Wrist Candy

I haven't really been an accessory person, but, I'm currently digging Kylie Jenner's Cartier Bracelets. Yes, I'm a big fan of Kylie's make-up and clothes, however, I don't like the wigs. Her choices always amuse me. So today I'll be talking about where you can find the famous Cartier Love Bracelets that Kylie flaunts on her wrist (which are gradually increasing day by day, she now has 8!). 

Kylie likes her bracelets without diamonds

The Cartier Love Bracelet is an oval shaped bracelet with Screw motifs on it. They are available in four metals, namely White Gold, Yellow Gold, Pink Gold and Platinum. Some of them are even studded with diamonds and can be customized. They cost about a whopping $4,000 a pop, I'm guessing the diamond ones are costlier. If you like them and can afford them, you can always check them out here.

Coming to the point, since I've been obsessed about these bracelets, I started hunting them down. Of course I'm referring to knock-offs, since I (and most of us) do not have that kind of money to splurge. So I checked online, all kinds of websites, and the closest to the authentic bracelets were found on www.aliexpress.com. Now, the only problem I faced was time. AliExpress has its sellers in China, so it would probably take about one or two months for the pieces to reach me, and by that time I would have lost all interest in the product. So I decided to raid my most trusted place for accessories, i.e., Colaba Causeway, Mumbai. And I was not disappointed! I found the exact same braclets that I was eyeing.. the funniest part was that even the vendors knew that those bracelets were 'inspired' by Cartier. After a long time of bargaining and whining, I bought two of them for INR 200/- each. I bought one in silver and one in rose gold, both without diamonds. They're obviously not as clean as the original Cartier ones, but hey, they look really, really classy! They'll go fine with any look that you're sporting, be it casual or glam. Have a look.

For any thoughts or questions, please post in the comments section below!

:]

Tanaya

Trending Traditionally

I'm terribly sorry for not posting anything recently, my college has started in full swing and I haven't been online since a long long time! Today I would like to post something related to my summer project in college. For this semester's vacation project, we had to help to revive an old Indian Craft. 

The craft given to my group was 'Puneri Saree', and being a Puneite, I was a bit relieved. Puneri Saree is a pure 100% cotton saree which is 100% handloom. The body of the Saree is plain, without any motifs, but the border is quite decadent with gold thread (zari) work. The main outcome of this Craft Cluster Initiative is to help promote the Indian crafts and to help spread awareness about the craft. For this reason, we were told to create a contemporary ensemble using the saree. 

The original Handloom Saree used to make my Ensemble

Honestly, I wasn't comfortable to stitch the garment on my own, since I don't have much experience working with wovens. Also, cutting the lining fabric along with the original Handloom Saree was a risk that I was unable to take. Thus, I made a final sketch with all measurements and gave it to a local tailor, along with a long list of instructions. Even after all this, the stubborn tailor did make some convenient changes of his own, and turned my crop top into a choli-blouse -_- Frustrating!

But the final product was satisfactory. This is the final finished ensemble!

A few pictures from the 'temporary' photoshoot!

I know the pumps don't go with the garment, this is just a temporary photoshoot!

The ensemble was inspired by the recent trend of high-waist voluminous skirts. Also, it was a contemporary take on the traditional Maharashtrian ensemble called 'parkar polka' which is like a chaniya choli. I will back this post up with the product photoshoot soon. 

For any thoughts, please post on the comments section below.

:]

Tanaya

Rockin' it Wimbledon Style

Just yesterday, I watched the powerful Serena Williams torpedo into the Wimbledon Semi-Finals after defeating the very elegant Victoria Azarenka. Honestly, I love watching Wimbledon for the fashion, especially since it's all knitwear. The other tennis opens are also fun to watch, but the reason why Wimbledon is so special, is because of its All-White Rule. Player dress code is so strict that, Roger Federer was told not to have orange soles on his shoes. Shorts, shirts, socks and shoes must be "almost entirely white." So must every other piece of apparel. Even off-code colors are prohibited. No cream, no beige, no eggshell, no ivory. The players will strictly wear just Vanilla. Even after such strict rules, I'm amazed by the creative garment designs that the players wear on the court. Most of these garments are designed by well-known designers, some garments also receive inputs by the players themselves. 

                                   

The rules on the Wimbledon website say thus-
— No solid mass of coloring
— Little or no dark or bold colors
— No fluorescent colors
— Preference towards pastel colors
— Preference for the back of the shirt to be totally white
— Preference for shorts and skirts to be totally white
— All other items of clothing, including hats, socks and shoe uppers to be predominantly white


Knitmode has rounded up some of the very creative garments seen on the court this year. Enjoy!

