Geek but Chic

Sunday, August 30, 2009

Lakme Fashion Week A\W09: Archana Kochhar

I liked the bright bright colours. I liked that Archana Kochhar experimented with fabric manipulation techniques. And that's about all that I liked about this collection. Going OTT can sometimes make a real fashion statement, or it can backfire miserably. For me, the outcome was clearly the later. The ruffles with the poofy fabric manipulations with the surface ornamentation and embroidery was just too much. Messy. Pretty much every gown in this collection looked like a pre-pubescent Indian teenage girly girl's idea of a ball gown.

BTW, is it just me, or does the showstopper (the gown covered with origami-like flowers in various shades of pink and white) remind you of Rohit Bal's Gulal collection?

Tuesday, August 4, 2009

Lakme Fashion Week A\W 09: Gaba by Aneeth Arora and Chinar Farooqi

Never have dull neutrals and dowdy darks looked better. I'm a total colour lover (Hey! That rhymes.), but OMG, Aneeth & Chinar sure had me at full attention with this collection.

Sometimes, I think that here in India, we have two fashion seasons just for the heck of it. Cause really, most of the country is pretty temprate and there's only so much of a market for really warm wintry clothes. And we're also a country that has a colour fixation. We're pretty much okay with every colour all the time. (Hah! I'm not the only one.) So most designers pretty much do as they please, with varying levels of regard to the forecasts. Not so in this case. Both the colours and the garments are very winter. Though I'm sure if some of the looks were de-layered a bit, they'd be perfectly comfy in temprate weather as well.

As for the collection, think very very fashionable tea pickers (like the one's those old TATA tea ads). Long puffed sleeves, loose gathered pinafores and artisty smocks coupled with almost-opaque stockings, mary-janes, head scarves worn tea-picker style and even cloaks! With a very minimalist ethnic feel. I particularly loved the cloaks. The black one, worn over the cute grey silk shift, is very Harry Potter. And I think I spotted a few Ikats in the collection, along with a bunch of other ethnic Indian fabrics. And I really like those uber baggy pants in grey. And everything else too. The whole collection = fabulosity.

Monday, July 27, 2009

Trend Alert! Jumpsuits

Love them or hate them, jumpsuits are the new fashion obsession. Dark and elegant or casually chic, jumpsuits rock. They've been spotted on several glamazons at red carpet events. Think Jenifer Lopez, Gwyneth Paltrow, Keria Knightley, Fergie and Alicia Keys. And on my side of the ocean, there's Deepika Padhukone, Nina Manuel, Lara Dutta and Shilpa Shetty, to name a few. And they've been blazing down the ramps too, courtesy Stella McCartney, Missoni, Dolce & Gabbana, Diane Von Furstenberg, Chloé and Giorgio Armani.

But this can be a tricky trend to sport, especially if you've got the voluptuous Indian derriere. Then a fabric like linen is a better bet than jersey. And fit has never been more important. If it bags or sags anywhere, or if it's squeezing you tight, then it's not going to work.

Elizabeth and James Oasis Jumpsuit, $425.00
Effortlessly elegant.

Catherine Malandrino Draped Jumpsuit, $395.00
Short and dressy, love the bright popping colour!

Newport News, Bandini-print halter jumpsuit $49.00
Love the kitschy print. Perfect if you're going for a bohemian look.

7 For All Mankind, Henley Denim Romper, $189.00
Uber casual. And so comfy!

Missoni Enid Combo Jumpsuit, $2,545.00
Very Sophisticated. Very Brunch.

Robert Rodriguez Ruffled Jumpsuit, $385.00
Kinda makes think of the Zoot suit. Love the slouchy look.

Versace, Spring 08
Very edgy almost-formal.

VPL, Anatomic One Z Jumpsuit, $695
Very avant garde.

This gorgeous jumpsuit by Raakesh Agarvwal has sure been doing the rounds. It's been featured on several magazines, one being Vogue India. It's also been spotted on several celebs in the Mumbai party circuit.

Lakme Fashion Week A\W 09: Pria Kataaria Puri

I'm guessing this would be THE collection if you're a fashion dilettante from the Middle East. I've heard she's got quite a following there.

But I still hate this collection. And there are just so many things that I hate about it. Like the pseudo-oriental prints dulled down by an uninspiring colour palette, that reminded me of cheap curtains mostly. Take that and add hair that's reminiscent of classical Greek sculpture and you've got a major culture clash. And the fact that she's taken a trend I love -- wide belts -- and made them look like bawdy curtain rings. Or the OTT psychedelic raccoon eye make up.

Added to all the monstrosities that walked down the ramp, she threw in a few cliches too. Like the gold bikini with the sari and the handkerchief-style maxi dress. And why, God, why has she used fur in a collection that's supposed to be aimed at hot desert countries? Maybe I just don't get Middle Eastern aesthetics, but Fur? Really?

Thursday, July 23, 2009

Trend Alert! Weird Pants

Ruched, ruffled, skinny, saggy, drop-crotch, harem style, ginormously wide legged and with bits missing, the weird pants are here. While some are, at best, dubious style statements (and I'm being really generous here), I still think there's hope for them. Some of the slouchier styles tend to look like pajamas, so a heavier fabric and a little structure is really important.