Showing posts with label indian fashion. Show all posts
Showing posts with label indian fashion. Show all posts

Christmas Gift Ideas: Featuring Indian Designer Clutches by Meera Mahadevia



When it comes to Christmas gifts, the more unique and special the better. In relation this, a Meera Mahadeica Indian designer clutch is the perfect gift, Meera Mahadevia clutches are detailed with a variety of semi-precious stones to create stunning fashion forward accessories. Handmade to the last detail, no two bags are identical. These uniquely designed luxury clutches are often worn by and designed for Bollywood actresses to famous celebrities.

Our first top pick is this elegant silver clutch, it is a quintessential party wardrobe essential and will go with almost every outfit. It features a gorgeous cut work pattern studded with small white stones and one large gleaming oval shaped stone. This sparkling clutch is perfect for standing out.and dressing up simple outfits.

Refined Gleaming Clutch


Next is this enthralling black and gold Indian designer clutch, which exudes charismatic aura and can glam up even the simplest of party ensembles. It features a intricate gold leatherette base with black velvet lace weaving in a stylish pattern on the front. The metal pieces add further dazzle into the opulent design.

Alluring Black and Gold Clutch


This stunning glittering piece if the perfect Christmas gift, it’s unusual shape and gorgeous detail makes it a must have for a up to date evening wardrobe. Bringing gold and Silver together is a handy essential for a mix of match with jewellery.

Glitterati Luxury Clutch


Last but not least is this exquisite festive Indian designer clutch in gold polish. It is perfect for adding a glamorous touch to your special occasion’s ensembles. It features a maroon velvet base adorned with gorgeous metal flowers at the front lower half. The dazzling big semi-precious stones make it all the more striking and desirable. This versatile and easy to combine shape is ideal for those days that require something really special.

Exquisite Metal Flower Work Clutch

Anita Dongre: When Elegance Met Edgy

Dear Anita Dongre, is there anything you cannot do? We desperately wish someone could answer our question. Anita Dongre is the reigning queen of Indian Fashion. She is the preferred designer by various Bollywood celebrities and has dipped her fingers in almost every field. Ranging from suits, sarees and lehengas in Indian fashion to contemporary fashion, she has left no stone unturned. In order to commemorate her sheer brilliance, we have put together a list of all our favourite Anita Dongre salwar suits and anarkalis.



We are in love with this Anita Dongre embroidered kurta jacket and straight pants. It has the perfect mix of black and golden; elegance and edgy; new and old. Minimal accessories add the perfect finishing touch to the outfit. This ensemble is sure to make heads turn with envy.



This Anita Dongre salwar suit is ordinary yet extraordinary. Contradicting statement, yes. But strangely true. This salwar suit combines three most basic and commonly worn colours. Fashion faux pas? Some may see it as that. But we see this Anita Dongre creation as a symbol of her versatility. She makes unusual combinations and ideas come to life and with such flair, mind you! Don’t give this super chic outfit a miss. Trust us.



We strongly believe you can never go wrong with pink. Pink is definitely the new black. It is consistent and never goes out of fashion. So when our eyes landed on this pink Anita Dongre anarkali with flare pants, we just couldn’t get enough of it. The gota work, intricate embroidery and printed anarkali scream timeless beauty.



This white Anita Dongre salwar suit personifies perfection and Kareena Kapoor Khan carries it with so much finesse. While pink has a special place in our hearts, white isn’t forgotten. For an instant burst of elegance and grace, embrace this elegant colour! Preferably this Anita Dongre salwar suit.



In our craze for grace we haven’t forgotten edgy and modern styles. This Anita Dongre salwar suit fulfils all our requirements. It has a long printed flare top paired with pants. This ensemble is seen in two of our favourite colours, black and red, which gel so immaculately with each other that all we can do is lust after this outfit.



Our last outfit is this blood red Anita Dongre lace kameez with straight pants. Lace is very difficult to get right, both whilst creating it and wearing it. But Anita Dongre undoubtedly nails it. Available in an array of colours, red was the hue that stood out for us. As Bill Blass so aptly puts it “When in doubt, wear red.”

We can’t get enough of all things Anita Dongre. She has definitely carved a niche for herself in this huge Indian fashion world. Now go and treat yourself to some Anita 

Beautiful Styles from Wills Lifestyle India Fashion Week Spring/Summer 2015

One of Asia’s biggest fashion events, the Wills Lifestyle India Fashion Week for SS'15 recently took place from the 8th of October to the 12th of October 2014 in New Dehli with the support of the the Fashion Design Council of India.

