Saturday, September 15, 2007

Building A Wardrobe For Work..

A lot of us are professional working women. We work in different environments. Some workplaces are very casual and some places are very formal. We still all need to have the following basic things in our wardrobe without question!

1. We do not get a job unless we all go through an interview process. So, the first important piece of your wardrobe needs to be a great SUIT jacket. A good classic black suit is a great way to make a first impression on your would-be employer! Since we all have different body types, definitely try a few different stores to find one that fits you just right. Don't just go buying one because it is on sale. Big Mistake. Nothing worse than an ill-fitting suit when you are trying to make a first impression!


Buy via J.Crew

2 and 3. Traditionally, we always wear suits with pants, except, there is another option, the skirt. Nowadays, all suit jackets come with matching skirts and pants.




Buy via Banana Republic

Buy via J.Crew

The best part of having a skirt and pants are that now you can wear them with the suit jacket for formal events and lose the jacket for a more informal setting.

When it comes to skirts, there are different fits. Some look great in a pencil skirt, while some look better with an A-line look. For pants, I totally swear by Express' Editor pants. I can gain 10 pounds or lose 10, and they still look fantastic!

4. Every wardrobe should have a crisp white shirt! It goes with everything, even a good ol' pair of jeans. A good tailored white shirt not only makes you look extra smart, but it can also accentuate your figure and make you look thin!


Buy via J.Crew

5. Another option to wear with pants or skirts is a good knit top. Its a little less casual but you can always dress it up with a pair of pearls, a scarf, or even a great brooch.


Buy via Ann Taylor


6. To finish up the clothes, always keep a cardigan close. I have heard many co-workers always complain (even during summer) about how cold it gets and then always wear an awful sweatshirt. With a cardigan at hand, you can always put it on when you are feeling chilly and not mess up your hair while putting it on.


Buy via Banana Republic

7. Now that clothes are done, let's move onto all our accessories starting with shoes. A good pair of black pumps are a great investment. You can wear them all the time once you find a comfortable pair with medium heels.


Buy via Aldo

8. Last but not least, pair your awesome wardrobe with a great bag. Every professional woman must have one GOOD bag that you can use all the time.


Buy via Kate Spade

To recap all the items, here is the checklist:

1. Suit Jacket (Preferably Black for a first)
2. Pencil or A-line Skirt (Depending on your body type)
3. Trousers (1 Black, 1 Gray and 1 Brown)
4. Cotton tailored shirts (Including 1 white and 1 black)
4. Knit tops (Any color)
5. Cardigan (Any color)
6. Comfortable black pumps
7. Functional work bag

What I listed are some basics that every wardrobe should have. Once you have a good basic collection (consisting of whites,blacks and browns), go ahead and delve into other colors based on the season.

As I end this post, I am attaching this other post that talks about how to accessorize with your work wardrobe. All the points it mentions are very very important! Read it here

Indian Fashion And Celebrities: Part Deux


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Spotted Mischa Barton out and about in New York sporting an Indian style stole/shawl and its such a great way to add some zing to an otherwise bland outfit!

For more pictures, go Here

Friday, September 14, 2007

Sushmita Sen supporting Shiksha

I think the Smithsonian just reported the "Seinfeld Puffy Shirt" missing!



Ms. Sen, along with Konkona Sen Sharma was supporting Shiksha, an NGO that is devoted to educating underprivileged children in India. But, unlike Konkana, who wore a subtle black kurta, Ms Sen decided to go over the top!



For more pics, go here

Say Cheers!

I am a martini purist and while I believe in the classic gin and olive combination, in a classic martini glass, just once in a while I do like to mix it up though! And for evenings like those, what can be better than the Cubist Martini Set from Red Envelope?

These glasses are designed in such a way that the conical end rests in the cube provided, and if you are worried that the warmth from your hand would spoil the perfect temperature of the drink then worry not, because the ice in the cube ensures that the drink stays cold. And we all know how important it is for a martini to be really, really cold!


Buy Via Red Envelope

How great is the Cubist Vodka Set also from Red Envelope? These shot glasses nest in a great espresso colored tray which you can fill up with ice to keep them not only stable but also appropriately cold and very fashionable!


Buy ViaRed Envelope

With glasses like that, who wouldn't raise a toast? Salut!

Thursday, September 13, 2007

Meenakari jewelry..

There are many styles of Indian jewelry, and another one I am going to profile today is Meenakari jewelry.

Meenakari is the style of decorating metal with enamel. This jewelry making style was introduced to India by the Mughals and is mostly made by folks in Rajasthan. Now, most of the time you find mostly gift boxes or cases with extensive Meenakari work, but I was able to find some really good sites that sell some really cute jewelry pieces too.

Check out these goodies!


