I’ll be the first to admit that I was never an avid online shopper, till I started a full-time job last year and stopped having time to live (or blog). Since then, weekends were spent catching up with myself and whatever few friends hadn’t abandoned me because I was so terribly anti-social after work, that trekking out to the shops seemed like a Herculean task.

I’ll also be the first to admit that online shopping has, all at once, been one of the best and worst things to ever happen to me. To be specific, the best thing that’s happened to my wardrobe, the worst thing that’s happened to my bank account. But I digress. I tested the waters on some of the regular mass-market e-stores, but found a fast favourite in Koovs.

High on the trend factor, affordable and anything but mass-market, Koovs caters to a more evolved fashion audience by offering them access to a range of designers and brands unavailable anywhere else in India, in-house designers and their very own private label. With a massive selection of delicious prints, off-the-runway bags and shoe-gasm inducing footwear, I couldn’t help but scoop up jumpsuits, overalls, skirts, jackets, boots and a bag for myself, all between December and now. In fact, even my birthday outfit later this month is a stunning burgundy kimono-sleeved jumpsuit made by the brand.

Which is why, when they invited me to preview their A/W ’14 collection over iced tea and tasty treats, I was more than happy to make my way  across town, to one of my favourite South Bombay bars, Cheval, to see all they had to offer.

Oh, and they did not disappoint. From fringed skirts to shaggy jackets, nuclear prints and embellished bombers, jelly sandals, filigree sunglasses, fringed t-shirts and eye-popping bling, they had it all and then some. And by ‘some’, I’m referring to the absolutely GORGEOUS black faux croc tassel boots pictured below. I just can’t wait till August for them to go live on the website, and am marking off each day on my calendar with a big, fat ‘X’ till they do!

I, of course, did what I thought was appropriate and wore a pair of stunning tropical print leggings from the exclusive capsule collection they collaborated on with Henry Holland this season (outfit post coming soon!).

All in all, I’m happy to report that the brand is only getting better by the day and could be the biggest power player in Indian e-commerce very soon. Congratulations to everyone on the team, you’re doing an absolutely fantastic job and I can’t wait to see what you come up with next!

I don’t know about you, but my friends and I get into a rut sometimes. We always end up going to the same three restaurants, shopping at the same stores, watching the same kinds of movies…you get my drift. Which is why, when we heard that there was going to be a flea market in town over the weekend, it did a lot more than just pique our interest.

Intrigued, we wandered in to The Lil Flea only to be greeted by a slew of bright pinwheels spinning merrily in the breeze, old windows painted in pretty colours, a cotton candy tree and stall after stall of magical treasures, just waiting to be found! It was a lot to take in. I mean, how do you choose which to go to first – the indie movie screenings, live music station, shops, cafe or totally cool rickshaw photo booth?

Predictably, we chose the shops and were pleasantly surprised by the stalls’ selection of quirky shoes, tribal bags and stunning statement jewellery. We bumped into the darling Mohnish from The Snazzy Man and fell head over heels in love with Sheena Sitlani‘s collection of OTT vests and mirror-work brogues I just couldn’t get enough of. And fashion wasn’t all it had to offer, there were stalls that sold everything from plants, to polka dotted lunch boxes, vintage photo frames, dream catchers, diy supplies and used books being sold for a song! All the vendors were were warm, friendly and happy to meet and greet new people. They all seemed passionate about their work and never hesitates to offer custom-made options to the customers, in case they ran out of stock.

We mulled about for a while, weighing our options at the stalls and taking in the street style – Bandra locals dressed in the coolest jumpsuits, crop tops, maxi dresses and combat boots I’d seen in a while all descended out of nowhere to grace the event with their fabulousness! After which, we wandered into the pop-up cafe, perched ourselves on the brightly painted crates that serves as seats and took in all it had to offer. Apart from the usual array of sandwiches, pizza and dessert, I was personally thrilled to find a stall selling Parsi cuisine (my favourite!) in addition to exotic, freshly brewed coffee, fruity drinks named after pop stars (Lychee Minaj, Lady Guava and Kiwi Perry!) and a little corner tucked away for us health nuts.

