Kinbuck2-Delhi’s First Roman Bistro

Kinbuck 2

Kinbuck2 is a gorgeous eatery joint standing like a Victorian-era diva in the heart of Connaught Place, New Delhi; the state capital’s first-ever Roman bistro. As the name suggests, this place flaunts rich taste of interiors coupled with delightful food for your palette and extremely humble hospitality. Drawing inspirations from the historical elements of Kinbuck in Norway, this restaurant flaunts aesthetic essences from this region. In one line, I would define this place as an epitome of great food, pleasant music, signature drinks and a one-of-a-kind concept in the city.

Kinbuck 2

Inspired by the beauty of Roman world, best known for its artistic architecture, this restaurant transmits you delicately in a dreamy world as you step inside; especially, when you move upstairs on the open dining area. The striking dome-like structures, arches, graffiti art on the walls, wine cellars and more makes this place a perfect blend of old-world charm and contemporary décor notes. Dominating colors like red and grey rein the décor palette. The rooftop, outdoor area is contoured by beautiful green patches of creepers; this alfresco and minibar is certainly the highlight of the terrace area. It also has a private PDR to host party enough for 30-40 people. Apart from this, Kinbuck2 also houses a private mezzanine floor.

Kinbuck 2

Coming to the most important aspect of this place, the food—my experience was very overwhelming. The head Chef, Anay Mukherjee’s passion for cooking reflected in each meal that he quipped for us. Their menu portrays a sincere attempt to house global delicacies and they are always thriving to inculcate more innovations in their kitchen. From American classics to Lebanese delights, Mediterranean cuisines to European flavors and lastly, mouthwatering Indian food ensures every guest has an amazing culinary experience here.

Kinbuck 2

I had a host of dishes—cream of mushroom soup, Romanian bread basket, shrimp cocktail for salad, fattoush salad, Al bondigas, chicken sausages and pineapple skewers, chandni paneer tikka, dhengre mushroom gallouti, veg salt and pepper, veg porpiech, eggplant schezwan, mutton seekh kebab, chilly chicken and Beijing chicken. This list comprised of the appetizers. For main course, we indulged in some delicious porkchoy mushroom in oyster sauce, garlic noodles, chicken roulade, cottage cheese steak, and chicken steak and lastly, the most flavourful chicken biriyani. Lastly, for dessert, I savoured upon some delectable chocolate tart.

Kinbuck 2

The food was downright heavenly; the right amount of spices cooked to perfection left a happy tingling on my taste buds for the rest of the evening. The thing that touched my heart the most was the humility every person garnered; from the chef to the staff, everyone wore a big smile on their faces at all times and everyone knew what went into making of each and every dish! So very impressive, I must say. So, I would urge each one of you to visit this place for a memorable experience.

Harley-Davidson brings the rebel attitude to Myntra

Harley-Davidson casual merchandise

Known for rebellious design and bold urban styling, Harley-Davidson motor clothes have inspired riders and passengers for generations. Harley-Davidson casual merchandise will now be available through an exclusive online store on Myntra. Launched today, the online store offers a range of Harley-Davidson casual outerwear, sportswear, denims and accessories. Harley-Davidson merchandise and accessories are also offered through the brand’s dealership network across 17 locations in India. Through this alliance Harley-Davidson merchandise will now be easily accessible to over 12,000 pin codes in India.

Harley-Davidson casual merchandise

Rajiv Vohra, Director Sales and Dealer Development Harley-Davidson India commented at the onset of the alliance, “We are extremely pleased to enter into this alliance with Myntra, helping us to become more accessible to customers across the country. Owning Harley-Davidson merchandise is a great way for customers to free their inner rebel, and we are glad to offer them this opportunity.”

Harley-Davidson casual merchandise

Being the leading online fashion platform associated with over 25 top global brands in India, Prasad Kompalli, Head – Ecommerce Platform, Myntra expressed excitement on this alliance stating, “It has always been our continuous endeavor to enhance our portfolio and provide our shoppers the latest and widest collection from the best of brands. This alliance will help us cater to Harley-Davidson aficionados by enabling easy access to the brand’s lifestyle merchandise.”

