Light and Shadows

Every time we buy a fashion magazine there is a certain rush one experiences, we judge the cover......but only to excite ourselves about the visual treats each issue of the glossies have for us. The cover shot, ad campaigns and the fash-dramatic fashion features set the mood, not only for the particular issue in our hands but the fashion mood on the whole. It might be just a set of a few pictures to some, pictures to look at, admire and flip through. But when we realise the amount of effort and detailing that goes into every shot we “flip through”, the pictures remain nothing short of art. Fashion photography is a genre of photography, where beautiful clothes, exotic locations, glamorous models, fabulous sets, sparkling baubles and descriptive make up and hair form a composition and emote a high fashion tale.

The soaring dose of fashion that the pictures drip of, often drops us in our thoughts and imaginations, changes our moods, inspires us, however, the most affective ones leave us restless. We recently came across two beautiful subjects in the world of fashion photography: Emily Soto and Chanel’s feature for Harper’s Bazaar Arabia that tickled the fashion lover in us. The shots leave us restless and makes anyone want to be part of it in any which way.

1. Emily Soto

Emily Soto

So the other day, Emily Soto’s Enchanted Forest shoot was broadcasting on Fashion tv when it caught our attention. Her whimsical and soft pictures, effortlessly weave radiant shades of nature and fashion. Emily Soto is a fashion & portrait photographer from California, who has been in fashion photography for a little over a year. She loves combining fashion and photography to achieve phenomenal shots. The mystique element in her work with the feminine touch make it highly surreal. Every shot tells a tale, a tale left to your imagination. 

It is best to let the pictures do the talking!  

2. Chanel for Harper’s Bazaar Arabia

It is striking how a grand location or a set instantly communicates and completes the frame meant for the most exclusive sartorial creations. The impeccable class of Chanel was aptly levelled by the exotic location in the Persian Gulf for a feature on Cruise’12 for Harper’s Bazaar Arabia. Chanel Cruise’12, the Yacht, blue skies and the Persian Gulf made the perfect contrast defining exquisite. Take a look!

Kitschonova: Roar of the Indian Kitsch, Chapter 1

Looking back, as we sit on our desk, an afternoon in 2012, we feel that the Indian
fashion industry has come a LONG way. Yes, now we are spoilt for choice, be it
highstreet or designer wear, we have plenty, and growing! And when it comes to flea
markets and local shops, we were rocking it before the world could spell FASHION.
But what to us truly remarkable and inspiring are the new-age kitsch inspired brands
which have blurred the line between fashion and art and in some cases have
introduced sustainability to the world. They have created variety in simple ways,
uplifted the whole experience of Hindustan and daily life on Indian streets and
brought about a revolution of tailored garments, multi-utility gifts and blended their
love for art with some incredible product design. Some also addressed their
customers and taught them that fashion need not be all-indulgent, fashion can be
benevolent and in doing so have helped numerous NGOs reach their cause.

We are bringing to you 'Kitschonova', a series where we look to some weathered and
some nascent enterprises which have redefined the act of Indian-ness and we begin
the series with...



PLAYCLAN: Take India Home.

They call themselves clones and they say their work defines individuality and eccentricity and after a few mouse clicks on their website you are more than assured. Gods, and bazaars and tuk-tuks(the risk-shah) and designs showcasing the 1 billion Indians( with IIT aspirants, mustachioed herdsman, Santa-Banta, Guddu and Bunty, Salim bhai, Vicky 420 and Pinky aunty) and the temples and the minarets, the products are in so many aspects a connect between the India we know and the India left behind. The moods are varied from raw colours to flowy designs to colour blocks and so are the products. Ranging from tees, trunks, watches to even stationery, coasters and cushions. And if you arn't already in love with heir products, here's a darn cute movie clip, the play-clan style.

