How Do You Pronounce Yves Saint Laurent?

I have a secret to share - On a boring day, I watched the movie Showgirls on TV! There, I said it! I usually have high standards for my entertainment, but it was the time when I was not a mom, and had a lot of free time on my hands! (Needless to say, that day I wasted the 'free' time!) The only thing I remember form that movie is when the wannabe showgirl says 'she got a ver-sayce dress'! That scene reminds me of countless number of times when people butcher the designer names. And I have to admit, growing up in a non-fashionable city in India, I didn't know the correct pronounciations of the many of the big (French sounding) brands! I overcame my ignorance by seraching/reading/talking to people who know stuff! I thought it would be nice to share the correct pronunciation of  some of the renowned brands that are frequently mispronounced! 


Yves Saint Laurent - Eve Sane Laurennnn{t} (The 'T' in both saint and laurent is barely audible)
Christian Louboutin - Kris-ti-an Lu-bu-tahn or taa{ng} (with the sound of 'n' fading off in the end)
Louis Vuitton - Louie- Vwee-To{ng} (again, with the sound of 'n' fading off in the end)
Versace - Ver-sa-chee
Hermes - Er-mez
Givenchy - Jee-von-shee
Moschino - Mos-key-no
Proenza Schouler - Pro-en-zuh Skool-er 
Jaeger - Yay-guhr 
Marchesa - Mar-kay-sah 
Christian Lacroix - Kris-ti-yaan Luh-qua
Jean Paul Gaultier - Zhon Paul Go-tee-ay


Tell me if you have been butchering any of the brand names?? (Do not feel bad- these names are more fun when pronounced as they are spelled!)

Best and Worst Dressed At SAG 2012

All right, lets cut to the chase!! Here are my Best, Worst, Played Safe and Jury is still out categories at SAG red carpet 2011!

Best Dressed - Emily Blunt looked stunningly beautiful in Oscar de la Renta and Julie Bowen rocked the magenta Temperley London gown!

Emily Blunt in Oscar de la Renta, Julie Bowen in Temperley London

Best Dressed - Jessica Chastain in Calvin Klien Collection and Kaley Cuoco in Romona Keveza made two different silhouettes absolutely work at SAG 2012 red carpet!

Jessica Chastain in Calvin Klien Collection, Kaley Cuoco in Romona Keveza

 Best Dressed - Regina King in Alberto Ferretti, Guilana Rancic in a Red gown! The details on both the gowns took my breath away!!

Regina King in Alberto Ferretti, Guilana Rancic

Best Dressed - Zoe Saldana looked fashion forward in Givenchy Haute Couture gown by Riccardo Tisci, Sarah Hyland looked red carpet worthy in Temperley.

Zoe Saldana in Givenchy Haute Couture gown by Riccardo Tisci, Sarah Hyland in Temperley

Best Dressed - Viola Davis in Marchesa, Michelle Williams in Valentino. Viola's Gown made me scream!!! And Michelle is a sweet sweet sweetheart in red!!

Viola Davis in Marchesa, Michelle Williams in Valentino

Best Dressed -  Juliana Margulies in Calvin Klein Collection, Kyra Sedgwick in Pucci! These two don't age!!

Juliana Margulies in Calvin Klein Collection, Kyra Sedgwick in Pucci

Played safe and looked good - Diane Lane in David Meister, Sofia Vergara in Marchesa looked great but nothing unexpected here! Note to Ms Vergara - We know you got the hourglass figure - can we see another silhouette please - pretty please?

Diane Lane in David Meister, Sofia Vergara in Marchesa 

Played safe and looked good - Natalie Portman in Giambattista Valli, Diana Agron in Carolina Herrera - so pretty but so boring!

Natalie Portman in Giambattista Valli, Diana Agron in Carolina Herrera

Jury is still out - Gretchen Mol in L'Wren Scott and Rose Byrne in Elie Saab Haute Couture. Both the dresses looked good, but for some reason Gretchen and Rose both look out of place here! Rose needed to show at least an inch of the toebox of her shoes, and Gretchen's gown looked poor girl's version of Cate Blanchett's Givenchy Gown circa 2011!

Gretchen Mol in L'Wren Scott and Rose Byrne in Elie Saab Haute Couture

Jury is still out -  Emma Stone in Alexander McQueen, Amber Heard in Zac Posen. I like both the dresses and the actresses, but somehow that wow factor is missing! (Emma Stone could do no wrong - so I let this one slide -barely!)

