Accessories: Hidesign Lizard Leather Collection

Fear not, animal lovers! Hidesign’s latest collection is made of faux lizard printed vegetable tanned leathers. The deep emboss and hand finished colours give the leathers a rich gloss. The bags in this collection are available in colours like midnight blue, deep red, forest green, brown and black. The styles range from clutches and wallets to totes and day bags. My favourite: Thelma grab handle bag (picture below).

Accessories: Metro Shoes’ Bling it on collection

Drawing inspiration from unconventional prints, metallics and nature, the Bling it on collection adds a tint of azure to monotonous wardrobe colours.

For women, there are flats, denim textured ballerinas, polished kitten heels, gladiators, wedges and slip-ons, mostly in shades of blue. My pick- the tie-up flats (picture below).

The guys can choose from zipper shoes, loafers, lace-ups and boots in cobalt blues, earthy browns and burnt sienna. For men’s party shoes, there are comfy slip-ons, buckled formals and high-tops in vibrant blue.

Fragrance: Lancome Trésor Midnight Rose

Endorsed by Emma Watson, this fruity floral is colourful and upbeat. Lancome Trésor Midnight Rose embodies mischievous femininity and embodies romantic yet contemporary love. Rose bring playfulness to the fragrance, with deliciously tangy raspberry tones, wooden shimmers and voluptuous vanilla notes. This perfume could be your signature with its spontaneous, irresistible charms! Spray it on and feel like you’re in Paris.

Fragrance: FCUK3

This set of fragrances for him and her is for the bold and witty. Think bright florals for the playful young lady (top notes of red berries, mandanrin oil and pink pepper, base notes of amber and vanilla), and creamy musk for the flirtatious guy (top notes: pineapple, mandarin, orange; base notes: amber, musk).

Packaged in a high-gloss shell enclosed in glass, these fragrances will add a fun touch to your life and your dressing table.

What’s your chic pick of the month?

There was only one way to find out, by checking it out myself. So last week I decided to attend a few shows at India Kids Fashion Week in suburban Mumbai.

One: Indian designers are warming up to kidswear

The designer line-up at India Kids Fashion Week was somewhat impressive. There were some big names on the schedule- Rocky S, Nishka Lulla, Payal Singhal and Mineral by Priyadarshini Rao, among others. So this was an event that at least some designers were taking seriously, which was a good sign. But there were also names I hadn’t heard of, but that’s not always a bad thing. There were also some non-fashion brands like Hotwheels who participated.

To be fair to the organisers (Craftworld Events), kidswear is quite a big deal internationally. Most large fashion houses, from high street to high fashion, have a separate line for kids- Gap, Zara, Burberry, Tommy Hilfiger, Calvin Klein, Gucci, Ralph Lauren… you get the drift. So why should the Indian designers be left behind?

Two: Fashion choices for kids have grown recently

Besides the brands you see in the mall (such as Gini & Jony and Lilliput) and some others, there wasn’t too much happening in the Indian kidswear space. There were a few new entrants in the past three to four years, like Tommy Hilfiger and Zara (both with kidswear).

But even so, most clothes for children, such as jeans, tees, frocks, were mostly found in department stores (like Westside or Central). There was also Kidology which launched in 2010, that retails high quality fashion ready-to-wear kids’ and maternity clothing.

I met Neha Sachar Mittal of Kidology, who spoke about the boom in the kidswear market in India (over 20% in the past decade) and the need for clothes specifically meant for Indian kids (like for weddings and other occasions).

Three: What India Kids fashion week is really about

Simply put, India Kids Fashion Week is an event to sell clothes, accessories and even toys for kids. It’s not really an event for kids per se, though kids do participate as models and designers (designer Prachi Badve is 13 years old).

The event is for the industry—so that designers get a potential new market, and customers (parents/ kids), buyers (such as department and multi-brand stores) get good clothes for kids to get new customers and higher sales. So it’s like any other fashion week, but with a very specific focus.

