Tag Archives: Manish Malhotra

Amazon India Fashion Week 2015:  A Sneak Peek

We can’t believe Divaly is going to be 1 year old in almost a week!! Wow time sure flies! So to celebrate our one year birthday, we wanted to reach out to our fellow bloggers and friends to celebrate with us.

Today, we have the multi-talented Priyanka Bhansali from India, she was our very first guest blogger. Priyanka is a fashion stylist, personal shopper, content creator and social media manager! To find out more about her work click here!

We are excited to have her write for us again, where she is covering the Amazon India Fashion week, read on for the gorgeous show stoppers and designs :)!

SNAPSHOT

The Amazon India Fashion week got a dream kick start with Sabyasachi’s dreamy collection and joining him was the brilliant shoe maker Christian Louboutin, it sure seemed like a dream team. This was just a beginning to the fashion forward week and every designer left us mesmerized by their unique take on cuts, fabric and opulent craftsmanship. The cherry on the icing were our very own Bollywood divas, who completely stole the show.

Here’s a sneak peak.

SABYASACHI MUKHERJEE

aicw-sabya-christian       sabyasachi

The opening act by leading couturier of India, Sabyasachi unveiled his bespoke tailoring and embroidery that was spell bounding and the gloomy design of the ramp was justified so as the luxurious garments in blacks, red and beige sparkled in the Goth atmosphere. Joining him was Christian Louboutin who created exclusive line that goes in sync with the collection for a royal bride that he is best known for.

RAHUL MISHRA

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The internationally acclaimed designer and winner of the Woolmark prize, Rahul Mishra’s collection was for the women of 21st century. Mishra’s vibrant line had intricate floral embroidery; sheer fabrics with sharp tailoring combined with handwork of subtle rural crafts gave us a glimpse of the bygone years.

GAURAV GUPTA

GauravGupta

With no surprise Kalki Koechlin was the showstopper for Gupta. Expect royal outfits exploring and celebrating the femininity in you. Shimmery outfits with a color palette of blue, silver, peach, nude and light gold casted a magical spell. Embellishments, cinched waist line, luscious draping added to the magic.

MONISHA JAISINGH

MonishaJaisinghRunway                 ICW'15D3S2MonishaJaisinghRunway008

Veteran fashion designer Monisha Jaisingh unveiled the glamorous collection calling it a ‘sailing bride’. We wonder, what would it be for a bride celebrating her perfect day on the yacht? The answer is not the typical; Monisha shows us the unusual with paneled skirts, pre drapped sarees, lehenga gowns, crossover brallets, voluminous gowns, embellished cigarette pants and structure jackets. Showstoppers Kriti Sanon showed a rebel side of the bride finishing the look with sneakers and fashion entrepreneur turned stylist turned actor Pernia Qureshi entered in a baby blue gown.

ROHIT BAL

rohit_bal

It was all floral for Rohit Bal, showcasing us red roses and marigold that had blossomed beautifully and were placed on floor sweeping lehengas, gowns and accessories. As expected the collection was luxurious and grand.  Rich velvets, royal silk embroidered with heavy zardozi looked opulent and seamless.

MANAV GANGWANI

ManavGangwani

Models showcasing ethereal pieces accentuating in gold, vibrant colors in elegant Parisian style as to what was called as “Le’ Amoureuse” collection. Seen were new to the eye fabrics like sequined georgette, sheer tulle with shades of gunmetal, sensual purple, peachy coral and aqua. Kangana Ranaut, the reigning queen of bollywood looked spectacular in a purple gown as she discerned like a true diva on the runway.

VARUN BAHL

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The designer dedicated the show to the flower blooms which were seen in heavy embellishment in his bespoke collection. Weaved thickly and intricately on lehengas, dupatta’s and anarkali’s and for the men it was all ill fitted pants with structured jackets, and that is how a royal luxe collection concluded.

RIMPLE & HARPREET NARULA

rimple & harpreet

Shilpa Shetty showing off her envious curves (how does she do that??) in gold lehenga was absolutely resplendent and she looked ravishing like always. The entire collection oozed monarchial vibe with garments in fine woven embroidery, rich fabrics infused in colors of the royalty.

REYNU TANDON

ReynuTandon

Reynu Tandon showcased a vibrant collection featuring the sartorial splendor of Persia. Seen were heavily embroidered lehenga’s and anarkali’s that gave us a sneak peak of Persian weaves. Showstopper Richa Chadda showed us what a Persian Princess looks like in a gold and red lehenga.

DEBARUN MUKHERJEE

DebarunRunway                            DebarunRunway2

The show started with pretty girl Aditi Rao Hydari in a sepia toned cocktail lehenga which gave us a cue that the collection takes inspiration from various styles of bollywood glam right from the 1940’s to the current time.  We saw an interesting interplay of colors fused with fabrics and embroidery which added to the runway drama. Though shades like black, sepia, pastels and some romantic tones reflected the era back then, the modern silhouettes made it look modern and contemporary. Finishing the show was the dusky beauty Chitrangada Singh looking lovely in a bridal avatar.

