© Divya Tak - All posts on © aquaintperspective.blogspot.com are in accordance with the agreement with the models and in compliance with intellectual property laws.

Esha has to meet a friend today she hasn't caught up with in a long time, for a coffee. In a cheerful mood that she is, she pulls out her on-trend pieces, all different and mixes it up with a panache that comes with experience and in the end her pattern-play sits wonderfully together. 

Esha wears a deep U neck T with a very interesting Aztec-Geo-Skin horizontal pattern over a tone-on-tone patterned sequined skirt in off-white, both trending equally hot this summer! She puts on a waterfall cardigan in a print that a very modernist leopard skin representation with almost hand-painted spots in colors. The girl loves her metals and a gold cuff with set-in turquoise, leather envelop clutch in silver with all-over tonal studs, and her gold monogrammed pair of belle flat shoes in black finish her look!

Every piece that Esha dons is a conversation starter and I'm sure the girls catching up would have easily moved from coffee to dinner!

P.S: Mixing different trends skin prints-sequined surfaces-aztec/tribal prints-studded pieces-metallic together could be overwhelming. While creating your mix be careful that your entire look doesn't overpower your personality. If you can rock it like this go right ahead! 

Esha

Esha 

Esha 

Esha 

Top : Only

Cardigan : Vero Moda

Skirt : Tarajorman

Clutch : Ayesha

Ballet Shoes: Hermes

© Divya Tak - All posts on © aquaintperspective.blogspot.com are in accordance with the agreement with the models and in compliance with intellectual property laws.

Street Style Diaries Mumbai- Abhishek Shinde

Marble cocktail

I was pleased to spot Abhishek for his eclectic style with bow-tie and striped pants, confirming another trend that I talked about in my earlier post Upcoming Trends for men, where I talk about Casual meeting Formal in dressing. Its all about mixing it all up and coming up with your own cocktail really, the casual elements, the formal elements, the accessories, the hair and the personality.

Let me break down Abhishek's mix for you. He wears a marble print (a hot print trend for men this summer) shirt in cotton, a leather strap-sport watch, the gladiator sandals in brown leather-the casual elements. The diamond-tip bow-tie in an minimal floral pattern and a pair of trousers in a black-n-white pinstripes cut just above the ankle are the formal elements. With his natural and wavy soft curls hair covering one side of his face almost, and reminds me of Kit Harrington-my current heartthrob from The Game Of Thrones, the cocktail is complete!

Shy but confident, creative but focused, messy but meticulous that's the Marbled Lagoon-a cocktail from Abhishek Shinde.

Abhishek Shinde

 Abhishek Shinde

Abhishek Shinde

Street Style Diaries Mumbai - The lady at the station

New balance between tradition and modernity

I am a sucker for traditional clothing from all cultures. There is something about the traditional clothes one wears, speaking at once to the onlooker about their culture, community, region and much more without an exchange of a single word, its enlightening! In our quest to embrace modernity or to fit/blend in, most of us have let go of this very important individual visual identity and with it the deep history and rich cultural heritage. In a forever-rushed city like Mumbai, traditional attire comes out on occasions and festivals, and therefore a rare sight. I always wonder though if we could adapt our traditional clothes to reach a new balance between tradition and modernity. Clothes that let us be as modern as we'd like to be and yet be identifiable with our rich tradition, clothes that let us blend in and yet stand out!

I was delighted to spot this lady at the station, I'm guessing from a region bordering Gujarat and Rajasthan. She had that balance. I love the colors of her outfit, the combination of polka dots with the fluorescent jacquard lace, who could say she doesn't follow trends! I know that the colorful crochet edging on her stole and through the hemlines on her skirt is all hand-made! I love her bold tattoos, nose-pin, bracelet, so comfortable in her skin.... She poses for me with the inner confidence of a seasoned model, so beautiful!

Street Style Diaries Mumbai - Idrees Lone

Trend Confirmation

In the beginning of the year in my post Upcoming trends for men  for this summer, I stressed on how a jacket can have an amazing power to transform a man's look....and this holds true for both casual and formal dressing. I am glad to bring to you a confirmation of this trend with Idrees Lone.

A 2BSB (two button single breast)casual jacket in a tonal tartan plaid in blue/green is what caught my eye on Idrees. He wore this simple grey melange T and a pair of chinos in Cerulean blue, which is as effortless casual as it could get. Add a pair of statement sunglasses and a footwear of choice, and you are good to go. When I noticed Idrees's almost-merging-in-the-carpet shoes, I was impressed with his choice! shoes for a guy with a heart, the classic TOMS that started the one-for-one revolution.

