congratulations

Dead in the water
It's not a paid vacation/

But I've got someone to make reports
That tell me how my money's spent
To book my stays and draw my blinds
So I can't see what's really there
And all I need's a great big congratulations

-MGMT 'congratulations'

---

Changing Sun

Ah! when creative people decide to get together and DO things for fun...

Last year Nikhil D (freelance stylist and blogger) conceptualized a shoot with friends (also super talented individuals) using Calvin Klein's men's underwear. Yup - those little fabric garments that have paved way for highly sexy images (see: Vodianova, Hidetoshi Nakata, Marky Mark & Kate Moss, Lara Stone, Djimon Hounsou to name a few). So whats different from whats not already been done before? Well, for starters both female and male models wore men's Calvin Klein underwear. O-wait they both also wear women's blouses/shirts with their Calvins. It was CK underwear 30 years celebration last year, perhaps that was the starting point for this shoot... 

There are different connotations one can derive from these images. The name - Changing Sun - which was made using names of the 2 models - Goksun Ergur (Inega models) and Lapsang Sundal Souchong (Inega models). The pairing of blouses bought from street shops in Shillong, Delhi and Mumbai with a New York City branded underwear. The waves of high and low make the images interesting. The photographer who is one of the finest young talents in the country- Bikramjit Bose, agreeing to do an independent photo story. The fresh makeup almost identical for the man and woman given by hair & makeup artist Liz Van Der Merwe (Inega Models). 

My favorite take back from this - not having to explain yourself to anyone and doing what makes sense to you. Its exciting to see projects come to life when they are backed by just passion. 

If you enjoy, leave a comment below. Will forward them to the people involved. Thank you!

---

Pretty Girls | Delhi

Besides the fashion at Delhi fashion week the prettiness attending the shows had me in a trance. These ladies got it all to make you fall in love at first sight. Enough pretty to not even make me ask their name, what they do, where they are from... 
Hope you enjoy -

And some music to compliment the prettiness-

Ben Howard - 'Only Love' Official Video from mickey smith on Vimeo.

---

Manish Arora | Fall Winter 2013

Tonight Manish Arora showcases his Fall-Winter 2013 collection for the second time as part of Delhi fashion week. First time, it was in Paris- where he shows his collections every season and what he's making his home slowly and surely. 
This is a collection in lines of what Manish Arora is about, in my opinion: originality, clear vision, personal life reference, and opulence. 

The show opened with a print look. A direct rendition from what he saw at The Burning Man festival in August 2012. It is of no doubt that Manish Arora would enjoy a place like that. He is known to spend New Years holidays dancing to Goa Trance. The prints were of the blue sky, sandy desert and Burning Man featured metallic art installations. Sticking to this new direction of softer silhouettes that please the Parisian and western palettes, this show had easy skirts, belted blouses, fur, bomber jackets, long coats, and Tshirts. I like this shift. Containing the crazy in prints, textures, fabrics, embellishments, colors, and sanity in shapes. The collection rode waves of shifting influences. From Burning man to glitter and opulent gold jewelery inspired from India (and made in India by Amrapali). One of my favourite pieces was the optical illusion green and black top. Nothing short of what a Manish Arora superhero would wear. The evening stuff comprised of black velvet with draped gold chains defining the bodice. Black satin trousers and blouses patterned with a Bindi-esque cut outs. The patterns were strange. Not what you and I have seen before. Perhaps something only visible in the Black Rock desert of Nevada. Oh, but you don't really need to find reason behind it. Comprehend what is obvious - like the letters 'E G O' embellished in gold on a turbaned model.

Previous posts on Manish Arora:

AMRAPALI for MANISH ARORA SS 2013
Retrospective already? | Manish Arora at Delhi Couture Week
Six best in 2011 | Manish Arora

{behind the scenes images} Wills India Fashion Week Fall-Winter 2013

Time for that biannual event when we start hearing 'fashion' more often in everyday conversations. The biggest fashion week in India- Wills Lifestyle India Fashion Week from 13th to 17th March held at Pragati Maidan, Delhi where designers - young and experiences, showcase their next season collections (technically Fall - Winter 2013, but generally- whatever sells more). 

