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Word on the Street

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A tête-à-tête with seven street stoppers in Kochi who share their street fashion stories

Anoodha Kunnath
Director, Curiouser

Anoodha Kunnath on fwd life magazine

‘Curiouser’ that she is, Anoodha is charmed by Mattencherry’s crescendo of bustling streets and its handsomely quaint streets. Characteristically anexplorer, she fell in tune with a medley of casual and high-street, influences that she picked up from the sprawling souks and malls in Muscat, where she grew up. Across the sea, her journeys to the rural villages of India instilled in her a sense of nonchalant fashion. “A lot of style has been inspired by indigenous fashion, like mismatched blouses,” she notes. Similar to her compositions and frames, she looks into subtlety in her ensembles. Her anime eyes lit up when she reminisces her fashion crush – her Sudanese neighbour who used to sashay on the streets with her cascading kaftans and matching lipsticks. After relocating to Kerala, her trysts with linen and cottons have gone beyond an acquaintance, and she jests about being in a live-in relationship withher palazzos and cotton dresses. What would she never be caught wearing, she quickly quipped, “Those bright orange Om-print shirts!”

SHANI SHAKI
Photographer and Restaurateur,Qissa

SHANI SHAKI on fwd life magazine

Shani is unapologetically fashionable. Seated comfortably in a pair of paisley trousers and a charcoal gray Fedora, he muses, “You can buy fashion, but never style.” When asked what surprises him with style, he picks men’s impeccable street style in Milan and Ranveer Singh’s fashion audacity. He enjoys sitting at an outdoor café and taking the role of a flâneur, observing the parade of high end fashion on the streets. Being a photographer, travelling has become a part of his agenda. Unlike being ensconced in the walls of hotels, travel to him is where he gets to meet people, engage in conversations and explore streets and local haunts while soaking in styles and fashion from
different cultures. To him the streets flaunt its beauty with the way lights fall on it, something truly photographic to him. One of his favourite treasures from one of his trips abroad was, “A vintage bird cage I bought in Budapest.” Fresh off his memory, Budapest is lined with a stunning meta-story for him to re-discover and re- capture.

ANN BENJAMAN
Chocolatier, A’s Chocolate Factory

ANN BENJAMAN on fwd lfie magazine

While stiletto heels are a constant in high-street fashion, Ann is rather comfortable in a pair of her Prada platform shoes; a style making its way back in trend. She loves the fashion culture of sunny Dubai for its myriad pool of trends and style. Yet, something she feels swears by for summers is her undeniable loyalty for cotton.

KIM HASSAN
Couture Designer, Kim India

KIM HASSAN on fwd life magazine

He adorns matching buttons to his tartan trousers and claims that his blazing orange hair is all natural. Kim remembers, “Once while on a trip to Vietnam, this girl rushed to me and asked if she could take a selfie with me. She had the hair colour as mine. I guess orange is the new black.” If Kim’s luggage is ever misplaced, you wouldn’t need a passport for identification; you just have to look into his suitcase. Classic beige trousers, crisp white and blue shirts, khakis … and pink socks. Kim is a fan of fashion from the streets of Moscow, Russia, where women and men cleverly pair formal with casual, as well as the ‘effortless’ style in the Philippine. He believes that a fine belt is a shortcut to high fashion, as well as a shiny pair of shoes. What’s a fashion jaywalking crime to him? You will never catch him on the streets wearing “floral pants.”

Preeti Nambiar
Chief Consultant & Founder, Banyan Tree

Preeti Nambiar on FWD life magazine

Her street fashion moment? While in Rome on a holiday once, Preeti spotted a woman sashay down a flight of stairs in a pink dress, her dress flounced in the gentle breeze – the Ellie Saab moment. At For Kochi, she whizzed in a dhoti and a Danish milkmaid braid while catching up for a coffee date with us. She looked straight out of a catalogue from the Marathi Theatre Association. Faux statement, but her attire was far from a faux pas. This funky ethnic outfit was an inspiration by readymade dhotis which characters used in plays to swiftly change their attires. Interestingly, this ensemble was tailored at a temple. Tokyo and Milan’s street fashion is eclectic and electric to her. So watch out for her fearless fashion looks – could be the D&G power prints and opulent accessories look or a traditional chattu-mundu to beat the heat.

