BOLLYWOOD ISHTYLE; Anushka's Charming Colourful Outfits in Sultan

I recently watched Salman Khan's latest blockbuster Sultan, which made for an interesting watch, about a Haryana-based wrestler and his struggles, not least because the subject had a surprisingly decent plot.

One of the things I loved about the film was the beautiful set, and the attention to detail with the village and the use of beautiful colour, the landscapes and the buildings - it's grand and vivid yet still remains something which is easy to imagine as being in many parts of India, which I loved. (My husband loved a scene in the film where the boys are chasing cut-down guddis - kites which are flown and fought over by boys and then chased to be caught - it reminded him of his boyhood days!)

The first outfit which I loved was this ivory bridal worn by Anushka (sorry for any spoilers, but she gets married!), with traditional gold fringing on the dupatta, and delicate zari work all over. I've always been a fan of the very traditional look and this one harks back to the 1950s and 60s with the sharara bottoms - perfect for a down-to-earth nikkah event, and serious bridal inspo!

I also loved the jewellery worn by Anushka here - beautiful gold pieces with pearls and beading, which really gives a beautiful bridal look, as well as the pop of green from her bangles.

Apparently this is part of a collection called 'Lafz' by Diva'ni - which is a India's first cinema inspired brand and a collaborative venture of Yash Raj Films and KBSH. You can see the outfits below which are available to order which all have a gorgeous theme of ivory and golds, gold fringing and detailed work. I think the one Anushka is wearing is most like the first outfit, but the third one is also very similar.

Images from Elle

The second outfit which caught my eye was this vivid green affair, which was a lot more playful and colourful. While it did remind me of Anushka's royal blue outfit in Band Baaja Baraat (the style of the song too!) I think this is a lovely outfit and it certainly suited the character. While it's not something you may see on the catwalks, it's a classic Punjabi style (or should I say Haryana?) outfit which

I also thought I'd throw in a mention for the 440 Volt song in the film, which is basically just a fantasy song but has plenty of beautiful colour and funky outfits - there's a quick mix of traditional saris, a glamorous gold maxi dress and this flouncy skirt with a biker-studded style leather jacket - is that payals (anklets) I see on her boots?

I also loved the set on this song - neon lights, a night-time funfair and lots of gold gramaphone-style speakers - very artsy!

I've mentioned how much I loved the setting in this film - it doesn't feature grand palace-like buildings or exotic locations but more real settings - the big courtyards in someone's house, the local villages and the fields - all again something which can be easily recognisable in any part of India (or Pakistan!)

I loved the flowers in this wedding scene - the whole house is covered in marigold garlands and floral structures (including a huge flower peacock and there's a hanging aeroplane made of flowers somewhere too!)
I think I loved this scene because it reminded me of the traditional weddings in the village where my grandparents used to live - usually done in the house and in the huge courtyards with plenty of friends and family around, lots of food, lights and decor.

I also liked this nikkah scene - the decor is mainly white with red flowers for a lovely decor look - but the room is homely, filled with guests all squashed around the bride and groom!

Images belong to creators of Sultan

All in all, this is a colourful movie which aims for a very down-to-earth look, both in the setting and the outfits. While the outfits look gorgeous on Anushka, they're not too glitzy or over the top, and they definitely look like outfits you can easily get made. I'm sure you can guess that I loved the bridal outfit best - I've always been a fan of traditional ivory and gold with the vintage look, and it works well with the jewellery here.

To be honest, while there are colourful song sequences and a couple of weddings thrown in, the bulk of this film involves the main characters in dusty vest tops and learning to wrestle. The outfits and decor of this film make up a smaller part of the story of this film, but it really contributes to the homely feel and the way that it seems to show small town life.

Have you seen this film? What do you think of it?

GLAMOROUS ACCESSORIES: Mrinalini Chandra's Funky Chair-Motif Kalire

I saw a few pictures of Mrinalini Chandra's submission for Lakme Fashion Week (LFW) Summer/Resort 2014, and thought her collection was a very funky one. The designer showcased her collection, called "Please Have a Seat", incorporating a chair motif into some of her jewellery (there was a bangle cuff which had a chair design entwined into it, and a bangle with a dining table and chairs for example!)

