Top designers showcase their best work at fashion weeks

Fashion weeks in India are becoming bigger and bigger as the seasons go by. They aren’t just events to be talked about, but they are also events that give us an idea about who the talented designers in our country are and also what is in this season. Fashion weeks introduce us to the work of brilliant as well as budding designers and give us an opportunity to pick our favorites. They also give us ideas on how to get creative with what we wear. Wills India fashion week 2013 was no different. As one of the biggest fashion weeks in the country, it sure gave us a lot to talk about.

Each designer brought his or her own inspirations to the table and put their best foot forward. The inspirations were clearly India and why wouldn’t they be, India is rich with arts, crafts, drama, dance, fests and so much more! Top designers get to the top by following their instincts and getting inspired by things around them, travelling to explore and really experience India and her people. Those who catch the pulse of the country and listen to her heart are the ones who make it to the top.

The fashion week showcased Indian wear as well as western, but the Indian designers just can’t escape the culture and trend of India and so even western outfits has elements of India in them. That is what made them so beautiful and unique. They sure were trendy, but the touch of India in them made them stand out from everything else. No wonder even celebrities in western countries are gravitating towards dresses made by Indian designers. Speaking of celebrities, the Wills India fashion week 2013 had more than its fair share of them. As is tradition, celebrity presence is indispensible to the show.

The fashion week is a perfect place for the perfect cohesion of the fashion and film industry of the country. The two industries are interdependent, as one cannot do without the other. Films provide the perfect platform for fashion and fashion is what makes films look as amazing and glamorous as they do. The event gives a chance for Top designers and top fashionistas to make contacts and make the relationship mutually beneficial. And for the rest of us, we love our dose of celebrity during fashion week, adding glamour and making headlines.

Prints, patterns, threadwork, embroidery, lace trims, sheer pieces, laser cuts and baroque! They were all present during the fashion week and each made the viewer’s hearts skip a beat. There was soft beauty; there was excitement and dramatic makeup and there was celebrity power! It wasn’t just the film stars who were celebrities here, but the top designers got celebrity attention too. Fashion weeks have made several designers household names and the best part is that the India public simply wants more. That fashion is an art form is widely accepted today and top designers are true artists and visionaries who decide the way India is going to dress in any given season.

Want to be a part of the India fashion week

Imagine having an exciting high-paying job as a professional male model. As a model you may have the opportunity to travel to beautiful locations, be pampered, attend events with celebrities, and earn thousands of dollars a day. Imagine working with top designers, or having your photo taken for Vogue or your favourite magazine.

However, being a male model doesn't mean getting a free ride to the best parties in town. It takes hard work, as well as long hours, and a little courage, to be a part of events like the India fashion week. That being said, breaking into the modelling industry as a male is a bit easier than it is for women, because male models don't have to meet the same rigid physical requirements all the time and can work for many years. -- Some of them working well into their fifties.

Meet the standards of top designers: Though male models have a bit more flexibility in terms of their looks than female models, there are still some general standards that you should meet if you want to be a male model. But if you don't meet all of these standards, don't be too discouraged; if you've really got "the look," then you may be able to work with top designers, even if you're below the average height or above the average weight for male models.

Get some exposure to get into India fashion week: It couldn't hurt to have your face out there and to have some modelling experience so you have something to point to when you approach agencies. Try to appear in local newspaper ads, TV shows, magazines, or even style shows. You might get the attention of the right people without even appealing to an agent directly, and this might lead to a future opportunity at events like the India fashion week. However, this does not mean that you should get absolutely any work you can. Remember that you're trying to build and maintain your image, so don't do something that is completely below your dignity, not taken by a real photographer, or which doesn't represent who you are at all.

