With Lakme Fashion Week upon us, it’s no surprise that we’ve seen previews and hints at what’s to come in Indian women’s fashion. Without further ado, let’s check out some of this season’s hottest trends, based on what the Fashion Design Council of India has to say. All photos are from Delhi Style Blog.

Printed Suits

This year’s maxi dresses are playful and comfortable while still looking gorgeous.  Take, for instance, this giraffe-printed gown by Pia Pauro. This print not only gives the illusion of long legs thanks to the giraffe being printed on the side of the dress, but it also is perfect for a slimming effect.

Layering

Layering is, of course, nothing new in the fashion world, but when it comes to Rohit Gandhi and Rahul Khanna’s blue chiffon coat, it seems like we’re looking at it for the first time. What looks like a removable coat to the outfit is actually attached to the half-sleeved jacket in this look. The doubly long pant and overcoat gives the illusion of having very long legs, while the sharp shoulders draw the eye upward and the pop of color keeps things visually alluring. A very bold look.

Mixed Fabrics

Mixing luxe fabrics in the same garment is a trend we’re seeing a lot of lately. For instance, this green velvet dress by Abdul Halder features a chiffon shoulder, and the look is completely transformed. The dress, gorgeous originally, becomes unique, and somehow even more elegant. The gold embroidery adds a classic touch to this ultra-modern, one-shouldered look.

The Saree

The saree comes and goes in terms of popularity and style, but one thing is for sure: this classic piece will always have its place both on the runway and in everyday life. This season, the tops are a bit more unique—like these from Krishna Mehta. A waistcoat styling keeps the look funky and unique, with bold prints and colors.

Lakme Fashion Week is considered a premier fashion event in India. It is funded by Fashion Design Council of India (FDCI) and takes place in Mumbai twice a year. It first started in 1999, with international models such as Naomi Campbell and Indian film starts such as Deepika Padukone walking the runways. Since then, it’s blossomed into an international attraction, including labels like Louis Vuitton, Dolce & Gabbana, and Roberto Cavalli. Each year there are two events, one in the spring, the Summer-Resort show, and one in the late summer, the Winter-Festive Show. This year’s Summer-Resort show is planned for March 12-16, and we want to take the opportunity to showcase a few of our favorite designers who will present this year.

Aarman Aiman

Photo courtesy by facebook.com/ArmaanAiman

Manish Malhotra

Photo courtesy by facebook.com/pages/Manish-Malhotra/147482601960327

Manish Malhotra is a popular Indian designer known for presenting exquisite, elaborate designs. His summer collection, appropriately called “A Summer Affair,” will be presented during Lakme Fashion week, and he’s been posting previews of what we can expect on his Facebook and Instagram accounts—lace, metallic accents, exquisite detail, feminine glamor, and more. Malhotra is one of India’s most successful designers, having made clothing for many leading actresses in Bollywood. He’s known for his ability to create and envision what a character’s “look” will be.  In addition to creating clothing for Bollywood stars, Malhotra has created and styled costumes for Hollywood celebrities including Kate Moss, Naomi Campbell, Reese Witherspoon, Demi Moore, Karolina Kurkova, and Kylie Minogue. We can’t wait to see his spring and summer show!

Selvage

Photo courtesy by facebook.com/pages/Selvage/347136048723387

Selvage, named so for “self-edge” redefined, can also be defined as the self-finished edges of fabric that keep a piece from unraveling or fraying.  As a clothing line, it focuses on clean lines, simplicity, and elegance. The goal for the line is creating edgy and experimental, yet wearable clothes.  Known for contemporary design, Selvage strives to create unique yet timeless classics. Selvage is being featured at Lakme Fashion Week as a Generation Next Designer.

Whose designs are you most excited to see this spring?

