Girl with the blue scarf

DELHI EMBRACES MANISH Designer Manish Malhotra takes Delhi by storm with muse Sonam Kapoor at SynergyOne Delhi Couture Week . The capital city celebrated classic bridal grandeur on the Delhi Couture Week ramp in a slick, stylish and contemporary avatar on Sunday night (July 24, 2011). Moving away from the showstopper concept, the designer introduced the muse of this collection, Bollywood actress Sonam Kapoor, who opened the show in a beautifully embroidered cherry red outfit (bright brick red is back in the bride's wardrobe) With smoky eyes and hair pulled back in an avant-garde style, Sonam's grace brought forth the new contemporary bride of India, one who knows exactly what she wants. Make-up expert Mickey Contractor conceptualised the look for Manish's models. The collection had 25 uniquely stylised looks for women and five looks for men, which were inspired from the old world charm and majestic opulence of royalty that prevailed in India during the 1920s to 40s. Four m...

Bollywood actresses will walk the ramp for leading couturiers at the SynergyOne Delhi Couture Week (July 22 till 25, 2011) In India, no one can skip noticing Bollywood stars. And with good reason: They look great, act and speak well and love to wear their fave designer's clothes (they charge for wearing them on ramp and often pick it free-of-cost for casual outings). That's also the reason why even Delhiites wait for this time of the year so they can get a sneak peek into how the actresses would look in couture designs in the capital city. Sunil Sethi, President FDCI is hosting the entire 5 day show at the Taj Palace Hotel. "It's going to be uber grand," he promises. STARS ON THE RUNWAY: Actress Madhuri Dixit will come to India, take a break from doing dance shows on television and sit pretty in the Front-Row for designer Varun Bahl . Karisma Kapur walked out the last minute. She was to walk for designer Anju Modi . That couturier's team is now looking at so...

Styling Amitabh can be fun yet tough Everyone loved superstar Amitabh Bachchan's impeccably stylish looks in the film Bbuddha Hoga Terra Baap . Stylist Leepakshi Ellawadi , 28, London School of Fashion graduate, is the girl behind this star's makeover. And now that the film's looks have been appreciated, she's really happy girl, who's busy receiving compliments for styling Amitabh Bachchan in Bbuddha Hoga Terra Baap . On meeting Abhishek Bachchan (Amitabh aka Big B's son), who was excited about his father's new look, she said, "Kaash yeh buddha hota mera baap." And the two shared a hearty laugh. Having styled Salman Khan's look in Wanted film, Leepakshi is not new to the idea of film styling. In fact, the latest uniform by Jet Airways employees is her design idea. Working on director Puri Jagannadh's next untitled project, Leepakshi has her hands full. People are complimenting her for her work and the girl's got a spring in her feet. ...

The 'Man Bra' has made its debut at the Paris Spring-Summer 2011 menswear show recently. Just a fashion statement? Not really. If you have ‘ moobs ', ie male boobs, then the man bra can help you with some support. Men who’s chest muscles are sagging or have boobs can now ‘heave’ a sigh of relief as man bra designer wear will soon to hit the stores. Here's what some Mumbai-based celebrities have to say: Hope I’d never need one: Vir Das (stand-up comedian and actor) I earnestly pray to God that I would never need to wear a man bra. Every time I think of a bra, I think of beautiful women, not a man, surely. But then if someone needs it, by all means, go ahead, buy and wear it. Imagine the partner’s horror: Sapna Bhavnani (hair stylist) How disgusting! There's nothing manly about a womanly item like a bra. A man who'd wear a man bra should never get laid. Imagine his partner’s horror. I don't approve of this trend at all. This metro sexual bit is going too far...

Designer Manish Arora on the recent controversy that’s surrounded him on using Nataraj images on legwear Manish Arora, the most celebrated Indian designer internationally is unhappy and upset. He can not fathom why his fellow countrymen are spending so much time introspecting a controversy created by a foreign body about his latest collection. WHAT HAPPENED? US-based Hindu groups and Jews have protested against the depiction of the image of Lord Shiva in Nataraj form on leggings, harem-pants and miniskirts, by Manish Arora fashion label. Rabbi ElizaBeth W. Beyer, a Jewish leader in Nevada (USA), in a statement recently, said that although reflection of the sacred may be an attempt to compliment, the fashion house is obviously insensitive in trying to market Hinduism’s venerated deity and sacred concept. MANISH’S REACTION: Manish is very upset about this. He says, “I have always been inspired by Indian Gods and Goddesses. And I am sensitive toward religious sentiments. I do not crea...

More so, by desi designer Rahul Mishra’s Maheshwari collection showcased in 2008. Here are some striking similarities... Surely, we’ve all heard of Indian designers ripping off international designs and reinventing them here. But it’s seldom that one gets to see a reverse inspiration in place. And so, when actress Sonam Kapoor made her debut at the Cannes film festival recently, looking absolutely elegant in a black and white Jean Paul Gaultier gown with a French tulle sheer drape waist down, fashionistas back home in India felt a definite designer Rahul Mishra’s touch in it. Incidentally, Rahul had showcased similar designs in Maheshwari textile in the year 2008 at the Spring/Summer season of the Mumbai Fashion Week. Incidentally, Gaultier’s Summer couture line in 2009 had similar offerings. And finally, when Sonam walked the red carpet at Cannes in a white and black bordered French tulle sheer drape gown, the ‘Indian borders’ inspiration was evident. Rahul, a promising designer based...

It was Bollywood actress Sonam Kapoor's debut at Cannes Film Festival. And she sure floored the audiences there with her smile, clothes and style. RED CARPET CALL: Walking tall in a Jean Paul Gaultier couture gown, Chopard earrings, Amrapali ring and Ferragamo shoes, Sonam looked elegant and well turned out. Hair and make-up looked very prim and chic. 9/10 is what we give her. EVENING INDIAN STYLE: Sonam opted for young designer Masaba Gupta's design and chose a bull sleeve black blouse with funky cut at the back. Large polkas on the saree defined her slim, tall figure. Masaba said that, "Basically Sonam's sister Rhea and me had a few meetings on the look, we were aiming for a nice chic feminine but vintage inspired look. The saree is very conventional but the blouse is shirt inspired. We tried on almost 5-6 options on Sonam and settled for the Polka dot since she carried it off beautifully." Sonam wore the saree too high on the waist, but the saree and blouse we...