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Trousseau trends unlocked

Customise your trousseau with the best in 2012’s bridal fashion, as Kavya Kolli decodes this season’s hottest trends for you.

The festive season may be over, but it’s only made way for more festivities with the wedding season right around the corner. And for all the brides-to-be who will be tying the knot soon, this is a very crucial time. These are the days of endless trials in search of the perfect wedding outfits.

Most brides have an idea of the kind of look they see themselves in. This can be both advantageous or challenging. If you are able to find an outfit that fits the bill, then you’re lucky. But if not, it helps to be open to other options. There are lots of designs that you may be reluctant to try at first, but once you do, you’ll be surprised at how great they look. A tip: Try on the outfits before taking a call.

To make things a little easier, we’ve handpicked the trendiest details from this year’s bridal shows.

 

 

 

Colours

The classic red was a predominant colour in all collections this year. And if red is the colour you’re looking for, you’ll be spoiled for choice. Red appeared in so many beautiful shades – dark cherry reds, bright scarlets, orange reds etc.

 

Seen in the picture: Anjalee and Arjun Kapoor at India Bridal Fashion Week 20122

 

 

 

Colour combinations

Both classic as well as unexpected, fresh combinations were also seen on the runways this year. 

Because it’s winter, deep colours like maroon, burgundy, rusty oranges, purples, navy and bottle green make for a great palette.

Seen in the picture is a Neeta Lulla creation at Lakme Fashion Week Winter/Festive, 2012.

 

White

 

 

White is a great colour for a bride, and it shone in its pristine glory on the runways. Embellished with silver or gold embroidery, it looks stunning. Off whites and ivories were the popular choice.

 

Nudes, along with whites, were also seen with coloured trimmings in the shows of major designers this year. Seen in the picture on the left is a creation by Payal Singhal at the Lakme Fashion Week Winter/Festive 2012.

 

 

 

The silhouette

The anarkali is still dominating the ethnic silhouette in the form of statuesque full-length dresses. 

Another silhouette that’s become a rage is the lehenga sari. The ensemble comprises of the typical lehenga, blouse and dupatta. But instead of draping the dupatta as you usually would with a lehenga, it’s draped like a sari – a great marriage, without the fuss of having to drape the nine-yard sari.

Seen in the picture on the right is an anarkali from the collection of Shyamal & Bhumika Shodhan at Lakme Fashion Week Winter/Festive 2012.

 

Fabric

 

 

 

Velvet is a huge trend this season, and it’s also very practical for the winters. The texture and rich shades of the fabric lend a regal touch to the ensemble.

Sheer fabrics like net, chiffon, georgette etc., look stunning in contrast to the rich velvet.

Brocades were also a popular choice with the some of the designers.

But what really stood out in the designs was the wonderful play of contrasting fabrics- heavy with light, stiff with flowy, thick with sheer.

Seen in the picture on the left is a velvet creation from the collection showed by Shyamal & Bhumika at Lakme Fashion Week Winter/Festive 2012.

 

Embroidery

The work that goes into embellishing, is what makes the bridal ensemble. And it requires the very best. It’s all about intricate, handmade embroidery and this season showcased an endless variety. Gota work, kundan, zardosi, zari were all there in gorgeous, unique designs as were embellishments with sequins, pearls and crystals.

Seen in the picture on the right is a creation from the collection of Meera and Muzaffar Ali at the India Bridal Fashion Week 2012.

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Easy breezy

We tell you how to dress comfortable and smart in Mumbai’s current dry, hot weather. Plus, season-friendly fabrics and styles.
by Kavya Kolli

The dry heat seems to be making it quite a challenge to dress for comfort while still keeping it stylish. Keep your cool, because we’ve rounded up some simple, effective shopping tips that’ll help you achieve the effortless chic look.

Silhouette Science

The ideal silhouettes for this weather are ones that are airy and flowy. Anything that’s tight and fitted will make the heat that much intolerable, because it won’t allow your skin to breathe.

If you’re dressing for work, shift dresses and A-line dresses are a great style. They look formal and are comfortable to wear. You can also pick a dress that is loose, but has an elastic or a drawstring at the waist. This will add shape to your figure and give it an hourglass-like definition.

If you’re a wearing a skirt, A-line skirts are a good idea. Again, a perfect silhouette to beat the heat because they’re not constricting. You can pair it with a blouse, shirt or a loose top.

Wide legged pants are also a great option. They’re a huge trend this season and you’ll find them everywhere. They’re only fitted at the waist and slightly on the hips and then move away from the body. Not only are they airy and practical for this weather, but also flatter every body type. They can be paired with all kinds of tops to create great looks for work as well as casual and dressy occasions.

