Sunday 10th May
Date for the diaries girls! Aashni & Co are having a blowout sample sale next Sat!!! Head down for gorgeous pieces by Tarun Tahiliani, Anamika Khanna, Indian by Manish Arora (I hearted Manish’s designs worn by Sonam in Doli Ki Doli) Varun Bahl and many more. Even though I’m all set for my sister’s wedding I’m def going to have a browse. So see you there! x
Image Credit: Aashni & Co
20th February 2015
I’m ridiculously late with this post…!!!
Last month the Grand Ballroom of London’s luxury hotel, the Dorchester played host to the first ever Aashni & Co Wedding Show with the crème de la crème of Indian designers and new gen talent. Aashni & Co’s Notting Hill boutique opened in 2012 and is already the leading store in London for luxe Indian designer wear. The wedding show provided an opportunity to showcase the store’s designers on a larger scale and to a larger audience.
I was lucky enough to join Aashni the store’s owner on BBC 94.9- Jo Good show that week to talk about Indian weddings and the wedding show. It was the first time I’ve been on the radio and the fifteen odd minutes we were on air seemed to fly by. It was a great experience and a big thanks to Jo, Nishy and Gurpreet @ the BBC for making the experience enjoyable. Ok back to the wedding show….
The line up at the show was pretty damn impressive with A-list design talent including Sabyasachi, Manish Malhotra, Tarun Tahliani, Anamika Khanna, Varun Bahl and talented new gen designers Sonali Gupta, Shehlaa and Arpita Mehta.
Image Credit: Adnan Qazi
Aashni Anshul Doshi the founder of Aashni & Co had this to say about the show
“ I am so, so, so humbled that these designers have taken that leap of faith and have actually come down here to be in one room with each other and be part of Aashni & Co. It is time people stopped travelling all the way to India to find their wedding outfits- we wanted to bring the best of India’s bridal to our doorstep.”
I got married last year and the exhibition was a perfect opportunity to connect (translate to get star struck) with some of the designers who I wore for my wedding which included Manish Malhotra, Sabyasachi, Varun Bahl and Arpita Mehta.
L-R: Anushree Reddy, Anamika Khanna & Arpita Mehta: Image Credit: Shahid Malik
L-R: Sabyasachi & Shehla Khan: Image Credit: Shahid Malik
L-R: Sonail Gupta, Tarun Tahilani & Varun Bahl: Image Credit: Shahid Malik
I caught up with Sabayasachi and asked him…
You already have a connection with London. How does the U.K bride differ to the brides back home?
“Yes, I do. I did a short stint at London Fashion Week and before I came to London with my Bridal wear. I used to also cater to the western audience here through Browns and Selfridges. So, I do have a good idea about what the girls in London want from us. They like being traditional and every single bride whether conservative, whether democratic, whether eccentric actually fantasises about looking like a princess on their wedding day. So we try and keep the fantasy in mind but make sure we keep ethnicity in mind too because of course she is an Indian Bride.”
I also asked him what tips he would give a bride when shopping for her trousseau.
“I’d tell her to do some yoga before you come shopping and get a little introspective because I think it is very easy to get swayed by other people’s opinion on what you should wear but at the end of the day its your wedding so just wear what you want to wear which means if you want to wear a GAP t-shirt and get married just do it.”
I love his answer because it’s so true wedding shopping can become stressful with everyone having an opinion on what you should and should not wear!
Tarun Tahiliani: Image Credit: Shahid Malik
Manish Malhotra: Image Credit: Shahid Malik
Varun Bahl: Image Credit: Shahid Malik
Yummy florals by Zita Elise Image Credit: Raj Dharar
Photo Booth at the entrance
Cakes by Krishanthi- these pics don’t do the cakes justice. The designs were sooo detailed and intricate. Image Credit: Shahid Malik
Getting a lesson on how to take a selfie by Kay from the Desi Dossier and Raj from The Secret Wedding Blog. Was good catching up with other bloggers at the event. Image Credit: Raj Dharar
The event was a first for London and it was lovely to see such a wealth of Indian craftsmanship and talent in one place. With U.K brides following the trends in India (albeit sometimes a little latter) weddings are becoming longer with more and more events to shop for. I really hope it becomes a regular event…are you reading Aashni?
