Tarun Tahiliani FW 2013-photos c/o WLIFW
Filed under Designer Radar, Runway Shows
If you love Bollywood movies and the glittery embellished sarees, lenghas, salwars that are in them, chances are you’re a Manish Malhotra fan. Known as the Bollywood designer to the stars like Kareena Kapoor Aishwarya Rai & Katrina Kaif, Manish knows that when it comes to glamour more is never enough.
Manish debuted his Fall/Winter 2013 collection at the Wills Lifestyle India Fashion Week in Delhi this past week. The collection, aptly titled, “Threads of Emotion” was full of traditional phulkari embroidery, a technique originating in Punjab. In a color palette of burnt oranges, deep burgundies, royal blues, and pea greens this collection marked a return to understated elegance that infused the best of Indian craftsmanship with modern details and contemporary silhouettes.
Love phulkari and wondering how you can incorporate the look? Don’t worry, we got you! Here’s a sneak peek of Luxemi’s own phulkari scarves that you can get right here starting tomorrow. Throw it on with your favorite leggings and cardigan for a look that screams ‘global chic’ or pair it with your go-to salwar to give it an instant update. As evidenced by the man himself, it’s an investment worth making because tradition never goes out of style.
Update: Phulkari Scarves are available to purchase now.
All runway photos c/o Wills Lifestyle India Fashion Week
Every girl should own a classic saree that can be dressed up for an evening out. But on that special night when you’re attending a Black Tie event, getting married, or walking the Red Carpet, it’s fun — and only fitting! — to wear something really spectacular. Luxe fans, meet the Banarasi work saree.
Meticulously hand-crafted by artisans in Varanasi (a city also called Benares), the Banarasi saree is the ultimate sign of luxury. The historic city became known for its fine silk sarees and opulent weaving in the Mughal period, when emperors with a penchant for rich textiles poured their money into the local weaving industry. Because of this, Varanasi artisans often incorporate intricate Persian and Mughal-inspired brocade designs into their garments.
Benares became known for its gorgeous silk work in the 1600s, when a famine in neighboring Gujarat caused many silk weavers to migrate to the city. Centuries later, Varanasi artists are still hand-crafting opulent sarees with floral motifs and stunning silk textiles.
How will you know a Banarasi saree when you see one? The first thing to look for is its signature floral patterns called kalga and bel, which are intricately hand-crafted using metallic zari thread. Banarasi artisans also typically line the border of their garments with gold or silver upright leaf shapes known as jhallar. This all-over threadwork makes Banarasi silk sarees heavy, another sign of luxury and high-quality work.
Although these zari motifs and borders may look like brocade, what sets Banarasi sarees apart is the extreme care that goes into each stitch. Artisans spend anywhere from 15 days to 6 months on a single saree, hand-crafting each motif with fine details that sets this technique apart from typical brocade.
Whether you’re getting married or attending a special ceremony, your Banarasi saree or salwar will let your grace and sophistication shine, while keeping the Banarasi artisan tradition alive. Luxemi loves the traditional Mughal floral motifs and rich silk work on this Black and Gold Benares Print Lehenga by Mallika Mathur.
And we’re so excited to have this gorgeous gold Banarasi saree in our new collection. It features disk-shaped floral motifs and a chic double border that makes this saree perfect for any formal occasion.
Be sure to check back with the Luxe Report weekly for more Indian fashion 101, trend reports and East-meets-West fashion inspiration. And stay tuned for our new collection of sarees, salwars, Amrapali jewelry and accessories, all coming soon!
Filed under Indian Fashion 101
With wedding season just around the corner, here are some 2013 wedding trends that you’ll want to keep an eye out for.
1. East Meets West
We’re loving the bold juxtaposition of Indian tradition and Western flair when brides pair a modern heel with their traditional Indian salwars and sarees. This trend isn’t limited to women: men are turning to TOMS to complete their traditional Indian wedding day looks. This trend also goes the other way: wearing a traditional white wedding gown but want to infuse it with some Indian flair? Use Indian-inspired jewelry to give your wedding day look an ethnic boost.
2. Creative Floral Centerpieces
Sure, vases filled with roses make a classic statement, but this wedding season, flowers are going to get remixed. Lately, Indian weddings are taking a cue from the famed Rose Parade and using flowers to create elaborate, decorative centerpieces. From orchid peacocks to a daisy Ganesh, this trend is all about using your imagination to create exotic luxury.
