The much-awaited Wills India fashion week was held in the month of October in New Delhi. Bling was in and colors ran riot all through the event. It was one of the premier fashion weeks in India, which had plenty of Indian designers showcasing their creations. The designers intended to shake off the depression created by global economics through their fresh and innovative creations.

Ranna Gill, who was one of 7 designers at the event asserted that “I think you should use more bling when the situation is grim to cheer you up.” She was there to showcase the vibrant spring-summer collections on the first day of the Wills Lifestyle India Fashion Week. Her nirvana-inspired line included pant suits, knitted skirts, and free-flowing kaftans. Her ensembles boasted of geometrical prints in shades such as browns, purple, turquoise, and green. The outfits looked stunning when they were teamed with bold and chunky crystal neckpieces.

In the beautiful ‘Ambrosia’ collection by Siddhartha Tytler no one could spot a trace of gloom. All his ensembles were bright and had embroidered sheeting in rich blue, orange, silver, and golden. His short dresses with prints of Japanese comic characters were also very attention grabbing. Earlier this designer had stated the fashion industry of India would be withstanding the worst of the financial meltdown because international buyers were not taking many orders.

A fresh designer who made his debut at the WIFW was Amrish Kumar, the son of couture queen Ritu Kumar. The traditional ‘Maasai’ tribes of East Africa inspired his collection. Just like his designer mother, he made an abundant use of prints, which he used innovatively on short frocks and slacks.

Another designer who displayed her collection was Sanchita who made quite a name for herself with her understated collection. Her outfits showed off metallic embellishments, which were inspired from Charles Rennie Mackintosh, an architect-designer and also by the works of Jean Vendome, a famous artist. On the other hand, Surily Goel’s collection, which featured layered, one-shoulder dresses in shades such as rose pink and olive green was definitely inspired from the traditional outfits of ancient Greece. The audience who dazzled at the show wanted to take a break from watching usual Indian wear like saris, lehengas, salwar kameez, or traditional Indian bridal outfits. This show was fun and featured a lot of creativity.

The Indian capital surely grabbed the limelight for showcasing the unusual, cheerful, and stylish spring and summer collections.

September 19, 2008 saw the majestic day four of India Couture Week. It was the day when women’s designs were the center of attraction by ace designers like Anamika Khanna as well as Pallavi Jaikishan.

The original couture designers of Anamika Khanna made here stand out. The designs were unlike the usual lehengas and saris that one got to admire in the earlier three days of the fashion week. This day of HDIL India Couture Week was a perfect example of the fusion of contemporary art and modernism. The silhouettes were both straightforward as well as frank. Khanna has been using her label for four year and in this fashion event, she proved that her designs are surely showstoppers. The colors that she used in her creations were grey beige, black, and white. These were the predominant tones in her color palette this season. Her clothes features blunt cuts, high collars, puffed sleeves, and plenty of net.

Many of the outfits were teamed with nice pairs of leggings. One could find lots of zardozi work on her ensembles and the use of exquisite accessories was also brilliant. Her collection mostly had party wear, which could be worn easily, and the range in gold and black was awesome. In case of Anamika’s fashion show, the person who was the main showstopper was Indian actor Sonam Kapoor, who debuted in the film, ‘Saawariya’. This beautiful lady caused a stir, which she delicately walked on the ramp, wearing a wonderful black and silver ensemble, designed by Khanna. The dress has a brilliant display of zardozi work.

To make the show more colorful, members of the Indian film fraternity like Anil Kapoor, Karan Johar, Sanjay Leela Bhansali, Madhur Bhandharkar, Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra were also seen at Anamika’s show. Anil Kapoor cheered on while his daughter Sonam sashayed on the stage. According to him, “The show was fantastic, very understated, subtle and classic.” He gave his daughter full marks for scorching the ramp.

