Time to get back…

And what better way to do this. I came across this book- Design School Confidential on my friend Ishan Khosla’s timeline on Facebook. What a fantastic idea this book is. The book is a collection of projects that teachers have submitted as some of the best work from their classrooms from over fifty design programs around the world. I really want this book.

http://idsgn.org/posts/design-school-confidential/

Also Oh!Joy posted about these Two women who make the most divine clothing with Indian Sarees. I am going to take one of mom’s saree and make myself a tunic. YUM!

Fashion Forward

So I was very unmotivated last week. Mostly due to insane deadlines and a general disinterest in things. Not like me. NOT at all like me. So I needed a fun jump back. Yes coffee in the morning helps but I wanted to share something I love. Most of you who know me will think that’s got to be food and food blogs- right. Well yes- but I love these fashion blogs as well. Only because I do commit the crime of starring at some fabulously dressed people you see on the street. Sometimes its a cut, its pattern or its just the way style is put together. And I wish I had a camera with me to take their picture. But I worry about being yelled at so I curb my enthusiasm. However, these bloggers don’t seem to worry about photographing people on the street and their personal style thus their documentation becoming a reflection on a culture of people. You can see the styles change from Europe to the Americas to Asia. Its also interesting to me that these fashion blogs have the potential to become very influential from capturing of the style of the moment to having a voice on future trending in design. I by no means know all the fabulous street fashion blogs but here are a few I do love. If you have some other interesting fashion blogs you follow do send me the links.

The Sartorialist makes it to the top of my list. Voted by Time Magazine’s top 100design influences, I look at The Sartorialist for inspiration everyday. Scott Schuman explains that he wanted to photograph people the way designers would inspire from. Scott always manages to spot the most sexy men I have ever seen photographed. Oh do check it out.

I came across Ganance Dore’s blog a while back and was immediately addicted. She photographs some gorgeous women and its hard to believe its all candid photography. She started out in doing French Street fashion and has recently moved to NYC. Though Garance’s street fashion photos are shot close to events such as Fashion Week, fashion photo shoots and such so the people are definitely more fashion conscious. Interspersed with her own illustrations, personal stories and some fantastic street fashion Garance Dore makes a great morning coffee read.

Manou started blogging early this year and has had huge success with his Indian street fashion blog Wearabout. Manou has an interesting voice – its not always about the gorgeous but also the strange, the weird, the poor, the roadside romeo and the college girl who just put it together and looks great. I think India sort of allows that- a layering of colours, textures, white cotton tunic, bright salwars, colorful pants. Purple, yellow, red, orange all put together in one. Its quite interesting…

The wearabout

The following is the  lovely Annabel’s Blushing Ambition. Though not a street fashion blog, Annabel lets us into her life. I came across many such blogs where people photograph themselves and their quaint lives. Picnics in forests and fashion shoots in vintage clothing and i have wondered do these people have real jobs. Annabel’s blog seemed more real to me. She is a student living in San Francisco with a love for fashion. She does photograph really well and eats out at amazing places. She claims to spend more money of food than clothes- I’m not sure about that- she does have a great sense of style.  And the food shots are beautiful- I want a bite of that sandwich. For a 21 year old she is doing very well with her blog- 3000 followers and is currently the Mod Cloth  Blogger of the Moment. What fun!

And finally I leave you with this candid shot of a Mumbai stylebhai from my friend Slogan’s Mumbai Paused. I loved this shot taken on the Mumbai local. There is no pretense, just another day, traveling to work-  but he is very stylish in his own way. Love the patterned shirt, the long hair and the slow smile creeping across his face. Slogan’s blog is not a fashion blog but it captures some gorgeous moments on the street of this crazy, bizarre city in a way that it becomes a cultural commentary on Mumbai. Do check out his blog for your daily dose of Mumbai Paused. For now check out this Stylebhai.

First Impressions- Michael Ian Kaye

I attended Kyoorius Design yatra 2010 in Mumbai. The last two days was a whirlwind of creative energy and force. I wanted to put together a series of First Impressions of the work that I saw.

I was most impressed with Michael Ian Kaye, the Creative Director at Mother, New York. The man started out claiming to be a bumbling presenter and walked off the stage at the end of the hour as true design rock star! His work ranges from iconic book covers, some gorgeous fashion identitied for Liz Clairborn, Kate Spade and House of Dereon for Beyonce. He also orchestrated a phenomenal installation/ performance in Manhattan for the introduction of Target stores in NYC. He presented his work with all heart. I was inspired by the range of his work and the boldness of his ideas. His work was not static, it was dynamic, colorful, chaotic and yet ordered, following a grid and yet creating motion.