Harley-Davidson casual merchandise

The collection spreads across Harley-Davidson jackets, denims, shirts, t-shirts, caps, wallets and other accessories. To view the entire offering, download the Myntra smart phone app today.

Dainty yet Bold – Jyoti Sachdev Iyer

Jyoti Sachdev Iyer’s collection

Jyoti Sachdev Iyer’s designs exude fantasy, sophistication and unadulterated femininity for the woman of today. Her dainty yet bold designs define today’s woman. She is a superwoman, who looks after her kids, shapes her career, celebrates life and spreads joy in every life that she touches.

Jyoti Sachdev Iyer’s collection

The designer has been in the industry for about 15 years now. Her stores are at Delhi, Bangalore, Chennai, Mumbai and many other cities in India. She has the experience of working with international brands like Fendi, Kenzo and La-Perla. Her designs are globally inspired yet rooted to Indian ethnicity; it is a combination that truly compliments today’s woman.

Jyoti Sachdev Iyer’s collection

Her colour palette is diverse and her cuts and silhouettes have contemporary notes, reflecting world-wide inspirations. She has clothes for all age-groups, be it you or your mother, you are sure to find your match at her stores.

Royal & rooted – by Aditi Maheshwari

Rohit Bal

Rohit Bal, one of the most sought after fashion designers, popularly known as the ‘master of fabric and fantasy’, gets candid and talks about the current fashion industry and his journey as a designer

What is your design philosophy?

For me, the most important word is elegance. I also give importance to certain styles that are understated, craft based and extremely Indian. Nothing that I do has any western influences. Everything I do has a very strong soul of India; so my design philosophy says that I am an Indian and I like making Indian designs; also, all my designs are hand crafted and at the end of the day, the soul of India should be represented in my collections.

What new techniques and materials are you using?

We are using the opposite of new techniques. We are focusing on age old techniques—those that are long forgotten. We are reviving techniques that used to be an important part of Indian subcontinent. So instead of doing something new, I am using techniques that were used many hundreds of years ago. I am trying to bring back what is lost to India.

Rohit Bal’s bridal collection for Wills India Fashion Week SS’15

What does fashion mean to you?

Fashion for me is a very integral part of lifestyle. Fashion doesn’t mean wearing fancy clothes. It’s about the way you live, your lifestyle, your home, the food you eat, the car you drive, the life you lead; it’s really about your entire life. Fashion is in fact, a necessary evil.

During your formative years, who has been your muse?

When I started out as a fashion designer, I was influenced greatly by a very dear friend, Rohit Khosla. He was my inspiration and my muse.

Most fashion designers are now diversifying into other areas besides fashion. What’s your take on this and how important is it to diversify for creative expression as well as to scale up the business?

I might have been amongst the first ones to have done that. The reason why you do this is because you want your creativity to be experimented and expressed in other mediums rather than what you normally do with fashion. A creative person absolutely must do as many creative things as possible; whether it is designing homes, cars, product designs, etc. A designer should give his creativity another platform. It is a natural progression and extremely important.

Rohit Bal’s bridal collection for Wills India Fashion Week SS’15

What is the future of couture in India?

I think the future of fashion in India is couture and nothing else. In India there are enough international brands. But what we designers do is very up market and occasion wear; whether it is weddings or parties. So, I think couture has a great potential in India.

What was your first design? Do you have any interesting anecdotes in the making of your first piece?

The first design I ever did was for men. The first person who wore those was my friend, Rohit Khosla. The first thing I ever made was a gold tissue bandhgala for men. At that time, such designs were very contemporary and avant-garde.

Way back when you were a student, what inspired you? How did you decide upon this career?

Some very fashionable people used to come visit my college when I was a student. I used to observe some amazing style icons, see their beautiful clothes and get inspired by the likes of them.

Rohit Bal at the grand finale show for Wills India Fashion Week SS’15

How does the business of fashion look like today?

Encouraging. The industry is also getting a little more organised. Earlier this entire industry was very haphazard and not very focused. But now, fashion has become a very important industry.

