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.

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