Emma Stone in Alexander McQueen, Amber Heard in Zac Posen

Worst Dressed - Angelina Jolie in Jenny Pekham, Kristen Wiig in Balenciaga! I know angie looks good even in a proverbial potato sack, but this gown is making her frail frame look anorexic! Golden Globe 2012 seems ages ago Angie!! Kristen Wiig could lose this choker thing and then we can talk!

Angelina Jolie in Jenny Pekham, Kristen Wiig in Balenciaga

Worst Dressed - Tilda Swinton in Lanvin, Lea Michele in Versace. Tilda swinton was on my best dressed list on Golden Globes 2012 with blue tuxedo gown, but here she goes back to washed out colors and no-definition silhouette. Lea again insists that less is more!

Tilda Swinton in Lanvin, Lea Michele in Versace

So here it is - my list of good bad and ugly!! who is on yours?

Photo Credits - 

Jason Merritt/Getty Images

Dimitrios Kambouris/WireImage  

Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images

Steve Granitz/WireImage

Jeff Vespa/WireImage.com

Lookbook - Psychedelic Swirls

Well, another sunny day - another bright outfit! As I mentioned here before, I am putting some effort lately to add more color to my wardrobe, and put together an outfit without fearing the bright colors! I guess today was one of those days when I was feeling bold:-)
I have had this BCBG dress that reminds me of 70s fashion in my closet for more than 2 years. Somehow it seldom gets solo attention it deserves. I end up pairing it with dark leggings and even a shrug or cardigan, thus eventually hiding its psychedelic glory! But today I let it take center stage with extra help from the yellow handbag. How do you like it?

Here is the closer look -

Dress - BCBg Max Azria

Bag - Ann Taylor

Boots - Etienne Aigner

Hope you all are having a wonderful weekend!

Spring 2012 Trend Alert - Pastels Are The New Neutrals!

Move over beige - delicate mint green is here! Last year, spring was all about the opposite ends of the spectrum - screaming bold colors and the silent neutrals. Jewel tones and beige-and-taupe. This year you can surely bet on the bold colors but update your neutrals with these stunning pastels! Blush pinks, mint greens, seafoam blues and yellows will rule the wardrobes as they did on the SS'12 Runways and the Red Carpet.

Here are some of my picks of pastel pieces for spring - pair them with similar palette or go bold by mixing them with primary colors. 

1.Jacket  2.Sheath  3.Earrings  4.Chiffon Dress  5.Leather Bag 

6.Jeans  7.Sandals  8.Ballet Flats

1.Dress 2.Tee 3.Jeans 4.Sequin Clutch 5.Sandals 6.Platform Sandals

1.Dress 2.Top  3.Silk Blouse 4.Kate Spade Ring 5.Patent-Trim Straw Wallet 6.Legging Jeans 7.Skinny Belt 8.Sandals

Which pastel shade do you plan to add to your wardrobe?

Trend Spotting - Black Lace Overset Dresses

What is sexy and sweet at the same time - a black lace overset dress with blush lining! And it seems to be the trend for fashionistas everywhere - from Paris Fashion week to movie promotion tours to evening out in the town. Salma Hayek wears this trend with plunging neckline while Rachel McAdams brings her signature charm and sweetness to the black lace overset sheath.

Rachel Mcadams in Collette Dinnigan black lace dress
Image via People Magazine

Salma Hayek in Prada Bash in Paris
Image via People Magazine

Vanessa Minnillo Image via People Magazine

The key to style this delicately sexy dress trend - simple black or neutral pumps and minimum jewelry! In my opinion, Rachel McAdams here totally nailed the trend! 

Want a black lace overset dress? Get it here-

Things A Woman Should Always Carry In Her Bag!

You can tell a lot about a woman by looking at the contents of her handbag. What she carries in her bag tells her story. I say give the same bag to 10 women and they will customize it in a way that each bag will look unique - from the inside! A mom's handbag looks totally different than a single girl's, a traveling professional carries whole different set of things in her bag than a work-in-an-office woman. But whatever our lifestyles are, there are certain things we all need in our bags to carry us through the day! In my opinion there are six categories of things we all need in our handbags -

• Make up - Lipbalm, Mascara, Face powder - for a 2 minute makeover to put a fresh face forward!
• Clean up - Wet wipes, Hand sanitizer - to deal with any messy situation
• Freshen up - A travel size perfume spritzer, breath mints - to be ready to enter any room with confidence
• Connect up - A fully charged phone - No need to explain - we live in the phones!
• Money up - At least $40 cash and your credit card - you know its always sunny.....
• Ready up - Things for our feminine needs - remember that time when (ahem) your cycle went crazy and you-know-who came unannounced?

