The Uncensored Household
What does it mean to be a celebrity feminist and do they help or hinder the cause? Can they even call themselves so?
In an article in The Guardian, a journalist forensically analyses the contribution of so-called Hollywood Feministas (my word) and whether they failed. Feminists such as Emma Watson are berated
With this collection, Manish Malhotra celebrated 10 years of his couture house and 25 years as a costume designer for the Indian film industry. His Bollywood fan club was out in full support on the night, generations of stars and super stars sitting in front row, the paparazzi going wild.
As if these two fantastic milestones weren’t enough to celebrate, demonstrating that good things come in three’s, Manish Malhotra announced that two new flagship boutiques would open in 2016, one in London and the other in Dubai. Both world class shopping
Debarun Mukherjee’s couture collection embarked on a journey through Indian cinematic costume through the decades from the black and white days of the 1930s to the present time. Of course, little has changed in hundreds of years of traditional Indian fashion let alone a few decades. Colours and trims come in and out of fashion
My White Wrists (Chitiyan Kalayan) is the translation of a chorus of a Bollywood song that has been in the top ten in the BBC Asian Radio Charts and on radio loops in India non-stop.
Songs like this make me want to scream: is there no hope of evolution in the South Asian community’s mentality about skin
A few weeks ago I had realised that there were no Hollywood in Bollywood films on the horizon. Could it be? Could the Slumdog Millionaire franchise actually fail to produce another saccharine feel-good Hollywood blockbuster? Are there no more Americans that need to travel to India and “find him/herself” and return a changed human being for the greater good?
And then just like buses, three films come at once. One I’ve forgotten about already. I couldn’t face the Helen Mirren cooking one. But the baseball one seemed palatable, not least because the hunk (haven’t said that for a while) from Mad Men was in it. Enter… Million Dollar Arm.
Namrata Joshipura Grand Finale WIFW AW 2014
Oh the pressure! The opening and closing shows for Wills Lifestyle India Fashion Week are usually the most anticipated and highest profile. This year, the grand finale honour was granted to designer Namrata Joshipura whose signature silhouettes include red carpet gowns as well as barely there bodysuits.
Namrata Joshipura Grand Finale WIFW AW 2014
Soltee by Sulakshana Monga WIFW AW 2014
‘Dark Gives Balance’ was the title of Soltee by Sulakshana Monga’s show for AW 2014. A collection that was dominated by nudes, browns and golden tones, the looks that were presented were glamorous and bold. Including floor sweeping gowns, menswear and flatteringly draped separates, the collection had only good times in mind.
Soltee by Sulakshana Monga WIFW AW 2014
Tarun Tahiliani WIFW AW 2014
‘…Ornament as the principal embellishment is the glue that binds this collection together’ Tarun Tahiliani.
Setting the standard for the rest of Wills Lifestyle India Fashion Week with a stellar opening show veteran Indian designer, Tarun Tahiliani, did not disappoint. His AW14/15 ready to wear collection was an indulgent voyage in worldly ornamentation and clever layering. Precious jewellery provided the colour palette and inspiration for embroideries.
Ruby, emerald, onyx, sapphire, gold, turquoise…an Aladdin’s cave of rich inspirational colour. Textiles included silk brocades, draped into structured salwar trousers and other fine silks used in flowing kaftan inspired silhouettes or as a base for amazing kaleidoscope prints. I was lucky enough to have a sneak preview of the collection at the fittings prior to the shows and the fabrics and styles are even more gorgeous close up.
WIFW Designer: Nachiket Barve
WIFW Designer: Nachiket Barve
Old is the new New but not upcycled vintage … Indian designer Nachiket Barve was inspired by fossils and the balance between the preservation of fragile and strong forms. The soft colour palette included oat and dusty rose: all shades that suit most skin tones. Dyeing techniques were experimented with
Madonna, Kylie, Pink Floyd, New Kids, Daft Punk, Metallica, Asha Bhosle and Rahat Fateh Ali Khan are all happily lying in my ipod’s music library albeit in different playlists! Who is is this last chap, Rahat Fateh Ali Khan aka RFAK aka The Voice From Heaven?
Having recently performed to a capacity crowd of 12,000 at London’s O2 Centre, Ustad (Maestro) Rahat Fateh Ali Khan is a Sufi qawaali singer
Bunty and I have covered the subject of skin lightening creams before (e.g. here: Nice Tan Lines). A new campaign has launched in India with the slogan Dark is Beautiful. Whilst we find this rather patronising, the aim of the campaign is to drum home the message that fair skin is not the only description of beauty and that people should be happy and proud of the colour that they are… in addition, possibly, to educate other Indians to reset their prejudices.