Live acoustic music played over the speakers as we grabbed a quick snack and took on the photo booth. About thirty seven takes later, we decided to call it a day and I walked home in my brand new tribal oxfords. What we loved most about the event, though, was how pro social media it was. Every little corner was selfie-friendly, designers and stall owners all had Facebook stores and ready hash tags and nobody even once declined if you wanted to take pictures of their work for Instagram.

It was such a fun, refreshing way to spend the weekend, we can’t wait for the next one! A big congratulations to the organizers who put so much thought into every little detail. Believe me, it showed.

This year’s vacation saw me traveling to Sydney to be a bridesmaid at a friend’s wedding. And as you can probably imagine, an Indian wedding in another country (with bridezilla being a fashion girl) can only mean one thing – an effortless alloy of east meets west.

While metallics and mirrorwork were busy bringing bursts of colour to life, traditional brocade, embroidery, kundan and beadwork joined forces with gladiator heels, minaudière clutches and cutting edge bangles to deliver bridal perfection.

And let’s not forget about beauty. Classic Indian maang tikkas were offset by smokey, kohl-lined eyes and neon lips while the glitter manicure proved herself as mehendi’s long-lost protégé.

Here are some of the magical moments in style from the festivities. With a wedding this chic, marital bliss is sure to follow!

Here’s wishing the happy couple a lifetime of joy, harmony and spending the mortgage on shoes!

Bisou bisou,
Anushka

It’s been almost three years since Bombay Bubble came into being and I couldn’t be happier. Apart from a chance to share my style musings with the world, blogging has armed me with skills as not only a writer, but a stylist, amateur graphic designer, budding fashion photographer and partial pr representative.
However, every now and then, a girl needs to come up for air and head to the salon for a little ‘me’ time. Which is why I’ve partnered with Jean Claude Biguine Paris for an evening of pampering with some of my favourite people in fashion.

Come let your hair down with us by indulging in a complementary manicure, foot massage or styling session with the JCB experts over wine and hors d’oeuvres this Thursday.

All you have to do to win an invite and a goodie bag filled with treats from Jean Claude Biguine and Kiehl’s is guess which type of candy I’m including in the gift bags and leave me a blog comment here with your answer.

Hint : The answer is either on my Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest or Instagram page, so get cracking!
Looking forward to seeing you at the event!

Bisou bisou,
Anushka xx
—–CLOSED—–
{ Note : Winner will be chosen at random. Only one winner will receive an invite and goodie bag. Contest ends on Wednesday afternoon (15th May), 12pm. Winner will be announced on Facebook and Twitter on Wednesday, 6pm. Contest open to residents of Mumbai only }

As you probably already know, fashion week is my favourite time of year besides Christmas. Breakthrough trends, fresh faces, revolutionary silhouettes and innovative styling promise limitless thrills for a style enthusiast.

And, as always, fashion week sets the tone for what we should be looking forward to in the coming season. My camera and I set off to capture a few of my favourite moments around, during and between the shows.

Here’s what you should be wearing, if you aren’t already :

Statement Jewels

Earrings, necklaces, cuffs or rings, we’re not fussy. The only rule – the bigger, the bolder, the brighter, the better. I personally fell hard and fast for pieces by Outhouse.

 
Acid Brights

Sure, neon has been doing the rounds for a couple of seasons, but is it ready to shut shop and head home? Not a chance. If you think the trend is starting to resemble stale gum, find fresh ways to style it into your wardrobe on Pinterest or add tiny splashes of colour to your home decor or stationary to make it come alive.

 
Prints

Abstract, graphic, tribal or digital, prints are the way to go when it comes to easy summer style. Let the print take centre stage by pairing it with basics, or be a daredevil and clash it with another. Go on, I dare you!

 
Poker Straight Hair

No longer restricted to dreary winters, straight, glossy hair is here to stay. Tease yours into a sleek ponytail or wear it down over your shoulders with a classic middle part for maximum effect.

Electro Lips

The beauty forecast this summer sees bold lips in sumtuous fuschia and kissable coral.  Top it off with some gloss for a night out. Don’t forget to start off with a smooth base. Exfoliate and moisturize your lips to avoid them drying out in the middle of the day.