Serena Williams

 

Serena Williams is very well known to have bold choices when it comes to her attire, and the all-white rule did not stop her. This chic dress was by Nike. The garment kept to the rule that requires dresses to be all white (no cream or off white shades), she had creatively incorporated a little animal print detailing.The dress was low-cut and had a panel of transparent mesh around the print to show a glimpse of her midriff. Very classy, very Serena!

Venus Williams

Although Venus didn't win the match against her little sister, her dress was definitely a winner. The dress was a simple, yet stylish A-line silhouette with cross-back strapping.

Maria Sharapova

     

Mesh was clearly a trend this Wimbledon. Sharapova opted for a Nike dress, which had a more elegant mesh pattern, and a racerback. It was a very classy dress which can also be worn off the tennis court.

Caroline Wozniacki

This dress received mixed reviews. In my opinion, I think the gold trim on the shorts along with the frilled mesh hem was a bit too much to take in, but I really loved the fit of the dress. Caroline worked on the dress with designer Stella McCartney.

Victoria Azarenka

                           

Victoria Azarenka had been off the court due to recent injuries, but she sure did make a comeback in this simple, yet very elegant Nike two piece set. It was all white, showing only the iconic Nike logo.

These were some of my favourite picks from Wimbledon 2015. Hoping to see more creativity in the further matches! Thank you for reading!
For any thoughts or queries, do post in the comments section below.

:]
Tanaya

All the right curves, in all the right places!

As we all know, Fashion is fast, ever changing and often ruthless. Trends play a key role in the current scenario of fashion, and trends keep changing. Being 'curvy' is one of the most followed trend globally and among celebrities. And these 'curves' don't necessarily come from extreme workouts or dieting. Most celebrities often reveal that they use Shapewear under their form-fitting garments and some celebrities openly promote the use of Shapewear! Now, the big question is, what exactly IS this shapewear and does it really help?

Kim Kardashian is well-known to wear two shapewear garments at a time, just to fit into her tight dresses.

What is Shapewear?

Shapewear is basically a Foundation Garment. These Shapewear Garments are categorised according to level or shape control offered - for instance, light, medium or firm. These garments are all a part of knitwear, yes, it's hard to believe. The high elastic property of knits is most favourable for these garments. They are made using polyester, spandex and cotton, in various blends. For extreme shaping or contouring, the percentage of spandex in the blend is increased. The most common and widely preferred brands of shapewear are Spanx, Hanes, Victoria's Secret, Marks and Spencer and Fruit of the Loom.

The Lingerie Brand 'Triumph' recently launched their line of shapewear.

dMondaine is the current favourite shapewear brand among celebrities due to its comfort and excellent results.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-2463623/Is-dMondaine-new-Spanx-The-luxury-shapewear-celebrity-stylists-essential-tool-dressing-A-listers-red-carpet.html

 

Does Shapewear really work?

Yes, Shapewear does work! These garments help to contain any extra fat in your body, they help to smoothen out parts like your waist and stomach and thus give you a more toned look. Shapewear is best worn under a fitted bodycon dress, pencil skirts or tight tops. They help women to feel confident and secure in this world of body-shamers. And it goes without saying, when you feel good inside, you feel good outside!

The results of Before v/s After are clearly seen here.

A shapewear guide, it suggests the type of shapewear one needs according to their body type.
via www.moretights.com

Celebrities who swear by Shapewear.

From being a major trend, to becoming a necessity, shapewear has definitely made a mark in the fashion scenario and has changed the face of knitwear forever. Whether it's Kim Kardashian or Kristen Stewart, curvy or non-curvy, shapewear is made for all sizes and body types and it's not a hidden secret anymore. The results of shapewear are mostly positive and women everywhere have proudly started embracing it. If it satisfies us, then, why not! 

For any thoughts or queries, please post in the comments section below. Thank you for reading!

:]

Tanaya

Monsoons: Neither hot, nor cold.

The season of rain is arriving, and in India this gives us weather that is neither too hot, nor too cold. Basically it's not hot enough to strut around in tank tops and hot shorts, it's not cold enough to start wearing full sleeved clothing... it's just somewhere in between. Apart from the humidity, the temperature, at least in Mumbai, seems to be pleasant. Thus, the usual question pops up, a question that haunts every girl- 'What am I supposed to wear?!'

In this post, KnitMode plans to solve this persistent question by giving you readers four basic answers. Since this is a knitwear exclusive blog, all suggestions featured in this post contain knitwear, which will once again show you readers the comfort and versitality of knits. Personally when it comes to garments, I fully support brands, and brands ONLY.

