Thursday, October 31, 2013

Women's Ready-to-Wear and Luxury Sleepwear Shows at Fashion Week 2013 organised by FIDé Fashion Weeks

Day 10 of Fashion Week 2013, presented by The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands and organised by FIDé Fashion Weeks, showcased two women’s ready-to-wear and one lingerie and sleepwear show at the Sands Expo & Convention Centre. 

The first show of the evening was Moiselle, a label known for its stylish designs, high-quality European fabric and exquisite craftsmanship since its debut in 1997. Showcasing its Fall/Winter 2014 “Lost in Russia” collection, the covetable 44 ensembles were modern and classic with a hint of femininity through the floral references on almost every style. Key pieces include the elongated overcoats (to be worn over your separates or over a dress) and swishy flare skirts (work with shirt blouse and/or jacket for a masculine-feminine look or with the frilly top for a girl-next-door look). The must-haves are definitely the gowns that are classy, stylish and very affordable!

The brand is also no stranger to crossovers with personalities. For this season, the label collaborated with Singapore-born, Hong Kong-based make-up artist, Zing, to design a capsule collection that best portrays the two most important eras of his life – the early 1980’s and the late 1990’s. This resulted in a line of 30 over multi-functional designs – a perfect blend of makeup, fashion and art! Though not shown at the show, these pieces are available at the store at B1-142, Galleria Level, The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands.

The second show was Germain, a Parisian womenswear brand, that did an about turn from feminine and girly looks with its “Monoplay” collection skewed towards the young and trendy girl-about-town. Contemporary styles with a slight edge, the 36-ensemble collection was mostly in black and white, either colour blockings or printed and punctuated with a dash of neon pink, cobalt blue, lime and chartreuse. Luxury materials like tweed, wool, leather and fur ensured the pieces stood the stand of time. Definitely for the girl who wants to make a statement and appreciate the brand’s vision of “Translating the love of woman’s body and three dimensional form” to its designs. Germain’s first store in South East Asia is located at L1-26, Bay Level, at The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands.

Formerly a French design workshop started by a group of design elites in Paris, it was talent spotted by the Moiselle Group. The design workshop was then acquired and the label Germain is born, named after the place of origin for French fashion. The design team leveraging on its Parisian design and knowledge, works collectively with the Hong Kong design team to tap on its expertise of the Asian fashion market to provide a distinctive contemporary design to identity-conscious women.

Closing Day 10 was Ari Dein, a luxury sleepwear brand, whose designer Arielle Shapiro was part of the CFDA Incubator Programme based in New York. Making its Singapore debut with a 15-ensemble collection of luxury sleepwear, the show was held at the Crystal Ballroom that was transformed into an intimate lounge with plush sofas and poufs, where waiters served champagne and sweet bites. Ari Dein’s distinctive and nostalgic designs are made in lace, charmeuse, crepe de chine, and mixed with cotton and light chambray. The inspiration and prints for the Spring/Summer 2014 collection are once again by the Art Deco era, with Imperial Russian influences that enamoured the designer during her recent travels to St. Petersburg and Moscow. Key items are definitely the lightweight chambray pieces trimmed with lace, which you can definitely wear for anytime of the day.

In addition to creating an exclusive VIP pajama set for the W Hotel South Beach’s celebrity guests this summer, designer Arielle Shapiro has been tapped by none other than Carolina Herrera for the house’s first ever sleepwear collaboration, Ari Dein for Carolina Herrera

For encore, American-Vietnamese TV host and stylist, Jeannie Mai, came on to present a short fashion and beauty segment where she invited guests, such as Elena Lavagni and Stephen Low from Neville Hair and Beauty, London and M.A.C. Cosmetics’ Romero Jennings, shared their tricks of the trade to the audience. She also introduced limited-edition T-shirts in five different prints, designed specially by On Aura Tout Vu, for Atelier Homme. The sale proceeds of the tees will go to charity.

For the evening’s shows, the team from Neville Hair and Beauty, London, led by Elena Lavagni and Stephen Low created the hair styles, while Romero Jennings and his team from M.A.C. Cosmetics created the makeup looks.

Huma Qureshi enthralled the audience at The North East Fest 2013, Delhi

The North East Fest 2013, Delhi Chapter organized by Home Ministry of India, North East division and NTC (National Textile Corporation) that started on the 26th October 2013 came to a grand close at the NSIC Grounds. The final day of the fest embraced a fresh gust of fashion and cultural progammes along with interactive seminars and conferences and an electrifying Rock Show. Bollywood actress Huma Qureshi sizzled on the runway with her attitude in an outfit by the seasoned designer -Krishna Mehta.

