Rue Etienne Marcel has some of my favorite brands that are a must visit for me on every trip to Paris. All Saints, Diesel, Replay, Marithe+Francoise Girbaud, Sandro, Yohji Yamamoto and the multibrand store Kiliwatch. Hanging out with a bunch of his friends and chilling just outside the Replay store, I couldnt help but notice Robin Jude le Texier in his cool street smart look. One look at him and you could tell that he has some great personal style and if I am not wrong definitely involved in the creative pursuits, either music or the arts.  There is something about his aura that I've seen around artists, deep and lost-to-the-world chasing their own train of thought, elusive in spirit even in their physical presence.

Robin wears a pair of used dark denims with the hem folded up to the ankles, an amazing hand knitted ethnic-tribal-native patterned sweater, a long coat in grey and a pair of black high top shoes. He finishes his look with a black bowlers hat and a brown leather backpack. I totally dig the sweater with deep colors with such a vintage feel to it, yet so contemporary.

tre chic monsieur!

Robin Jude Le Texier

Street Style Diaries Germany- Biggie Gries

Biggie Gries is a dame full of infectious energy and spunk, independent and intelligent, she represents the zeitgeist of the 21st century modern  women. She works as a buyer for a mammoth retail giant in Germany and right now on a break to bring in a bundle of joy into this world. The glow on her face may be her imminent motherhood! I noticed her in an instant for the-envy-of-every girl naturally permed looking curly mop that she sports. Many stars like Beyonce and Halle Berry have gone to great lengths to sport this cool and sexy voluminous Afro curls, Biggie just lets them grow.

She wears a simple knitted dress in black by Zara, a pair of opaque black leggings and a supercool and comfy pair of bespoke Airstep boots, in black leather. I love this brand of shoes for their use of memory foam soles for maximum comfort and their washed and rugged yet extremely unique and distinct designs. Check them out online at http://www.airstep-online.de/

However what I love the most is her cozy gillet in luxurious black rabbit fur, or it may be faux fur. This vintage gillet is a chic layering piece for Autumn as well as winter. Biggie Gries, you are the first mamma-to-be on  my blog and what a super-chic one!

Biggie Gries

Street Style Diaries Paris - Carl Adelson

I am a big fan of the Classics and Men in uniform, and I am sure this is not the first or the last time I'm saying it.

Carl caught my eye from a distance walking up on Rue Saint Honroe, with an towering height and imposing personality befitting a 70mm star. He didn't have to do much, you never have to and that's the point! He keeps it simple in all black from top to toe right down to the sock n the gloves, you have to give a guy his white undershirt, I would. I love the choice of his footwear in leather also in black, classic and rugged.

What I love the most however is his woolen Camel Duffle Coat, with leather and horn toggles. It is a such an iconic piece reminiscent of the British Navymen in the 1950's and I am drawn to men wearing even a hint of uniform. The Duffle Coat, the only classic coat with a hood, perfected by Gloverall of England and reinterpreted by the likes of Maison Martin Margiela, is a vintage piece that's a must have for a Man's winter wardrobe, any variant you could get your hands on.

A short chat with Carl revealed that he from the Seattle, USA and in fact in the field of media and films, visiting Paris. In fact he's just finished co producing and cinematography for a film titled 'Nothing Against Life' You make the cut Carl, anyday!     

Carl Adelson

Street Style Diaries Paris- Lauren Vissir and Ellen Deinum / Mumbai Mirror Feature

It has been an overwhelming start to the year. Your blogger was featured in Mumbai Mirror along with some of the most admired fellow bloggers Akanksha Redhu and Smrithi Rao. A big thank you to Benita Fernando for the feature. Incase you missed the feature, please click here.

Thank you all my dear friends and well wishers out there. It feels good to be acknowledged for the work. Here's wishing for many more. Cheers!

Street Style Diaries Paris

Just outside  cafe Le BIS Repitita at the beginning of rue St. Honroe, I met Lauren and Ellen, two dutch girls out and about in style in the city. Lauren was playing host to Ellen who was visiting.What struck me most other than their fabulously put together layered look for the weather in the city, was their experiment with the tied scarf as a head accessory. Its got such a retro vibe and yet such a fun thing to do.

