IN MY WARDROBE: My Peach, Apple and Maroon Outfit

I posted recently about an order I made online with clothing company Enchanted Clothings, so though I'd do a quick post of the full outfit, as a few people have asked me what the full outfit looks like. The outfit is peach with gold, maroon and apple green accents, and has pretty embroidery all over, with elegant gota work which is also all over as motifs. I'll let the photos speak for themselves, as I think the colours look lovely together and I can't wait to wear it!

Elmo & Moustache Birthday Cupcakes!

A quick post about the lovely cakes made by my sister, who made these scrumptious lovelies for my birthday over the weekend (including some cupcakes with my face printed on some of them!). I was absolutely delighted with them (couldn't finish them all though!), probably the highlight of my weekend!

DESIGNER MODE: Sonali Bendre in Siddartha Tytler

I saw this a few months ago and thought it was pretty, Sonali Bendre modelling a Siddartha Tytler creation at Lakme Fashion Week last year. Although I love the jacket she was wearing, I think I'd probably not wear it with a short dress the way she did, but would opt for something like a plain silk black maxi dress underneath to to add a bit more flow to it.

I think this is quite a different look for the catwalk (particularly after seeing a lot of sparkly, long heavy wedding dresses and heavily embellished outfits), so it's nice to see something light and colourful, which would look very pretty in the summer too!

 

 

  Images from bharatstudent.com and indianfashionpolice.com

HIGH STREET DESIGNS: A Yellow and Pink Mehndi outfit

I saw this recently and thought it made a pretty alternative to a mehndi outfit, or even a wedding dress. I'm less keen on the fish-tail shape  of the lengha, because I prefer skirts to be a bit more flowy and less structured, but I love do the design on the kameez/top part.

I can really imagine this being a pretty mehndi outfit, particularly for a bride who wants something bright and colourful. I'm really liking flowery embroidery on kameezes at the moment, and have been keeping an eye out for outfits with pretty flower designs - so it's nice to see it on this outfit as I think it gives a nice pretty, feminine look.

What do you think of this - do you like the colour combination?

Outfit is from RDC London

Curly Fry's Shopping Therapy! A Glamorous Gold & White Kundan Ring

I've been eyeing this up for a while, since I love the shape of it, and I've been looking for a white and gold ring that is I can wear with various outfits/party wear, and well as not being too blingy. So I decided to treat myself to this pretty piece, especially since rings are mainly the only jewellery I tend to wear (apart from bangles every now and then).

I bought this from Shingaar, a jewellery store in Green Street, East London (although I've seen the same ring in a couple of shops on the same road, and in various other colours too) and managed to (sort of) haggle the price down by a few pounds, which  I was also quite please with. It's  not too big, it's stylish and it feels quite versatile, I can imagine wearing it with an Asian wardrobe as well as my every Western day ones. I really like the stones and the colour of this ring, it's simple yet striking, and the stones look quite well made - overall, very happy!

Bollywood Stars at the 66th Cannes Film Festival, 2013: Aishwariya Rai Bachan

Aishwariya Rai Bachchan has landed at Cannes a few days ago to a flutter of (online) excitement which has led to plenty of critiquing of  her outfits, which I won't cover extensively, but you you can look here and here for more pictures.

I will post one outfit which seems to be an outfit of some debate online, a heavily beaded and floral maxi dress by Abu Jani and Sandeep Khosla.  Personally I love it, I like the soft, blush colours and I like the more subdued look on her - the dress is heavy and intricate, but it works for me. I've seen Aishwariya Rai Bachchan in a lot of black, gold and deep colours recently, and while white isn't everyone's most flattering colour, I think Ash looks very elegant and classy, and it's nice that she's wearing something different and elegant. I love the cut of this dress, the full sleeves work wonderfully on the dress (I also love the buttons on the front) - it doesn't look like a typical South Asian designer at all, but more something like Versace or even, as one blogger pointed out, like Valentino.

What do you think of this?

 Images from Pinkvilla

Bollywood Stars at the 66th Cannes Film Festival, 2013: Vidya Balan

The Cannes Film Festival is still ongoing (with Aishwariya Rai apparently on-route to the red carpet, which I'm looking forward to seeing!). Another Bollywood star who has been catching everyone's eye is the lovely Vidya Balan, who has opted for a much more traditional look than the one Sonam Kapoor has been going for, especially as Vidya has remained faithful to one of her favourite designers Sabyasachi, whose designs she has worn a lot in the past.

First is this Sabyasachi lengha in black and nude pink, which looked quite dressy and well accessorised with a chunky, long necklace (it reminded me slightly of this outfit slightly, although Vidya's version looks more delicate and traditional). While I love the skirt with this, I think the plain black blouse looks too plain, and could have been embellished or slightly patterned to make it look more dressy. Although the necklace did jazz it up, I wasn't as keen on the top as I was on the skirt.

Next is this really pretty, deep red and creamy gold sari, also by Sabyasachi which looked quite traditional, although I did love the splash of blue in the mix, not to mention how everyone has been commenting on Vidya's nose-ring. Although I thought her hair was too plain and simple, it gave a very respectable look and her make-up was done simply but quite prettily.