The evening kick started with a commendable fashion show by Bambi K and Tonu Riba. Bambi K designs under the label ‘Bambi K’, and is renowned in Nagaland for her work in Bridal Couture.  Known for her clean, ‘understated-elegant’ design style, she is also the designer for the ready-to-wear label and boutique, ‘Gold Dust’.  But the garments that she designs with Naga textile and motifs are to her, the most satisfying expression of herself as an artist. Whereas Tonu Ribas’s collection was a true reflection of tribal jewelry and vibrant hues. Up next was Soumitra Mondal’s collection which was all about weaving and craft. He used the 200 fine count khadi and silk in his collection and an array of Jamdani fabrics. A lot of gold and thread embroidery was used to get the festive look. Yellow, Red, Black, Grey, Green and Gold were the dominant colours of his collection. This was followed by the Resort wear label by designers Mayank Anand and Shraddha Nigam. Their signature style is deconstructing silhouettes from the past and reconstructing them to suit modern sensibilities. The fashion fest ended with Huma Qureshi taking the ramp in her stride.

Patronizing the Northeastern culture, Bihu the Assamese folk dance was also showcased on the fourth day of the fest. The weavers who had come from North East also joined them which created a beautiful atmosphere of celebration and festivity. During the day, a single session seminar was held on a very significant topic of ‘Marketing tool for national and international markets’. This seminar was hosted by the Experts from Handicrafts and Handloom Export Corporation Pvt Ltd. educating the weavers from the Northeast.

Bollywood star Huma Qureshi said, “It is a lovely experience to see the colours of the Northeast. I have always believed that the Northeast region is one of the most style conscious regions of the country and today being a part of this fest, I have experienced their distinctive edge personally.  The designs are fabulous and the use of northeastern fabric makes them look rich and a class apart.”


The show witnessed a thrilling finish with a Rock Show by Alobo Naga and Band while also witnessing active B2B networking, media interactions, as well as a mind-boggling array of mouth-watering flavors and delectable dishes from the North East. With the recent rise in popularity of North Eastern spices, herbs and combinations among Delhities, the food stalls found an extremely enthusiastic market through the Fest.

Srishti Rana crowned Miss Asia Pacific World 2013

21 -year old Srishti Rana from Faridabad made India proud by winning the prestigious beauty pageant Miss Asia Pacific 2013 title outclassing 49 other contestants from different parts of world in Korea.

Srishti looked ravishing in a outfit designed by designer duo Falguni and Shane Peacock's beautiful gown, which also made her win the  national costume award depicting the national bird of India “peacock” during the show.

Indian beauties has proved themselves for the consecutive second time to the Miss Asia Pacific crown as last year also Himangini Singh Yadu won the crown and that made the occasion even special for Srishti as show was crowned by her own country mate.

Earlier, Zeenat Aman and Dia Mirza has won the prestigious title in the year 1970 and 2000 respectively.


Watch Dhoom 3 latest trailer: THIS YEAR WILL END WITH A DHOOM!

The trailer of the much awaited movie of the year Dhoom 3 starring Aamir Khan, Abhishek Bachchan, Katrina Kaif and Uday Chopra has been released but the trailer does not reveals much about the story of the movie and hence the curiosity about DHOOM 3 is still the same.

The trailer of the film shows a little of Aamir’s childhood and his father played by Jackie Shroff. Aamir flies bikes and presumes to be a perfect or rather a robber, the signature character of Dhoom series.

Katrina once again looks sizzling and can be seen spinning in air throughout the trailer.

Produced by Aditya Chopra, DHOOM:3 is written and directed by Vijay Krishna Acharya, who had also written DHOOM & DHOOM:2. Apart from Aamir Khan, who plays the anti-hero in the film, and Katrina Kaif, both Abhishek Bachchan and Uday Chopra will continue in their now iconic roles of Jai Dixit and Ali.

The film is scheduled to be released on December 20. So ‘THIS YEAR WILL END WITH A DHOOM’

Manasi Moghe, Miss Universe India 2013 for MISS UNIVERSE collection swimwear

Manasi Moghe, Miss Universe India 2013, poses in her 2014 YAMAMAY FOR MISS UNIVERSE collection at the Crowne Plaza Moscow World Trade Centre.

Wednesday, October 30, 2013

Christmas Splendour at Marina Bay Sands

Let the magic of Christmas come alive at Marina Bay Sands with colourful festive treats including an enchanting Winter Wonderland, exclusive retail promotions, entertainment at the MasterCard Theatres and culinary delights at celebrity chef restaurants.