Sign up with an agent to work with top designers: Once you've jumped through the hoops and found an agent who likes your look, it'll be time to sign your contract. Again, make sure the agent doesn't ask for any money up front. A real agent should only make money after he or she makes you money. And even if the agent seems legitimate, make sure you have an attorney go over the contract with you to ensure that you're making a fair agreement. When you're speaking with the agent, you can ask about any unions you're allowed to join and also ask if you can take modelling jobs on the side. If you've signed with a top agent and have a chance of making some serious money, you can also think about meeting with an accountant to talk about how you will track your earnings.

How to start working with top designers: Once you've signed with an agent, you will build your portfolio, which will help you get hired. The agencies will help you get the chance to go to modelling interviews, which are also known as go-sees. So, start going to the go-sees, act professional, and don't get frustrated if you don't get a gig right away. Have perseverance. You won't get into India fashion week on your first go-see, despite what you may hear.

Monica Dogra is creating a buzz with her new fashion line

Every sub-industry in the media has a tendency to merge into one another and the tradition of celebrities foraying into fashion is nothing new. This happens in the west all the time, but one of the first Indian celebrities to launch their own fashion line is the very talented Monica Dogra. Starting her career as a musician, singer, model and actress, she is now focusing on launching designs that cater to the taste of the youth of the country. This line promises to be as unique as she herself is because it will be inspired by her life and her personality. 

In her own personal sense of style, Monica is known to be distinctive and unique. And this is how she wants the youth of the country to be as well, she believes that your style should reflect who you are and that is exactly how each aspect of your outfit should be. India has very few fashion designers who have lines that are meant for a niche audience and yet are affordable. Monica plans on launching not only a fashion line but also a line of cool and fun accessories. A complete package is what the line promises to be for individualistic young women all over the country.

When asked about what inspired her to launch the line, Monica says that she had a lot of people who appreciated the way she dressed and put things together to create a unique style. These compliments and attention gave her the idea to trust her own fashion instincts and put together a line for the young modern woman. She is inspired by the hip and funky styles of the street and also their affordability. These are the elements that Monica Dogra has picked up and has begun the work on her line.

The youth of today are not ones to be coy and quiet, they are expressive and have found numerous ways to expressing themselves, including through the way they dress. No color, cut, style and fashion is taboo and the youth love to experiment with their look unabashedly. And this is the pulse that the fashion designers of today pick up, including Monica. Thus, the youth of today not only express but also inspire. They are the perfect muses for artists and fashion designers the world over. Thanks to the experimental youth, there is a freedom to be quirky and eclectic in fashion.

Originally only asked to curate a fashion label, the hard working and passionate singer and actress decided to jump head on into the job and actually create the items of clothing herself. Fashion is an integral part of Monica’s life and she is paying homage to it in her own way. Offbeat and original are great ways of describing the kind of work that is expected from Monica Dogra, judging by her personal style and personality. Dogra’s line is one place where originality meets wearability and it promises to be one that excites fashionistas, especially the quirky and eclectic ones.

Bag the best designer dresses for women online

Although it does not seem like budget shopping and designer dresses can be said in the same sentence, online shopping might just surprise you on this one. You no longer have to break the bank or skip meals to save up to buy that lovely dress you want. The online fashion store is here to fulfill your dreams of being dressed in chic and incredible designs and being able to call them your own. No matter what your taste and sensibilities, the online retail store is not going to disappoint you because they can boast of having some of the most extensive collections ever, enough to satisfy the demanding fashion diva.

The Internet is evolving so fast that it is taking over every business imaginable. The fashion industry is also going digital and the supplier and the buyer, both couldn’t be happier. The ease and comfort with which clothes can be bought is incredible, especially in today’s age where people seldom have the time to even eat a meal in peace. A limitless collection of designer dresses for women are available online for every kind of fashion diva and the prices that they are available at are highly competitive, thus making it a great deal overall.

Another highly important role that retail stores online play is that they deliver items to consumers really quickly. It is possible for them to get the latest items as well as have items that are a few seasons old. Regular stores are not able to do that because of several limitations. This gives the consumer more choices and therefore helps more sales happen. Fashion is a time bound commodity and therefore getting the latest or having access to older designs is something that the consumer likes, thereby making the online fashions store extremely relevant.