Here's a 'deko' of Play Clan producs c/o their webpage:

Kitschy tote-bags

Handpainted Cushions

Women's Tees

Handpainted Shoes

Tees for Men

You can shop for the these products here 

Years after the conception of the brand, Play Clan has quickly moved to various cities with stores creating a city-specific feel (their Pune store is a dedication to Osho) and collaborated with Paul Smith, Absolut , Denizen etc. and created a whole new playfield for Indian design. Have a look at their products, if there is one  in your city or check out the link we've posted above and they say, 'keep playing'.

Paul Smith and Play Clan

Keeping up with the next series of Kitschonova, we bring to you many more of such incredible brands which spell 'India Shining' out loud. Watchout this space for People Tree , Yelo Bags , Chumbak , Item Number and many more !

'When the going gets fat,the fat go hungry'

DIETS. To some people,its a hopelessly alienated word, which almost marks them a notch above the rest, as they do not 'need' to diet, they can celebrate their walnut cakes and their waistlines, at the same time. While to most of us, we believe, its is a death knell. In a society which is obsessing over skinny, just being fit is not enough. Just 'looking great' is not enough. And as Kalli Purie, writer of Confessions of a Serial Dieter' puts it, even men are not thinking about sex these days, they are obsessing over WEIGHT !
Yes, the return of plus size women on the runway and Vidya Balan's uninhibited 'dare to bare' act in 'Dirty Picture' might boast of the triumph of beauty minus the size and might sound extremely liberating, but deep down, inside your diet-obsessed mind, you know you want to wear those hot-pants 'because you wanna look hotter then her'.

But here comes the fall, when do you start? And most importantly, HOW? If you yourself are also a self-confessed serial-dieter, then you will know that if we lay down courses of various diets here and somehow brain-wash you into following,we'd be spilling out a truck-load of crap. So which way to go and how to customize your diet to your lifestyle and body-type? Or not eat at all. Or eat only lettuce for 143 days. Basically, how not to kill one-self, while also ensuring shrinking tummy progress?
Kalli Purie who has gone from flab at 103 kgs to fab at 60kgs, and on 43 diets so far, seems to be the best person relate to in her book 'Confessions of a Serial Dieter' ! And from the looks of it, the idea seems fun.
But its not.
Kalli talks about 'addiction to food' similar to 'alcoholism' and how the addict never seems to stop at one. Fighting temptation is one bit, and pushing yourself back into the battleground after you slip up is another mountain. Pushing, crawling, fighting, marching across this field of elusive ,hideous,unpopular fat into the world of transformation and watch yourself turn into a delicate,beautiful butterfly is what probably forms the most part inspiration you can derive from the book.

The Book Cover

Kalli Purie (current)

With Sonam Kapoor at the book launch

Sonam Kapoor launches 'Confessions of a serial dieter' in Delhi

Here are a few excerpts:

'There is a famous fable about transformation- The Ugly Duckling. An ugly duckling changes into a beautiful swan. When she is an ugly duckling, everyone shuns her. She is lonely and sad. But then she becomes a beautiful swan and everyone loves her and wants to be her friend. Fairytales are gruesome and politically incorrect but it's the stuff we grow up on. It's hardwired into you: fat and unattractive is unpopular; thin and beautiful is popular. But once you lose more than 20 kg, it's no longer a change like that of the ugly duckling to a swan; it's a whole transformation. A metamorphosis. Transformation of this nature is akin to that of a caterpillar into a butterfly'




'Dieticians and trainers can tell you what to do and help you do it. But they have not done it. I have.'




' Fat is a silent killer, depositing itself around you, making you lethargic and slow and inefficient. Fat is infectious, so your mind starts losing its edge too. It becomes lazy like the body it resides in'




'Confessions of a Serial Dieter can be purchased from your local stores or can be purchased online from www.theserialdieter.com at INR 250.

But if you want to rock it 'diet-diva' style then find it at a svelte cost of INR168 only  at one of our favourite online shopping portals,FLIPKART, here. We already have(and trust the portal for speeedy-deliveries)!