The other designer Pallavi Jaikishan concluded the show with her stunning designs. She named her collection ‘Life is beautiful’ and her clothes were as beautiful as the theme. In her embellished ensembles, she used a lot of floral motifs. The outfits were mainly wearable and beautiful saris. She used a French backdrop and a garden to highlight her designs. Thus, there were men in tailcoats, who opened the doors for the models.

Bollywood and Indian fashion are just like two close friends who never let go of each other. Fashion gets inspired from the trends in Bollywood, thereby leading to a number of stylish creations that soar on the scale of popularity. The actors in the Indian film industry Bollywood depend on professional fashion designers and stylists for all their styling needs and their individual styles are emulated by movie and fashion buffs. Famous designers like Manish Malhotra, Neeta Lulla, Vikram Phadnis, Rocky S and many more are those style gurus on whom Indian actors depend on the most.

India fashion is not only a rage in the Indian market but a big hit in the international market as well. Indians are scattered across the globe and Bollywood makes its mark wherever there are Indians. People of other nationalities too find Indian fashion captivating. Thus we had in the past international celebrities sporting dazzling crystal bindis. People, who are crazy about Hindi movies, make it a point to follow all the dresses and styles that they watch on screen. So if you have seen Katrina Kaif dancing around is solid toned saris in the recent movie “Sinng is Kinng”, you too want to look as beautiful as her in similar saris.

Just a few years back we saw the movie “Veer Zaara” and loved it not only for its emotional content but for the ethereal salwar kameezes flaunted by Preity Zinta. In fact there were young girls all around wearing the white embroidered salwar kameezes that looked great on the actor. No one can deny what a rage the “Bunti aur Babli” salwar kameezes had been. Those shiny silk kurtis in vibrant shades with pointed shirt like collars were seen everywhere and one also did not miss the transparent patiala shalwars with multicolored horizontal stripes.

With every film comes a new look. For example take the latest look of Priyanka Chopra in the upcoming film “Drona”. She is shown sporting a tunic with ripped edges and leather boots. She is an actor who believes in making an impact in every movie with her look and style. A few months back she experimented with pink hair in the flick “Love Story: 2050” and will look different in her next release “Fashion”. Just like her, other actors in the film industry believe in setting new fashion trends, leaving everyone to simulate their styles.

Hindi films play a huge role in influencing Indian fashion that the common people love to follow.

On the day five, of India Couture Week on September 20, the fashion conscious crowd in Mumbai got to see a lot of the creations of Tarun Tahiliani and Varun Behl. They were the two designers who took the centre stage with their striking collections. The evening opened with the grand silhouettes of Varun Bahl. His collection bore testimony to the blend of the Elizabethan age and the Mughal-Rajput period. All his ensembles whether saris or salwar kameez, combined extravagance, elegance and opulence to get the desired effect. What caught one’s attention were the huge headgears, which often drifted the audience’s attention away from the dresses. The accessories used with the outfits were over the top.

Each model walking on the ramp wore unique attire. The textures were delicate, the designs were geometrical and the patterns were floral. The outfits had a Victorian edge to them and came with interesting drapes. He extensively used velvet to adorn his model and in fact, it was the base fabric for most of his clothes. In was a star-studded affair with celebrities like Riteish Deshmukh, Randeep Hooda, Vidya Malvade, and Urvashi Sharma appearing at the event to increase the style quotient of Behl’s show.

Deshmukh, who is also an acquaintance of Varun said that “Varun has designed for me on many occasions. He has a distinct sense of style and detailing and the way he puts one fabric into the other is simply fabulous.” He felt that with the India Couture Week, we have really progressed in the world of fashion. India is a place, which has made a big name in the world of fashion. Vidya Malvade who rose to fame in the film ‘Chak De India was all praises for the designer and exclaimed “Every time I wear his creation, people flood me with compliments. I simply love all his creation, they are truly awesome”.

