Princess in the Woods

Hello my gorgeous readers! Hope y'all are in good health!

In the last few weeks, I've had a complete transition into my life, but what remains same is my passion to write everything I feel strongly about. Today's post is about the last avant-garde look I curated for you with ADITI JAGGI RASTOGI from her latest PRET COUTURE collection, along with magnificent makeup by JYOTIKA MIRPURI AROURA.

People often tend to confuse avant-garde with haute-couture but this collection displays a magical complexity of construction underneath a layer of apparent coherence. If you've checked out the previous 2 looks, you'd understand that Aditi's work straddles an interesting axis between what is considered glamorous and what is avant-garde. Even if her work can be viewed as a cerebral exercise on fiction-as-fashion, there is an inherent element of glamour in every piece!

This particular pink tulle gown is a haute-couture inspiration from the great Giambattista Valli, who's signature style is layering of the fabric in a way to give full-flounce to the pieces. I love how Aditi added her own charm to the net layering style with a satin band to secure the waist and created an even magical outfit that sets the bar for contemporary avant-garde fashion while also being relevant in a contemporary context. It's definitely a red carpet outfit, but can also be picked for special occasions like one's cocktail or reception! You can always achieve a bridal touch with makeup and accessories.

For this dramatic dress, I wore zero accessories but paired the voluminous gown with delicate nails from BUFF AND SHINY by TANYA ARORA (nail artist). My hair and makeup was all about understated beauty. Fresh, dewy skin with lots of blush and real flowers. Yes, fresh, real flowers on my face! From upgraded takes on floral nails to celebrities placing itty-bitty flowers in their hair, botanical beauty is everywhere. So, Jyotika glued real flowers from her garden around my eyes as it’s bold, different and perfect for the season. Also, doesn't hurt my face!

JMA also gave my hair an exotic rise with triple curling and pulled them back into a romantic updo leaving some strands falling on the face for the charming, princess-y feel! She says, "Beauteous makeup has pieces that are more than simple items, they are stories that allow you to speak without saying a word", and I agree with her cent percent.

This entire look is a perfect balance of saccharine and statement-making. Starting from daring ruffles, patterns, and colors to frothy, voluminous and show-stopping, think pink, sparkle and tulle; avant-garde fashion is here to stay.

Runway fashion designers show no signs of slowing down the progress that the current trend has brought. Now that you are more familiar with what avant-garde stands, I can’t wait for you to start discovering a world where freedom of expression means progress.

Don't forget to check out the mesmerising rose bouquet collection by THE TRILLION ROSES. They have added more colors and eye-appealing boxes to give you an enriching experience with premium flowers for gifting purposes.

This is one of my favourite posts on this blog, published in the last six years. If you too liked this look, do let me know in the comments below! 

PS : I love how this association with Aditi Jaggi Rastogi - Pret Couture, Jyotika Mirpuri Aroura Makeup, Buff and Shiny (Nails) by Tanya Arora, The Trillion Roses and Zeeshan Khan (photographer) has turned out. I proudly scream, "we are a happy team, doing happy work, making the world a happy place to live in."

Until next, lots of love!

~xoxo~

Wedding Style : Part 4 - Marriage / Reception

Hey everyone, how are y'all doing?

It's been 4 years that I've been doing the wedding fashion series on this blog, and the kind of response I've received in terms of the views and messages all across, is commendable! Thankyou so much for always encouraging me to keep working on the series, every year.

As for 2019, we've come to the end of the series - with today's post - the last part of the Wedding Style. And, I have something interesting to show you guys with STRAWBERRY FASHION STUDIO, so keep scrolling.

I've been avoiding attending marriage functions, and reception parties because all I got was a box of questions from all aunties "beta shaadi kab kar rahi ho?" But, what I've come to think of is I shouldn't be worried, and the best answer can be "aunty, jaise hi aap koi meri takkar ka khoobsoorat ladka dhundh do!" And now that I've brought up "khoobsoorat", let me just tell you, I'm quite impressed by how beautifully my makeup artist SIDDHI CHAUBEY has decked me up with such a glam look, and a super pretty messy bun, on top of this pre-stitched saree from Strawberry Fashion Studio.

You know, these days most of the girls struggle in draping a saree. So, to save the time and from the hassles of draping a saree, an amazing rescue has been designed called "pre-stitched" / "ready-made" sarees. These ready-to-wear sarees have pre-stitched pallu and pleats. And these can be worn in just 30 seconds; sounds some sort of a wonder! Honestly, these pre-stitched sarees provide for stunning grace once it is worn. 

