Connect with us

Fashion

How designers are reinterpreting Banarasi weaves beyond the traditional sari

​Banarasi weaves are among India’s most enduring textile traditions, their history shaped by centuries of craftsmanship, patronage and technical refinement. If the sari remains their most familiar expression, it is no longer their only one. Today, as India’s fashion landscape shifts, designers in Varanasi and beyond are taking Banarasi textiles beyond the traditional sari, reworking them through new drapes, silhouettes, lighter constructions and colour palettes.. This weaving legacy stretches back centuries. Varanasi has long been associated with textile production, while the Banarasi brocade tradition, as we know it today, flourished under Mughal patronage. Over time, motifs such as kalga, bel and jaal came to define the visual language of the weave, along with intricate zari work and richly patterned silk textiles that became closely associated with ceremonial dressing and heirloom saris.. Each technique on the loom offers its own refinement. From the labour-intensive Kadhwa which stands as the gold standard, each motif is woven individually into the fabric. In contrast, Fekwa introduces a lighter and more fluid structure through continuous weft work. Tanchoi, with Chinese roots that came to India by Parsi traders, favours intricately patterned silk over zari, creating an almost embossed texture. On the other hand, Jangla unveils in sweeping floral vines, while delicate Booti scatters motifs across the surface.. What has changed in recent years is not the value of the weave, but the forms in which it appears. As India grows into a global fashion powerhouse, the looms of Varanasi have begun to hum to a slightly different rhythm. While tradition still shapes the craft, a new generation of designers and weavers are reimagining this textile.. Designers are keeping their textile language intact while expanding where and how Banarasi can be worn. While the classic vermilion, rani pink and emerald green palette remains, the same silk and zari craftsmanship has newer interpretations which have introduced muted ivories, pistachios and metallic charcoals. Think Raw Mango’s tailored jackets, Ekaya’s breezy kaftans or Tasuvure’s relaxed Banarasi co-ord sets.  

Continue Reading
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Fashion

4 tips to apply foundation that looks like a second skin

​The first foundation makeup artist Hiromi Ueda bought when she arrived in London from Japan was Giorgio Armani’s Luminous Silk. This, of course, was long before she knew she’d become one of the brand’s global makeup artists. It’s a product she still loves to this day and she’s sharing some simple tricks and tips to apply foundation that looks completely natural. Read on.. Tip 1: A DIY sheet mask to give your skin the moisture it needs. To achieve a juicy-looking foundation, you need to have balanced and hydrated skin. And the expert has an ace up her sleeve to achieve this. It consists of soaking several cotton pads with your usual toner and placing them on the driest areas of the face, leaving them to act for five to 10 minutes before applying foundation.. Tip 2: A little massage can go a long way. For Ueda, skin prep is a fundamental part of makeup application. That’s why she insists on dedicating time to a simple yet effective facial massage before applying foundation. Apply your moisturiser to the center of your face “with gentle movements” and spread it toward your “ears, eyebrows and hairline, using circular motions with your fingertips,” Ueda says. “On the neck, it’s best to use downward movements and on the chin area, you can use your knuckles to help define its shape.”. Tip 3: Blending products creates a more seamless finish. Though there are many viral recommendations for foundation mix-ins, Ueda suggests mixing your foundation with your concealer in the palm of your hand before applying with a flat brush or sponge. This helps create a more polished complexion without looking cakey.. Bonus: If you want to top it off with some glow, dispense a fluid illuminator on the back of your hand and apply it on the upper part of the cheekbone with gentle tapping motions for the perfect second skin look.. Tip 4: Double-up on foundation shades. This is perhaps one of the most advanced tips to apply foundation, but the result is worth it. It involves using two shades of foundation: one close to the natural colour of your skin in the centre of the face and another a little darker on the contours of the face to create natural dimension.. NARS Natural Matte Longwear Foundation. ₹4,800  

Continue Reading

Fashion

Matchmaking grandmothers and a seven-hour first date led to this New Delhi wedding

