9th March 2012
I’m catching up with Lakme Fashion Week today and the focus today is Bridal Wear! Well, I’m getting married next year ‘Aggghhhhh!!!’ and its time I get some inspiration. Bhairavi Jaikishan collection’s start of heavily embellished saris in garish colours just scared me (I’m not good with loud colour ways) but they gave way to some lovely lenghas and saris in pretty pastel hues. The sari, Amy Jackson closed the show with was pretty as a peach.
Pics from Lakme Fashion Week
8th March 2012
I’ve been a super fan of Saloni Lodha’s label for a while now and a pic of the gorgeous Karla dress in this weeks Grazia prompted me to blog about the label. Saloni, has spent time living in India, Hong Kong and the U.K and her global upbringing can be seen in her aesthetics. She subtly nods to India in her use of colour, print and traditional techniques and combines with a modern, feminine silhouettes resulting in collections full of gorgeous ultra-wearable must haves. Here’s some pics from her yum A/w 12 collection, I LOVE the leopard print blouse, fuchsia maxi and the stunning coral maxi skirt.
Saloni pictured above
Saloni is keen to challenge the west’s pre-connceptions of Indian clothing being synonymous with sweatshop labour and actively promotes the brand as ‘MADE IN INDIA’. There’s so much respect for craftmanship and traditional techniques in India that ‘MADE IN INDIA’ could and should have the same standing as ‘MADE IN ITALY/U.K/FRANCE’ !!! The label has an ever-growing list of stockists from Le Mill in Mumbai, Bluebird in London and The Webster Miami. Find your nearest stockist here www.salonilondon.com
I will blog about her jewellery as well soon
06 March 2012
AMAZING, AMAZING, AMAZING afternoon at the recording of An audience with Madhuri Dixit @ BBC! The lovely Tony @ Canvas London contacted me a couple of weeks ago asking if I’d like to go as his plus one. I’ve been stupidly excited about today ever since! Before we went into the theatre, I managed to talk to Husain Husaini the Head of Programmes at the BBC Asian Network. We talked about his varied 20 year career at the network and about some of the new programmes coming up this year, but as they haven’t all been fully confirmed I can’t reveal all! Trust me it’s EXCITING.
(I was sat behind Madhuri’s husband and can’t quite believe I got these amazing pics)
So to the event, the radio presenter Noreen Khan came on stage looking oh so glam herself and introduced Madhuri on stage. Madhuri stepped into the theatre and I like everybody else in that theatre could not take my eyes off her. She’s such a stunning natural beauty and I loved her beautiful brocade and velvet Anju Modi outfit – a true B-town Queen!
Noreen guided the conversation through Madhuri’s film career from her debut in Adobh through to her breakthrough film Ram Lakhan and to the super hits Dil, Hum Aapke Hain Kaun and Tezaab. Madhuri gave the audience an insight into the cheekiness of Amir Khan, her close friendship with Shah Rukh Khan and her own thoughts on the evolution of Bollywood Cinema.
They went on to talk about her happy personal life and then on to future film projects. Will we be seeing Madhuri up on screen again soon? She says it’s a definite watch this space!…I’d love to see her in a female-centric role similar to the powerful roles Vidya Balan’s takes on. She’s too talented to let her slip away so all you B-Town script writers get scribbling and make it good!!!
I’ll end the post on Mahduri’s Maar Dala because its one of my favorites. She really is one of Bollywoods best dancers and I love the grace and beauty in the song’s choreography and the way she performs it.
ohhh and for anyone that’s around tomorrow, Madhuri will be unvieling her new wax work at Madame Tussaud’s at 8 a.m
28 Feb 2012
JJ Valaya closed the week with an extravagant, spectacular show inspired by the rich colours, prints and silhouettes of the Ottaman empire. The show started with simple flowing white organza pieces that gave way to rich, heavy bridal outfits and ended with the stunning outfit Kangana Ranaut wore.
A key reason for starting this blog was to highlight the work of exciting designers and creatives that have an Asian connection. Designers that are either influenced by the sub-continents rich creative history or by its contemporary culture. (and no I don’t mean clichéd filmi poster bag designers)
Square Circle design is one such duo. I met Archana and Mala, the Mother and Daughter behind Square Circle at a recent charity event where they showcased their stunning collection.
1. Describe SquareCircle in a sentence.
Being a SquareCircle means you never have to fit into a mould.
2.What’s the story behind the label?
It all started when Archana was creating some nursery decorations for her first grand child. Nirmala got inspired by the little Bankura Horse drawings which are Indian tribal toys that Archana was painting, that these would be beautiful on scarves. So the first scarf was born!
3. Describe the design process and your key influences
We love animals. So the Bankura Horse became the theme for the first collection we designed. We then included the Horse motif in various guises: from the ancient Chinese Tang Dynasty Horse, to the more pop art inspired photographic styled images of famous races horses and we continue the Horse Theme with the St. Marco Square Horses in Venice as well as the Princely Horses of India.
The essence of what we do is that we keep changing our style as we are influenced and inspired. We are Chameleons, so we are ever changing and never held captive in trends. We are constantly evolving!
4. Who are SquareCircle Pieces designed for?
We design our pieces for both women and men. The design can appeal to whoever is drawn to it. We design for people who love colour, quality and enjoy being unique and different.
5.What Style Icons would you like to see wear your scarves?
