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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