Lauren wears a black sweat shirt with a metal zipper, a 80's grunge style washed colored burgundy denim jacket and layers it with a chic biker jacket in black leather. A snug black scarf protects and keeps her neck warm. She wears a black protective pair of leggings with her biker boots also in black leather, and a trendy half opaque half sheer skirt with a slit in grey melange.The rouge from her head scarf, her lips and her denim jacket highlights her look and gives her the Parisian chic air.

Ellen chooses to play with textures for her ensemble in grey and black. She wears this double breasted tweed jacket in an enlarged herringbone pattern and throws in a scarf to match on a jacquard pattern. Ellen chooses a tote in leather that adds to the texture play. I love her choice of rings and the turquoise from her ring and the headscarf lift up her whole look.

Goede dag meisjes!     

Ellen Deinum and Lauren Vissir

Ellen Deinum and Lauren Vissir

My favorite romantic city - Paris

Happy New Year

Paris is the city of my dreams. Its perfect in every way that I think about it, and every now and then your blogger is there to touch perfection and come back all inspired. 

Paris shoulders the cultural heritage spanning more than 10,000 years and yet manages to wow us. It has an unparalleled collection of arts in all its fathomable forms, fine arts, sculpture, haute couture, you name it, the French can turn anything under the sun into an art-form. Is displays mind boggling representations of various  architectural forms from Medieval and Neo-Roman to the post modernist and everything in between; yet one finds such uniformity that every frame, no matter where you stand is picture perfect morning, day or night!

Its iconic and preserved  monuments make Paris one of the most visited tourist destinations. The melt-in-your-mouth gourmet desserts, from mousse du chocolat to creme brulee, from the tarts to the delicate macaroons, from the madelines.....oh I could go on, make you taste a slice of heaven in every bite. 

I love the morning ritual of starting my day with a warm butter croissant and a coffee when I am in Paris and I know everyone does it.

I have to be reigned in when I get out shopping onto Champ Elysee, Rue du Rivoli, Rue Saint Honroe, or Rue Etienne Marcel; almost everyone of these streets is capable of making me compel to loosen my purse-strings. I am in the Fashion capital of the world, its natural.

I'll leave you with some images that left me enchanted and obvoiusly follow it up with some very interesting people that I met.....so keep watching this space.

Au Revoir Paris and I'll be back soon...

Five days Five looks one Pal- Prasad Ramamurthy

When I was summarizing the five looks from my pal Prasad Ramamurthy, I was amazed and happy at the same time realizing how one can stay true to one's personality and yet display an array of vivid and distinct colors. From casual tee and shorts to a tuxedo look, from an ethnic take to a period and cultural statement look, Prasad owns all the looks and totally works it. A lot of time we tie ourselves down to a very set pattern of wearing clothes that we have identified for ourselves as our style. However this might soon become boring and predictable. When you keep experimenting and trying out new things, all keeping with your personal taste and choices, fashion becomes FUN. 

I have said earlier we have different shades to our personality and its so important to recognize that.

The year is coming to an end and I suggest you make this one of  your new year resolutions to keep for life......

Keep Flirting with Fashion and let it flirt back!

Prasad Ramamurthy

Five Days Five Looks One Pal- Prasad Ramamurthy : Making a statement

The final look brought a big content smile to my face. Prasad gives me this 'let's make a fashion statement' look with his distinctly Japanese nobility inspired ensemble.

Prasad wears a classic butterfly silk bow tie in a rich jewel blue on a crisp light blue shirt with subtly contrasted collar in a mild grey and sleeves rolled-up. He wears a version of the traditional Japanese 'hakama' or the Samurai pants as we know it in a gunmetal grey, in linen. These pants are favored and worn by the Japanese Royals, the Nobles and the Samurais and are identified with their distinct knotted waist and pleats representing the 7 virtues of 'bushido' or the samurai life. 

The chunky silver kundals and his choice of footwear black leather mojris add to the aura of this wandering samurai.

Few men can carry off and own this look like Prasad does, he looks powerful, in command and imposing in this garb, his personality still towering above all. He affirms my theory that clothes speak a language of their own. I was totally awestruck and impressed by the power that this image manages to convey. 

