The Style Soirée Daily: 2012

Friday, 7 December 2012

Timeless Brocade

Oh Brocade, beautiful, rich Benarasi brocade, how much do you lure our eyes!

With Prabal Gurung enticing dress with Benaras brocade being featured in last month’s Vogue and with an entire array of brocade sarees, blouses and dupattas thronging the Indian wedding market this fall, we cannot but rant about how the beautiful (and maybe slightly under-rated) brocade has the ability to change the entire look of a garment.

Prabal Gurung for Benarasi Brocade , Vogue India

Benarasi brocade, which is currently a GI (Geographical Indication, an form of Intellectual property) acquired by the Uttar Pradesh Weaver’s association, is made over a handloom in the districts of Varanasi, Mirzapur, Chandauli, Bhadohi, Jaaunour and Azamgarh (all in UP. No other place can legally sell Benarasi saree and brocade made outside of these districts). Many of might already know that brocade is the name given to the textile which can be made over Silk, organza, zari, Silk, Georgette etc.

Typically found over sarees, the brocade is now one of the fancy new words for ‘ethnic chic’. Sheer dupattas with brocade borders, quilted jackets with brocade work, anarkalis with brocade borders, georgette sarees with brocade blouses etc. ; it instantly adds a royal resplendence to the outfit with its surface glaze and bright colours and motifs. It is by far, the most versatile of Indian handloom works as we see it today.

Designers like Sabyasachi, Abu Jani & Sandeep Khosla have worked with many brocade style and have dressed many celebs in them.

Abu Jani and Sandeep Khosla

Sabyasachi

Queen of Ethnic: Vidya Balan

Courtesy: www.zeenatstyle.com

Monday, 30 July 2012

The Wedding Drama: The little things

While you are on your cleansing routine( you better be!), here's a small things to be kept in mind in the days leading upto your wedding:

1) Include more spices in your meals like cayenne pepper, jalapenos etc. Spices tend to increase metabolism and the body requires to burn more calories in order to digest them! You can add them in your soups, salads, broths, dal etc.

2) Reduce your meal portions: NOW is the time! The whole world's been talking about small, frequent meals. Eat every 2-3 hours but small portions. If you're finding it difficult to maintain small portions. start picking up smaller crockery for you meals! Reduce the size of you plate. It is as easy as THAT!

3) Pre-wedding parties can lead to a LOT of drinking/ eating / bingeing on sweets! While you are most welcome to get drunk on your wedding day, in the days leading upto it DO NOT touch that wine glass. Have someone, like a friend/relative, watch you while you socialise! It really helps. Also, eat your fill of healthy food at home before you step out to avoid unhealthy bingeing. If nothing helps, think of the belly pooch you want GONE before you wear your wedding ensemble.

4) Cut out processed meat, dairy and white sugar! They can seriously dampen your cleanses/diets/workouts!

5) DO NOT, yes, never ever ever, eat your dinner late. Firstly, stick to a soup or a fruit for dinner (seriously, you will see a mammoth of a difference) and Secondly, finish it before 8pm in the evening. Eating early helps your body burn fat instead of creating it. So you should eat 3 hours before you hit the sack!

More helpful tips coming up, very very sooon :)

Wedding Drama Series: Part 1

This series is a consequence of the many many wedding invitations we have received in the last fortnight for the coming months! The wedding season is j-uuust round the corner and whether you are the lucky bride-to be or an anxious bridesmaid looking for the perfect dress or the best friend looking to tuck in those love handles, THIS series is for you. All the diets, workouts and tips given in this series are tested. By us,ofcourse! So be assured that we have done ALL of this before you, unless mentioned, and seen the results and our bodies are still sore!But we're all pumped to show you how to feel sooo fabulous :)

Beginning with simple things first, The cleanses. A cleanse is typically done in order to remove toxins from your body and should be followed from 3days to about 7 days. There are cleanses for upto a month too :O
But seriously, we think your body will need nutrition after 3 days since you will be working out too!
So here's our favourite cleanse, which you can combine with steamed vegeables/fruits incase you feel hungry the first day. You can also include soups, broth and home-made fresh juices in order to ease your system into the cleansing routine. And drink lots of water in order to help your system flush the toxins better.Very importantly, please do not confuse the master cleanse to a diet program or stay only on the cleanse if you feel too weak. The idea is to eliminate processed food, meat and dairy and include liquids which help clean your body. But typically it involves drinking of the following concoction as many times as you want:

2 tablespoons fresh-squeezed lemon juice.
2 tablespoons grade-B organic maple syrup.
1/10 teaspoon cayenne pepper.
10 ounces filtered water.