What We're Lovin' Right Now!

1. LANA DEL RAY'S 'VIDEO GAMES'

She is also the self-proclaimed ‘gangsta Nancy Sinatra’ and Lana Del Ray’s debut single Video games is one of our favourites this season. With her husky, alluring voice and the old Hollywood melancholic notes of the song, it’s a rage on the internet with over 18 million views on Youtube. And we can’t stop listening to it! Her debut album ‘Born to Die’ has singles like ‘Blue Jeans’ and ‘Born to Die’ which are again very typical to this indie hipstress’s sound.

2.  GREEN THE GAP COLLECTIVE

Launched  in 2008 by Delhi-based NGO Swechcha Green the Gap is an enterprise which upcycles  waste into a vast collection of myriad accessories like handbags,clutches, wallets, pouches , office materials and even t-shirts. The purposes served are many while staying true to idea of a fresh, kitschy and extremely cool fashion. While propagating awareness about recycling and going green on the planet , which in itself is a bold move the collective also looks at opening avenues for underpriviledged artisans. The raw material could be anything from trashed jute, fabric and trims, juice and milk tetra packs, even rubber tyres and the result is a unique piece of design and innovation genius. The website offers customization of products to your liking too and the store is located in te posh Haus Khas Village os South Delhi. Besides, as we write this, their facebook page boasts of upcycled merchandise produced by the inmates of Asia's biggest Prison - Tihar Jail and also upcycling of  the waste generated by the Jail. Way to go guys!

Velvet for the Fall

Year after year, as different fashion seasons pass, the trends go through a continuous metamorphosis and translate into something new, something bizarre.

Fashion forward as we like to be, we have already started hoarding and stacking our picks for the next season even though the temperature continues to drop. We are talking Spring Summer but before we do take a plunge into the thrill of sheer, pastels and a lot of bright colours that the promising season has in store for us, let’s first completely get over with our winter zeal.

We as yet definitely do not have an expression of content with our Cashmeres and Furs, Tweed & Leather and yes, the opulent Velvet. The luxurious and rich looking fabric hasn’t only seen time and forms part of history but qualifies to be one of the fashion staples that keep reinventing but form a part of each season almost every year.

Placed in our mind as a part of paintings of palaces and theatres, the smoothness and feel of velvet oozes quite a bit of “drama” and we have always strived for a bit of it in our wardrobes too. A 70’s favourite, velvet is a multi dimensional fabric. We can’t name one fashion element that hasn’t worked perfectly in velvet be it clothes, shoes or bags.  

We show you the fabulous versatility of Velvet and how to use it in your favour!


Jackets and Coats:

Cosy up with the Velvet overcoat by taking a cue from Alberta Ferretti. The bright blue colour adds the much needed pop of colour to the otherwise monotonous wardrobe colour palette that hails us every winter.

To achieve an understated look with an otherwise dramatic fabric, wear a velvet short jacket over your greys.

Pants:

Replace the denims with velvet pants. The luxe material keeps you cosy and happens to be the fun element of your look. Solid colour pants are safe but these printed ones are definitely much more playful.

Dresses and skirts:

A part velvet dress plays down the loud characteristics of the fabric and gives a neat  clean look. Stella McCartney gets it right with this blue velvet dress. We definitely have a soft corner for blue coloured velvet too.  Of the many stars who have been spotted in this dress, Penelope Cruz carried off the dress perfectly.

 Style icon Leighton Meester combined sheer with a strip of velvet.

However,  the most hearted dress would be this leopard print velvet maxi dress.

We also love this Marks & Spencer’s studded velvet skirt.

Tops:

Balance the crinkled velvet top with a tailored pant well fitted pant.

Accessories:

And if velvet is too overwhelming for you to carry off then using velvet accessories is not just the best way out but quite a classy one too specially if you go with these picks.