Fab post event video by Aashni & Co.
Full list of exhibitors for Aashni & Co wedding show in association with Zouch & Lamare
– Anamika Khanna
– Anushree Reddy
– Arpita Mehta
– Ashima-Leena
– Elisha W
– Jaipur Gems
– Kotwara by Meera Muzaffar Ali
– Manish Malhotra
– Monisha Thahryamal
– Nikasha,
– Pallavi Jaikishan
– Rajesh Pratap Singh
– Rimple and Harpreet Narula
– Sabyasachi
– Shehlaa
– Sonali Gupta
– Tarun Tahiliani
– Varun Bahl
I have interviews with Shehla Khan, Arpita Mehta and Anushree Reddy coming up on the blog in the following weeks- so keep a look out!
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19th December 2014
Aashni & Co, (yep that Indian designer boutique in Notting Hill that I constantly blog about!) is hosting what can only be described as the LARGEST and most EXCITING Bridal show London has ever seen!
Why is the show going to be more amaze balls than the dozen or so Asian wedding shows that have been announced for 2015? Well, its down to the huge variety of luxury Indian designer labels that are going to be showcased. I always get asked how Indian designer prices compare to the UK Indian designers prices and most people are surprised when I say that the cost of many of the designer pieces are actually on par with UK designers like Ekta Solanki & Mona Vora. The designer list includes Anamika Khanna, Anushree Reddy, Arpita Mehta, Ashima-Leena, Elisha W, Jaipur Gems, Kotwara by Meera and Mufazzar Ali, Manish Malhotra, Monisha Thahryamal, Nikasha, Pallavi Jaikishan, Rajesh Pratap Singh, Rimple and Harpreet Narula, Sabyasachi, Shehlaa, Sonali Gupta and Varun Bahl.
Below are a few non celeb pics of some of the designers work.
Pic of a bride and groom wearing Sabyasachi from Band Bajaa Bride show. Image Credit: The Purple Window. I actually got to meet Sabyasachi briefly. We’d gone in to his store to look at wedding lenghas for my sister and he was filming for Band Bajaa Bride’s new series.
Pic of a bride wearing Sabyasachi from the show Band Bajaa Bride. Image Credit: Wed Me Good.
The Aashni & co store is fab and stocks many of the designers listed above but as fab as the store is- it is small and carries maybe 100 pieces at a time. They do constantly have trunk shows and I bought my Sabyasachi wedding lengha after a show. Unfortunately I didn’t find anything else I liked and decided to do the rest of my wedding shopping in Mumbai. This show though will be giving brides to be way more choice. I’ve been told designers are bringing an average of 80 pieces each over. Yep, all bridal shopping can be done in London! and in one place! Details of the show and how to get tickets are below.
Real Bride wearing Manish Malhotra. Image Credit: Manish Malhotra Facebook I wore a Manish Lengha for my Civil Ceremony- more details here and my Mum has ordered a couple of tilla work outfits from his store during our recent trip to Mumbai
Arpita Mehta via Arpita Mehta Facebook. I LOVE Arpita’s work. I wore one of her lenghas for my Mehndi and both me and my sis picked up pieces by her on our recent trip to Mumbai.
Anushree Reddy Image Credit: Wedding Sutra Blog. Anushree’s work is real girly girl. think florals and pastels- I bought two pieces of hers from Aza recently.
Here’s the all important details for the show! And follow the links to purchase tickets.
And just to let you know Manish Malhotra & Varun Bahl have both confirmed attendance. I will post any updates as and when I get the info! This truly is a show not to be missed.