To start with, yesterday photographer Zacharie was able to click backstage images for Namrata Joshipura show. This was Zacharie's first time shooting backstage. I was convinced the images would be great because of his unique eye of capturing people. At backstage, its less about a choreographed, synchronized show of the collection, but more about the preparation that leads up to the show. These photos let you feel the different energies of organisers, models, make up and hair stylists, stage set up people, sound technicians etc involved.
Hope you enjoy too- 

All images Zacharie Rabehi copyrighted.

Love post

Let's talk about the title of this place. Love-struck (maybe not so much about Cow, thats a whole another post). It was my general personality, for as long as I can remember, to be obsessively in love with things. If I like you, I love you. I want to know everything about you. The Beatles, random crushes, Lady Gaga, artists, thin crust pizza, friends - have all gone through the love fest. My natural reaction to things I like is to madly fall in love with them and let my emotions take over. While you may consider these as embarrassingly positive feature, there are down sides to it. When the love is not reciprocated, when it leads to situations where you may seem unprofessional, when it makes you write blog posts about them on a very public forum, its sure shot direction to regret. But regret is much much better than regret that comes from not acting out. Ofcourse, I have also not acted out on so many situations, which feels much crappier than making an ass of myself. Hence, to be foolish trumps being put-together. I love this quote by Jim Carey: 

               "It is better to risk starving to death then surrender. If you give up on your dreams, what's left? "

So if you decide to take the leap and love, be sure not to regret. And if you want the fall to be cushioned, get some crazy like minded people who believe in your moves. These are just a few of the MANY lovely crazy people I look up to: 

Sabyasachi. Who believes in family and how good work goes hand in hand with doing a business.

MObama. Cause they love unabashedly. 

Shivan and Narresh. Because they are designers committed to their vision. 

Nikhil D. who insists in putting his 100% while styling.

Sonam and Rin. Because you can always count on them for support and honest opinion.

UPDATE: Poet Sarah Kay and Phil Kaye recite 'When Love arrives'

Too good to not add even if bit too late to this post!

Kallol Datta 1955 | Spring Summer 2013

Last fashion show by Kallol Datta was shown at Wills India Lifestyle Fashion Week, Delhi. I know I have blogged for almost all collections by Kallol, and would like to believe my writing was (as his clothes are) not repetitive. His collections are the most distinct in the fraternity, I think. And each season he adds more and gives new options to his clan. I was reading an article on 'slow fashion' - a term that signifies slowing down fast fashion cycles. There are ads, especially during the holiday seasons that tell people to go insane on 'lowest prices ever' sales. Online shops where one could buy new sunglasses, watch, lingerie and shoes along with your groceries with just a couple of ‘clicks’. This idea of fast fashion or disposable fashion and buying new things every week is scary. There is a lot of wastage even in the ideology, and clothes like other things need to be purchased sensibly. Buy a great quality wool jacket to last you next ten or twenty years than a jacket which will last 6 months and will have to be disposed in less than a year. There is beauty behind buying things that take time to make and therefore cost more. Know where your clothes come from and how long will they spend their life with yours. 

Going back to Kallol's clothes, they are unique and will not only fit you when your body is one size. They are usually a easy slip-on and definitely look different on how you put it together. I understand how every season we crave for something new - a print, texture, style, but that shouldnt make us want to not wear the previous seasons collections in completion. Re-using takes more originality than saying 'so-2000-late'. No?

Take a look at Kallol Datta's Spring Summer 2013 collection fittings. Below Images shot by the talented Shovan Gandhi. 

Kallol really takes pleasure in putting together his collections - collection note, graphics, prints, hair, make-up and music. Speaking of music, this is his playlist from Spring Summer 2013 show titled 'Grotesque Nonsense'. The songs are super apt for the collection if you think about it. Rebellion, youth, romance, insecurity and security rolled into one. Who can't relate with that?

1. O Children - Nick Cave



2. Tainted Love - Marilyn Manson

3. Shelter - The xx



Below images shot by me during the show: 

foetus print 

menswear introduction

Previous posts on Kallol Datta 1955

• Kallol Datta | Fall Winter 2012-13
• Kallol Datta Fall-Winter 2012
• The MVP
• Entourage