P.S- Aditi Maheshwari, the author of this story is an avid lifestyle writer who runs a popular decor blog www.pobox9.in

The Summer Edition by Ogaan.com

Ogaan.com

Ogaan went online just about a month ago. At the brink of the changing season, the website is now live with its Summer Edition, packed with easy pieces, saris and some gorgeous, drama-infused jewellery. Here’s what to look out for in the airy summer edition.

Ogaan.com

Raw Mango’s beautiful hand-woven chanderi saris in bright juicy colours— perfect for summer weddings. Sanjay Garg of Raw Mango says of the collection online with Ogaan, “This line has Raw Mango must-haves. You can dress up these saris with a brocade blouse for a wedding or you can wear them with a simple cotton blouse.”

Ogaan.com

There’s a wide range of jewellery on Ogaan.com with a collection from Dang inspired by nature, flowers and twigs made especially for Ogaan – the champa, bail, and nargis earrings being particularly dramatic and fun. Also, spunky haath-phools from Astha Jagwani and India Modern ear cuffs and maang-tikas from Divya Chugh are trending high!

Ogaan.com

Viange Vintage has picks from Vintage Dior, YSL, Sonia Rykiel and more and Ritika Sachdeva brings chunky, modern pieces that go with everything. Ogaan.com allows for gift notes with orders and has a special measurements panel that allows you to figure out your size quickly and easily. You enter your four key measurements and save them; then you can compare them with precise measurements for each size to figure out your own size painlessly.

Ogaan.com

Selections on the website will be changing continuously, reflecting Ogaan’s favourite pieces each season, and in the coming months, Ogaan expects to add more labels from among their extensive list of celebrated and upcoming designers.

A Happy Space. A Colourful Space

Anupamaa Store – Khan Market

Nestled in the heart of Khan Market, New Delhi, the vibrant colours and prints highlight and bring to fore the new Anupamaa by Anupama Dayal flagship store. Spanning 400 sq feet, the new store space brings alive the label’s true essence – vintage meets bold and western.

Anupamaa Store – Khan Market

Planned, conceived and designed by prominent fashion designer, Anupama Dayal, the store features hand-painted flowers and buds along the pale ochre walls and ceiling. Bringing alive the old Delhi, Mughal vibe in the label’s signature colour palette, the store echoes the brand’s ‘raison d’etre’ – revival of the ancient, almost forgotten hand printing techniques of India.

Anupamaa Store – Khan Market

Details like the mascot puppet Hosnara at the entrance, resplendent in a rose pink skirt and a headdress of a hundred flowers, the tapestries along the walls and the designed mirror inspired by the India Gate accentuate Anupamaa aesthetic. With myriad local elements and nuances running through the store, the design and concept has been carefully thought out to capture the label’s bohemian spirit.

Anupama Dayal

An expansion from the previous store in the same neighborhood, the new Anupamaa store encompasses the brand’s product range from the colourful and eclectic garments and accessories to the newly launched Anupamaa Home line.

An Early Frost by Rohit Gandhi & Rahul Khanna

Rohit Gandhi & Rahul Khanna

Seasons come and fade; and with each season come the greatness of beauty and joy. Yet, winter always presents a harsh beauty—cold and icy, yet spectacular in its own chosen ways. Sometimes, the frost tends to creep in our lives on early notes and existence seems to be fragile and cruel.

Rohit Gandhi & Rahul Khanna

Even last winter, came in early and took away smiles and glee of the milder seasons but reminded us of the fragility of life. This collection titled ‘An Early Frost’ is the tangible reality of mixed emotions of the designers at this moment of their lives. Thus, the collection embodies the colours of a cold forest—ash grey, dark oak, and whitish mist.

Rohit Gandhi & Rahul Khanna

Prints and textures have been inspired from fur textures and infused with signature linear patterns in monotones; the scaling and handcrafted appliqué has been inspired from the intriguing animal skins. Cold metallic aesthetics can be seen in the collection by the use of riveting techniques.

Rohit Gandhi & Rahul Khanna

The silhouettes for the season have a lot of layering and exaggerated sleeves. The capes, high-waisted skirts, embossed neoprene dresses, laser-cut jackets are the key styles of this collection. This special collection together is a lament and celebration of a life.

