Fit the Dress?

I have always kept an eye out for fashion once in a while when inspiration strikes or there is something that catches my attention. Recently a lot of fashion houses have caught my attention. The models donning their clothes, look so good, every one of them, and it is easy to see why.

After getting a reality check once in a while, what I saw was, most of the clothes on display are for either tall, slim, sometimes fair (an advantage for sure). I definitely did not fit into the height, size or how the clothes will sit on me.

The real deal is why do we all try to fit in the dress rather than the dress complimenting you.

It's not unusual for brides or her girlfriends to talk about diet plans or even work out routine to fit into the dress. This is not to say its wrong.I  had done that in the past very often, myself.  Here I just wanted to point out to the fact that, our entire lives most of us (I am talking about average people) fluctuation in between certain weight. Some people might have a wider range than others.

In short, why not have designers make dresses for an average height, voluptuous women. Once we adopt a certain acceptance that we are not going to look like the models we can comfortably choose what dresses compliments our body rather than change our bodies to fit into a dress you buy.

Shouldn't it be the consumers who should decide the market rather than the market trying to make people look like a certain kind? I find it extremely problematic when I see everyone look similar because the make up trends tend to make one look more streamlined in a certain way. I can't seem to appreciate that kind of beauty.

Sometimes the unapologetic women bring in her persona in the way to puts on the same dress where a lot of people might be wearing the same outfit.

My point is not to say being trendy is wrong in any way. One can incorporate trend not just for its freshness but merge it without our own self that reflects us rather than fit the trend.  

The Chadar Mekhela

This three-piece attire is something new that I have added to my wardrobe. This attire is one of a kind make and rare. One of a kind, because of two reasons. First, the Muga silk is endemic to this region making it a rare and unique (not to say it's not available ) Second, because it was hand-woven by my own first-cousin, therefore her own unique creation.

It had to be shared considering, it's unique origin and the love with which it was made. 

Varun Bahl's Dream Nouveau

The Dream Nouveau is said to be a collection inspired by a painter. The name rises a certain expectation to embody a beautiful dream like ensemble .

 Looking at the first ensemble, it looks easy on the eyes and for once I am not very busy running my eyes across for details. It was simply there! Beautiful!

 This next dress simply fails me visually.
The flow of the silhouette is gracious, the pastel color(the color of the present) and the embroidery on sheer, here, is not a stand out piece. Too safe!

 Also, I believe not much to take away from this! ( if one does not have the height this might not be a dress for you!)
My personal opinion: does not do justice to the model!(She is gorgeous)

 The saree,  on the right is also another example of  subtle glam. The color seems promising and likely to stay for a longer halt than I had imagined.

Although it is subtle, it is not without the intricate details. So far my impressions on the collection seems more of bringing in subdued hues with some work!

Do you think I will wear! Yes! possibly when I don't want attention and play safe! One of the days, when you are literally dragging yourself out of your home for a party !

 There is one piece that I love about the outfit on the left! The cape ! But then again the cape destroys the dress! Honestly, I am disappointed. I am not an authorized critic but my case is simply design and visuals. Both fails me here!

 Well I am not sure anymore why am I doing this! I haven't done a review in the longest time. I was hoping to be genuinely surprised!

  Well, I am looking at this piece to my left and for the longest time I wasn't sure whether I liked this piece. I loved every bit of the details but then I might have seen too many imitations.

For me personally I like this ensemble because it appeals to me visually! But on the creative side I might have seen a lot of similar pieces online!

 This brings us to the final outfit! The butterfly blouse on the model is  interesting, detailed and beautiful. The color is also lovely! But then, I am too distracted by all the gold among the flowers!

Another thing that I want to draw my attention to is the beige sherwani on the male model. I am not sure if the under-clothing underneath the Sherwani is accidental!

 Having said all that , I liked the collection in bits and pieces. Believe me! I am all in for subtlety! However, this collection invokes a mixed feeling for me!

 Nevertheless one can always be inspired differently!

Picture credits: El Sol Strategic Consultants

The Bold dares to be beautiful was Manish Arora's show in the recent DElhi Couture week

Manish Arora, known for his eccentric, bold, and convention-defying women wear, brought to Delhi couture week yet another aspect of this happy mix of eclectism with the Indian flavor. The colors screamed of celebration, and smelt - Bold.

In the celestial walk of lights and mesmerizing the audience once again, the runway was shown staged with lights and the stream of polkas brightening up the whole hall. Keeping his ritual of whistles intact, this collection was something he incorporated for three years. One could see the warrior return, with furs, come alive redefining the contemporary women.

The warriors resembled the Amazon warriors and the crown embellished with gold showed a certain pride. Manish Arora in his definition of couture said, ' To me, couture is all about festivity in the Indian context and all the pieces are specially handmade'. He also added that the furs were legally obtained with permissions and were real. This couture week was definitely about colors, and gold is constantly making a big headway, this season in the runways. The fabrics used in this are natural fabrics and also has natural plastics too confirmed Arora. Although Manish Arora does not design wedding dress he confesses that he had done a few designs for family friends. To him, inspiration and idea come easy but the real difficulty is, ' the execution of inspiration' said Manish Arora.

If fashion could be predicted this season is all about the coming back of red, gold and the shimmering colours in gold.

United colors of India for Anju Modi in the Delhi couture week 2012

The golden shores beckoning, a fisherman gleaming in the beautiful sunset, and the music droned from the fish capital-- West Bengal, and with Rabindranath Tagore's poetry resounding, contemporary India, drawn through Anju Modi's eyes was an enchantment of the dream-like creation in Devi, at the recent Delhi Couture week.

Gripped with the nostalgia of Bengal, and the hues of red, and glimmering gold it was essentially the colours of India. The satins weave, rooted in the traditions of the country draped the models in the full bloom of its history.

The charcoal blacks with a hint of gold and red which was sparingly highlighted at the initial part became much louder as the ramp saw the splash of red, a colour with more shimmering gold. Deeply embedded into the intrinsic culture, the embellishments were somewhere a mix of both an Indo-Bohemian and Victorian.

The cuts grow louder and bolder in the lehengas and cholis, and the recurring theme of waves in the flaring skirts, the flowing drapes, the pallu falling off the shoulders had a charm and poise of an Indian woman shrouded in the mystery of silence. The muted appeal in each piece had drawn a certain light, an aura of mystic beauty around itself. Gasping for more the ultimate and the much awaited evening was when Madhuri Dixit Nene arrived and stopped the time for one moment in the timeless look of a bride gushing brightly in the sindoor. The eternal symbol of love and pride of Indian women framed in the time of the classic era of ever inspiring Devdas.

'Isn't the Indian women so loveable? It is the beauty adorned in the traditional weaving culture of India that this collection Devi is all about', said Modi.

Devi may refer to goddess but in this essence it is the beauty and the earthiness of the Indian women that is reflected in the collection. Priced 50,000 rupees and above this Couture collection could easily be a bride's dream of donning her D day.