Sunday 25th Jan 2015
The Dorchester
53 Park Lane
Mayfair
London
W1K 1QA
Tickets: £30 – General Admission*
Ticket purchase via:
Websites: www.aashniandco.com, www.wslondon.com
Store: Aashni + Co, 47 Ledbury Road, London W11 2AA
Via Email: weddingshow@aashniandco.com
Via Tel: +44 207 985 0155
Also via Anand Pan Centre:
229 Green St, London E7 8LL. Tel: +44 20 8472 4425
116 Ilford Lane, Ilford, Essex, IG1 2LE. Tel: +44 208 514 3800
13th June 2014
Here’s a re-blog of latest guest post for Vogue India : )
London’s Royal Kensington Palace’s Orangery played host to an evening of Pakistani and Indian fashion on Monday night.
Guests were a mix of diplomats, high society, celebrities and fashionistas who came to support South Asian fashion as well as the Great Ormond Street Hospital — the event’s charity partner, which the late Princess Diana was also a patron of. Guests included Pakistani musician-turned-actor Ali Zafar and wife Ayesha Fazli, director Gurinder Chadha, businessman Lord Gulam Noon, marketing expert Suhel Seth and musician Zoheb Hassan among others.
“Fashion Parade is a great platform to showcase designers from the East globally,” Aashni + Co boutique owner Aashni Shah told Vogue. “Being the only Indian store to have been invited, I thought Anamika Khanna’s designs would strike the right pitch on contemporary Indian clothing… She is able to marry the heritage of Indian sensibilities with the dynamic aesthetics of the modern global woman.”
“Anamika and I sat down to make an edit of her couture collection (first seen at PCJ Delhi Couture Week 2013, view it here), focusing on pieces that would appeal to a global audience and not just the Asians at the event,” Shah adds, explaining that those pieces would appeal because they retained their air of couture exclusivity and were not mass produced.
This translated into 10 on-the-spot orders of a particular Anamika Khanna ensemble — a floral floor-length jacket worn over a bright blue lehenga — with more potential customers on its waitlist.
From Pakistan, designers Faiza Samee, Ayesha Hashwani, Nomi Ansari, Zara Shahjehan, Seher Tareen and Nazneen Tariq showcased capsule collections.
“Fashion Parade provides a platform for participating designers to introduce their work in the UK and helps promote trade relations between our two countries,” says Pakistani high commisioner Imran Mirza. “It represents a fusion of both east and west, thus bringing both the British and Pakistani communities together. Such events take us beyond the usual narratives associated with Pakistan.”
Images Aashni & Co / Vogue India
6th June 2014
As always L’Oreal India’s beauties brought some mega watt glamour to Cannes recently and here’s my pick of their looks. As far a fav looks- its got to be Sonam Kapoor in Anamika Khanna and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan in Cavalli and nope I can’t pick a fave out of the two.
Sonam Kapoor in Anamika Khanna @ Cannes. Beautiful piece by Anamika Khanna and its fab to see an Indian designer getting exposure at international events.
Frieda Pinto in Michael Kors
Sonam Kapoor in Elie Saab @ Cannes. Adore this colour
Aishwarya Rai Bachchan in Giorgio Armani Prive @ amfAR gala Cannes. I love this effortless look- she looks stunning
Aishwarya Rai Bachchan in Cavalli @ Cannes. I love this look because its those fab curves of hers that are making this dress- wow.
Images via Elie Saab Facebok, L’Oreal Facebook and Roberto Cavalli Facebook
30th August 2013
All these back to back fashion weeks are making my head spin! So, I’ve decided to in the words of John Legend- ‘to take it slooowwww’ that’s why I’m here posting a trend report on PCJ Couture Fashion Week and India Bridal Fashion Week when everyone else is already in the thick of blogging about Lakme Fashion Week. Ohhh Well! And yep I’ve put together both fashion weeks in the report because no matter how many times the organisers say there’s a huge difference between both I’ll disagree.