For casual and dressy styles, take the Bohemian route – flared dresses, tunics, full length dresses, maxi skirts etc. They’re fun, super chic and their flowy silhouettes will allow ventilation. Bright neon colors will look great during the day. Prints too will look fabulous. You can choose from a variety- ethnic, abstract, animal prints, quirky ones or even simple dots or stripes.

Fabric play

Natural fabrics like cotton and linen are most suitable for hot weather. They’re light-weight, and allow your skin to breathe. These fabrics are also great absorbents, so they’ll keep you cool and dry.

Fabrics with cutwork are also a smart option. The holes in the fabric are great for ventilation. Light weight denims, jerseys and knits are also great in this weather.

Apart from these, you’ll also find blended fabrics. The combination and percentage of each fabric is mentioned on the care tag attached to the inside of the garment. You’ll find natural fabrics blended with natural fabrics and also natural fabrics mixed with synthetic ones. If you’re going for the latter, then make sure the blend contains a higher percentage of the natural fabric. The synthetic fabric is used to add functionality and practicality to the fabric – like making it wrinkle-free or stretchable. The natural fabric will add its properties of making it breathable and airy.

Natural fabrics also have the advantage of containing fewer chemicals so they tend not to cause allergies or irritation to the skin.

Kavya Kolli is a Mumbai-based fashion stylist and avid writer, with an obsessive interest in fashion and beauty.

(Picture courtesy www.rgratzvm.com)

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Beauty

Sun-proof your skin

There’s a nip in the air, but your skin still needs to be protected from the sun. Follow our easy skincare guide.
by Kavya Kolli

You can always count on the heat to test your survival skills in Mumbai. Every day before stepping out, you have to wonder to what degree of melting you will be subject to. Whilst indoors, we shamelessly plonk ourselves right under or next to the AC vents. But the humidity outside and the shift to a cool and dry temperature indoors takes a heavy toll on skin.

After soaring temperatures last week, this week we’re looking at dry, cool air in the night and dry heat in the day. Even ordinarily dry skin turns oily with these weather changes, feeling sticky and dirty. By the end of the day, your face feels like a canvas, painted with the city’s dust and pollution.

Protect your skin

First and foremost is protecting your skin from the sun. A good sunscreen is extremely important and must be a part of your beauty regime throughout the year. A good SPF (sun protection factor) of 15 and above is what you will require to combat the side effects of sun exposure on your skin. Even if your routine has you mostly indoors, sunscreen is essential because your skin is still exposed to UV rays. Sunscreen lotions tend to feel oily and sticky once applied, so it’s important to find one that doesn’t feel like a layer of oil on your skin and is absorbed well. A well-known skin or beauty brand will have one that suits you.

Nowadays, a lot of body lotions and moisturisers also come with SPF, which is ideal since we do end up exposing our arms and legs also to the sun.

Using a good cleanser is another vital part of skin care. The pores on our skin enlarge with heat so the amount of dust your skin accumulates is unimaginable. Plus the humidity makes the skin oily, making it that much easier for skin problems like acne and blackheads to arise. So at the end of the day, a good cleanser must be used to wipe off all the dirt and grime for your skin. The heat makes almost every skin type oily, so a gel-based cleanser will work well. If you find it too drying, you can go for a foaming cleanser or cleansing lotion that isn’t too rich or heavy in texture.

Cleansing should ideally be followed up by toning. A facial toner will soothe your skin and tighten the pores. An alcohol-free toner is preferable because alcohol can excessively dry out your skin. Rose water happens to be an excellent all-natural toner. You can even try freezing rose water in an ice tray and rubbing a cube all over your skin. It feels heavenly in such weather.

While we cannot avoid the use of a certain number of products to maintain good skin, we also need to realise that these cleansing products do take away some of the skin’s natural moisture. So it’s important to moisturise skin daily and keep it well hydrated. Drinking lots of water goes a long way and the rest, a good day cream for your face will help with. Again, choose one with your skin type in mind.

Keep in mind, that while using a moisturiser and sunscreen, the moisturiser goes on first and then the sunscreen. You can even apply makeup over the sunscreen.

You will also find day creams with SPF which can be an alternative to applying a face cream and sunscreen separately.

While picking out soaps, face washes or shower gels, opt for ones with aloe vera or honey in them because they help soothe skin from the heat. Even ones that have fruit essences like citrus fruits, strawberries, peaches, melons etc will refresh your skin.

Adding few drops of essential oils like tea tree to your bath water will have a cooling and relaxing effect on skin. It  smells great and is also a disinfectant, so it’ll protect you from prickly heat.

While maintaining a healthy beauty regimen, your diet must also be equally healthy. Include lots of fresh fruit and veggies in your meals and stay away from oily food. And because this weather is dehydrating, make sure to drink lots of water throughout the day.

Kavya Kolli is a Mumbai-based fashion stylist and avid writer, with an obsessive interest in fashion and beauty.

 

(Pictures courtesy www.humana.com and Kavya Kolli)

 

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