 16, which is the starting size of plus size.

Misrepresentation of Plus Size

Plus size fashion is not only suffering because of lack of representation. Misrepresentation is making it even more hard to normalise plus size and visibly fat bodies.

While plus size starts at size 16, fashion industry often depicts women as small as size 8 as plus size. Not only is this misleading but it pushes real plus size women further into a corner and away from what is essential their space.

The term plus size was created for women who are size 16 and up and/or visibly fat. It is misleading to show a size 10 woman with a slightly protruding tummy or a voluptuous size 12 woman who is sitting on the cusp of straight and plus size as plus size. 

The whole misrepresentation of plus size bodies is not restricted to magazines and media. Very often, we see plus size clothes on straight size bodies. If you want a woman who is a size 22 to buy your clothes, you can’t expect a size 12 model to sell it. 

When I see plus size clothes that are made for me, I want to see it on a model who looks like me. Not someone who you think I should look like or your interpretation of what a plus size woman should look like. 

Showing plus size clothes on non plus size bodies is not only deceptive but also disrespectful towards plus size customers. To get an idea if a certain garment will work for my body type or not I need to see it on someone with a similar body type and not on someone who kind of looks like me, but not really.

We also need plus size voices to be heard. There are no plus size fashion columns advising plus size women what to shop, where to shop and how to style. And if there is an occasional op-ed piece, it is often by a straight size woman rather than a plus size one.

Even brands that keep plus size clothes haven’t made an effort to promote their clothes on larger and plus size bodies. Occasionally, international plus size fashion bloggers get mentioned in Indian magazines but we barely see any Indian plus size blogger in it. The absolute disregard for Indian plus size fashion bloggers and their work by the Indian fashion fraternity shows how prejudiced the industry is towards plus size bodies. 

Global Desi Printed Tunic | Global Desi Printed Palazzo | Accessorise Clutch | Inc5 Sandals | L'Oreal Paris Star Collection Lip Color Pure Garnet | Loreal Paris Superliner Waterproof Gel Eyeliner |Smashbox Full Exposure Waterproof Mascara

The Future Of Plus Size In India.

The future of plus size in India needs a fundamental attitude change. If we want the plus size industry in India to become a profitable and attractive business, then we need to do a lot more than create a few extra garments.

First off, we need to stop all kinds of size discrimination and have a more inclusive approach. Fashion needs to let go of its elitist approach and constant favouritism of thin bodies. For plus size to become relatable and aspirational, celebrities, models and bloggers of all shapes and sizes need to be promoted equally. Plus size models and bloggers need to regularly be seen alongside straight size ones. On all fronts, plus size needs to move from the margin to the mainstream.

The dialogue has started. Now, the visuals need to match up to it. When talking about plus size, we also need to see plus size and visibly fat bodies as a part of it. That is the only way forward. 

Photography by Abhishek Arora

Till then, tra-la,

    Amena!!
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LeEco Le 2 Review

When you connect with a certain brand you wish to try out multiple products form it. Be it fashion, beauty, lifestyle or technology. The same is the case with phones as well.

I got a chance to try out Le Eco’s Le Max2 and loved it. So did my dad. But he wanted something more suited for his needs and pocket friendly. 

LeEco's Le 2 is the ideal Android phone for those who want to make the most of the latest technology without breaking the bank. 

Reasonably priced at INR. 11,999/-, LeEco’s Le 2 offers the trademark features of LeEco phones at an affordable price.

Le 2 has an all metal body structure. The build quality is top-grade and one of the best among the Android devices available. Like Le Max2, Le 2 also has a fingerprint sensor, placed at the back, just under the camera. The fingerprint sensor is fast and accurate and is a convenient way to unlock the phone.

Le 2 has a 16MP rare camera and 8MP front camera. Like Le Max2, the picture quality of Le 2 in daylight and well-lit setting is amazing. The colour reproduction is accurate and the camera manages to capture the minutest of details. 

However, low light or night time image quality is not as great as the daylight one. The camera takes longer to focus and the picture quality is just above average.

The 8MP front camera is great for taking selfies and video calls.

Le 2 flaunts a 5.5-inch Full HD display with a resolution of 1080 x1920. The display is sharp and crisp, the colours appear natural and it offers great viewing angles.

One thing commendable about all Le Eco phones is their solid performance and battery life. Plus, the interface is user friendly and easy to adapt. 

Le 2 has 3GB of RAM and 32GB of non-expandable storage, which is highly impressive for a phone in this price range.