I'm currently in love with this particular piece in fuchsia pink - with diamond embellishment as the belt (clinching perfectly o the waist). It's a perfect drape style to be worn at any marriage function or reception! I just feel this saree has the majestic quality of garnishing and enhancing the looks of any lady up to acme. Falls exactly at the right length, and the blouse with that deep cut on the back looks mesmerising enough to get all eyes on you! 

To complete my look, I added a sleek diamond bracelet, a set of diamond earrings with ruby in the centre and a bold finger ring in the same design to compliment the color and style of the saree, and elegance it provides! The makeup and hair are just perfect for the occasion, isn't it? Let me know your thoughts on this look. Until next time, love & hugs.

Photographed by : Zeeshan Khan

~xoxo~

Wedding Style : Part 2 - Haldi / Mehendi

The date is set, the invites are out, all is merry in your world. The countdown has begun for your best friend’s wedding and while she’s basking in the glow of her engagement, you’ve been frantically googling ‘what to wear to my bestie’s haldi & mehendi”! Out of so many pre-wedding functions, Haldi & Mehendi happen to top the charts in terms of popularity. It's a roller coaster ride of fun-filled moments for both, the bride and her and friends, where a lot of merry-making takes places.

In the frantic motion, I've got for you a stunning outfit that you can choose to dress in for your friend's Haldi and/or Mehendi functions. I picked this extremely gorgeous Chikankari jacket in a sunshine yellow colour with slim pants and a short layered kurta from STRAWBERRY FASHION STUDIO. 

Designer Aditi Jaggi Rastogi knows how to bring the best twist in the most traditional silhouettes, and this beautiful outfit is a sheer example of perfection! The intricate chikankari work speaks of the cultural understanding, and the style speaks of modern mixed with traditional. 

I chose to accessorise this piece heavily with a bold statement necklace, studded with polki kundan from BK SARAF JEWELLERS (Mahanagar, Lucknow). They have a wide collection of pre-wedding & wedding jewellery, and if you're looking at some stunning sets, BK SARAF (Mahanagar) is the place you need to head right away this season!

Keeping it dramatic, makeup artist SIDDHI CHAUBEY gave me a bold pink & yellow look, to add to the glam function. She left my hair loose with waves and added a little golden rose pin to it. For my feet I chose to add nude heels to keep it color coordinated and not go bold all over!

I hope you liked this Haldi / Mehendi look, and if you did, do share it across with your friends. Tip : Ditch the heavy weaves and layered lehengas for something light, easy-wear yet perfectly statement-making this wedding season - just like this beautiful piece I'm wearing!

Photographed by : Zeeshan Khan

~xoxo~

Wedding Style : Part 1 - Cocktail

Howdy fellas? it's again that time of the year when we girls are hooked onto instagram, swiping and scrolling through outfits with speed 10x. We have tons of weddings lined up and we're going crazy selecting our outfits, isn't it? And to top that, we have not one or two but four functions to attend because damn, it's for our best friends. As for you, like every year, I've got my Wedding Fashion Game on and I'm sharing the first part of it with this post - The Cocktail look. 

When it comes to weddings, let's all be honest it's never about the COCKTAILS literally, but all about the cocktail outfits. And, the 'cocktail' dress code is arguably the most hyped for the bride, but of course you being the "dulha dulhan ki saheli" have to look gorgeous too! Frequent though it may be, it's also the hardest to navigate, with the lines between 'too formal' and 'too casual' often blurred. Cocktail wear for me is one of the most popular dress codes and I have seen it become the default. And, guess who came to my rescue once again - STRAWBERRY FASHION STUDIO by Aditi Jaggi Rastogi.

Aditi designed this beautiful 3 piece set in candy mauve  - with a multi tiered sequinned skirt, an off shoulder corset top with ruffled sleeve, and the stunning ruffle stole like a cherry on the cake! I love how the entire skirt is filled with shimmers, sure to leave heads turn! In terms of accessories, I haven't really put on anything, but you can simply add a sleek diamond necklace, with a diamond bracelet and you'd be good to go! PS : Don't forget your shimmer heels, just to help you stay in good posture & make you look taller than ever.

As to end, I got my makeup done very seriously, 'coz it pretty much affected the entire look. Thanks to Siddhi Chaubey for decking me up with her brightest makeup products,  and truest skills, and for curling my hair to perfection & adding the fairty tale touch with the hair pins from Shein.in. Absolutely dreamy, eh?!

