Monthly Archives: May 2010

Estee

The Estée Lauder brand has signed two of fashion’s brightest runway and editorial stars as new global faces of Estée Lauder.  French model Constance Jablonski and Chinese model Liu Wen will join Estée Lauder’s roster of global beauties – Hilary Rhoda, Carolyn Murphy, Elizabeth Hurley and Gwyneth Paltrow – and debut in its global advertising campaigns beginning June 2010.

The signing of Constance and Liu marks the first time brand has signed a French model, and a Chinese model. Over the years, models in Estée Lauder’s global campaigns have hailed from the U.S. (Karen Graham, Willow Bay, Carolyn Murphy, Gwyneth Paltrow, Hilary Rhoda), the U.K. (Elizabeth Hurley), Czech Republic (Paulina Porizkova), Poland (Anja Rubik) and Ethiopia (Liya Kebede).

"Estée Lauder has always searched for global beauties that define a generation,” said Aerin Lauder, Senior Vice President, Creative Director, Estée Lauder.  "Constance and Liu Wen are the beauties of our time.  Both models have quickly captured the attention of the fashion and beauty world.”

Constance moved to New York from Lille, France in September 2008, and has since become one of the most coveted faces in fashion, walking a total of 62 shows in New York, Milan and Paris for the Autumn/Winter 2010 season including Derek Lam, Donna Karan, Ralph Lauren, Michael Kors, Fendi, Bottega Veneta, Balenciaga and Dries Van Noten and shooting editorials with the world’s top fashion photographers.

“We are thrilled to introduce Constance and Liu Wen to women around the world,” said Jane Hertzmark Hudis, Global Brand President, Estée Lauder.  “Both models have the style and confidence that reflects Estée Lauder’s modern vision of global beauty.”

Liu Wen hails from Beijing, China, and is China’s brightest fashion star.  First establishing her career with the Chinese editions of world famous fashion magazines, she broke onto the international stage in Paris on the Spring 2008 runways of Chanel and Jean Paul Gaultier.  Since then, Liu Wen has become a fixture on the runways of New York, Milan and Paris, walking a total of 49 shows for the Autumn/Winter 2010 season including Rodarte, Derek Lam, Michael Kors, Carolina Herrera, Proenza Schouler, Alexander Wang, Fendi, Bottega Veneta, Salvatore Ferragamo and Balenciaga.
 

Iraya Summer Products

IRAYA reaches out to beauty and wellness patrons of India with an un-paralleled range of natural beauty products. Keeping in mind the heat and summers, IRAYA highlights a range of products to beat the summers and keep the ailments away.

Neem Shampoo uses the powerful detoxifying, purifying and healing properties of the Neem leaves plucked when the plant is at its medicinal peak. This shampoo cleanses the hair, purifies the scalp, reduces dandruff and takes care of many scalp irregularities and itching that arise specially during summers.

Neem & Basil Soap is made of Neem & Basil extracts, coconut oil, palm oil, this soap is a great recipe to cleanse the skin. It protects the skin from infection, acne, summer rashes & other skin problems and is suitable for normal to dry skin.

The Orange & Citrus Lip Balm is made of citrus and orange extracts and helps to keep the dry chapped lips soft & supple.

And the Indian Jasmine Day Cream with Jasmine extracts and essential oils keeps the skin moisturized and fragranced without being oily and gives out a fresh fragrance all through the day

Neem Shampoo -150ml Rs. 195
Neem & Basil Soap – 100gm Rs.90
Orange & Citrus Lip Balm – Rs. 150
Indian Jasmine Day Cream – Rs. 225

Fashion on the high streets

I have been in London now for over 5 weeks during which much of my time has been spent bracing the chill, shielding from the rain and amongst the crowds on the high streets of London.  However irrespective of this and the gloomy economic climate that London is encountering at present, I am treated to many, many stylish women sashaying down the streets exhibiting many of the different trends of the season whilst managing to look effortlessly stylish and at the same time ticking many of the ‘On Trend’ boxes.  I truly feel like a child to a candy store when I walk past the window displays of the array of designer boutiques and high street designer stores, and when I actually enter I remember to myself why it is I love London so, as for me London represents the fashion today, predicts precisely the fashion of tomorrow and has the legacy of the fashion of yesterday.  London exudes style, and it has to be said that real London fashion is on the High Streets where we are spoilt for choice of stores that host affordable to all, whether you are skinted or minted as they say in London, wonderful interpretations of what is on the international catwalks.  The accuracy of what the high street is hosting today can clearly be measured by the women walking the streets of London who are managing to replicate very intelligently what is on the international fashion set.   