 

Samurai pants - Narendra Kumar

Shirt - Zara

Bow Tie - Zara 

Mojris - Colaba Causeway

Five days Five Looks One Pal : Prasad Ramamurthy : Updated Traditional

For the fourth look Prasad chose to don his version of traditional look. The clothes are all his own creations.

Traditional/Ethnic look is one of my eternal favourites for all Indian people. Its one look all of us can carry off without a ever going wrong. Although classic traditional always works but there is nothing more interesting than to see people updating it and making it more contemprory and personalised. It is elegant and stylish look that can be worn from casual do s to festivities to a more formal settings.

The jewel tone green kurta with overlapping front secured with a metal button and an asymmetric hem pairing with the dark grey rolled up hem trouser is divine. Further adding the style quotient is the choice of shoes, brown leather formal.

Wishing you all Merry Christmas. Stay Blessed.

Kurta-My Own

Trousers - My own

Shoes - Zara

Five Days Five Looks One Pal- Prasad Ramamurthy : Formal Work Wear

Day 3 of the 'five day five looks one pal' Prasad Ramamurthy steps out for an editorial meeting at work, not the usual bow-tie affair but he makes it one.

Its 10:55 am and the meeting is in five: but Prasad is all cool, calm and collected not mention his savvy best in his Official meeting attire. He wears a textured white crisp cotton dress shirt with a narrow stiff collar, a two button single-breasted jacket in black; a plaid trouser in a slim, straight fit(both his own creations),  and a black velvet bow-tie.Prasad also happens to own a line of clothing which he designs for his close friends. 

I love the choice of Prince-of-Wales plaids in subtle grey with a pop of blue and red for the trousers which has such an English heritage feel and gentlemanly air.  Keeping up with his sartorial choices Prasad's bow-tie with a collared shirt look adds to his personal style aura.

Prasad dares to step off the beaten path of formal dressing and chose a whole lot of textures yet it all becomes coherent and in unison. The shoes are formal, yet to add his to quirks and personal touch Prasad chose to wear them sans socks yet again.

Prasad Ramamurthy

Jacket- My own

Shirt- My own

Trousers - My own

Shoes - Zara

Bow tie  - Zara

Five days Five Looks One Pal- Prasad Ramamurthy : Casual Work Wear

For the second look of the series 'five day five looks one pal' with Prasad Ramamurthy, I requested him to put together a casual work wear look. This is when he has no meetings to attend; mostly assimilate various thoughts, pen them down and edit at his desk. 

Prasad chooses a plain tee in Navy with a slightly wider neckline and teams it up with Corduroy Pants in ocher folded up till the ankles. He adds a pendant in silver with filigree work to a long chain and personalizes his look. The reindeer inspired ring is another great addition to the look and perfect for the coming Christmas season!

Sporting winter colours in otherwise tamed winters in Mumbai is what I love about this look. The colours clash yet come together beautifully in this pairing. He can also effortlessly carry on the look to an evening out with friends.

When choosing his footwear Prasad opted for a pair of well aged and oiled leather shoes in brown and can easily be teamed up with casual and formal attire. This keeps his looks in line with office formalities and evening out yet he the carefully opts not wear socks with them by pushing the style envelope a bit further.

Tee-Zara

Trousers-Zara

Shoes-Zara

Chain and pendant - A pawnbroker in Chandni Chowk

Ring - From a Vintage Market in Shanghai

Five Days Five Looks One Pal- Prasad Ramammurthy : Casual Day Out

In continuation to the earlier story,on how clothes interact with the wearer, the surroundings and the world to create a language of its own, and conveys our personality to the world, I present to you Prasad Ramamurthy.

Prasad is a dear friend and is professionaly associated with a world renowned media firm. He dons many hats and dabbles in cooking, writing and design. Having lived in New York among other parts of the world he currently calls Mumbai home. A thorough gentleman, Prasad is a great conversationalist and stimulating company. Here's is to many moods of Prasad.

Casual attire for men I have discovered is a conscious effort or even an art. Its refreshing to see men put together some cool casuals and own the look. 

Shorts are the new trousers for men and they are wearing it everywhere and all the time.