Among the designer's collection was this set of kalire, also with the same motif of chairs set around glass pieces dangling from the wrists, which I though was a very interesting idea. I'm not sure how wearable this is for a real bride, but it's certainly an interesting interpretation of such a traditional accessory, and I like it veers away from the norm.

While not everyone will like these (my sisters hated it), I think it's certainly very funky and different - it may just be something for a bride looking for something different, or it could just be a statement piece which doesn't necessarily have to be worn. I'm not so sure I'd wear something with chairs in it myself, but I do like miniature things so I'd probably just end up having it on display somewhere!

What do you think of these kalire (and this collection?)

 Images from here and here

BOLLYWOOD ISHTYLE: Dia's Dreamy Style in 'Love Breakups Zindagi'

I have yet to see a fashion blogger who doesn't love Dia Mirza, and it's no wonder, when she looks stunning almost every time we see her, and her dress sense is impeccable (just look here to see how well she pulls off the 'Meena Kumari' look). I was relieved that her recent film 'Love Breakups Zindagi' shows no different, Dia looks beautifully dressed in almost every scene, with her hair in beautiful curls and her make-up done up very subtly which looks very flattering. The film itself is not bad, but the story-line is not new (it reminded me a bit of Tanu Weds Manu, but with a bit less masala!) - but the wardrobe is beautiful.

Designed by Indian designers Ritu Kumar, with Manav Gangwani providing the costumes for one of the songs as well, I can see that a lot of work went into this outfits for this film, since not only the Asian outfits looked great, but the casual outfits and the Western outfits worn by the girls look carefully put together and very flattering.

First up is this absolutely beautiful white and gold dress, worn by Dia as part of a series of functions in the film for her friend's wedding. I love how classy and wearable it looks, it looks like something which has come off the catwalk, because of the flowy shape and the beautiful work. I also like how modest it looks, and how it looks like something which would suit women of any shape or age, and it certainly looks lovely with Dia's simple hair and make-up.

Next is this red and rich purple top, which has more of a fun look to it, especially as the jacket reminds me of a slightly Rajasthani style (so does the work on the skirt, actually), and the bold blocks of colours look great, especially with the mustard and purple hem. Again, this looks quite wearable, and very suitable for a wedding or a mehndi.

I also like the outfit her friend (the bride-to-be) wears, a yellow and multi-coloured suit, which makes a really pretty mehndi outfit. I like how the bright yellow top is balanced out by the skirt, which is made from colourful fabric, and also the fact that it's not a heavy outfit, but rather something which looks light and summery.

Also worn by Dia is this similarly funky salwar kameez outfit during the wedding function, while she is performing her dances. There is something quite 'Indian' about this to me, I have seen very similar outfits like this from India which look colourful like this, with similar work and are also comfortable, so it's easy to imagine finding something like this. I'm not sure about the cut-out style at the back, but Dia pulls it off well and it looks quite funky.

Next is the outfit worn by the bride-to-be the day before her wedding, which I thought was pretty because of how pretty the embroidery and work looked. The combination of orange, maroon and cream is an interesting one, but it seems to work and it looks quite elegant - I like the fact that the gold hem on the dupatta and the skirt tie the outfit together, without looking garish or cheap.

My favourite look in this film (if there are any!) is the one worn by the bride on her wedding day - it's quite a different one for a Bollywood film. I love seeing brides in colourful outfits, and this one is lovely - tea pink with blue, mint green and gold accents, which set off the outfit perfectly. I also like how her make-up and jewellery are not too heavy or light either, it's a very feminine look and one which could easily be replicated. The outfit also follows current trends with the long kameez and a lengha underneath, which looks quite traditional yet also has a slightly modern twist to it with the colours.

I also love the fact that the same outfit is worn casually by the bride after the ceremony, showing how she can dress it down (it wouldn't look out of place at an Asian function at all!), especially with the bride's hair worn a bit more casually and with her duppatta on her shoulder instead of her head - which really gives a different look.

Lastly is the outfit worn by Dia at the wedding, which looks beautifully traditional with her jewellery, and is a flattering off white and gold. Again, her hair and make-up are done very simply, but also compliments her whole look, and lets her beautiful features stand out. Her outfit is quite Punjabi-fied, which also looks great with the soft colours of the bride's outfit, and is similarly quite feminine.

