Bengal Fashion Week 2014 - Backstage II

For all those who liked my post on the backstage shots taken at the fashion week that I got to attend a couple of weeks back, here's round two.

I was invited by The Body Shop.

FlySongbird

Bengal Fashion Week 2014 - Runway

I have finally edited the runway photos nicely enough, I didn't take as many as I did last time. I believe in taking fewer shots of things I like and taking good enough ones at that. So, I am finally going to apply that for fashion shows as well. But, all my not so good, but decent shots will feature on my facebook page soon enough. So keep your eyes open, (if you are interested).

A.D.Singh

His show started with a model doing a fusion dance performance to the instrumental version of Michael Jackson's "Smooth Criminal". But, he won me over when for the final walk his models walked to this track from "The Last of the Mohicans" - ♫The Kiss♫

 

Jattinn Kochhar

Monochrome, stripes and pop colours for make-up ruled his show. The make-up partner for the Bengal Fashion Week was The Body Shop, and the shades used in this show were from their Colour Crush Range. These are my favourite looks and prints from the show.

Now can you tell me which designers have shown footprints and cow prints before?

And since you all liked the backstage shots post, I have a few others for your eyes only coming up soon.

Bengal Fashion Week 2014 - Backstage

I have a particular affinity towards backstage shots (be it a fashion event or a film set). I was at the Bengal Fashion Week (check out my past fashion week coverages by clicking on the label below title of the post). And here's a few of my favourite backstage shots (from Jattin Kochhar's show). I will blog with runway shots as soon as my back stops aching from editing these photos.

This is me(this pic was clicked by Pooja of Dialifestyle), getting my make-up done backstage. They made my skin flawless, see?

I was invited by The Body Shop.

Of Neon Feet And Messy Buns

I am head over heels in love with both of these.

what do you say?

love or meh?

5 Looks I Love

From the ongoing WIFW Spring/Summer 2013

Nida Mahmood

Pero by Aneeth Arora

Jenjum Gadi

Rahul Mishra

Manish Malhotra

Which one is your favourite or do you hate them all?

Smoke, Style And Starlight

I was away for a few days and then I came back home to see my browsers ineffective somehow, they won't let me log in anywhere. I have somehow managed to log in here via chrome but that's about the best that I can do till the problem is fixed. I finished a couple of amazing books - "Daughter Of Smoke And Bone" and "Days Of Blood and Starlight" by Laini Taylor. I am dying to read the 3rd part in this trilogy which unfortunately doesn't come out till 2014 *me dies sobbing hysterically*. If you are into fantasy fiction then I implore you to read these. They are available online for free, also on ibooks(I don't know if it is called that, you would know better iPad toting gangstas). I felt my calls of coming across good fantasy fiction answered finally. And Karou, the protagonist has lapis lazuli hair and is perfectly kick-ass and needs no simpering, idiotic, creepy boyfriend to come to her rescue every time she is oh-such-a-klutz (which she is not). But then again by the time you finish the book it is something else entirely, It is not a love story, so no cringing required by all you sick of crappy supernatural romance shit. It is a story of love and war and wanting peace. Enjoy it curled up over some hot coffee and then go into withdrawal like I have. And thank my best friend for being such a treasure trove of great stories such as this and many more.

And while I am gone I am leaving you with some mad style to keep you warm and tingly at your fingertips.

at MFW 2013 Ulyana Sergeenko in Dior by Stefania Yurhi

at Karen Walker NYFW 2013

NYFW 2013, Lincoln Center by Tali Blankfeld

Join me on my new Instagram account - @debi_flysongbird

My Style Rewind 2012

My favourite outfits/details of 2012

plaid, mustard kurta as top (a bit of indian crossover to western), bold pink lips

monochrome, bow tie collar, geek glasses, metallic/zebra print gladiators, sheer blouse, slouchy pants, blue nails, nude lips

red ombre hair, teashades/lennon glasses c/o firmoo, ankh necklace, blue ommbre shirt, shorts, crocheted vest, ombre feather earrings, silver bangles (a bit of indian crossover to western), bright red lips

beanie, boots, wrap around studded/chain bracelets c/o romwe, yellow ombre scarf, purplish red  lips

thumb rings, skull & axe/garnet/beaded neck pieces, printed skirt, black nails

beaded bracelte, blue & purple hair streaks

oversized brown top with bat sleeves,ombre feather earrings, green nails, purple lips

printed top, wine red pants, hollowed cuff c/o romwe, green & black nails (KFW Day 2 outfit,not featured on blog before)

Wish you a very Happy New Year!

KFW Day 2

So the dude from the computer company finally came today (with the weekend and then Vishwakarma puja he was on a holiday..while I was feeling like a total cripple here) and said due to massive vibration caused by thunder some wires got replaced. I was like lolwut?! I have never heard of something like that and now I have over 200 images from the show which I can't even look at right now. I fished out one decent enough photo of me and will share it here now. I generally do not like my own photos and post only the one after nitpicking through a dozen. This is my day 2 outfit, on day 3 I was wearing something pretty relaxed because guys lets face it I don't have too many dresses and I don't often wear things one usually wears when brushing said ones shoulders with the celebs and the rich of  the town (most of them anyway). On day 3 I wore a lose shirt with maroon (or should I go trendy and call it oxblood?) pants, black wedges, layered on my spiked and chained bracelets from Romwe and ebay. And I didn't go on day 1 and day 4 so..

my make-up looked more prominent in person..and I was wearing a nude shade of lip colour..which I think I had licked off mostly by then..photo c/o Anupriya

and for the love of god how the hell do I a rotate portions of a video that I shot with my nikon?

help me I am useless with editing vids!

