Accessories: Autumn/Winter

Developing a sudden love for big, colourful rings, I decide to write on what I love most. I haven't gone visiting all the stores yet, haven't made my wish list for this season's biggies. Such devotion to accessories owes some experimenting with the favourites. Here's a few on my 'immediate buys' tab of all things worthy:


- Secret Love Double Wrap Bracelet: 

You gotta give it to Mulberry when it comes to their collection of bracelets and pins. Mistaking it for a belt the first time I saw it, at the second glance I fell in love. Such a pretty classic of nude leather-  Deer Brown Ostrich as its called, with  a charm.

Where: Mulberry

Link: http://bit.ly/r1fW2E




- Wrapped around you belt: 

How many of us have fallen in love with a classic chest belt, lately? I couldn't decide if zips were hotter on one such belt, or if it were the buckles- so I picked one with both, and a colour that goes well with all. When in doubt, wear black? What's better? Right now, it's on a 50%off sale!

Where: Roxy

Link: http://bit.ly/q775ah


- Amoures Clutch: 

French Connection, by far, has the best handbag collection of the season. This one clutch in particular, appealed to me most, especially after Grazia's issue on black and white. I love the fact that its one clutch that won't look underdressed next to a party gown or a lovely sequined black dress. The contrast of the silver over the black makes it all the more gorgeous. As the name suggests, this bag has my heart.

Where: French Connection

Link: http://bit.ly/p7xRJg


- All Occasion Ring: 

Rings are my latest object of affection, and I must have scanned every single designer for anything remotely my style. This particular one was a favourite pick. It's different, with a very vintage tinge to it. While we concentrate more on owls and animal jewelry, essential oval shaped rings with florals seem to be lost somewhere. I love this one for its victorian, vintage tinge.

Where: Mod Cloth

Link: http://bit.ly/pwnjUE



- Varnished Red Leather Belt: 

Moschino has a knack for reds and pinks: they're colours that go with the brand. The red leather belt is a perfectly playful, flirty belt for dresses in soft colours. The heart in the centre is just right for the belt's style and thin strap.

Where: Moschino

Link: http://bit.ly/pUknMS

Mulberry: exploring the brand

For one who loves online shopping, flipping through websites before I step out shopping, the design of these websites is very important to me. For some odd reason, I land up cutting slack to a lot of designers and crap outfits for their impressive websites. 

So when I first visited the Mulberry store, I was obviously not very pleased. A very basic website, and a number of dull-looking handbags, all displayed on a dull white background. 

As I turned into the Autumn-Winter '11 section though, I began to develop a liking for the brand. Here's a few favorites: 

- Grey flower dress: 

I love it for accentuating the waist, while adding a bit of fun to the outfit around to an otherwise common dress. Plus points for being warm. 

Link: http://bit.ly/mSQC7Q

- Carter Character Shoe: 

Always a sucker for shoes, classic is the way to go when it comes to heels. I've always believed that fashion changes but style remains the same. And for one who prefers sticking to the classics when it comes to heels, I developed an automatic liking for this pair. Nude is a colour that stands among all changes in trends and styles season after season. And I love the charm on the buckle. 

Link: http://bit.ly/oYQzKV

- Tippi Bow Blouse: 

This is one of those typical tops that a lot many designers add a golden button or a bit of lace to, and sell it for a million bucks. But in its simple form, its a top that goes great with trousers, a high-waisted skirt as well as a skirt or a pair of skinny jeans with heels. 

Link: http://bit.ly/n2Zg9L

- Bayswater: 

As Grazia puts it, "There is nothing in a woman's style arsenal that spells quite so clearly that she gets fashion than carrying a great bag." since white goes with most things, and is a very sought-after colour since the past few seasons, I pick a standard, classic shape and colour. 

Link: http://bit.ly/o9QNta

Taramay: Flats by Nayantara Sood

With numerous designers, working at numerous collections: a certain quality is often expected. While the collection ranges from simple to intricate flats, is lacking much design.
Apart from a particular pair of golden bellies, are shoes you couldn't identify as designer, if you saw them at an all-supplies store. They aren't shoes that stand out for their lovely taste in bows either. A certain black pair of flats with polka-dotted bows are simple to classify as discardable.

Cutting some slack to the young designer is her former inexperience at designing shoes. A first of its kind by the young designer, one hopes to expect better from a designer straight off London School of Fashion.

The golden pair in question, is commendable work with a black sequined strap depicting the Eiffel Tower. 

All things Gucci

Isn't it ironic how all fashion houses have a history of failing, and rising back again? In fact, most brands: Chanel, Jimmy Choo, Dior, Gucci- weren't led to great heights by the people they're named after. Nope, nada. That said, fashion was an art back then. An era of awakening- not only in terms of fashion but also sexuality, fashion was a mix. Today, we find, it is but a market 'gimmick' for anything that might sell. What I'm trying to indicate, is the fact that fashion sells now more than ever. But it has all to do with branding, none with fashion.

All things Gucci in the age of the commercial, 'are all things selling'. Flip through the pages of Vogue, and all you ever find across the first 30 pages is advertisements: Tom Ford, Prada, Versace- its all there. That said, is the section that 'Vogue Loves'. More advertisements, people. Appalling is the fact that in an expected 60-40 ratio to be maintained by all fashion magazines- 60 being content, 40 advertisements, I find, that in effect, are actually quite the opposite. 

