My WOW moments at Lakme Fashion Week, Summer/Resort 2013

It's been more than a week since I've recovered from the hangover of  Lakme Fashion Week Summer/ Resort 2013 and this post is long overdue. 5 days of glamour, parties and not to mention hobnobbing with the who's who of the Indian fashion and film fraternity; it was a week well spent, thanks to ZOVI! Another bit on the ZOVI Gen Next program coming up soon on the blog.

One major challenge that I faced on a daily basis was to find the perfect outfit which could easily transition from day to night, comfortable for running around, yet suitable to be spotted at the front row in. It was a smart move to ditch all my sky high stilettos for my faithful Zara sling back wedges and Dorothy Perkins hi-top sneakers at the final stage of re-packing. Sadly, I had to give up my Zara wedges right after the fashion week as it gave up while I was taking a walk towards Joggers Park with my friend Satprem. It was an over utilized wardrobe essential that has served me for almost a year and I am going to miss much:(. You can get a gist of what I packed for the fashion week here.

Anyhoo, wardrobe talks aside here goes my list of my WOW moments at Lakme Fashion Week, Summer/Resort 2013:

NAEEM KHAN - Naeem Khan was the man who delivered my first WOW moment! It was a show that I had personally highly anticipated, not because I've a huge follower of Naeem Khan nor any designer for that matter but due to all the hype around him and his long list of celebrity clientele, some of whom are my favorite fashion icons. Of course,I am a convert now after seeing the show and I am delighted to admit that I have been officially bitten by the Naeem bug. When the show started, I was gasping with awe for every piece that was showcased. The intricate details, the perfect blend of Indian embroidery and Western cuts (especially the ones on Velvet), the stunning sequinned numbers and the immaculate finishing. The only issue was with the fittings as the dresses were too long for the Indian models because of which many of them tripped or almost tripped and most of them looked very uncomfortable. Check out my top picks from the collection below. My favourite is the red embroidered Kaftan dress.

MUNKEE SEE MUNKEE DOO - The name itself made me curious enough to not want to miss the show and I am glad I didn't. The collection was a breath of fresh air centered around sheer, fluid fabrics and clean geometric cuts. At the end of the show, out came the cutest designer duo - Teresa and Utsav who both looked so young that it was hard to believe that they were behind the wonder that I had just witnessed. I made it a point to shake hands with them and congratulate them when I met them outside later. Watch out for this duo as they are definitely going to be the next biggest thing in the Indian fashion industry.

SWAPNIL SHINDE - I was bowled over by Swapnil's psychedelic, fierce and unique collection. Futuristic shapes, metallics and an interplay of pop colours and classic monochrome checks dominated the collection titled "Alice on Acid". As I was doing a bit of research before writing this post, I came to learn that Swapnil has done a 6 months internship with Versace which he won for being the first runner up in the reality TV show Lakme Fashion House. He has rocked the Indian fashion scene since then with his dramatic and spellbinding creations. Can't wait to for his Winter/ Festive 2013 collection as I have a feeling that it will be yet another pleasant surprise!

You can watch all the shows on LFW TV here. Hope you enjoy my favourite shows too:)

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The story of an "un-reversed" reversible belt

A few weeks ago, I bought a “reversible belt” from ZOVI. I was really happy with my purchase as it turned out exactly similar to the way it appeared on the website. Since the design is so simple and minimal, it immediately became a staple item in my wardrobe. One thing that I need to confess though, is that, even though I had initially purchased the belt 1) for the look 2) for the material - it's genuine leather 3) and for the reversible nature, I have never worn the belt reversed. The reason – “I did not know how to actually reverse the belt” nor did I bother to go up to anyone and ask them about the process. Working in the same company that sells the belt, I would have easily got my answer within one phone call with a product expert or by talking to any of my colleagues.  Even if I were like any other customer, I could have called the customer care team who would have helped me instantly. But for some reason, I have never tried any of these things, content with wearing the same “black” side of the belt. 

Then, a revelation came to me in the form of our Photographer Hemanth, with whom I had checked out some belts which were kept aside for product shoots. That's when we came across the same reversible belt; which immediately became the topic of our conversation. I was all praise about the belt and told him that the only issue was that I did not know how to reverse the damn thing. Then, Hemanth, like a pro quickly showed me the steps and I could not believe that I have never tried it. All I had to do was slightly pull and twist the buckle!

So, here I am, sharing my story with everyone. Just in case there is somebody like me out there who needs to learn how to reverse their ZOVI reversible belt.

P.S. Male readers, don't fret yet, thinking this post is not for you. The same theory applies to men's reversible belts as well.:)

All you have to do is pull & twist the buckle and bingo! you've just moved from Black to Tan 

Winter 2010 - What has been worn and will be worn

What is the new black?: When it comes to color, subtlety seems to be the order of the day. Grey is the new black & other hot picks include beige, light brown & black. 

Accessories: Sling bags are still a favorite & belts are going the skinny way. Leggings are still a safe bet, especially when wearing shorties, to keep away from the cold (even tho' we girls do not usually care about the temperature when it comes to looking good:). Among many girls, especially the Blair Waldorf wannabes' (including yours truly:)), the "hair band" is still an important fashion accessory. 

Shoes: "Bye Bye Gladiators, welcome chunky blocked heels." UGGS are still on the rage & they are getting fatter & and warmer this time. Flat pumps have also achieved the status a "necessity" ( what a black cardigan was to us back in those days). Not spotted on many feet yet (perhaps due to non-availability in the Indian market) , Oxfords &  Clogs are bound to be a hit soon. The non-branded market in Thailand has gotten hold of wooden chunky blocks but not clogs ;( It has not yet proliferated much of the high street stores either:(

Apparel: The leather jacket rage has finally caught on...at least in Mizoram. Jumpsuits are also making a slow entry &  expected to get bigger this summer. Boyfriend Jackets and Men's Coats are also here to stay, soon to achieve mass adoption. Blouses are also seeping in, especially 50's inspired pussy bow blouses which are normally tucked into a high waisted trouser or skirt. Flared pants &  full A-cut skirts are also donned by a few people but the trend is expected to be big. The word's that belle bottoms would also soon become another rage in the fashion world..

Word of advice: Go get yourself a Belle Bottomed Trouser + Clog & be a trend setter this season:)