​If you are looking to get married and the same repetitive prompts, endless swiping and awkward singles’ mixers are getting you nowhere, maybe it’s a sign to resort to some old school ways of finding love. Before the digital age of finding love, matches were typically made by a matchmaker (read: a distant relative who introduced you to your “perfect match”). One such matchmaker—Preeti Aunty—was an important character in Shiv Arora and Ridhi Kapur’s story.. The set up took place through the couple’s grandmothers—Kapur’s paternal grandmother and Arora’s maternal grandmother—both knowing Preeti Aunty. This is how the two business owners—Arora with an insurance firm and Kapur with a fashion brand—found themselves on their first coffee date. The duo was on very different pages about this date. While Kapur almost didn’t show up—but ultimately gave in to family pressure—Arora showed up ready to impress, early and in new shoes. Meant to last just 30 minutes, this date went on for over seven hours. And the rest, as they say, is history.. After dating for a year or so, the couple was engaged. Arora planned a romantic proposal for Kapur, his (then) girlfriend, in Goa, surprising her by flying in their family and friends so that they, too, could be a part of their celebration. Their Delhi wedding took place a few months later at Zorba.. There were three events in all: a mehendi, a cocktail night and the wedding. The bride’s mehendi was intimate, an invitation extended only to her closest family and friends. This was her most personal look and when asked about it, Kapur, who has her own clothing brand, says, “Designing at least one of my own outfits felt non-negotiable to me.”. A focus of Kapur’s brand, Clothes On My Mind, is denim wear. For her mehendi, she stuck to her design language, giving it a bridal spin in traditional and seasonally appropriate ways. Designed for a winter celebration, the bride looked radiant in a layered velvet and denim sharara—of her own making—complete with rich zardozi embroidery. Another highlight of this look was a custom scarf. “I designed it as a tribute to my people, featuring the names of all my loved ones, embroidered in zardozi,” recalls Kapur. It began with the names of the grandmothers and included the names of her team as well. “Wearing it was such a joyful experience, I found myself going up to people, watching them search for their names, and sharing that excitement with them,” says Kapur.. At the cocktail-cum-sangeet evening, singer and performer Stebin Ben kept the crowd on their feet for hours, making sure they danced the night away. The groom was dressed in a Manish Malhotra outfit, and the bride wore a vibrant pink Dabiri lehenga with playful mirror work.. In customary big-fat-Indian-wedding fashion, dance played a big role in the couple’s celebrations. With help from The YellowStripe Dance Co., family and friends performed with and for the bride and groom,  

Continue Reading

Fashion

Why chill guys are actually the worst kind of men to date

​According to experts, someone can be easygoing without being passive or flexible while also staying engaged. In other words, just because he’s chill doesn’t mean he’s detached—there’s a line. So here are the biggest red flags that someone is a “plastic bag” man, and signs of a healthier partner to look for instead.. He doesn’t take initiative. Taking initiative doesn’t mean being controlling or rigid, Dr. Romanoff says. It just means showing effort and investment without needing to be asked. He should text first because he wants to talk. He notices when you’re upset and is mindful to bring it up before it becomes a full-blown issue.. Meanwhile, a “plastic bag” defaults to passivity. “Well, what do you want to do?” becomes less of a considerate question and more of a cop-out—one that subtly forces you to carry the mental load of deciding, planning and caring. And that, Dr. Romanoff says, is where “easygoing” crosses into avoidance and a lack of willingness to invest in the relationship.. He doesn’t have his own opinions. Guys who are chill in a healthy way still have preferences they’re willing to stand by, says Keisha Saunders-Waldron, an Ohio-based therapist specialising in relationship dynamics and attachment theory. They’ll (lightly) defend that their sushi takeout spot is objectively better than yours. They’ll stay loyal to their basketball team, even if it’s a rival of yours. More importantly, they’ll have a point of view about bigger things—where they want to raise a family, what they value in a career and how they imagine a future. Not in a rigid, uncompromising way, but in a grounded, I-have-a-backbone way.. “Some men aren’t low-drama because they’re secure. They’re low-drama because they don’t have feelings about anything, which is why the second you seem unhappy with his position, he’ll abandon it,” Saunders-Waldron points out. Suddenly, he also loves the Knicks. He’s fine with moving to a city he once swore he’d never travel to. He goes with whatever keeps things smooth, which isn’t flexibility—it’s a lack of direction and identity.. He agrees easily but doesn’t follow through. In the moment, he’s all in. Maybe he says “sure” to a weekend getaway or is open to a serious talk about moving in together. But then…nothing happens. The trip never gets booked unless you nag them (or reserve the hotel and rental car yourself). The “important conversation” somehow never gets revisited.  

