Author Archives: The Asian Fashion Journal

Friday Fives: Outhouse S/s 13

31st May 2013

Yep the Outhouse girls have done it again! their A/w 12 collection was awesome and so is their latest offering. ABSOLUTELY STUNNING. I love the concept of the shoot- using a vintage Americana car as a backdrop works so well and echos the industrial feel of their pieces. I want it all!

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Images Bombay Electric Facebook

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5 easy ways to improve Vidya Balan’s Cannes looks

24th May 2013

Poor Vidya, she’s prob thinking she can’t win – critised for her choices in Western attire and now critised for her choices in Indian attire. Unlike many nay-sayers that blame Sabyasachi’s work I think the reason her looks at Cannes haven’t worked is down to poor styling (Sabya will always be a design genius in my eyes) Designers don’t always make good stylists and a good stylist can take a look from Meh to Yeah. Who can forget Anaita Shroff Adajania’s styling magic on Deepika Padukone’s wardrobe in Cocktail or Rhea Kapoor’s continued awesome styling of Sonam Kapoor. If either of them had been able to tweak Vidya’s looks I know they would have been much stronger.

1) Ditch the high neck blouses

When you have a bust bigger than a B cup do yourself a favour and avoid high necklines and show off what you got! She’s done it in the past and looked fab for it-See here.

vidya at cannesUnflattering high necklines and way too much fabric! Images Vogue India

2)Don’t drown yourself in fabric when you’re petite

When you’re petite extra fabric just adds pounds, even if she had opted for sleeveless blouses and worn shorter blouses (that would have showed her tiny waist) she would have looked better.

3)Soften the hair

Vidya’s centre parting bun looked really severe and aged her unnecessarily. She should look to the youthful Sri Devi for hair inspiration!

sridevi final 3Image High Heel Confidential

4) Accessorise well

I actually like most of the jewellery Vidya’s been wearing but what was with the bag? (first image on the right) yep its Chanel but still! a chic clutch like Neha worked below would have worked better.

neha dupiaImage Strand of Silk

5)Mix it up

I love Sabyasachi’s work but mix it up- If people see the same silouette over and over again it gets tired. Sonam gave a masterclass in mixing it up rocking Dolce & Gabanna, Huemn and Anamika Khanna

sonam at cannesImages Vogue India

Images Vogue India, High Heel Confidential and Strand of Silk.

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Blog Crush: Border & Fall

25th May 2013

After all the distractions of the last few weeks its been good to get back into blogging mode. It’s not just the writing that I’ve missed but the reading of my fave blogs too. One blog that has quickly become a must read is Border & Fall. The blog’s editor, Boutique branding expert- Malika V Kashyap splits the blog into four sections- People & Spaces, Wardrobes, News and Journal. The later is the most interesting section, it looks beyond the glossy facade of Indian fashion and gives opinons and insights into the inner workings of the industry by leading Indian creatives.

This month’s issue is titled Digital and includes web genius Sita Wadhwani, editor of Vogue.In-laying out her five learnings, an interview with Pernia Quereshi and her vision for growth at Pernia’s Pop Up Shop as well as designer Bindu Reddy discussing how she works with the digital medium to create her work.

border and fall 3Screen shot of interview of Pernia Qureshi and newly appointed creative director Edward Lalrempuia.

border and fall 4Screen shot of the wardrobe of the ohh soo chic Cecilia Morelli Parikh of Le Mill.

border and fall 2Screen shot of Sita Wadhwani’s article on the digital world

border and fall 1Screen shot of the wardrobe of Mrs. Shirin Kamaljit Singh.

Border & Fall is a voice that had been missing from the Indian blogosphere so get following!

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Images Border & Fall

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The reason I’ve been AWOL…I got engaged!

23rd May 2013

Yep readers, the Mr and I have finally got round to having our engagement party!- We were originally meant to have it back in Sept but ended up shifting the date. And while the proposal was months ago until the families get together and bust some bhangra shangra moves while high on the whiskey phiskey it doesn’t count!