Shraddha Kapoor is a highly popular actress, and we can see why. Not only is she talented—with several awards nominations and wins under her belt, she’s currently up for the Screen Award for Best Actress as well as the Popular Choice Best Actress Award for “Aashiqui 2”—but she’s also extremely pretty, having been ranked #5 by FHM’s poll of “100 Sexiest Women in the World” for 2013. With her star power increasing seemingly daily, it’s no surprise that Kapoor tries her best to look great whenever she’s in the public eye. So without wasting any more time, let’s check out four of our favorite looks we’ve seen her wear so far.

1- Floral Sari

Photo Credit: bharatstudent

This floral sari is gorgeous. It’s unique and feminine, and it’s not something you see every day. A matching blouse and glittering trim make this ensemble stunning—we wish more celebs would take the chance to wear something as interesting as this. One thing we might change? The fuchsia purse. It doesn’t quite match the dress, but perhaps Kapoor knows something we don’t.

2-Neutral and Flowy

Photo Credit: thegossip4u.com

Less is more in this perfect outfit. Simple hair and makeup let the skirt steal the show, and steal it does! A bold pattern matched with a neutral, flattering tank pair well together, and a simple chain necklace pulls the whole look together. We want to know where she found this great skirt!

3- Pretty in Pink

Photo Credit: highheelconfidential.com

Shraddha is stunning in this intensely bright outfit. Half strapless gown, half professional pantsuit, this look is straight off the Sailex A/W runway. She wore this to an Awards nomination party, and kept her accessories (thankfully) toned down—anything more than a neutral shoe and clutch would have made this look overpowering. As is, though, it’s a unique look that we don’t often see—something that Shraddha has shown she’s not afraid of wearing.

4- Festive and Fun

Photo Credit: ibnlive.in.com

At a photo shoot, Shraddha wore black leggings, dainty gold sandals, and a multicolored sleeveless tunic. Even the photo shoot background plays up how fun this look is—two-tone carpeting and a complementary wall covering emphasize the detail on this blouse.

What’s your favorite look she’s worn?

This month, our actress spotlight is on Huma Qureshi. She’s starring in “Dedh Ishqiya,” out January 10^th, and will also star in “X” and “Dekho Magar Pyaar Se,” also due out this year. Prior to these movies, she acted in seven other titles, and before acting in films, Qureshi was a theater actor and model. Put simply, it’s pretty safe to say that she’s got some experience wearing some pretty great clothes. With her career about to take off, let’s take a look at some of our favorite looks she’s shown off in the past.

Casual Chic

Photo Credit: lifestyle.in.msn.com

Qureshi looks simple yet stunning in a simple pair of black pants topped off with an aqua top, a bold red lip and interesting shoes. This look is easy to replicate no matter what your budget, and is perfect for anything from running errands to casual Friday at the office.  Qureshi’s jacket here is by Karishma Shahani.

Sleek, Smoldering, and Shining

Photo Credit: celebrityfashion.in

Every woman needs a killer black dress in her wardrobe that she can pull on in an instant and leave everyone with their jaws on the floor. This may not be Qureshi’s immediate choice, but that doesn’t mean it’s not ours. Here, she wears a Nikhil Thampi dress, complete with the designer’s signature metal belt, which takes the dress to the next level in both elegance and edginess. She topped the look with a simple hair style, fresh makeup, and a smoky eye—she’s truly smoldering in every aspect of the word.

Black, Gold, and Gorgeous

Photo Credit: cdn.glamcheck.com

Another black and gold look, yes, but this time in a completely different style.  Here, she wears Anarkali at a 2013 IBBS fashion show. Here, the gold is a lot less subtle, and the look takes on a different tone. A bigger emphasis is placed on jewelry despite the bold metallic accents on the gown, and the ensemble leaves us stunned.

Jewel-Toned and Traditional

Photo Credit: financialexpress.com

Walking the runway at a fashion show during India Bridal Fashion Week in Mumbai, Qureshi is shown here wearing a beautiful gold, green, and fuchsia ensemble.  For brides, Bridal Fashion Week is the place to see current trends from hot designers and get inspiration for what they might like to do for their own nuptials. We can’t imagine there’s anyone left uninspired by this vision.