Thanks to the 3GB RAM, you can smoothly multitask, watch HD videos, play games, and use multiple apps simultaneously, without the fear of any slowdown, stutter, lag or the phone hanging. The phone does not heat up or stop functioning nor does it require frequent charging even after moderate to heavy usage.

Top notch performance, good battery life, superb display and camera plus free one-year content ecosystem makes Le 2 a very good purchase. You get far more than you pay for. 

Location: Tea Trails, Fort.
Photography by Abhishek Arora

Till then, tra-la,

    Amena!!
Connect With Fashionopolis on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Bloglovin' & Subscribe
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LeEco Le Max2 Review

5 years ago if you had told me I would be reviewing phones, I would have called you delusional. I used to be one of those people who would run away from the mention of technology. Blogging changed all of that. 

When your job requires you to be online most of the time, it is very important to invest in quality technology, especially, a smartphone. 

For me, a phone is not just my primary source of communication and connectivity, it is also one of my main modes of work, research and entertainment. I use it for just about everything and anything. 
I am always on the lookout for a phone that fits all my needs in one and LeEco’s newly launched Le Max2 caught my eye.

LeEco’s Le Max2 is the latest smartphone to hit the market. It a premium Android smartphone and is available in two variants:

4GB RAM + 32GB storage at INR. 22,999/-

6GB RAM + 64GB storage at INR. 29,999/-

Design and Display

Le Max2 has a very sleek and polished look. The rose gold colour all-metal body is a welcome change from the traditional black, white and silver style of most Android smartphones.

While it has a compact design, Le Max2 is a big phone and is heavier compared to other Android devices. Personally, I am used to using big phones, therefore, this one was easy to handle. 

Le Max2 has a 5.7-inch QHD display and 2K resolution. The display is very crisp and sharp and the viewing angles are great. 

The good thing about this phone is, the higher resolution display does not compromise its battery life. A good battery life is something that is very important for most of us. Le Max2 does not disappoint on that front. With moderate to heavy usage the battery life delivers as promised. It easily lasted me a day after using the phone for calls, emails, browsing the net, watching videos and clicking loads of pictures.

The fingerprint scanner under the camera is a nice touch and convenient for unlocking the phone.

Performance

Thank to the 4GB RAM, you can easily multitask, use several apps simultaneously, watch HD videos and play games without the fear of any slowdown, stutter, lag or the phone hanging.
One of the biggest drawbacks of most smartphones is heating issues. Le Max2 doesn't have that problem. Even after heavy usage, the phone does not heat up and stop functioning.

One of the key features of Le Max2 is Continual Digital Lossless Audio (CDLA). It is the world’s first smartphone to swap the traditional 3.5 mm headphone jack with a USB Type-C audio port.

They have swapped the traditional headphones with a USB-C headphones. The aim is to provide a better audio quality and help users make the most of all their features. Compared to traditional head phones, the CDLA headphones offer better sound quality and listening experience.

Camera

As a fashion and lifestyle blogger, one of the most important feature of any phone for me is the camera. Le Max2 has a 21 MP read camera and 8 MP front camera. 

The camera quality is amazing. When shooting in natural light or well lit conditions, the colour reproduction is highly accurate and the picture quality is one of the finest compared to any smartphone within the same price range. 

The low-light performance of the camera is pretty good as well. It takes a little longer to focus but it delivers quality images even in poor lighting conditions.

The front camera is great for taking selfies as well as video calling. 

When it comes to camera quality, Le Max2 completely delivers for the premium price they are charging.

Overall Experience

Without doubt, LeEco’s Le Max2 is a powerful smartphone that has some really strong points in its favour. It has a great display, amazing camera, good battery life and top-notch performance quality. Plus, the ‘Supertainment’ content ecosystem adds an additional overall value to Le Max2.

LeEco Le Max2 is a fine balance of attractive package and brilliant performance. For under INR 25,000/- this is a good looking phone that delivers on most counts.

Location: Tea Trails, Fort.
Photography by Abhishek Arora

Till then, tra-la,

    Amena!!
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Plus Size Fashion | Alto Moda By Pantaloons

When I was in fashion school, I literally had only 4 clothing items in my wardrobe: Oversized t-shirts, baggy jeans, knee-length kurtas and track pants. I had a few pieces of each in different colours, but the basic silhouette and structure was the same.

I was so used to wearing the same clothes on a daily basis that my classmates had labelled it my uniform. 
What most of them did not realise is, the clothes I wore were the only ones available that would fit my fat body! In fact, the t-shirts I used to wear were from the men’s section as the women’s one would be tight. And the kurtas were tailor made. 

Today the options are not as limited as back then, but, as a plus size woman I still struggle to find quality clothes that complement my body.

