Paris de l'Orient?

NYFW and apparently there are more important things in life than fashion….yeah right.

Milena — Thu, 17 Feb 2011 22:25:30 +0000

The universe seems to have taken my plea to have more time to myself a little too far. A flu, cold, fever or whatever the doctors assessment was, really struck me down last week. And I mean completely. Bed rest…. No work, no partying, no trips out of town and on top of that – St Valentines. At least this year, being single I don’t have to hear the whole “darling, V-day is soooo overrated so let’s not do anything ” or my favourite ever: “Honey I ate all the chocolates because I know you don’t want to get fat…” Hilarious. Apparently I’m the least romantic girl in the world (which is more or less the truth), so no flowers for me. However, it can’t be all bad when you get to watch live streams of NYFW. After all, who needs a man to keep you warm when you can have an Alexander Wang Jacket!

I am a jacket kind of girl, what can I say? The thought of retiring my oversized Marc Jacobs coat causes me much anxiety; however redundant a big warm woollen coat is for a perpetually hot and humid Mumbai. Nevertheless, I still wore my Religion leather jackets throughout the marginally cooler months of December and January. So the genius hybrid jacket styles by Alexander Wang were right up there for the reasons why I should be living in NY/London/some other cold northern hemisphere capital.

Marc Jacobs

Pseudo 40/50′s Ladylike dressing. The retro element of the last couple of seasons has been taken to a whole different level. Tougher, raunchier with a hint of the subversive. Silhouettes of the Dior New look era, rubber, lace appliqué, polka dots, structured latex skirts AKA the Marc Jacobs straitjacket, set against the perfectly staged padded walls and mirrors which screams asylum. As Marc Jacobs sent the models down the runway to the sound of Marilyn Manson’s The Beautiful People, awakening the inner teenage angst – and yes I did listen to that particular track when I was seventeen – the only time in my life I would have worn anything latex. After all madness and genius so very often cohabit the same space.

Jason Wu

This season I am a James Wu girl! . Masterful execution. Perfectly developed ideas that ensured an effortless flow of the pieces in the collection. Baroque patterns and lace, prim high necklines, thin bows combined with elegant equestrian styled slim trousers and a hint of the masculine. Taking elements from sportwear and making it look so delicate and feminine is a true art form. Wu fully exploits lace in this collection; starting from lace details on sporty sweaters and versailles inspired outerwear, to appliqué work on dresses, and finally sheer delicate tops and lacy masks which evoke the time of the Parisian Courtesan. There is not a piece that I wouldn’t LOVE to wear. *sigh*

Donna Karen

When I grow up…I want to be a Donna Karan Woman. A Hitchcock heroine. Seductive and ladylike. Fluid yet constructed. An all neutral, subdued autumn colour pallete of greys, browns and beiges. Oh and the fur….does this signify the end of the dark, recessionary economic times?

Photo Source: Style.com

Not just another socialite

Milena — Thu, 03 Feb 2011 12:30:00 +0000

Recently at the Jean Claude Biguine 3rd year anniversary party in Colaba, a dear friend joked at my expense, asking me where I’ve been all week and why I wasn’t there at some launch/page 3 party. He said something like :

“Milena, I opened the door to my house…looked around to see if you were around for the ‘Opening of my door’ and you were nowhere to be seen….then I went to the fridge opened a bottle of coke…and you weren’t around for the ‘Grand opening of my coke bottle on tuesday night’….what is up with that??”

Suddenly it dawned on me that I have let myself become over-exposed. Actually that would be a lie, as I have been making an effort to scale back. Being part of endless air kissing, as the ubiquitous Bombayite phrase “It’s been the longest time, Darling we must connect” echoes from every corner, getting strange propositions by married men, being bored to death by various social climbers….one must stop and think: is this really fun? Oh but as one stands tall in their favourite Christians….be it DIOR or Louboutin, and as Veuve continues to be served, one forgets and loses themselves again in the “Bombay Haze” (I am quoting a certain Canadian friend here).