Four: It was a fun event for and by the kids

I saw dozens of kids walking the ramp at India Kids Fashion Week. In the shows that I attended, I was glad that none of them were sexualised or objectified in any way. Their clothes were mostly stylish, and they had applied some makeup.

The PR girl Akshatha explained that the makeup was safe and edible because kids like to put everything in their mouth. Each kid did only one show, and there was a doctor on call as well. During the model auditions, the focus was on the kids’ confidence more than anything else. Whether this translates into kids aspiring to be models is a question mark, but I do know that the kids who walked the ramp got professional training and gained confidence like in no other way.

And what could be more kid-friendly than the presence of our favourite ogre Shrek? (He walked the ramp for Zoop by Titan and both grown-ups and kids went crazy!).

Five: There are some awesome fashion options for kids

Some of the designers came up with fabulous clothes for kids. Rocky S created a black-and-white-themed collection for them, and the Kidology show with clothes by X, Y and Z was a real treat to watch. Seeing the cute hats, accessories and vibrant prints for girls, I wished I was a kid again.

Six: Kids get to choose!

Also, let’s not forget that Indian kids, especially in the metros and larger towns influence purchase decisions to a large extent. There were several kids watching the shows at fashion week, and they may form opinions on what they like and what they don’t, so they could end up playing a slightly greater role in what they wear.

Seven: It may be too early to talk about the business impact

For a first-time event of such scale, India Kids Fashion Week generated decent amount of interest in the local and national media. This was partly to do with the handful of well-known names on the ramp, such as Sushmita Sen.

Success will largely depend on the buyer-designer interactions and sales (Shoppers Stop was one of the buyers at the event), uptake of sponsors in the next season and public and media interest. It’s too early to say what will happen the next season, but one key takeaway from the event is that small can be big. Perhaps bigger than expected.

It seems that Kate Beckinsale was more concerned about fitting into the leather corset than the daredevil stunts and the heavy-duty action scenes. Not surprising, considering that the first Underworld movie was shot almost a decade ago.

Nevertheless, if you think Kate Beckinsale looks sexy in this (I certainly do), there’s an easy way to get the corseted look without time-travelling to the Victorian era or holding your breath.

Say hello to the bustier!

Ok, not this bustier (from La Senza), but the ones I’ve written about below. Read on…

Why a bustier?

Sure, bustiers are usually associated with lingerie (they give the woman a higher bust line and a shapely waist), but as innerwear transformed into outerwear over the past few seasons, bustiers had a coming out of sorts (pun intended).

Bustier v/s corset

So what’s the difference between a bustier and a corset? For one, a bustier lacks the lacing and “boning” of a typical corset (they give shape to the wearer). Secondly, a bustier usually ends at the ribs or waist, while a corset can be of varying lengths.

If you want to wear a bustier to get a more defined torso, take your pick from the options below.

Bustier as a dress

Bustier dresses can be fitted or A-line, long or short.

Below: Denim bustier dress, Sabrina bustier bandage dress both from Forever New; Winter Love strapless dress from French Connection, gown from Jatin Varma (LFW W/F 2011)

Bustier as a top

I spotted a number of bustier tops at Bebe recently, and they looked absolutely fab! They ranged from sporty to sexy, and the satin ones were especially attractive.

Below: Space dye bustier top, Embellished pleated bustier, heart-shaped satin bustier, all from Bebe.

Bustier as a camisole or Indian-style blouse

Wear a bustier as a camisole under a sheer blouse, shirt or jacket. Or wear a bustier as a blouse with your sari or lehenga this wedding season.

Below: Lace bustier camisole from Forever New, look from Satya Paul LFW S/R 2011

Bustier warning!

Wearing a bustier as outerwear is not easy, especially in India- it takes guts and a good figure. So here are a couple of tips when you’re buying or wearing one.

A garment can only enhance what you already have—being in shape really helps. And not all bustier garments give good support. So be careful what you choose.

Innerwear matters: A bustier top or dress may require additional support from within especially if you’re a curvy girl. So shop for the right lingerie to look shapely and smart in your bustier.