For the first time since The Shoppes opened in 2010, its skating rink will be transformed into a full candy land complete with life-size tin soldiers, a giant toy train, Santa’s sleigh, Christmas trees, treats and presents to delight the young at heart. Starting 15 November, the Winter Wonderland will feature a Santa’s Toy Theatre with interactive ballet performances and The Christmas Tale.

 From 14 November to 25 December, The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands will hold its Once Upon A Christmas promotion where shoppers can enjoy exclusive retail offers up to 70 per cent off while they stand a chance to win either a pair of tickets to a dream destination of their choice every week (for six weeks), or a holiday spree of S$200,000 worth in prizes.

 Be spoilt for choice this holiday season with Christmas goodies at SweetSpot and enjoy festive feasts at RISE, db Bistro Moderne and Osteria Mozza.


 As part of the festive season, MasterCard Theatres will be presenting entertainment for just about everyone including the Mickey's Magic Show, Hi5! and Notre Dame de Paris.

Viva la France at Fashion Week 2013 organised by FIDé Fashion Weeks

Presented by The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands and organised by FIDé Fashion Weeks, Day 9 of Fashion Week 2013, held on Thursday, 17 October 2013, at the Sands Expo & Convention Centre, where the Atelier Chardon Savard workshop took place in the Crystal Ballroom.

Fashionistas, members of the media and fashion students got a rare talk on the beginnings of Haute Couture by respected French fashion journalist, Jean Paul Cauvin. He was also there to present Dominique Chardon Savard, the principal of the said fashion school in France. Established in 1988, the fashion school is famed for teaching its students to not only sketch, but to be able to draft, cut and sew.

The talk was followed by a short fashion presentation by five winning graduating labels: Elie Grandjean (Going East) showed contemporary silhouettes with a touch of eastern influence in the use of wicker sticks and raffia as leifmotif; Timoth̩ Grand-Chavin (Glory to Women) used religious images as prints, and employed interesting materials into his collection Рlead wire sewn onto the piece of garment that allow the wearer to change its shape, or oil painting images onto canvas before cutting them out to form patterns onto the emsemble; Nofar Gabrielli (Colourful Men) mixed a riot of colours and prints onto each ensemble and from afar, one thinks that its prints, but upon closer inspection, they are actually knitted (!) and not woven materials; Soleyanne Baland (Inner Lights) translated technology with humour as she made accessories out of plastic tag fasterners and introduced complicated cuts and shapes within each outfit, while Odessa (Trust Them) weaved a political message onto their capsule collection, printed their own fabrics and even attempted different techniques onto their pieces. It was their first showcase outside of Paris and they were certainly elated and excited.

Before the excitement could subside, French Haute Couturier Alexis Mabille began his show with his A/W 2013/14 collection, with the mood, colour palette and silhouettes inspired by the Italian Giovanni Boldini. Washed hues of dove grey, faded pink and mint are mixed with touches of gold and silver. Mabille created movement in his gowns through the use of shapes and volumes, with his signature bow motif applied on almost every ensemble.

The second to show was On Aura Tout Vu by Livia Stoianova and Yassen Samouilov. Showing 29 looks, they decided that they wanted to switch it up and showed part of their A/W 14 collection in the beginning and part of their S/S 13 collection for the second half. So the audience got to see the ‘dark’ before transiting into ‘light’. Beetle wings were cleverly attached to create shapes and forms while plexiglass were specially cut out to create the ‘cerebral’ and ‘skeletal’ connectors of the human mind and body and attached to the outfits. Most well-known for their stunning jewellery pieces, the On Aura Tout Vu show yesterday was a particularly interesting one as clothes took the limelight with crystals taking a backseat.



Closing the show was Julien Fournié. A recognised invited member of the La Chambre Syndicale de la Haute Couture, Julien Fournié has worked with brands such as Celine and Jean Paul Gaultier, and is one of the most exciting designers to watch. For Fashion Week 2013, Fournié is the man of the hour as he shows his own Haute Couture collection as well as a collaboration collection - but more of the latter on the last day! Showing 22 looks, his silhouette is that of an elongated feminine form, very much inspired by the Italian painter and sculptor, Modigliani, who worked mainly France. According to Fournié, it is also to depict the mythical animal, Chimera. Colours run the gamut of chocolates, inspired by the palette of Austrian symbolist painter, Gustav Klimt. He showed sinuous silhouettes and exaggerated the elongation with sky-high stilettos by Walter Steiger, strategically-placed crystals, leather strips, fur trims and hand-painted prints by his good friend, artist Anbraude. It all looked simple, but the execution is pure Haute Couture in terms of its cut and fit.