I love Prasad's out to get groceries, or lounging with a drink look in a pair of shorts, catching up with a friend over coffee; and the Indian spin on it! A basic white deep V neck, shorts burnt umber hues in Ikat pattern and hand-crafted Mojris in leather . An Indian at heart, rooted and metro-sexual; completely stylish and updated. 

The silver earrings are an inherent part of his individual style and give him an aura of a royal heritage, the tinted shades add the swagger.

Prasad Ramamurthy

T - Zara

Shorts - Fashion street

Mojris - Fabindia 

Silver earrings - Colaba Causeway

Street Style Diaries Mumbai- Tushar Ghadia

I am a big  fan of the Classics. Tushar gives me an updated version of the classic white shirt-black chinos Modern Gent look. The secret to getting this look right, which no one tells you lies in the FIT, and the fits seen here is impeccable and contemporary. The shirt is crisp and snug, probably in a stretch cotton, the pants form-flattering and cut at the ankles, the latest way to wear your chinos.

Tushar wears his hair in the latest undercut style, with almost shaved sides, the origin of which seem to come from the British underground and carries an air of the punk-skinhead influence. He sports a goatee style mo-beard.

I totally love his choice of accessories which include horn earrings, one of the latest shapes to flaunt as accessories/pendant spectacle or a mustache, a ring, a watch, a braided belt in leather, and a pair of sartorial leather chunky tassel fringe loafers, ALL IN BLACK!

Tushar looks like a londoner walkin the streets of Mumbai. 

Tushar Ghadia

Street Style Diaries Mumbai- Kubra

When you own every element of  your style the comfort and confidence shows. 

Kubra is vivacious, gorgeous and has that rarity of making the bespeckled-beauty look work. Very few women  have managed to make Geek look the ultimate sexy, Brigitte Bardot in the 60's, our own Aishwarya Rai Bachchan in Guzarish in 2009, Caroline Murphy for Tom Ford in 2010. Ace designers like Tom Ford and Sabyasachi Mukherji have identified, appreciated and incorporated this unique perspective in their respective looks and created distinct unforgettable identities.

Kubra wears a charcoal jumpsuit in crepe-de-chine with a cowled front neck and a super-sexy scoop back with multi metal chain detail in gold unlike any that I have seen. Multi-chain necklace are very popular neck adornments, but Kubra shows a new way of wearing them that I totally dig!  Jumpsuits and playsuits are the flavour of the season and women world over are wearing them and lapping-up the look. This outfit adds to one's height and make one appear taller. 

A black leather bag with metal chain strap,  ballet flats in black, her amazing pair of slightly cattish spectacles and a pair of diamond drops complete her look. Her playful soft curls and dark cherry red lips just add the sizzle!  

Kubra- Anchor

Street Style Diaries Mumbai- Ajay Kumar

Connoisseur of style he is in the way Ajay chooses to wear his clothes and accessories. He wears a 80's Levi's inspired coloured and bleached washed Denim trucker jacket over a classic white v-neck T.

He pairs it up with a pair of mid blue coloured distress washed denim in a carrot fit with rolled-up bottoms that draws your attention to his light brown leather dress shoes, worn without socks.

With a leather bracelet and a watch, aviators tucked in his T, and a fabulous Hawaiian-floral printed pocket square, the connoisseur is good to go!

Ajay Kumar

Facial hair for men has seen a resurgence in the fashion world and face-scaping or taking care of your mo-beard has become almost an Art form that men all over the world are re-discovering and taking crash courses in. It totally depends on you, your face cut and the gift of facial hair you have grown up with, to figure out what you can do with it. It takes a whole lot of confidence to wear a full grown-neatly trimmed beard and the carefully tended mustaches the way Ajay does, the connoisseur style!

 

Street Style Diaries Mumbai - Jagvir Matharoo

Brace yourself

Style is spontaneous, true but spontaneity is something a few are blessed with.

Suspenders, the elastic bands originally meant to hold up a gentleman's trousers before belts came into existence, have though lost on the purpose, have gained their fashion appeal and are a great choice when you can't decide on a belt to wear. They are a must-have fashion accessory for your wardrobe and it works equally well for both sexes. 