Cover up: Bare shoulders and plunging neckline are not exactly appropriate or acceptable street wear in India. So wear a matching shrug or jacket over your bustier when you’re out, which you could take off when you’re indoors at a party or dinner.

Accessorise right: There’s nothing cooler than a long necklace to go with a bustier top or dress. Very flattering if you got the right curves!

Below: Feather charm necklace from Toniq

Are you ready to wear a bustier?

Meanwhile there are some things that should never go on sale, mainly because they are almost everywhere and selling them cheap would lead to everyone wearing the same clothes or accessories. And as I wrote earlier, who wants a nation of fashion clones?

So here’s my list of five things that should never go on sale.

Angry Birds tshirts

Every day I pass by a couple stores in my neighbourhood that have proudly displayed Angry Birds tees, shorts and briefs in their window display.:-P And a young shopper at Zara was wearing such a tshirt as well. While I’m addicted to the game, I’d really be pushing fashion boundaries by wearing the cute birds. And so would everyone else. No one ever wore a Monopoly or Ludo tshirt, or did they?

Oversized / statement pearl necklaces

True, pearls are classic accessories. But I’m talking of the long necklaces with larger-than-usual pearls that every other woman seems to own. They come in different colours, sizes and strand lengths, but essentially they’re the same.

Quilted bags

Chanel’s quilted bags are not really Chanel’s anymore. They belong to almost every accessory brand and woman across the world. At the mall recently, the only good bags I came across were quilted, but in different styles. And while I don’t regret buying a rose red Mango quilted bag last year, I think it’s time to stop buying it and move on to other textures. (BTW, I had recommended quilted bags as early as 2010, so it’s time to kiss them goodbye).

Below: Bag from Charles & Keith

Polo tshirt with horse

In late 2010, the guys who wore the Ralph Lauren polo tshirt with the Big Pony symbol on the left and back were smart and suave. In 2011, every Rahul, Raj and Rohan was wearing a spin-off. And some women donned those tees too. If those tshirts are on sale somewhere, stay away from it. Please!

Fit flops

Every woman who wears a fit flop swears by it. And yes, they’re comfy, cute and stylish (especially the ones with baubles and other trimmings). Unfortunately, my love for them faded when I saw all five women in a group wearing them. Sorry, fit flops weren’t supposed to be part of the uniform.

BTW, if you’re still interested in knowing what’s on sale, here’s a quick look at some brands offering discounts right now:

• Zara
• Mango
• Promod
• Charles & Keith
• Tresmode
• Pepe Jeans
• AND
• Chemistry
• Latin Quarters

What fashion item do you think should not go on sale?

So here are some cars in unusual colours I spotted on Mumbai roads recently. Take a look and tell me which colours are wearable and which ones are just too horrible to look at.

Weird green on Mahindra Xylo:

If there’s one colour weirder than mud green, it’s got to be this one. This green is somewhere between a pastel and a fluorescent, it looks terrible on the car, and would look worse on me!

Two shades of brown in a single look—yeah or no way? (For me—no way, Jose!)

Shiny black all over—great look for the night. (And I’m coveting the Merc too!)

Red cars are popular in India, and most Indian women wear red as a symbol of marriage. But what about maroon? I think a maroon lehenga or sari would look gorgeous on an Indian bride.

Unusual bright colours have made a recent appearance on Indian cars. The green Ford Figo has become popular (they call the colour squeeze), and so has the sunlight orange Nissan Micra (endorsed by Ranbir Kapoor).

Both cars are spunky, and bring a tinge of freshness to Indian roads. What’s more, both colours would be just right for an Indian woman’s spring/summer wardrobe, but she would need a very strong personality and careful styling to carry them off.

Art on cars: Would you sport an Ed Hardy tattoo? Or something similar? I’d never get a tattoo, period!

So which car colour would you wear?

Just for Kids

Just for Kids is a new Indian brand with international fashion for kids at local prices. The stores stock tunics, tops, skirts, capris, jumpsuits, track pants, dresses, shoes and accessories for kids up to the age of 12 years. The look is fresh with plenty of reds, pinks, greens , purple balanced with denim blues, grey , mustard, military green , white, navy and pastels for infants.