When you’re bored with the same old wardrobe choices, it can be hard to know what to do next with your look. One great style tip is pairing neutrals with a pop of color. This is ideal because it allows you to highlight one area or piece and is a modern way of wearing a bright color that you may not always feel totally comfortable with. For instance, if you want to wear hot pink, you may not feel comfortable wearing a brightly colored top, but you can pair hot pink shoes with a pair of khaki pants and a black top and that little injection of color will work beautifully without being too loud.

Why Limit Brights?

Limiting the amount of bright colors in one outfit is important for a lot of people because the brightness can attract a lot of attention—and sometimes, you don’t want a lot of attention. For instance, a look that is great for going out with your girlfriends is not going to work the same in a client meeting. Limiting brights is a way of being playful with your wardrobe while still participating in hot fashion trends. This way, you can accessorize an otherwise muted outfit and really wow people. It draws attention to the colored accessory and will make the whole look more visually striking.

Ideas for Wearing Color

If you need ideas for how to wear color, there are plenty of fashion magazines that can tell you how to pair different colors with neutrals like black, brown, gray, khaki, and even blue. One easy way to dip your toe into wearing more color, especially if you are very shy, is to start small with a bright shoe. Shoes are versatile and you’ll be able to wear them with more than one thing, so you can get a lot of use out of a bright shoe. Once you are comfortable showing a little bit of color on your feet, swap your shoes back to a neutral and pick a brightly colored skirt or top to wear. If you want to only add a tiny bit of color, choose that shade in a lipstick or nail polish. Get comfortable with wearing bright colors with neutrals and you’ll have no problem putting together a gorgeous outfit!

Unless you’re lucky enough to live in a warm climate, you’re probably struggling to get through winter right about now. All across the U.S., cities are experiencing record low temperatures, with snow and ice abound. If being cold makes you wish it were socially acceptable to wear blankets in public, you’re not alone, but it is indeed possible to stay stylish during the colder months. Check out these tips on how to look chic even if you’re freezing.

Fleece-Lined Tights

Many of winter’s fashions are held back by the idea that wearing skirts and dresses will make your legs get frostbite, or at the very least, make you extremely cold. Thanks to fleece-lined tights, however, you can continue wearing your favorite outfits without sacrificing comfort.

Accessorize Warmly

Wearing accessories can actually serve to keep you warm this time of year. Things like beautiful scarves can be left on all day so as to keep you warmer while accenting an outfit.

Wear Layers, But Not Bulky Ones

Layering clothing is a great way to keep warm while looking on-trend. Choose pieces that fit close to the body so that when you had another layer, you don’t start looking like a snowman. Long sleeve shirts that are close-fitting look great under cardigans, and warm vests van add a lot of warmth as well.

Wear Color

Though this tip doesn’t have much to do with staying warm, another thing to remember in the colder months is to add color to your wardrobe. It’s easy to get stuck in a style rut of wearing neutrals since you want to wear warm boots or thick tights. Make sure to add a pop of color to some outfits so that you don’t get bored wearing the same color palette all the time.

Choose a Unique Coat

Not everyone’s ideal winter coat will be a wool peacoat or puff jacket. To stay looking stylish, though, you may want to choose a coat that comes with a belt to look polished.  Long coats will (obviously) keep you warmer, but they don’t have to be black or white to look chic.  Pick a color that you love, whether it’s pink, forest green, goldenrod, or anything else, and your confidence will shine through the cold.

With the changing of the seasons, you have a perfect excuse to update your wardrobe a bit. And what better way of doing it than including two of this winter’s popular trends: metallic fabrics or metallic-accented clothing, and statement jewelry like necklaces?

Why Choose Metallics?

