INNOVATIVE SAREE BLOUSE DESIGNS ’19

by Vijaya Durga Ram

Regardless of shape, size or style…a saree looks great on every woman.

We have seen a huge lifestyle shift and culture change, where we accepted the western wardrobe graciously and have made tremendous advancement towards experimenting pretty much all the styles we see on the international magazine and yet, a SAREE somehow always fits in, stays perfectly in trend and will always do.

Through different generations, it has been worn in so many different styles.

And, I would say, that’s the best part! Let’s get creative and add in a streak of our own style to the blouses! 

A saree is the trendiest wear for girls! It looks more comfortable and stylish for women. However, the blouse is what makes or the breaks the perfect saree look. It’s is the vital element of the saree look. Every year we are blessed with new saree blouse designs. Here, we have a shirt blouse that is draped with an indigo-dyed saree. The abstract elements on the blouse makes it trendier as by combining both traditional and fusion elements. 

Here are some of the looks that I found really interesting!

Pradaini Surva, fashion model.

A Sheath turtleneck top, with an illusion neckline that just grabs the look of this simple and elegant cotton saree to the next level. The waist belt and the shoes add an extra fusion vibe to the look!

You Need To Check Out Sabyasachi’s New Collection Which Is Perfect For Summer Brides!

Sabyasachi’s  Fiza – Spring Summer 2019 collection has made us go wowww! Everything from the silhouettes to the cuts, created over a series of adorable colour palettes, left us in awe! The exquisite jewellery, flowy embroidered fabrics and the strikingly shot collection have us glued to his Instagram profile, as he updated one post after another. We also noticed a freshness in styling and also, instead of going heavy on jewellery he switched to dainty but timeless pieces, super apt for summers. Is that an inception of a new trend?!  Whatever it may be, but it literally melted our weak hearts.

Yami Gautham,Actor.

Indigo dyed Indo-western saree with a mustard embroidered shrug!

Taapse Pannu,Actor.

Taapse Pannu at one her recent movie promotions, wore a thin striped shirt blouse and saree. It came off too strong on her and I just found it overwhelming!

The tie and the bindi just make it look effortlessly stylish yet traditional!

 

 

 

 

Dressire x Designers : Hina Shukla

An entrepreneur and a Managing director of H&S Designers. Her studio has a wide range and combinations of materials to work with and a wide range of colors, patterns and styles to choose from. Though most clothing worn for everyday wear falls within a narrow range of conventional styles, unusual garments are usually sought for special occasions such as evening wear or party dresses.

 

What is the inspiration behind your designs?

As we all know inspiration can come when we least expect it and at times from the most unexpected place . I was inspired by looking at the ritual in the wedding “sola shringar” . The 16 colours make me go crazy and I start to visualise dresses matching to that.

What are the key elements for you when designing a collection for each season?

According to me the first and foremost key is the colour, silhouette and texture of the fabric.

What challenges did you face when launching your brand?

Well abandoning another career and dedicating whole day and night was the biggest challenge. But as they say entrepreneurship comes with a host of challenges. Rewarding challenges, but harsh challenges nonetheless, I faced the same too. Then comes Rule making – It’s fun to be the boss until you have to enforce something. Sooner or later, you’ll have to come up with the rules in your business, from how many vacation days your workers get to what the proper protocol is when filing a complaint about a coworker. These details aren’t fun to create, and they aren’t fun to think about, but they are necessary for every business.

What are your plans for the future?

In next few years, want to see my stores in top 10 countries of the world. In few Asian countries we have already started like Thailand and Malaysia etc.

What do you think are the keys to professional and business success for women in India? 

Whatever you do, be different – that was the advice my grand mom gave me, and I can’t think of better advice for an entrepreneur. “If you’re different, you will stand out.”

What advice would you give to young women readers who want to follow a similar career path as you? 

My advice to young women is to NOT be overly obsessed with their career path when they start out, to try out different avenues to help them learn what is the best fit. They will know soon enough.”

What sparked your interest in fashion?

I originally wanted to be a fashion designer. During my free times I used to design clothes for Lord Krishna and Radha which made me realize my creative part . And I love to be creative. Always wanted to experiment new things and when I thought about this venture many ideas started floating in my mind.

What is the biggest lesson that you have learned since you started your company?

You are nothing without drive and determination. Two fundamentals of business. Without them, you will be stuck at the start line. These two attributes will drag you out of bed, no matter how bad it gets, get you into work, and push you onwards. They separate the men from the boys, and the women from the girls. They will determine your success or failure. You need them, and if you don’t, you have to develop them.

 

How would you describe your brand?

H&S is a team of talented, driven, dedicated, innovative and ambitious individuals.