SEXY BACK
It was all about the sexy back at both Fashion Weeks. The prettiest examples were from Manish Malhotra with demure front necklines with open or low backs which just looked sooo yum.
WHITE & GOLD
White and Gold was trending all over the catwalks and I love these bold White and Gold looks. Who says you need colour to make a statement?
L-R Rohit Bal, Shantanu & Nikhil.
Anamika Khanna and Suneet Varma’s softer White and Gold looks
JERSEY SARI
Jersey Sari’s have been around for a while but these super hot incarnations needed to be shared. Seriously how super sexy is the master of drape- Guarav Gupta’s sari? I just can’t get enough of this trend and yep I’m still pining over the Sonaakshi Raaj sari Deepika Padukone wore recently!
JACKETS/CAPES
Layering in general was a big trend at both fashion weeks. There were cute bolero shapes at Rohit Bal and JJ Valaya and longer jackets over saris, pants and gowns at JJ Valaya, Raghavendra Rathore and Meera & Muzaffar ALi. Capes were also all over the place with the most directional at Anamika Khanna and pretty sheer capes at Masaba Gupta @ Satya Paul
L-R Masaba Gupta for Satya Paul, Anamika Khanna & Raghavendra Rathore.
THE ETHNIC MASH UP
I can’t think of a better name for this trend than- The Ethnic Mash Up. We’ve already become accustomed to the humble sari getting an injection of youth with pop art prints via the likes of Masaba Gupta and Aarti Vijay Gupta and then of course the jersey sari via the likes of Guarav Gupta and Sonaakshi Raaj. This reworking of the traditional continues with some exciting mash ups.
Anamika Khanna’s beauties- Is it a sari? is it a gown? is it a suit?
Masapa Gupta @ Satya Paul and Gaurav Gupta- Is it a gown? Is a Sari?
Images: PCJ Fashion Week Facebook, India Bridal Fashion Week Facebook and Barcode 91
9th August 2013
The Chennai Express promos are in full swing and as always its the wardrobe choices I’m interested in! Deepika has been looking soooo hot and here are my fave five promo looks of hers so far…
Deepika Padukone in a Sonaakshi Raaj silk sari with pretty lace placement and embroidery.
Deepika in Pankaj & Nidhi
Deepika in a simple and elegant outfit by Anamika Khanna
Deepika in Arpita Mehta
I LOVE Manish Malhotra’s PCJ Delhi Couture Fashion Week collection and Deepika and Shah Rukh Khan were the showstoppers at the event. Deepika looked Ahhh-mazing in this stunner of a lengha!
Images: Facebook, Vogue India, Miss Malini, Arpita Mehta Facebook, High Heel Confidential
12th July 2013
Ok so I work in fashion and I design trend- led pieces for the high street but whether I wear them is another matter entirely. Trends I have been wearing at the mo are head to toe colour, white on white, print pants/trousers and I still pop a peplum now and then but on the flip side there are some popular trends that I have left well alone. As much as I may admire them on other people on me its a no-no and here they are…
Crop tops
Right the only time my jelly belly goes on display in public is when I’m in a bikini on a beach! I do quite like the way some celebs rock the look with a high waist pant/skirt and a blazer so there’s just a glimpse of bare midriff. It is a flattering way of working a crop but nonetheless I’ll be passing on this trend.
Iggy Azalea looking oh so hot in House of Holland, she has the figure to do a proper crop!
Sonam working the crop in such a chic way in Anamika Khanna.
Buttoned up shirts
Yes, I am the only girl left on the planet that refuses to button my shirt all the way up! I just feel like it makes me look like I’m smuggling huge melons under my blouse (and my boobs really aren’t big!)
Gorgeous print suit by Pernia Qureshi.
‘Cheeky’ Micro shorts
Rihanna in her ‘cheeky’ micro shorts- nope no way I’m wearing a pair of these!
Dungarees
I quite like dungarees on other people but on me its just way too much ‘Bob the Builder’ terrority!