Metallics offer shine and sparkle, perfect for the holiday season. When you put on a garment that’s made with luxurious metallic fabric, you instantly up the “chic” factor of your overall look. That’s perfect for any of the many parties you’re surely attending this winter.  Metallics make a statement, but they aren’t difficult to wear because at their core, metallic are essentially neutral colors. Gold and silver just get a dose of shine, and other jewel-toned metallic colors such as emerald or sapphire can also be paired with a seemingly endless variety of other clothing.  Metallics are a great way to add visual interest and glamour to an outfit without adding a lot of jewelry or picking a trendy piece of clothing that will go out of style by next season.  If you’re shy to draw attention to yourself, choose a piece of metallic clothing that features accents, rather than a piece of clothing made out of just metallic fabric.  Look for pieces with metallic thread for the seams, or pieces that feature metallic fabric blended in with non-metallic. You could even look to metallic sequins as a way to try out this trend, as they are not only metallic but shiny as well—perfect for the holiday party season.

Statement Jewelry

Statement jewelry is a piece of jewelry that you wear not necessarily to add visual interest to an already eye-catching outfit, but a piece of jewelry that IS the visual interest. For instance, this could be a chunky necklace, a ring with multiple stones that sparkles in the sun, an interesting hair clip, etc. These pieces are designed to provide the wearer with something that will get people to take notice—hence the term “statement jewelry.” The accessories you choose should make a statement about you or your style, whether that statement is that you love modern trends, that you stick to the classics, or anything else. Statement jewelry helps you jazz up an outfit, as well, making it perfect for the holiday season when it’s ideal to stand out at a party.

Dip your toes into these two popular trends this winter. Metallics and statement jewelry are both easy to wear, you just need to find pieces that suit your personality.

Shraddha Kapoor is an Indian actress and former model, so it’s not surprising that she not only has access to a lot of wonderful clothing, but that she looks great in it as well. Kapoor is popular within the Indian film world, and at just 21 years old, she’s got a bright future ahead of her. Already, she has appeared in several films such as “Luv Ka The End,” for which she earned the Stardust Award for Best Actress, and “Aashiqui 2,” a romantic musical drama.

She’s known for her film roles, but she’s also gotten a lot of attention for her fashion choices. Here are five our favorite looks that she has shown off at various events

5) Black and Sparkly:

Photo courtesy of StyleMeIndia

Kapoor wore this dress, designed by Siddhartha Tytler, to an “Aashiqui 2” promotional event. This fresh-off-the-runway look is radiant on the movie star, hugging her curves and reflecting light. The cutaway sleeves add an edge to this ultra-formal look. Kapoor’s co-star, Aditya Roy Kapur, unfortunately un-glammed his look for the event, showing up in a simple black shirt, blue jeans, and neutral-colored sandals. You’d think with Shraddha dressing up and looking so lovely, her co-stars would at least try and match, but at least this way she shines even brighter.

4) Aqua and Gold

Photo courtesy of StyleMeIndia

3) Ethereal in White

Photo courtesy of StyleMeIndia

Choosing a traditional look again, Kapoor still stuns in this white sari. With gold accents and a matching purse, the outfit is complemented by Kapoor’s red lipstick. She wore this ensemble for the premiere of Mai, and her gown was designed by Anita Dongre with earrings from Anmol Jewelers. A truly stunning look from Shraddha.

2) Stunning in Off White

Photo courtesy of StyleMeIndia

Again in a pale color, Shraddha stuns with this off-white shift dress from Dolce & Gabbana. She wore this beautiful dress to the L’Officiel 10th Anniversary lunch, and paired it with a metallic clutch and a sideswept, low bun. The real talk here however is the St. Erasmus necklace—with layers and a large magenta accent, this is what truly makes the outfit sing.

1) Floral and Funky

Photo courtesy of Rediff

At an event for Forever 21, Shraddha shows us she can dress down while still looking gorgeous and on-trend. These printed floral pants, when paired with leather heels and a quilted vest, look feminine yet edgy. Kapoor keeps the rest of the look simple, with wavy hair and simple makeup, and it’s a spiky bracelet that amps up the volume on this outfit.

What’s your favorite look of Shraddha’s?