What to wear during the monsoons: A few easy solutions.

1) Casual Monochromes
As the name suggests, casual t-shirts or pullovers with long sleeves or 3/4th sleeves will keep you cozy comfortable throughout the day, if you start feeling hot, you can always slide up the sleeves. Neutral colours like grey and black are classics and easy to carry. These can be paired with jeans or leggings of your choice to give you a smart, casual look. This is the safest look to pull off on a busy college day, especially during the rainy season.

1. 3/4th sleeve top, INR 799, Tshirt Company  2. Black Printed Sweatshirt, INR 2499, Punk  3. Black Los Angeles Embroidered Sweater, INR 1690, New Look  4. Blue Sweatshirt, INR 2290, Mango
(All available on www.jabong.com currently at 50% discount, original prices shown here)

2. Pop-Coloured Knitwear
If you have a cheerful and bubbly personality, why not express it through what you wear! Light knitwear (knits that are lightweight and don't heat you up) like 3/4th sleeved sweaters and cardigans in pop colours can add a happy contrast to the dull monsoon weather. My go-to place for such pieces is Zara. Honestly, it is my weakness. One can find the most beautiful and affordable range of knitwear at Zara. Again, these can be paired with jeans, leggings and even skirts if you like. They are highly comfortable, and like I said, they don't heat you up. They're just soft and cozy.

1. Basic Sweatshirt, INR 990  2. Oversized Sweater, INR 990  3. Multi-Thread Sweater, INR 2890  4. Cardigan, INR 1690
All from Zara, available in more colours.

3. Sporty Sweatshirts
If you're into sports luxe, I would definitely suggest you these luxury sweatshirts by Adidas and Adidas Originals. These sweatshirts have net and mesh incorporated into them so I'm sure they won't make you sweat. Properly ventilated, these sweatshirts are a must-have, to showcase the sporty-chic woman that's inside you. They also come with hoods at the back to protect you from any sudden rainfall. Pair them up with tight leggings or jeggings to give yourself a classy look.

1. Run DMC Hoodie, INR 4999  2. London Clear Sweatshirt, INR 3999  3. Rita Ora Logo Sweater, INR 3999 4. Rita Ora Logo Hoodie, INR 3999
All from Adidas Originals, currently available at 50% discount. (Original prices shown here)

4. Princess Pastels
If dressing up even on normal days is your style, these are some delicate pieces you could wear in the monsoons, which will keep you adequately warm and stylish at the same time. Again, pastels are a safe choice and can be easily paired with your favourite leggings or trousers. The only drawback to pastels is that you'll have to take utmost care of preventing rainwater or soil from staining your garment. If this is a big problem for you, you can always buy a darker colour or wear an over-coat while commuting. Fashion is a serious matter, and one has to be ready to take the efforts, right?

1. Burnout Floral Sleeve Crop Sweater, INR 1800, Glamorous via www.koovs.com  2. Fluffy Sleeveless Pullover, INR 3500, Warehouse via www.koovs.com  3. Jewelled T-shirt, INR 1690, Zara  4. Scallop Hem Jersey Top, INR 1295, New Look via www.koovs.com

I hope this post has helped you readers find a solution to the monsoons. I will soon be backing up this post with some footwear solutions. Please share your thoughts via the comments section below, and for any queries, reach me by e-mail.

:]
Tanaya

A Pleasant Surprise :)

It's the month of June, almost July, and in India it's the season of heavy, heavy rain and Mumbai floods up very often. Thus, I was pestering my friends to come with me to Bandra to buy some footwear to help survive the downpour. Since I'm a very stubborn Taurean, I had made up my mind about buying gumboots, and gumboots ONLY. So we landed up in Bandra after a very tiring local train journey of more than one and a half hour. We started looking at the stalls, entered a store just for the A/C, then walked a little more. As some of you may know, Bandra is THE place for monsoon footwear, most of them are knock-offs, 'inspired' by famous designers' collections. Finally I saw a pair of very interesting gumboots, they were like normal tie-up boots, but made of plastic and entirely transparent! I knew that I had to have them. They were available in various colours like yellow, green, blue, peach and black. Luckily, my size was available, but the biggest problem was the price. Now, surprisingly this particular stall and the gumboots were featured in a local newspaper and the price was quoted at INR 1,050/- (approx $17) which was a very steep price for knock-off gumboots, we were definitely not paying that much. After about fifteen minutes of haggling and bargaining, we got the boots at half price and strutted back home, happily. This pair was bought by me, since I prefer the achromatic colour scheme-

