Bollywood Best Dressed - Our Picks from Cannes 2014


Bollywood's footstep on the Cannes red carpet is rapidly increasing each year and this year they certainty did not disappoint! The Bollywood stars certainty held their own in terms of fashion this year, even showcasing a stunning Indian evening gown, joining a number of the other celebs for best dressed of the event. The Indian evening gown trend was proudly showcased as stars such as Sonam Kapoor presented a stunning gold sheer Anamika Khanna Saree with a detailed pearl and gold detailed choker, designed by Sunita Kapoor.


Our Bollywood best dressed picks from Cannes 2014 | Sonam Kapoor


This wasn’t the only show-stopping outfit Sonam presented, the 28 year old Bollywood celebrity heated up the red carpet in a number of breath-taking looks that left everyone in awe.

First shown was a dramatic black embellished Ellie Saab Spring 2014 Couture gown which featured gorgeous jewel detail. Finally, the GQ India beauty dazzled in a delicate powder blue Elie Saab gown, complete with a flowing skirt and structured bodice, which she wore to the Chopard Dinner.

Our Bollywood best dressed picks from Cannes 2014 | Sonam Kapoor


Our Bollywood best dressed picks from Cannes 2014 | Sonam Kapoor


It's hard to choose which gown is our favourite but we're leaning towards her dusty pink Indian evening gown!

Another Bollywood beauty who certainly stole the show was without a doubt Aishwarya Rai, wearing a stunningly structured golden Roberto Cavalli gown, Aishwarya's hair and makeup was every bit glam. She made her impressing 10th consecutive attendance at Cannes as L’Oreal Paris’ ambassador. The world went crazy over her and her golden look and was talking about everywhere – from printed publications to social media.

Our Bollywood best dressed picks from Cannes 2014 | Aishwarya Rai



For her second appearance, for the premiere of the movie “The Search” – she showcased a beautifully detailed white Roberto Cavalli gown embellished with tons of Swarovski crystals, she also opted for nude lips and perfect subtle make-up.

Our Bollywood best dressed picks from Cannes 2014 | Aishwarya Rai



Last but not least has to be Mallika Sherawat, she was a vision in blue as she showcased a stunning powder blue lace gown with cut out detail and a volumous up-do, teamed with statement jewelled earrings. For her next appearance she dazzled in a all white pleated number with a plunge neck line. This ensemble looked amazing as the windy weather swept it around as she made her way down the red carpet!

Our Bollywood best dressed picks from Cannes 2014 | Mallika Shreawat


Our Bollywood best dressed picks from Cannes 2014 | Mallika Shreawat





On-trend Indian Skirts for the Upcoming Season: Our Top Picks

The cold is closing in and we have officially entered winter, but that hasn’t stopped the influx of the Indian skirts trend which has dominated the fashion scene this Autumn/winter. Although skirts are associated with summer, we are seeing a variety of Autumn and Winter inspired designs and styles recently which are perfect for layering up and still looking trendy. 


One designer that always catches are attention when it comes to for Indian skirts is Anita Dongre, each style within her collections consists of a fusion of the old and the new, with a versatile colour palette comprising of a contrast of soft neutrals like nude and cream, to vibrant tones such as ruby reds, fuchsia pinks and peacock blues.

Anita dongre’s Jaipur bride collection consists of stunningly embellished Lehengas in rich Autumnal colours which are a definite favourite of ours this season, all of which are extremely unique yet characteristically Indian.

In relation to this, Anita has stated that a Jaipur Bride is said to be beautiful, complex, full of colour and very powerful. The collection is packed with unique beauty to each skirt designs and is what every bride-to-be could dream of. This particular exclusive collection is tailor made for the new-age Indian bride who want expand from the ordinary.

 


Another designer who has stood out to us is Siddartha Tytler, who creates the most unique skirt designs of all. According to the Indian designer “Novel silhouettes, innovative structural elements, new fangled patterns, ‘wear-ability’ and originality are the essential elements in every creation at the Siddartha Tytler studio". 

When creating one of his pieces an important factor come into play: changing trends or the inspiration by elements that exist as part of our everyday lives.


Siddhartha's extraordinary attention to detail is witnessed in the sharply defined silhouettes of his Indian skirts, we personally love the intricate detail showcased in each one of his garments, which is usually combined with dark colour tones and gold detailing. 

Making women look good is what Siddharta Tytler does best, form fitting or free-flowing, the silhouettes of these skirt designs emphasis the natural curves of the women’s body with a focus on surface ornamentation and unique embellishment. Never one to ignore bling, his forte is the use of crystal embellishment combined with gorgeously detailed thread work, a match made in heaven!