For this evening’s shows, the team from Neville Hair and Beauty, London, led by Ms Elena Lavagni and Mr Stephen Low created the hair styles. "The regional talents we have had the pleasure to work with here in Singapore have shown such tremendous finesse in terms of their craftsmanship and finish that we're thrilled to be a part of. We hope to be invited back to the next instalment of Fashion Week," said Elena Lavagni, Director/Owner, Neville Hair & Beauty, London.

The M.A.C. team, led by Mr Romero Jennings, created the makeup looks for all three shows.


 SDV is the official logistics partner for the Fashion Week 2013 in Singapore, delivering all the delicate and high-value clothes and accessories from multiple origins - Beijing, Dubai, Korea, New York and Paris - under the best time and reliability conditions. Fashion industry players as well as the media are encouraged to meet the SDV fashion sector experts from Europe and Asia Pacific, to discover its new solution: iD by SDV. Their booth is located right in front of the Fashion Hall stage, at the Sands Expo & Convention Centre, Hall F.

Amazon.in launches Beauty Store

Amazon.in announced the launch of Beauty Store on its marketplace, www.amazon.in.   From colour cosmetics  in bright bold colours to muted hues;  luxurious shampoos and enriched moisturisers,  Amazon.in  offers an assortment of over 5000  hair care, skin care and beauty products including lipsticks, eye shadows, nail polishes, perfumes, foundations, blushers, rouge, concealers; to skincare lotions, deodorants, shampoos, conditioners, hair colours, hair oils, serums, sprays, and more.

“We are excited to offer a vast selection of beauty products on Amazon.in soon after launching Fashion Jewellery and Watches”, said Amit Agarwal, Vice President and Country Manager, Amazon India. “With Diwali round the corner and the upcoming wedding season, customers will be able to enjoy significant savings and great convenience shopping for their favourite brands and styles from the comfort of their homes.”

Amazon.in features selection from several leading brands  including   Lakme, Revlon, Maybelline, L`Oreal Paris, Colorbar, Lotus Herbals, Oriflame, Olay, Dove, Garnier, Pantene,  Neutrogena,  Vichy, Head and Shoulders, Sunsilk, and Biotique in  one convenient place.

The Beauty Store has been curated to enable a quick search for trends for the upcoming wedding season, the winter season as well as everyday essentials. So if you are looking to get that ‘Regal Look’ this wedding season, jewel toned eyes and berry lips is what Amazon.in recommends you try. The store also has handpicked products that will meet your everyday makeup requirements and the extra skin and hair care that you need in winter season.  Amazon.in has also introduced Colour Map, a feature that allows customers to view all products of their preferred colour at one glance. Additionally, customers can take advantage of detailed product information, options to shortlist products by features, read customer reviews and personalized recommendations from Amazon.in, to find the perfect product for any look and occasion.

Gifting has never been easier! As a Diwali special offer, customers can enjoy free guaranteed 2-day delivery to select cities and free Gift Wrap on items fulfilled by Amazon. Customers can be assured that their last minute purchases will reach in time for Diwali.

As always, customers will enjoy the additional benefits of Cash on Delivery, delivery tracking to the doorstep, free returns pickup, and free delivery with no minimum value on all orders Fulfilled by Amazon.

With the launch of this store, customers can shop with ease and confidence on Amazon.in from over nine million books, over 140,000 products from hundreds of brands, and more than 1.9 million eBooks from a continually growing pool of retailers.  Products on Amazon.in range from;  Books, Movies and TV shows; the Kindle family of E-Readers, Tablets and eBooks; Computers & Accessories; Mobiles & Accessories; Cameras & Photography;  Portable Media Players; Toys & Games; Baby Products; Personal Care Appliances;  Health Care Devices; Watches; Fashion Jewellery; Home and Kitchen and now Beauty products.

As with all purchases on Amazon.in, customers can shop with confidence and benefit from a safe and secure ordering experience, convenient electronic payments, no-risk hassle-free returns policy, Amazon’s 24x7 customer service support, and a globally recognized and comprehensive purchase protection provided by Amazon’s A-Z Guarantee.


Consumers can also now shop on Amazon.in through its latest mobile shopping app for Android phones. They can browse the full selection of products available on www.amazon.in, compare offers, read reviews and make purchases quickly and easily, anywhere. The Amazon App for Android is available on any Android phone as a free download through Android Market™ and through Amazon Appstore.

Vaikuntham: Art & Beyond

The 5th Solo Exhibition of Artist  Banita Agarwal Hamirwasia  was  inaugurated by Dr.Bhisma Narain Singh, Former Governor & Central Minister at AIFACS. Her beautiful paintings of Tanjore Artwork left guests mesmerized  and the gold foiled ganesh and shree yantras proved to be a perfect Diwali buying.

