Style Guides

2013 & Emeralds !

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Pantone announces the color of year: Emerald Green (17-5641). And nobody can be happier than me !

emeraldRich, luscious, vivacious…the deep lushness of emerald green has always been my color of choice for creating an enchanting, refined and rich appearance.

Color of life, vigor and vitality – emerald green infuses in the wearer a feeling of happy well-being. The emerald greens of a natural wilderness and its various different shades calm the weary minds and fills the soul with serenity. The freshness of rich greens possess the phenomenal ability to relax and invigorate the senses at the same time. Emerald Green can make you look elegant as well as alluring – if you simply remember that the verdure of emerald green can only be captured in rich fabrics like silks, satin, chiffon, cashmere and wool. The next step will be to choose the right shade for your skin color and personality type; followed by deciding the degree of color you want to carry and choosing the article of clothing or accessory in the perfect shade…a signature styling session with Rich Image is the answer to capture your most stylish and impressive image in the color of the year 2013!emerald

greensuitFrom keeping it minimal and simplistic in professional situations to increasing the luxury and richness levels for glamorous evenings, making the right decisions and choices is the key to remarkable style. You can take it from a complete two piece matched suit in silk or wool; to a notable dash of emerald green in a beautiful pair of earring or a silk scarf. Emerald Green may be the most beautiful and attractive color in the rich color scale palette, but it is also the trickiest color to incorporate in your wardrobe. A shade lighter or darker can totally highlight or spoil your image and appeal. Shade, value, texture, degree, percentage – all play a vital role in deciding the emerald style scale factor. Emerald Green looks especially alluring in Indian attires, may it be a classy churidar in silk or a breezy saree in chiffon. memerald

Emerald Green looks exceptionally good on men. Men who have the attitude to carry a color can pull out a emerald green wool blazer or a warm pullover, or even wear a silk waistcoat beneath their grey jackets or over their classic shirts. If you do not wish to experiment with garments or if your personality does not blend with it, you can add a spark of emerald with a classy silk tie, a cashmere scarf, smart cuff-links or maybe just a emerald tie-pin.

My 2013 emerald green wish-list is ready – a silk shirt, a vintage emerald brooch and a luminous chiffon scarf ! Whats on your list…???

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Romance of a Warm Shawl

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Spun in its threads are centuries of monarch rules, overthrown dynasties, classic romance, richness of literature and burgeoning emergence of the eternal fashion world. The richness and elegance of a ‘shawl’ can transform a ‘plain jane’ into a picture of wisdom, opulence and romance. Think about Edith Warton’s elite sophisticated protagonist Lily Bart from the “The House of Mirth”- Edith describes her as…”everything about her was warm and soft and scented; even the stains of her grief became her as raindrops do the beaten rose.” and I see her Lily Bart draped in a beautiful rich pashmina, softly falling from her graceful shoulders in a cascade of luxury.

The picture above is of a lithograph plate from 19th century France that stands witness to the favoritism of the rich and stylish for shawls…worn in patterns and drapes that can make even the most tasteful fashionista of today’s world jealous.

An unstitched garment initially known as a man’s garb, has covered a long eventful journey, gaining on its way the richness of fabric and weaving, the intricate splendor of paisley and the lushness of silk and pashmina. It became the measure of nobility and a symbol of grace. A handsomely crafted piece of hard labor and diligence  a perfect shawl warms the body and the soul of its wearer…providing a cocoon of well being and aristocracy.

Today’s modern woman has revamped the delicate high maintenance shawl to a sturdy warm edgy statement…just like herself.  At home, travelling or attending a social glamorous evening, a ‘shawl’ is a faithful companion giving you instant warmth and assuring you the most dignified appearance.

Though what amazes me immensely is the ignorance of the masses of women today who underestimate the value and worth of an elegantly draped rich shawl. The heaps of synthetic hideous cheap length of cloth that are swarming our markets pretending to be the ‘shawl’ – have destroyed the faith of the trendy corporate girl, and she has discarded the most elegant outerwear in the fashion world as outdated and distasteful.

I urge you take a closer look !!!

Shawls

If our sensible stylish diva will only pay a closer look at the Camerons and Jennifers that rule the style books of the fashion critics, she will probably learn to appreciate the grace and poise of a rich authentic shawl. I still feel that the value of a shawl is extremely underrated in our world today….the above celebrities don’t even come close to the magnificent pictures of aristocracy that the women of the 19th century France portray in their enviable drape of shawls (see the first picture).

Start your new year wrapped in the warmth of a cozy precious shawl…dig up your trunks, raid your mother’s wardrobe and you might be amazed by the splendor of the rich softness delicately adorning your silhouette…and as Edith said in her book…2013 will find you “warm and soft and scented“.

And heres something for the men….

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Winter Special – for Women of Style and Substance

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Nothing is more beautiful and enticing than a woman wrapped in a warm shawl with chilly winds endowing her cheeks with the natural rosy blush! Bring out your woollies and rub on some happy laughs to stay warm and bright. Here is a quick checklist for you to make sure you are armed in the trendiest and most stylish classics this winter to charm love, life and success!