3. A Little Bit of Luxemi
There are many ways that Luxemi can help you have your dream wedding. Luxemi’s Wedding Concierge Service makes it easy for you and your guests to coordinate your fashion choices – all at a special discount. Luxemi’s Bridesmaids Collection is the perfect way to cut the fuss out of dressing your bridesmaids. With multiple colors and styles available, we know we can create a custom look you and your bridesmaids will love. Who said finding a bridesmaid saree needs to be difficult or make fashion compromises?
Shital Vora (pictured above) turned to Luxemi to dress her bridesmaids and here’s what she had to say about her experience:
“I had the fortunate opportunity to outfit my leading ladies with Luxemi’s Bridesmaids Collection. I could not have asked for such an easy, stress free, and quality experience. All of the saris in the collection were beautiful, it was hard to narrow it down to one! The one that I chose for the wedding party was beautiful and made of extremely wonderful material. All of the bridesmaids felt that the process was very simple and they were happy with the prices and results. As the bride, this was the easiest aspect of wedding planning with the best results. I highly recommend for any bride to work with Luxemi to contribute to the success of your wedding planning!”
If you are getting married this summer, or know someone who is, contact us at to see how we can help you get ready for your big day. For more information, email weddings@luxemi.com, or call 1.773.770.LUXE (5893).
Filed under Luxemi Style, Trend Alert, Trend Update, Weddings
At this year’s Academy Awards, the Red Carpet took on a definite metallic tone, which was only fitting for the biggest night in Tinsel Town! Here are our fav celeb looks — and a few Indian influenced fashion notes! — from the 2013 Oscars.
The 85th Annual Academy Awards was all about smoke and gunmetal. The first look we fell for during the pre-show carpet walk was Lead Actress nominee Naomi Watts’ body molding Armani Privé gown. We love the one-shoulder cutout detailing and the liquid metal look of this floor-length dress.
Our fav Indian designer, Naeem Khan, helped some of the night’s leading beauties follow the metallic silver trend. We were psyched to see Michelle Obama announce Ben Affleck’s Argo as Best Picture, but we were even more thrilled to see the First Lady wearing a gorgeous Naeem Khan look. With flattering light and dark silver paneling and an elegant square neckline, this all-over sequin gown will go down in Oscars fashion history.
Another Hollywood beauty to wear Naeem’s designs was Stacy Keibler. George Clooney’s girlfriend looked statuesque and stunning in a metallic Naeem Khan gown with a black empire waistband, a chic halter and fine embellishments arcing throughout. We saw this look firsthand at New York Fashion Week and can tell you its intricate detailing made this dress a standout in Naeem Khan’s Fall Winter 2013 collection. (Check out our post if you haven’t seen it yet!)
Bond girl Halle Berry wore a silver custom Versace gown while introducing the show’s James Bond tribute. Her plunging gown had intricate Indian-inspired vertical sequin work, strong shoulders and changing silver hues that remind us a lot of ombré. For an Indian spin on the gunmetal Red Carpet trend, Luxemi recommends our chic Racer Back Salwar with Sharara Pants by Kisneel.
Another look we couldn’t stop awing over was Charlize Theron’s strapless winter white Dior gown. With a peplum waist and a deep V neckline, this sleek stunner was the latest all-white look to hit the Red Carpet. Best Actress winner Jennifer Lawrence also rocked white, a trend that Best Supporting Actress winner Anne Hathaway started at the 2013 Golden Globes.
Our top jewelry look of the night was definitely from music icon Barbra Streisand. We were pleasantly surprised to see the legendary singer rocking a gold hand chain during her tribute to Marvin Hamlisch. Want to emulate her look? Check out Luxemi’s Gold Flower Charm Hand Jewelry.
If you love awards season as much as we do, make sure to check out the LuxeReport’s reviews on the best fashion from the 2013 Golden Globes. And for a blast from the past, also see our recap on the best Oscars fashion from the 84th Annual Academy Awards.
Filed under Celebrity Style, Trend Alert
Luxe fans, if you’re anything like us, you’re always blown away by how toned — and energetic! — your favorite Bollywood actors and actresses look during their musical numbers. That’s why we’re loving the new Doonya: The Bollywood Dance Workout DVD. If you’re looking for a fun new way to get your heart pumping and your body in shape, you’ve got to check this out.
Inspired by the vibrant dances of Bollywood, creators Kajal Desai and Priya Pandya designed this cardio and strength-building workout to keep you smiling and having fun — and we couldn’t agree more! It’s available now on Amazon or Doonya’s website. Oh, and did we mention Doonya’s La Wellness Weekend giveaway, which could whisk you away to Los Angeles for a weekend-long fitness adventure?
