Author Archives: The Asian Fashion Journal

Feb 21 2013
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Fashion

Micro Trend: Plastic Fantastic (Latest Post For Vogue India.com)

21st Feb 2013

Here’s a repost of my latest trend article for Vogue India.Com which went live recently Plastic Fantastic…

Let’s make it clear. That seems to have been the brief given to accessory designers for the upcoming Spring/Summer season, as bright colours and graphic prints on garments were pared down with neutral Perspex accessories.

PFHeadband Donna Karan S/s 13, Perspex tote Simone Rocha S/s 13

PF1.5Cuff by Cooee available at http://www.kabiri.com

Cuffs, bags, chunky block heels, even brims of floppy summer hats were treated with a cool plastic finish.

Karl Lagerfield led the way, sending high heels, cute brick bags and impractically fabulous sun hats with wide Perspex brims down the runway. Hussain Chalayan received the same memo, his beekeeper sun hats were given a space-age touch with neon plastic insertions.

PF1Heels by Givenchy S/s13, Hat Chanel S/s13

Over at Simone Rocha, simple totes were made dainty with pretty broderie-anglaise style edging.

PF3Sheriff & Cherry S/s 13 available net-a-porter, Barneys

Sunglasses are also an easy way to incorporate the trend, as was proved on the runways of Prada, Celine and new label Sheriff & Cherry. If you’re wondering about specific design inspiration, retro styling seems to be the most popular.

A Vogue stand-out accessory has to be the beautiful heels at Charlotte Olympia and Givenchy.

PF4Charlotte Olympia S/s13

Remember how Cinderella lost her glass slipper? Well, she might have done better if she’d had them made in Perspex, like all the other cool girls.

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Feb 20 2013
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Uncategorized

Girl Rising

20th Feb 2013

I just watched a trailer for what looks like an extraordinary film- Girl Rising by 10×10. 10×10 is described on their website as

” a campaign to reach global audiences and inspire individuals to take action for girls. Stories about the power of educating girls are told every day through photos, videos, blogs, books, and sometimes in 140 characters or less.”

The film is out on 7th March and you can find out more here.

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Feb 20 2013
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Bridal, Fashion

Band Baajaa Bride Season 3

20th Feb 2013

Last week Band Baajaa Bride season 3 kicked off in India. It’s a wedding reality show where a couple’s wedding is put together with the support of an amazing dream team led by Ambika Anand, Bharat Arora and design guru Sabyasachi. A staggering 8000 brides applied to be one of the lucky 13. The first of the season’s bride’s pics are up and I had to share them (I’m thinking I may end up sharing a few more bride’s pics as the season goes on!) Congrats to the happy couple!

Band Baajaa BridePretty mehndi!

Band Baaja Bride 2Bride Deesha Sanghvi

Band Baajaa Bride 3The man making these brides dreams come true- Sabyasachi!

Band Baajaa Bride 4The big reveal

Band Baajaa Bride 5The groom’s looking pretty good too

Band Baajaa Bride 6Aaawww the wedding! (I couldn’t find a better pic of the couple together, will add if I do)

And here’s this season’s trailer.

Over here in the U.K the big reality wedding programme is BBC3’s Don’t Tell The Bride. I’ve recently been contacted by the producer of the show- who wanted a mention on the blog as they are currently casting for the new season. The selected couple are given £12,000 to spend on their wedding and the catch? The groom and his best man arrange the whole wedding. Yep, the bride gets NO input! (Kinda poles apart from Band Baajaa Bride!) If there’s a few brave brides out there contact Naomi Channell at this e-mail add dttb@applyfortheshow.com

Images from Sabyasachi’s facebook page

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Feb 19 2013
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Events

Vietnam Part One: Hanoi

19th Feb 2013

If any you follow me on twitter, you might have spotted a tweet or two while I was on holiday- yep, it was a lot of the ‘Gooddd morning Vietnam’ variety! Not quite original I know! It was a -Mum, Sis and me hol- which has become a yearly thing. With our family dynamic already changing since I moved in with the boy, it has become our way to keep close. Last year we went on a Holy Land cruise (I never got round to posting the pics!) and this year we went to Vietnam.

Hanoi, the capital was our first stop in Vietnam and my one word to describe the city is – bleak.

hanoi 1 Room with a view

Hanoi 2 Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum

Hanoi 3

Hanoi 4Inside Ho Chi Minh Residence- take a look at the pics hanging up.

What we saw: We booked a private guide through our hotel and saw Ho Chi Minh’s Mausoleum, Ho Chi Minh’s Residence & the Temple of Literature with her. We went to see St Joseph’s Cathedral, Opera House, West Lake and shops in the Old Quarter by ourselves.

