Saturday, March 31, 2012

BBA Newsstands: April 2012

The April 2012 covers are coming in early.. we will update this post to show the latest. Tell us your favorite! Ours is definitely still Grazia with Deepika...

Love!!!


Is she in character? God I hope so!!

Is Kangana positioning herself as the Posh Spice of Bollywood? 

I usually don't post FHM India (they've been known for being err rather tacky) but I actually didn't mind Nargis with her rocker-chic look....





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Can't say I'm going crazy over this. Doesn't feel like 'Vogue'.

Loving this!

Love the Shivan & Narresh swimsuit but MC India really need a new Art Director. 
Lisa looks stunning on this Femina cover...

Grazia gets it right but it's hard to make Deepika look bad! Love!

Happy Birthday Rohini! @ Dream Hotel Soho, NYC

One of my readers, Rohini, invited me to her birthday party in New York at the rooftop of the Dream Hotel in Soho. I was delighted to attend, wear red as requested, and party it up with some BBA ladies! And yes, as expected they are FABULOUS! I can't wait to meet more BBA readers...please reach out and email me if you are in New York. Happy Birthday Rohini!!!! xox

Me, Ashlene Nand, & the fab birthday girl Rohini 

Rohini's sweet friends & me!

My BBF Megan (or as I call her 'Megna') with some of the fashionistas at the birthday



Friday, March 30, 2012

BBA Flashback Fridays: Asha's Eyes

To this day I think Asha Parekh has the best eyes in Bollywood! The lady was a stunner!! Though she could capture any man with those eyes, Asha has remained unmarried to this day. People said she had an affair with the married director who discovered her. It does seem in India if you want to be scandalous and cheat on your wife, then you join Bollywood. If you had that thought then you would be correct! lol... now, back to those eyes... 





Thursday, March 29, 2012

What To Wear? BBA Inspiration!

Need some inspiration to keep your style fresh? Well, you don't need to look far. Your mum's bangles, that gold wedding set, or those bright pants you used to wear in the 80s can all be worked in. If you want to be different, you need to dare to go there! These latest fashion editorials have some hidden inspiration...

Tie a bright piece of fabric around your waist & pair it with a t-shirt...voila! 

Color, prints... just mix and match it.

Embellish... don't be afraid to use any bling you can find!

Go gold! Pair your Indian gold with some Urban chic styling and you reinvent it completely.

Lisa Haydon for Femina April 2012


Catherine Malaldrino

Dior

Etro

Ferragamo

Gucci

Versace

Tuesday, March 27, 2012

Jodhpur: A Not-So-Obvious Fashion Icon

Did this man create and inspire a global fashion trend?

Maharaja Pratap Singh & Christian Dior 2010

I'm quite fascinated with horse culture in fashion and I especially love reading about how Ralph Lauren took his love for polo and turned it into a billion-dollar fashion empire. I was sure that there was an Indian link to this fashion obsession, and I found an obvious one to be Jodhpurs, a form of pant that is designed for riding but has become a fashion statement around the globe.

According to Wikipedia:
They originate from an ancient style of Indian trouser called the Churidar, which is tight around the calf and baggy at the hips, still worn at traditional Jodhpury weddings. This is a special traditional style of clothing Northern India, especially in what is today the modern state of Rajasthan, which has its capital at the city of Jaipur. Sir Pratap Singh, a younger son of the Maharaja of Jodhpur, popularised in England the style of riding-trousers worn in Jodhpur, a design that he apparently improved and perfected by himself and first tailored in India about 1890.

The popularity of the pants spread to Britain where polo players adopted the trend. Today, Jodhpurs have graced the pages of Vogue and Harper's, featured on the runway for Dior and Lauren, and transformed into a variety of different cuts.

There's been a lot of talk recently about India's heritage and tradition in the context of silk, embroidery, and beading... but let's remember that our hand in fashion goes far beyond that.

Balenciaga

Dior

Gwyneth in Vogue UK

Ralph Lauren


Salvatore Ferragamo

The Nawab of Malerkotla




Monday, March 26, 2012

Anti-Fairness! Yay!

BBA<3... Sonakshi on fairness cream. Best quote from a Bollywood star ever.


Freida for Nylon April 2012






Simon Who? The Indian Fashion Industry Doesn't Need Western Experts.

You are probably asking yourself who the hell is Simon Lock? Me too. His recent comments on the Indian fashion industry are very ignorant. So, apparently, the founder of Australian Fashion Week (which, as an Aussie, I can openly say has disappointed me many times before) has the audacity to criticize the Indian fashion industry without - what it seems- any knowledge of the designers or marketplace.

This is what he said:
"There are many designers internationally who are making collections inspired by India; then why can't an Indian designer do that? Indian designers are loved everywhere, but I think they are not motivated enough to use their own design aesthetics and this is a disappointment," Lock told IANS.

Not motivated?? Ummm... does this guy not know INDIAN fashion? Hello, Lock why don't you google Sabyasachi or Manish Malhotra?? I agree about his comments on less fashion weeks but to criticize a successful, growing industry is to assume the Indian fashion industry is doing more things wrong than right. Ummm.. not the case. We're doing more right and these comments are not constructive.

You can read his misinformed "expert" opinions here.

Meanwhile, the American godmother of fashion Diane von Furstenberg got it right by saying: “You have the fabrics, colours and embroidery, which inspires so many people. It’s almost humbling to think that we foreign designers can come here and sell garments. You don’t need anything from us." We love Diane.


BBA Pics: Influence of the Saree

Update: On Diane von Furstenberg's recent trip to Mumbai, she said “The sari is like the wrap dress, it has a body language.” We've been blogging on the influence of the saree for some time now, and will continue to show how Indian fashion has been an inspiration since... well... for centuries.

The saree's influence ranges far and wide in fashion like this dress from Elizabeth Taylor's collection...


And who can forget this Chanel dress worn fabulously by Blake Lively...




Sunday, March 25, 2012

FOBulous in NYC!

Back in New York, I decided to check out a Bollywood night. I wore an entire outfit from Forever 21 and by the morning, the outfit was pretty much trashed from all the dancing! I paired it with my new "Item Number" clutch I scored in Mumbai...

Me, Ashlene Nand... ready to dance
She was beautiful, she had the moves AND she knew the words to Chammak Challo! Respect!


With the roomie Dip-dip-&-get-low.. my partner in love crimes lol <3