Why does Bombay social scene take everyone back to high school? My friends are intelligent, successful individuals and yet so many lose focus on what is important. And why is life here starting to resemble a particularly debauched episode of Sex and the City??

I am finding myself over promising and letting people down. And as I write this, I have obligations lingering at the back of my head…people to call back, that email that I promised to send a week ago is still waiting to be composed. Am I not prioritising or am I taking on way more than a person can cope with. And the worst is that all of this it really is taking it’s toll on me. Today I was questioning myself and why I want to be here. I suffer…heat, heavy pollution, noise, bureaucracy… trying to logically define the pull to this place is almost impossible, so I always go back to re-reading this particular article that says it all for me.

A new page needs to be turned. I am focusing on my work, myself and my wellbeing from now on (Bandra joggers park here I come!)

Chasing Time

Milena — Thu, 13 Jan 2011 06:50:03 +0000

Where did the last 6 months go?

This blog was borne out of an attempt to document my new life in Bombay and also to maintain some level of sanity, while attempting to figure the ins and outs this place, the unwritten conduct and make sense out of the everyday, extraordinary experiences.

Someone once told me that this city has a way of sucking you in and it can feel utterly amazing – but you tread carefully – the consequences are relentless.

It still leaves me perplexed at the best of times. But it’s the place where I feel most alive. You need focus. You need to be alert you every waking moment. If you lose that focus for a millisecond – you are gone. Just take a look at Mumbai traffic. This is not the town for hangovers. Even though – it parties every night.

This is a rather unscientific calculation/breakdown of a typical day. 70% work, 20% socialising, 10% sleep. It does not leave time for much needed reflection.

I must find the time.

Ecstasy for the Delhiites

Milena — Tue, 03 Aug 2010 21:13:54 +0000

The life of this Sobo girl has been spinning around and no time to catch my breath, stop and reflect. Life has been hectic for this girl that is no longer a Sobo. I have crossed the Sealink and become a Bandra girl (or Bandroid, as my lovely South Bombayites call it).
In prep of the Bombay and Delhi fashion weeks, to kill the monotony, someone thought it was a fab idea to promote Whiskey (McDowells Signature) by teaming it up with fashion. Recently, if not aware, India has become obsessed with anything to do with a “fashion show”…whatever the event may be….add a ramp…get some models and voila….instant entertainment. Can’t complain – makes life and my job interesting (and keeps me out of trouble – well maybe not).

Signature Fashion Tour Delhi – Narendra Kumar (Ecstasy show) Backstage

“I AM DIFFERENT FROM YOU. YOU SEEK HAPPINESS – I DEMAND ECSTASY.” – Collection Note

Lovely Candice Pinto and Anchal Kumar

Last touches before the show?

New look. Wearing Narendra Kumar Jacket and voile top with Sass and Bide Black Rats.

Made in Italy: Roberta Furlanetto

Milena — Tue, 22 Jun 2010 08:48:05 +0000

Roberta Furlanetto represents the future of Italian craftsmanship, by being one of the few designers that produces all of her embroidery in-house and insisting on working only with the best Italian artisans using ecologically sustainable materials wherever possible; earning a true “Made in Italy” label. A label that’s unfortunately been tainted by the controversy of ethically questionable practices of the Italian fashion fraternity/business.
Since graduating from l’ Accademia di Belle Arte in Milan in 1990, she has collaborated with the likes of Christian Lacroix, Dior, Ungaro and Azzedine Alaïa. She creates and constructs each garment on the body and uses an incredible technique of shaping the fabric by using folds, pleats, and pressing to create a seamless garment.