I enjoy getting a bit ‘crafty’ and added a few homemade touches to the party- from my D.I.Y cake stand, tissue flower centerpieces and thank you cards. I will be sharing my tutorials with you in the coming weeks but here’s some taster pics.

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I’ll be adding a few pics from the night once I get them from the photographer.

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Vogue India Guest blog Post: British Designers Collective Pop Up

11th May 2013

Here’s a re-blog of my latest guest blog post for Vogue India and big thanks to Meera Sharma for taking the pics!…

If you can prise the fash pack out of London you know it’s got to be worth it. Last week I joined a gaggle of city fashion journos, designers and bloggers aboard the 09.10 fashion express train from Marylebone station in the direction of discount fashion mela, Bicester Village.

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Left to right: British Designers Collective Boutique participants Christopher De Vos, Piers Atkinson, Peter Pilotto, Noel Stewart, Desirée Bollier, Justin Thornton, Thea Bregazzi, Yasmin Sewell, Rita Ora, Henry Holland, Anna Laub, Holly Fulton and Athena Procopiou.

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Bicester Village is already a must-go, with super brands like Versace, Gucci and Michael Kors all offering discounts on past season collections and for the next eight weeks nestled amongst them will be the annual pop-up of the British Designers Collective Boutique.

With an impressive designer roll-call including Peter Pilotto (actresses Frieda Pinto and Alia Bhatt are fans) Preen, Jonathon Saunders and Henry Holland the boutique showcases and supports the best of British design talent at prices up to 60 percent more affordable.

Kate Middleton and sister Pippa are fans of shopping at Bicester Village. I wonder if they’ll be popping in to the BDC.

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pop7Me hanging out with a J.W. Anderson knit

pop8Mary Katrantzou’s rack

Retail guru Yasmin Sewell took the creative helm this year as curator of the British Designers Collective Boutique, working around the theme of ‘Future Vintage’ and the idea that each piece is an investment and a modern classic.

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Recording artist and British style icon Rita Ora at the opening of the boutique on May 2, in a red Roksanda Ilincic dress and Nicholas Kirkwood heels.

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Prime Cut Digital shot this promo for Bicester Village at the opening where ambassador Rita Ora gave them a quick interview, along with British Fashion Council CEO and several of the designers present talking about the boutique. The video crew shot, cut and delivered the film on-site in under 12 hours!

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pop12House of Holland’s infamous slogan t-shirts.

pop13Imogen Belfield wearing her own label jewellery

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pop 15Piers Atkinson Millinery and Mawi Jewellery

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Friday Fives: Anupamaa Dayal S/s13

26th April 2013

I love a good look book and this one’s a stunner. All the elements- the beauty that is Indira Das Gupta, the Frida Kahlo styling, the colourful sets and Anupamaa’s designs are harmoniously brought together by an awesome photogropher- Tarun Vishwa. Enjoy.

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Image Credit- Bombay Electric Facebook (also available from them now)

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VV Brown Secret Gig

19th April 2013

After a loooooonnnnng two year absence, the one and only VV Brown performed an intimate gig in Shoreditch last week. Billed as a secret gig we were two of the lucky hundred that got a chance to enjoy VV perform some new material in an intimate setting. Her new sound is more mature and defined- the indie pop girl (who we loved) has evolved into a darker, electronic mistress (who we still love) VV looked super hot rocking the crop tee and white on white trend and as soon as she came on stage the atmosphere was electric- the lighting, the band, the dj, her voice, her presence, the crowd all melting together.

1 vv brown instagramImage Credit: VV Brown Instagram

2 vv brown instagram make upImage Credit: VV Brown Instagram

3 vv brown band instagramThe rehearsal- Image Credit: VV Brown Instagram

4 photoThe crowd- yep it really was an intimate gig!