Tarun Tahiliani or the king of Indian fashion was the other designer at the show. His outfits were inspired from zardozi artisans, Benarasi weavers, and Maharani Gayatri Devi. His collection certainly suited everyone’s tastes. One could find an exquisite sari, an embellished
salwar kameez, a sharara or even a western outfit by him. He made use of a variety of bright shades like reds, blacks and pinks. His use of stone jeweler as an armlet, hair clip, or a brooch was remarkable.

Bollywood actor Shilpa Shetty set the ramp on fire by walking in a gold and red bridal wear created by Tarun.

The season of festivals is about to arrive in India, and with it, one can sample a variety of fashion trends. Festivals are not only times for enjoying, feasting on goodies, and hanging out with friends and families, but they are also for flaunting your best attires. Young people in India wait for such occasions when they can display the several colorful items of their wardrobes and draw compliments from all. Thus, this festive season demands that you remain armed with the latest fashion designs.

Whether you are wearing a sari or a salwar kameez make sure that you make heads turn with the stunning designs. The latest craze in Indian fashion wear is the anarkali suit, which comprises a long and flared top with a churidar. The tops have an A-line cut and look best when bejeweled with a riot of sequins and other embellishments.

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Young girls find western wear more comfortable, so you will certainly spot them in jeans and tees or kurtis on normal days. However when the occasion is a big festival like Diwali or Navratri, then the focus shifts to pure Indian fashion wear. The emphasis may be traditional wear like saris, lehengas cholis or salwar kameez, but the trends are certainly modern. The fashion conscious girls know how to add a touch of glamour to any attire by enhancing a new neck line or adding some exquisite embroidery or creating a new style of sleeves. It is the safest bet to stick to the latest trends in the world of style but there is no harm in experimenting. Once you do it, you may also become the role model for creating your own style statement.

This season you can make a style statement by enhancing your traditional wardrobe. If you have a string of pearls then wear them with a stylish evening sari or a chic kurti. In this way you will not fail to look grand. It will certainly transform your entire look. If you do not have one then you will certainly find it in the wardrobe of your mom, your grandmother or your aunt.

If you are not fond of traditional wear then you can opt for an A-line or trapeze dress with traditional prints like paisleys or embellishments. It will surely flatter you as it is suited for every body type. Follow these simple and affordable dressing up tips and step out in style in this festive season.

The India Couture Week was an event that many fashionable people waited for. A rich and ornate Ritu Kumar show was the best way to start the HDIL India Couture Week. The collection managed to entrance the crowd with its sheer opulence and beauty. Ritu Kumar or also the diva of Indian fashion designing completed 40 long years in the field of Indian fashion and the show marked this to the fullest.

This designer opened one of the most high profile fashion weeks in the country with a great bang. It was an anniversary collection with the emphasis on her retrospective works. The designs were not simply traditional but successfully intertwined modern elements as well. All eyes were fixed on the ramp as Priyanka Chopra, the beautiful Bollywood damsel swished in an ornate red kali lehenga. It was teemed with an emerald green choli with a sweetheart neckline and churi sleeves in net. The look was Indian with the right touch of modernity. It was a brilliant traditional outfit displaying rich embroidery. The fit of the choli was perfect, while the embroidery was flawless. The hemline was exquisite using ghunghru as tassels.

The dupatta to was very ornate and covered fully with sequins to enhance the complete look of the outfit. She managed to steal everyone’s hearts with her bollywood style attitude, an ornate teeka, and the kajra-re hairstyle. Neha Dhupia was also seen in a purple lehenga choli by Kumar. Riya Sen strode the ramp in a golden choli and lehenga, while sister Raima wore a tunic with Rajasthani patterns. Others who scorched the stage in Ritu Kumar’s creation were Nayonika Chatterjee, Carol Gracious, Jesse Randhawa, Tapur Chatterjee, and Dipannita Sharma.