Also, the phase of shopping from thrift stores or shopping from the street is one that is only fun during college. Once you graduate into the working arena, you must become more conscious about what image you project and the kind of clothes you choose to wear plays a big part in that. To make a good impression, you need to choose from among the best formal clothes as well as designer dresses for women available and online stores give you the best collections to choose from. Also, there is a certain exclusivity you get when you shop online because the customer base of the online store is wide whereas the customer base of your local store is simply your locality.

Once you begin the transformation of your wardrobe from regular clothes to exclusive designer clothes, you will notice a difference in your personal and professional life as well. Your clothes say a lot about you and they are an investment into your future. If you want to open professional doors and take your career to new heights or if you want to expand your social circle and associate with some of the best people there are, you must begin your personal transformation with your wardrobe and the online fashion store will be your perfect ally on this journey.

Buying clothes online is the smartest thing you can do

Everyone wants to be exclusive these days, in their work, in their lifestyle and especially in their clothes. Exclusivity is a source of pride for most people and they strive to bring it in their wardrobe. And for good reason too! Being exclusive means being memorable, and in today’s past paced life people want to make an impact and an impression that stays. And one of the easiest ways of making a good and lasting impression is having a wardrobe full of smart and striking clothes. Buying clothes online is a great way of stocking up on exclusive pieces without having to break the bank. 

Fashion designers benefit from online shopping:

Technology has enabled us to accomplish a lot and one of the most fun things that is trending today is online shopping. The fashion industry couldn’t be happier about this development, as new, fresh and talented fashion designers get a chance to showcase their designs online and get recognition like never before. Designers have actually become more and more accessible to the public. People are no longer attracted to buy the mass produced clothes that are found in many conventional stores. People want something original and fashion designers provide them exactly what they want and online shopping plays the happy middleman.

Fashion designers get a great platform for publicity through online retail stores:

There are several designers whose brands take off because of their partnership with a certain online retail store. These partnerships are mutually beneficial and helps introduce new talents to the public. Once word spreads, an interested party need not physically go to the city where the store is located, they can simply access the entire collection online and order away. Distances have become obsolete because of the ability to buy clothes online. 

Get your money’s worth when you buy clothes online:

Apart from being able to stock your wardrobe with lovely and exclusive designs, online shopping helps you save a lot of money. The need to constantly update your wardrobe is something that will happen in our lives, the great prices that online shopping offers helps people to balance their bank account with their shopping needs. Buying clothes online has actually brought some practicality into following fashion trends season after season. You can have the best of both worlds when you use your smarts and shop online.

The more you think about it, the more you realize how extremely beneficial the concept of online shopping is for everyone involved. But the fact still remains that the most benefit that is reaped from all the buzz of online shopping is by the customer. The customer is slowly becoming king once again because it really does feel like the entire fashion world is brought on a platter for the fashion diva to enjoy. The luxury has come back in fashion and the fashion designers have even more incentive to innovate and create the best that they possibly can. Now you have the entire fashion world available minus the effort, energy loss, crowds, traffic and stress!

Anamika Khanna- The Indian Traditional Designer

Indian fashion designers - The face of fashion in India

Fashion design is the art of the application of design and aesthetics or natural beauty to clothing and accessories. Influenced by cultural and social latitudes, fashion designing requires anticipating the changing consumer tastes in the society, which fashion designers in India seem to have balanced on a steady pace. They must consider who is likely to wear a garment and the situations in which it will be worn. They have 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. Indian fashion designers have brought Indian fashion through the different transitions of trends and styles and maintained world fashion, yet at the same time have managed to pour India’s traditional fashion into the trends that the world follows, personalizing those to our own personal Indian fashion trends.

Amanika Khanna- The Fashion designer’s career:

Anamika Khanna is a fashion designer based in Kolkata, India. The designer does not have any formal training. However, she is the first designer from India to launch an international label, and along with Manish Arora, the first to show at Paris Fashion Week. She uses traditional Indian and modern methods, including texturing with various embroideries.

