FASHION FEST 356

Effortless, enchanting and echt. The new Raw Mango abode in the heart of Hyderabad’s Banjara Hills is a modern paradise of art. At twilight, the store opened its doors to the city in pure Raw Mango fashion. The air filled with sweet notes of fresh rose petals and tuberose complemented the vast space of inspired architecture. Untouched rocks and replicas of 70s sculptures surrounded the pristine white property. A walk around the space will have one taking pauses to appreciate the curation as one looks inside through the large glass windows and then the outside too. It’s also how Garg intended it to be. “Raw Mango is as much about the outside as it is about the inside” explains Garg when asked about the capacity of his store spaces. “I remember at Angoori Badi which was also my first store in Delhi, a client was buying a sari while her kid was playing outside and the husband was sipping tea. It’s an experience.” Currently across stores, Raw Mango only uses 40% of its space to sell and...

S upriya’s father was an enigma to her in her teenage years. He wasn’t necessarily a bad father, but he seemed to consciously keep her and her brothers at arm’s length. In college, she came out to her parents as a lesbian, which affected their relationship. “They limited their interactions with me at home, would tell me not to come for family functions, and even tried influencing my brothers to sever ties with me. I felt abandoned.” Now 37, Supriya still lives with the trauma of not having the support of her parents. Lesbian invisibility has become a deep-seated feature in Indian society and has had a deterring effect on the formation of a lesbian community. As opposed to the visible male homosexual community, lesbian networking has largely taken shape on the peripheries of society’s consciousness, which can be attributed to strong patriarchal undercurrents, male supremacy, and homophobia that have shaped women’s lives in India. Supriya believes the looming shadow of her family keepi...

Out of the countless art forms that’ve existed over centuries, dance sits right atop the pyramid and is vastly loved. Proven to burn calories, strengthen muscles and improve balance, giving your body that shake yields more benefits than you can imagine. But what we lack in cognising is the emotional aspect of how dance facilitates in shaping you beyond the physical. This World Dance Day, we spoke with Anjana Bapat and Meher Malik – both dancers who’ve successfully carved a niche with their unique set of talents alongside their yearning to squash stereotypes.   View this post on Instagram   A post shared by Anjana Bapat (@anjanabapat) When asked about her early days, belly dancer extraordinaire Anjana Bapat muses, “When I decided to get into dancing professionally, my instructor who has now become my boss only looked at dance and how well you do it. Hence, I did not face any size based discrimination. I do know of people first hand, wh...

In what is a wonderful confluence of brand ethos, Signature Packaged Drinking Water has partnered with the ELLE Sustainability Awards. This is going to be a night honouring game-changing leaders in fashion, beauty, and lifestyle. ELLE is celebrating true trailblazers, the ones emphasising the importance of conscious living and Signature Packaged Drinking Water is joining us in this endeavour.  The brand has worked closely on The Mangrove Replenishment Project on World Earth Day which was on April 22. This reinforced their commitment to restore mangrove plantations in Odisha and restore the fragile ecological balance of coastal regions for climate resiliency. Through its pioneering of the Odisha National Mangrove Restoration Project on April 22, 2023, Signature Packaged Drinking Water aims to give back to the community.   View this post on Instagram   A post shared by Signature Experiences (@signatureexperiencesofficial) So Why ...

Let’s admit it. We’re all enamoured with celebrities and their picture-perfect, fresh off the runway style and look for ways to replicate the same in any shape or form. What if we told you that there’s a way to get your hands on similar pieces at the click of a button? And from the comfort of your home? Brace yourselves as Misspap , the premium global fashion brand from the house of Boohoo, has finally launched in India and is available exclusively on ecommerce giant Myntra . Perfect for the contemporary woman who doesn’t compromise on either style or quality, Misspap’s eclectic mix of corsets, bodysuits and skorts is here to replenish your wardrobe to the T. What we can’t get enough of, is the minimalistic yet chic aesthetic of their unique in-house designs. The brand is renowned for curating trend-driven, investment-worthy pieces that are made to last. Think of it as adding timeless pieces to your wardrobe that you’ll wear forever. And with over 3.2 million followers on Instagram...