P.S. - It was quite hilarious how the press people fought with the bloggers for better seats. I was pretty sure that if good shots are needed I would require a good seat so the organisers obliged. But I did not feel as great with the management as I did on Day 2. Everyone wanted their own people in first. It was rather funny to overhear representatives from one media channel criticise the other ones. And of course there were the ones who didn't even know what bloggers do! Well to answer that I would say I talk about fashion and persnal style and the difference between the two. I know very well it is hard organising events that too something on such a scale. But these are legitimate concerns voiced by not only me but by all the other bloggers invited there with all access passes and not to gatecrash the event. I wish I could be there for the afternoon shows too. I know I missed out.

Signature Premier Fashion Week - Kolkata Day 3

Remember that woman I was admiring and so wanted to take her photo because of her rad style?? I got lucky and met her on Day 3 because she was showcasing her latest collection inspired by Egypt! She is fashion designer Susan Mantosh! I had a fan girl moment when I met her. She was sparkling in all the light! I told her how I wanted to take a picture yesterday and she was so nice!! The press photographers wouldn't just leave her. I took photos of her, with her, with others. Press people took all our photos. She came and talked with us later as well as we waited for another show outside The Galaxy at Park and showed us a picture of her when she was younger. She is a total rock star, she was so awesome with her larger than life personality and warm, friendly attitude. We also had a chat with her daughter later, Johanne, who is really into blogging and like all of us was surprised to know Calcutta has fashion bloggers.

Susan Mantosh (sneak peek)

Susan Mantosh - forget minimalism! she makes a statement! *love* .. she walked the ramp staying in theme with her collection

Sumit Das Gupta (sneak peek)
(there were some truly beautiful pieces in his bridal collection)

Here's to future events and shows where my role as a digital influencer is utilised fully. I really am grateful to Gingerclaps for letting me have this wonderful experience. I have faith in these people.

Abhishek Surana (sneak peek)
(he is inspired by Raghavendra Rathore...he launched his men's and women's wear collection at KFW)

My Humble Input 
This year's theme was to celebrate the weavers of Bengal, a part of the profit will go to the weavers. The fabrics and dyes used in all the collections were all natural. Keeping that in mind I would say I want the Calcutta designers to do more than just the traditional designs and silhouettes as beautiful and distinguished as they are it would be nice to have some variety. It would be fun to see edgier things from them. Designers have the power to influence the fashion scene. But so do the buyers. We do have a Sabyasachi Mukherjee and we also have a Kallol Datta. So let's ponder on that Kolkata wasio.

Zooming out to meditate

you do the same

bye

Click for more photos

Signature Premier Fashion Week - Kolkata Day 2

I am still feeling so pumped that I could barely stay in bed to have a proper sleep. My head is swirling with what I saw at  Signature Kolkata Fashion Week Day 2. The energy was unbelievable! For me I am in the whole run for the experience of it all. The day started for me proving Murphy's Law right at every turn but it all ended on such a high note. I wasn't sure if I would be attending today but after yesterday I am plenty sure I am attending Day 3. My pc got fried yesterday as I tweeted due to the thunderstorm which resulted in not only massive thunderclaps but also knee deep water around my house. But who really cares about all that when you know fashion bloody week awaits you on the other side! Well I kind of do because you don't want to stomp around the runway in wet shoes and wet, frizzy hair. I mean given it is me I totally can do that with exuberance. If you have read my about me you know I have a habit of blowing raspberries at life every time a curve ball is thrown at me. Anyway not going into the various curve balls that probably is the reason for my flat nose I shall regale you with a few photos I could neither edit nor re-size. Embroidery is something you can see pretty much in every Indian fashion designers collections (not all but pretty much 98% of them). But what was an experience was the bold colours, glittery shoes, fabulous make-up and updos that was on display from Tejas Gandhi (press box) , Agnimitra Paul (2nd row) and Monapali (front row) [these are the 3 shows I attended as I mention rain and all kinds of cosmic hindrances hit me earlier in the day and I did not see the 1st 3 shows]. It was all about "bold and the beautiful" and only the BOLD stood out. Yes the colours and music and sometimes quite unexpectedly so, hooting from a group who it seemed were friends of some of the models walking the shows.
Just so you know the theme of this year's KFW is eco-fashion and promoting the local weavers.

Tejas Gandhi
(black was the colour used liberally *love*...there was no typical Indian style aesthetic in his collection...which was refreshing...he celebrated the global woman who wears other than traditional Indian garb to look and feel glamorous)
P.S.- I loved the earrings he sported..one of them was the peace sign ala hippie style *love*)

Tejas Gandhi with his showstopper

 Agnimitra Paul (sneak peek)
(madhubani art and bhojpuri influences were there..the models walked down the ramp doing thumkas at points and chewing paan..it was an enjoyable show with 'Womaniya' pumping up the atmosphere)

Monapali (sneak peek)
(signature use of lace, crochet, applique, thread work mixed with bold prints and graphic patterns in their eclectic fusion style)

Style Spotted

Shayoni's caviar nails (it is a tough thing to not lose those round thingies)

...and the woman who oddly reminded me of Madame Bijoux

..I was too afraid to ask her for a photo..

P.S.- I saw her on day 3. She is none other than famous fashion designer Susan Mantosh. I had a lovely chat with her. More on that later.

she was rocking those ribboned dreadlocks

Click for more photos