If you're looking for a pretty cocktail outfit for yourself or for any of your friends, you must check out the new collection at STRAWBERRY FASHION STUDIO - located at Shahnazaf road, Lucknow (right opp. Sahara Ganj Mall. And you can thank me later! ;-)

Photographed by : Zeeshan Khan

~xoxo~

Karva Chauth Look ft. Strawberry Fashion & BK Saraf Jewellers

While we’re preparing for all the festivities and weddings that are lined up, there’s one very important occasion that all married women are excited for. The celebrations have begun and it’s time to get your outfits aligned. Today’s post is dedicated to all the ladies who are set to deck up like brides once again this Karva Chauth, and will be celebrating it with their husbands in the most traditional manner.

I bring to you one of the most beautiful Indian styles - the classic white chikankari suit in fine net with gota patti, applique and resham work, along with a heavy, hand embroidered dupatta in orange with pink zardozi & pitta border. This floor length chikan suit with orange details looks like the perfect pick for the occasion. The net sleeves fall full on your arms and the orange cuffs with zari detailing on the wrist looks mesmerising. You can wear a white camisole inside till your waist and under it comes a pair of frilly, frock style palazzo pants that gives the suit a different look altogether. You know, it’s a brilliant idea to ditch the contemporary churidar and go out of the box & don something so elegant!

Also, let’s throw some light on these exquisite Polki & Kundan earrings from BK SARAF JEWELLERS (located at Gol Market, Mahanagar). These are one of the most stylish traditional earrings that go perfect with my look. Precious jewellery always looks gorgeous and brings out the best in every Indian woman. Honestly, these look astonishing! Don’t they?

The last minute fashion selection can only be entertained by STRAWBERRY FASHION STUDIO (located at Shahnazaf Road - opposite Sahara Ganj Mall), and hence it’s one of my favourite spots to drop when I personally need something! Highly recommended to all Lucknow ladies to visit this one-stop-shop for your fashion fix. Aditi Jaggi Rastogi - the very versatile designer knows exactly what her clients want, and she designs every piece with the best quality fabric and so much love. So, this Karva Chauth, flaunt your style and create magic before your husbands!

PS : I am 26. Unmarried, and have no intentions of tying the knot anytime soon, but I really hope you liked this quick Karva Chauth look. I may not look like a bride in real but my HMUA made sure to deck me up like one already. Kudos to SIDDHI CHAUBEY for giving me a very bold makeup look, teamed with subtle curls in my hair. So graceful!

Photographed by : Zeeshan Khan (one of the best wedding / event photographers)


~xoxo~

Wedding Vogue - Part 2 : Marriage

Hey dearies, how's it going? I've been trying to escape from the continuous wedding pressure at home, and juggling between work and studies and also trying to keep up with the pace here. Anyway, three consecutive years of publishing my wedding fashion series on this blog, and you've shown immense love to each post. Can't thank y'all enough for the great support throughout! Got the last part of this year's series today to show you a brand new marriage party look I created with the help of fashion designer - Aditi Jaggi Rastogi from STRAWBERRY FASHION STUDIO, and a dear friend and professional makeup artist - Simran Taneja.

So shall we get rollin'?! Yes? Great!

I guess it won't be wrong if I say that the most elaborate functions of the Indian wedding series is the wedding or the marriage ceremony itself. Starting from baraat and then the dinner party for the guests, followed by the midnight marriage rituals between the bride and groom; everything is done in the most perfect manner from both sides. Unlike the pre-wedding functions, the wedding day is the most lavish and a magnificent affair! The guest list is extravagant as compared to the attendees of the pre-wedding functions and its actually the day when not only the bride and groom are dressed up from top to toe in grand outfits but the family members and all the guests too. 

Which brings me to say that the entire wedding function calls for splurge. Whether you're the bride, or the bridesmaid, or the sister or the friend, you gotta dress your best and steal the limelight (or just shine as much as you can, eh?). As far as styles among Indian wedding lehengas are concerned, Indian women are generally open to a lot of choices! Considering the fact that wedding day is quite auspicious, lehengas as an element of the modern bride's wedding event trousseau has appeared to be much more stylish and trendy!

lehenga, kurta, dupatta : Strawberry Fashion Studio | all jewelry : Neha Diwan

The marriage ceremony for every bride is the most important, as she gets to dress in her dream outfit, for once in a lifetime! Tons of options to choose from but the quintessential lehenga-choli has always been one of the most favored choices of the Indian brides! It's no secret that a fancy lehenga gives a charming look to the bride as well as represents the Indian dressing aura. So, for my look this time, I picked a pure silk lehenga with mukaish in lemon yellow & white, with multi colored embroidery; paired with a banarsi silk long kurta in pink and gold. I've never worn a heavier lehenga than this one, which pretty much means this one had tons of layers for that beautiful flair when you twirl! Adding a little more grace, I draped the outfit with a floor length, heavy net dupatta with intricate zardozi embroidery on the borders. Undoubtedly It's one of the prettiest wedding outfits I've got my hands on!