The characteristics of Banita’s paintings is her unique style, elegance, rich colours and attention to detail inspired by India’s classical art forms on one hand and its religious and folk traditions on the other. She attempts through her paintings, to assimilate and cultivate compositions that transfer her spiritual thoughts and echo her fascination for the divine that dwells within.


The inauguration was attended by Artists Leena Bidani, Bipasha Sengupta, Designers Pawan Sachdeva, Gautam Gupta, Shivani Singh, Jewellery Designer Shalini Kochhar,   Entrepreneur Harjinder Kaur, Sagar Suri, Actor Nasir Abdullah, Socialites Monica Barara, Rekha Chawla, etc

Bollywood siren Aditi Rao Hydari showcases ace designer Wendell Rodricks’ at NEF 2013

The North East Fest is a four-day endeavour by Ministry of Home Affairs- North East division and NTC (National Textile Corporation) to bring the culture, music, food and fashion of the North East to Delhi. The second day of the fest successfully enthralled the capital city with the most dazzling of fashion and music shows apart from enriching seminars and some very palatable food. Yana Ngoba, Sidhartha Aryan, Risha Deka, Rinzing Bhutia, Atsu Sekhose and Wendell Rodricks were some of the talented designers who exhibited their latest collections on Sunday, filling the day with exciting doses of style, glamour and vibrancy.

The festival’s promise to give a robust, national platform to the weaves and fabrics of the North East, was fulfilled with a seminar on technology upgradation in the handloom sector. The event was kicked off with this conference conducted byMr.B.B Paul-Director of the Weavers Service Centre, Ministry of Textiles, Govt. of India on Technology Upgradation in Handlooms.The workshop gave insights to the weavers who had come from Assam – on various techniques and skills that are required to keep them abreast with latest trend.

Soon after the seminar, the fashion extravaganza began as models displayed the latest collection of North Eastern fashion label, Yana, by Yana Ngoba which believes in bringing out the diversity of North eastern culture and fashion. Mumbai-based designer Sidhartha Aryan’s eponymous label was next in creating a zealous excitement on the ramp with his styles combining both luxury and wearability.  Guwahati-based designer RishaDeka’s collection inspired by traditional North Eastern clothes and the fine intricacies that distinguish different tribes and cultures, crafted with indigenous fabrics and yarns, evoked a heart-warming response from all the attendees. Next was RinzingBhutia’s label, “Line 22” which reflected fabrics of the three main tribes of Sikkim, 'Khaychen, Thorkodum, and Dakha', incorporated in designs in such a way that they could be worn by anybody in an urban setting. The next show highlighted popular North East designer Atsu Sekhose’s feminine, flattering yet understated signature silhouettes. The finale saw celebrity designer Wendell Rodricks’ super stylish yet minimalist collection win over a captivated audience. The showstopper for the show, Bollywood diva, Aditi Rao Hydari, ensured that every single fashion enthusiast present at the event was spellbound by both her beauty and the complementing splendour of Rodricks’ creations.

An elated Aditi exclaimed, “Wendell has always been one of my favorite designers and showcasing his designs at a platform such an NEF is like a dream come true. The colour, zest and rich culture of the North East are indeed reasons worth celebrating and NEF is doing a tremendous job of living upto its zeal to promote all of this.”

The fashion events were interspersed with delightful cultural performances. A troupe from Manipur set the NEF stage on fire with a pulsating and vibrant performance of the traditional DholCholom Dance. The spirit and energy that this state embodies, was apparent in the gay abandon with which the dancers performed.In the evening, the  Gangtok-based rock band, Girish and The Chronicles absolutely took over the complete crown with their thumping rock performance.
 
 

The show also witnessed active B2B networking, media interactions, as well as a mind-boggling array of mouth-watering flavors and delectable dishes from the North East. With the recent rise in popularity of North Eastern spices, herbs and combinations among Delhities, the food stalls found an extremely enthusiastic market.

Designer Poonam Bajaj participated in ‘Style Goddess’ : A fashion and style Diwali extravaganza

In a glitterati ceremony to celebrate the festivity of Diwali, Designer Poonam Bajaj participated in  a fashion and style Diwali extravaganza – ‘Style Goddess’ on 28th October, 2013 at The Jainsons Gallery.

The guests sported at the event were Ramola Bachchan, Rani Kamini Singh, Neelam Pratap Rudy, Queency Bhasin, Mishi, Nishi Singh, Sunayana Malhotra, Alka Kapoor, Designer Poonam Bajaj, Bharti Bhalla, Nupur Kundu, Malika Jain Shalini Kochhar, Tanya Ahuja and many more.

According to Designer Poonam Bajaj, ‘The concept behind participating in such a big exhibitions is to keep in mind the demand of the niche segment. We want out shoppers to have an enjoyable environment and not shop in rush.