Tanya Abraham
Art Curator, Kashi Café

Tanya Abraham on fw dlife magazine

Beyond the art galleries, the streets are books with endless narratives that illustrate antiquity, tradition, art and alsostyle. The wanderlust in Tanya relaxes on the beaches of islands far, far away that also love their art and fashion. Like Thailand and Sri Lanka. She is a fan of aesthetic fashion, such as the batik prints available in these nations. Her jewellery is a collection that constitute a rainbow of materials like bone, stones and glass. In her trove is a set of wooden bangles she picked up on a trip to Vietnam. She’s even put a spin to the traditional Keralite kashumala, stringing small coins on a thin chain and giving it a versatile and contemporary look. What she loves most about street fashion is the chance to catch something out of the blue. “I once saw a woman wear a khadi kurta with white straight cut pants, which I found quite interesting. Another time I saw this woman wearing a necklace that had huge crystal chunks interwoven with jute threads. I just had to go up to her and compliment her; which I did.” Now, that’s street art appeal.

Nuthan Manohar
Yoga Specialist, Me Met Me

Nuthan Manohar on FWD Life magzine

As Madonna sings ‘strike a pose’, Nuthan can get into any complex matsyendrasannas (spinal twist yoga pose). She laughs it off by saying she doesn’t like clothes with ‘joints.’ Her fashion code is free-spirited, from sarongs to halter necks and a pair of comfortable footwear. She loves ‘sole wandering’ in the flea markets of Seoul and Hong Kong. She picked her favourite sun dressfrom one of those streets. Nuthan loves the Hanuman yoga wear and
cardigan. Always on t he run, from her yoga studio to workshops, she finds the key to comfort dressing in pants – harem to cotton.

Conceptualisation and Words by Atheena Wilson     Photographs by FWD Media

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Sonam Kapoor Ahuja’s Traditional Ladakh’s Heritage Attire

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As Anant Ambani’s pre-wedding festivities come to an end, Sonam Kapoor Ahuja chose to dress in Ladakh traditional garb. The event featured a number of topics, with India’s rich past being the focus yesterday night. Sonam Kapoor Ahuja emphasized this by dressing in Namza Couture, which was established in 2016 by Padma Yangchan and Jigmet Disket and is renowned for its commitment to Ladakhi fabrics.

 The Mogos, a gown-like item with a shimmering zari border and pistachio green brocade, was part of Sonam’s ensemble. She wore a rani-pink shawl called a “Bok,” which is usually made from silk or goat skin and is worn to keep warm by the locals. This outfit was made of silk by Benaras artisans, and it had intricate phoenix embroidery, which stands for knowledge and vigor. It also had a crane image, which stands for prosperity and peace.

Her jewelry selections also honored custom; she wore a neckpiece set with diamonds and an emerald stone in the center. She accessorized this with striking statement rings and copper handcuffs, all tastefully matched with pearl earrings. She chose metallic juttis to complete her look, and she carried a bespoke purse by re-ceremonial.

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Decoding Wedding Looks of Rakul Preet Singh & Jackky Bhagnani

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The most anticipated nuptials of the year were that of Rakul Preet Singh and Jackky  Bhagnani. When the famous couple released official images from their wedding ceremony a while back, the anticipation surrounding seeing them in their wedding finery finally subsided. The couple looked stunning together as they exchanged vows in a sundowner ceremony in South Goa, becoming husband and wife. 

The wedding outfit of Rakul Preet Singh has everyone in awe! In terms of bridal style,she is a shining example of grace and elegance. Examine her gorgeous lehenga in great detail, taking note of its elaborate design and the symbolic significance of its colours. Examine her jewelery selections, beauty tips, and hairstyle specifics. Take inspiration from Rakul’s sophisticated and magnificent wedding look and pick some style advice for your own unique occasion.

Rakul Preet Singh and Jackky Bhagnani, the romance of the hour, likewise made the choice to forgo the vivid colour scheme in favour of delicate pink and ivory tones. The couple held their partners close to each other while flashing their million-dollar smiles in the official pictures they shared on the internet.