Fashion houses and designers, exorbitantly priced- can we honestly vouch for originality and quality? Where is the reason for the existence of Fashion? The essence of creating clothes that are artistic, is all but non-existent. Of course there is the need for creating a brand and hence necessary to price all style at unattainable prices. How many of the clothes we see today- all designer, can we actually wear out to the streets or to parties? Few, I'd say. For a lot of clothes 'created' by these designers are but unwearable for their bizarre cuts and stitches. 

In a world that has gone commercial- be it food, water, life: is fashion not prey to the same? 

Food for thought.

Top 5 websites for affordable online shopping

On one of my online discovery sprees, were a few websites I came across. I figured there's always room for online shopping- especially if its a lot more affordable than the brands, and just as crisp. Cheap, affordable fashion: and chicest of the lot! Here's a few websites I discovered: spend that pocket money wisely. Spend it with style, if you'll excuse the pun.


1. Go Jane:


Go Jane is just one of those reliable little websites that offers pretty clothes: a combination of style and petite dressing. It's affordable, that's plus points. It's one that ships, one with a Deal of the Week, and with themed clothing. The Deal of the Week, of course, is the highlight. the best way to shop!

Website: www.gojane.com



2. Free People: 

Free People, one of the better known websites for shopping, is a tad bit on the store-price side. If you don't mind paying a decent price for a first-love dress, this is your stop! It's a designer in itself, this store: with its collections, pre-collections and sales! What's better, is that they ship to India, and a series of other countries most stores don't. PayPals, also, are accepted.

Website: www.freepeople.com






3. Ruche: 


Explore Ruche, with all its various products sorted into neat departments. What I discovered different about this website, was the Plus Size section- missing in most other websites, even stores! It also has a back in stock section, for those orderes you placed and the dresses you loved. My personal favourite on the long shopping list, is the necklace collection. It's an array of all kinds of neclaces: from beads to chains, pendants to pearls. Splurge, ladies!

Website: www.shopruche.com






4. Global Girlfriend: 

A store for greater good, as they would like to call themselves, Global Girlfriend offers jewlry, handbags and other accessories, including organic apparel. Part of the funds collected from the sale of these fashion items are used in helping women the world over, to improve their lives. What's amazing about this website, is that they have scented, organic soaps and bodywashes: the kind we'd pay the world for, if bought from Body Shop- and very affordable. Go ahead, indulge.

Website: www.globalgirlfriend.com






5. Shoewawa: 

A site dedicated to shoes is any woman's paradise. Heels make the most delicious object for purchase- after the comfy satisfaction of flipflops. find whatever shoe you're looking for, and find it cheap. Dig into the website, find that one shoe, and pick it for yourself! If my next post is late: you know where I've been!


Website: www.shoewawa.com

Leather and Denim: This summer

 Leathers and Denims: both the clothing of a deep-set winter. Experimenting with these in the summer is an unlikely possibility. For the love of the evergreen: Denims and leather, here's how they're used best this summer!

1. Baggy boyfriend pants:

 Summer's next up, but we aren't done with our share of jeans yet. Baggy is the way to go, on a casual day with a couple of errands to run. They're light-denim capris, with a light blue top: feel cool, indeed. 

Capri-length and a thin material, for the hot summer day. Who wants a great fit without the hassle of the crazy heat? There are the pants for you. 

Couple it up with a simple tee or a tank top. Experiment at leisure with the shoes: they're all a safe bet, depending on your choice of tee. For the baggies cause no harm to fashion shoe police. 

Where: The Diesel online store, http://bit.ly/eeVRmL

2. Textured leather chest belt: 

Chest belts are a new fad we love. It's crisp, smart dressing. 

Be it formals, or a plain long tee: change the style, turn it dressy. You'd think with winter gone, the leathers are all packed and tucked away. Not this season, no. Diesel gives leather a new look- in fact, a new season. 

A tie-back chest belt, first of it's kind. Turn it gangster, match it with a pair of black leather boots. Or use it formally: accessorizing a dull white shirt. 

Where: The Diesel online store, http://bit.ly/h65i7r

3. Faded Denim Bermudas: 

Come summer and the first thing you'd want to do is run out in a pair of comfy shorts. But comfy goes stylish this summer with the faded, worn-out effect. Rips and threads make it to the leggings and jeans, but with shorts: faded is the way to go. The light-coloured denims gel right into the light colours of the 

season. A button and a stitch, and you're done for the season. Flaps and pockets add to the charm, a very old-school pair of shorts!

Where: Zara online store, http://bit.ly/gE552N



4. Leather wallet: 

Wallets are a mark of one's taste. And what better than to have rich tastes in leather? Cute and tiny, it's a square wallet in black, with a silver ring- a mark of Esprit.

Carry it in your hand, or buckle a chain up to it for convenience and style: use it as a sling bag, or just a tiny trinklet box. It's just another wallet, with just another fab statement.

Where: Esprit e-online store, http://bit.ly/exemyJ

Zara: People Campaign

Zara: Think fashion and here's a name you can't skip. A leading fashion garments house, but what do we think of it's new PEOPLE! Campaign?

The campaign, as Zara would like to put it, is a means of "collaborating with people who are interested in fashion." As per the campaign, it's a must to create at least two looks from Zara's Spring Summer 2011 Collection. But here's the catch: You must upload picture of yourself in the outfits. Implying, you must buy these outfits.

Every week, a different selection of photographs are published on the web, with those selected, paid 300€.

To register/sign up: http://bit.ly/evdmtf Sign up to begin!

Zara, Marketing strategy- cheeky much?