Kavita Bhartia in retrospection @ 25

Kavita Bhartia’s Autumn/Winter 2015

Since the launch of her label in 1989, Kavita Bhartia retrospect’s 25 years of her journey in the Indian Fashion industry and her multi-designer store Ogaan, through her Autumn/Winter 2015 collection essentially inspired by the 18^th century Tapestries from the Victoria and Albert Museum. Encompassing her chic and minimalistic silhouettes, she retains her signature style for the globetrotting woman.

Kavita Bhartia’s Autumn/Winter 2015

The mood board comprises of tapestries and damasks from the Victoria and Albert Museum, and 18^th century inspired European floral patterns. Her silhouettes are sculpted—full circle voluminous pleated skirts with worked-on jackets, textured yarn crop tops, and draped skirts and dresses.

Kavita Bhartia’s Autumn/Winter 2015

The fabrics flaunt exclusively fashionable weaves propagating a novelty of untwisted threads of silk into sheer styles, exclusive prints bestowing an explicit look. And the textiles are all about sheer looks in silk, organza and tulle, with hints of printed scuba fabric, and silk crepe.

Kavita Bhartia’s Autumn/Winter 2015

The detailing bit celebrates indigenous Indian hand techniques blended in a contemporised styling in resham dori, florals, tapestry prints and paisleys using shaded tones. Lastly, the colour palette comprises of rouge pink, deep navy, ivory, pale blues and blacks, accented with mustard, pale green and electric blue.

The Summer Bride By Anita Dongre

The Summer Bride By Anita Dongre

As we stride into a resplendent summer, Anita Dongre brings to life yet another fairy-tale through her latest collection, ‘The Summer Bride’. The collection reminisces the quintessential moment of the big day in the life of the modern Anita Dongre bride, beautifully portrayed by her muse and the enthralling ‘Jaipur Bride’ – Nayantara.

The Summer Bride By Anita Dongre

The Rajasthan-inspired collection takes us through a series of visual affairs that emblazon Nayantara’s journey of the bride she aspires to be. It takes us down the sartorial memory lane to the instant that led Nayantara to realize that she had found her frameable moment of radiant love, the portrait of her happily ever after. It wasn’t just a mere tryst of destiny, but a striking black and white portrait of her strong grandmother that stayed with Nayantara for decades. A vision she treasured through her growing up years.

The Summer Bride By Anita Dongre

Renowned for her splendid couture designs teeming with romantic details, each Anita Dongre ensemble is an ode to femininity, a celebration of dreams. Dreams in hues of summer comprising of nude, blush and dusky shades that work up to navy blues and crimson for a finale of more dainty ruffles, crystals and embroidered gowns. Their sparkle is magical, the colours melt together, and the handcrafted threads of love are superimposed in an incredible impression of lightness. The collection explores elements of its symbolic significance and design creation, as the final flourish of bridal resplendence and delicate elegance.

Western Influences on Indian Fabrics

Soltee AW15

What happens when the European art meets Indian vibrancy? Well, it creates something that is soothing to your eyes and worthy of everyone’s attention. The incredible vases inspire our latest collection. No matter what form they are, they are artful and each one has a story to tell. Inspired by the delicacy, art and class of vases, the House of Soltee by couturier Sulakshana Monga presents its new Autumn/Winter 2015 collection.

Soltee AW15

Abiding by our philosophy of ‘beauty is in details’, our brand new collection has pieces flaunting detailed embroidery and pattern. Expect breezy dresses to strong silhouettes, and backless gowns to drapes this season; AW15 collection is anything but narrow. The beautiful natural floral prints are blended with Indian sensibilities, casting an exotic look to the collection.

Soltee AW15

We have played around with International watercolors from genres of rose pink, champagne, beige, subtle peaches, olives and hues of oranges. Giving shape to the outfit are fluid fabrics like net, rayon crepes and cotton. The collection is perfect amalgamation of Indo-Western classic fusions intricately embroidered with unique classic methods of asymmetric detailing on gowns, lehengas and dresses.