Filed under Indian-Inspired
Courtesy style.com
New York fashion week is one of those phrases that conjures up thoughts of highly stylized women in towering heels, fashion gliteratti air-kissing whilst holding glasses of champagne, endless parties hosted by the newest “it” girl, and 10 minute runway shows that suddenly make your life feel very pedestrian because you can’t think of a single place to wear these outfits even if you could afford to. Well, we’re here to tell you that all of those thoughts are entirely valid — but don’t worry, we’ve endured the blisters and late night parties (torture, we know!) to give you our take on NYFW, Luxemi-style.
Showing up looking anything less than tres chic is a fashion week faux pas. From the models rocking their “MOD” looks (models off duty) to the street style celebs bringing their fashion A-game, one thing is certain: you must be camera ready at all times. That’s why we’re grateful to BirchBox and their amazing team for putting together a beauty lounge at the ultra swanky Soho House. Between hairdos by Ojon and Shu Umera, makeup by Lancome, and nails by Color Club, we could face the camera at any angle even if we did stay out past our bedtime.
If you haven’t heard about Birchbox, now is the time to get acquainted. For your own monthly treat, sign up here. You’ll thank us later, we promise!
You may have seen our previous post on the Naeem Khan FW 2013 collection, but we didn’t show you everything. We were lucky enough to get a front row seat, and we definitely had one of those “pedestrian moments” mentioned above. From embroidered caftans to beaded separates, every single piece was pure perfection. The crowd was clearly into it, as evidenced by the audible gasps from even the most jaded fashion showgoers. The standing ovation at the end pretty much said it all!
And just between us, sometimes the best show is off the ramp. Check out Vanessa Hudgens, Brooke Shields, Matt Damon, & Shay Williams sitting front row. What do you think Vanessa and Shay are texting about?
Bibhu Mohapatra is one of those names on everyone’s lips, and for good reason. After leaving a Design Director post at J.Mendel, Bibhu started his own label that blends the best of Indian textiles with glamorous evening wear. Influenced by Man Ray’s photographs and nods to Dada and Bauhaus, Bibhu’s collection was very reminiscent of the 1930s with the use of sumptuous fabrics, jewel-toned furs accents and graphic prints. Our favorite piece? It’s a tie between the gold broadtail and raccoon coat and the gold sport crepe draped shoulder gown.
So…who’s inviting us to a fabulous party?!
Speaking of fabulous parties, we had the pleasure of stopping by celebrity stylist Jason Bolden’s capsule shoe collection for Brazilian shoe company Schutz. You already know we appreciate a good shoe, and Bolden’s didn’t disappoint. What else does a fashion party need, you ask? How about uber designers Rachel Roy & Alexander Birman, and Academy Award nominated actress Taraji P. Henson?
Courtesy Johnny Nunez
Courtesy Johnny Nunez
Courtesy Johnny Nunez
Check out more pics from NYFW, including these backstage shots from Reem Acra! And as always, keep checking back with the LuxeReport for the latest news, trends and Indian fashion inspiration.
Filed under Runway Shows
It goes without saying: a Naeem Khan runway show never disappoints. That’s why we were so excited to be front and center at his Fall 2013 Mercedes Benz Fashion Week show in New York. Here’s a recap of the Naeem Khan collection for all our Luxe fans who couldn’t be at New York Fashion Week with us.
Naeem Khan has been channeling Old Hollywood a lot lately, but the Indian designer took his art deco glamour to the next level in his Fall 2013 collection. With rich silvers, golds, crèmes and blacks as his foundation, the designer crafted a line of intricate, streamlined Red Carpet-ready gowns with plenty of his signature opulence. Pulling from the illustrations of 1920′s Erté to the grandeur of the byzantine empire, Khan took us on an unforgettable high fashion joyride. He showcased a little bit of something for everyone, with the glittery gowns you might expect, and separates that surprised and delighted us. Here are some photos of our favorite looks from this stunning collection, including some Luxemi originals you won’t be able to find anywhere else!
Stay tuned for Luxemi’s full Mercedes Benz Fashion Week 2013 recap next week!
Filed under Runway Shows
If we had to sum up the first few weeks of 2013 in one word, it would be Beyoncé. Between the Presidential Inauguration and the Super Bowl halftime show, the singer is definitely taking the world by storm — and looking super chic doing it! Here are our fav Beyoncé fashion moments of 2013.
The 2013 Presidential Inauguration is definitely one of those events that calls for sophistication and glamour, and Beyoncé pulled out all the stops. While she sang the National Anthem, she wore a stunning black Pucci dress with all-over beading and emerald Lorraine Schwartz earrings.