So what exactly is the fashion quotient the ladies walking the high streets of London are exhibiting?
My personal favourite look that I have seen time and time again and is being portrayed in almost every high street designer store on the streets of London is the cute ditsy dress toughened up by either an 80’s denim or cropped bikers leather jacket and worn with thick tights and slouchy boots.   Great look for the London Chill, once the heat rises the cropped biker leather jacket can be replaced by a denim or leather gilet, the tights can go and a pair of gladiator sandals or a slouchy pair of sandal boots can take the place of the slouchy boots.
Oh so bang on trend…

A great interpretation of a Prada printed dress by Miss Selfridge

A very cute feminine dress that can very easily be toughened up and softened up..

The perfect sandal boot by Dune that can be teamed up with most of this season’s trends, and surely can be taken forward to the next….

Oh so beautiful and bang on trend by Dune, the chain mail feature provides a combination of uber chic, glitz and high fashion, perfect for those summer months lying ahead…

Miss Selfridge has hit trumps with this great interpretation of a fab Chloe pair of  Utilitarian sandals.  These sandals are a major fashion statement in their own right.

Intricate embroidery and feminine tailoring can be toughened up by this leather biker jacket or leather gilet both by Oasis

Many of the women on high streets of London are braving the cold with their skater-styled swinging skirts with hot print action.  Of course during this cold period no bare legs are to be seen as they are covered with thick tights and worn with  slouchy boots or brogues.  This statement skirt is being sported with a classic white vest and boyfriend cardie, blazer and big oversized scarf and some are even teaming their uber stylish skirts with a casual parka.  During the summer months ahead, the tights will go, the boots or brogues will be replaced by the new wide chunkier pared back gladiator or ballet pumps, and out will come some sexy camisoles and blouses.

Topshop’s beautiful animal print skater-styled skirt will definitely turn heads.

 

Karen Millen’s silk georgette skater-styled skirt with all over asymmetric ruffles is so on trend as ruffles seem to be everywhere…..

Oh what lovely versions of the new multi-strap gladiator, as well as working well with the skater styled skirts, will also work well with cropped jeans, floral dresses and shorts….

Many very brave women with very well shaped pins are wearing shorts and a long tee, of course the staple London thick tights, slouchy boots or brogues and a tweed jacket or a military jacket.  The combination of ladylike and utility is fab and the result is effortlessly chic.. 


New Look always comes up trumps when picking up key looks and making them wearable and affordable for every day.  Great embellished utilitarian jacket which is bang on trend..

Many of the power dressers are seen dressed in grey suits teamed with camel coloured coats with nude coloured shoes.  Nude shoes seem to be working their way through to the evenings too, it’s no wonder as they are a real figure-fixer as a flesh-toned pair of heels will add inches to anyone’s legs……


Stunning 1971 Reiss Platform sandal with cutwork cuff, will look uber chic with a flirty mini or a sassy lbd and make those pins look endless.  Will look very high fashion with cropped harem pants……

Cropped harem pants are very much still on the high streets of London but are teamed up with cropped jackets and wooden heels.  Wow the combination is breathtaking and is an effortless combination of high fashion and the high street.

A wooden heel looks so hot right now.  Whether buckled, with cut-out details or in sheer mesh, it’s time to bring on the natural look.  For the summer seasons will work well with summer dresses, skater-styled skirts, shorts, actually most pieces from this season….

Of course many of the women on the high streets are playing it safe especially as there still seems to be no sign of the summer months but just cold, overcast and rain….  Jeans are always a safe bet, many are sporting skinnies tucked into boots (ankle, high, slouchy, UGG, wellies, you name it), some like me are brave enough to team up with ballet pumps.  Some of the uber stylish girls are wearing relaxed boyfriend jeans teamed with parkas and brogues – very young student style. Many of the women are sporting denim cropped jackets, denim shirts, denim skirts but the most exciting denim look I have seen here on the high streets of London is the dunga dress.  The dunga dress was teamed up with a black and white striped tee, thick tights, brogues and a trench coat.  Very stylish and fashion savvy, pure magic!  For the summer months to come, off go the tights and on come on a pair of gladiators. 