This season, around 125 renowned and young designers showcased their collections within 30 shows. The Wills Lifestyle India Fashion Week SS’15 has highlighted the particularity of the Indian fashion industry, which is an igniting mix of tradition and modernity.

Let's have a look at some of the styles that caught out eye from the fashion extravaganza. More posts about Wills Lifestyle India Fashion Week to follow over the next weeks.

Wills Lifestyle India Fashion Week Spring/Summer 2015 | ShowWills Lifestyle India Fashion Week Spring/Summer 2015 | Show

Wills Lifestyle India Fashion Week Spring/Summer 2015 | Show

Wills Lifestyle India Fashion Week Spring/Summer 2015 | ShowWills Lifestyle India Fashion Week Spring/Summer 2015 | Show
 
Wills Lifestyle India Fashion Week Spring/Summer 2015 | ShowWills Lifestyle India Fashion Week Spring/Summer 2015 | Show

Wills Lifestyle India Fashion Week Spring/Summer 2015 | Show

Wills Lifestyle India Fashion Week Spring/Summer 2015 | ShowWills Lifestyle India Fashion Week Spring/Summer 2015 | Show


Wills Lifestyle India Fashion Week Spring/Summer 2015 | Show

Wills Lifestyle India Fashion Week Spring/Summer 2015 | ShowWills Lifestyle India Fashion Week Spring/Summer 2015 | Show

Wills Lifestyle India Fashion Week Spring/Summer 2015 | ShowWills Lifestyle India Fashion Week Spring/Summer 2015 | Show

Our Favourite Anarkali Dresses from India

Anarkali dresses are a timeless trend, when talking of Indian fashion, that seem to be getting more and more popular as the years go by. Recently we have seen an influx of stunning anarkali dresses that have been showcased all over the recent catwalks and fashion weeks, and by some of Bollywoods biggest celebrities. Anarkali dresses are also frequently worn by an influx of teenagers not only in India but worldwide!

Deepika Padukone without a doubt has one of the best collections of Anarkali dresses that we’ve seen, showcasing her elaborate collection at a number of important events, here are some of our favourites:

Deepika Padukone | Anarkali dress collection

Deepika Padukone | Anarkali dress collection

Anarkali dresses refer to the flowing salwaar kameezes that are relatively long and are designed like frocks but without any type of slit at the side. These style of dresses generally include a kameez that falls below the knee, and a churidaar that has folds near the ankle.

In terms of styles, they are often made up of a variety of materials such as silk, satin, cotton, georgette, chiffon, net, brasso and a variety of other materials, currently the ones that are most popular involve trendy net materials. The hem and neck of anarkali dresses often have detailed and unique embellishments and embroidery, which consist of an array of sequins, beads, laces, etc.

In relation to anarkali dresses showcased at the recent Wills Lifestyle Fashion Week: Rohit Bal definitely stood out to us as being a designer not to be missed. And his show was great! Year after year, his shows prove to be an experience that’s not just about the garments, but the energy, the aura and the drama he manages to create on the ramp, and he definitely didn’t disappoint this year!
Rohit Bal | Wills Lifestyle Fashion Week | Anarkalis


Rohit Bal | Wills Lifestyle Fashion Week | Anarkalis

Rohit Bal | Wills Lifestyle Fashion Week | Anarkalis

We have seen a lot of florals already this year, but Rohit's spin on florals was daring, graphic, unique and beyond gorgeous. Beautiful Kashmiri embroidery on soft, flowy mul-muls and the most stunning collection of Anarkalis that were chic, contemporary yet rooted in Indian tradition. A definite favourite of ours!

Need some tips for your fragrance? Click here.

An Indian/Western Style Jacket: The Bandhgala Jacket

You have to go to an event and you know that everyone will probably wear a tuxedo but you want to be different. Or maybe you just want to try something original so the Bandhgala will perfectly suit you for what you want.

This particular Jacket is a shorter version of an Achkan, a long collared jacket with button that evolved after a blend of European and Indian style in the mid-19th century. Indeed the Bandhgala sports a western cut with an Indian touch, like hand embroidered detailing and a Nehru collar. Although its popularity is mainly due to Jawaharlal Nehru (India's first Prime Minister), who as a leader spread the style by extensively wearing this style of jacket.