 
Clean Skin

This season, your face is your fortune. Indulge yourself with a new foundation, spend a few extra minutes concealing blemishes and always carry a compact to blot away shine on the go. Steer clear of the blusher and eye makeup. Simply frame your eyes with groomed brows and some mascara and let your face and lips do the talking.

Candy Hues

Fashion insiders may think of dessert as an abomination, but everyone needs a little sugar! The runways resembled sweet shops with abundant helpings of hot pinks, fiery reds, lime greens and tangy oranges that looked delicious enough to eat!

 
Dalmation Print

Channel Cruella DeVille with fashion’s latest addition to the animal print craze, Dalmation spots! Just remember to always keep it faux by opting for pleather, plastic or printed fabric.

Spikes

Stalagmites and stalactites embellished everything from shoes to shoulders. Invest in an edgy spiked accessory to add a dose of danger to an otherwise insipid outfit.

Which of these trends are you rocking already and which are you nervous to try? Tell me all about it in the comments section!

Bisou bisou,
Anushka xx

On Halloween, Swarovski teamed up with Grazia to introduce their new collection, ‘Kingdom of Jewels‘, to fashion’s chosen ones. With styling, champagne and the crystal winking wickedly as it caught the Cafe Zoe lights, even the plainest of Janes gave Pink a run for her money!

<< Here’s a timeline of the event, in case you couldn’t make it.

Bisou bisou,
anushka xx

As a child, I loved spending lazy afternoons listening to the colourful stories my grandmother told me, hoping one day I’d collect enough exciting ones to share with grandchildren of my own.

So when an invitation to Vogue’s 5th anniversary party dropped into my mailbox, I knew this would be one for the ages.With a pop-up fashion show, free-flowing champagne, and every possible designer, editor, model and muse in attendance, Vogue transformed the Trident into Bombay’s very own version of Studio 54!  Here are a few of my favourite moments from around the party!

You heard it here first, the 60′s are back!  Bisou bisou,
Anushka

How I love waking up the morning of a photo shoot, ripe with the anticipation of creating beautiful pictures.

Arriving on a buzzing set to the smell of hairspray and the sound of cameras flashing to the beat of a Calvin Harris song, I settled down in my makeup chair to bond with the team over who’s doing who between coffee breaks, beauty advice and melting to a puddle under the studio lights.

In case you haven’t already, pick up a copy of this month’s Cosmopolitan to see yours truly on page 78. Since you couldn’t be on set with me, here are a few behind the scenes shots to help you get a feel of what goes into those glossy pictures you see in your favourite magazine.

Check out some of my other press mentions here or head on over to my Pinterest board to see more behind the scenes shots from my posts.

Bisou bisou,
Anushka

The thing about having the flu is, there’s only that long you can hide out in bed flipping through glossies and nursing a giant hot chocolate. By day three I was itching for some excitement so I threw on a pair of heels, grabbed some Tylenol for the road and headed out for a night of fun!The launch of Bestseller’s blog, ‘The Fashion Diaries‘ was just what the doctor ordered. Fashion’s fiercest gathered at their Vero Moda store in Bandra to celebrate with accessory revolutionist, Little Shilpa. True to form, she pimped out the store’s mannequins in denim gowns, tulle bows and a purse-hat gaga would kill for!

What do you think i should invest in from their new collection? Easily stylable separates or a showstopper piece for the party season?

Help me make a choice in the comments section!

Bisou bisou,
Anushka

just a quick post to tide you guys over till santu sends me the pictures from the ‘fashion and you‘ blogger convention! ;)

and it was, by the way, so much fun! we all got to know each other better, discuss issues concerning indian blogging and even do a mini photoshoot after! santu and gayatri from fashion and you were so full of energy and innovative ideas that it got all of us motivated to really take blogging to the next level for fashion week and otherwise.

afterwards, we headed to the kingfisher lounge to chill and then to watch the debarun / shyamal and bhumika show which was…well, let’s just say it wasn’t my cup of tea. (or any other beverage, for that matter!)more pictures here!

anybody else notice bandana tewari sitting front row in the last picture?
i won’t be attending over the weekend, but this definitely isn’t the last mention of fashion week! stay tuned, yo! ;)

bisou bisou,
anushka xx