Her latest collection is plainly sumptuous. I came across it on thecorner.com and am embarrassed to admit that I have been living under a rock for the past 3 years when it comes to Italian designers. Her style has completely drew me in and sparked huge interest in her work. Just as I was about to say, enough of this overdone “ruffle” trend, I’m utterly bored; I see this…

Source: http://www.robertafurlanetto.com

The asymmetry, the organza, the raw cut, the frill and the colour…I feel like I have been lifted out of my creative lull of the past week.

Inspiration: Style Icons

Milena — Tue, 27 Apr 2010 19:48:31 +0000

For one reason or another, these are the women that have inspired my style over the years.

In no particular order….

CARINE ROITFELD

MARY-KATE OLSEN

AUDREY HEPBURN

CAROLYN BESSETTE-KENNEDY

ACNE New Swimwear

Milena — Tue, 13 Apr 2010 17:29:03 +0000

This is my kind of swimwear. Old school 1950′s glamour.
And the best thing? The style that suits my pasty complexion!

Image source: www.acnestudios.com

Channelling 90′s

Milena — Tue, 13 Apr 2010 11:47:41 +0000

The Nineties. What does one associate with this decade? The decade that was all too bland to repeat until now. It’s been eighteen years since Nirvana hit big time. Fifteen years since we “secretly” watched Clueless; whilst feeling a sense of relief that we can go back to washing our hair and throwing out the flannel and replacing it with pastel baby doll dresses. Eleven years since the tragic passing of Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy; icon of minimalist chic nineties. We admired her for her impeccable yet effortless look. Her perfect shade of baby blonde locks to the finely tailored white shirt; and of course the aversion to designer tags, which she always requested to be cut off. Yes, the decade that rejected flashy brands and designer logos. Welcome back….. the gen x missed you and gen y actually remembers you!

Channelling 90′s Part 1 by milenavlada featuring Balmain shoes

Channelling 90′s Part 2 by milenavlada featuring Jil Sander

Channelling 90′s Part 3 by milenavlada featuring See by Chloe

Conspicuously tasteless

Milena — Sun, 11 Apr 2010 17:10:46 +0000

This morning I had a hard time keeping my breakfast down, after reading a rather badly written article in the Hindustan Times on how to dress to get into the “Elite” clubs of Mumbai. Now, you don’t need to be living in India to know that Indian men need a bit of help in the fashion department. Imagine gold chains, cheap satin shirts, tacky designer sunglasses, gelled hair….sleazy attitude….enough to make you weak at the knees? Or not.

First of all, taking any kind of fashion advice from a mainstream newspaper lifestyle section is generally not the greatest idea. But it’s a good start for the fashion challenged. Second, I have yet to meet a bouncer/door guy with an understanding of fashion. Maybe in NYC, but definitely not in Mumbai. And lastly, being democratic and giving advice to the general public on how to get into an elite club?

Business head of Prive nightclub in Colaba gives his 2 cents on what to wear to impress in this town (and an explanation why I am constantly blinded when I visit these wonderful locales) :

“If the jeans are Rock and Republic, True Religion or 7 for all Mankind, than you know that that person knows style and you can let them in”
AND
“I spend 6 months training the staff on the Internet so they learn to recognise brands like Dolce and Gabanna”

A guide to dressing like a complete douche? Dolce and Gabanna? Is that a fake you get from Colaba Causeway? Note to the editor of HT – it’s Dolce and Gabbana.

Most of the brands and the approach to fashion in this article would be considered tacky by the somewhat fashionable circles in the developed nations. While the wealthy westerners have been turning away from conspicuous consumption, the antagonism to sustainability; the younger economies with emerging middle class, this trend has been on the rise.

Conspicuous consumption explained.

Money can’t buy style.

Kala Ghoda Cafe

Milena — Wed, 07 Apr 2010 21:32:29 +0000

Hanging out at Kala Ghoda Cafe – in the heart of Bombay’s art district. Best hidden spot in Colaba. An iced espresso to cool down from another hot day in Bombay. New Hair (stylist – Benjamin at Jean Claude Biguine).