Jagvir Matharoo uses his pair in black with a double clasp in leather, to spruce-up his otherwise casual monochrome white shirt-beige pair of chinos. Choosing to go sans belt he uses the braces, a formal jacket slung casually on his sling bag and a pair of black leather oxford dress shoes to transition from casual to formal setting. This is the spontaneity I am talking about, I totally dig what he has done with a printed scarf worn as a turban, adding so much color and character to his personality!

Jagvir Matharoo

The fairer sex have always indulged in a bit of role play where elements from Menswear have inspired fashion movements and led to emergence of terms like Power -Dressing! Suspenders are an ideal item to include when you want to indulge in a bit of Androgyny in your dressing. A very feminine lace edged camisole top is paired with a pair of black skinnies and a pair of ballet flats in black edged with red. A pair of braces in Camel color bring in the masculine association to the ensemble and make the look Woman Power! 

The dark kohl in the eyes just makes it more fierce!

Street Style Diaries Mumbai- Esha Agarwal

Your smile is the best accessory on you!

There is a freshness to this comfortable look, that makes you long for relaxing walk in the park/by the sea on wet sand or simply lounging by the pool or catching up with a friend over coffee.

Achieved by a simple mix of three different pieces, a heavy washed denim shirt casually worn open over a horizontal stripe patterned T paired with a pair of paisley printed lounge pants in turquoise and ocher. Adore the comfort with which she has mixed patterns in her cool casual style.

Slippers are the best footwear when you just want to feel the green grass under your feet or dip them in the water.

Esha Agarwal- Graphic Artist

Street Style Diaries Mumbai -San D

Shy at first, San D agreed to pose for me and let me capture her interesting street style. 

She wears a white sleeveless T over a pair of black jeggings and a comfortable pair of black oxford shoes. The most interesting piece in the ensemble is however the draped-knotted asymmetric top that she wears  over her white T. The print on the hem catches your attention, almost animated calligraphic cats, in black, in various charming positions.

Her accessories are minimal and understated and she carries a tote with a jute base and canvas body with blanket stitched edged.

Much like the cats, shy, charming and sophisticated San D cuts an elegant figure.

San D

Street Style Diaries Mumbai - Nikhil

Nikhil caught my attention amidst a friendly banter, chilling out with a group of his friends, enjoying every sip of his cutting chai. 

He wears this singlet in a grey melange with an over-sized shirt over a pair of multi-pocket drop crotch pants. The orange Dastar (turban), thick rimmed black frames on his eyes, a horn earring. The camouflage patterned waist-pouch and a pair of aged high-top red converse add color to his appearance.

There is something quite Rastafarian about Nikhil's personality, think reggae music and Bob Marley, and its not too hard to imagine dreadlocks under the uniquely tied orange turban. 

I have always admired cultural uniqueness in attire that every part of this country brings and appreciate it when someone balances tradition and modernity, Nikhil does that!

 

Nikhil  runs a small Kitchen called "Parronthe" off Carter road.

Street Style Diaries Mumbai- Anushree

I noticed Anushree for the way she mixed her pieces an styled herself. She wears this washed denim shirt paired with a Grecian maxi skirt with high slit on one side, in black. This combination works perfectly for a casual day with friends or to be out on the streets, or perhaps shopping. She chooses a comfortable pair of footwear with an ethnic pattern that adds some more color. The mix of her neck pieces and a bracelet, I'm guessing her own given that she is a jewelry designer, is interesting and just the right thing to do. The accessories lift her whole look and make it casual-chic.

Dark kohl outlines her beautiful eyes.  

Anushree-Jewelry Designer

Street Style Diaries Mumbai

There is something about the preppy look that has an air of smugness that comes from a privileged life of a legacy kid, an Ivy league education, at the same time is representative of a refined taste, casual, sporty and stylish way of life.

Popularised by designers such as Ralph Lauren in both his namesake label and Polo by Ralph Lauren and by Michael Bastian for GANT and brands like Abercrombie & Fitch, this heritage American/English preppy look is revised and updated with regularity for the modern man.