You can also drink green tea/chamomile tea/jasmine tea or any other laxative tea for dinner. Please do not confuse this program to a diet plan. We suggest you keep a normal intake of the foods the following foods during the day(except dinner) too:

-Soups/Broths

-Fruits/Steamed Vegetable

-Freshly made juices

Though many people have stated that the master cleanse helps drop weight if done for a more than 2 weeks (Beyonce is reportedly known to have lost 20 pounds through this "lemonade diet"), we believe that if done without any of the above food supplements for over 7 days, the cleanse will remove lean muscles and liquid from your body rather than the fat which you want to lose.

Start with the cleanse and within the next 3 days we will teach you how to get back into regular food as well as workout plans for that wedding that is juust round the corner!

Till then, Happy Cleansing!

Wednesday, 25 July 2012

Christian Dior's Fall Winter 2012-13

Sets decorated with fresh roses, azaleas, lilies and an array of couture in tulle, satin, fur and organza with exceptions of wool jackets and tuxedo, Christian Dior's Fall Winter 2012-13 by Raf Simon, was a breath full of a garden's bloom. Accessories were minimal with an element of divinity, and an air of non-chalance. Monochromatic colours and rich fabrics continue to be eye-ball grabbers.

All pictures from here.

Tuesday, 10 July 2012

Re-inventing white: a decade's look

A white shirt never goes out of style. And designers never stop throwing us off the hook with some some interesting, some experimental variations to the classic white shirt. Here a few over the last decade, some we've adored, others we simply couldn't understand why!

Jill Sander's the Granny shirt re-invents a cropped top and the white shirt

Piazza Sempione's sleeveless elongated cotton shirt with accordion vest and bermuda shorts

Sheer shirt,billowing sleeves, and ascot collar...simply too much of detailing!

Piazza Sempione's pure white outfit, a de-structured pattern involving Jodhpurs , white shirt and white jacket

Banana Republic staple white shirt in classic avatar

Givenchy's black panelled white shirt, something which everyone should have in their wardrobe !!

Ralph Lauren, classic tailored Polo white shirt

Stella McCartney's All white collection dramatized the white shirt-dress giving it a obscure balance.

Zara doesn't disappoint either with sequin-collared sheer white shirt and olive pants, unrealistically chic!

Burberry prorsum: beautifully tailored, white shirt with military detailing! *drool*

Marks and Spencer's longest and most staple design for white shirt, still remains a favourite.

The blouse-cum-shirt! by Vero Moda!

How internet turned into a Huge Supermarket.

We are waaaay past the fashionandyou.com/ 99labels.com/ myntra.com or snapdeal.com(which started offering service deals online) era.
Earlier thought to be a fading trend, e-commerce has hit India in a major way, now bringing to the pallete home and furnishings websites like www.zansaar.com, www.jabong.com and fabfurnish.com, which offer more than just products. Guest curator's , designers and bundling looks/trends has given the new-age shopper an ease to shop and entire look for home along with all the necessary appliances for your kitchen! Also, you can buy your refrigerator and fill it too because soups, herbs, spices, canned foods and any other imported food items are all present on the world wide web!

Cushions starting at INR 199 @ http://www.fabfurnish.com

Eclectic choices for Wall decor starting at INR 299 @ http://www.fabfurnish.com

All red kitchen set worth INR 695 only at http://www.jabong.com

Fabindia collection at http://www.zansaar.com/

Thai essentials and chef tips at http://www.zansaar.com/

Wednesday, 20 June 2012

Little bit of India

Coming of this decade has brought many a names of brands and designers in our fashion directory who have combined a little bit of India in their collections. In form of pop-artish Indian motifs or prints, old traditional Indian crafts and even stills from streets in India. Bags, scarves,clothing and even interior furnishings from many brands today give an insight into what is truly a celebration of Indian-ness. We bring you looks o transform into Indian Chic!