Just for Kids is at Phoenix Market City, Kurla and Atria Mall, Worli, Mumbai.

The first fashion week for kids?

Meanwhile, kids and moms have got yet another reason to “celebrate” fashion, because this month Mumbai will host India Kids Fashion Week (IKFW). Well-known children’s brands and designers will participate in IKFW, including Rocky S, Narendra Kumar, Nishka Lulla, Malini Ramani, Barbie, Kidology, Little Kangaroos, Just for Kids, Mineral and Coochie Coo.

As far as I know, this is the first such fashion week in India. While my initial reaction was one of scepticism, I’ve quickly come to realise the event is more for the parents than the kids.

India Kids Fashion Week will run from January 17-19, 2012.

WIFW A/W 2012 to kick off Feb 15

Wills Lifestyle India Fashion Week is expected to be held earlier this season, perhaps in line with the international fashion week schedule. WIFW A/W 2012 was announced to be tentatively held February 15 onward, while WIFW A/W 2011 was in April last year.

If this date is confirmed, it will mark a notable departure from the previous years’ schedules. The move to advance the fashion week by almost eight weeks may be to do with the schedules of international buyers. It will be interesting to gauge the impact of this new schedule on the business during fashion week.

Rohit Bal is LFW S/R 2012 grand finale designer

Lakme Fashion Week has pulled off another fashion coup this season, with Delhi designer Rohit Bal closing the event at the grand finale at LFW S/R 2012. Last season, Rohit Bal had showcased his collection in an off-site show at Lakme Fashion Week Winter/Festive 2011.

Known for his uninhibited creativity, I’m hoping Rohit Bal will amaze us fashionistas this season as well. And oh, we’re not sure why Rohit Bal moved to the Mumbai-based fashion week, but we like it!

Lakme Fashion Week Summer/ Resort 2012 will be held March 1-6, 2012.

But now, they’re in almost every good shoe store in town. I was extremely sceptical about them, but they seem to be THE SHOES for the season. Here’s why:

Reason 1: They are comfy. I’m not used to “closed” shoes being a Mumbai gal, so I wasn’t sure if I would be comfy in them. I tried on this pair at Tresmode, and they were super comfy. In fact, they seemed tailormade for my feet.

Below: Newbuck loafers from Tresmode (for women)

Reason 2: This season, loafers (also called “slip-ons”) are available in a mindboggling range of styles and colours for both men and women. Loafers can be simple slip-on shoes, with minimum or no detailing or it could have a fancy buckle or faux laces.

Below: Mockk from Steve Madden (for women)

Reason 3: You can wear them almost everywhere! I wear my Charles & Keith loafers to movies, meetings, dinners and to run errands.

Below: Loafers from Charles & Keith (for women)

Reason 4: They are great for both cold and warm weather. While I wouldn’t recommend loafers for summer, I don’t find them making my feet too sweaty in the current Mumbai weather. In Delhi recently, I wore my loafers with socks.

Below: Loafers from Carlton London (f0r men), available on BeStylish.com

Reason 5: Loafers are chic! End of discussion!

Do you have your pair of loafers yet?

Less brocade, no fur

Indian fashion has been taken over by brocade over the past couple years and it’s the mots ubiquitous fabric at weddings, sangeets, and the like. Meanwhile, despite PETA’s efforts and greater environmental consciousness, fur was everywhere on the international ramp and red carpet. We’d like to see less of both, please.

Below: Looks from Shyamal &Bhumika and Neeta Lulla, both at LFW W/F 2011

Young Indian women dressing as individuals, not clones

Enter a mall, beauty salon or a multiplex in any city in India, and you will spot Indian girls dressed in a uniform: skinny jeans, tshirt, open flat shoes and long straight hair. With new brands, international magazines and the amazing Internet, I’d been hoping for fashion to be more individualistic. But that didn’t happen last year, so maybe we’ll see a transformation this year. Do we really want a society of clones—people who look and think alike?

More quality fashion weeks, please!

