Fashion Week Review

Review and Rate these Fashion Week Collections of known designers. First, Rate them on a scale of 1-10. Then, Rank them in order of liking & if your list matches ours, You Win the exclusive, elusive Bottle of Kimaya Wines. We enlist them below in alphabetical order..



Abraham & Thakore 

Delhi's celebrated designer duo are known to remain elusive and make history each time they make an appearance. Their collection this season was a heady concoction of dressy gowns and blousons paired with cropped pants in muted or earthy shades. While the sensibilities were majorly European, the correct sense of styling will certainly make heads turn on Indian streets and work spaces.

More pics from Abraham & Thakore

Anamika Khanna   

Kolkata based Anamika Khanna has been consistent in her display of creative styles over a period of time that has fetched her the respect and the admiration. This season, she stuck to her intrinsic sense of prints in silhouettes that were both bold and intriguing. The geometric motifs on structured pieces were mostly in browns. beige and blacks, colours that are being touted as 'the trends' for upcoming autumn-winter season.

More pics from Anamika Khanna



James Ferreira 

This season, the man shot to fame with his 'Sheila ki Jawani' wannabe gig. The result - all focus shifted to his performance. Here, we bring it back to his inspiring collection. Tunics paired with pink leggings and ultra metallic dresses made all the difference. The turbans added some interesting ramp value, however, their wearability in everyday life is arguable. Nonetheless, James collection was a sight for sore eyes, and his dance certainly brought smile to faces

More Pics from James Ferreira



Kavita Bhartia 

Perhaps one of the most commercially viable lines shown at Wills Lifestyle India Fashion Week this season, Kavita Bhartia simply got the basics of fashion right. It was a capsule collection bathed in beige. Skirts, tops, blousons, saris, churidar kurtas, salwar kameezs, dresses - Kavita had something in it for everyone. Glamorous make and picture perfect hair added to the glam quotient!

More pics from Kavita Bhartia













Manish Malhotra   

The King of Fashion in Bollywood raised expectations of seeing a filmy star at the fashion week that remained aloof of celebrities. However, it was his clothes that did all the talking as Manish showcased a bridal line that was replete of lehengas, and anarkalis for the bride and sherwanis for the groom.

More pics from Manish Malhotra

Shantanu Nikhil

Their music was upbeat and so was their collection. Club wear at its best. The funky hairdo added to the razzmatazz. Once again; beige, creme and black ruled the roost. Fitted silhouettes with stockings and detailing to shoulders, waist and elbows were the underlying features of S&N Drapes. Commercial English music kept everyone in the groove and so did the collection!

More pics from S&N Drapes










Tarun Tahiliani

The master couturier was at it again. Craftsmanship and Commercial viability was at its best at Tarun Tahiliani's show. He used oriental hats above exquisitely draped saris, a styling feature that earned him all the kudos in the world. It was a packed house on a Wednesday, the first day of the fashion week as Tarun staged the day finale, a feat that only he can boast of. 

More pics from Tarun Tahiliani








Varun Bahl

Varun's collection was a teaser...of much more that he has in store (by which we mean his store, literally). The man had selected pieces that caught the curiosity of the mind and had the imagination running wild. The line was dipped primarily in black with the occasional white. Silhouettes were varied, the theme- something that remains to be an enigma.

More pics from Varun Bahl

Kimaya supports Chrysalis 2011

- By Ranjit Rodricks

The clothes showcased by the Graduating students will be available for sale at Kimaya, Kemps Corner on 22nd & 23rd April, 2011

Neha & Pradeep Hirani on stage to present the Award

You could be forgiven for thinking you were at a rock concert if you were at The Leela Kempinski Hotel at Sahar on Monday night as crowds of fashionably dressed girls – screaming and cheering with gusto - could be heard almost a mile away.

Models showcasing the Katputli in Cannes collection

Actor Shama Sikandar

The reason? It was the annual fashion show of the Premlila Vithaldas Polytechnic SNDT Women’s University and the graduating students cheered-on as their batch-mates showed off fantastic designs.

As the Head Of Department – Jasmine Sarupria – beamed with pride at her protégées while ace choreographer Achla Sachdev directed the showing with sequences that redefined glamour and fun.

From having the models act like ‘taporis’ on stage for a sequence called “Mumbai to mum-bhai” to getting R.K. Laxman’s famous ‘The Common Man’ to walk on the ramp, the show was as entertaining as it was glamorous.



Model Anchal Kumar

 

One sequence had famous models like Carol Gracias, Anchal Kumar and Bhavna Sharma acting like puppets on stage while another sequence saw them all dressed up and ready for a cook-out in the kitchen with spices dangling from the ears and clothes in the hues of mustard, chilli, saffron and turmeric.



Riyaz Gangji, Masaba Gupta & Karmik Varma



The front row was choc-a-bloc with celebrities – right from the young and dynamic Masaba Gupta (who is an ex student of this college) to the legendary and reclusive designer Shahab Durazi (who, true to his temperament, preferred not to socialize or pose too much for the photographers).

