Lakmé Fashion Week Summer/Resort 2014 Top 10 Trends - Part I

Being a member of the Indian fashion fraternity, I have been attending the Lakmé Fashion Week since its earliest days.
 First as a fashion student, helping out with backstage activates, then as a part of a participating designer’s team, later as an industry member and since the last 2 seasons as a fashion blogger.

While attending fashion week is not a new thing, covering it as a blogger has been an altogether new experience. It changes your perception and you start to see the entire fashion week with a fresh set of eyes.

Since I have already live tweeted my heart out my views about most of the collections, which pieces I loved, industry news, gossip and the infamous fashion week #overheard, this time round I wanted to cover Lakmé Fashion Week a little differently.

 Instead of a generic rundown of the collections I decided to highlight the top 10 trends seen at Lakmé Fashion Week Summer/Resort 2014.

Trend I: Art Attack

Hands down the most identifiable of Spring-Summer 2014 trends, art is having a major fashion movement! 

From bold brush stroke splashes to paint swirls, photography to graffiti, pop art prints, murals and architecture, all things art has been leaving its colourful impact across the fashion world.

Staying on trend, different forms of art techniques made their appearance all through LFW S/R 2014. 

Indian miniature paintings from 16-19 centuries played muse for Aartivijay Gupta’s collection. Portraits, court scenes, flora and fauna along with Haridas, Tansen and Akbar relaxing in Vrindavan and Ragamala paintings, created a visual story of India’s golden eras. 
While Aartivijay found inspiration in India's history, Narendra Kumar turned to the works of American abstract artist, Franz Kline's paintings and Sounia Gohil’s European Renaissance theme collection saw beautiful digital prints of European decor.  

Trend II: Sports Luxe

From the looks of it, fashion world seems to be crushing on all things sports!
 Possibly the easiest trend to experiment with, the focus is on sportswear basics reinvented in luxe materials.

Key pieces are silky sweatshirt, varsity tees, sporty broad stripes, sneakers, numerical motifs, pleated skirts and anything in sporty silhouettes.
Huemn by Pranav Mishra and Shyma Shetty was the perfect balance of luxury and sporty comfy. GaGa by Tanya Sharma showcased “Out of the Box”, edgy at the same time feminine pieces for the adventurous woman. Nishka Lulla offered easy-to-wear, fuss free clothes, for the globetrotting fashionista.
The motto of this trend is, keep it simply, sporty and chic!

Trend III: 3D Surface Ornamentation

Surface ornamentation and Indian fashion go together like two peas in a pod. The chances of seeing a collection devoid of any form of surface ornamentation, embellishment or embroidery is slim to nil. 

However, this season of Lakmé Fashion Week, designers have taken surface ornamentation to new dimension. Giving a miss to the run-of-the-mill embroidery and embellishment, designers have opted to offer larger than life 3D surface ornamentation.
Nikhil Thampi decided to decorate his well-tailored, structured pieces with 3D gold metallic flowers. Sourabh Kant Shrivastava's “Rebirth in Kaliyug” saw embellishments in the form of acrylic floral motifs and metal trimmings and Urvashi Joneja twisted yards of fabrics to make cords that has been used as an embellishment along with leather cutwork flowers.

Trend IV: Haute Hues- Blue & White

Step aside monochrome, there is a new pair in town! And from the looks of it they are quite a popular duo.
Say hello to Summer season’s IT colour combo: Blue and White (or shades of blue: navy, pottery blue, ink blue, indigo, cobalt, poster blue and white: ivory, porcelain, shell, peach kissed white ect.)

While the blue and white combo dominated at Divya Seth and Khem, the duo made its presence felt at Shehla Khan, Kunal Anil Tanna, Sneha Arora and Ikai by Ragini Ahuja.

From Ajrakh prints with the unusual clamp dyeing motifs at Divya Seth to navy ombré effect and floral embroidery motif at Khem to tie-dye detailing at Ikai by Ragini Ahuja, the colour combo has been displayed in myriads of styles and techniques. 

Trend V: In Full Bloom
They may not be groundbreaking, but floral will forever be considered the epitome of summer. 

Even though it is a regular spring-summer trend, it never fails make an impact. And lets be honest, what is summer fashion without its share of full blooms!

The blooming affair made an appearance at this season of Lakmé Fashion Week as well. While Shruti Sancheti decorated her “Le Pondi” collection with pretty pixie floral print, Lalit Sengar impressed us with his version of Liberty floral and

N&S GAIA by Sidharth Sinha managed to beautifully blend traditional hand-woven textiles of Meghalaya and crafts of Northeast India with delicate floral motifs.

Which of these top 5 Lakmé Fashion Week Summer/Resort 2014 trends you can’t wait to try this season?
Do share your thoughts with me in the comment section.

Till then, tra-la,
Amena!!
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Accessorize Me!!!

Anyone who knows me, knows about my unhealthy obsession with accessories. Be it bags, jewellery or shoes- I simply love them all!

Other than never really having any trouble finding them in my size, accessories quickly and cost-effectively transform everyday outfits into stylishly different looks.