I chose to accessorize the look with some traditional Indian jewelry, which included a pearl studded set of broad maang tikka and matching earrings, with a huge finger ring to impart the style of a princess (say from the mughal era?). Keeping it minimal with the styling, I did opt for a dense makeup and queen-curled hairstyle on the other side, which is one of the most essential parts of dressing up for an extravagant marriage ceremony. Simran gave me deep pink eyelids with false lashes and risen brows, making my eyes look bolder; along with bright pink lips and perfect contouring& highlights making my face shine aptly.

The entire outfit looked and felt magical to me. Twirling in it was my favorite part, and I'm not sure about you but if I get to be a bride anytime soon, I'm definitely opting for this piece for my big day!

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We end with this year's wedding fashion series here. I really hope you liked reading both the posts (check out the cocktail look HERE)! Do let me know in the comments below what do you have to say about this look from Strawberry Fashion Studio; if it's princess like or not? 

Also, tons of thanks to designer Aditi Jaggi Rastogi and her entire team for the cooperation, MUA Simran Taneja for making me look gorgeous as ever, and photographer Yash Athwani for capturing the best sides of me! Until next, lots of love.

~xoxo~

Wedding Vogue - Part 1 : Cocktail

Hello ladies, welcome back to yet another wedding fashion series on this blog. Unlike the last two years, I'm only going to write about two parts this time; out of which one is the cocktail party dress that I'm set to talk about in this post. So leave everything you're doing at the moment and read below the curation of this look with none other than STRAWBERRY FASHION STUDIO!

We all know that Indian weddings are an extravagant affair. I myself have told you this umpteen number of times, I guess! And every year with so many pre-wedding and wedding ceremonies to attend, you find yourself looking out for outfits that are in trend and still distinctive. So while I was on a drive to pick attires for this series, Aditi Jaggi Rastogi from Strawberry Fashion Studio came to my rescue. An internationally acclaimed fashion designer and passionate about singular creations (pre-couture and couture), helped me pick the best pieces from her latest wedding collection that'll leave you spellbound!

Gown, ring : Strawberry Fashion Studio | handcuff, earrings : Auhna Creations | heels : Steve Madden

Throwing a cocktail party is the latest trend, no more confined to the upper strata of the society. And it is probably the only occasion in the long Indian wedding celebrations where one can give the traditional wear a complete ditch. Well, it shall only be right if I say, with changing times and fashion trends, Indian wedding dresses have undergone a sea change in terms of design and style. Cocktail dressing was never a thing earlier, but in the recent times it's become essential to add a new, separate outfit only for an evening where you're sharing a few moves with your friends and family and enjoying drinks, and laying down the most gorgeously-happening-side of yours!

Standing tall in the pictures above, and flaunting my outfit just rightly, has already made you believe how much I'm in love with it. A pure Georgette gown it is in black with sequin embroidery in floral pattern on the upper front, with dazzling flares and cut sleeves, and so light in weight that makes my look appear captivating. I chose to wear this floor-length piece with my golden stilettos (you can opt for flats if you're taller or maybe some glitter shoes since heels are a bit uncomfortable to dance in) and a black-gold handcuff with matching gold-blue earrings and a finger ring that fitted aesthetically with the entire look!

For an even perfect team up, my MUA - Simran Taneja, tied my hair into a beautiful bun and left a strand flowing on the side. JSYK, this is the first time I've been convinced to carry a bun and it looks absolutely enchanting. For my makeup, she gave me half smokey eyes and pink tint, false lashes, high brows and shimmery face with dense contouring & highlights and bright pink lips!  

Keeping the look minimal and elegant, I am dressed in a brand new piece from Strawberry Fashion Studio. One stop shop for all occasions. Get your outfits customised according to your style and liking and I'm pretty sure you'll love the outcome! Store address : A-1, Shahnazaf Road, Opp. Sahara Ganj mall, Hazratganj, Lucknow.

Photographed by : Yash Athwani


~xoxo~