The skin lightening industry in India is worth over a staggering $400 million and the lightening products on offer range from face creams to a fanny wash. Fairness = beauty = success = happiness = a guaranteed place in heaven??
Couturier Manish Malhotra needs no introduction. Whilst Manish was inspired by the princely states and regalia of the 1930s, contemporary royalty in the form of Shah Rukh Khan and Bollywood princess Deepika Padukone walked the ramp for the designer. The beautifully coiffured hair underlined the inspiration with silhouettes and embroidery echoing the splendour of Indian – European architecture. French shoe designer Christian Louboutin
Salvatore Ferragamo red patent kitten heels from http://www.selfridges.com
Actress (or actor?) Emma Watson revealed that she only has eight pairs of shoes. I don’t believe her at all, I don’t know ANY woman in my entire extended circle of friends and family even ten times removed who only have eight pairs of shoes.
Her statement led to the inevitable glut of fashion editors declaring the only eight pairs of shoes that any woman may ever need. Some of the lists include Geography teacher (aka Jesus) leather sandals and trainers. I own neither.
If there are no little people in your family you won’t know about the amazing Sally Bollywood, a cartoon series that is a delight to watch! There is a cracking soundtrack, wacky but believable kitsch interiors and excellent plots.
Sally has her own detective agency that she runs in her basement along with best pal and techie, Doowee and they get cases from their school friends
Indian Celebrity, Esha Gupta featured in Manish Malhotra’s show
There are few designers in the Indian fashion industry that can start a trend like Manish Malhotra. His influence in Indian cinema is so great and the trickling effect on to TV sets beamed around a billion homes is no small accomplishment. In this way,
If you are looking for a bit of racy mitai (Indian sweet), look no further than the The Ferocious Ladoos.
Punjabi Rock/Indie band from West London, stole the night at their debut gig in Hoxton Square at the Underbelly last night. Led by the gifted and talented music alchemist Bob Loyal, and including Huck Auluck and Faisal Malik rocked the audience.
We brought you news and reviews from Delhi Couture Week a couple of months ago. Now dear Chatterboxes it’s time to go gaga for Wills Lifestyle India Fashion Week Spring-Summer 2013 due to start tomorrow!
63 designers will showcase their designs in Delhi in a five day fashion event from 6 – 10 October. Here at The Chatterjis blog we will bring you the best
Day 4 of PCJ Delhi Couture Week 2012 presented two shows of opposite extremes. Both designers referenced bridalwear but whereas Shantanu & Nikhil’s fantasy bride was gothic and dark, Manish Malhotra’s was a fluttery sugar-dipped princess.
Shantanu & Nikhil’s show notes were far too deep in reference points especially since they threw in the towel and conformed to produce a bridalwear collection. Why not simply state that you want to do a different type of couture collection?
There are not many places in the world where young men describe themselves as heroes or machos but India is one of them. I haven’t been back in Delhi long and a friend mischievously warned me of her new physiotherapist who comes to her house every other day. The encounter was hilarious.
A tight t-shirted, coiffured muscle man came in and started working on my friend’s shoulder while
On Sunday morning, India and South Asians around the world awoke with the sad news that Dev Anand passed away. The 88 year-old superstar and icon was in London on a trip to launch a season celebrating his career in Indian cinema with Channel 4.
Although I was not a huge fan and must confess
David Cameron used his party speech to bring child adoption to the front of his agenda highlighting the woefully inadequate placement of children. With children from ethnic minorities the figures are worse as an ethnic match is preferred but ethnic minority families seem more reluctant to put themselves forward.
Who doesn’t love Kishore Kumar? His voice still gives me a tingle and I am instantly transported to the back of my mum’s car with my sister singing along as kids (in fact, when we found out that Amitabh Bachchan didn’t sing his own songs we were quite devastated).
But did you know he was a little wacky? He was once
The London Indian Film Festival is in its second year and kicks off from today until 12 July. There will be a showcase of apparently independent Indian cinema, however, the event is beginning with a movie starring Amir Khan’s nephew – pretty conventional: family connection = starring movie role.
A few Indian newspapers lamented over the weekend that the Bollywood stars who attended Cannes this year did not wear Indian dress or Indian designers but opted for Armani, Tom Ford, Lanvin and so on. I think this is quite hypocritical as Indian actors are part of a global celebrity industry and it’s only natural for people to want a new look every so often.
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