I think my favourite ensemble worn by Vidya so far is this pretty, deep red lengha, which has Sabyasachi's signature style to it, and the almost-Spanish overtones which look pretty with the very traditional jewellery. I think Vidya should have perhaps worn a red rose in her hair, or otherwise a pretty necklace to go with her simple top, (or perhaps a splash of red lipstick!), as it looked too similar to the previous outfits.

And lastly is this sari, which looked quite smart to me, because of the beautiful embellishment on the shoulders and the beaded necklace, which I think went very well with this sari. While this is again, a typical Sabyasachi palette (gold, black, nudes, creams), it works well together and looks classic, my only complaint is again, that Vidya's hair looks too simple and could have been jazzed up, or she could even have tried some red lipstick to make a dramatic look. But having said that, this look was well put together, Vidya looks like a rich aristocrat and wears the sari very gracefully.

Images from here and here

Bollywood Stars at the 66th Cannes Film Festival, 2013: Sonam Kapoor

With the premiere of the anticipated Great Gatsby to look forward to, Bollywood Stars Amitabh Bachchan, Sonam Kapoor, Vidya Balan and Freida Pinto (not a Bollywood actress, but still!) all made a splash at the Cannes Film Festival, particularly as the girls have been wearing various designer outfits at the premieres, both traditional and Western.

There has been a lot of coverage already about what the stars have been wearing, so I won't go into too much detail!

First up is style ambassador Sonam Kapoor, wearing a lovely cream and gold sari by Anamika Khanna, (and apparently accessorised with Jimmy Choos and Sunita Kapoor jewels!). I think the nose ring, the flicked eye-liner and dark lips gave a slightly punky-rock chick look, but Sonam looks quite good with it and pulls it off, particularly with the embellished shoulder-pads of her blouse!

The next outfit I really liked was was this pretty in pink number by Elie Saab, whose dresses I'm a big fan of. Sonam wore this to the Cannes Opening Gala dinner, and kept this quite sleek and simple, straight hair, and accessorised with just a clutch and pink heels - girly but very pretty. I think this made a very different look to the cream Anamika Khanna sari, (and slightly too pinky for my liking) but it allows Sonam to showcase her style quite well.

Lastly is this sweeping number by Dolce & Gabbana, which Sonam looks great in with her signature wavy hair and a great smile! I'm not keen on big flowers on dresses, but I think it suits the dress, and Sonam's figure looks great with the dress.
I really like the last picture of her posting with Freida Pinto, I have no idea if they are just messing around but it's a really cute picture of them both, and shows a nice friendship between the two.

Images from here and here

There are more outfits worn by Sonam Kapoor for various events and premieres at the Cannes, which you can see here, but I'll hopefully post pictures of the other stars soon!

My Experience with Enchanted Clothings

I thought that I'd post my experience with an online vender when buying an outfit, along with a few tips to keep in mind should you want to buy online, and haven't done so before. I have ordered from a few different online sellers over the last few years, and have learnt through trial-and-error what the best way to order is, how to judge whether a vendor is trustworthy, and most importantly, how to ensure that you get good value for what you pay and to make sure you are happy with your outfit.

It's always a risk buying online when you can't see the product in real life, apart from the pictures which have been put up by the seller, so it's understandable that some buyers are wary of buying online.

I recently placed an order with Sam at Enchanted Clothings, a new vendor who I have spoken to a few times, and whose designs I really like. I have seen a few dresses which she had previously made for herself, which are made from Karachi by her tailor, so I knew what to expect when I placed an order.

Tip #1: With any vendor, try to read reviews. This is probably the most important research you can do, since it tells you about real experiences from customers, and also how the seller dealt with problems which crop up. It's also useful in weeding out fraudulent sellers, and finding out whether the work on an outfit is good quality or shoddy, and whether it's even worth buying from them.

With Enchanted Clothing, I took a slight risk because this was a new group, so there were not many reviews. However, because I had spoken to Sam before, and I had seen images of outfits that had been made before from Sam, I was fairly confident that I would like whatever I got. I also made sure I looked at the pictures she did have (which were real pieces she had made), which also helped.

Tip #2: Make sure you find out enough information to make you happy. A good vendor will give you all the information you need and will let you know what the normal procedures are. Always feel free to ask questions throughout the process so you know exactly what you are getting.

After doing my research, I then emailed Sam to make enquiries about quotes of different dresses I had selected that I liked. Sam replied back very quickly, which was a great, since it meant I could ask her several things and get answers every quickly. After narrowing down the choice of dress I wanted to make, I asked her key questions like how long it would take, what method of payment she would expect, and what she would need from me.

This is the dress I ended up choosing to make, which is a replica of a Hina Khan design (the replica is on the right):

I actually preferred the Enchanted Clothing version to the original one, because it broke the continuous design of the motif all over into a wide panel at the front, and also had more of an A-line shape to it. I also liked the smaller motifs scattered on the side which made it look sparkly.