Here’s a walk through her career and achievements as an Indian fashion designer -

• In 2004, Khanna received nearly 2 million pounds of funding to launch her international label Ana-Mika, the first ever for an Indian designer.
• In 2005, the designer showcased her spring/summer collection at Wills India Fashion Week titled The Botanist.
• Khanna along with designer Manish Arora were invited to showcase the brand at the Paris Fashion Week in 2007, being the first designers from India to do so.
• In 2008, Anamika's collection at the HDIL India Couture Week was well received in the industry. The collection was inspired from the drape of Indian dhoti that was closely associated with Mahatma Gandhi. Fine cotton, chiffons, satins and georgettes were used for the collection. The line focused on cuts, drapes and comfort instead of embellishments. Bollywood actress Sonam Kapoor, walked the ramp for the first time, was dressed in a golden cowl-shaped gown with zardosi and mukesh work on the top.
• In 2009, Khanna was the finale designer at Lakme Fashion Week (LFW) Fall/Winter 09.
• Anamika Khanna is also the Associate Design member of Fashion Design Council of India.
• Anamika along with other Indian fashion designers such as Ritu Beri & others participated in The India Premier London Fashion Week's Autumn/ Winter 2010.

Anamika Khanna’s Achievements -

• Anamika received the Kingfisher Award for the fashion designer of the year in 2004.
• She received the Audi RITZ Icon Award 2011.
• She has been one of the many Indian fashion designers to receive the Damania Fashion Award and the Texcellence Award.

Monica Dogra aims for youth fashion

Shopping has become much easier as compared to before. The travelling has reduced; there is no moving from one shop to another; there is no bargaining for prices; and there is also no disappointment concerning less varieties. The internet has become a medium to perform all the tasks from downloading films to ordering a commodity to be delivered at your residence. This is all done by just a few clicks and few cash. And when I say few cash, I mean on literal basis because the prices on the internet are already low. Hence, if you choose to buy clothes online, you are saving the weight of your wallet as well as the time on your watch.

If you follow the articles on fashion over the internet, you will observe that numerous trends are blooming up. There are newer designs every month or at times every week which exhibit a different expression. Hence, when you visit websites, they will display all the latest trends that are running. Many websites even include the designs by different fashion designers. So you can be the part of a current trend by choosing to buy clothes online. Once you create an account on the website, you even win points for every purchase you make. Amongst these trends, a few ones are created by celebrities who are very much inclined towards shifting fashion.

Monica Dogra terms Bollywood ‘unfashionable’: An American person of Indian origin often tries to alter the customs and manners of the country. It may be businessmen who want to create a paradigm shift in Indian business or it may be celebrities like Monica Dogra who want to upgrade the strata of fashion in the industry. In a recent interview, she termed Bollywood as unfashionable and has made a statement that she will launch her own fashion line. She is nevertheless a famous style icon and her ambition might influence the style of fashion in Bollywood. She has even made promising performances in a few films.

Monica Dogra caters to youth fashion: When she was asked whether according to her opinion is Bollywood stylist, her reply was ‘not really but it has improved vastly in the recent years’.  She did compliment a few celebrities who have a good fashion sense but she even criticizes the style statements by quite a few icons. She believes that style has to be unconventional and that will the basis of her fashion line. She also stated that her new line will be inclined towards youth and its vivid expressions. Thus, Monica Dogra is on her path to transform fashion in Bollywood by applying her own modus operandi. 

Analysis of fashion by Monica Dogra: She reflects a contemporary, urban and electric sense of style. She states that celebs are constantly appraised or scrutinized for their appearance and hence it makes sense when they lend their personality to fashion. But simultaneously they must be dedicated to get something off the ground. She believes that dressing should be done in a manner that depicts the individuality. Thus by all these circumstances, Monica Dogra is all ready to launch her own line. Best wishes for the same.