India’s international jewellery Week 2014 Highlights and Top Picks


India’s international jewellery Week 2014 has recently taken place and it was certainly was not one to be missed. A huge array of models showcasing gorgeous Indian designer jewellery collections of all shapes and sized sashayed down the ramp at the fifth edition of the India International Jewellery Week.

A unique variety of jewelers, designers and design graduates from the Indian Institute of Gems and Jewellery presented their creations at the event hosted by the Gem and Jewellery Export Promotion Council.

The Indian jewellery designers produced the most essential and inspirational jewellery to date, making a statement across the globe. India’s international Jewellery Week provided a perfect international platform for India's most talented designers and design houses to showcase their original and contemporary Indian designer jewellery collections.

 The shows took place over a spectacular four-day period, from July 14 to July 17, and featured from of Bollywood’s hottest stars.

Day 1: Our favourite show from day 1 had to be Sunny Leone’s collection, full of black magic and darker tones, the statement gold and silver pieces were beautifully designed, and perfect for dressing up a simple outfit and standing out from the crowd.

India's Internation Jewellery Week | Sunny Leone


Day 2: Day two of event featured a stunning array of Indian designer jewellery collections, but Swarovski definitely stood out to us as being the number one show stopper. The ballroom of the Grand Hyatt was transformed into a marriage Mandap with masses of marigold streamers dangling from the ceiling. The runway ramp was edged with a gorgeous border of marigolds, setting the stage perfectly for a mega wedding style celebration, which featured a number of brides from all around the country.

India's Internation Jewellery Week | Swarovski


The Swarovski “The Brides of India” collection was presented by Nazraana in association with P C Jeweller, and was a mind blowing combination and variety of genuine jewels and synthetic stones all beautifully crafted. The colour, detail, sheer beauty and cut of the stones were a breath-taking view on the catwalk as the models strutted their way down the runway.

Day 3: Sonam Kapoor, Sridevi and Parineeti Chopra took to the ramp on Day 3, making it a day to remember! Our favourite show had to be by Golecha Jewels. The collection consisted of stunning oversized and detailed traditional neckpieces, which were displayed with deep oranges and reds which made the richness of the gold stand out beautifully.

                                                   India's Internation Jewellery Week | Golecha Jewels

And lastly, our favourite of all the shows took place on the last day of IIJW. It featured one desired and standout piece of Indian designer jewellery from each of the many stunning collections shown in the first three days of India International Jewellery Week 2014. There were 21 items altogether from the different brands and Indian jewellery designers that were there to make their mark in the global jewellery scene.

India's Internation Jewellery Week | Final show

Dia Mirza Bridal Ceremonies – Featuring a Stunning Anita Dongre Lehenga


Dia Mirza blew everyone away with two gorgeous appearances at both her mehendi and sangeet ceremonies! Firstly the stunning bride to be wore a highly embellished and stylish lehenga by Anita Dongre, while her husband to be Sahil showcased a charming look featuring a simple black bandgala with white pyjamas.

Dia’s purple lehenga look was complimented with kudan jewellery and both necklace and earrings to match the colour of the beautiful Anita Dongre Lehenga. To keep her look simple Dia kept her fingers bare for her wedding ring, complimented with sophisticated bridal mehendi which she wore on her palms and fingers.

 

The outfit Dia Mirza wore at her sangeet ceremony was detailed and extravagant, whilst the colour chosen suited Dia perfectly, complimenting her whole look. She wore a beige coloured corset and a deep purple lehenga with detailed gold embellishment which included a number of sequins and stones, completing the outfit perfectly. To bring the the whole look together, Dia’s make-up was striking, including blushing cheeks and smokey eyes!

Furthermore, Dia Mirza’s groom Sahil Sangha looked dashing in a Manish Malhotra Sherwani. He wore a deep red pocket square and completed the look with white pyjamas and simple black formal shoes.




Dia Mirza gave her fans a glimpse of the ensemble designed by Ritu Kumar at her mehendi, the outfit featured a bright yellow chanderi multi-panelled kurta, which she posted a photograph on her Twitter page, featuring Dia standing happily with Sahil.

Dia Mirza and Sahil Sangha got engaged in New York earlier this year. Before the festivities Dia held an intimate pre-wedding party, which was attended by close friends of theirs Riteish Deshmukh and Genelia D'Souza.

The couple looked extremely in love at their sangeet and mehendi, and we can't just wait to see Dia as a bride. We are sure she will look amazing!

If you're looking for a similar style stunning Anita Dongre bridal lehengas, shop here!

Beautiful Styles from Wills Lifestyle India Fashion Week Spring/Summer 2015

One of Asia’s biggest fashion events, the Wills Lifestyle India Fashion Week for SS'15 recently took place from the 8th of October to the 12th of October 2014 in New Dehli with the support of the the Fashion Design Council of India.