MANISH MALHOTRA

Manish-Malhotra

What started with a bang the end to the glitzy week was even better. The couturier brings a style soiree called the Empress Story and by the means of it, we knew what was coming. The old world charm, captivating drapes, stunning weaves and raw bold hues just added more than enough perfection. Behold now, the real Empress, the stunning and evergreen beauty Aishwarya Rai walks in his best and the end to the show couldn’t have been this grand.

We hope you enjoyed these, tell us your favourite looks?

Image source:

India.com | Vogue.in | luxpresso.com

Shoppers Stop

Since we propagate loosening the purse strings so much, it would only be fair for us to also tell you where we shop and which stores we are grateful to have around.
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Unless you live under a rock or have no internet, you must have heard of Pernia’s Pop Up Shop in some way or form. This e-store stocks some amazing designs and designers and is still one of the only places to make names like Manish Malhotra, Anita Dongre and Sabyasachi accessible to our credit cards. The website is functional and easy to use. They have loads of pictures with each product so you know exactly what you are buying. The most important thing for me is that their customer service is blooming brilliant. They have always made me aware of any issues with my transactions, and respond to queries via email within 24 hours. Given their wide product range, I usually make a pit stop here before I head off to other sites to spend my money. They don’t discount goods that often, so when you get a deal snap it up before it’s gone!
2. 
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Exclusively.in burst into the Indian e-commerce scene a few years ago and boy have they made a huge impact. They not only stock some amazing designers and home goods, but are also responsible for driving the ecommerce websites of Manish Malhotra and Tarun Tahiliani. If you live in the USA, then they do a lot of trunk shows which means amazing goodies at some amazing prices. If you live anywhere else, fret not, they have multiple deals running all times of the year. If you paid full price for anything on this site you probably have a bit too much extra cash lying around (if it is the case, please contact us and we can offer alternatives for the extra dough). They factor in taxes and shipping to pretty much all countries in the world so it is very convenient and you do not need to worry about whether or not your goods will reach you on time.
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PKG is undoubtedly credited with bringing Sabyasachi to the world. They have made the elusive designer accessible to all of us no matter where we live. The website is very very basic and does not have pictures of everything the store has to offer. Facebook is a much better bet of their inventory. They also promote their special offers on Facebook so keep your eyes peeled if you are looking for a new outfit. Their customer service is brilliant and Neel and Pia aunty are always at hand to help you out with any questions you may have.
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When I first visited this site, it looked like a scam. It still does to me, but it is legit. They stock small name brands and outfits which won’t really blow a hole in your bank account. It is the perfect place for a spot of wardrobe rejuvenation for the festival season or a new outfit for a wedding. Customer service is again impeccable, but marketing can be a bit over whelming (they call you rather than emailing at times). They ship worldwide at reasonable rates and if you are on the look out for a look alike outfit, you will probably find one on Indian Hanger.
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Indian Roots is an initiative by NDTV to get us away from screaming news anchors to doing something more pleasant. They stock limited garments by top Indian designers, but have a wide variety of products to suit all budgets and tastes. Their shipping is quite slow, so order well in advance if it is for a special occasion. Customer services also leaves some room for improvement, but their product range more than makes up for it. They do have deals running a lot of the time, so keep your eyes wide open. However if there is a product you really like and can’t live without, then snap it up before it’s gone.
We know that there are a whole bunch of other ecommerce websites out there that sell some amazing Indian goodies, but these are the ones we have personally used and ordered from. As we broaden our repertoire, we will review those stores as well. Till then, as always, happy shopping!

 

Let’s prepare for the fun

We are all geared up for the festive season to start – First Diwali, then wedding season and then Christmas and New Year. Let’s kick off with some wardrobe planning shall we? Here are our 4 top outfit picks across different budgets. All are available to shop and ship internationally, so happy shopping!

Let’s call the first option the cash option. This gorgeous salwar suit by Monikaa’s Aura is the perfect outfit. The traditional fabric is cut in a modern pattern and is the perfect complement to the gorgeous bling you want to sport this festive season. At $89, it is the perfect price for a timeless outfit which will serve you well for a long time to come.

Monikaa's Aura
            Monikaa’s Aura

Get out your debit cards for my next pick by Shyam Narayan Prasad. This red, orange and gold sari is absolutely divine. It would go perfectly with Indian skin tones and no other colour combination screams festive more. At $190, this sari is easy to tie on and would be absolutely perfect for Diwali festivities and attending your friend’s wedding.

Shyam Narayan Prasad
        Shyam Narayan Prasad

What are India festivities without the mention of Manish Malhotra. If you like me enjoy the occasional healthy dose of Dharma and Yash Raj movies, you have definitely wanted some Manish Malhotra in your closet. This emerald green kalidar is opulent without being over the top. At $800, your credit card may need an outing.

Manish Malhotra
                 Manish Malhotra

http://www.manishmalhotra.in/emerald-green-embroidered-kalidar.html

And we can obviously not talk about Indian outfits and not talk about Sabyasachi. Pink, girly, flirty and extremely easy to wear, this pink lehenga saree by Sabyasachi is a dream outfit. Remember when Madhuri Dixit wore this on a TV show? The outfit costs $1,440 and you may need to rob a bank or sell a kidney for this investment piece.

Sabyasachi
              Sabyasachi