Archive for the ‘style’ Category

Let’s start from the very beginning…how do you welcome your family and guests into your home?  A clean and thoughtfully-arranged entryway brings order to your entire household.  Here is an inspiration gallery for your fresh start in 2012.  Come on in!

A twist on the jhoola:

Simple and stunning:

A peacock mirror:

Asian-inspired:

Luxe color:

Airy and elegant:

Images via Houzz, Martha Stewart and Elle Decor

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Oh yes…the kids strutting Payal Singhal’s designs stole the show at Lakme Fashion Week back in August – and now the clothes are up for sale on Exclusively.in.

The bubble suit in the size 4 is mine.  Sale ends Friday evening.

Actually, I’m taking the aqua one too – a weak spot for one of my favourite designers!

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I drool over the chance to pamper my little girl in beautiful dresses.  So when she requested a Pinkalicious Party for her 3rd birthday (based on the book, Pinkalicious by Victoria Kann), I was so very excited to find her a perfectly pink dress.  I thought  I could recycle one of my done-with-it pink sarees into a fabulous custom dress, but of course, procrastinator me never got around to getting to a tailor.  And so began the online shopping marathon:

Pictured up top – a close contender – Tulle and Sequin Rosette Dress by Lipstick Girls.
From France – 100% cotton voile with pleated bodice and flower appliques from Cyrillus Paris:

Simple and stylish by Jcrew: Tulle Drop Waist Dress (left) and Peggy Dress (right):

Taffy Rose Dress by the amazing Luna Luna Copenhagen:

Not sure if this is too sophisticated for a 3-year-old, but it did catch my eye. Looped Hem Dress with Faux Fur Shrug by Biscotti:

Sparkle & Sequins, again by Lipstick Girls:

So what was the final choice?  This amazing Paparazzi Dress by Luna Luna.  The dress was gorgeous beyond belief and the pictures do not do it justice.  She wore it with the satin sash tied in the back, coordinating Tulle Ruffle Ballet Flats I picked up at the Gap and a pink tikka and bangles. She looked perfectly adorable and perfectly pink.  Happy Birthday to my sweetie!

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Why is it so difficult to find simple, modern kurtas for boys?  The kind without all the zari and embellishments – casual enough to wear to school or a birthday party.  It’s always disappointment when I ask for “very simple, no work” cotton kurtas in Indian shops (not to mention the are-you-crazy-to-not-want-fancy-work look from the shopkeepers). 

Luckily, some boutiques seem to be carrying what I’m looking for under the guise of mandarin collar shirts.  I absolutely love this look for boys!

Pictured above, Littl by Lilit Mus top – fair trade and white print on grey.  $32.00
Crisp and refined by EGG Baby.  $42.00 each

Who can resist a Flora & Henri Lucien Linen Shirt?  On sale for $38.60

Staple favourites by Masala Baby – my son wears these everywhere!  $24.00 and $28.00

And just bought this – beautiful tailoring and a classic colour.  $48.00

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Today we introduce the final sponsor for our Navratri Giveaway:  Taara Jewelry.  Taara comes from the Sanskrit word for “star’ – a befitting name for a sparkling jewelry collection!

Started by Megha Jain in Hong Kong, Taara Jewelry has been featured in international fashion shows, InStyle Magazine and all over the world from Japan to New York City.

Modelled after opulent Mughal jewelry, each piece is designed to be worn as a statement piece.  The stones are sourced from the bejewelled cities of Jaipur and Udaipur and set in silver with an antique finish.

Taara will be giving away a a handpicked Princess Necklace + Earrings Set so ENTER HERE for your chance to win.
AND make sure to join their Facebook Page.

(or if you don’t have a Facebook account, Email us at blog{at}gnaana{dot}com and tell us: Who is your female role model?)

WINNER for this prize will be announced at midnight EST on Thursday, October 6th – so make sure to enter before then!

More from Taara:

Red carnelian necklace:

Gold bracelet with rubies, peridot and amethyst:

Crystal ring with garnet stone:

A collection of rings:

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They’ve been featured on Gwyneth Paltrow’s uber-stylish GOOP Newsletter and on NBC News.  Featuring simple, beautiful hand-sewn dresses and garments, Chakra Design Studio uses 100% cotton fabrics colored with fabric dyes derived from plants and minerals.

And these are clothes with a purpose:  fabrics are hand block printed following traditional techniques of Kalamkari. Historically, these ancient Kalamkari textiles were used as currency in the Spice Trade, and were treated as luxury items in Europe, Asia and the Middle East. (You can learn more about this ancient technique here).  Chakra’s aim is to revive this ancient art and to support local artisans who practice this craft.

Chakra will be giving away one of their gorgeous Nissa Dresses (from their soon-to-be-unveiled Fall 2001 Collection) as part of our Navratri Giveaway.

