Akanksha Redhu » lookbook

Final Quick Snips From Fashion Week!

Akanksha — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 11:37:49 +0000

Yes I said there would be one final blog post about the Wills Lifestyle India Fashion Week SS 2012 and here it is. A final collection of the remaining snips from the fabulous 5 day event!

Sardar on a Scarf!
What an adorable scarf with heads of Sardars printed on it! I want one!

Traditional or Tribal? or just plain electric?! Gorgeous wedges.

A turban does somehow depict power, the great kind, not the Voldemort kind, though he could definitely use one!

So clean, so prim!

Pink soled socks! So much excitement in your soles!

Fake Eyelashes left next to some creamy roses.

Rachel Bayros and an interesting hairstyle!

Ms. Proper in Printed Pants

Akanksha — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 12:56:38 +0000

Its a new year and we must at all costs strive to try new things! At the risk of not being so dramatic, it does happen to sorta be my resolution. Thats where comes in my secret desire to work printed pants.
There are no fixed parameters as to what prints, just trust your heart and a few more tips that I will be dropping in the post and you’ll be looking at a whole new you!
If you’ve noticed, the prints are endless, ranging from small floral to large floral, tribal, geometric, animal and plain whacko. Choose from the wide-leg pants to skinny pants or cropped ones. Go ahead and pick out whatever fancies you but please make sure if your pants are printed, keep everything else, and I mean EVERYTHING else, solid colored. It can either be a simple black or white or you can venture into trying the fabulous solid neons available pretty much everywhere with your printed pants. Your tops, bags and shoes – all solids, which is actually great because then you can also throw on your biggest accessories without a second thought! It all works out so so well.

Some key pieces to start you off with and an idea of what you an coordinate with them.

(L-R)Top: Sonia Rykiel Star pants, Hot Pink Preen Blazer
(L-R)Middle: Vanessa Bruno Athé’s pants, Theyskens’ Theory top, Jason Wu Sling Bag, Gucci Shoes
(L-R):Bottom: Elizabeth and James’ wide-leg pants, Elizabeth and James top, Marni bag
Courtesy net-a-porter.com

Trendspotting the printed pants:
Wide-leg pants with a tiny floral print

Big Floral Print

Ethnic Print

Tribal Print Slouchy Pants

Snake Print Pants

Photographs courtesy lookbook.nu

Its a Pastel Party!

Akanksha — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 09:36:03 +0000

Heres how you can work the pastel trend into your look this season. I know it seems washed and not the kind of thing that inspires at first glance but pastels really have a way about them. Very versatile since they can be coordinated with stronger or lighter shades, dressed up or down. Perfect for day wear and if you add some statement accessories, very suitable for nightwear as well.

Here is a start for those who have hesitated to include pastels in their wardrobe. Key pieces that will be chic and versatile:

Versus heart print skinny jeans, Miu Miu crepe cropped jacket, Anya Hindmarch heart studded card-holder, Paul & Joe Sister cotton shirt and Jil Sander pleated stretch skirt

Missoni crochet knit gown and Jil Sander double breasted coat

Hussein Chalayan draped silk satin dress and asymmetric silk satin top
Available at net-a-porter.com

Some looks to get you into the paste mood:
Minty Pastel Dress

Coral Vintage

Pastel Accessories

Chalky

Winter Pastels

Floral Pastels

A rapidly picking up trend, pastels seem to be slowly and steadily inspiring people to be bold and go less loud!
Photographs courtesy lookbook.nu

Let’s Design Season-4

Akanksha — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 13:44:54 +0000

Its a new year and a very new and fresh season of the design reality show – Let’s Design by CCI (Cotton Council International).

With almost 1500 enties to boast of, a final of 12 participants had to be short-listed. Not such an easy task for the judges – Designers Rina Dhaka and Shantanu and Nikhil.

For the announcement of the final contestants, the very charming Neha Dhupia as well as Ms. Agnieszka Fijol(CCI India Representative) had also been invited. Ms Fijol also mentioned that the quality of the entries this year was much superior as compared to the previous seasons and that she could’nt wait to see how the contestants would incorporate cotton into their designs and come up with new and innovative applications.

For those of you who do’nt know what Let’s Design is about, its essentially a reality show where the 12 contestants stay at a common ‘Design House’ to compete in a series of challenges especially designed to highlight the many facets of cotton while showing their own skills and creativity.

