Tag Archives: Fashion

DESIGN

My Top Five Designs/Looks At The 2013 Oscars

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By Lakshmi:  

Any time there is an awards function on TV, one of the major attractions for me (and now my younger daughter) is the red carpet.  Watching beautiful people gracefully walk the red carpet in amazing designs is truly a feast for the eyes and soul!  Last night was no different; from Helen Hunt’s bold choice of an H&M over the rack gown (it fit her beautifully) to the exquisite Gucci design worn by Jennifer Garner, the clothes and the accompanying jewelry lent the perfect look to these screen goddesses.

Here are my top five looks, that blended the beautifully created designs with the wearer’s persona.

#5  I’ve been following Michelle Obama’s sartorial displays since she stepped into her role as first lady and she definitely has a knack for picking clothes that flatter her statuesque frame.  Her beautifully beaded black and silver Naeem Khan gown was cut perfectly and completed her fringed, sassy look.

michelle obama

#4 Is there ever a time that Halle Berry does not look drop dead gorgeous?  Be it lounging on the beach in casual shorts or walking the red carpet, the woman is blessed with the most beautiful features, skin and more.  Her Marchessa gown embroidered and accentuated with what appear to be shoulder pads made her seem to appear from an outer world galaxy.

Hally Berry

#3 Jennifer Lawrence’s  youthful exuberance and nervousness was framed beautifully in a blush Dior gown which was reminiscent of the allure of Dior print ads.  Her pulled back hair coupled with classic jewelry added a mature sophistication well beyond her years.

Jennifer Lawrence

#2 Dubbed by the New York Times as fashion’s favorite clothes hanger, Jessica Chastain exuded old world glamor (think Rita Hayworth).  Her copper beaded Armani gown, her bright lips and the softly cascading curls created a vision to behold.

Jessica Chastain

#1  I’m not a huge Jennifer Garner fan, but her look was one of the most ethereal beautiful ones that graced the red carpet last night.  Her violet Gucci gown with a simple strapless front paired with an exquisite ruffled back was simply perfect.  As Jennifer herself mentioned, “Once I saw the sketch, I did not want anything else.”  Her hair pulled back with wispy tendrils accentuated the spectacular diamond necklace around her neck.  She was simply the vision of perfection.

Jennifer Garner

I’d love to hear your thoughts on the clothes that you fancied as well as did not like. Do drop us a line.

DESIGN

Uniqlo – An Ode to Affordable Fashion in New York and Beyond

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By Lakshmi:

Who?  Anyone who loves to shop, loves well made clothing that can be trendy yet classic at the same time, loves playful T-shirts or wants to build an affordable wardrobe.

What? Uniqlo – A brand that originated in Japan,  has taken New York City by storm and is growing rapidly in the US.

How? Uniqlo’s flagship store in New York City is located at 5th Avenue, although I am partial to the Soho store where I first discovered this brand.  A complete listing of their stores can be found here.

http://www.uniqlo.com/us/

Why?  I discovered Uniqlo during one of my routine walks around Soho.  I saw this big store with colorful displays and a ton of people milling around with their shopping bags.  It did not take more than 5 minutes in the store for me to me sold.  Dubbed the “Japanese GAP” by some, the first attraction was their skinny jeans.  I tried on a pair, looked in the mirror, and there I was looking like a different avatar of myself.  Soon, I was trying on shirts, sweaters and dresses and within an hour had walked out with two stuffed bags having spent a few hundred dollars.  I pretty much started living in these clothes.  The dresses and sweaters made their way to work and I lounged in my black and navy jeans all weekend.  I started singing their praise to friends and family, and soon they too were smitten.

I encouraged my husband to get lavender colored pants, and despite thinking I was nuts, he obliged and loved their fit.  Soon, my girls got hooked and now it has become a ritual.  Every so many months, a trip to New York will not be considered complete till we have shopped there.

This full blown romance with Uniqlo did go through a temporary dejection phase when a pair of jeans frayed prematurely.  My attempts to reach customer service fell on deaf ears till finally someone at the Soho store reached out and promised to replace my pants when I come into the store next.  I can’t wait to get in to round out my fall wardrobe on a budget.  On my list this time?  Colorful tights, more corduroy leggings  (thinking pumpkin) and of course their ultra light puffy jacket (maybe purple?) that folds into a carry along bag.

If you do end up at Uniqlo, we’d love to hear your feedback.  Happy Shopping!

DESIGN, TRAVEL

The Havaianas Store – A Must Do On My Daughter’s Rio List

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By Lakshmi:

On our trip to Rio, Sathya had one must do – go to the Havaianas store in Copacabana and get a pair.  For the uninitiated, Havaianas are the fun, colorful, funky rubber sandals that originated in Brazil in 1962.  These flip flops come in such an array of designs and colors that wearing one not only elevates you to a different fashion stature, they are also a fun form of self-expression.

Even before our trip, Sathya kept showing me all the possible designs that she could buy.  Every two days it was another pair that she loved on the web.  The other frequently asked question was how many pairs she would be allowed to buy.  Needless to say, this brand of footwear had made an impact on her mind and heart.

You can guess what comes next.  The nagging commenced the minute we landed in Rio.  When would we get to THE store?  So, one hot morning, we decided to take a long walk from Leblon to the Havaianas store in Copacabana.  I have not seen someone more elated at the sight of a store selling an assortment of flip-flops.  We spent several hours at the store.  At this point, all of us wanted a pair and also a couple of pairs to take back as gifts.  For those wondering whether we could have purchased these back in the States, the answer is yes we could have.  But somehow a visit to Rio has become synonymous with the purchase of this brand.

For a design enthusiast like me, the store certainly provided ample inspiration with colors and designs.  After a lot of painful tradeoffs, we got some amazing pairs of sandals and Sathya refused to let go of her bag.  The sandals were commissioned immediately, but were so precious that they were wiped clean after beach visits.

This lovely shopping story does have a sad ending.  A few months after our return home, both Siddhi’s and Sathya’s sandals broke.  Sathya was very sad.  She tried to fix it, glue it, tape it, but nothing worked.  She asked me if we could write to the store and get it replaced and given that it was a few months, I did not bother.

But those much desired Havaianas are still very much on her mind and one of these days I am going to buckle down and get us all pairs here in the US.