IFFM 2015

IFFM Equality Fashion Show became a night to remember not only because it was a celebrity-studded event but watching these home-grown stars walk the ramp in Melbourne for a good cause was inspiring. Five Indian and International designers' work came together for a silent auction with all proceeds going to Royal Children's Hospital of Melbourne. As for me, I sighed looking at the spectacular creations by Anamika Khanna (one of the participating designers) while Instagram-ing the show :). Not only her, there was Gaurav Gupta, Melbourne-based Indian designer Roopa Pemmaraju, Susan Dimasi and Richard Nylon's work too. It's IFFM's fourth year and the event has becoming bigger and better with each passing year. This year's guest of honour was Anil Kapoor and the show was stopped by none other than Sonam Kapoor. It was a house full as Melbourne's best dressed Indians came flaunting their finest Indian designer wear. And as the theme demanded an Indo-western outfit, I chose to wear my fail-safe lambaadi neckpiece with lace pants and a slouchy sweater. The best part about the show was getting to meet some like-minded Indians who have been working in the fashion Industry for years here. Now I already can't wait to attend IFFM 2016!

P.S Thanks Divya and Erin for making me a part of this unforgettable evening.

St. Kilda Festival 2015

My blogger daydream of visiting a Coachella-esque event came alive last Sunday. St. Kilda Festival became a mirror image of palm tree rows with a retro giant wheel behind. It was a real treat to all my weekdays-sucked organs. Kickass-ingly foot tapping music, Pinterest-worthy street style, appetizing boards directing towards free watermelon (which we couldn't get to eat by the way) and fabulous Aussie summer to go along... all of this was happening right next to the beach., awesome sauce..! 

#stkildafestival #festivalfashion #melbournestreetstyle

Sunday Soul Sante - May'14 Edition

One event where Bangalore's talent comes alive. Each creative soul present there must have thought at least once to have their own space of creative artifacts on display. The event started under strong sun but soon after 3 it all turned into a cool breeze. People with beer in their hands got themselves busy in stall hopping and shopping till they became happy high. I too scored some one-of-a-kind stuff. Will very soon share it with you all. Till then ... here are some of the captured moments from this fun filled event..!

A Splash of summer

I finally managed to go through Splash Fashion’s spring/summer lookbook and see who is mastering tropical prints this summer. It’s our very own Splash! Above is just some of the brand’s recent collection which I personally saw on their racks. Picking up on the key spring/summer trends for both men and women, Splash is bringing to you sporty chic, nautical, floral as well as tropical inspired trends. So, head straight for this fantastic new summer collection before you turn elsewhere.

Autumn/Winter by Pero

It was a short six minute conversation with Aneeth Arora and she was kind enough to answer all the questions that I had in mind about her recent work. Her Autumn/Winter 2014 collection was like a journey through misty-full dreams. Sticking to similar elements that characterizes her collection it was another mesmerising collection in WIFW that showcased her versatility. Here’s what she had to say…

You have been using Gingham checks almost every season. What makes her so fond of the print/weave so much?

Aneeth: I draw a lot of inspiration from historical costumes. If you see these eons old pieces you will notice an extensive use of gingham checks as inside lining and tracing. I also noticed that the same fabric was used to repair torn patches of these clothes. Also, weaving this type of checks is the easiest of all others.

Is it challenging to stick to one print (Gingham let’s say) and always built a different story around it?

Aneeth: If you see my previous collections, you will always find Gingham checks but used in completely different ways.

Everybody was extremely happy to get the goodies at the show! What was thought behind giving 1 meter of flannel to every audience?

Aneeth: The idea was to transport everyone to the Autumn/Winter season. I had also requested the FDCI for temperature reduction in the hall. I wanted people to actually be a part of the show and not just sit in isolation. The 1 meter fabric that was a part of the press kit is not as refined as I have used in my collection. I carefully chose the prints for these fabrics and tried keeping them similar to what I have used.

Does street style inspire you? Is there any one person whose personal style has influenced your collection?

Aneeth: Street style from rural areas has always been my source of inspiration. There is a weaver in Kutch called Shyam Ji Bhai. I really like the way he drapes his shawls. Everytime I see his personal style, I try to incorporate it in my next collection.

Meet me by the lamp post...

Two questions struck my mind when I held the goody kit at Aneeth Arora's show at WIFW. Why did the designer decide to give one meter of flannel to everybody who came for the show? and what can I make out of this piece? Nonetheless I was thrilled to get this cute gift because the piece felt like one of the rare pieces from Aneeth meticulously crafted collection. It felt really special! So I decided that before giving shape to this checkered fabric, I must say a big thanks to the designer who has been as thoughtful to her guests as she has been with her creations.

This white pin tucks tunic and waistcoat fell in place as I draped the checks around my waist. Nothing could have been better than a flip book to tell Aneeth's story for Autumn Winter 2014. 

P.S. Details of the collection will be up in the next post.

Rishta by Arjun Saluja

Rishta by Arjun Saluja

When I sat down to watch Arjun Saluja in WIFW for the first time, I didn’t really know what to expect. But just when the first ensemble came parading on the ramp, it was a jaw dropping moment for me... With so many brilliant pieces out there, my mind was charged up with all the imaginary outfits for the next fall/winter. Keeping the silhouettes simple, Arjun has experimented with darting and paneling. He also paid homage to the centuries old Pakistani Khais and built up the prints for the collection around it. I awarded the sari with zippered blouse the protagonist of the show but with the strong supporting role of one-of-a-kind sleeve detailing Arjun’s story... Fantastic..!

p.s. thanks for the pictures Nilesh.