In the battle of the fashion weeks in India (too numerous to name here), what we see are lists and lists of designers. But what we see on the ramp is often repetitive, mediocre or even amateurish. I’d like fashion boards to separate the wheat from the chaff and give us something that amazes, shocks and excites us. And if all they get is what we see on the ramp, then sadly the industry needs to rethink how it recognises and nurtures talent.

And my personal wishlist…

De-clutter and go minimal

I have too many clothes and not enough space, which makes it all the more difficult to buy new pieces every season. De-cluttering is not an option for me anymore, it’s a necessity!

Help others make the right fashion choice

I helped a couple friends select the right outfits, accessories and even complete looks. Now I’d love to help some more.

And umm… blog more often

‘Nuff said!

What are your fashion wishes for 2012?

Shopping moved from malls and local markets to online stores. While flash sale sites like Fashion and You came last year, 2011 saw an explosion of online retailers selling fashion goodies. Some websites are solely online ventures, selling clothes, makeup or accessories from single (FreeCultr) or multiple brands (Myntra, B.Lab, BeStylish), while some well-known brands extended their presence with online shopping. Some websites offer fabulous steals, mindboggling variety and great clothes, so it’s a win-win for fashionistas!

Store interiors got spunky

The Quiksilver and Roxy store at Mumbai’s Phoenix Mills is a delight to visit. The brands are dedicated to the surfing culture, and their tshirts, shorts, pants and accessories like backpacks seem to have struck a chord with fans. But what I like most about the store is the surfing stamp all over. There are surf and skate boards around, wooden slats, photo frames and cut-outs of icons pasted on the wall. Just outside the Phoenix Mills (Mumbai) store, there was even a bench shaped like a surf board. Nice touch!

It was “Year of the Shoes”

There are shoes, then there are shoes. I don’t have a shoe obsession like some fashionistas do, but I do like to see shoes I haven’t seen before. This year I saw some excellent shoes by Indian accessory designers, such as Rohan Arora and Swati Modo. My personal favourite- Rohan Arora’s shoes this season had traditional nakashi craft work on the wedges, while some had cute little charms. While I don’t own any of them (yet), I’d advise any shoe-crazy woman to seriously consider some of these unique designs.

What was your favourite shopping trend in 2011?

Little Black Dress

I’m not going to bother saying the LBD never goes out of style (you already know that). But you can wear it differently: wear it in tiers or with detailing like lace, sequins and beads.

Below: Dress from Esprit, dress from Zara

Bling for 2012

Bling works if you want it to work. Metallics, rhinestones and faux crystal embellishments are perfect for the party night of the year.

Below: Jacket and dress both from Vizyon

Party in prints

Crazy, funky, colourful prints have been the rage in 2011 and they will be around next year too. Choose a bold print that reflects your attitude.

Below: Look from Pria Kataria Puri Lakme Fashion Week W/F 2011, dress from S&N Drape by Shantanu-Nikhil at Wills Lifestyle India Fashion Week A/W 2011

Long-drawn beauty

If you’ve got the right figure (lean) and plenty of confidence, choose a light-coloured gown for a dreamy feminine look.

Below: Look from Wendell Rodricks at Lakme Fashion Week W/F 2011

Skip the dress…

… And wear trousers instead. Or a jumpsuit. Or even shorts. And don’t be surprised when the heads turn in your direction.

Below: Look from Hemant-Nandita at Wills Lifestyle India Fashion Week A/W 2011, look from Nachiket Barve at Lakme Fashion Week W/F 2011

Accessories

Wear high heels, even if you hate them. Come on, it’s only one night a year!

Below: Partyy shoes from Steve Madden; Veruschka sandal on bestylish.com 

Party. Clutch. Need we say more?

Below: Amoures clutch from French Connection, Lucy sequinned wallet from Toniq

Jewellery- dangling earrings, cuff and a long necklace.

Below: Cuff from Mango

Bonus party tip: Inglot’s “Crazy Nails” nail enamel gives your nails the salon look with funky patterns. Can’t wait to try this.

What are you wearing on New Year’s eve?