And did you see how chic she and Jay-Z looked walking into the event together? We’re loving his sharp Tom Ford charcoal grey suit and her super glam Christian Dior floor-length coat.
Beyoncé may have literally brought the house down last night at Super Bowl XLVII. Whether or not she caused the massive blackout at the New Orleans Superdome, we were crazy in love with everything about her Super Bowl Halftime Show. That includes Mrs. Carter’s leather and lace corset. A lot of people were buzzing that she would go with a Givenchy Couture look, but we were so happy to hear a little-known designer from NYC created this killer outfit.
Designer Rubin Singer said it took 14 people and 200+ hours of work to create Beyoncé’s black corset, which included a Chantilly lace flounce skirt and armor-esque hand-stitched leather. Talk about fierce! Singer also created the looks that Destiny’s Child singers Kelly Rowland and Michelle Williams rocked during the show. The Baltimore Ravens may have won the 2013 Super Bowl, but the halftime show was definitely the highlight of our night!
Beyoncé must have sensed that the world can’t get enough, because a few minutes after the halftime show, she announced her 2013 world tour, The Mrs. Carter Show. We’re super psyched to see what gorgeous outfits Bey wears on the world stage, and can hardly wait to grab our tickets for the North American leg of the tour. Can’t wait til spring to get your Beyoncé fix? Here’s The Mrs. Carter Show official promo video to hold you over until then:
And as if Beyoncé hasn’t had enough on her plate, she also fit in time to produce a documentary! We can’t wait to check out her HBO doc, Life Is But A Dream, when it premieres on February 16. (We’re especially excited to see home video footage of Beyoncé as a kid!)
Want to know more about the fashion icons that inspire Luxemi? Stop by the LuxeReport every week for more of our style musings, Indian fashion inspiration and trend posts! Also stay tuned for our new collection of apparel and accessories, which will be debuting on Luxemi soon!
Filed under Style Icons
Hot on the heels of the 2013 Golden Globes, this year’s Screen Actors Guild Awards was definitely all about Old Hollywood glamour. Here are the SAG Red Carpet looks we’re awing over.
Is it just us, or are we having a case of Dior déjà vu? Jennifer Lawrence and Marion Cotillard, who both rocked red Dior gowns at the Golden Globes, wore dresses by their fav designer again last night.
Jennifer Lawrence, who won Best Actress at SAG and the Globes for Silver Linings Playbook, wore a strapless navy blue Dior Couture dress paired with a stunning Chopard necklace.
And Marion Cotillard (Rust & Bone) was a complete showstopper in her strapless Dior Couture gown, which featured an elegant bow at the waist, a white bodice and a full skirt that made her the belle of the ball.
Another A-Lister who rocked navy blue was Amanda Seyfried, who was nominated for her role in Les Miserables. Her mermaid-cut Zac Posen dress was gorgeous, but the real statement here was her long Lorraine Schwartz necklace. Also wearing bold blue was Nicole Kidman, whose lacy Vivienne Westwood gown added some much-needed embellishments to the Red Carpet!
If you’re feeling this navy blue trend, we recommend you borrow Luxemi’s tonal saree with a sequin border. It’s got just the right combination of subdued bling and rich color. And if you’re in a salwar mood, try the ultra sophisticated bell sleeve zari salwar. It will have you feeling blue in the best way possible.
We’re always searching for Naeem Khan on the Red Carpet, so we were psyched to see Homeland’s Morgan Saylor wearing one of his Pre-Fall 2013 gowns, which features hand-beaded embellishments throughout its bodice. We would’ve loved to see her in silver heels, though!
Between all the navy blue and black (Anne Hathaway and Tina Fey both wore LBDs), we were really craving some vibrancy. Freida Pinto gave the Red Carpet a much-needed pop of color in her fuchsia Roland Mouret gown. We’re crazy about this dress’ flattering draping and cute black bow detailing. Between this fashion-forward fuchsia and her highlighter yellow dress at last year’s Cannes Film Festival, Freida is quickly becoming our favorite color icons. Looking to make a hot pink statement of your own? Try Luxemi’s bhandhani saree with a gota border.
And ladies, in case you haven’t noticed (or heard the new single, Suit & Tie), Justin Timberlake is back! The singer rocked a silk linen Tom Ford suit with a checkered pattern we totally love.
With the 2013 Golden Globes and the 2013 SAG Awards now over, we’re counting down the days until the Oscars. Be sure to check back for our coverage on the 85th Annual Academy Awards, and until then, get in the Oscars spirit by checking out our top fashion and jewelry picks from last year’s show.
Filed under Celebrity Style, Style Icons, Style Secrets, Trend Alert, Trend Update