I am a big fan of Blake Mycoskie, of TOMS and the number of lives he has touched and made better. What he has been able to achieve is nothing short of a revolution. You can find more about it here.

It was however the ubiquitous Jhola (sling bag), though a modern version, as a choice that intrigued me. You can't take a Jhola from a journalist!

Idrees Lone is a freelance journalist, both print and media, and hails from Srinagar. He is currently affiliated with a German network and working on issues related to Sustainability.

Idrees Lone

Idrees Lone

Idrees Lone

Street Style Diaries Mumbai - Rhea Gupte

Rock chic

There was a certain rockability, a certain boldness that made me turn my head and notice Rhea. She managed to bring together very distinct elements and make it work. The pair of leather shorts, paired with a white cami, aviators in her hand and a peep-toe lace-up platform wedges with black painted toe-nails and bold wig-tipped eyes give out a very rock-chic vibe. At the same time the flowing sheer trail from her brocade jacket, her flowing tresses with bleached-out ends the bligy neckpieces and her metallic clutch with a metal chain strap are elegant and feminine. I have this image in my head of her riding a mean bike with her hair and the trail of her jacket talking to the wind.....fabulous! Rhea gives us a beautiful look that is powerful and elegant in the same breath!

To girl power!!

Rhea Gupte is a fellow blogger much celebrated for her distinct personal style and blogs at FUSS.

Rhea Gupte

Rhea Gupte

Rhea Gupte

Rhea Gupte

Street Style Diaries Mumbai - Shadaab

The hip-hop sporty flavor

Mumbai is getting hot, especially during the day like most of India at this point. A white linen shirt to beat the heat is a summer-must-have. Shadaab impresses me with the way he styles his shirt and the inspired hip-hop/sporty flavor he adds with the baseball cap. 

He pairs his white linen shirt with a kurta-opening and a granddad collar with a washed khaki chinos. With the hems rolled-up and a pair of leather-trimmed suspenders hanging loose make the chinos cool! A pair of perforated leather boat shoes in white, orange sports watch and a black baseball cap complete his street-sporty look. A mustache pendant on a chain, a popular unisex neck accessory, complements his well trimmed facial mo-beard style.

Shadaab

Street Style Diaries Mumbai -Esha

© Divya Tak - All posts on aquaintperspective.blogspot.com are in accordance with the agreement with the models and in compliance with intellectual property laws.

Spring Florals 

Just heard the arrival of this season's Exotic, Spicy and Flavorful alphonso mangoes. Can't wait to have my first bite of heaven this Summer.

When Esha posed for me I didn't notice the mango wall was my background and how the same words came to me again Spicy, Flavorful and Exotic thinking of her.

Being a designer and celebrity stylist-in-demand keeps her on her toes, her mind is juggling all that she has seen from designers and brands and processing this information load,to arrive at that perfect edited look for the celebrity she styles!

This inspirational and a-celebrity's-go-to stylist gives us a super hot trend for this Summer, that is the High waist Maxi with crop top pairing!

She wears this lovely breezy cotton maxi skirt in white with beautiful cut-work tone-on-tone floral embroidery at calf length.

She pairs it up with a crop top in a painterly-floral design with an interesting pinched back. A girls-girl Esha loves her jewelry, her make-up and her long enviable soft curls.Her tote fits in all that she needs on-the-run.

Behind that light-me-up smile she packs in quite a schedule.

Easy Breezy!  

Esha is currently busy styling and grooming the future Ms.India s and is just back from a fabulous beach shoot in Sri Lanka.

Esha 

Esha 

Esha 

Top-Local Shop in Madrid

Skirt- Philosophy by Alberta Ferretti

Tote-Michael Kors

Assorted Bracelets-Randomly collected 

Slip ons- Tory Birch

© Divya Tak  All posts on aquaintperspective.blogspot.com are in accordance with the agreement with the models and in compliance with intellectual property laws.

Street Style Diaries Mumbai - Karan Berry

Modern Minimalism

When me met at an event my fashion conscious eye couldn't help but notice the preppy and minimalist style of Karan Berry. 

Karan juggles many hats in the creative fields including footwear design, visual spaces and with his partner Leon, has just debuted with their line KARLEO in the Lakme' Fashion Week's summer edition, in Mumbai.