This season, around 125 renowned and young designers showcased their collections within 30 shows. The Wills Lifestyle India Fashion Week SS’15 has highlighted the particularity of the Indian fashion industry, which is an igniting mix of tradition and modernity.

Let's have a look at some of the styles that caught out eye from the fashion extravaganza. More posts about Wills Lifestyle India Fashion Week to follow over the next weeks.

Wills Lifestyle India Fashion Week Spring/Summer 2015 | ShowWills Lifestyle India Fashion Week Spring/Summer 2015 | Show

Wills Lifestyle India Fashion Week Spring/Summer 2015 | Show

Wills Lifestyle India Fashion Week Spring/Summer 2015 | ShowWills Lifestyle India Fashion Week Spring/Summer 2015 | Show
 
Wills Lifestyle India Fashion Week Spring/Summer 2015 | ShowWills Lifestyle India Fashion Week Spring/Summer 2015 | Show

Wills Lifestyle India Fashion Week Spring/Summer 2015 | Show

Wills Lifestyle India Fashion Week Spring/Summer 2015 | ShowWills Lifestyle India Fashion Week Spring/Summer 2015 | Show


Wills Lifestyle India Fashion Week Spring/Summer 2015 | Show

Wills Lifestyle India Fashion Week Spring/Summer 2015 | ShowWills Lifestyle India Fashion Week Spring/Summer 2015 | Show

Wills Lifestyle India Fashion Week Spring/Summer 2015 | ShowWills Lifestyle India Fashion Week Spring/Summer 2015 | Show

Our Favourite Anarkali Dresses from India

Anarkali dresses are a timeless trend, when talking of Indian fashion, that seem to be getting more and more popular as the years go by. Recently we have seen an influx of stunning anarkali dresses that have been showcased all over the recent catwalks and fashion weeks, and by some of Bollywoods biggest celebrities. Anarkali dresses are also frequently worn by an influx of teenagers not only in India but worldwide!

Deepika Padukone without a doubt has one of the best collections of Anarkali dresses that we’ve seen, showcasing her elaborate collection at a number of important events, here are some of our favourites:

Deepika Padukone | Anarkali dress collection

Deepika Padukone | Anarkali dress collection

Anarkali dresses refer to the flowing salwaar kameezes that are relatively long and are designed like frocks but without any type of slit at the side. These style of dresses generally include a kameez that falls below the knee, and a churidaar that has folds near the ankle.

In terms of styles, they are often made up of a variety of materials such as silk, satin, cotton, georgette, chiffon, net, brasso and a variety of other materials, currently the ones that are most popular involve trendy net materials. The hem and neck of anarkali dresses often have detailed and unique embellishments and embroidery, which consist of an array of sequins, beads, laces, etc.

In relation to anarkali dresses showcased at the recent Wills Lifestyle Fashion Week: Rohit Bal definitely stood out to us as being a designer not to be missed. And his show was great! Year after year, his shows prove to be an experience that’s not just about the garments, but the energy, the aura and the drama he manages to create on the ramp, and he definitely didn’t disappoint this year!
Rohit Bal | Wills Lifestyle Fashion Week | Anarkalis


Rohit Bal | Wills Lifestyle Fashion Week | Anarkalis

Rohit Bal | Wills Lifestyle Fashion Week | Anarkalis

We have seen a lot of florals already this year, but Rohit's spin on florals was daring, graphic, unique and beyond gorgeous. Beautiful Kashmiri embroidery on soft, flowy mul-muls and the most stunning collection of Anarkalis that were chic, contemporary yet rooted in Indian tradition. A definite favourite of ours!

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Insight on Indian Designer Satya Paul

The Satya Paul Design Studio started in 1985 at a time when the Indian Fashion Industry was just at a promising stage. Over time it has established itself with the originality of its printed and embellished fabrics and beautiful garments. Satya Paul has quickly developed into one of the few professionally run designer brands that now competes with other high-end international fashion brands and competitors!

Satya Paul is a top design label that specialises in stunning signature prints, feminine designs and a timeless contemporary style that has caused the label to establish itself as a global brand, unhindered by national boundaries. In relation to this, Satya Paul has achieved a unique look that is instantly recognisable and extremely different from competitor Indian designers. Every Staya Paul collection focuses on a fashion forward theme, keeping the brand ahead and intune of each season's trends and looks. (See my post on Lisa Ray in a  Satya Paul Saree)

Having re-invented the traditional sari as a modern and stylish classic, Satya Paul sarees are known for their beautiful prints, innovative draping and bold colour palette. The brand has revolutionised the way fashion is perceived and viewed in India, with prints that are both wearable and at the same time beautifully creative. The creations have been inspired by classical forms of art like calligraphy, sculpture and many genres of art.