On the final day of the week, style guru Manish Malhotra exhibited his bridal finery in the form of graceful lehengas cholis, anarkali salwar suits, and much more. Just like the ethereal saris of this designer, the ensembles in this show were breathtaking. The sensual net dupattas added a lot of drama to the clothes. The traditional Indian suits and the shararas in vibrant shades were picture perfect. He created a Mughal look for his collection. His famous net saris in a mess of crystals were a rage. Velvet was the material he used for his ornate lehengas and he decked them up with Swarovski crystals. The look was well balanced with fluted blouses and lurex cholis.

You can make your home into a cozy living space by designing with all your imagination and creativity. It is possible to change the entire look, character, personality, environment, and mood of all your rooms. Use the following home décor ideas to find a new and elegant home inviting you.

For lighting, it is a good idea to use incandescent lights that are soft as opposed to halogen and fluorescent lights, which are too harsh and even bright to make a room look cozy. If there are some visually interesting attractions in your room like up-lighting for focusing on portraits and family photos on the walls or even beautiful lampshades, then you can direct the light to bring them into the limelight.

When you are preparing to introduce new furniture for your home then you can invest in some nice textured furniture that surely enhances the cozy room décor. On the other hand if you plan to buy some sleek furniture then it can make your room appear very formal.

You should use a wide range of captivating textures in your rooms. For a genuinely cozy look, you can throw around colorful Indian style cushions, blankets, and fluffy and soft pillows. You will definitely get the desired look by doing this. While if you have hardbound books stacked nicely in bookcases or have baskets in the room, it will lead to a more ethnic look. In addition to this if, you have in your room, large mirrors, stylish tables with irregular-shapes, metallic circular chairs, or black chrome armchairs, then the look of the room would be too sophisticated.

The usage of warm and dark toned colors for the walls, furnishings, and furniture can make your room appear smaller but it will surely look cozier as well. So go ahead and start painting your in the shades that you had always wanted to. You can also use several beautiful patterns for giving a cozy feel to your room, but it can make it look smaller. So, if your room is small then use the patterns carefully and sparingly.

For an instant touch of warmth in your room, throw around rugs in dark colors. You can also create magic with dazzling Indian Sari or Velvet curtains that are made of silk with beautifully embroidered golden border and fantastic tassels. These tips, along with the power of your creativity can help you in decorating your dream home.

Do you want to decorate your home in the Desi Indian styles? You don’t have to be a skilled interior designer to get the look. You have to be a little creative and let your imagination run wild. You can reflect your lifestyle through the enchanting Indian décor style of your home. If you want an Indian makeover for your home, then you can follow these ideas. These tips will help you in creating a real Indian look for your amazing home.

India is a place where you can find various cultures and heritages. We have the Punjabi, Rajasthani, Maharashtrian, South Indian, and several other cultures. Now it is up to you to decide which culture you would prefer for your home sweet home. Once you can select a traditional theme or style you can decorate your home accordingly. For a unique effect, you can adopt different regional themes for every room. The final choice should be something that you want.

It is a great good idea to arrange attractive wall hangings, paintings, and photo frames on your walls. You can a play with the type of frames, using one with golden border or those that are decorated with mirrors, shells, and sequins. In case of the wall hangings and paintings, any good or famous traditional Indian theme will create the desire ambiance.

So you can choose from a colorful and vivid depiction from the Mahabharata or the Ramayana. In many Indian homes, wall paintings depicting rural scenes are very popular.

Another interesting idea is to decorate the home with paintings that feature any of the classical Indian dance forms like Bharatnatyam, Kathak, Odissi, Kuchipudi, Kathakali, Mohiniattam, or Manipuri. Photos of traditional regional dances like Rajasthani, Gujarati, Assamese and folk dances can also do wonders to accentuate your authentic Indian décor. You can also use pictures of the interesting tourist spots, monuments, landmarks, temples, shrines, gardens and other remarkable places of India for the same effect.

If you are someone who takes a keen interest in the fantastic Indian classical music, then you can also try including certain musical instruments such as the tanpura, flute, tabla, sitar, veena, or santoor, which are associated with the country.