Guests were seen shopping a variety of fashion accessories as the exhibition showcased Couture outfits, high fashion costumes, jewellery statement pieces, latest accessories and more. At this extravaganza special festive offers were offered from brands like Rose Tree, Poonam Bajaj Fusion Wear, Kashi Wafta- Benaras fine weaves in silks, ‘Saks’ by Shalini Kochhar , Divine Gems & Jewellery Pvt Ltd, Ensemble by Mukta, Sarika Dogra, Karishma Nath, Aradhna Metal Ware, Shivika Chawla, Anandini Tea, Tarot by Neera Sareen, Cilantro Catering by Pooja Aggarwal to name a few.


The Designer will also showcase the Indo -Western Fusion wear collection which is mixing of the elements of east and west, both in terms of silhouettes and embroideries. The collection consists of Indo-western Fusion Designs which will mainly have Soft and Deep Colors in the collection.  The cuts are westernized whereas the embroidery and fabric choice is more traditional.  The fabrics used in this type of collection are Georgette, Net and Chiffon with hand embroidery and embellishment work on Tunics and Dresses. The collection will include Knee length Indo western dresses and tunics with net and Georgette legging.

NEF 2013, Delhi Chapter brings in seven sisters and the brother to the capital

The North East Fest an event by Ministry of Home Affairs in association with  NTC (National Textile Corporation) flagged off its second edition at the NSIC Grounds in the capital. With its slew of runway shows by leading designers, promoting the indigenous fabrics of the region through this platform, the first day set a precedent to the upcoming events of the four-day festival. The charming Soha Ali Khan took to the ramp in style wearing red saree. She looked completely at home in her role as brand ambassador for the Festival.

The Festival was inaugurated by Ms. Renu Prabha Saikia, Weaver from APWWA, Ms Soha Ali Kha- the brand ambassador -NEF, Mr.Joi Barua- Cultural Brand ambassador-NEF.The inauguration of the exhibition of handloom and handicraft stalls was also done by Mr.R.K Sharma- Director-Technical- National Textile Corporation.

With a view to promoting overall development of the North East region, the Fest saw seminars, conferences, B2B meetings at work amidst fervent media interactions. The Weavers, artisans and kept the crowds buzzing at the venue. Amongst other stalls from DC handlooms and Handicrafts were 33 women weavers and 3 craftsmen representing Assam Police Wives' Welfare Association are participating in NEF'13. They, reflected a fraction of the amazing diversity of communities in Assam. Each community has its own distinctive style of weaving but the common thread is creativity of design.

The first day seminar on ‘Skill development and contemporary dress designing with NE fabric’ addressed by designer Risha Deka and attended by weavers from the North East.

The event took off with Soha walking the  runway for Sailex, who is well known designer from Manipur. Sailex has become a name to reckon with in women’s luxury prêt. Sailex’s collection marked his foray into Indian wear with elegant ethnic-inspired ensembles made of high quality fabrics and intricate embellishments. 

Ms Shabana Azmi was present to add cheers to the event. The next show highlighted the modern-cum-minimalist approach by Teresa Laisom and Utsav Pradhan through their offbeat label ‘munkee.see.munkee.doo’, reinterpreting classics as contemporary urban wardrobe staples in cotton and its various blends. Taking his specialty of creating ‘art to wear’ to the next level, Rajdeep Ranawat exhibited designs from his Spring-Summer 2014 collection called ‘Rococo goes Tropical’. This included playfully designed prints and embroideries, further enhanced with flowing and feminine garment silhouettes accented with Swarovski elements. Bringing the day’s fashion dose to a close was master draper James Ferreira.His showstoppers were Swati and Rocky-the famous RJs of Red FM. In an oath to North East textile and handloom James Ferreira drapes Assamese scarf in 15 different ways, layered over red swimsuits. Men’s collection consists of khadi casuals, jacket shirts and printed chiffon Kurta’s and asymmetrical woven moonga silk tops.
Soha Ali Khan commented, “This is my second outing at NEF and it is indeed a pleasure carrying on the enthusiasm and motive of NEF’s mission further through its Delhi chapter. Delhi has always been looked upon as the country’s fashion capital and gives us the right platform to truly enhance the exposure that the talent from the North East region deserves. We are hoping that the support of the Government, media and the prevalent fashion fraternity here provides the Fest the strong networking it seeks.”


The first day also saw an enthralling performance of the Lion Dance (Jai Ho) of Sikkim by the cultural group - Bhramaputra .Also, Joi’ s Group who got the attendees grooving  brought the lilting melody of the North East to add spice to the festive ambience. His show started when the Indi Old Schoolers riders group came to the ground in their sturdy bullets. Around 30 riders, early in the evening, had taken a small ride in the capital to promote North Eastern state and to spread the message of harmony.