Hanoi 5Tapestry like needlework

Hanoi 6Bicycle display at the Museum of Ethnology.

Hanoi 7Some traditional ethnic costumes at the Museum (loving the Pom poms!)

Hanoi 8Shrine by the West Lake

Where we stayed: Hanoi Elegance Diamond Hotel. This boutique hotel is a real gem, fantastic location (its five minute walk from the West Lake) great room and exceptional service.

Hanoi 9Some of the decorations for the Tet festival (New Year)

Hanoi 10 vietnamtravelonline street foodPavements in Hanoi are for street food stalls not for pedestrians! image credit Vietnam Travel Online

Hanoi 11Colourful Basket/Masks

Where we ate: Koto restaurant by the Temple of Literature. Sofitel in the French quarter & Da Paolo Italian restaurant. All of the above were great places to eat. The street food culture in Vietnam is very big but my Mum’s a vegetarian (A fussy one too!) so it wasn’t an option for us. And I have to add a place to avoid- the Green Tangerine -well I’d recommend going for a drink in the courtyard because it’s a pretty place but don’t eat there. The food is terrible!

Hanoi 12Pretty paper cut postcards/cards

Hanoi 13Vietnamese Lacquer work

Hanoi 14Some vintage propaganda posters

Although I wasn’t a big fan of Hanoi, it’s an important stop in travelling around Vietnam. Many visitors travel to Sapa, Mekong Delta and Halong Bay from Hanoi (all are a few hours away) we didn’t though- out next stop was Ho Chi Minh City (formerly known as Saigon)

Part two is coming up soon….

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Feb 16 2013
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Bridal, Fashion

Avari Couture

16th Feb 2013

I am super duper excited to introduce Avari Couture- my FAV new place to buy costume jewellery. I stumbled across this pretty boutique last year when I was searching for last minute sets to match outfits for my cousins wedding. I’ve never been a fan of the typical sets you find in Wembley/Southall and as owners Dee & Jay realised- there’s many women like me that are looking for something fresh and beyond the norm. I looovvvveee the statement Swarovski pieces and the stunning Rajasthani inspired sets. Enjoy the pics and the interview with Jay.

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Owner Jay with a Bridal set. (This image is courtesy of BritAsia)

avari couture 1 Image courtesy of Avari Couture

avari couture 2 Image courtesy of Avari Couture

Describe Avari Couture in one sentence?

Fusion, exclusive and unique jewellery offering pieces of distinction

avari couture 3 Selection of shoes that are found in sister store Kalpana London. Image courtesy of Avari Couture

avari couture 4 L-R Egyptian necklace £210, earrings £40, bracelet £135. Pearl & Kundan set £155

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What’s the story behind the label?

It all started when we couldn’t find exclusive fusion/bridal shoes & handbags. Dee got inspired to open a retail outlet offering this (formerly known as Kalpana London on Ealing Road), he quickly found a niche market specialising in bridal and a Swarovksi crystal range. We figured if we couldn’t find it ourselves, there must be other people wanting and looking for this same thing. Now with over 10 years experience with Swarovski crystal, catwalk inspired designs and creations, and a multi-national audience, it was time to re-brand and Avari was born.

Avari came about once we realised that the exact same fusion look was required in jewellery. Using our knowledge of fusion designs and Swarovski crystal we created a jewellery collection which can appeal to all types of people for any occasion. Avari now encompasses and offers an end to end accessory collection, which can finish off any outfit!

avari couture 5 Long necklace £210 purse £125
avari couture 6 Bridal set £275
avari couture 7 Gorgeous earrings

Where do you source the jewellery and do you design any of the styles in house?

We design many collections in house and source from around the world to bring unique pieces to match for any occasion, specialising in bridal jewellery. Inspired by eastern and western catwalk looks we aim to bring a true fusion collection for our customers. Also offering Swarovski crystal jewellery, which is hand made in England also means we can develop designs with our customers to provide customised pieces.
avari couture 8 Bangles
avari couture 9 Jay posing for me! L-R Blue Polki £20 Kundan £35, Pear £45 Oval £50 (I want the Oval!!!)

The boutique has only been open a few months, what sort of response are you getting and which are the most popular styles?