Buy via Jewel Ace


Buy via Jewel Ace


Buy via Jewel Ace


Buy via Exotic India

To understand how they create these pieces, read this article

Hardy Bollywood

The days of Von Dutch are long over, Bollywood seems to be romancing Ed Hardy these days...To name a few, I spotted Ayesha Takia, Zayed Khan, Kareena Kapoor and Usman Afzal in Ed Hardy tees...

And if you want some of that trucker, vintage tattoo chic for yourself...find it Here!


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Zay(Ed) seems to really like his Hardy...


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Wednesday, September 12, 2007

Malaika In Bebe

Malaika Arora-Khan. The woman is always looking her very best! And I mean it! Always! Recently, she was at the re-launch of the Country Club India Limited, and as usual she was looking fabulous!

She chose to wear a printed silk top with dark blue denims, accessorizing with gold elements. A long chain link gold necklace, a Jimmy Choo clutch, a gold ring and even gold wedges. Obviously I can't help but point out the silver watch in the midst of all that gold, which kinda just juts out. Oh well, look at that pretty face and you forget everything!



You can buy the same top from Bebe for $79.


Buy via Bebe

For more pics of Malaika at the Launch, click here

Shetty And The X Factor

The pictures are of Shilpa Shetty attending the One X One annual benefit gala in Toronto, accompanied by Richard Gere, to who she will also be presenting the One X One difference award, given to individuals who dedicate their lives to fighting child poverty.


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The look seems to work for her but I wish she had gone with closed shoes instead of those open toed monsters. And seriously, enough of those gigantic earrings already! Sometimes, a little goes a far way. She could have so jazzed up that dress to a whole new level with diamond drops or even with evil sized solitaires..


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All those resources, and yet...

Guess Who?

Oh My! I am all about wearing Indian outfits to International events. But, what I see here is really really hurting my eyes.

Can you guess who this "Lady in Red" is??
She was attending the Toronto International Film Festival too! Wow! Shakira must be really thin to make this sultry actress look totally fat!

Such a disappointing choice of Sari and jewellery.. tsk tsk...




P.S. The actress was at TIFF to present her Bengali Film Ami Yasin Arr Amar Madhubala (The Voyeurs).

Udita Does Bad Fashion


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Thats Udita Goswami at the press conference of Aggar in Bombay and where do I even start with that outfit? How wrong is it? I just want to yank that flower off that collar! The pitiful thing is, it doesn't even look like anything, just a couple of odds and ends sewn together! And those pearls? Doesn't really go now does it? While the whole strand of pearls being a classic and can't go wrong with it is a given, Ms. Goswami just showed us, how not to! Oh wait, since there is pearl or pearl-like detailing on the hemline, on the sleeve and elsewhere, maybe she thought she couldn't go wrong! But people, there is something called over-doing.

The dress looked washed out, over-detailed and she just plain looked poorly styled.

As someone famous would say, "Egad"!!

Tuesday, September 11, 2007

Preity at Toronto International Film Festival

Below, a picture of Preity Zinta at the premiere of her movie, 'The Last Lear' at the Toronto International Film Festival.

What do you think of her puffed silver-blueish dress?


Preity Zinta @ TIFF
Super Stylish?
Failed Fashion?
  
pollcode.com free polls

Monday, September 10, 2007

Day 5: Rohit Bal

Rohit Bal closed the fashion week this year and his collection called 'Siyahi' was truly fitting the finale.

The way the colors progressed during the show were really interesting, there were ecrus and whites, and shades of blues and greens. The cuts and designs ranged from flowy fabrics to origami-like folds to heavily puffed skirts to ultra structured jackets and sherwanis for men and women...

The design was varied and the collection had a bit of everything.

For more pictures of the show go Here




























































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Day 5: Prriya and Chintans

Prriya and Chintan's collection just plain failed to impress me. The duo supposedly have drawn inpiration from "Oasis" but I just fail to get it though. The clothes seems to be haphazard and frazzled with just too many things going on. The color scheme just seemed all wrong for a show that is supposed to suggest tranquility in the midst of a harsh desert.


































For more pictures go here
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Day 5: Falguni And Shane Peacock

I really liked Falguni and Shane Peacock's collection. The colors were bright, prints were delightful, embellishments were well thought out and the cuts worked. The collection was a smorgasbord of luxurious fabrics, prints, colors and textures!

I didn't care for the longer gowns, but the shorter ones and the tops worked! Sure, some pieces were OTT but they were OTT in a kitschy way so I can't really complain.

What I can't get over is our Bollywood obsession. Amrita Arora walked the ramp. In some monstrosity. Looking quite out of her element and trying way too hard. Do people still say 'whatever' ? Because, I'd like to. Whatever.

Barring the celeb intrusion, loved the show.

For more pictures of the show go Here


















































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