 

Trendsetter of the Week : Shivani Pahadia Sharma

Name : Shivani Pahadia Sharma

Spanning 20 years when she started modelling at 30 (married and with 2 kids!) to being a Master of ceremonies to practicing law in 2010 for about 4 years, Shivani Sharma is now finally giving that up and handling a subsidiary of a multinational company as executive director.

My fashion motto?

Be yourself

3 words to describe my sense of style?

Sporty, edgy, minimal

My 5 essential wardrobe elements?

A pair of jeans, denim jacket, black Tshirts, loose linen pants and dresses which have a fitted bodice and full skirts

My favourite style influencers?

Sandra Bullock, Sushmita Sen, Deepika Padukone

One thing that most people don’t know about me?

That I bake the best chocolate cookies in town!

You wouldn’t catch me wearing?

Peplum tops with jeans

My favourite party attire?

Skater dresses preferably in black.

The worst trend to ever become popular is?

Low waisted jeans

The first thing I notice about people?

Cleanliness

My style secret?

Knowing what suits me and staying away from what doesn’t!

If I could go back to any fashion era in history, the one I would choose is?

The 60s in Europe & USA-the sheath dresses of breakfast in Tiffany! 

At the end of the day, what would you want your wardrobe to say about you?

That I am a strong independent woman 

Divas of Dressire : Mahima Yadav

From a computer engineer to a certified Global Business Manager from IIM, from a self established entrepreneur to Mrs. India International, from a multi national company employee to Mrs. India Earth, Mahima Yadav has earned laurels in almost every field she has been into. A fashionista and a keen enthusiast, she is Mrs. Style Icon, currently a Fashion consultant and groomer in the Fashion and Beauty Industry.

A versatile personality, acing multiple roles of a badminton player, a passionate swimmer, a dancing diva and a motivational speaker. She believes in painting the beautiful canvas of her life in various colours. Be it the subtlety of deep blue sea, or the vibrance of red hot sun, she has the quality to win hearts in no time.

Having learned the social issues from her civil service aspiration, she has a heart of gold to uplift the needy, especially the woman.

A beliver, an achiever, she has won many laurels for herself in sports also. She is a hard worker who always keeps in mind, “ Success comes before work only in the dictionary.”

A girl from small town in UP to an International beauty star, She is Mrs. Photogenic and loves to get clicked.

The dreamer in her says,”I aim at stars, in case I don’t reach them, I can safely land on moon. Her message to the youth is, “ Plan before you act, Act before you regret.”

Divas of Dressire : Rupica Chanday

Think of a girl, who appeared in her 10^th class final exam in a boarding school to find out that, post her exam she was to get married due to some Mangal Dasha. Without realizing what’s happening in her life, she landed in Sasural – a rich industrial family, where everything was available except something to do. She continued with her studies and completed graduation and gradually two pretty daughters came in her life.

She wanted to convert her dreams and twinkles to reality, wanted to do something on her own, utilise her potential, her energy in something which would be HERS and you will be amazed to know this spark came when 40s were round the corner… 40s not arena but her age!

MEET RUPICA CHANDAY

A vibrant, charming, energetic, enthusiastic woman who is always on toes with life. A typical Punjabi woman, who turned Business woman from a typical housewife, running two franchisee of VLCC (Batala and Kapurthala). She has plans to open 3 more and maybe a cafe along with a boutique.

“Life is beautiful with two pretty daughters, wealth all around, good social status but something is still missing. Maybe the purpose of my life? Am I here to flaunt something which is not even sourced by me? Am I born to be a doll?”

Restless she had been till the time she got into business herself. Restlessness was increasing with every passing day. One fine day her husband offered her to join in the family business but she wanted to do something of herself, a feast for her own soul and not for her pocket.

“After consultation and advice of few good friends, I started to explore multiple business ideas and finally zeroed in on the beauty business. I had good experience of various salons and had seen the business and trend evolving in last few years. After discussing on various options, we decided for VLCC, which was fast gaining ground as an Up-market Salon.

Our first centre was Batala, which did extremely well from day one and way above our expectations. In last three years, business has grown by 20% YTY. Initially, we were also not too sure about market, but the way people have responded, this being an eye opener. In Batala, maximum sales come from rural areas. It was a myth that only people living in urban areas are conscious about their looks and health. People in rural areas are equally conscious.”

Internet and social media reach have spread the concept of self care to further places than we believe. And that’s why the market is growing fast. Growth rate in health, beauty and wellness Industry in India is almost double of  US and Europe. Although, we are in nascent stage in terms of overall size of market as compared to western countries, we are growing fast.  A KPMG Wellness Sector report released in April this year projected that the size of India’s beauty and wellness market would nearly double to Rs 80,370 cr by 2017-18 from Rs 41,224 cr in 2012-13.

