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? 

Honeysuckle: Trending 2011

Fashion Trends of 2011: Honeysuckle, the colour of 2011. And Gucci hasn't experimented with it yet? Apparently not. Here's to affordable honeysuckle-loved fashion: The colour of the year!

1. Honeysuckle Coloured Chino-Style Trousers: 

Coloured pants are on their way to style statement status. And what better colour than this year's favourite? Team it up with a long white formal shirt and gold colour accessories, and you're the bomb! Think affordable branded fashion, and you've got one already!

What: Honeysuckle Coloured Chino-Style Trousers

Where: Zara

Price: $39.90



2. Dip Dye Scarf:

Scarves we love. And tie-dyes aren't seasonal- the one kind that's always in! The shaded scarf is a great accessory, a bright one too! Dress smart: indulge in the colours!

What: Dip Dye Scarf

Where: Gap

Price: $29.50


3. Sweetheart Rosette Bubble Dress: 

It's a myth when you say Forever 21 has the best of dresses. It also has the best of style. A beautiful flowing short dress, complimenting the beauty of the pinkish-red colour in question, this is a gorgeous dress. It's one for a dream. Couple it up with pink-gold or grey/silver, and you're out to kill. There's nothing better than confidence in lovely wrapping!

What: Sweetheart Rosette Bubble Dress

Where: Forever 21

Price: $22.80


4. Honeysuckle Jean Joaillerie:

Jewelry is always the enhancing factor of a get-up. Joan Joaillerie, beautiful in its designs, has unique jewelry in honeysuckle colours. Light and gorgeous, they're the ideal cherry to your outfit. Couple them up with casual wear, or dressy outfits. A variety of deigns you could pick and a variety of colours, if honeysuckle isn't your deal.

What: Honeysuckle jewelry

Where: Jean Joaillerie, http://on.fb.me/ijhiIT


5. Beads of Light One-Shoulder Pink Dress: 

The reason dresses feature here a lot, is the craze we've developed for these. And why not? They flaunt us off just prefect. About this dress: It's soft, it's casual and it still manages to accomplish the mammoth status of an evening dress.

What: Beads of Light One-Shoulder Pink Dress

Where: Top Shop, http://bit.ly/fNbWsv

LV: Spring fashion

Lv: Louis Vuitton spring fashion can't do without a mention. Spring 2011, the peak of spring fashion- and LV makes it hotter. There isn't a collection with the exact colours and the best designes. Even before honeysuckle was declared the colour of the year, this collection had it part of it's floral patterns.

So what's the best of Louis Vuitton this season? Take a look: The best of Louis Vuitton Cruise Collection 2011!


1. Printed Silk and Linen Sleeveless Dress:

You've seen the outfit everywhere: Magazine covers, advertisements, all over the internet- For the collection is known by it! What's so great about the dress? It's got the perfect colours, the perfect florals and patterns, that collar and the belt: All that crisp dressing we follow!

This outfit is style in a million bucks: Wear it to the sunday brunch, the evening party and the gazebo, that very important meeting: or just out to a day of expensive shopping. It appeals for a million occasions!

What: Printed silk and linen sleeveless dress

Worn with: (Photo) Flower Field Pump in Printed Textile and Patent Calf Leather, Fingerless glover in lamskin

Where: Louis Vuitton


2. Silk Knit Dress: 

Dresses are the love for most all of us. What kind is the dress we dig? In simple words: it's this. This year's collection is far from typical evening dresses. It's one of formal style. The belts and the sleeveless cuts: the 70's are back it seems: and for good. Pink and white: A great combo, with lovable lady-like cuts and flowing knee-length folds.

Wear with flats or just heels- they're sure to compliment the season any which way!

What: Silk Knit Dress, Louis Vuitton Cruise Collection 2011

Worn with: (photo) Monogram Sabbia tote, Flower Fields Ballerina

Where: Louis Vuitton, http://bit.ly/abrFke



3. New Denim Square Scarves: 

Taking complete advantage of the formals & the silks of the season, are these scarves. Available in five different colours, the baby pink is the best. Browns and blacks also make the colour-styles of this trend of scarves. They're all-rounders when it comes to day & evening wear.

What: New Denim Square Scarves, Louis Vuitton Cruise collection 2011

Where: Louis Vuitton, http://bit.ly/abrFke


4. Swimsuit, Cruise 2011: 

So this is the only swimsuit of the season. But what style. There's nothing it isn't! An epitome of style and much of class, a gorgeous mix of colours and a super chic fit: It's all you need? You know just what you want if you're going for designer swimwear.

What: Swimsuit, Cruise Collection 2011

Where: Louis Vuitton


5. Save it Bracelet:

The save- it bracelet, definitely something you're saving for! Toping all wish-lists this year, the bracelet is a charm. It spells smart like nothing else of it's style. It's up for grabs, pun intended!

What: Save it bracelet

Where: Louis Vuitton