We have had a phenomenal and extremely positive response from the public. We have had a lot of comments like:
“Breath of fresh air and just what was needed in the area”
“Pleasantly surprised with quality fusion designs and price points offered”
“Good to see another jewellery store offering customised Swarovski pieces which are hand-made in England”
The most popular styles currently are bridal Mughul/ Rajasthani style jewellery, the American diamond collection and the statement Swarovski pieces.
avari couture 10 Small Vogue £295
avari couture 11 Large Vogue £2000 (this piece was featured in Vogue Germany)

Will you be launching an e-store?

Yes we hope to in the very near future. This will definitely help to expand and grow our business in the right way and reach out to a wider audience. It will also enable us to keep our customers updated with new collections and special offers.

Images mine unless otherwise stated

Avari Couture, 149 Ealing Rd, Wembley, Middx, HA0 4BY. Tel: 0203 632 4303 Email: info@avaricouture.com

Website: www.avaricouture.com

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Feb 15 2013
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Bridal, Events, Fashion

Manish Malhotra’s exclusive London show in support of Angel! Foundation

15th Feb 2013

India’s leading fashion designer Manish Malhotra will be making his UK catwalk debut at a Gala Fundraiser in aid of The Angeli Foundation, a charity that works to empower the Girl Child in India, at the Grosvenor House Hotel on Saturday 23rd February 2013, in association with Rivaage Boutique.

23 feb 1

The multi-award winning designer who has been leading the way with his stunning collections for the past 18 years has a client list that reads like the Who’s Who of the Indian film industry and includes the Prince of Bollywood Shahrukh Khan as well as former Miss World’s Aishwarya Rai and Priyanka Chopra and former Miss Universe Sushmita Sen.

23 feb

His reputation extends beyond the subcontinent, with his creativity and stunningly opulent creations having been seen on some of the most famous bodies from Hollywood including Demi Moore, Kylie Minogue, Reese Witherspoon, Karolina Kurkova, Kate Moss and Naomi Campbell.

Malhotra shot to fame in 1995 as stylist and costume designer for Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge (DDlJ) – one of India’s most successful films, and having created the costumes and styled over 50 films, he is widely acknowledged as the man to have changed the face of Asian fashion in Bollywood films.

23 feb 2

Malhotra selected The Angeli Foundation as the charity of choice for his UK launch after the horrific rape of Jyoti Singh Pandey in Delhi highlighted the shocking inequality and attitudes towards women in India. The Angeli Foundation works to ‘Save the Girl Child’ and redress the balance for women who are treated as second-class citizens throughout their lives. From female foeticide to limiting healthcare and education in favour of male siblings, to bride burnings, unreported rapes and acid attacks, inequality in India exists from womb to woman.

23 feb 3

He said of his support for The Angeli Foundation:

“I work in an industry where women are revered and respected. I have had the privilege of dressing some of the most beautiful and powerful women in the world, but when I step out of the door and into the stark reality of India, I see the injustice and inequality all around me. The Angeli Foundation is providing an invaluable service to these girls and women. The charity helps them raise their self-esteem, confidence and ultimately value themselves enough to get a voice. Without women, I wouldn’t be where I am today and so I want to give what I can back to an organisation like Angeli that celebrates womanhood.”

Proceeds from ticket sales and an exclusive live auction will go to two specific projects run by The Angeli Foundation:
* The Gayatri Education Programme which provides girl students with the skills they need to succeed
* Mobile Medical Clinics to visit girl’s schools and provide heath checks on a regular basis
Ratika Puri Kapur, chair of the UK Chapter of The Angeli Foundation said of Manish Malhotra’s support:

“The Angeli Foundation was established in India eight years ago, but is in its infancy in the UK. The support of India’s most successful stylist and designer will help increase awareness of our work amongst the communities here and help us raise funds for these critical projects in India.”

The Manish Malhotra Fashion Extravaganza in aid of The Angeli Foundation and in association with Rivaage Boutique will be attended by a host of special celebrity guests from the worlds of international film, fashion and entertainment, with some very exciting surprise stars appearing on the catwalk!

BUY YOUR TICKETS HERE

For the latest news, as it happens, follow us on:

Twitter: @AngeliFdn

Facebook: AngeliFdn

Press Release by Media Moguls.

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Feb 14 2013
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Fashion

Tarun Tahiliani New Store

14th Feb 2013

I spotted these fab images of Tarun Tahiliani’s new Defence Colony store and his S/s 13 diffusion line on Vogue India. It’s exciting to see another couture designer launch a more accessible and versatile line. My favourites are the lunghi-style skirts and the pretty embroidered blouses.