I asked some of my readers, who by the way are super stylish women, to spill the beans on their handbag contents and here is what they told in their own humorous style. You will be surprised how useful this info is!! In alphabetical order, here are the handbag secrets of Style Delights readers!

Jenna, NYC - Mom of 3 kids, blogger @ Mommy In Manhattan

"I always carry baby wipes, Mac Cremesheen Lip gloss, Jonathan Adler planner, kids' snacks, baby teether (for her little one), Downey travel size wrinkle release spray, Purell, Orbitz gum, NYC map, Mommy cards for playdates (from minted.com)

Mrigakshi, New Delhi - Documentary Filmmaker

"I have oily skin so I always carry a powder compact, hand sanitizer, lipbalm/lipstick. 

Namrata, New Delhi - Journalist, NDTV India

"My bag is huge because I carry a lot of stuff - Make up (because she is on TV!), Kohl pencil, mascara, lipstick, perfume, MAC studio fix, sunglasses and a sanitary pad!"

Natasha, Evanston IL - Super mom of 3 kids 

"I always carry two diapers (universal mom thing), bottle of water, wallet, snacks, baby wipes, a little toy from McDonald's Happy Meal and my cell phone. I wish I had some feminine stuff - like hairbrush, lipstick, foundation and tickets to the best show in city!" 

Neetha, New York - Lawyer by profession, stay at home mom of 2 by choice 

"I always carry - Vanity mirror (To see me pretty face!)

Kleenex (To dab away anything I don’t like on my face)

Lipstick (For a gloss over when you need it)

Small make-up kit (ditto)

Facial wet wipes (the most ingenious thing discovered since sliced bread)

Pen/notebook (to jot down what I need hubby to buy after work)                                    Small perfume bottle (how I wish it was Joy)

Gum (to chew while waiting in traffic)"

Puja, Chicago  - Management Consultant - collecting airlines miles faster than Meryl Streep collects awards!

"These days my laptop bag is my purse. With 2 items limit in the cabin, I can only have my laptop bag and carry-on luggage with me.  No room for a fancy purse! So, here is my list -

Lip balm - MUST HAVE

Eye liner - this has recently become my MUST HAVE. Very convenient for instantly adding some life to my sleepy eyes. 

Breath Mints - Never know when your man gets in the mood!

A light black shawl - I get cold easily so helps to have an extra layer handy"

Supriya, Richmond VA - IT Professional (and my own Martha Stewart on speed dial - seriously, she has the most amazing ideas about style and decor)

" When I don't carry a big bag, I always keep my driving licence, credit card and a lip balm in my pocket! In a bag I carry these 3 things, my checkbook, a pair of tweezers and a little idol of Lord Ganesha."

Tweezers! Wrinkle release spray! Who would have thunk!! Did you notice how even in a little bitty purse women can carry everything but the kitchen sink -  we are so awesome!! 

What do you carry in your handbag??

Michelle Obama Dazzles At The State Of The Union 2012; Wears Barbara Tfank

The First Lady looks glamorous and sophisticated in the dazzling blue dress from designer Barbara Tfank's 2012 resort collection. Mrs Obama customized the dress (as she usually does) by adding a glittering brooch at the neckline. How ladylike is this?

Michelle Obama at the State of the Union address 2012
Dress by Barbara Tfank

From Barbara Tfank 2012 Resort Collection
Image via Style.com

What do you think?

Lookbook - Channeling My Inner Bohemian (With Polish!)

Snow finally melted! After a slush-y, messy, wet, cold day sun finally shines in New York! Hooray! I took advantage of a balmy 48 degrees (why yes, after Chicago, it is balmy!) to pair a tailored suit jacket with my Ikat maxi dress! Color purple brightened my day!

Dress - Forever 21
Jacket - Burberry
Bag - Ann Taylor
Necklace - From a handicraft fair in India

Style Delights on Links a la Mode Weekly Round up - January 19th

Style Delights on yet another weekly round up of top 20 blogposts at Independent Fashion Bloggers! Check out my post on how to wear statement necklaces and other featured links below!

The Woman in the Mirror Gonna Change Her Ways

By Jessie Thorpe of Denimology
It's January. It's a time for fresh beginnings, unknown adventures, and change. The new year is all about making personal progress. Most peeps vow to go to the gym, stick to their diet, keep a tight budget or to quit biting their nails. Why not change your personal style instead? You can be bold, be tough and take risks! Maybe you need to tone it down, dress your age or stop when more is really way too much! Whether your fashion goals for the year are to be a better blogger, feature top notch photos or be a fashion savvy dresser, surely there is a link or three here to spur on your metamorphosis.