The Boots bought from Link Road, Bandra

Anyway, soon after buying these gumboots I started wondering about the original designer who designed these, and unfortunately I haven't yet found the answer to this question. But, as I was browsing through the collections of upcoming knitwear designers, I found myself pleasantly surprised to see an amazing knitwear designer, Xiao Li, use this footwear in her Spring/Summer 2014 collection. This is the beautiful collection- 

Xiao Li's Spring/Summer 2014 Collection

I am extremely happy that I bought something that is so close to my very own field. Remembering what Mycroft and Sherlock Holmes said about co-incidences, Mycroft: "Oh Sherlock, what do we say about coincidence?" Sherlock: "The universe is rarely so lazy", made me feel like I was on the right path. And Xiao Li, you inspire me, the collection is so beautiful that I could not help wanting all of the pieces. She has used knits very creatively, even though she has used simple repeats and cables, the colours, structure and silhouettes add a WOW factor that is impossible to explain. It makes me very proud to see such brilliant work in knitwear and has given me a new found energy to work in the forward direction.

You can check out the full collection on Xiao Li's website-

http://xiao-li.co.uk/

For any thoughts or queries, please post on the comments section below or contact me via e-mail. Thanks for reading!

:]

Tanaya

The Very First!

Welcome Readers!
As some of you may know, the first year of any design college is a common foundation programme in which one learns all the basics such as elements of design, history of art, drawing and sketching and so on and so forth. I touched fabric for the first time in the second year of college, when I was finally into my department. Even then, it was not knitted fabric, we had to start with the basic grey muslin fabric. In Basic Pattern-Making as well as Garment Construction (stitching) we used muslin till we mastered it, and very reluctantly moved onto single jersey, i.e, basic knitted fabric. If any of you have used the machine, you may know the pains of being a beginner. Oh, I was truly a beginner, hailing from a science background I had never had any contact with a sewing machine. And the sewing machine in my college is a terror, the Juki, with a speed of 4000 stitches per minute. My friend refers to it as a Ferrari.

                             

Moving on, our pattern making lessons continued, in which we learnt new patterns every class. Somehow I'm really attracted to the armhole princess seam, my classmates keep taunting me as it appears in most of my designs. Obviously, my first design was a sleeveless top which had the armhole princess seam.

A muslin pattern of the princess seam

After making the muslin pattern, I could not wait to make a top for myself! I made the pattern in my size on brown paper, then cut the fabric. Stitching the top was a major difficulty since it was the first time I was doing this. Also, I worked on this top apart from the usual assignments, using up several lunch breaks. Like the Juki machine, the Yamato Overlock machine is another Herculean task, since it is very fast and it cuts the excess fabric, so one has to be very careful. After carefully stitching the top, the finishing remained. Now in wovens, one has to use only one machine, the lockstitch machine, for all tasks like seams and finishing. But in knits, three different machines have to be used. For finishing the hems, we have the Flatlock machine. The lab assistant was harassed many times by me, just for finishing the hems. I was so proud with my very First creation that I couldn't stop looking at it. Here, take a look!

My Very First Design!

Feel free to let me know your thoughts via the comments section below. Thank you for reading!

:]
Tanaya

Sweaters and Socks? No, a lot more!

Welcome Readers!
I had earlier specified that KnitMode will concentrate on making knitwear really easy for you to understand, so this is a very basic introduction to the concept.  Fabrics are broadly classified into three main categories, i.e, Wovens, Knits and Non-Wovens. Knitwear is formed by the 'inter-looping' of yarn, whereas wovens are formed by 'inter-lacing' of yarn.

Structure of Knits

Structure of Wovens

Now the basic difference between Knits and Wovens is that knits are more stretchable and more breathable than wovens, this makes knits more versatile than wovens. But wovens have a very formal and crisp appeal which is not present in knits.

As I had mentioned in my earlier post, there is a major misunderstanding (especially in India) as to what makes up Knitwear. Yes, Sweaters and woolens are a big part of knitwear, but that is not all. Readers, you will not believe, ALL of your comfortable lingerie and intimate wear is made up of knits, ALL your fancy, breathable sportswear is made up of knits; ladies, your trusted shapewear consisting Spanx and Lycra are made up of knits! Nike has even launched shoes which are made from Fly-Knit Technology.


                                   

                  

                   

                   

These are just SOME of the amazing uses of knitwear. I will surely post in detail about all these knitwear products soon. Till then, please share your thoughts through the comments section below, or feel free to e-mail your queries to me at tanaya.shende@gmail.com .


:]
Tanaya