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tarun t 2

tarun t 3

tarun t 4

tarun t 5

tarun t 6

Images Vogue India

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Feb 12 2013
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Fashion

Label Lust: Morphe by Shenali Sema

12th Feb 2012

Central St. Martin’s graduate Shenali Sema had some big shoes to fill after replacing design genius Amit Aggarwal at Morphe. It’s good to see that Creative Impex’s new collaboration is a new direction for the brand rather than bringing in someone that would just try and emulate Aggarwal’s distinct style.

I’m loving the Morphe by Shenali Sema’s S/s 13 collection it is just soooo pretty! Here’s a quote I found on Not Just A Label from her describing the collection.

“..the SS’13 collection looked at stained glass art, window frames, and structures for inspiration. The artwork, hand drawn, has been interpreted onto surfaces using machine and hand embroidery, and print. The inspiration has been taken forward as the basis of pattern making and draping, and in particular in the use of rectangular frames of fabric.”

morphe 1

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morphe 5

morphe 6

morphe 7

morphe 8

morphe 9

morphe 11

morphe 12

The delicate layering, the whispers of nude pinks, lemons and cornflower blues and the intricate beading is just all so YUM. Hope you enjoyed the lookbook pics!

Images Bombay Electric and Not Just A Label

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Feb 10 2013
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Uncategorized

Wear the trend: Monochrome (latest post for Vogue India. Com)

10th Feb 2013

I’m back!!! For the last two weeks, I swapped the depressing British chill for the sunny climes of Vietnam. The holiday was awesome and I’ll be posting some pics soon.

While I was away a couple of trend stories I wrote for Vogue India . Com went live! And here’s a repost of the first one.

WEAR THE TREND: MONOCHROME

This summer, designers are championing all things monochrome. The stark black-and-white can be seen in variations all over global catwalks, making the season’s standard shades of yellow and coral seem almost cliché.

Here are four stylish ways you could be monochrome.

PANELS

blog panels

Statement block panels were seen in classic cuts at Jil Sander and Victoria Beckham and in dramatic flounces at Nicolas Ghesquiere’s final collection for Balenciaga. If your budget is short of a few zeroes, Zara’s racks are already packed with ‘homages’.

ABSTRACT PRINT

blog abstract print
L-R Jil Sander, Victoria Beckham & Balenciaga.

For a more versatile way to wear the trend, opt for a simple maxi, shift or shirtdress and let the print do all the work. Adding a colour accent via a simple clutch and vintage sunglasses, as seen at Diane Von Furstenberg, finishes the look.

CLASHING PRINTS

blog clash print
L-R Giles, Diane Von Furstenberg, Kallol Datta 1955

The key to this look is combining the right separates. Either pair contrasting patterns in one ensemble or use the same print in different sizes as seen at Marc Jacobs and Louis Vuitton. If you’re feeling particularly daring, get inspired by Peter Pilotto’s head-to-toe print riot.

STRIPES

blog stripes
L-R Peter Pilotto, Louis Vuitton, Marc Jacobs

Whether you prefer them horizontal or vertical, the stripe of the season has to be bold and wide. Dolce & Gabanna’s take on the trend came from a nostalgic memory of Sicily, while Marc Jacobs had a 60’s Edie Sedgwick vibe with Bridget Riley-esque prints.

With these fun styling options to live up to, pairing a white shirt with a black pencil skirt just won’t cut it anymore…

Images Vogue India

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Jan 25 2013
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Beauty

60’s Beauty trend

25th Jan 2013

For S/s 13 several designers took inspiration from the 1960’s- Holly Fulton and Prada refrenced flower power, Marc Jacobs channelled Edie Sedgewick and over at Louis Vuitton he opted for 60’s geo prints and patterns. Hair and make-up at the shows also took a retro turn. Skin was fresh and youthful with soft kohl eyeliner the focus of the make-up. For hair the beehive made an apperance all over the place with ribbon bows or alice bands to add that nostalgic touch.

60's beauty 9

Louis Vuitton S/s 13 Campaign

60's beauty 10

Marc Jacobs S/s 13 Campaign

23rd jan 2

Adele, Lana Del Ray and Sophie Ellis Bextor are all known for their signature retro beauty looks.

Ohhh and this week I spotted an early adopter of the trend over at B-Town. Anushka Sharma’s wowed at the Filmfare awards with her beehive and retro liner which was right on trend (as was her canary yellow Victoria Beckham gown)

23rd jan 1

And talking of B-Town I had to take share some imagery of Asha Parekh, Helen and Sharmila Tagore working the trend the first time around.

23rd jan 3
and I’ll leave you with this Mad Men video that will def get you into the Swinging Sixties. Jessica Pare singing Zou Bisou Bisou

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