LBD - LITTLE BLACK DRESS

The LBD is an abbreviation used for little black dress. An LBD is an evening or cocktail short dress and with simple cuts. The  little black dress was brought on fashion scenario in early 1920s and intended to be long lasting, versatile, affordable and in neutral black colour. Coco Chanel and Jean Patou were the designer who perceived this dress.

The LBD is considered  an essential to complete the wardrobe of a fashionable women. LBD may be worn with a jacket or ornate jewelry or just like that , depending upon the occasion. As LBD has never been out of fashion and not yet expected to be, it's ideally should be as simple as possible and should not be part of the trends.

It was in 1926, when Gabrielle Coco Chanel published first picture of short simple black dress in American Vogue. It was simple and accessible to women of all social strata. Actually it became a uniform for women of taste.

In 1950s, the LBD returned as a symbol of dangerous woman. Hollywood's  fallen women characters were often portrayed in black halter style dresses in contrast to more conservative dresses which were worn by housewives and others. With availability of synthetic fibers in 1940s broadened the availability and affordability of many designs.

The generation gaps of 1960s created dichotomy in the design of the little black dress. The younger modern generation preferred mini skirt , creating cutouts or slits in skirts, using sheer fabrics etc.

In 1980s and 1990s, LBD again came into vogue. With new fabrics like knits and fitness craze, new fitting and designs and internet windows to access the world made LBD popular in Indian continent.  Combining LBD with different styles of footwear adds another kind of freshness to the LBD style. The resurgence of body hugging clothing, muted colour schemes paved way to the resurgence of LBD in 2000s.

Usually LBD is taken as a dress for young and slim women. But if one has grown up with LBD should one stop wearing it as it's supposedly for the younger lot? Its true that with age, the body shape changes but somethings do not change. LBD is one of them. So wait for the next post to know more about LBD for not so young and slim women.

Till then connect with "PUSHPNEER" ,feel your inner beauty and look beautiful !

https://www.facebook.com/pushpneerfashions/

My Indian Ethnic look.

 A sari, saree or shari is a South Asian female garment that consists of a drape varying from five to nine yards  in length and two to four feet  in width that is typically wrapped around the waist, with one end draped over the shoulder, baring the midriff. 

The sari is usually worn over a petticoat with a fitted upper garment commonly called a blouse The blouse may or may not have  sleeves and is usually cropped at the midriff. 

The sari is associated with grace and is widely regarded as a symbol of Indian, Pakistani, Nepalese, Bangladeshi and Sri Lankan culture.

In this sari avatar, I am wearing a jute blended cotton saari in golden/ khakhi colour combination. The fabric is cool and just right for the hot ahmdabadi warm days. 

Its 5.5 metre saree with matching blouse piece. I created a simple round neck, short sleeved blouse. 

I teamed up with stone jewellary in matching colours to add spark to simple and plain saree.

Since sari is just simple, some stone jewellary added some chick. I used red lipstick to add some bright colours to the  look. No eye makeup , just little darkening of of eyebrows, which I think is just right for my age....of 20 + :). How many plusses makes all the difference to makeup styles!

Fashion is freedom to make a style statement!

With access and exposure to the world, the fashion scenario in India sees new western styles, which are mostly adopted and adapted by young people. 

I have not seen many women past their 30s, 40s or 50s experimenting with the new styles like jumpsuits, shorts, frocks, maxies or long evening gowns. One major reason which I have understood after discussing with them is the social pressure and not having an "hour glass figure". 

As far as figure is concerned, its a major issue. Women in Indian society always keeps herself at the end of the que in the family, where her requirements are concerned. This needs to be changed.

Learn to love yourself ! Give importance to your health and spend atleast one hour to yourself! Buy a good walking shoe and start walking. Real walking and not stroll in the park. A little control on diet and atleast 45 minutes of brisk walk will make all the difference. Find a partner to motivate you. Borrow the headphones from your son , wear the shoes and lo... you are on your health path!

The second issue is just in the mind. After wearing sarees and salwar kamiz, it may be difficult to wear a frock or short dress, start wearing a long evening gown or maxie dress. Its the same maxie, with same basics and some changes which most of you have worn in your teenage college days. Relive those days and wear it with attitude and confidence.

I am sure, you will feel the free and fashionable!

Write your own fashion statement and have fun!

Fashion is Beyond Fashion Shows

Fashion shows have become a great platform to showcase young designing talent. I have seen these shows on television, whatever coverage is shown to us as audiences. Whatever the channels showcase, I find most of the designs non wearable for common people on any occasions of life.

I am no body to question the creativity , talent or business done in fashion shows. But I do not find them of any use to people who just love to wear comfortable, stylish and reasonable priced.


 Can you wear a frock like the one in the picture on any occasion in your life?

What is the need to wear a jacket or coat whatever you may call it with saree? It would be much better to wear the saree without this additional burden.

 On which occasion can you wear a blouse like this? Or wear your saree without a petticoat showing a contrast panty?

 I am a proponent of simple, stylish and affordable fashion and hence not at all in sync with fashion shows and high profile designers. My another view of dressing is to cover body and not to expose it unnecessarily.






One can attract glances by wearing a heavy, in trend dress or a well fitted smartly complimening dress, which accentuates positive points of body but appreciating glances will be earned by an overall smart personality. It has nothing to do with high labelled designer stuff.

Spare some time or ask your neighbourhood boutique to stitch a dress thats' unique. Why go for a dress, that you may not wear twice? Support local talent and buy local artisan products. Pushpneerfashions is one upcoming boutique .