Tip #3: Make sure you know what materials, work and styles are being used. Again, a good vendor will tell you all of this, and will also ask you what you prefer - but make sure you also clarify this as well. It's always important to be as accurate as possible - this means less surprises for you! If you're not sure what colours, style or design to put together, ask the vendor what they would suggest, which can be really helpful as they have more experience with clothes, especially what works and what doesn't.

I sent Sam details of the colours I wanted (peach and maroon), and also about what changes I wanted to the outfit itself. I didn't like the jamawar/banarsit hem at the bottom, because I wasn't keen on the design, so asked Sam for suggestions. Sam suggested adding on an applique'd border at the bottom in maroon to keep the colour theme I wanted, and also to add some embellishment, and also suggested adding apple green accents in the embroidery to make the colours really pop. I really liked this idea, so sent her some colour swatches of what I liked, and she told me whether she thought they would go well or not.

Tip #4: Ask the vendor to send you pictures of your actual outfit, so you know what to expect before it's sent out.

Our conversation was done mostly by emails, and also by sending Facebook pictures and attachments so I knew what I would be getting. I didn't make many changes so I didn't think I would be disappointed, but I did request that Sam send me pictures through the process of the dress being made, which she readily agreed. to.

Tip #5: Make sure you are happy with the method of payment. At the end of the day, it is YOUR money being spent, so make sure you can keep track of the payment. Most vendors in Pakistan tend to use something like Western Union, which is quite reliable, but which also does have an extra charge, or otherwise Moneygram, which charges less or not at all. This is where your own judgement about the seller comes in, whether you think they are trustworthy and whether they have good reviews. I haven't been conned yet (so far!) in my own online buying experiences, but I also try not to place too many orders with new vendors unless I have a good recommendation or I have worked with them before.

After finalising the order, I paid a deposit via Western Union (most vendors will ask for a deposit, it can be aroung 50% of the whole price), and emailed Sam to let her know I had paid. She confirmed receipt and then advised me to wait until she had some pictures. Originally she had advised me that it could take up to 7 to 8 make the outfit and post, but to my surprise (and glee!) she emailed me about three and a half weeks later to say that the outfit was complete! She also attached some pictures of the outfit, which I was delighted with.

If a vendor has made an outfit before, it is easier (and sometimes quicker) to make it again for you - if they are making an new outfit or replica from scratch, it can take longer because of the decisions made in putting the outfit together. Vendors have told me in the past that an outfit which is being made the same as one they have already made before is quicker because they can tell their tailors to do the same thing without worrying that it will go wrong.

Tip #6: Make sure you are happy with the outfit before it is posted out to you!  The last thing you want is to see something you didn't expect and not liking it. You have rights as a buyer to complain if you genuinely are not happy, and if you think that the vendor is selling you something different to what you expect. Although it also needs to be remembered that when making replicas of designer outfits, what you get may not look exactly like the original, especially if you are paying less that you might for the original.

After the outfit was complete and I was happy with the outfit, I sent the rest of the payment to Sam, and also gavet her my address to post to. The outfit was posted and arrived about a week later, which I was also very happy with, as it meant that I didn't have to wait too long!

All in all, I was very happy with the service I received, as well as the outfit itself. The entire process of ordering and getting the outfit is probably the most easiest I've had so far, there were no hassles, it was done very quickly, - it's definitely made me want to order again from Enchanted Clothing. I'll be posting proper pictures of the outfit soon, but in the meantime, have a look at the group to see her other designs (and let me know what you think!)

Feel free to ask me any questions as well about the ordering experience, and I'll do my best to answer questions!

On the Catwalk, On a Celebrity: Mahima Chaudhry in A Green Rabani & Rakha Gown

This is an old design, from Rabani & Rakha's fashion show back in 2009, but I think it's still very pretty and something which I find very flattering. I've seen similar designs to these in the shops today (although not as well made as this), and I'm certainly seeing a lot of dresses with underlays of sequins, so I think this design is quite current as well.

I've mentioned before that I'm a big fan of maxi dresses, and I love the rich jewel green and emerald tones of this one, it's elegant, simple and sparkly, although it does look very flattering because of the model as well, in my opinion.

This same dress was worn by Bollywood actress Mahima Chaudhry, who wore it to the Miss India final show in 2009. There were mixed reviews about how it looked on her, some said it looked pretty on her, and some said it didn't flatter her shape and that her look wasn't great.

Personally, I really like it on her, Mahima isn't amazingly skinny here, but she still looks great in this dress, and I think the green tone suited  her a lot. I also like how simplified and elegant her hair and make-up looked to go with the outfit, it's simple yet classy - I can definitely imagine a look like this for an English wedding or party.

The main difference I really noticed with this dress was that it was all one shade of green, unlike the original on the catwalk which seems to have light and dark greens which has a different effect. While I like both versions, I think Mahima's one looks more simpler and makes the green more striking, particularly as there is embellishment and a lot of sequins all over the dress. I also like the long, draped sleeves which look kind of like a dupatta scarf too, which also adds a touch of elegance to the dress. So all in all, I think this was pulled off quite well by Mahima :)

 

 Image Source