Miss World Download!!

One of my favorite rituals is watching all beauty pageants. This annual affair involves continues scrutiny of what each of the contestants are wearing? How are they walking? Is their hair alright? Etc. etc. The most awaited section is always the final round. Its too obvious why I love it! The contestants get an opportunity to display the most talked about thing from the entire event (ok, maybe most talked about after “who won”, but this is a very close second)!

Oh those stunning, ethereal, magnificent gowns are such a delight! They ensure that I do not even blink my eye, lest I miss the one itsy-bitsy detail that sets it apart from all the grandiose that you witness.

What I’ve done for you, is handpicked some of them that stood out.

Not when judging the extravagance of a gown, am very clear on certain parameters. First and foremost is, what I just mentioned, the extravagance! Seriously, don’t we just fall in love with opulent, lavish, jaw-dropping craftsmanship! And no, just adding bird feathers doesn’t help anyone get there. What I am talking about is the magic and elegance of the gown. It needs to transport you to the inspiration behind the splendor.  

Second is the cut. Looking at women walking like they’re ducks coz the gown is far too narrow from the foot is excruciating.

And last, but not the least is how it has been accessorized. Are the hair open, or a bun? Is it pearl drop earings, or huge solitaires? Does the neck look empty or a chunky one sits there?

So, based on all of these, here’s my compilation of the top few:

Top left is what Miss Ghana. Love the choice of color. In a pageant where reds and whites dominated, this breezy hue was just what the doctor ordered! Heavy on lace and net from the top, it did remind me a bit of a Dolce and Gabbana i recently saw online.

Now, moving to our friends from Down Under. Miss Australia carried a gorgeous purple one. The frills look absolutely marvelous, giving the perfect princess feel.

Coming up next is Miss France(picture above). Like I mentioned, white gowns were the order of the day, but this one caught my attention. How can anyone ignore the tapering at the thighs, and then the frilly net peeping out! And more specifically, the back! Its absolutely divine!

Last, but certainly not the least, how can the winner be left behind? Most of you must be aware that Miss Philippines won the crown.

What looked absolutely stunning was the color! Oh so feminine, and fairy tale like. Also, the choice of frills at the bottom ensured that she does not walk like a duck!

The peachish, combined with glittery diamond dangling earings, and a neat bun surely meant that her attire will stand out.


So here's my list!
As always, would love to know what you feel about each of these gowns.

Remember to always put your fashionable foot forward!

Note: The pictures have been sourced from Google search for images of Miss World 2013

Crop it, will you please?!!!

So I've started gymming lately. Every workout regimen needs an inspiration, and mine came from the so-called IT thing these days...let's add two and two...what is that one thing that looks oh so wow (!) with flat abs?! Crop tops!! Literally a top cropped so that it reveals the belly, these have made a huge comeback from Britney and Christina Aguilera days...Associated with aerobics at first, am thrilled to see women embracing this trend for night outs, dinners or just a luncheon! 

To top it all, thank dear God coz these days, the trend is not sported with low waist trousers or skirts...On the contrary, all the smart and fashion conscious women out there are sporting it with high waist lowers! That makes it far more classy and charming than ever!

If you ask me what a crop top looks bestttt with are high waist palazzo pants! Sigh! A long flowing palazzo pant teamed up with anything from a cropped bustier to a tee.

However, if you're hitting a casual day brunch, a feminine chiffon skirt steals the show! Oh, and how can I forget to mention my all time obsession, denim shorts...a cropped tee and basic denim shorts creates that wow plus laid back effect at the same time!

Denim can never get old!

The perfect cropped tee!

I've never been a fan of matching-matching, but was compelled to change my opinion when I saw this!

Simply put, a crop top with matching skirt...oh so chic and filled with oodles of glamour...this one gives the illusion that the dress is sort of cut from the middle and is soooo cute and fun! 

Would love to know what is your prophecy for this trend? As always, put your fashionable foot forward! :) 

It’s a Telephone Booth, it’s a Lipstick, no wait, it’s a Masaba Print!!!

“OMG...is that a Masaba?”, or “I am so gonna buy a Masaba”, or, “Did you check out her new print? This time, it’s a lipstick!”…Some of the statements I’ve been all ears to for the last few days. The latest “in-thing” is to sport a Masaba print.

Member of the Satya Paul clan, she has entered the Indian fashion circuit with a lotttt of buzz. Also touted as India’s Coco Chanel (call it my love for Chanel, but that one, I doubt if I can give to anyone), her designs are the perfect unison of traditional, yet contemporary…modern yet connected to the roots.

If you ask me, the USP of her revolutionary designs is that you can tell a Masaba from any other designer’s work. So far, in the Indian fashion circle, no name comes to my head, when I think of a particular print/design announcing the designer’s name.

I’ve always felt that the thing about clothing labels and brands is that they are easily identifiable and can be related to the master craftsman who conceived the design. I mean, how many of us have wanted the classic LV brown bag…the interlocking C’s, subtly hinting “Dude, I am wearing a Chanel” (and there, I announce my love for Chanel yet again!).Owning a brand without announcing it to the world does not do justice to the creator.

Talking about the acclaimed Indian designers, sure you’ve been able to spot a Rohit Bal coz of the whites and creams, a Sabya coz of the sheer opulence of the work, and a Manish Malhotra coz you’ve probably seen a bollywood diva being serenaded wearing one of his creations, but cross your heart and tell me, is it the same way as you are able to spot a MASABA print?!

Ooh la la! The orange lippy!

From the hand print, to the telephone booth, the table fans to the lipsticks, not to forget the vintage camera, she’s done a big favor to a lover of prints like me. In one of my posts, I bet you’ve sensed how much I adore print (http://hatsheelsandthelike.blogspot.in/2013/05/wrap-it-up-in-style.html)!

What steals the show for me is that she manages to give the same print in the classic saree, and a dress, with equal grace and élan! Oh, and it’ll be criminal on my part to miss the crop top! Like totally WOW!

Hand in Hand are we?!!

The Shutterbugs!

   

With the heritage of prints that the house of Satya Paul boasts of, she has elegantly managed to take the legacy forward. I am sure I will not be disappointed if I expect a lot more quirky, spunky, classic Masaba vibrant hues from her going forward. Personally, what I will also like to see is how she manages to carve a niche for herself by not just dominating the world of printed clothing, but also other wacky takes (without using prints!) to what we currently wear. Don’t we just love a challenge!!

As always, would love to know what you feel about Masaba prints. And remember to always, always, put your fashionable foot forward! :)