DesiVastra

Fusia - 2nd time's the charm!

Fusia is at it again with the release of their 2nd issue that hit the stands earlier this month. On the cover is the legendary Actress, Model and much more… Lisa Ray.

DFF readers, you’ll want to pick up a copy of this mag when you stop by your local Chapters or Indigo, it’s not just another fashion magazine. It really brings to light important issues and taboo topics, plus supports a very worthy cause – Plan Canada and their “Because I’m a Girl” campaign. Fusia totally takes girl power up a notch by recognizing and embracing what it is to be a woman and all the awesomeness that goes along with that!

Desi Fashionista also played a special part in the mag as Style Editor. Be sure to also check out our 2 must-read articles Compassionate Couture and Runway Report. We had a blast being part of Fusia history and working with the ever-so-fab Editor-in-Chief Meera Solanki Estrada.

We were also there to cover the magazine’s launch party at  the uber-chic Veritas Lounge hosted by CP24’s Farah Nasser. The night was a true reflection of the vibrance Fusia represents. It featured family and friends joining together to celebrate, singing sensation Prita Chhabra, unforgettable fashions by Indiva and more.

Check out a glimpse from the event below, but first be sure to pick up your very own copy of the mag today – you’ll be glad you did! Write in to us and let us know how much you loved it.

- Raman

 

This Little Piggy Went to the Market

There's a hidden gem in almost every city. The Flea Market. Mind you they are not for the faint of heart. Parking is a nightmare, and around every corner someone is trying to get you to buy into a hot deal on sunglasses or some thing else that you really don't need. But if you look carefully there are diamonds in the rough. Stalls of Indian vendors carrying Indian suits, sarees and jewellery pop out in between dvd shops and hanging carpets (no flying ones sorry). With a lower overhead cost than most established shop owners, flea markets are a good place to bargain your way into some fab finds. In Brampton (Airport and Steeles Ave) we spotted some great deals on jewellery that were half the price of other Indian shops around the city. From diamonte bangles to full necklace sets, there is a deal to be had if you have the patience and skill of the hunt.

So the next time you're in the market for some new gear on a budget, drop by your local flea market as you just might run out screaming "Start the car!"

-Babie

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Don't Blow Your Top

Listen up DFFs, we've got a very important discussion this week - the kameez! It's an interesting topic, as it is similar to the annual and ongoing debate on skirt length - long, short, knee length?? What's appropriate?

There are so many different aspects of the kameez, and it's so important to pay attention to details so that you will look like the glam queen we know you are!

Length

The length of the kameez can vary. For religious events we recommend knee length or just above the knee, anything shorter is not appropriate. As well, it is important to note that your side slits are just as important as length. Anything too high will result in us (and everyone else), seeing whether or not you're working on your six pack as you raise your arm to call your friends over to the cha station in the gurdwara! Test out your slits on existing suits, and understand that while your kameez might go just a pinch above the knee, your slit shouldn't be making its way up too. It should give you enough room to comfortably sit on the floor or in a chair without exposing any skin or the belted section of your pajami or salwar (a definite no-no).

A shorter kameez is fab for parties, paired with a scrunchy churidaar and nice sexy heels. Again we caution you on the slits as we can't be blamed for any flashes that you provide free-of-charge on the dance floor!

Look at your fabric and the pattern or design on it and work with it. Some styles of suits don’t look good with a short kameez as much of the embroidery gets lost or cut off. A border type suit is hit or miss when it comes to length, as a shorter blouse places the border higher on your body and cuts your body in half, which isn't always a good thing.

Advice: Let your suit dictate its length

Neckline

We could talk for days on different neckline styles as they are extremely important and can just about make or break a suit. The best and easiest solution is to look at online indian retailers as the photos depict such an array of style for necks (on sarees and suits) that will make your head spin! The classic round neck, sweetheart neck and square neck are still great, but you really need to look at the fabric and embroidery on your suit in order to select a design that works well with it. For example, I recently took a simple suit to my tailor, and since it had sequined circles all over it, we decided that a simple round neck would suffice. However, there are many different styles to choose from and so many interesting things you can do, such as:

• If you have a suit that has a border print (with no neck design), you can flip the suit upside down so that the border is at the top. Voila, strapless kameez! (make sure you don’t have flowers or other upright designs in the pattern, as they don’t look good upside down!)