All your carpets, bedcovers, curtains, pillow cases, cushion covers, duvet cover, table runners, and other forms of tapestry should be able to reflect the typical Indian look. Try using mirror work, zari work, embroidery, and lots of color for your tapestry. Instead of candle stands, use kerosene lamps or traditional diyas.

These ideas can help you feel at home, as if living in the beautiful country named India.

The history of charming Indian sari dates back to ancient times and it has been altered in various ways during the course of its development. During its initial phase of evolution, the sari had many interesting versions and today Indian women regard this fabulous outfit as the most important part of their traditional wardrobe.

There are different legends associated with the origin of the sari. According to a particular legend, a gorgeous woman named Draupadi by was lost to a gambling adventure by her husband. In order to belittle her, the enemies of Draupadi’s husband pulled the cloth that covered her body. However as they kept tugging at the cloth, it seemed to be endless and kept coming off. According to this tale, the men who won the gamble symbolize evil, while Draupadi’s cloth garment was a symbol of eternity. Today that cloth worn by Draupadi is known as the sari, as we know it.

According to another legend, the Indian sari has its origin in the weaver’s loom who loves to dream. While weaving on the loom, the weaver kept dreaming of a beautiful woman, the way in which her hair rests on her shoulders, how she cries silently, and so on. With such thoughts in his mind, he continued to weave until the cloth became a hundred yards long. After he finished weaving the fantastic cloth, he was pleased with his work. According to this tale, the sari emphasizes a woman’s femininity and that is what most women believe.

In its earliest form, the Indian sari resembled a short cloth that was used as a veil or a skirt. In those days, women did not wear blouses beneath their saris. This is a tradition, which is followed even today in a few places in India. In the past, the Indian saris did not have any stitch as they were regarded to be pure garments. At that time needles were generally made with bones that were supposedly impure and therefore people did not want to make the sari impure by stitching it with bone needles.

Earlier Indian women did not have many choices in terms the style of saris but now different alluring styles have emerged. As a result, not only Indian women but also women across the world are experimenting with the various drapes of a sari. Everyone is talking an interest in this ancient garment and adding innovative dimensions to it as well.

There are several exciting ideas for improving the décor of your bedroom. You can bring a new touch to it so that it becomes the most comfortable and inviting room for relaxation. The right curtains in your bedroom can make a great difference to its overall look. Bedroom curtains block away sunlight, ensure your privacy, and are even great for enhancing the beauty of your room. Therefore, you should also know how to choose the perfect curtains for decorating your master bedroom.

Before you set about on a shopping spree, you should know exactly what kind of material you want for your curtains. You can buy different types of curtains to redecorate your room so that it looks very refreshing. However if you want the curtains to match perfectly with the furnishings in your bedroom, then you have to keep in mind the theme dominating your bedroom. According to that, you need to select the pattern and color of the curtains.

Decide in advance, if you want simple curtains or dramatic ones with golden borders and embellishments. Once you know this, you have to decide if you desire that color of the curtain should blend with the shade of your bedroom or wish have curtains in contrasting shades. Purchase only those curtains, which you feel offer an attractive and delightful look to your bedroom. To get a soothing feel, settle for colors that can make you feel relaxed and rejuvenated.

In your bedroom, you can also use pillows and cushions for the purpose of decoration. Decorative cushions for the bedroom come in a variety of patterns, colors, and designs. You can search for the latest types of cushion covers and keep changing them from time to time to experiment with the look.

According to your mood, you can decorate your bedroom with cushion covers that are embellished richly with shining sequins. In fact, these have become very popular lately and the markets are flooded with amazing varieties. You can choose from countless fabrics such as silk, satin, velvet, polyester, cotton, and more. The prints of modern cushion covers can overwhelm you. The popular prints are animal prints, floral prints, and prints of vegetables and fruits. You can use different kind of cushions according to your desire.

Apart from using curtains and cushions, you can also add a glamorous atmosphere to your bedroom with colorful bedcovers as well. You can also buy other forms of embroidered tapestry and even carpets to decorate your bedroom.