We love people who have the courage to be themselves and be adventurous even outrageous! – irrespective of fashion and trend. People like Oscar Wilde, Stephen Fry, David Bailey, The Duchess of Alba, Audrey Tatou, Charlotte Rampling, and there are many more…
6. Where are the scarves available to buy?
Currently, we’re really honoured to have a “royal warrant” with the Royal House of Udaipur as our scarves and shawls are stocked by the Princess Bhargavi Mewar’s luxury boutique Aashka, located in Jaipur and Udaipur. We are also at Cowley Manor Boutique, voted one of Britain’s best luxury Boutiques by Vogue. After the success of several charity auctions, where we donated scarves, such as the one held by the Kings Troop in St. Johns Wood in June ’11 where our Tang Horse Maroon was snapped up for about £1000 and the Diva Horse went for about £400, we were inundated with calls from private buyers who missed out on purchasing these stunning scarves at the auction. Though we do not sell online, we’re always very touched when people contact us directly and we always make a special effort to accommodate them.
7. What are the label plans for 2012?
We have launched a line targeting the stylish man, which we are sure, the women will love too! We’ve been developing our diffusion line, SquareCircle1961 to be aimed at the stylish younger crowd.
There’s also a secret project in the pipeline…stay tuned!!!
Thanking Archana and Mala for the interview and I think their next stop should be Liberty Scarf Lounge!
Alongside launching Vilasa (the designer’s new wedding planning company) Rocky S launches his latest Bridal wear collection. Ok, so it may not be a ground-breaking collection and there are no new ideas but it is still a pretty collection.
21st Feb 2012
With my Mum in tow I popped down to the start of the London School of Economics’s India week which was inauguarated by the legend that is Mr. Rishi Kapoor. Armaan Kirmaani (R.K’s co-star in Patiala House) came on stage to give an intro to the star and to explain his own route into acting. He studyed Law at Cambridge before enrolling on a series of acting courses and making his way over to B-Town. His speech was full of humour and he finished by asking us all to remember and appreciate the great gift our parents have given our generation- the gift of choice. That our parents generation of hard work has afforded us the freedom to choose our own path. So very true. The floor was then handed over to the excitable Prof Rachel Dwyer, Professor of Indian Cultures and Cinema. Her intro and the subsequent conversation with Rishi Kapoor was warm and engaging. Rishi was as charasmatic as ever and during the interview the audience had a karoke moment or two when Rachel pulled up some of his film clips. My pictures and video from the event are pretty dire so I’ll leave you with a few stills from his films.
the best pic I could manage on my phone!
Working those leathers in Bobby
Clip from Karz- Meri Umar Ke Naujawaanon -Om Shanti Om
Banner from the hit Do Dooni Chaar
Still from Agneepath the role no one expected R.K to play.
20 Feb 2012
It’s all about London in 2012- from the Diamond Jubilee to the Olympics and what better way to start off the momentous year with a spectacular LFW. It’s about time the fashion spotlight was on London. The city has always been a place for raw talent to be recognised with graduates from the RCA, Central St. Martins and LCF taking key roles in the industry. The issue has always been in supporting talent past the early years and into fully fledged fashion houses which has resulted in the deflection of British talent overseas. In the last few years all the hard work of the BFC (with Sam Cam and before Sarah Brown) alongside the initiatives of Lulu Guiness’s Fashion East, Topshop’s NewGen and Fashion Fringe have paid off by increased pr, investment and sponsorship to London’s home grown talent. Long may it continue!
Here’s my highlights from the week.
1) Mary Katrantzou for Topshop-LFW special
There was histeria around Topshop’s latest designer drop and its not hard to see why…this was not a watered down fashion lite version of her main line it was pure Mary at a high st price tag
2) Stella McCartney’s amazing return to LFW (ok so it was a pre-collection to the main line show next week)
3) House of Holland – inspiration Mork & Mindy meet Tour de France- ohhh so fun! We’ll be rocking the zig-zag and electric hounstooth this a/w
18 Feb 2012
Alongside N.Y/London Fashion Week- Wills Lifestyle Fashion Week kicked off in India this week…and I’m Soooooo suprised to be loving Manish Malhotra’s latest collection. I found his last far too bling tastic for me but I’m loving the pared down A/w collection. Malhotra was inspired by the craftmanship of Kashmir and cited the popular flowers of Kashmir “gulaala” and “giltoor” as the starting point of the collection. By keeping his sequins at bay and by using colour block embroidery panels with expanses of whites, creams and ivories he let the beauty of the Kashmiri embroidery shine.
I adore the Anarkali piece above…definite bridal inspiration!
18 Feb 2012
Sotheby’s has just announced their upcoming “Inspired by India” exhibition due to run 8th-15th May. The exhibition will showcase the work of designers that celebrate rich and diverse traditional Indian skills in a contemporary, exciting manner. The show will feature textiles, jewellery, photography and fashion by designers such as Rahul Kumar, Alice Cicolini, Pia Wustenberg and of course Sabyasachi.
Alice Cicolini’s fine jewellery
Rahul Kumar’s ceramics
Gita Pandit’s photography
Sabyasachi’s fashion
I adore Sabya’s work, he is in a class of his own and I don’t think there’s any other designer that can sit alongside him. He is a true talent.
Can’t wait for the exhibition
the asian fashion journal 