All images belong to directors/producers of Love Breakups Zindagi

All in all, I loved most of the outfits in this film - I liked the fact that all of these outfits are extremely wearable, yet look so beautifully made and with such flattering colours. There seems to be both a Pakistani and Indian influence on a lot of the outfits, and some of them are quite traditional too, yet also very wearable. I like the fact that most of the outfits are modest and practical - they have full sleeves, they are a flattering cut, and they are not over-done or unrealistic for a wedding.

Which one was your favourite outfit?

HIGH STREET DESIGNS: Joy Mitra's Colourful Combos

I'm really liking these colourful and very simple anarkalis and Punjabi-style salwar kameezes by Indian designer Joy Mitra, which I've been walking past for a few weeks now in London's Phulkari. I think these would look really amazing if worn at a mehndi, it would be really easy to put these together and the brighter the colours, the better! I also like how uncluttered these outfits are, and how effective they look together because it's such an easy, simple look. Less really can be more, sometimes.

Image from Phulkari London Facebook page

Happy Diwali from Sukhman Grewal Photography...

...to all of you who are celebrating tonight,

A good friend of mine is an astonishing photographer, she's always managed to capture something which I will always fall in love with, my favourite of her series of photographs is her trip to India (although she has travelled to other countries and has beautiful images to show for it).

Soni of Sukhman Grewal Photography, along with her twin sister Noorie, has put together a beautiful depiction of a Mughal-era Queen, as part of a re-imagining of Bandi Chorr Divas, (which is also celebrated on the same day as Diwali by Sikhs), remembering the release of 52 Kings from imprisonment by the Mughal Emperor, Jahangir on the day of Diwali.

My absolutely favourite image of the series is this depiction of the Queen waiting for her husband with a diya in her hand - photographed by Noorie and modelled by Soni, the picture's captured the essence of the times perfectly. My sister managed to sum it up well, the reason it looks so good is because of the amount of realistic detail which has gone into it, not to mention the fact that it echoes an era which our mothers belonged to, short kameezes, long plaits and vintage jewellery! It's enough to make me want to raid my mum's cupboard and buy myself a few borla tikkas and vintage-style bangles!

Be sure to look through the rest of Soni's images, they are a real treat and each show a beautiful journey.

Have a beautiful evening, everyone x

Image belongs to Sukhman Grewal Photography

Dholki Night #4: Henna Hands and Friends!

This was the last dholki night we held, and probably the most fun, with henna, hot food and lots of silly dancing, Most brides I know apply their mehndi on two days before the big day to allow the colour to go fully dark, which is why our last dholki night was 2 days before the wedding, so that we could all get together and put on mehndi.
This was also the most busiest night, as most of our friends, family and neighbours turned up together on this day which made it even more enjoyable. And of course, they brought plenty of foody goodies with them, my favourite being the doughnuts!

This is the bride getting her henna done, she decided to have beautiful pattens from her hand all the way up to her upper arms, which looked beautiful when all of the mehndi was complete. She also got a little mehndi design on her feet, and then was free for the rest of the night to watch everyone dancing!

And of course, a lot of the girls managed to get our mehndi done too, with some beautiful results. We hired mehndi artists for two ours and managed to get as many hands covered as possible! 

And this is the outfit I chose to wear, a teal-y turquoise long kameez with churidar bottoms, (from the store Dhanak) and a simple pair of khusay and earrings. I thought the colour of this outfit delicious, rich and deep, and the shape of dress itself was very flattering. Because I was going to be wearing mehndi, I didn't want to get hampered down with too much jewellery or bangles, so kept my accessories simple and stuck to a light pair of earrings. The outfit was very comfortable and the shoes were great for running around in!

The dholki nights ended on a great note, we were tired but very pleased with how much the guests enjoyed themselves, the beautiful mehndi patterns, the amazing food and the questionable dancing. It was a great way for us all to spend time together before the big day, and also let us channel our creative bugs - the only things we paid for the marquee hire (and carpet!) itself, the food was provided by ourselves and our guests, the decorations was done by myself and my sisters, and the music, dancing and games completed the nights!