I am drawn to Modern Minimalism as an expression when its used with a clear conceptual edge. I see this in the collections from Calvin Klein blended with the influences from sportswear. This new concept of anti-branding, anti-logo and non-decorative styling finds much favor with me. Here your style becomes more about self-expression and individuality yet remaining anonymous. I am a fan of Muji, a Japanese brand that seems to base itself on this philosophy and has found much success globally.

Karan seems to identify with and incorporate these in his personal style very well. He wears a crew neck long sleeve lightweight knit in purple with a smart fitted, tailored pair of trousers in grey prince of Wales checks, very subtle. The accessories he uses to complete his look, the leather chunky fringe loafers, the bespoke leather backpack, the watch interest me and pleases me the most!

There is a certain attraction in the play of textures, the updated color blocking in the designs, both from the label A.K.A Bespoke, that he is a part of. The contrasts, the green+brown in the shoes and the purple+brown for the backpack are subtle and striking at the same time. 

All the best for KARLEO!

Karan Berry

Karan Berry

Karan Berry

Street Style Diaries Mumbai- Shweta Sharma

To the 80's 

You've moved to New Delhi from Mumbai last week, you're dressed to kill, armed with a pout and a practiced-to-perfection pose, with dreams and a plan.....you're on LFW high! (Lakme'/WI Lifestyle Fashion Weeks). Couldn't resist the new Coke commercial doing rounds to announce the migration of the f-people to the capital for the Autumn Winter 14 edition of Wills India Lifestyle Fashion Week being opened by Tarun Tahiliani on the 26th of the month. 

I chose to stay put in Mumbai and get back on the street on my hunt, the mystery, the tale that clothes tell and the people behind them. I stumbled upon the charming Shweta, who brought in a lovely new avatar of the 80's vintage for us. Reminiscent of the oversize T+ cut off shorts+ the acid washed denim jacket combination which was a staple for the teens of the 80's grooving to Madonna, Queen or Jon Bon Jovi.

To the 80's and back with Shweta Sharma

Shweta wears this oversize shirt in denim with a stone acid wash, very popular during the 80's, with ripped chest pocket and elbow patched for the real vintage and worn feel. She pairs it up with the iconic cut out denim shorts with frayed edges. She finishes her Retro vibe with the big hair she wears casually. A metal tipped and monogrammed leather clutch bag in camel, and black velvet driving shoes with the skull embroidery, made famous by Alexander McQueen, complete her minimal yet fabulous updated-from-the-80's look.

Shweta Sharma

Shweta Sharma

Shweta Sharma is a Stylist.

Street Style Diaries Mumbai -Chaya Vani

Chaya glows like a movie star in this Indie fusion avatar with the arc lights shining on her, literally. I love how adding a few pieces to your attire lifts the whole look and takes it to another level. In this case, the pleated maxi skirt (with or without the fringed sling) is a complete look in itself and a popular one for this spring has been electrified if I may say, by adding an embroidered waistcoat and a jeweled headpiece in silver.

Chaya wears a short sleeves, longish knitted top in black with a maxi skirt in Navy grey with permanent pleats. She wears an colorful embroidered waistcoat with a contemporary version the Indian mirror-work embroidery from Kutchh, Gujarat and Punjab regions, I love the ornate brooch closure! She wears her soft curls open with a silver headpiece, again a very Indian touch and something royal about it, but hey who said you cant rock it too!

  

How to wear - City Shorts

City shorts, from the last few seasons have almost become a staple for Men to dress up in, and spring is the best time to start. Their soaring popularity has even made them acceptable inside work-spaces, and a topic of many a hot debate on whether Men should be allowed to wear shorts to work?

I say Aye....What do you think?

It might be a bit awkward if you are in the finance or banking sector or a lawyer or even a doctor, but hey! those of you into a cool IT sphere like a Google or Facebook, or design, media or running an enterprise of your own, shorts are the new trousers! The rising temperatures in our cities could be a reason for this preferential shift. Or maybe its the issue of EQUALITY with this wave of Feminism, a desire to match the much acceptable attire for women and welcome in the board room, dresses. Personally I don't mind them provided you have well toned calves and take grooming seriously. Men blessed in the hair department on your pins should stay away from this trend at the workplace.

Below is a classic sportswear look with a beige shorts+black long sleeves flat knit jumper combination, that works perfectly for any age group. A beret in black and black-n-white sneakers complete the look.

If you are the MY BODY IS MY TEMPLE kinda guy, someone who takes his workouts seriously or are simply blessed with a great metabolism and have a body that you are happy with, you can by all means go for the look below. It is much fitted and form flattering T shirt-shorts combo. Here you can experiment as much as you like with color blocking, print-on-print trends. White espadrilles in canvas are a fabulous footwear choice for the season. You can try them in colors and patterns available aplenty.

