Category: Fashion

Abandoning those home slippers and finally going out during festivals is something everyone is gearing up for. But with the excitement for buying that new shiny pair of footwear, one shouldnt forget the measures that should be kept in focus. Ishan Sachdeva, Director, Alberto Toressi and Ashish Jain, CEO, and Director, Von Wellx Germany share some pointers and inspirations for the festive season shopping…writes Puja Gupta.

Keep it casual: Sneaker is the safest option for any festival, but it comes with a few caveats: Some sneakers may not actually have the comfort needed to get through the entire day. Avoid slip-on styles with super-flat soles and consider an orthotic insert to add even more stability – a tactic that can also be applied to boots. Plain black or brown shoe is one of the excellent choices for all the festive season. A traditional kurta matched with tan-coloured loafer can do wonders for your look.

Break out the prints: Yes your festival shoes need to be sturdy and reliable, but that doesn’t mean they can’t reflect the fun and creativity of the festival itself. Keep an eye out for bright colours and prints when you go festival footwear shopping and make your feet stand out from the thousands of other festival-goers around you.

Go colorful: A festival is somewhere that your quirky fashion flag can fly high. Therefore, there isn’t anything wrong with rocking a bit of colour. Whether you want shoes as your statement piece or you just feel like looking like a walking rainbow, colourful shoes just work on a festival. Plus, with red shoes being such a top colour this season, you’ll totally be on-trend.

The classics: Festivals always calls out the classics, may it be clothes or footwear. Choosing a formal lace up of black or brown color and pairing that with a traditional kurta or with a trouser is going to take your festive look a bar up. The formal footwear will make you stand out from the crowd and are mostly the loved style during the festivals as they are easy to pair.

The buckled sandals: If covering your toes during the festival is not something that you want to do, then sandals are the best option. One should skip the lace-ups as they need to be tied every time throughout the day and instead should choose a style with buckled straps as they are going to keep your feet in place the entire day. Comfort along with style is very important during festivals and you definitely don’t want to spend the entire day tying your footwear.

Also Read-‘No Grey Area’ To Spot A Sense Of Wonder

A new fashion label emerges with the thought that the beauty of this world lies in the symphony of juxtaposed elements — calm and chaos; light and darkness; black and white. Allowing these elements to co-exist without putting them into boxes of convenience is where the brand ‘No Grey Area’ aims to create a sense of wonder.

It tries to create a world that embodies and mirrors a society which looks to the future with positivity, transforming the grey into the known. The brand aims to create an authentic narrative, by fusing Western aesthetics and the traditional pillars from the East to create a modernised Indian design aesthetic, where contemporary luxury comes together with the street.

Founded by Arnav Malhotra, a 25-year-old Business graduate from the University of Exeter, whose playground and training in the business of fashion has been at his family-run multi-designer concept store, Evoluzione. The main inspiration behind the brand came is New York City’s counter-culture, rule-bending fashion trends that emerged at a grassroots level which was unabashedly based on individualism, rather than focusing solely on current fashion trends.

Speaking about the launch of his label, Malhotra says, “We wanted to create a brand that explored the grey’ and spurred conversations about real points of interest. One that transcends materialistic clothing and tell stories that start conversations we are not here to preach and tell people what to think. The brand name is meant to be ironic. It is an oxymoron of itself. We want everyone to enter the grey, for there to be ‘NO GREY AREA’.

The collection retails starting at Rs. 4,500/- onwards and includes t-shirts, resort shirts, long shirts, polos, dhoti pants, joggers, resort pants, bundis and band-galas and bomber jackets.

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It has always bothered me when women refer to their costume or high fashion jewellery pieces as “junk”…writes Sujata Assomull

Style icon Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis’s three-strand faux pearl necklace purchased for around US $500 dollars was sold for over US $200,000 by Sotheby’s at an auction. While much of its perceived value came from provenance- the woman who wore it; women of style and substance such as Diane Vreeland, Audrey Hepburn and Coco Chanel knew that costume jewellery is far from junk, it’s a style statement. Investing in a beautifully made fashion accessory is like buying a good handbag – it can last you a lifetime.

Even though I am the proud granddaughter of a Mumbai based fine jeweller, I have always mixed my fine pieces with fashion jewellery, it just looks more effortless. At my own wedding, my diamond bangles were combined with metal bangles.

So when “India-Proud” fashion jewellery brands, Isharaya asked me to moderate a webinar with art historian, author and jewellery expert, Dr Usha Balakrishnan, one of my first questions to her was about India’s cultural heritage with costume jewellery. I wanted to know why so many Indian women refer to costume jewellery as junk’.

“If you go back in history, jewellery in ancient times was in fact made from items we may refer to as junk such as steel, beads and feather,” she said. It seems junk and not precious materials was the basis for jewellery, perhaps this explains where the term “junk jewellery stems from. Dr Usha added, “Costume is precious, Junk is important.”

That is so true, yes of course fine jewellery is an investment buy-and why it was given to women at marriage times was for its economic value; it was their safety net. But in contemporary dressing, jewellery is about more than just cost, it is also about how it makes you feel. I still own the first Chanel faux pearl strand bought with money saved up from a part-time job. My first boyfriend bought me a pair of Butler & Wilson faux pearl button earrings-something I kept for years and wore with as much pride as my diamond solitaires.

There is more to jewellery than adornment, status and cost-it really is about your connection to the piece, the story it tells and its craftsmanship. I have always found it very pretentious when a woman declares, “I am allergic to fake jewellery”. Of course, many people are allergic to certain metals and it is best for them to avoid fashion jewellery. By the way, if you have a nickel allergy then even keys will give you a reaction (And how come no ever says I am allergic to keys?).