THE IFB WEEKLY ROUNDUP: LINKS À LA MODE: JANUARY 19TH

• Style Delights: What Kate Middleton, SJP & Mrs Obama taught us about statement necklaces.
• Are You Endearing: Life Lessons Learned From a Little Black Dress
• Brunette Blogging: A fun approach to the widely discussed tale of the fashion blogger
• Coming Unstitched: Found that perfect dress? Here's how to work it with every style.
• Denimology: Skinny, Slouchy or Drop Crotch? This Is The Question!
• Dressful: Bill Cunningham: The original street style photographer
• Fashionopolis: This winter bring out the brights!
• Fierce|Fabulous|Fit: Ways to make your blog mobile friendly in Blogger, Wordpress, etc.
• Grit and Glamour: 12 Ways to a Better Blog—and a Better You—in 2012
• Life of a Recessionista: DIY: Makeup Brush Cleanser
• Little Spindrift: Experimenting with rainbow nails...inspired by Miss Caggie Dunlop
• Oranges And Apples: Untangling ethical fashion
• Shrimp Salad Circus: Guide to Self-Portrait Photography - Lose the awkward, look amazing!
• Small Town, Big Wardrobe: "Fabulous" photos that didn't make it....
• Sugar and Spice: How to... Survive your first season at Fashion Week
• The Chic Sheet: Sequin Leggings + A Sweatshirt...Why I Love A Good Contradiction
• The Closet Intervention: Why "accessible style" is anything but for the average American.
• The Fashion Edition: Spring's controversial trend, Pastels, and how to wear them edgy.
• The Fashionable Workout: Sweating Stylishly
• The Frugalista Diaries: DIY Dress For A Cause

SPONSOR:
New Shoes at Shopbop: Sergio Rossi, Jil Sander, Boutique9, Margiela, CK, Missoni, Sam Edelman, Jeffrey Campbell, Coclico Shoes, Minnetonka, Edmund Castillo & Badgley Mischka
PLEASE READ IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO PARTICIPATE
If you would like to submit your link for next week’s Links à la Mode, please register first, then post your links HERE. The HTML code for this week will be found in the Links a la Mode group will be published later today. ~Jennine

My Winter Style

Independent Fashion Bloggers Project has always pushed me out of my comfort zone and made me blog about things I usually don't. But after participating in a project, I am glad that I did it! Whether it is putting together an inspiration board or looking back at the whole year of blogging, IFB project has made me see the big picture! If you are a regular reader of my blog, you must have noticed that I don't do a lot of outfit posts. And guess what, IFB project #31 is about showcasing your winter style! So even though I am not usually an outfit poster, here I am - in my full winter glory! 

Winter for me has always been the season of joy! During my childhood in India, winter used to be the season of snuggling up cozily with my parents, during college it was the season to gossip over big cups of Chai with my hostel mates (that is dorm for you all natives!), and now it is the season to make cozy memories with my husband and little daughter! And I know about winter now! I have braved Snowpocalypse In Chicago people!! Coming back to the point - winter style - I believe winter fashion is about 2 things - style (of course) and layering! Specially in New York City where subway stations can be warm and streets very cold - you need to be ready to take it up or take it down a notch! I also like to add style via accessories - a trendy scarf or a cool pair of leg warmer or pop of color via outerwear!

1. Cardigan- Ann Taylor, Scarf- NYC street vendor, Boots- Target,  Leg Warmers- Urban outfitters
2. Coat - Guess, Shoes- Target, Jeans- Forever 21
3. Shawl- Gift from India, Belt- Burberry, Boots- Etienne Aigner (See DIY Sawl Cape Here)

Recently I had blogged about winter wardrobe essentials and you can see below that I wear what I write about! And 
yes - this is frozen water on the rocks behind me!!! But even frozen lakes can't hold me back from celebrating winter and jumping with joy!!

Parka Coat- DKNY (Macy's), Snow Boots- Amazon, Scarf- Burberry, Ear Muffs - Uncle Dan's 

Stay warm everybody. Celebrate winter in style and make cozy memories!

How To Put Your Shopping On A Diet For A Healthier Closet!

I love shopping as much a as the next girl. The excitement of finding the perfect piece, the anticipation of dressing up with the newest find and the overall feeling of ownership makes shopping a perfect pick-me-up activity! They don't call it retail therapy for nothing! But just like a perfect calorie plan for your body, every closet needs a shopping plan. As smart women, we KNOW what we need. We all indulge at times, and watch the consumption at others. But if you think your consumption is more than your shopping plan allows, here are some ways to trim that VISA fat!