Bandhgala's are also popular and are worn by celebrities. For example Actor Shah Rukh Khan was once spotted in a black bandhgala. Also Kabir Bedi and Saif Ali Khan have frequently worn them. “The bandhgala represents India and is the best answer to a formal suit,” said Kabir Bedi.


Actor Shah Rukh Khan



Actor Kabir Bedi


Saif Ali Khan


The formal jackets are usually make with silk, cashmere, khadi, wool but you can also find Bandhgalas made with linen, cotton chino and silk. More and more designers are using lighter fabrics to make jackets as light as possible.

Who said though that these jackets are only for a special event? You can wear it with trousers for weddings or more formal occasions. You can also wear a coat with it or combine with a pair of jeans and stay elegant in more casual moments. Depending on what you like you can find them in different colours from bright to dark.
Black Linen Nehru Jacket 



This Jacket was made by Indian Fashion Designer Manoviraj Khosla. He creates contemporary styles using tradional Indian Techniques.

Do you want to get your own? Have a look at this collection of designer bandhgalas.

Salwar Kameez - Popular Indian Fashion Apparel



If you are the type of woman who finds wearing jeans and tops too suffocating and modern apparel not flattering enough for your figure, then Salwar Kameez wear is the ideal option for you. It is commonly believed that Salwar Kameezes are normally simple with plain patterns. This is not true there are plenty of different and exciting patterned Salwar Kameezes.

Salwar Kameez came from the Mughal reign. Other clothing items from this region are churidars, sharara and lehengas. It is thought that Salwar Kameez is the conventional dress of Punjab.

Traditionally Salwar Kameez has been worn with knee length Kurtas. Today the tradition of wearing them has been modernized and girls have started wearing them with bandeau tops and long shirts.

Salwar Kameez has been made popular in the west due to the Bollywood celebrities wearing them to high profile events. These traditional dresses are often made with a variety of rich fabrics, silk, tissue, Crepe, Chiffon and Georgettes. There is often beaded work on the neckline and shoulders. Extensive sequins are also used combined with patterns and colours that capture the eye.

Often there are different Salwar worn in the outfits, for example a churidar salwar is a baggy drawstring trouser. Wearing this item with a Kameez Kurta creates a classy, cool and sophisticated look.

See also how Indian and Western styles can be combined together!



Indian designers are eager to popularize Indian fashion worldwide. Sarees are most commonly associated with India however there are a lot of possibilities with different designs, patterns and colours. Designers are always eager to incorporate contemporary western fashion trends into new saree designs. One of the outcomes of this is Lehenga sarees.
Online fashion stores have a vast range of different lehenga sarees, so it is easy just to shop from the comfort of your own home. Here are some tips to make the most from your online shopping experience:
Firstly you must check which sarees are in fashion as the trends change regularly. You must also know that there are different lehenga sarees for different occasions for example engagements, puja, weddings and parties.
Secondly you must also buy a blouse piece and petticoat cloth to go with the ensemble, just in case the saree is made from sheer fabric or net.
Make sure you choose your fabric carefully. High quality is the best if you are investing a lot of money into your saree. Lehenga sarees look best in georgette, velvet and net.

THE HISTORY OF FLORAL PATTERNED INDIAN CLOTHES


Indian clothes have always had an alluring quality, whether it being because of the vibrant and rich colours, the exquisite craftsmanship or the beautiful and sensuous fabrics. Indian textiles have been sought after for centuries. The Romans marvelled at the Indian muslins describing them as ‘woven air’. When the Europeans landed on the shores of India it was not only the rich spices that excited them but also the colourful dyes, high quality materials and floral patterns. The Floral patterns used in Indian clothes were so popular that by 1600 a particular type of floral patterned textile called Chintz, which was influenced by the Mughal art and the decorative traditions in Islamic art, was being imported into England. This floral textile was in such high demand that by 1680 more than a million pieces of chintz were imported per year. Although where did these traditional floral designs originate? And why were they so popular in India?
Firstly it was during the reign of Jahangir between 1605 and 1627 that Mughal decorative arts came into their own as a fully developed form of creative expression. Jahangir’s went on a trip to Kashmir in 1620 where he was overwhelmed by the beauty of the flower-filled valleys. After this trip, Jahangir commissioned paintings and decorative objects incorporating floral motifs.
The Mughal Emperor, Shah Jahan who ruled between 1628 and 1658 also had a fascination for floral imagery and he instigated the painting of flowering plants for the next two centuries. The floral motifs during this period became more stylized. These patterns were incorporated into textiles, decorative objects and painted on manuscripts but also used in architecture for example the extensive floral decorations on the Taj Mahal.
The floral motifs used in Indian textiles are still prominent today as we can see it clearly used to decorate Indian clothes and used to style Indian jewellery. A great example of a designer using floral patterns to create glamorous and elegant Indian clothes is Myoho whose designs are relaxed and organic with delicate, splendid printed floral patterns.