Rakul’s custom-made pastel pink lehenga by Tarun Tahiliani made her look like a dream. The actress donned a skirt covered in hundreds of small floral designs that were heavily glittered, beaded, and pearl-studded. She chose to wear a bustier for her choli, which was made with layers of net fabric that matched the colour of her lehenga. She chose full sleeves with a soft, see-through material buttoned down towards the end of her wrist as opposed to the short-sleeved option. Her dupatta was exquisitely adorned with numerous tiny, vibrant flowers throughout. Pearl and bead embroidery adorned the portion of the chunni that was precisely fastened to her bun.

The groom looked great in his ivory-coloured Tarun Tahiliani sherwani, which was embroidered with more elaborate flower patterns. He wore an achkan-style attire that gave off a royal vibe, and his exquisitely tied pagdi matched his choodidaar. It was covered in little studs all over and bordered with embroidery. The actor-producer channeled his inner Akbar by wearing a traditional mojris and carrying his drape in an elegant manner that matched his turban. Jackky also had a sarpech on his safa and a layered neckpiece made of kundan in shades of green. He was observed donning a sophisticated watch, his wedding band, and an additional emerald ring on his other hand.

Regarding Rakul’s jewelry, she opted for a stunningly crafted choker instead of the lengthy neckpieces. Her necklace’s enormous, blingy stones may easily cause blindness in anyone. Pearls, beads, and a few more medium- and small-sized gemstones were used to balance and assemble them. A maangtika and large, hanging earrings finished her ensemble. The massive, elegant, and shimmering engagement diamond she flashed on her ring finger was the talk of the town. Additionally, she donned pink kaliras and custom-made, minimalist choodas by designer Mrinalini Chandra.

The actress chose to use soft glam makeup in hues that complemented her wedding attire for her makeup look. For her D-day, she accessorized her eyes with eyeliner, a glowy base, and dark arched eyebrows, all complemented with a delicate pink lipstick shade. The actress also sported a modest mehendi on her hands, in keeping with the trend. They even decided on a backdrop and décor made of flowers. Baby’s breath flowers and enormous pink roses were used to make the varmalas.

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How to Identify an Authentic Banarasi Saree

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The saree is a timeless fashion item. Because of its unparalleled elegance and timelessness, sarees are referred to as classic ensembles. Even though sarees come in a variety of styles, nothing compares to a genuine Banarasi saree. A Banarasi saree has it all: a royal vibe, elegance that will make you the topic of the town wherever you wear it. Genuine Banarasi sarees are expertly crafted by experienced weavers using the finest silk yarn, paying close attention to every last detail.

The best type of silk saree is the banarasi saree, which has significant cultural and historical value in India. Their elaborate designs and opulent fabrics have made them famous and beloved worldwide.On certain occasions, women adore showing off their lavish and royal banarasi sarees. Banarasi sarees currently come in a range of shapes and designs in lightweight materials, in addition to the heavier ones, that suit the tastes and fashion sense of the current generation. There can be a lot of banarasi saree merchants or retailers in the market, but keep in mind that not all of them are likely to be offering authentic or high-quality sarees. Be sure to choose an actual banarasi saree while making your purchase. So here are few tips on identifying an authentic banarasi Saree

Check the saree’s reverse side.

Simply examining the saree’s reverse side will allow you to identify its authenticity. There will always be floats inside the weave and warp grids of loom-woven Banarasi sarees. Sarees woven by machines will be smooth to the touch.

Ask to see a certificate

Another crucial item to check for when buying pure silk sarees is the Certificate of Authorised Use of the Silk Mart Logo. Make sure to always ask for a certificate if you are purchasing a real silk saree.

Seek out the minor “imperfections”

The little “imperfections” that give a handwoven sari its unique beauty are what give them their beauty. The flawless “imperfections” are what set Banarasis handlooms apart from powerlooms. A handwoven textile will nearly always have subtle human touch elements, such as picks in the foundation fabric or even black lines running along the textile’s selvedge.

Think about the cost.

In general, price is a good way to tell if a Banarasi is real or not. Handmade items are expensive and require time to complete. Making it takes hours, but the finished product has a touch and sense of absolute quality. Therefore, if you’re finding a fantastic “deal” online, it’s usually not real. The history, craftsmanship, and quality of a Banarasi are unparalleled, and as buyers, we ought to be prepared to shell out a reasonable amount to guarantee its continued existence.

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