The New Power Dressing

The new Power dressing code for women, informed, minimal and sophisticated, Meher S Ahmed shows us the way with her unique personality and style. Black and white, is almost serious and Formal and yet absolutely modern and elegant.

Meher S Ahmed

We love the her naturally textured hair, almost framing her face and adds a lot of character to her personality.

Meher S Ahmed

Meher wears this full length high-waisted skirt in  black-n-white pinstripes paired with a crisp white casual shirt tucked in. A black leather tote, black n tan strappy sandals and a pair of Ray Ban clubmaster sunglasses that we totally dig! complete her look. Her long multi-charm neckpiece adds to her feminine grace.

Meher S Ahmed

The Pinstripes have been a favorite board-room staple and having more than usual masculine association. Its refreshing to see a skirt in it that almost manages to keep its associations, except this time its all, a 100% feminine!

Meher S Ahmed

Street Style Diaries Mumbai- Rustam Chauhan

I saw Rustam at an event a while ago and as usual he was well turned out in his cool casuals, his groomed full mo-beard and vintage shaped specs.

Normally military fatigues are hard to combine with casual plaids but Rustam's pairing is an exception and it totally works.

He wears this plaid shirt buttoned down and sleeves folded up, in powdered pastel shades of blues and reds, touted to be in the color palette for the coming season with an almost black overdyed military fatigue patterned pair of fitted trousers with interesting seam details. The lace-up boat shoes in brown suede and florescent green add a dash of color to his ensemble.

Rustam Chauhan

Street Style Diaries Mumbai-Daniel Franklin

Casual meets Classic

At many occasions when I have spotted Daniel he's almost always been in a pair of shorts! This Milan trained stylist for Elle surely has taken the onus upon himself to make 'a pair of shorts', replace the trousers menfolk have to wear to work. Given the summers in Mumbai it seems like the right thing to do, logically. I am glad he has not let norms guide his choice of comfort and unique individual style.

Daniel seems to be a fan of classics pairing his black pair with a Vivienne Westwood high button down collared shirt in classic white. A bit more place for his quirks is seen in the choice of his Polka-dot socks, again in black-n-white paired with classic leather high-top shoes. A leather tote in black completes his look that sits perfectly in the middle of a casual and formal look!

Daniel Franklin

Daniel Franklin

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

Caught my eye - Cool Haircut Spotted in the Local

This boy was selling his wares on the local train. He was shy at first but then was comfortable about him being photographed. Don't miss the Hawaiian print shirt, so apt for the weather here in Mumbai.

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

Street Style Diaries- Anup Arun Mastakar

Style Statement

The best advertisement for your wares/craft specially if it is wearable, is you! Anup dabbles in many such crafty pursuits and when I met him he was like a walking billboard of his exquisite hand painted/crafted accessories using coins among other things.

Coins have always had the power to draw collectors over centuries and are great examples of beautifully detailed and rendered artworks that are the sign of the times preserved for posterity. Coin jewelry is a fun alternative to the conventional precious (or not) metal jewelry that we are all used to. Don't we all have a lucky coin/lucky penny that we do not wanna let go or an exotic souvenir or a gifted coin from faraway land that we want to keep forever? I have an old neck piece in silver with old guineas and i will always love it, do share your coin jewelry with us and tell us how you feel about them....

Anup uses these coins to fashion pins, brooches, armlets, pendants and such innovative pieces to help you carry your memories with you, on you. He also does these interesting hand painted ties. What I saw reminded me of the Egyptian art influences in terms of the color usage and the graphics, specially the Eye of Ra. I do love the vintage timepiece on a washed denim band with hand painted graphics on it.

Don't forget to notice the 10 naye paise from 1958.......nostalgia and the stories from my granny of its worth and how it could buy the world then....priceless!

Anup Mastakar

Being Human- Spring Summer 14 Exclusive Preview

Your blogger was invited to an exclusive media preview of the Being Human SS14 line! It was a real treat to go through the vibrant range and know what there in store for us through the summer. Being Human, the clothing line associated with The Salman Khan being Human Foundation is surely set to wow its patrons with its something-for-everyone offerings for summer. What makes the brand unique its the spirit of looking good while doing good, which helps the Foundation undertake many initiatives for children and the underprivileged. This is perhaps why Being human is the most trusted brand of the year according to the Brand Trust of India. You can know more about the Foundation through www.beinghumanonline.com.

I love the details in each and every product and I think that is what brings a unique flavor to the brand. The graphics on the Ts are fresh and full of life. The washes on the chinos, shorts and the denims have a lived in feel and is something you must-try-on-to-believe.  I do like the baseball/pea caps for men and the flip flops on offer.

I leave you with some images from the range and my favorite picks from the Men's look book which I think are quite hip and trendsetting. I also leave you with their yet to be launched campaign video that features who else, Salman Khan talking about the brand.

The range is available now in the Being human stores, many other formats that they sell through including online. Check out www.beinghumanclothing.com for more details.

If you like the looks, do leave a comment and share your feelings, but more important go grab the goodies before they fly out!

  

The Spring Summer Presentation

The details

The Being Human Men Chinos

Menswear Tees with some fresh graphics

Chinos get a stylish twist with some cool suspenders.

The universal must have logo shirt

Great denim washes, must pick one.

Some of my favorite looks from the Men's look-book.

Pastel Riot- Love the pastel pants with a cool blue shirt and a splash of yellow.

Pastel Riot - Style your pastel pants with some summer white and add some color.

The Indigo Fever -The denim on denim look with my favorite pick shirt the star printed shirt.

The Indigo Fever - Striped tee with denim shorts to beat the summer blues.

The Dip Dyed Blues Look

The Style Icon Salman for Being Human 

The Women s Range

Shorts and Chinos in fresh summer hues for Women

The Quest Tee range for Women

Colorful Chinos for Women-A fresh take on the colors for Summer

Nautical inspired stripes and dotted slippers