JADE unveils it’s Summer Prêt

JADE – a luxury ‘ boutique by designers Karishma and Monica is having a private preview of their new spring summer limited edition collection on Peddar Road, Mumbai this Friday. I’ve accidentally popped into this store before and run right out when I discovered the pretty blue lehenga I was admiring was priced at 1.5lakhs ($2,978). Ah, a sense of deja vu.

Anyway I’m curious to see what all this summer fuss is about. I mean, doesn’t it seem like the fashion fraternity has gone into major overdrive in the only month when the last thing any of us (in Mumbai at least) want to do is put on more clothes?

(I do think that “Jade” is a cool name for a store though.)

Meanwhile Aza (another fashion store in Mumbai) kicks off its 3-day annual sale (29th April to May 1st) featuring huge discounts on big designer labels. (Upto 70% I’m told, I think a little economic down-swing is the flavor of the seasion.) Look for bargains on Anamika Khanna (check out her Fashion week finale), Anupama Dayal, Anand Kabra, (designer to the stars) Manish Malhotra, Manish Arora, Rohit (the-fight-club) Bal, Ranna Gill, Rocky S., Sabyasachi (who just revealed his new summer prêt), Surily Goel and Varun Bahl. (I don’t think they left anyone out did they?!)

Shopaholic gets a reality check!

So remember Sabyasachi’s new Prêt line for summer? It’s available at Aza, Mumbai and I found out how much so you can cruise right in and browse (without having a heart attack in front of the sales staff when you spot an exposed price tag.) I kid you not this has happened to me at the very fancy Emporia Mall in Delhi which I scoped out during the Kingfisher Calander launch I fell in love with a technicolor Tarun Tahiliani sari which turned out to be way out of my league at 77,ooors ($1,549) so I did the uncomfortable U-turn from “I love it” to “I’m not sure, I’ll just look around and be back…” exit stage left as the sales staff (who’ve seen it all before) nodded at me indulgently (and undoubtedly giggled later) Ugh.

Sabyasachi’s Summer Prêt

Sabyasachi and Sabina Chopra

Pravina Mecklai

Designer Sonali Dalwani

Yesterday Sabyasachi unveiled his new summer prêt collection at Aza, Mumbai. For the fashionably savvy expect organic fabrics, woven patterns and earthy hues. Sabina Chopra (who’s been keeping a low profile) co-hosted the event accompanied by his sister Payal. Friends in attendance included Madhoo, Sangeeta Ahir, Sunaina Wahi, Pravina Mecklai (her usual colorful self), Neerja Shah and fellow designer Sonali Dalwani.

Sabya’s new prêt collection of Indian formal wear is (according to the buzz) “a fusion of conventional styles and contemporary designs. Taking traditional inspiration, the fabrics are predominantly Khadi, cottons, woven and hand-dyed textiles with an eclectic mix of weaves from Bengal, Bihar, Andhra Pradesh and Rajasthan which manifest the real essence of India in modern design. “

But what will a stab at addening the real essence of Indian cost me you may be wondering? According to www.highheelconfidential.com (another super sight on celebrity citings with a fashion skew) items from Sabyasachi’s collection last year start around 35,000rs ($600), sarees and fancy salwar kameezes seem to start around $1000 (50,000) and go all the way up!

Fashion Flash

Karishma Javeri

Neelam Shah

Parmesh Shahani and Tina Tahiliani Parikh

Shaheen Abbas

Ensemble launched its Spring/Summer 2009 collection this afternoon at its stores at Lion Gate and Bandra, Mumbai. The fashionably inclined include Anamika Khanna, Cherie D, Gauri & Nainika, Rajesh Pratap Singh, Rohit Bal, Sabyasachi, Raghavendra Rathore, Gaurav Gupta (inspired by Antoni Gaudi’s architecture), Priyadarshini Rao, Rahul Reddy, Surily, Gaba, Amit Aggarwal (inspired by the translucent beauty of jellyfish), CUE by Rohit Gandhi + Rahul Khanna and Lecoanet Hemant (inspired by the Roswell Files, the Twilight Zone, and a large variety of phenomena ranging from crop circles to E.T!)

Prerna Goel, fashion designer, socialite and Art-of-Living teacher, interior design consultant Ila Chatterjee; erstwhile fashion designer and full-time mother Neelam Shah; and Karishma Jhaveri, homemaker and travel enthusiast, participated in an exclusive photo shoot with VERVE magazine, dressed top to toe in Ensemble’s ensembles.

According to Tina Tahiliani-Parikh what you’re looking at is “a range of immensely talented designers showcasing collections that are both avant garde and highly wearable, and represent the contemporary Indian woman.”