For Mild Shopping Diet - When you just want to control the unnecessary shopping while still enjoying the sport!

• Master the art of 'just looking' - Sales associates' chirpy welcome, detailing of the today's sales and "what are you looking for today" question may put you on the spot, but don't buy because you feel pressured - smile and say I am just looking - they don't mind!
• Audit your closet  - You should do a monthly audit of your closet (or once in 2 months). See what items you have not worn in a while, what items you are unlikely to wear any time soon. Keep all your clothes and accessories easily accessible. Out of sight, out of mind - and it will be out of circulation y'all!!!
• Do not buy investment pieces when you are in between sizes - If you know you will lose or gain some pounds soon (pregnancy/post pregnancy is a big occasion), wait for your weight to come to a stable number before you buy that $200 dress!
• Build an outfit when you buy something - We all buy for pleasure and the sheer joy of it and I myself believe in shopping as a recreational activity. But if you really want to trim down unnecessary shopping, think about how and what and where of the piece in question - How can you wear it? What can you mix it with? Where can you wear it?
• For the items that you don't need immediately, wait for the seasonal deals - Buy timeless items you can use next season when they go on extreme sale! For example, buy Cashmere in the end of winter when retailers are cleaning shelves for spring clothing. Or stock up on swim suits/T-shirts just before fall when the summer stuff is going out of the racks!

For extreme Shopping Detox - If you think you are bordering on Shopoholism, follow these tips.

• Buy with cash - when we see actual money going away from our hands, we become discerning in our purchases!
• Sale does not mean BUY - 20% sale means you save 20%, 50% sale means you save 50%, but NOT BUYING means you save 100%!
• When you get mail (USPS still in business) chuck the unnecessary coupons in the paper trash bin the the mail room (or as soon as come inside your house) If you take them home, you will be tempted to use the codes and be trapped in those one day sales!
• When you go shopping (of course we can't just quit shopping), only look for the items you need - Do not try on if you know you should not buy it! Research says there is high likelihood of you buying something if you touch and feel it! (duh!)
• Window shop ONLINE! - Sometimes we just shop for the sake of it! No need, no real interest even, but we stroll into a store and come back with the bagful of merchandise! Online browsing is a perfect cure for boredom shopping!  If that is not enough, try Polyvore to create gorgeous sets with designer duds and take satisfaction! It really helps me curb my mall craving!

Enjoy shopping - just like a rich decadent dessert - savor every piece instead of gorging it all at once! 

Star Style For Less - Jennifer Hudson In Blue & Black Dress

We all know Jennifer Hudson has got the voice. Now She got the words too! The Weight Watchers spokesperson has a book out - I Got This - about her weight loss journey. On her recent book tour, she looked slim and svelte in this black and blue dress with a waist defining belt.

Jennifer Hudson - Image via People

Here is how I created her style for less -

Get Jennifer Hudson's chic outfit here-

On A Personal Note...

In the beginning of the year, I had created a motivational inspiration board and set up my blog goals to contribute and curate new ideas. I am glad to report that today I took a big step towards those goals when I officially became a contributor on Independent Fashion Bloggers (which is one of the largest networks of fashion bloggers and in my opinion is the BEST resource for fashion bloggers!) with my first ever guest post AND got featured on Glamour magazine's Slave To Fashion blog (On the same day!) I feel happy! I thank you all for the support, love and encouragement!

Read this article here

When Style Editor of Glamour emailed me saying she loved my DIY cape idea and will feature it on glamour.com, I almost fainted! (But somehow managed to call my husband at work, in the middle of the meeting!)

Read this feature here

I hope 2012 will keep me inspired, motivated and ready to learn!

Oprah's India Visit 2012

Yes, We can see Ms Winfrey is excited to visit India for the FIRST TIME!! I would say - about time Oprah! You are in for some really inspirational, amazing, colorful, chaotic, heartbreaking, hilarious stories which you will find only in India!! Will be tuning in for the details of your adventures from incredible India! And your unique perspective about the things you will see and experience there.
Oprah Winfrey will be shooting portion of her new show 'Oprah's Next Chapter'  in Jaipur, India where she will be interviewing well known author and mind-body healing pioneer Deepak Chopra! How do you say "Nirvana" in Hindi? Right, you say - Nirvana!!

Oprah @ Taj Mahal, Agra, India
Image via People.com 

Images Via NDTV India

PS.  Ms Winfrey, can you please bring my mom's home made besan laddoo (those of you not familiar with it, please google!), I am sure you have space in your luggage somewhere:-)