Tuesday, October 29, 2013

Olivia Wells: Miss Universe Australia 2013

Olivia Wells, Miss Universe Australia 2013, poses in her 2014 YAMAMAY FOR MISS UNIVERSE collection at the Crowne Plaza Moscow World Trade Centre.

Olivia Culpo: Miss Universe 2012


Monday, October 28, 2013

Philippines, Thailand and China Couturiers Wowed Guests At Fashion Week 2013, presented by FIDe

Never pass up a good thing, and that is what fashionistas worth their style kicks did – soaking in as much of Fashion Week 2013 as they can get!

Day 8 of Fashion Week 2013, presented by The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands and organised by FIDé Fashion Weeks, was more about innovations at its best at the Sands Expo & Convention Centre.

Michael Cinco, a Philippines couturier based in Dubai for the last 15 years, showed why he is on the top of his game with a near-perfect collection that is inspired by the Spanish dress. Cinco’s interpretations of the sexy flamenco gown were manifested in sheer silk tulles, French laces and heavily beaded, crystallised and embroidered in three key colours – skin nude, lipstick red and gothic black. The collection is so fresh, some of his pieces only arrived that morning! His models were sexy as they slinked down the runway. One key black and maroon gown with a cascading multi-tiered train used as much as 200-metres of tulle embroidered at the hems, and took five helpers to carry it from the changing room to the back of the stage. Upon up-close inspection, Cinco’s workmanship and finishing is second to none. No loose threads, no unfinished seams, just gorgeous and heavenly!

Lady Gaga, Christina Aguilera, Sofia Vergara, Brandy, Britney Spears, Fergie, J Lo, Ciara, and Chris Brown too, are fans and have been photographed wearing his creations.

Next to take centrestage was the Thai duo of Vatit Virashpanth and Itthi Metanee, better known as Vatit Itthi. They started the line in 2002 in Chicago, before relocating back to Bangkok to carry on their line of red-carpet gowns. For this show in Singapore, fresh from Bangkok’s Elle Fashion Week, it was about an “old school, new world” attitude. Adapting ‘old’ silhouettes from around and after WW2, the duo used draping, sheer overlays and embellishments of handmade delicate silk flowers and strategic beadwork to highlight the 29 ensembles of simple and classic lines. When they head home after Fashion Week 2013, they have been booked till early next year for their gowns and dresses (and we now know why); which means they will not be taking a breather anytime soon!

Closing Day 8 with a resounding bang was the respected Chinese couturier Guo Pei with her show that lasted an hour. Known for her fantastical proportions and even more extravagant embroidery and beadwork that knows no boundaries, the collection showcased was an extension of her strengths. Named “The Arabian 1002 Nights”, she showed 18 stunning ensembles, all accompanied with embellished platforms, with a few male model eye candies. Fantasy reigns supreme as she sent one model after another with so much to take in – embroidery, beadwork, crystals, prints, textures all juxtaposed and yet not jarring. This show, like all of her shows, is not about wearability, but a showcase of what Guo can achieve in terms of fabrications, embellishments and ideas. As guests left the Fashion Hall close to midnight, they were talking and buzzing about collection – all feeling amazed, delighted and appreciative.

Mr Stephen Low and Ms Elena Lavagni of Neville Hair and Beauty, London, worked their team hard this evening as they created three sets of vastly different hair styles for the three shows.

"The regional talents we have had the pleasure to work with here in Singapore have shown such tremendous finesse in terms of their craftsmanship and finish that we're thrilled to be a part of. We hope to be invited back to the next instalment of Fashion Week," said Elena Lavagni, Director/Owner, Neville Hair & Beauty, London.


Mr Romero Jennings, M.A.C. Cosmetics’ Director of Make Up Artistry, North America, and his team created make-up looks for all three shows.

A grand First anniversary celebration of Abraxas Lifestyle Magazine in the Capital

Hosted on behalf of the magazine’s Advisory Board, the event saw the crème de la crème of the Design world descend at the venue - including members of the interior design and fashion fraternity, leading artists, photographers, socialites and industry big-wigs.

Advisory Board member and prominent photographer Akash Das held a special photography exhibition showcasing 60 of his fabulous works - spanning the genres of art wildlife, fashion and fine art nudes.

The highlight of the evening was the traditional lighting of the lamp ceremony - being lit by Rita Mody Joshi (Editor-in-Chief) as well as Advisory Board Members Akash Das (renowned photographer), Sanjib Chaterjee (renowned interior designer), Sanjay Bhattarcharya (renowned artist) and Pradeep Gupta (Cybermedia Chairman).