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She ended the set with the single All About She- ft. VV Brown- Bullet which I think is out now…

and her first single ‘Samson’ from her new album – will be out in July.

Images: My own unless otherwise stated

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So Dior at Harrods

22nd April 2013

My Indian timing has struck again and even though the fabulous So Dior experience has been causing a buzz in Harrods for the last month- I only managed to make it down on the penultimate day! and i’m so glad I didn’t miss it. The So Dior really was an experience with Dior yuminess around the department store which included a pop up store, an exhibition, yummy treats at a chic tea room and dreamy windows. There’s just something about London’s fashion exhibitions of late- I cooed at the Hermes and the Valentino exhibition (I’m yet to get down to the Bowie exhibition) and the So Dior made me coo all over again with the clever installations and exhibits that added that extra sense of drama. I loved the faux red carpet which had several Dior gowns worn by celebs that flashed with cameras mimicking the Paparazzi,the pretty doll’s house and the iconic London telephone box that got the Dior make-over.

Enjoy the pics! and I can’t wait to see what Harrods does next….!

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3 diorThe Doll’s House with J’adore bottles of perfume inside the rooms.

4 diorThe impeccable toiles by Christian Dior, John Galliano and Raf Simons.

5 diorPrincess Margaret chose to wear Dior at her 21st Birthday and worked with the Princess to host two fashion shows in order to raise money for The Red Cross.

6 diorA ‘theatre’ of Dior, miniatures of the houses gowns over the years.

8 dior This stunning embellished dress was worn by Audrey Hepburn in 1961 for Harper’s Bazaar.

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11 diorThe chic pop up tea room

12 diorDior cupcakes!

Images: Harrods Facebook and my own images.

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Vogue Fashion Fund 2013: How to apply

19th April 2013

A last minute shout out to all you budding fashion designers- the Vogue India Fashion Fund’s April 30th deadline is fast approaching so make sure you get your application in! You can do that by visiting the Vogue Fashion Fund site and following the instructions.

The Vogue Fashion Fund is a global initiative that has helped to shape the careers of some of the industry’s brightest talents. Past alumni include Joseph Altuzarra, Alexander Wang, Erdem, Proenza Schouler and of course Pero by Aneeth Arora- the first winner of the Vogue India Fashion Fund last year.

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“For a country that boasts such a stunning array of embroideries, textiles and craftsmanship, it’s no surprise that we consistently produce exceptional design talent. With the Vogue Fashion Fund, our endeavour is to strengthen the foundation for Indian designers and help marry their creativity with commercial success.”Priya Tanna, Editor, Vogue India

Vogue India shot a short film last year explaining the Fashion Fund’s purpose and the behind the scenes process of how and who will be judging the finalists.

and here’s winner Pero by Aneeth Arora’s show at WIFW 13

and here’s what the winner of the Vogue Fashion Fund in colloboration with FDCI will win….

• Fashion shoot in Vogue India

• Year-long business/creative/marketing mentorship with an industry professional

• Cash prize money

• Access to prominent fashion platforms in the industry

• Mentorship from Vogue

• Public relations support and media coverage

www.voguefashionfund.com

Image & Video Credit: Vogue India

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A Most Curious Wedding Fair

18th April 2014

When this beauty of an invitation dropped into my inbox I couldn’t help an ohhhh and a ahhhhh.

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A Most Curious Wedding Fair brings together over 50 dreamy independent suppliers that can help bring that unique, creative touch to your special day. The three day event at the Truman Brewery is on from Fri 19th-21st & will feature..

“Hand crafted, bespoke, vintage, new designers, the dress, the groom, accessories, jewellery, floristry, Photographers, videographers, music, stationary, cakes, food and more…” A Most Curious Wedding

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So if you’re looking for wedding inspiration make sure you visit over the weekend. Tickets are £4 on the door or £3 via their website A Most Curious Wedding

Images: A Most Curious Wedding Fair

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