Indian Designers | Indian Designer dress by Satya Paul
The Bridal collection by Satya Paul reflects the beauty and uniqueness every bride dreams of on their special day. A contrast of rich fabrics, fine embroidery and stunning embellishments come together to create the perfect trousseau.

Indian Designers | Indian Designer dress by Satya PaulIndian Designers | Indian Designer dress by Satya Paul

Further more, the Satya Paul menswears range includes the new age Satya Paul accessories which include neck ties, belts, wallets, and cufflinks. The collection is sure to satisfy any styling need for the successful man of today.

Here are some of our favourite pieces from Satya Paul's recent collection:


Indian Designers | Indian Designer dress by Satya Paul

Indian Designers | Indian Designer dress by Satya Paul


Se also the new trend for Indian skirts!

Indian Designer Top Picks: Sougat Paul


Indian Designer Sougat Paul’s stint in fashion started with studying at the prestigious N.I.F.T Kolkata. After completion of his degree he gained experience in working as a stylist in Mumbai. From there he swiftly moved on to working with various brands before venturing out to his own label in 2010. His Label then debuted in Lakme Fashion Week and quickly received a lot of accolades worldwide as a New Indian designer, his label has now showcased at Lakme Fashion week four times!

Detailing is a key part of Sougat Pauls designs, he can take inspiration from the most specific things such a basket weave to a paper cutout. His collection has been described as ‘an amalgamation of day to day thought knitted together’. Detailing has been the mainstay for his labels with a special impetus on the quality and finishing of each individual garment.
 
                                                     Lashish Heavy White and Gold Gown | Indian Designers | Indian Designer dress by Sougat Paul

Sougat’s collection titled ‘Decoding Zellige’ is a personal favourite of ours and is heavily inspired by Moroccan architecture, and unlike other collections inspired by Morocco, this one comes across as more subtle & thankfully not loud. The colours consist of a stunning blend of pastels with black, purple and orchard yellow. The detail-work & embellishments are kept limited to the bodice & hemlines while grand neck pieces completed the look with an elegance.


The collection also consists of more daring and unique styles such as sheer jumpsuits and structured mini dresses. Unsurprisingly Sougat Paul’s cocktail and Gala dresses are created with the same contemporary and unique flare, but teamed with subtle traditional touches, and are loved not only in India but internationally too.

                                                  Trendy Forest Green Jump Suit | Indian Designers | Indian Designer jumpsuit by Sougat Paul
                                                 Celendia Saree | Indian Designers | Indian Designer Saree by Sougat Paul


We personally love Indian designer Sougat’s latest works for the simplicity and contemporary take on traditional style. The new age sarees are particularly interesting and successful; the edgy and laid back approach to the simple saree designs work uniquely well with the bright use of colours.

View also Insight on Indian Designers!

Indain Designer Top Picks: Neeru Kumar




In the world of handcrafted textiles, Neeru Kumar is a rare and inspired Indian designer, who has, over the past two decades pioneered something of a revolution in Indian textiles.

She has uniquely used traditional techniques and indigenous materials, and with constant experimentation and research, Neeru has created a contemporary and fashion focused approach to textile design. The combination of her unique sensibility, especially in tone and texture, with her profound knowledge of the weaving process and other textile techniques teamed with her knowledge of the modern fashion landscape, has lead to her creating a completely innovative and modern collection of garments.  

                                                   Olive Green Dhoti Pants | Indian Designers | Indian Designer pants
A 1980 graduate of the National Institute of Design in Ahmedabad in India, Neeru Kumar made her first commercial breakthrough in 1989 with her signature ‘First Design’, a black and tussar weave, which was acclaimed internationally. She was then widely covered by the media as a indian designer who had achieved a rare synergy between classic textile craft and contemporary design, her work is often described as 'contemporary classic'.

Indian designer Neeru Kumar also recently launched her new label by none other than the extremely charismatic and graceful Ms.Karisma Kapoor, Bollywood superstar and Neeru's brand ambassador.  This one of its kind collection consisted of tunics and kurtis, combining the beauty of traditional Indian wear whith a western chic flare. Woven from premium quality imported fabric, these outfits are singular in design, supremely comfortable and lay great emphasis on silhouettes.

 
                          Neeru Kumar launch by Karishma KAppor | Indian Designers


So whether you want to get ready for college or work, a casual weekday outing, a social do or a weekend brunch, all you need to do is slip into one of Neeru Kumars outfits and presto; you're ready to make heads turn!

Here are some of our favourite items by Neeru Kumar at the moment:



           White Linen Palazzo Pants | Indian Designers | Indian Designer pants  Lotus Printed Lehenga Set | Indian Designers | Indian Designer

                                             

What makes these fresh and vibrant outfits unique is that though they are limited editions; they are designed keeping in mind both, teenagers and adults.