Neha Dhupia in a playful mood while presenting the measuring-tape look alike bracelets to the final 12 contestants.

The final team:

There was even a friend of mine from NIFT(National Institute of Fashion Technology), New Delhi, Laalit Sengar who easily breezed into the final 12. Very proud of him!

Rina Dhaka

Let’s Design will soon be aired on Zoom Entertainment Channel.

I could’nt help but also mention this quirky neon colored watch worn by Designer Nikhil Mehra

Gimme More! Trendspotting

Akanksha — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 09:33:21 +0000

I know its been what seems like an eternity of blogging about the Wills Lifestyle India Fashion Week Spring/Summer 2012 but theres just so much material I have, and the last thing I want to do is let it just sit in my hard drive. So heres what I hope will be the final post on trendspotting at the Fashion Week 2012. Besides theres two fabulous marriages that I will be attending in Pune over the next week so till then this should probably hold!

Bubble Gum Boots
Adorable rain boots which will make any gloomy rainy day super cheerful and fun. And no these are not for children. They are for the children in us! There shall be no dull ever!

More than a neck-piece it looks like something out of a sci-fi movie! There is wood, steel, nuts and extra hooks.The stitch-line details on the wood and the neon make it seem very special. Great find!

I recently read somewhere that high-head buns are back. Though I would not easily agree, I have no problem whatsoever with this particular one because firstly it suits her and secondly lets face it, its burnt orange. Full marks for keeping the hairstyle the center statement and going for a minimal cream dress, a tan belt and nude shoes. Everything seems to be in place for this look and that makes me a very satisfied person somehow.

The neck-piece is a fabulous one and no doubt she has tried to focus all the attention towards it by wearing solid top and bottom pieces. However, the drawstring certainly does draw your second glance which is not required at all. A slightly more distinguished tuck in of the shirt and tie-up of the drawstring would have really pulled the entire look together. But nonetheless, the neck-piece is rather wonderful!

Im wondering why this bloke isnt at the beach right now rather than at the fashion week! Such a summery breezy look. Easy-going and laidback. The lovely delicate red printed scarf, with the blue cotton shirt and that jute bag, all speak of effortless style.

Models being shot! I didnt feel like leaving behind my drink so I clicked from where I was sitting. Yes…..sometimes…..I am lazy, moreso in the winters.

A very bedhead look but still chic!

Okay so I said this was gonna be the last post but its seeming to be quite large. Theres going be just one more after this one and then im done. Promise! Stay happy!

Fashion Opulence – Chanel’s Paris-Bombay 2011/12 Show

Akanksha — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 06:43:08 +0000

Grandeur has a new address at the Grand Palais in Paris when Karl Lagerfeld showed Chanel’s pre-fall luxury show and named it ‘Paris – Bombay’ yesterday Dec 06. Lagerfeld was able to bring the Indian inspiration to a new royal peak with the gorgeous fabrics, accessories and even the make-up. Its also completely ironical I suppose that this collection has come out during the vastly heavy India Wedding Season for this year.

Here is a pick of my favourite looks from the show including bags, make-up and even some head-gear also known as ‘tikka’ in India. Its like a brimming glass of champagne…theres no more that you can add, but in your head you have already decided that you would like some more.

Gorgeous royal colors. Who knew silver could go that brilliantly with blue!

An asymmetric hemline kurta-dress accompanied with a churidar!

Gold and Silver. India’s darlings.

A cocktail dress and Indian wear at the same time. Genius!

Something very royal about these boots

Almost an offshoot of an ‘Anarkali’ and a ‘Dupatta’

Gosh I would love to introduce a little androgyny in the next outfit I wear to an Indian wedding!

Inspired from Indian mirror-work im guessing.

Pink and gold! India’s favourite colors for weddings.

So modern and traditional-chic at the same time!

Oh my God that ‘Tikka’ and Oh my God that make-up. If you look closely the ‘Tikka’ or the headgear actually has the Chanel logo on it!

The collection, shown on Tuesday, will hit Chanel boutiques worldwide starting May 2012.
Photographs courtesy Fashionscript http://fashionscript.net/ Cafemakeup http://cafemakeup.com and IB Times http://www.ibtimes.com