The queen of dungarees Alexa Chung
Beanies
Cara Delevingne is responsible for this trend and she and her fans always have a beanie on. I am gonna simply say I’m way TOO old and too square to wear this trend! Lol
Images: Sonam Kapoor Instagram, Iggy Azalea Facebook, Alexa Chung Instagram, Cara Delevingne Instagram
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.
Unflattering 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!
Image 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.
Image 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
Images Vogue India
Images Vogue India, High Heel Confidential and Strand of Silk.
1st Jan 2013
It’s review time! Here’s my Fashion, Trend and Style report for 2012
MY TOP THREE INDIAN FASHION SHOWS
It was an exciting year for Indian fashion in 2012 and here’s my fav three catwalk shows of the year.
1st PLACE: SABYASACHI
I adore Sabya’s work and the collection he showed at Delhi Couture Week simply took my breath away. To read more click here.
2nd PLACE: NAMRATA JOSHIPURA
I love the understated luxe that Namrata brings to her collections, her show at WIFW includes some of the hottest trends for S/s 13. To read more click here.
3rd PLACE: RETARDED VELVET
Both WIFW and Lakme Fashion Week have really championed new talent this year and Retarded Velvet are one of my fav new ‘ones to watch’ there print ROCK. To read more click here.
MY TOP THREE TRENDS
There were many trends in 2012 and I’ve struggled narrowing the selection down to my fav three. What do you think of my choice? would you have opted for something else?
1st PLACE: PEPLUMS
Everyone went peplum mad in 2012 (including me!) the super flattering style was worn by many celebs and these three looks are gorg.
L-R Neha Dupia in Victoria Beckham, Esha Gupta in H&M & Sonam Kapoor in a Jelin George skirt.
2nd PLACE: LONG GOWNS
Ohh there were soooo many red carpet events this year and these stunning gowns really made a mark!
L-R Anushka Sharma in Roberto Cavalli, Deepika Padukone in Gaurav Gupta & Frieda Pinto in Alexander McQueen.
3rd PLACE: POP ART PRINT SARI
The sari got a big injection of fun this year with these fun pop art prints which celebs went mad for.
L-R Hazel Keech in Aarti Vijay Gupta, Soha Ali Khan in Masaba Gupta, Sonam Kapoor in Surendi by Yogesh Chaudhary.
MY TOP THREE STYLISH INDIANS
1st PLACE: SONAM KAPOOR
Sonam has been wowing us with her stylish looks for the last few years and her 2012 choices have been amaaziiingg! Not only has this gorg lady been flying the flag for fashion at home but outside of India too. How amazing did she look at the Elie Saab show in a Deepti Pruthi sari? I also love the Anamika Khanna draped sari pant look she’s been championing recently, this girl knows how to start a trend!
L-R Anamika Khanna, Unknown, Deepti Pruthi, Cavalli
2nd PLACE: SAMEERA REDDY
Sonam had better watch out because Ms Reddy is hot on her heels! Her fashion choices before 2012 were suspect and I’m guessing there’s a rather talented stylist behind her fashion transformation but regardless of the reason- one things for sure she looked HOT in 2012. I LOVE the fact she’s supported Indian fashion labels this year from Shivan & Narresh, Kallol Datta, Nishka Lulla and newbies Huemn.
L-R Shivan & Narresh, unknown, AM:PM, Shivan & Narresh
3rd PLACE: DEEPIKA PADUKONE
Deepika always looks good but this year it just seems like she’s stepped it up a gear. Her off duty style of oversize tees, skinnies and chunky jewellery always works and her red carpet choices have been YUM. The red Gaurav Gupta gown, the green Gauri & Nainika gown and the stunning Dolce & Gabbana gold skirt all get an A* from me.
L-R Sabyasachi, Gauri & Nainika, Abu & Sandeep & Dolce & Gabbana
Images – High Heel Confidential, Strut 120, iDiva, Miss Malini, Fashion Cirqle, Vogue India
the asian fashion journal 