T he first time you look at Woven Chronicle, it looks like an innocent enough work. It’s a world map connected with colourful threads. What could be the meaning? The good old message of how the world is one family, global Indian, the works? A deeper probe reveals fascinating, even unsettling feelings—Reena Saini Kallat seems concerned with the porosity of borders, how they violently cut across homes and spaces, ignoring the lives inside them. The superficiality of it all. But Kallat never imagined taking up art as a profession. How could something so intuitive become monetary? “It was only when I started reading art history that I realised art does not come from a magical space,” she says. “It is entrenched in the context of where you are located, and so on. That’s when I realised I’d found something closer to me.” From mixed media, sculptures, photography and everything in between, for Kallat, it’s the inversion of the objects and tools that are used to otherwise infuse mundaneness...

When it comes to viral products, I have my reservations because not all that’s shown on social media stands the test of time. When I got Sol De Janeiro in a media kit (from Nykaa where the brand is available exclusively in India), I had my apprehensions. After spending hours on the ‘gram consuming beauty content, I wasn’t oblivious to Bum Bum cream’s popularity; I had to try it. For the record, I go tough on my reviews, so I went into minute details while trying Sol De Janeiro products, especially Bum Bum cream. From texture to ingredients and fragrance to packaging, I consider all aspects. The brand has recently launched its campaign called Time To Celebrate You and I got a chance to speak to the brand’s CEO & co-founder Heela Yang Tsuzuki about the brand, its cult-offerings, and brand ethos. Excerpts from the Interview with Sol De Janeiro CEO & Co-founder, Heela Yang Tsuzuki ELLE : Bum Bum Cream is now a cult favourite. Tell us about the making of this product, some ...

Think K-dramas and inevitably we think of soft romance, lovable characters, and relatable storylines. The K-drama landscape has always been ruled by romance, historical fiction, or a slice-of-life genre. But in recent years, the K-drama industry has got the audiences hooked on to a different section for thriller shows, which aren’t for the faint hearted. Korean crime or thriller dramas depict a wide spectrum of emotional and psychological themes that will make you question your morals and beliefs.  Dirty politics, corruption, and flawed protagonists – this has it all. Which means that you’re watching murder mysteries, supernatural elements, spy thrillers, revenge sagas, dark comedies, and more. In addition to the plot, another big reason for the success of these thrillers is their intense storytelling, cinematography, high-budget VFX, and clever reflection of the real world. The biggest example of this genre shift has to be the worldwide phenomenon of the Squid Game . A show tha...

Touted as fashion’s biggest night out, the MET Gala takes place on the first Monday of May every year. What began in 1971 has continued to be a stage for the stalwarts of the industry to put their most fashionable foot forward. The theme for this year is ‘Karl Lagerfeld: A Line Of Beauty’, celebrating the revolutionary late fashion designer. While we’re waiting with bated breath for this year’s rendezvous, there’s no denying that all of the previous years have been nothing short of exemplary—in terms of glamour and beauty. This is the one night that we witness our favourite stars go the extra mile with their beauty choices. Exaggerated eyelashes, outlandish hairstyles and maximalist makeup make an appearance and we always save it for our beauty mood boards. Over the years, the MET Gala has given us countless looks that remain iconic even today. Here’s taking a look at all of our favourite MET Gala makeup looks: Rihanna in 2017   View this post on Instagram ...

Sustainability is no more a buzzword. The highly anticipated Gemfields presents ELLE Sustainability Awards 2023 in association with Signature Packaged Drinking Water took place on the 26th of April with esteemed A-listers and industry change-makers in fashion, beauty and lifestyle in attendance. Held at St. Regis, the award show was a glamorous confluence of all things sustainable melded with ELLE’s yearning to further this agenda for a better tomorrow. Keep reading to know about all the things that unfolded at the star-studded event. The Pledge Wall Decked with almost 60 sustainable pledges, the ELLE wall by Signature Experiences was a big success with attendees setting the place abuzz when they read their respective ones. Crafted in sustainable paper, the design was mindful and conscious, keeping in mind the ethos of the event. The Panel Prior to the event, ELLE hosted a panel discussion on how to encourage sustainable choices in fashion, beauty and lifestyle. Industry leaders...