Good quality costume jewellery should be made in brass, and then it will last a lifetime. Isharya uses hypoallergenic nickel-free brass which is then plated with high micron gold. Steel is another great option (a material handcrafted jewellery brand En Inde uses often), for silver, there are so many options in India (Tribe by Amrapali is my go) and Deepa Gurnani uses handcrafted textile techniques for their pieces. So there are many options for those who do have allergies.

And honestly, there is nothing like a piece of beautiful bling to add a touch of glamour into your life. Something we all need now-so even if it’s not made of precious materials let us never call our jewellery pieces “junk”.

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“This is an exciting time. I know it’s also a very trying time as well because a pandemic is upon us. But the pandemic is also throwing up a lot of options which perhaps nobody would have tried earlier…writes Puja Gupta.

To do a complete fashion presentation virtually is something nobody thought of in the past. To actually have the entire world as your audience and everybody has a front-row seat, I don’t think anything can get better than that,” says veteran designer JJ Valaya.

The designer launched his latest couture collection at the first-ever digital India Couture Week (ICW) and reveals, “This is a time when we need to share the joy and positive energy, to celebrate everything that is beautiful. We may not have a buoyant market, but this too shall pass, things never remain constant, life is full of ups and downs and we should celebrate the ups and learn from the lows. ‘Bursa’ is the royal nomad on a journey through time from the 13th to 17th century Ottoman empire. The opulence, the grandeur, the detail and it’s culture are part of the design story.”

Valaya, who started his journey three decades ago, says “there’s no way you can replace the adrenaline rush of a show, the spectacle, the interaction between clothes and people, but adversity gives rise to opportunity. We are living in a digital era and one cannot ignore technology, the brand has to evolve with times and if the current generation is focused on screen time then that’s the new normal.”

“Being a three decade old brand has been one big adventure. Starting at a time when the industry was pretty much non existent, to a time when fashion was a buzzword and everybody is very aware of what’s happening. I think I couldn’t have wished or hoped for a better journey. From crawling to walking to stumbling to getting up, we had had many milestones, just doing everything on our own, learning from our own mistakes and growing beautifully, we’ve had a long journey of many firsts,” says the designer in the video-clip that launched his collection.

He added: “What I’m really excited about today is that this is the first ever time a virtual India couture week is happening. The first time I’m showing my collection virtually. We are showing a 100 percent new collection, unlike some designers in the market. The focus is strictly on the bride and the groom, as weddings have become smaller, we are showing bridal lehengas, sarees for women and sherwani for men.”

Valaya showcased his latest line-up of wedding ensembles, inspired by the culture and arts of Turkey, “I tend to name my collection after one medieval city or the region where I’ve been inspired for. And this year’s collection is all about the magnificence of the Ottoman Empire,” he reveals.

He has used burnished metallics and golds to give an antique aesthetic to the 48 pieces of lehengas, sherwanis, jackets and sarees that are embellished with Swarovski crystals, silk threads, beads, pearls and zardozi work on fabrics like silks and velvets.

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Sneakers have taken over the world and how! Understandably so, because who would does not want to sport footwear that is not only stylish and trendy, but also provides you with ultimate support and comfort.

From the likes of Ranveer Singh to Virat Kolhi, to public personalities like Kamala Harris, everyone is on the sneaker bandwagon. However, if you are a sneaker newbie looking to build your very own collection, then choosing the right pair can be a tad confusing. Well, fret not! Matteo Lambert, Chief Collection Officer, Bata India Limited, has simplified sneaker shopping for you. Here are some wardrobe essentials according to him:

The Evergreen Low-Ankle Sneakers

Low ankle sneakers are the OG of sneakers and enjoy a cult following all across the world. If you are a sneakerhead then there is a good chance that the first pair of sneakers that you ever fell in love with were these. From your smart casuals to party outfits, canvas sneakers will go with every outfit and keep your feet plush and cozy throughout the day. Trendy, stylish, incredibly comfortable, and always in tune with the latest fashion trends, low ankles are a great long-term investment!

Chunky White Sneakers

You can never go wrong with a pair of classic white Chunky sneakers. Reminiscent of the 90s era, chunky white sneakers will give you that retro vibe. From denims to chinos, dresses to even sarees, white sneakers work like a charm with every outfit. Not only will white sneakers elevate your entire ensemble, but also provide you that extra hint of oompf and panache that will make people sit back and take notice.

Snug Slip-ons

Slip-on sneakers has revolutionised the world of sneakers. These lace less sneakers are easy to wear and extremely high on the comfort quotient. Slip-on sneakers are available in numerous colours and variants. You can easily find something to pair with every outfit. If you are someone who prioritises comfort over everything else and believes in minimalism, slip-on sneakers are perfect for you. Once you try them, they’re sure to become your go-to sneakers because of how incredibly convenient and comfortable they are.

Mesh Sneakers

Mesh sneakers are another classic wardrobe staple. The mesh fabric allows your feet to breathe while also hugging the contours for that extra bit of support. They provide you with the ever so elusive combination of comfort and style. These sneakers are versatile and you will never fall short of choices when it comes to mesh sneakers.

Printed Sneakers

Printed sneakers are the latest bug to have hot the sneaker world. If you are a flamboyant soul who believes in going that extra mile and making a solid first impression, then you must invest in a pair of comfortable, printed sneakers. There is an extensive range of printed sneakers available in the market and there is something available for everyone. Floral, animal and jungle prints are all the rage at the moment. They will add that touch of glam to your outfit and take in up a few notches.

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