Industry per-se is facing few issues – biggest one is perception. Salons are still perceived as beauty parlours, where you go for hair dos, makeups or facials. Slowly people are realizing that these centres are providing complete solution for any skin, hair and other beauty related issues. We hire experts for each field, who analyse skin or hair and recommend suitable product. We all have different skin or hair type and hence one product does not fit all. On bright side, people are understanding this and that’s why we have huge numbers of repeat customers.

Second biggest problem is availability of trained manpower but new generation kids have realized that wellness industry provides huge job opportunities and they are enrolling for professional courses. VLCC and Lakme have opened institutes for this purpose, which are in huge demand. We also wanted to open a VLCC Institute but someone else pipped us and took it before us, says smiling Rupica.

Talking about her business, Rupica says that Haircare, Skin and Bridal Makeup are where, maximum demand is. All girls are already beautiful, we only help her realise it, with the use of few products.

Now a days, all big brands are focusing on innovative products in all segments; be it skin or hair or anything else. New product ranges are increasingly using natural products and few items are even prepared from platelets taken out from person itself, which is easily absorbed by skin, without any side effect but much superior results. Product ranges are extremely large with specific benefits, however one needs expert guidance for real benefits.

Today’s upwardly mobile generation is very well informed, educated, conscious, non-compromising and ready to spend money on everything best including self-care and that’s where the real market and opportunity is.

“The biggest satisfaction comes after seeing smiles on the brides on their big day. And yes, I just bought Merc E Class from the earnings of my own business” – says Rupica with childish big smile on face.

(Rupica Chanday belong to Chanday Family, who owns about 11 production units in Batala and successfully running two VLCC Franchisee on her own, as independent business unit)

Trendsetter of the Week

 

Name : Dr. Balesh Jindal

Dr. Balesh Jindal is a graduate of the prestigious Lady Hardinge Medical College and has been in General Practice for over thirty two years. As a result, she has an extensive experience in primary health care, corporate consulting, emergency medicine and family medicine. She was a pioneer in providing a single stop health facility in a place which had no efficient health centre and was infested with quacks. She started with educating the locals about basics of ethical medical care. It was a daunting task in the initial decade. At times it seemed hopeless.  It was a lone battle but made her courageous.She ventured into providing low cost medical care. She treated, educated and counselled her patients patiently and single handedly changed the social mores and brought in modern and scientific perspective over the years. Now, she has numerous villages and towns as her catchment area. Child mortality due to measles, gastroenteritis, pneumonia, typhoid, malnutrition etc. has fallen drastically in her catchment area. She provides a no frills medical service where anyone can walk in and be diagnosed and treated in the shortest possible time at the lowest cost possible.

Her essay on sexual abuse was selected from entries from all over the world for the Award for Compassion by Stanford University. She was invited to Stanford University to meet the Dalai Lama. She donated the prize money to a Delhi school to hold workshops on sexual abuse for children to make them aware of this menace in our society. She continues to educate and counsel students in Delhi schools in groups and privately. Her work in the schools on sexual abuse has been covered by the BBC on their official website titled “The most Compassionate Day in the World”.Her passion to make a difference to people’s lives has given her an opportunity to be associated with two NGOs and an urban school in Delhi where she visits on a regular basis to sensitize children about sexual abuse and to empower them to report such incidents.

Her collection of poems titled ‘Dear Father’ was published by Writer’s Workshop.

Here’s a poem by Dr. Balesh Jindal

Long After 

Long after the
wind stops
blowing through the
festoons
their limbs lie
lifeless, colourless.
Long after the fragrance
and swirls and swishes
of dear ladies
Fade away and
specks of dust settle
over all things new.
Long after all the smiles
and banters
Lie tucked and crumpled
in family albums
It is long after all the happiness
Contrived and derived
floats away.
I turn in myself
into myself to
search
deeper
to find
some meaning to this
Orderliness

Dr. Jindal has also been professional artist for the last twenty years and has had shows in India and abroad. Her art adorns the walls of many art collectors in India and abroad and has received accolades by the press and prominent art critics.

3 words to describe my sense of style?

Understated, quiet & elegant.

My 5 essential wardrobe elements?

White pants, a nice black top, pearls, brooch & a classy scarf.

My favourite party attire?

A black dress, a string of pearls and a matching stole.

My style secret?

I know my colours and keep my outfits simple and free from clutter.

The best fashion advice I have ever received?

The best fashion advice I follow is to buy the best fabric one can afford. I never compromise on the fabric.

If I could go back to any fashion era in history, the one I would choose is?

I would love to go back to the era of Maharani Gayatri Devi when women wore chiffons and pearls.

 

If you want to be featured as our Trendsetter of the Week, email us at contact@dressire.com