Love this Kanchivaram cut work saree

Luxurious Kanchivaram silk with detailed cut work! This is beautiful.

Cutwork is a form of fine needlework that complements any hour. In this form of embroidery, portions of the background fabric are cut away and the edges worked over in buttonhole stitches.

Here is a detailed look at the pallu of this saree

Saree is from Sakhi Fashion, about $250

Not sure if this really belongs in the traditional Tuesday section or not, may be I’ll keep it out because it is beautiful because it is not traditional.

Block printed Crepe de chine saree

Crepe Silk:

Crepe features among the most popular fabrics made from silk yarn. The softer version of crepe is called ‘crepe the chine’. Lustrous in visual appeal, crepe silk has a glamorous sheen and an excellent drape. It has a slippery smooth texture, with a crisp appearance. Crepe is woven from hard spun yarn in its natural condition. The fabric, when woven, is smooth and even. Once the resin is extracted, the fabric becomes soft, giving it a crimpy look. Sakhi uses this comfortable-to-wear, fluid silk to create designs that can be worn at all times.
Hand-Block Printing:

One of the earliest and simplest methods of textile printing, Block printing is, very simply put, the printing of patterns on textile using incised wooden blocks. Block printing involves myriad steps, but the most important step is the preparation of the block which determines the quality and clarity of impressions. The block is then dipped in the desired dye and carefully placed adjacent to the preceding impression of the block as per the design. Block print is popular across many Indian states, each region being known for its own, unique variant. Sakhi gives a contemporary twist to block print by combining modern graphic designs with traditional Indian motifs. The key differentiating elements of the designer ensemble are the hues used in varied colour themes.

From Sakhifashions About $150.

Excited to see the Art of Tarot collection from Satya Paul

The unison of mystique with inspiration- the charismatic Tarot collection by Satya Paul

I am looking forward to seeing some the sarees in detail – hopefully we will see them at the Chennai Fashion Week. Our resident event coordinator Liza Varma is going to be there so we might get some inside look.

Sabyasachi comes to town

Kolkata designer opens first store in Mumbai with Rani Mukerji in attendance.

[If you are looking for Sabyasachi's sarees in US, please visit Piakaghar.com or say hi to Pia at the North American Bangla Sammelan.]

When Kolkata-based designer Sabyasachi Mukherjee opened his flagship store in Mumbai at Kalaghoda on Wednesday, the first person to step in was his long-time muse — Bollywood actress Rani Mukerji.

The Bong beauty was taken on a tour by Sabya and oohed and aahed over the hand-painted Istanbul lamps and chandeliers, vintage plates, photographs of royal families and old clocks. “Not just Sabya’s clothes, his interiors too define exquisite old world luxury,” said Rani, adding she was the designer’s “deewani”.

Sabya himself revealed that this is a new direction in the way designers do up their stores now.

On display was his brand new women’s ready-to-wear collection, a bridal trousseau, fine jewellery, menswear and footwear.

“Any woman can own a Sabyasachi saree for just Rs 3,500,” he said, through his no-profit ‘Save a Saree’ initiative for the weavers of Murshidabad.

This initiative is strongly supported by Aishwarya Rai Bachchan and Vidya Balan for whom Sabya designed clothes in Raavan and Paa respectively.

He’s also designed for Rani in No One Killed Jessica. “The look he’s given me is far removed from his signature touch,” she said.

I also found it kind of fitting that his Mumbai store is in the Kala ghoda, the art district.

The store’s décor is inspired by Parisian romance. Mukherjee explains as he walks us through the shop, “The reason the whole world celebrates Paris is because the Parisians celebrate themselves. The best way we could achieve the kind of vintage romance that Paris is known for, was by using pieces from our own history. Which is why I was very particular about each piece that went up here – I’ve sourced photographs and prints from all over the place.”

Genelia in Manish Malhotra saree – kind of nondiscript

Genelia in a Manish Malhotra’s ivory saree. Saree is non-descript and the blouse is not worth describing.

Only attractive thing in this whole picture is the beautiful smile of Ms. Genelia.

So what color of saree are you going to wear at the engagement ceremony?

May be she can help you figure it out. Inspiration is everywhere.

Colorful black saree

I kind of like the unexpected colorful and vibrant flower bouquet on the pallu. The self design on the black adds a little texture and richness to the saree.

From Onimka gallery in Sri Lanka.

lakhotia Institute Of Design Fashion Show sarees – Mikey likes it

This is really neat and I like it, I like it a lot.

OK, disregard the blouse faux pas and focus on the white saree with nothing else but a contemporary portrait painted on.. that is interesting and that is distinctive.

I would have expected something like this from Satya Paul or may be Ritu and I am pleased to see this.

Here is one of the saree in its full glory:

Do you see the unexpected color bursting from the pallu – does it take you a second to see the pattern and painting of the saree? Does it intrigue you?

I probably would have matched the edge of the saree color to the blouse color – keep them in the same vicinity of color circle, may be, but overall, the dark big glasses and the large costume pearl necklace makes a powerful statement.

A little blurb about the Lakhotia Institute.

Established in 1996, Abids Lakhotia Institute of Art & Design, Hyderabad, is a renowned Institute engaged in imparting non-conventional professional courses in the areas of Fashion Designing, Interior Designing, Modelling, Hotel Management, Air Hostess & Flight Stewards & Call Center Training. Its ISO 9001-2000 Certification only adds value to its reputation as a numero uno niche profession trainer.