Stella McCartney inspired Dunga-dress by Oasis

What are the key looks that I loved whilst on my travels through the high streets of London?

Matt nude comes alive with sparkly details for a luxe look.  This delicately embellished nude shift dress is just divine, very glamorous and has got a real vintage look about it even though it ticks all the On Trend Boxes.  This dress is a modern take on party wear as the silhouette is uber modern but the embellishment harks back to another era.  One could say it’s almost art deco, teamed with a pair of nude sandals pure perfection for an evening out….

Slouch Sequin Embellished Tank Dress by Reiss

The soft, fluid jersey is the season’s most flattering trend as it targets problem areas with strategically placed drapes and very intelligent structuring.  This trend has translated very well onto the high street as this incredibly feminine draped jersey dress made out of super lightweight jersey will skim rather than cling, and  has been nipped in at the curve of the back and has a waist belt resulting in a very soft look that will enhance any figure.

This is a look I am definitely loving and I intend to toughen this soft look with a washed leather gilet and slouchy sandal boots or the fab utilitarian sandals…  This look is oh just so London, and oh just so effortlessly stylish.

I am a real fan of the maxi dresses as they are so easy wearing and yet so laid back stylish.  So was overjoyed to see many of the high street stores having floor-sweeping maxi dresses, they can be so easily dressed down for the day,  I would team up with a cropped denim jacket and gladiators for a dressed down look for the day and in order to take the dress into the evening lose the cropped denim jacket and would team up with metallic wedges and statement jewelry, perfect for those Indian Summer nights. 

Monsoon’s gorgeous floor length maxi dress

A walk on the high streets of London is a fashion journey that must be taken by all those fashionistas who want to know exactly what it takes to be In Vogue………….

Posted by : Pollyana Patel at 03:33 AM

Edith Barker & Pollyana Patel quickly became friends after meeting in Bangalore, India. Edith has a dual career in psychotherapy and fashion public relations; Pollyana is an image consultant, model, and the brand ambassador for Ritu & Rochana. They currently have two projects in development under Barker & Patel, and have agreed to join the FashionFad team to share their travels, experiences and musings

 

Kisneel by Pam

A collection that boasts of a perfect blend of traditional and modern designs is Pam Mehta’s label Kisneel by Pam. Essentially into wedding wear her ensembles are glamorous yet very wearable.

Designer Pam Mehta skillfully blends the modern with the traditional yet maintaining the yin and yang of design to create ethereal pieces beyond the conformity of convention. Each ensemble reflects finesse of craft, while retaining its wearability and authenticity. With an admirable clientele adorning her portfolio, Pam Mehta is undeniably a revered name in the industry. Her sarees are a favorite with actress Sridevi. Raima and Ria Sen were spotted wearing her creation at the recent Filmfare Awards.

Pam’s tryst with fashion started long ago. An internationally acclaimed designer she was quick to realize the potential of her designs on a global platform much before her Indian contemporaries even thought of exploring beyond home shores. Brands such as Guess, Marciano have already picked a sizeable collection off her shelf. Relaxed couture is her forte with a keen eye to detailing and a seamless combination of handmade beads, semi-precious stones and shimmer.

She is all set to launch a multi-designer store in New Delhi called The Opal by middle of this month, housing Kisneel by Pam and several other designers, catering to wedding buyers. Ranging from designer wear to accessories, handbags and shoes, The Opal would be a one-stop wedding shop. 


Artivijay Gupta for IPLFW

Good design ensures that the object functions as it should, has a level of meaning, is aesthetically pleasing to the client, is structurally sound, has perfect fit and flawless finish. Artivijay Gupta’s ideal of clothing as an art form is in cleanness of line and balance minimalism, shows purity of details in structure, texture, and fabrication, tailoring and finishing. Amalgamated with a sensibility that is organic through feminine, modern, and fluid but cut for comfort.