Classic Cardigans:  Feather-light, warm and soft as silk…cardigans have been the favorite of royals for their clean silhouettes, graceful elegance and sophisticated simplicity. This winter stack up some simple ones in pretty pastels, prints and bright shades…these will stay faithful for years and lend you style and elegance anytime and every time you layer them on any formal shirt or casual t-shirt. Complete the look with cozy cashmere scarves or eternal pearls.

Advice for Indian women: stay away from embroidered, shimmery, beaded, loaded versions of yesteryear. Look for chic sophistication in single color and rich textures. Keep the cardigan simple and you can experiment with flowers, brooches, scarves, pearls and belts.

Black Formal Jacket: A well tailored black formal jacket that defines your waistline. Unlike the much-hyped little black dress, which finds hardly recognized acceptance in the Indian society; the black jacket in a rich fabric can take you places!

Cigarette Pants: Yes, I agree these ones are not for everyone…but if you pair them right – cigarette pants give you the most flattering figure than any other pant-type. From Giorgio Armani‘s tweed office-friendly to Rajdeep Ranawat’s beautiful shades of silk and Emilio Pucci‘s high waisted versions – there is a cigarette slimming style for every body type in small to medium scale.

The Brocade Suit: If you are the one who likes to go her own way…creating waves. Then, this one is for you! The rich brocades cut with expertise and stitched in style that suits you, can bestow you with the rare combination of elegance and edge above rest. The subdued versions in silk and satin can be your best bet and if you have the body for it then go for cigarette pants and a smart curvy jacket…wear it with a utterly flirty feminine shirt in chiffon or a crispy white tuxedo shirt and leave the jacket open! You can rock your best friend’s winter wedding if you pair the brocade jacket with a full layered lehanga in cotton or organza. Wear the brocade trousers with a white cotton shirt and simple cardigan to work. Rock the New Year eve with the same jacket over a beautiful bouncy dress in luscious silk. Gem of Advice: stick to a single pattern and dark shade with the least shimmer…choose deep Purple! the season’s color.

Kate MiddletonWarm-up in Layers: Layering is my personal favorite – layering comes with a list of reasons in support. Indian weathers and situations make it extremely difficult sometimes to decide how much is enough. At such times layering comes for our rescue. You can easily remove your jacket if it gets a little stuffy inside and throw it on again once you are outside in the chilly winds.

Layering also offers you an instant slimming effect contrary to the thought that the layers will add bulk. If done with the right technique and style, layering can help to lose visual weight with cultured style.

Trends for Festive Winters: Priya Tanna, Editor of Vogue India, writes in her editor’s letter in the latest November 2012 issue of the magazine – ‘This is the age of modern elegance. Bare legs and cleavage may have once been a shortcut to best-dressed lists, but no longer.” Coming from the editor of the most reputed fashion magazine worldwide, this needs to be taken seriously girls. Do not kill yourself this winter in backless blouses and chiffon sarees…have the sense and courage, to walk down that red carpet in style and grace, draped in cashmeres, rich silks and generous brocades. Take inspiration from the style sheet below – adorn yourself with a beautiful tiered Manav Gangwani style lehanga, top it with a gold or shimmery black jumper from Mango, drape a silk or organza dupatta and put on a glamorous pair of huge earrings…and enjoy the party…dare to dance away from the crackling fires!

And…don’t forget to MOISTURIZE ! Enjoy your Winters !!!

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Winter Special – for Men of Style and Substance

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Chilly winds of October are here…even in Delhi ! The early mornings and evenings are getting cooler and the soft breeze is a relief from the hot humid stagnation. Winters are here to stay…lets warm up your wardrobes to fight the freezing mornings of fog. On special request, I am starting with the ‘men’s special’. For once ladies, step aside and stop taking undue advantage of the age old ‘ladies first’ weapon. Going astray from the subject…I would wish to add here on behalf of all the chivalrous men out there (who still don’t mind holding the door for you), but are surely confused whether you want the ‘shoulder to shoulder equality status’ or you still crave for the ‘ladies first and pull-my-chair-for-me privilege’ – please decide. You can’t use one or the other forever, as and when required to your advantage.

Now, coming back to the subject. For this winter brighten up your greys and whites with some flash of color. Burnt orange and maroon are the flavor of the season for men. If you can’t go all out with a orange shirt or a maroon trouser …then add a splash of it with a tie or pocket square. Do stack up some polo-neck pullovers and tees in nice warm colors and textures. Throw on a plaid scarf with that blue shirt and black coat you always love to wear in cool weathers. Try loafers in orange suede or splurge on a handsome coat from Burberry. Indian festival season is the time for you to flaunt some real style with a long raw silk open burnt orange shervani on a salwar kameez…take cue from some of our picks here.

Grant yourself this weekend, juggle your wardrobe, go shopping…get hot and handsome for winters, women and winning.


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