A monochrome color scheme is a man's best ally. This all black shirt-shorts-shoes combo is a no fuss casual look that works wonderfully. The best thing about this look is that its takes at least a few years off you age, no matter what your age! A reason why is popular right across 18-55 age group and that's the Long and Short of it boys!

Armaan Khan

How to wear - Palazzo Pants

March is here. Winter gets ready to wrap up its business of the Big Chill due to the Polar Vortex, blizzards in New York and most of the US, floods in London and UK, chilly rain in New Delhi and the just about a hint of it all in Mumbai, to make way for the Spring of  2014 in the later half of the month. I look forward to it for so many reasons including my packed travel itinerary for the month, which was on hold for my well known dislike of the freezing weather, and of course the upcoming Lakme' Fashion Week in Mumbai.

So I thought I'll give you a head start onto the upcoming season by introducing a new post called How to wear!

Palazzo trousers are IN, a great style for summer and work best in flowing, breathable materials. They are a great alternative to the Maxi skirt and the best part is you can have fun with them and wear it in so many different ways to create completely different looks.

Below is a very casual-chic summer look in linen/cotton. The Palazzos in linen are paired with a lovely irregular striped top with a lace insert. The accessories are understated creating a very minimal look. very casual-chic summer look

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Palazzos can also come handy to create an evening look, just by choosing the right fabric like the one below in silk in a rich color. Paired with a tube top in black, studded shoes in red, and a studded clutch, open hair and a statement ear-ring, you are good to go to an evening soiree!

You can also add a Sporty twist on the Palazzos by just pairing it right! Here the choice could be a flowing viscose or a poly-blended fabric for the pants. I love the all-over-embroidered cropped top in a royal blue, breathable and airy again! Put your sneakers on and you are ready to sprint and feel the breeze.The hair worn short just adds to the whole look.

Street Style Diaries Mumbai- Jagvir Matharoo

Is it the jacket or the hair? 

Is it the jeans or the chain? 

I couldn't put a finger on the one thing that made Jagvir Matharoo stand out in the styling department. What I do know however that everything works together beautifully and this sure is a great representation of how a contemporary man should be turned out at this moment!

Jagvir wears this henley shirt in white over this amazing pair of denims with a great wash and vintage feel. The fit is contemporary, popular as the carrot fit and the hem rolled-up to the ankle and is the way to wear it right. A military inspired longish four pocket jacket in khaki, is a rage right now adds to his look.

He is biased to silver and diamonds in the accessory department and sports diamond studs in his ears, a silver kada, a Diesel watch in silver on either wrists and this amazing silver chain which I believe is an old Indian design, J'adore!

A belt, a sling bag and shoes all in black complete his look.

The X factor however is the way he wears his facial hair and his Manbun! Its the latest way to wear your hair if you like it long,shows a lot of confidence and is every bit masculine. It has been seen on many icons of style like Brad Pitt, David Beckham, Jared Leto and my current heartthrob Bradley Cooper recently.

All you men out there with long tresses, what do you think about the manbun? 

Meanwhile Jagvir, Keep rocking the Manbun like you do!

Jagvir Matharoo

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Street Style Diaries Mumbai - Vani Gupta

Fusion Wear

With a petite frame, long black hair worn open, sans make-up and in a little white dress you could see Vani as a demure, shy girl-next-door. However, its her deep set eyes and a resolute gaze, a hint of a-sign-of-maturity grey on the mane, the chin-stud and her choice of accessories that bring out her quirks, her craft and her personality. Vani Gupta does bags and accessories that you see in the background.

Tribal jewelry has been about hammered metals, rough wire unpolished/uneven stones and has always appealed to me. One such confection on Vani drew my eyes, a neck piece made largely by twisting copper wires and twisting along beads of different colors/shapes/sizes along with a beaten copper leaf and a flower, making quite a unique accessory.

Keeping her liking to the beaten metal I presume, she wears a chunky silver ring on her forefinger.

She wears this bangle with wrapped silk threads in a vibrant yellow and adorned with kundan work which is so quintessentially Indian bling, will pair beautifully with any traditional Indian attire.

She carries a tote with pom-poms and distinctly Parsi floral embroidery in primary hues of red, blue and yellow.

With her varied choices and eclectic pairings Vani represents the cultural milieu that Mumbai street style has become all about! eager to know your views, don't you think?

Vani Gupta