Indian Clothing over the decade!

There is no doubt that the fashion industry is one of the fastest moving industries in today’s time. Also, it cannot be denied that the Indian clothing has evolved tremendously over the past decade.
Traditional Indian Clothes

The traditional Indian clothes for a women included Saree, Salwar-Kameez , Ghagra Choli(Lehenga).Jewellery was an integral part of a traditional Indian woman’s attire. It depicted ones status.  The traditional Indian men’s attire included Dhoti, Kurta, Sherwani and Turban. Even back then colour played an important role in the Indian fashion. Rich Indian fabrics with intricate hand woven embroidery were a beauty to look at.
Cine Blitz magazine (1970)
Dimple Kapadia in the Film Bobby (1973)
Indian Movies played a major part back then to influence the Indian audience regarding the fashion trends. In the 1960’s, the Bollywood actresses pretended to play shy and modest roles so were their clothes.  1970 -80’s was one of the most influential years, a turning point of the Indian clothes industry. The 70’s started trending bold designs. Bollywood actresses were spotted in bikinis and skimpy outfits on screen. For instance : Bobby (Bollywood Movie)   The fashion trending in the 70’s era was transparent synthetic material like georgette and chiffon saree’s with small pallu ,different type of blouse designs like halter , low neck-line and noodle strip blouses etc . For instance : Sholay (Bollywood Movie) The Indian clothes for men were cotton printed shirts, cloth and leather jackets, trousers with flare, shirts with butterfly collar and big sunglasses, etc. Three piece suits also gained a lot of popularity during the retro era.

Amitabh Bachan in film Agneepath
StarDust Annual (1980)

 In the 80’s disco era, the attire got bolder as women started strutting in strappy sandals, fitted denim/pants and the traditional saree’s were plain and simple. The change in the Indian clothes industry was caused of the influence of western fashion. The men were seen in complete head –to-toe white attire. The evolution was huge not only for the Fashion industry but also for the Bollywood industry in India.
Isqh (1997) 

Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge (1995) 
The 90’s was the old school style ,where the men’s wardrobe included baggy pants, oversize shirts  with t-shirt underneath them, waistcoats, printed ties , coloured denim pants and dungarees. On the other hand, the women were spotted in colourful bandani outfits, chunky jewellery, shoulder pads, hair bands, high waist skirts, long dresses, shorts etc. Their make-up included matt lipsticks.
Kaho na… pyaar hai (2000) 
In the 20th century, the Indian audience was introduced to the concept of Indian designer wear with contemporary clothing. Indian men were spotted wearing tight fitted jeans/pants, shirt and t-shirt.  Women’s fashion in India had become classy and sophisticated by this time. Women started wearing short dresses, designer clothes and grooming themselves.
Dhoom 2  (2006) 

Aisha (2010) 
Ever since then the Indian designer wear in India has been booming. Today, people have become so brand conscious and fashion alert. The urban crowd is very well aware of the latest trends in fashion. The fashion industry in India has also created its own unique space in the international market: thus even Western people started to wear Indian dresses. The Indian fashion industry is an amalgamation of ancient Indian craftsmanship along with contemporary designs.

See also the history of Indian floral patterns!

Read more about Indian fabrics :

Madhuri Dixit showcases one of Manish Malhotra's Bridal Lehengas

Traditionally, red bridal lehengas are what many indian women wear on their big day. Madhuri Dixit posed elegantly in this embroidered designer lehenga by Manish Malhotra, which includes the traditional colour red. Would you wear this stunning outfit on your wedding day?


For more beautiful wedding outfits, check out Strand of Silk

See also how Indian Fashion changed during the years!


Indian Accessories: Stylish IPad Covers

Which are the trendiest Indian accessories of this year?

These IPad covers must be in the top ten for sure!


Want to see more Indian Accessories?


Want to combine it with a Bridal Lehenga?