Also spotted were designers Amy Billimoria, Malini Aggarwal (of Malaga), Anita Dongre, Riyaz Gangji, Lina Tipnis, Pradeep and Neha Hirani of Kimaya, actress Swaroop Sampat and ex-model Anna Bredmeyer.         

In fact, Pradeep & Neha Hirani are hosting the collections by the young designers at KIMAYA for two days and are doing this without any mark-ups or profit margins. They have been doing this for many years now and even present an award for their favourite collection every year.

From almost a dozen collections, designed by students in groups of twos and threes, few collections were obvious favourites among the audience and judges. 



Shahab Durazi gives away the Award for the Collection of the Year



Malini Aggarwal



However, it was the KATPUTLI  IN CANNES collection (byKhushboo Karnawat, Rishita Kansara and Ruchika Gododia) which garnered the most prestigious Collection Of The Year Award.

With colours and motifs borrowed from Rajasthani puppets, this trio used colours of dry, arid sand to create a sensual collection of resort wear that promises to enliven your holiday experience with and easy and effortless charm. 




Model carol Gracias

 Designer Hemant Trevedi, who mentored the girls, was “Awed by the array of ideas” while actress Shama Sikandar wanted to “Wear each and every outfit for my TV shows and when I go out with friends!”

When Stars Go shopping - Dia, Esha, Katrina, Shilpa

Three days ago we ran the foll contest on our Facebook Page  http://www.facebook.com/pages/Kimaya/125314908387?ref=ts

Take a look at Bollywood Queens and their style statement when they came shopping at Kimaya. Tell us who you like and why in not less than 150 words and you could be in for a surprise! Post your entries at Kimayablogs@gmail.com

Dia Mirza

Esha Koppikar

Katrina Kaif

Shilpa Shetty

                                                                                                                                                                    

Out of over 200 entries, we chose these to be featured; 

Ranjit Rodricks, M, 30, Mumbai, India

If you take a close look at all the four pictures, you will realise that Shipa Shetty undoubtedly, looks the most chic by keeping it simple. A cool strappy top, slim-fit jeans and a dash of colour in the form of a sweater / shirt wrapped around her slender waist only emphasizes her svelte figure. 

Shilpa is known for her fabulous body and she has taken great care to show-of her curves with this simple ensemble.

Katrina looks dowdy in a loose and ill-fitting dress and the stole around her arms looks like it was sourced from her grandmother's closet. The colour does nothing for her either.

As for Dia Mirza, she looks like she's in mourning in all-black. Her fabulous skin-tone should be of-set with bright colours instead. 

And lastly, the other lady (who is she??) with the Brittney tee just doesn't seem to get it right. Brittney is hardly a style icon and she could have done much better if she wore a KYLIE t-shirt, like Madonna did a few years ago. 

Putting the other three into perspective, it's only fair to vote for Shilpa Shetty as the most chic shopper at Kimaya.

- Ranjit

                                                                                                                                                    

And this one...

Farzana Ali, F32, KL, Malaysia 

Hi Kimaya,

I personally love Kimaya and all the collection from various designer that they have in the outlets. my personal favourite is surely Manish Malhotra.

As for the Bollywood Queen that i like the most is Shilpa Shetty. Even when she is out for shopping, she really carries herself very well and she has her own style which is simple yet elegant. Shlipa is a very confident person when it comes to fashion and even when she has no makeup on and is just wearing a simple pair of jeans and top and a designer handbag, she looks glamourous. She can always make a fashion statement when she is out to a party or any event.

Apart from that she has a gorgeous body which makes any kind of clothes be it a western or tradition looks good on her. Overall she makes any kind of clothes looks like a million bucks!. Amazing women with amazing sense of fashion.

- Zana

Keep writing in Farzana, and others who get inspired reading this. The Best entries every week get a Fashionable Surprise!

Earth Hour – The Fashion Connect

Earth Hour – The Fashion Connect

We do not inherit the earth from our ancestors, 

We borrow it from our children.

Show We Care!

It simply means that our present existence is at the mercy of our future actions. Thanks to the wrath of nature unleashed recently, the belief that it is the end of the world in 2012 is becoming ever so fashionable! The result – earnest attempts of impressing mother earth – one of which sees the light of the day (or the darkness of the night) tonight!

From 8:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. people worldwide will be switching off lights and observing EARTH HOUR by saving energy and by indulging into the more raw things of life that extend beyond the hour.

 

We at Kimaya will be closing our stores an hour early at 8:30 to express our solidarity with the initiative. At the plush DLF Aralias in Gurgaon, residents will assemble in the lawns and get busy with a friendly interaction over Kimaya Wines, slated to graduate into an evening that promises the spread of brotherhood, love and affection.