ENTER HERE for your chance to win.
AND make sure to join their Facebook Page.

(or if you don’t have a Facebook account, Email us at blog{at}gnaana{dot}com and tell us: Who is your female role model?)

WINNER for this prize will be announced at midnight EST on Sunday, October 2nd – so make sure to enter before then!

And here are a few of our favorites from their Spring/Summer 2011 Collection. 

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My latest craze:  ethereal resin bangles.  Think Bengali art film – not Bollywood bling.  Would look equally super paired with a trendy sari or with jeans.  I honestly have no idea whether resin is “safe” or “eco-friendly” (this would require more research), but they are gorgeous to look at.  Check out these picks by Etsy Sellers TopazTurtle, RosellaResin, CassiopiLondon and Bethtastic.

Especially for toddlers and little girls by whizzbangle – something they really can wear everyday.

Organic forms by Resign:

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That’s Padma Lakshmi with her daughter Krishna – around the town in New York City.  Now we don’t often talk about celebreties on this blog, but this picture is just too cute.

Krishna is wearing a shortened-skirt style of a traditional South Indian pattu parikini (pattu = silk), also called a pattu langa or pavada.  And note the silver anklets (we call them pattalu in Telugu).  I bet she definitely stole the show from Mom!

If you’ve shopped for Indian kidswear in the US you probably lament the dearth of stylish, quality finds.  And if you’re on the hunt for a parikini at your local Indian bazaar, you may as well save your gas and stay home (you’ll find North Indian style lehenga’s - but parikinis are different – think less belly, more top).

So what do you do if you want Krishna’s look?  Your best bet may be to take thy done-with-it-sari to your local tailor (see our Upcycled Sari post).  Or you can scour the internet for a shop who is willing to send you one.  I found these gorgeous styles at Sai Chandana Boutique.  They are custom-made in Hyderabad and ship to the US.  You can also request colour changes and cuts on certain styles.

Beautiful material:  yellow net (left) with embellished peach blouse and jute silk (right) with designer patchwork

Dreamy in blue with patchwork flowers:

Sweet and simple net langas with contrast blouses and banaras silk border:

Can we say bejeweled?  Check out the gems on this one!

Top image via Celebrity Baby Scoop

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In Andhra we celebrate Varalakshmi Vratam.  It usually falls on a Friday in August and although I didn’t know much about it when I was young (it was “just another puja” with lots of mantras and food), as I grew older I understood that married women worshipped 8 forms of Lakshmi for the prosperity of their families.  Both in India and here in the US as my mother continued the tradition, it was a sort-of Ladies Day In.

So I got this idea to invite my girlfriends over for a Pink Lotus Party.  As in Goddess Lakshmi sits on a pink lotus, so what better theme for a special puja brunch?  I’m too late for this year (it falls on August 12th), but my planning wheels are churning for next year – to create beautiful memories for my daughter.

Top of post:  Letterpress Greeting Card by Fine Day Press. $5.00
Below:  Handmade Crochet Coaster by Liliyab. $19.00 for set of 4

Left:  Handpainted wine glasses by RaeSmith.  $30.00 for 2.  Right:  Lotus tent cards by JenAitchison.  $1.00 per piece.

Left:  Versatile lotus stamp by SugarSkull7.  $5.00.  Right:  Ceramic Lotus Bowl by DGordon.  $10.00

Pink Lotus Stained Glass Mirror by Biltmore Glassworks.  $25.00

A little bling.  Left:  Swarovski Crystal Ring by CandyBead.  $8.50.  Right:  Clutch purse by FIAZCO.  $70.00

Cute pendants and necklaces for the little girls.  Left:  Marrakech Lotus Sterling Pendant by Ecstewart.  $57.00.  Right:  Fabric necklace by Begurple.  $28.00

And a tote to store it for next year.  Storage box by UhReusable. $39.00

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I remember August in India…wedding season, the hubbub of village festivals and the lingering monsoon rains.  It seemed that there was a function everyday – and our outfits were never complete without flowers in our hair.  We weaved malli (jasmin) and kanakambaram (crossandra) into our braids – a poola-jeda – for big functions.  Even if we were just going to an evening cinema, my uncle would bring back strands of flowers on his way home from work – so my aunts and cousins and I could clip them to our hair.

As I think back to my summers in India, I am inspired to bring back the simple whimsy of flowers in your hair…

Above:  a modern rendition of ye old poola-jeda (shown below):

Perfect for a date night:

Cute for your little girl (ponytail holders via NuxieMade):

Perfect for summer – sweet floral crowns by HeadCasebyG

No jewelry needed:

The oh-so-stylish side ponytail:

Images via Google Images, NuxieMade; HeadCasebyG

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