Globally, the fashion world is getting more inclusive. However, the Indian fashion industry has yet to to come to terms with body positivity and non straight size bodies. In India, the body positive revolution is in its nascent stages and plus size fashion is still not considered a part of mainstream fashion. Not only is this problematic but also discriminatory. For a country that is inherently on the curvy side and more than 60% of our population is size (UK) 10-12 and up, we barely address the needs of plus size people.

Most fashion brands in India are still playing it safe and catering mainly to straight sizes. But not all. There are a few brands who have opted for a more body positive and size inclusive approach. These brands have understood the needs of plus size people and decided to give them what they want. By choosing to be more size inclusive, plus size fashion brands in India are breaking the age old stereotype that plus size and fat people can’t be stylish and don’t like to dress up. 

As a plus size fashion blogger, I am a patron of most plus size fashion brands in India. As much as I love their clothes, it is extremely important to talk about the amazing work these brands are doing. 

One such brand is Alto Moda by Pantaloons. One of the first few brands in India to embrace plus size fashion, Alto Moda has been my go to brand for a few years now.

When I finally got the chance to collaborate with them, I was beyond happy. 

For starters, I could fit in all their clothes and not a select few. You have no idea the kind of happiness freedom of choice can give you. From always being told, “sorry we don’t have this in your size”, to, “yes, we do have this in your size”, those words were like music to my ears.

As a plus size fashion brand, Alto Moda is not just making clothes, but they are also creating quality and stylish collections that are flattering for different plus size body types. Along with providing amazing fit and on-trend designs, the brand is well priced too. The women’s wear range starts from Rs. 399/- onwards. 

While most Indian fashion brands still prefer to cater to straight size only, by choosing to make plus size fashion their USP, Alto Moda has sent out a very strong body positive message. More Indian fashion brands need to follow their lead.

One of Alto Moda's strength as a brand is, it has a diverse range of collections. From Indian wear to Western wear and from causal to festive, they have something for every mood and occasion.
I decided to create three distinct looks that will help me showcase the brand's aesthetics and versatility.

Colour Block Festive Look

I love bright colours and I love colour blocking. I instantly fell in love with this salwar suit. The vibrant colours in classic Indian silhouette suits most body types.
The kurta is a straight cut with a hint of A-Line and the salwar has the right amount of cowls to balance the look out. 

Depending on the occasion, the look can be glammed up or toned down.  

Full set is for Rs. 2699/-

Print Mix Casual Look

I have a weakness for prints and Alto Moda has some really pretty ones to play with. For a fun, print mix look, I decided to pair a paisley print top with a floral print shirt and classic blue jeans. What I liked about the shirt and top is, they are distinct, stand alone pieces and can also be paired with different pieces to create novel looks.

Paisley  Print Top: Rs. 999/- | Printed Shirt: Rs. 1049/- | Jeans: Rs. 1599/-

Monochrome Fusion Look

Alto Moda offer a variety of separates - individual pieces that can be mixed and matched.
This white tunic instantly caught my eye. The asymmetrical hemline gave it an interesting edge. Instead of pairing it with leggings or jeans, I chose to pair it with black ankle length palazzos. The end result was a sophisticated, black and white, Indo-Western fusion look. This is one of those looks that complements most body types and is multi-occasion friendly.

White Tunic: Rs. 1299/- | Black Palazzo: Rs. 1149/-

Along with affordable and trendy plus size clothes, Alto Moda has a vast variety of India wear and Indo-Western fusion pieces. The fabrics and silhouettes are perfect for plus size bodies and the designs are a healthy mix of classics and new trends. 

The Western wear section has a wide selection of tops, shirts and jeans. I do wish they had more options in dresses, skirts, jackets and party wear attire. There is a serious demand and need of quality western office and evening wear clothes.
Along with the women's wear, Alto Moda also has wonderful men's wear section for plus size men.

As a plus size woman who has struggled to find quality clothes her entire adult life, a brand like Alto Moda is a blessing and boon. They have managed to understand the needs of plus size people and create clothes that look good, fit well and give us confidence. 

Alto Moda is not just making stylish plus size clothes. The brand is also sending out a very important social message. Where most fashion brands in India categorically ignore plus size people and their sartorial needs, here is a brand that is body positive and celebrates body diversity. A brand that has consciously chosen to be inclusive of different body types and has given visibly fat and plus size people a chance to dress stylishly, look good and be comfortable and confident in their own skin. 

Thank you Alto Moda for thinking about people like me and providing us with the best of fashion.

Photography by Abhishek Arora

Till then, tra-la,

    Amena!!
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