When it comes to trendy accessories, no brand does it better than Accessorize.
Every time I enter an Accessorize store, I feel like a child in a chocolate factory or Alice in Wonderland.
From colourful baubles to eye-catching bags and gorgeous trinkets, Accessorize shop is a treasure trove for all accessory lovers.
At my recent store visit, I had a chance to go through the entire Spring-Summer 2013 collection. Thematically influenced by different cultures and concepts, the current collection has something for everyone. 

THE BLOOM COLLECTION

THE LAS SALINAS COLLECTION

THE EDEN COLLECTION

THE DEBUTANTE COLLECTION

THE GEISHA COLLECTION

Since buying it all was next to impossible, I decided to do the second best thing: Create collages of my fave pieces from each collection.
All five collections left a strong impact on me, but the Las Salinas collection is hands-down my fave.

One of the things I have always loved and admired about Accessorize is, while their collections are always on-trend, the pieces are designed in such a way that even after the trend and season is over the pieces never really go out of fashion and can easily be worn at any time of the year.

For more information about the latest collection, check out Accessorize India's Facebook Page

All you online shoppers, rejoice, Accessorize is now available exclusively on Myntra.com

Like me, if you too are an accessory junkie, the lastest collection from Accessorize has your name written on it.

Till then, tra-la,

 Amena!!

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Instagram: @a_fashionopolis
email me- a.fashionopolis@gmail.com

Summer State Of Mind!

I love summers. Ideally, I like to say I love spring, but we in Bombay don't experience spring. So between a 5 day winter and horrid four months of monsoons, I am one of the few who actually enjoys the heat. Don't get me wrong, the warm weather gets to me too, but I any day prefer it to the rains. While most of the world is just getting ready for summer, for us out here, more that half the season is almost over. So before I bid adieu to my fave season, here's a round up of some of my fave summer style and trends- all under $100.00 {approximately INR 5,490} 

[FOREVER 21 Bangles,1928 JEWELRY Necklace, NARS Nail Polish, CLINIQUE Lip Gloss, MANGO Sunglasses, MANGO Lace Dress, VICTORIA'S SECRET Body Lotion, CLINIQUE Sun Block, ZARA Clutch, DOROTHY PERKINS Tee, MISS SELFRIDGE Floppy Hat, TOPSHOP Neon Sandals, NINE WEST Floral Wedges, NINE WEST Straw Tote, DOROTHY PERKINS Headband, TOPSHOP Ombre Shorts]

Well, for me summer is all about taking mini-breaks to costal beach towns or a near by hill-station, attending tons of social events and catching up with friends and family who are in visiting the city.
Mixing on trend styles with classic summer fashion, here are some of my all time fave summer looks.

[More information on these pieces here]

What fun thing did you do this summer? And what is your ideal summer dress code? Share your views with me in the comment section.

Till then, tra-la,
 Amena!!

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email me- a.fashionopolis@gmail.com

In Full Bloom

“Florals? For spring? Ground breaking.” Remember Miranda Priestly’s {The Devil Wears Prada} infamous words? But in reality, what is summer without its fair share of flowers? So this summer; like every other summer before it, you would not be fashionably incorrect to wear florals. The trick though; is to avoid looking dated or out-of-style in your floral selection. Lucky for us, fashion designers, editors and stylist world over have offered us some trendy style bouquets. Pick a floral style of your liking-all over print, embroidered motif, flowers inspired from paintings, floral accessory, ect...- and accordingly style your look. Due to its popularity and versatility, this trend is multi-functional as well as multi-occasional. A floral piece can easily worn to work or a weekend away.To college and cocktail party. It pretty much goes with every dress code. With limitless styling, variegated color palette-from neon to pastel- to pair with and print mixing as the flavor of the season, one can hardly ever go wrong it. 

Here are few of my floral styling suggestions.

[More information on these pieces here.]

The print mix trend has made a follower out of me. Mixing floral pieces- dress, clutch and statement flower necklace- this is my version of the modern 'English Rose' look. Ladies, you are all set for your tea party.

[More information on these pieces here.]

If you have been reading my blog, by now you must know I am a colour-holic. I love colours in all their tints, tones, shades and hues. No post of mine is complete without a colour happy look. Combining on-trend bright colours-tangerine and hot pink- with Boho elements-maxi skirt and chunky jewelry, you can easily wear this look for a working brunch or weekend party. {If large or statement floral prints; as the dress above, are not your thing, you can opt for small over all floral spray print, like this maxi skirt}

[More information on these pieces here.]

If print is not your thing, then you can choose floral embroidered pieces. Pair a floral {appliqué} embroidered skirt with an embellished tank and contrasting jacket for a casual night out or a dinner date.

Personally, I love this trend. One of the reasons being it works very well with Western as well as Indian wear. Plus, a floral piece is a staple of every girl's wardrobe. All in all it is one of those eternal fashion trends that can never really go out of style.

{For more floral styling options click here and here}

What do you think of this trend? And how do you like to style? Share your views and suggestions with me in the comment section.  

Till then, tra-la,

 Amena!!

 Connect With Fashionopolis on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Bloglovin' & Subscribe
Instagram: @a_fashionopolis
email me- a.fashionopolis@gmail.com