 A quick look at what our designer friends are doing during earth hour;

Shantanu & Nikhil Mehra (R)

Nikhil Mehra (of the Label – Shantanu-Nikhil): “I and my family are spending the day at our farm house in the outskirts of Delhi. Today is when we survive without any urban luxuries or modern day help. We burn wood, look for food and sleep on the ground to respect nature. A day like this every month helps keep one grounded, apart from saving energy of course.”

Pria Kataria Puri

 Pria Kataria Puri: “I am in Kuwait and everyone here is observing it (Earth Hour) as well. It is a very humbling feeling to learn about all the sadness around the world. We fully support it and think such initiatives should be more rampant to save energy and inculcate a feeling of respect for our reserves and resources.”

Sabyasachi Mukherje

 Sabysachi Mukherjee: “What we need is an Earth Year, Every Year! After all the atrocities that have been rampant on the planet, am not sure how much an hour is going to achieve…what we practice is that every year, 10% of our produce is environmentally friendly and low on carbon foot print. Be it using natural dyes, organic fabrics, public transportation; or any such means."

Krishna Mehta (L) with a friend

Krishna Mehta: “I am going to switch off everything, open my doors and windows and let the energy flow in and do nothing but pray for the wellness and recovery of those affected. We have been so busy in the rat race that spending time praying for each other has somehow become a rare occurrence." 

We end with a quote from Shri. Amitabh Bachchan that made the Green Carpet at IIFA famous a few years back;

Shri. Amitabh Bachchan

If not now, When?

If not us, Who?

If not earth, Where?

Three questions that need to be answered now, for mankind may soon be a lonely lot if he doesn’t decide to act soon….

Bless All!

Rohit Bal's Love Affair with Wines

A bin of wine, a spice of wit,
A house with lawns enclosing it,
A living river by the door,
A nightingale in the sycamore!

-           R.L Stevenson

Rohit Bal having the first sip fo Kimaya Wines

It’s an Idyll that the man lives by. The closer you get to his farmhouse on the outskirts of Delhi, the more you see the above Quatrain come to Life! Rohit Bal, Gudda, as we all fondly know him, is one man who lives life King size!

And it is this love for life that sets him apart from the handful of achievers in the country. Not that they don’t have the means, but Rohit Bal has a picking that puts him in a league of his own. Be it the tri-figurines of Ram, Laxman and Sita carved out of Ashtadhatu sitting pretty in his house, or the Tibetian relics that invoke the Zen-like calm. Or for that matter, his newfound love affair with Wines!

“In the last few years, I have come to realize the erudition and the enigma that surrounds wines. They come with a lot of baggage, the kind that you want to shoulder. Like you are supposed to know which year the grapes were picked, this, by the time you downed your third sip! The colour gradation must tell the age. You never stop swirling it, you never take over one third of the glass and you never gulp it down at once!!! The facets intrigue me; it’s a soul stirring experience…”

Chin-Chin Time! Aussie Wine Maker Ben Riggs, Jatin Virmani of GSW, Marcel of Wine Affairs, Rohit Bal & Pradeep Hirani of Kimaya

A tantalizing shot of the Kimaya Shiraz

Rohit feels that Wines in India are coming of age gradually. From being an elusive, women’s only drink to being an elegant, statement making preference – they have covered a lot of ground in a very short period of time. “I remember back in the ‘90s, going to someone’s house as a guest meant carrying a bottle of Scotch! Today, standing there with a smile on your face and a fine wine bottle in your hand means you are have arrived!

The Confession – “I am an ardent fan of French, Italian and Australian Wines”

The Connection – “So when Pradeep (Hirani) told me that Kimaya Wines are from region of McLaren Vale, which is one of my favorite vineyards South Australia; I skipped a breath. Then I was told that Jatin (Virmani) and Pradeep went through vigorous tasting sessions to find a savour that complemented the Indian palate! That hit the spot; I had to taste them for myself!”

While Delhi drizzled one evening in February earlier this year; Rohit, Pradeep and Jatin sat down to decipher the taste that for the longest time ever, had eluded the Indian Wine enthusiast. “The first few sips of the Kimaya Shiraz left me ransacking my dictionary for the perfect epithet to describe it. And then suddenly, I knew – it was ‘Perfect’!”

Rohit & Pradeep

 

 

 

In Deep Thought - Gudda!

Not many know, but Rohit Bal is zealous about red wines. “I preferred red to white for its sweetness; until I tasted the Kimaya Chardonnay. Served at the right temperature (4⁰ - 6⁰ C) it has that prolific equilibrium of sweetness and acidity. Within an hour, I had already surpassed my official slice of wines for the day…but the bottles that evening were the temptress and gluttony took over as we plunged into a drinking spree for the next hour and a half. And no, no one was driving or even stepping out that night!”

The Commitment – “When they requested me to launch Kimaya Wines, I had to uncap the bottles; there was no way I was going to let anyone else do it in this life! All I can say is; India has found its taste in Kimaya Wines, coming untouched from an international vineyard makes it even more coveted. Finally, the Indian wine aficionado has a name he can swear by!”