In his short speech, Publisher and Managing Editor Hemant Sud made three important announcements:
The ‘Dirty Dozen’ which made up the Advisory Board were now officially the ‘Fabulous Fourteen’ - with artist Sanjay Bhattacharya and Sonjoy Mohanty (Secretary General of the International Spirits and Wines Association) being the two new additions.

The setting up of the Abraxas Trust - a new charitable initiative - where the magazine would do its part in giving back to the design fraternity.

The magazine going international from next month - starting with Dubai.

This was followed by an evening of cocktails and dinner.


Guests at the event included leading names from several varied professions.

Kalki Koechlin rocked the ramp for Gaurav Gupta at Delhi Couture week 2013

Bollywood’s latest sensation Kalki Koechlin  walked the ramp as a showstopper for designer Gaurav Gupt’s collection entitled ‘Lightfall’ during the PCJ Delhi Couture week 2013 at New Delhi and looked beautiful in a golden dress.

Inspired from the idea “Light travels. Life unravels. Through each photon a new possibility emerges . These are characters from lightfall a table of the journey of light. It is when lightfall on a thought that it becomes an idea, the idea, action and when action is repeated in sincerity ,it becomes mythology itself I looked a thousand years from now this is perhaps how the imagined heroines of those tales would appear. Here the extinct ancient sews itself to the ultra future with light.’’, Gaurave Gupta created the magic on the ramp with his highly innovative collection.

Luminescence is what lied behind every garment of his collection. It was the light behind, over and within every process of creation that fascinated Gaurav for his story.

The collection comprised newer silhouettes in gowns and derivatives of the saree and lehanga. It told the story of the evolving  silhouette of the saree. There was a glass like felling to this emotion which resonates with history and far future, colours remained iridescent in the families of moon grey, ecru, dust gold ,Egyptain teal and pop neon.

There was a thorough juxtaposition of ancient Indian embroidery techniques and material like saadi, pitta, zari, nakashee and multi-dimensional surface ornamentation with organza and lace flower and fabrics like lace, jersey, georgette and soft mesh silhouettes that dominate this collection were sand Timer, Fluid Pyramid, Twisted Ripple, Expanding Root, Liquid Creeper.

Sushmita Sen walked the ramp for Dwarkadas Chandumal Jewellers at BBA Fashion Show

Former Miss Universe and Bollywood Sushmita Sen actress walked the ramp as showstopper for Dwarkadas Chandumal Jewellers at the The Bombay Bullion Association (BBA) Fashion Show at Mumbai. Sushmita looked stunning and elegant in a white outfit blended with beautiful jewellery.


Laxmi Jewellery at The India International Jewellery Week 2013

Creators of the most amazing Jadtar, polki diamond, kundan and gold jewellery, Laxmi Jewellery Export Pvt. Ltd. launched in 1978 by Bharat Mehta, Vipul Mehta, Divyesh Mehta and Sagar Mehta, presented its versatile collection called “Crafting Masterpieces” at the India International Jewellery Week 2013. Kundan has been a specialty of Laxmi Jewellery with 22K gold that weighs from 50 grams to heavy bridal sets.

For the vilandi collection of uncut diamonds it was the opulence and classic beauty of the ornaments that was dazzling.

A wide spread antique gold necklace opened the show matched with shimmering Jhumkas and kada. The Jhoomers adorned the heads of the graceful models and the shoulder dusters, necklaces; bangles were encrusted with rubies and emeralds to give a traditional touch.

Firm moulded necklaces, draped chokers with emerald and ruby drops edging them, beaded Raani Haars with precious gems, chandeliers with tantalising swaying pearl centres, three-in-one strands of carved gold beads and pearls for Raani Haars; revealed a marked vintage feel.

When it comes to exports in diamond jewellery, the designs followed the latest trends in traditional and contemporary styling and created couture bridal jewellery which the brand is renowned for.



In this section it was the curved scalloped fully encrusted neckpiece and the two tiered jhumkas that caught the eye of the viewers. Chandbalis  with heart shaped neckpieces, round collars centred with emeralds and rows of diamonds fused together flared out from a dramatic choker. The final entries included six large emeralds nestling amongst diamonds, while a choker-cum-necklace shimmered with glitzy earrings.

To match the festive and bridal mood of the jewellery the ethnic wear was by Shyamal and Bhumika. The show ended with Umang Mehta and Heta Mehta as they walked down the ramp to loud applause from the very appreciative audience.


The Laxmi Jewellery Export Pvt. Ltd. vintage and contemporary bridal jewellery had all the right festive design directions, which will stand the test of time for decades to come.