The photographs have been taken from google search engine from different Indian fashion shows.

Standout In The Crowd and Fashion Trends.

Its an innate human desire to stand out of the crowd. Its more so, when dressing and looking and feeling good is concerned.
Just ignore the fashion trends and styles. Wear what suits you and makes you happy and confident. This should be the criteria for selecting your dresses. The dress should complement your personality rather than it covers up you.
"The dress is very pretty" , is the most common compliment. This is the compliment for the dress and not for the wearer.  Always look for a dress that enhances your personality and the ease with which one can carry it. Leave the heavy weight dresses for film heroines to shoot.


Its always advisable to wear a dress that enhances your looks and personality. The brands and high price may act as ego booster but not always enhances the looks of the wearer. Invest your time in creating a dress of your choice or if you are very busy, choose a boutique who has enough time and creativity to make a pretty and different dress for you.

Ethnic styles always standout. They also help our artisans. With fusion of latest styles and embroidery and weaving styles of different regions, one can design an excellent dress for any occasion.

Though most of the boutiques will refuse to do this much trouble, there are creative people around who will help you make an exclusive outfit for you.
                       

As for matching jewelry, do not  overdo by wearing all the pieces of the set. If your dress has a heavy designs in front, avoid wearing the neck piece but wear ear rings. If your hairstyle is covering your ears , then go for a bigger neck piece or an attractive bangle set or bracelet.
 You must have been matching your lipstick shade with your dress. Try not to and see the magic of standing out!

Skirts: New Comfi Statement

Skirt is a garment which hangs from the waist and covers part or full legs.Historically, a straw woven skirt dated 3900BC was discovered in Armenia. It has been worn by men and women both, if one goes into history. In south east Asia,men still wear  lungi, sarong or kanga , which are categorized as skirts worn by men. 

During the nineteenth century the cut of women's dresses in western culture varied more widely than in any other century. Waistlines started just below the bust (the Empire silhouette) and gradually sank to the natural waist. 

Beginning around 1915, daytime dresses left the floors for good. For the next five decades, skirts had undergone tremendous incarnations. In 1920s, skirts became short, in 1930s, they became long. In late 60s and 70s, they became as short as possible, while avoiding exposure of underwear. 

Since 70s, trousers have appeared as another option of western fashion style for  women on the fashion scene and was a welcome addition to the women wardrobe. Skirts length varied from short and ankle length styles.

Later on, different types of skirts came on the fashion circle. 

Straight or pencil skirt hanging straight from hips and fitted from the waist to hips by darts or a yoke and having vent for ease of walking was a popular party dress in 70s.

A line skirt, pleated skirts, bell shaped skirts are other variants which became very popular.

In late 70s and early 80s, maxi-skirt was another fashion innovation. Wraparound, mid calf length skirt were also became very popular with girls because of their comfort and ease to wear, specially in hot and humid weather of summer and monsoons in India.

Skirts have again appeared on fashion scene with a bang. Earlier only young women and girls used to wear them because socially and it was not accepted as a dress for the women of all age groups. But now, the acceptance of such western outfits have increased in India due to global exposure through television, films and travelling. Its a comfort outfit whether one is at home, on shopping or in a party. 

So, go ahead and add few of this garment to your wardrobe. Feel the change in the way you dress up.You can wear it with a short T shirt or a long kurti. You can select the top and the type of skirt according to your figure and body type. If you are heavier at hips, go for straight skirt but not hip hugging. Similarly, if you have beautiful slim legs, go for knee length or shorter skirts, if not, go for maxi skirt. And our Indian lehenga or ghaghra is also skirt. Enjoy your makeover by adding a skirt to your wardrobe. i am sure, you will love the style and comfort!  Have fun with fashion!

Leggings - Comfort & Style.

The knitted legging is the new name of the "slacks" which was in fashion in seventies. The  women now in their forties and fifties must have the feel of wearing them when they were light weight and had the dream figure of
36 -26 - 36.

The latest entrant into the wardrobes of women and girls is leggings. Another smart and comfortable leg-wear is "jegging", which has the wearing comfort of a legging and smartness of a jeans.

Leggings have taken the market by storm as these are very comfortable to wear and gives a chick feel to the wearer. When combined with a pretty kurti, it becomes a smart outfit which one can wear at workplace, shopping, travel , party or picnics.

Earlier leggings were available in solid colours but now these are available in multi-coloured designs, which can be worn with contrast or matching coloured tops and kurtis.

Heavy women must wear long tops.

A short top or T-shirt makes it a western style.

Leggings add versatility to the wardrobe.
 It can be combined  with ethnic style
 tops or western tops.







Though, the leggings or jeggings have entered the wardrobes of almost all kinds of women and girls, the wearer must select the upper garment depending upon their body structure.

 A vertical stripped legging will
create an illusion of slimness.

Very heavy women with layers of fat on hips must wear long tops to cover the hips. Women with heavy thighs are also advised to wear knee length tops to keep thunder thighs under cover. Its advisable to cover heavy or obese body parts of the body to look slim and feel good.

 Last but not the least, please make sure neither your panty line nor your front lines are not visible . It is important while wearing light coloured leggings like white, offwhite, cream or light pink.

Such colourful designs are
favourite of young girls.

There is an ample choice of footwear, which one can pair with leggings. You may wear smart stilettos, flat slippers, floaters, sports shoes depending upon your comfort or the place you are at.