The white oxford shirt is paired with a sporty white and blue plaids for a casual pair of flat front trousers. The  perfectly matched aged brown leather belt, watch strap and shoes are accessories add the much required vintage element. The spectacles complete the updated classic look.   

Street Style Diaries Mumbai- Ashita Misquita

Bold New Look

There is a bold NEW LOOK in town, the casual pant suit seen on Ashita Misquita. 

Slated as the hottest colour this season, Tangerine is a color that spells danger and aggression, coming from the family of reds, and specially for an entire ensemble in it; you have to give it away to Ashita for totally making it work. 

She wears this single button suit, yet everything about this suit is unconventional. It is tailored in crisp cotton, that almost works like a summer top-pants pairing. The sleeves are casually folded up like you would a shirt sleeve. Even though it functions like a top, it comes with all the details of a jacket, the lapels, the welt pockets on the waist and not-to-miss the ticket pocket. She chooses to pair it with mid-calf-length Culotte pants, another of her sartorial choices that make this look stand out. Normally one would wear a suit with fitted tailored pants, and even ankle grazing lengths quite popular, but this new cut and length is leg elongating and flattering. Culottes demand to be worn with heels and Ashita does that with a pair in ecru, only other color on her along with a watch wrap bracelet to match.

  

The mid-parted dark locks, the nose-pin and the single anklet add the feminine touch to this sans-makeup-glowing-skin look that is powerful, extroverted and uninhibited.

Much like the fruit, what a refreshing look this is!

Ashita Misquita

Style Diaries Mumbai- Devyani Singh

It was contextual in the Julia Roberts movie Runaway Bride in 1999, but since then, combining dresses with sneakers has been increasingly acceptable pairing. Effortlessly cool and propagated by the singer Lily Allen, a British recording artist and endorsed by many-a-celebrity,like Rihanna, Alexa Chung, Kristen Stewart and Diane Kruger, they are universally trendy. Devyani follows the mantra of 'Comfort is Cool' and wears a textured cotton maxi dress in a lavender-ash with lace inserts in white and combines it with high-top black sneakers. 

She finishes her look with a tonal silk scarf with baroque motif on it. With minimal day make-up, a pendant and a bracelet, Devyani is perfect example of casual-chic.  

Devyani Singh

Street Style Diaries Mumbai- Prasad Ramamurthy

I have known Prasad Ramamurthy for a while now. He is one of the few men with an inherent style, in my opinion, understated and elegant, indigenous and yet global.

Running into each other, at times planned and others unplanned, I've always found him impeccably dressed up or dressed down for the occasion. 

Indian culture and ethos is something that he wears with pride, and that gives a unique flavor to his personality. 

Here he is seen wearing a Churidaar and Kurta. The unusual DOG print is what I noticed on the shortish Kurta on an equally unusual yet complementary hemline and it totally works!

Prasad opts to wear the quintessentially Indian footwear, the Mojris.  A glimpse of the royal Rajasthan is what i see with those chunky silver kundals in his ears and his attire.......he is a traveller.

You would soon be a seeing a whole feature on him in my series of 5 days 5 looks 1 Pal.

Prasad Ramamurthy

As we celebrate Diwali, light up your hearts and let your close-ones bask in the glow.

Be sensitive to nature and your environment.......share light, curb the noise and pollution.

Let the fireworks be in the hearts....brighten up the world......Happy Diwali!

Street Style Diaries Mumbai- The Godambe's

Like Mother Like Daughter

Dorris Godambe, the lady with the magic touch in her hands, seen here in what is an easy-breezy and chic summer style for most Indian women and our body type. She wears a white tunic with pleats in the front and silver placket detail, paired it with black leggings and jeweled slip-on shoes. Complemented by her baubles, jewels, the chaand-baalis a big bindi and pointed sindoor, that's almost her trademark. Dorris cuts a confident and elegant figure and represents successful and contemporary Indian women.

Dorris Godambe

Like mother like daughter, Juhi shows her affinity to the pristine white, but in a totally different version. She wears a simple white-on-white horizontal striped dress cut at the waist that lets her flaunt her tall statuesque figure. She combines it with a jeweled collar neck-piece, and a watch to match. The blue nail color adds the fun element to her and make her a girl-about-town ready to have some fun.

Juhi Godambe