• Another idea for border suits, is to take the border and make it into straps or use the border to frame the neckline (v-shape or square), so that you don't need a super bling necklace

• Look at your favourite western blouse for inspiration, a lot of tailors can duplicate some of the wonderful tie necks or high collared looks that are timeless

• Don't forget the back neckline of your kameez - you can dip it low (again not for religious events) and add either a criss-cross pattern, beaded design or even have a big bow

Advice: Necklines are important to whether or not you will be wearing jewellery. Be sure to keep that in mind when making your final decision.

Sleeves

There is much more to a sleeve than you may know and its important that the sleeve design work with your fabric and style of suit.

• Long sleeves are great if you have a border pattern to your suit, as you can use the border for the cuff of the sleeve (full length or 3/4 sleeve)

• Sleeveless is timeless and show off your fabulous toned arms

• Cap sleeves are great for those of us who want to hide a bit of our shoulders (a more modern version of the short sleeve)

Advice: Sleeves should be in keeping with your chosen neckline as you need them to enhance each other, not battling it out for the most attention. Eg. If you pick a puffy sleeve, keep the neckline simple.

Zippers and darts

While it may cost just a bit more to have a zipper put onto your suit, the payback is worth it! The fit you can achieve by simply asking your tailor to put in a zipper is amazing, but also make sure that they measure you for darts to ensure a nice, snug fit. This helps accentuate what your mother gave you, and really show off those curves. Zippers and darts should be mandatory in our books, as they work for all shapes and sizes.

Advice: If you're worried about cost or matching the colour, you can buy your own zipper. As well 'invisible' zippers are available if you have a heavily embroidered suit.

Lining

Some suits require lining, check with your tailor as lining can vary from the cotton material that they normally put in, to china silk or the expensive bemberg lining (great for more expensive suits as it lets you breathe and stay cool). People will see a flash of the lining as you walk, so make sure the colour and lining material are a perfect match.

We'll talk more about lining later on.
Advice: Cotton shrinks after washing, keep that in mind when selecting your lining.

Now that you've got the lowdown on kameez details 101, we can't wait to see all you DFFs with your own creations at the next big event!

-Babie

Photo credits: Main image courtesy of indiafashionexpo.com, Sleeve and necklines courtesy of utsavsarees.com

Nude is the Nu-Black

Nude is the nu-black. At a party a few weeks ago I saw a girl sporting a pair of peep toe nude shoes with a blue and yellow suit. She pulled it off. In fact she looked pretty hot (easy ladies, don’t read too much into it). I’ve seen girls wearing them to work, but with an Indian suit I was pretty impressed (I don’t get out much). The nude peep toe is a great way polish off an outfit and keep it looking summertime fresh. Take note my darling DFFs, there are a few key points here to consider if you plan to rock this look:

1. They must be patent – the shine gives them that touch of something extra. Anything else will make your outfit look casual.

2. They must be peep toe – the closed toe version should be reserved for work wear or with jeans.

3. Stilettos – the higher the heel, the sexier the shoe.

4. Nude – NOT brown, tan, off white or some other funky definition of nude.

5. Careful with colour palettes and style of suit. A nude shoe is sleek and modern. Please don’t pair it with your Bibi’s floral gurdwara suit. That’s just wrong.

Now as much as I love the Louboutins, I have to say please think twice before wearing your Louboutin nude peep toes with an Indian suit. The reason being, as much as you’d love to show them off (we understand), the red sole will definitely clash with the rainbow of fruit colours in your suit. It's all about moderation my dear DFFs. M-o-d-e-r-a-t-i-o-n. Instead of looking like you walked off a Lakme runway, you’ll look more like a walking bag of supersize skittles. Yeah I said it.

If you want to go high class, opt for Jimmy Choos - if you don't own them strike a deal with your man to buy you a pair in the morning (yeah you know what i'm talkin' bout). There are more affordable options out there that look just as good (seriously).

-Babie

Photo: Jimmy Choo pump, courtesy of Saks Fifth Avenue

DFTV - Episode 1

As always, your humble (cough, cough) fashion advisors, we're bringing you DFTV - Episode 1 - DFF Bootcamp! It was a fun shoot with great stars, and amazing support from some special vendors, all set to some crazy beats! Most importantly take note of what NOT to wear! ;)

Check out the vid, and our fabulous DFFs who represented:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1GAW6HbGM9s&feature=share

Stay tuned for more exciting installments coming up. Wait to see what we have in store for you!

-Babie

Photo: (left to right) Babie Nagra (Desi Fashionista), Video Director Extraordinaire - Kiran Rai, Raman Rakkar (Desi Fashionista).