She launched her label in July 2009, in Mumbai. Her first collection won the stamp of approval from none other then Ritu Kumar, who saw the collection at Kolkata fashion week and found it very refreshing.

Mid Summer Night Soiree

Last evening, the city was witness to an unprecedented and exclusive wine & cuisine soiree hosted by none other than Pria Kataaria Puri to present Wine Connoisseur & Food and Wine pairing expert, Sonal Holland. The exquisite four course sit down dinner at Luxury Resto lounge ‘Shiro’ was paired with the finest Spanish wines from the ‘House of Torres’.

Renowned designer, Pria Kataaria Puri displayed her skills in cuisine design and added her fine touches to an exquisite Asian menu specially created by Chef Rahul Hajarnavis from Shiro. The meal of course could not have been complete without Wine Connoisseur, Sonal Holland’s food & wine pairing skills, wherein Sonal introduced the elite set of guest to an unusual Asian & Spanish( Torres wines) mélange of food & wine ; rendering the evening as the ideal Mid Summer soiree of total decadence. 

The elite set of guests was flamboyantly in sync with the aptly titled dress code ‘Fashionably Delicious’. Those present were Amit Keswani from JSM Corp and Marc Perello, representative of Torres wines in India. The first ones to enter on the dot of time were Consul General, Paul Folmsbee with friend Manjit Kriplani. Soon to follow were Suleiman & Reshma Merchant, Lata Patel, Sonia Garware , Ashwini Kakkar, the ever radiant Mahima Chaudhary and Nisha Jhaveri. The others guests present were Shaheen Abbas, Neeta & Shyam Lulla, Namrata & Vikram Shroff, Gayatri & Vikas Oberoi, Zeba & Rajesh Kohli, Kehkashan Patel. 

Las Ramblas at Lap

This summer The Lap Garden, hotel Samrat, Chankyapuri, transforms into Las Rambas, a cool summer destination bar experience built around a continuously changing mélange of installation art, live music, contemporary tapas, delicious Sangrias, video and fashion. Kicking off the seasonal extravaganza were design stalwart Ashish n Soni and artist Pushkar Thakur. And the guest of honour for the evening was his Excellency Ambassador of Spain to India, Mr. Ion de la Riva. 

Inspired by the famous Spanish poet Fredrico Garcia Lorea who once said “Las Ramblas was the only street in the world that which I wish would never end.” The Lap Garden presents Las Ramblas as an ode to the summer months in the capital, a continuity of sorts in the form of refreshing seasonal avatar where the party never ends.   

The story unfolds romantically around the fountain at the heart of Lap Garden, as each corner transforms into ,modest yet enthralling visions of the Las Ramblas, with the rhythmic strumming from an assorted line up of musicians specializing in everything Jazz to Spanish house and club. 

Speaking on the occasion, Partner AD Singh said, “The Las Ramblas is a cool hangout for summers. It’s a great Boulevard bar experience offering something for everyone. With this we attempt to recreate the experience of wandering around Barcelona or indeed any of the great European cities. Through the festival we encourage you to come and chill in the evenings, try some contemporary tapas, have a look at the video-dome, browse through the fashion on display, enjoy the art. Much of this keeps changing every week so it’s a living, changing display that entices you to visit again and again.”

Khushii Auctions Art

A glittering auction was hosted at The Claridges Hotel, Delhi where Khushii unveiled a spectacular line-up of auto rickshaws that were created into art master pieces by India’s leading contemporary artists. 

As FDCI joined hands with the World Action Forum to raise funds for this sterling initiative by Khushii, these precious three wheelers, limited in edition got formally unveiled at the WIFW autumn/winter 2010 providing the autos a prestigious platform. It was board member of Khushii Leena Singh of Ashima Leena who made the alliance possible. Collectibles in their own right these autos make a very unique installation, adding an element of chutzpah, to any space, be it home, office, golf course or your sprawling farmhouse. 

Speaking on the occasion Harveen Kapur, General Secretary, Khushii said, “The auto rickshaws are iconic of Indian identity. They are piece of art by themselves. Converting them into canvases for the masters’ to work on was an initiative in furtherance to Khushii’s Public Art Forum.’