Continue Reading

Fashion

Alia Bhatt’s custom Gaurav Gupta sari featured cascading mogra detailing

​Alia Bhatt wore a custom Gaurav Gupta sari threaded with strands of mogra that move with the drape rather than sitting on top of it as embellishments. The silk satin is left largely unworked, allowing the strands of mogra to take over the visual field as they trail from the shoulder down the length of the pallu.. The blouse carries the weight of the workmanship. Built with a structured bustier base, it is densely hand-embellished with pearls in varying sizes, creating a textured, almost tactile finish that catches light unevenly across the surface.. Stylised Priyanka Kapadia Badani accessorised the custom sari with a diamond choker from Alok Lodha and earrings from Raniek.. Styled by Amit Thakur, her hair is worn in loose, centre-parted waves with soft volume through the lengths. Makeup by Puneet B Saini focuses on warm, diffused eyes with a soft bronze-brown shadow and close-lined definition, paired with separated lashes, brushed brows, a rose-beige lip and skin that catches light along the cheekbones.. From Vogue’s fashion desk:. “Knot the hair up into a messy bun with a few strands loose and add a bindi. Pair the outfit with oversized and oxidised silver bangles to break the monotony,” says Manglien Gangte, Vogue India fashion associate.. Also read:. Nita Ambani’s Sabyasachi look came from her daughter’s wardrobe. Alia Bhatt proves less is more for summer celebrations in a pistachio sari. “I wanted to bring the glam”: Alia Bhatt channels Marilyn Monroe at her first BAFTAs  

Continue Reading

Fashion

Horoscope Today: April 7, 2026

​You have accumulated substantial wealth over the past decade or so—material, human and even in the form of memories perhaps. Gemini, this is your era where you are learning to stand up for yourself, choosing your battles and also remembering who you really are or have become. Defend your position, Pisces. There may be a lot ongoing for you, and you may also be in a spot where you may need to choose what comes first in your life. This may feel like a bit of a tug of war, however, Pisces, how are you going to handle this. This new seed offers superb insight, inspirations and promising starts, but it also needs nurturing and care. If you feel like you are at a crossroads, Leo, you may or may not be. It is a delusion that strength cannot be dressed as softness. It is a delusion that in order to create you must only be ready to fight. The most beautiful act of creation happens in the quietest ways—be it a heartbeat or a plant. You may be holding on too tight to a part of your life that may feel secure, safe and known. Libra, this blanket of security is great, however, the fears and anxieties do tend to creep in every now and then and this may feel like that very moment. You have options on the table, and you need your intuition to guide you in this, not your fears.. Read on for what the stars have in store for you, and make sure you check out your sun, moon and rising signs for the complete picture.. Listless, hopeless and perhaps even a tad bit frustrated and confused. Aries, you may have gotten bored with what you were working with and now you are here begrudgingly unwrapping what you are holding in your hand. What your guides remind you is to look at your present as something that allows you to explore worlds, ideas and even perspectives that you may have wanted to but never really found the energy, time and attention to explore. Take an empowered approach to what you have been served because it is here to support you.. Cosmic tip: Let your personal life and power be your driving force in life.. Life is not a flatline, or a linear path and Taurus, that has its own perks. For one it keeps life interesting and new. But on the flip side, the anxiety and worry is understandable. Hence, listening to your inner GPS becomes even more important. There may be many paths unfolding right in front of you and you may feel the pressure to pick between them. The wild child in you wants to pack up and explore the world, while the comfort and luxury loving child wants to hit the snooze button one last time. The key is to find a middle ground between the two.  

Continue Reading

Latest News

Uncategorized48 minutes ago

Daughter of missing American woman in Bahamas says there were ‘prior issues,’ calls for full investigation

​The daughter of a missing American in the Bahamas says she has learned of prior issues and is calling for...

Uncategorized1 hour ago

Indianapolis official’s home attacked after vote in favor of controversial data center

​NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!. An Indianapolis city councilor said someone fired multiple rounds into his home...

Video3 hours ago

Is there an election in my area? #GreatBritain #Politics #BBCNews 

[embedded content] 

Video3 hours ago

Kanye offers to meet Jewish community in UK after Wireless Festival controversy | BBC News 

[embedded content] 

Uncategorized4 hours ago

ICE arrests illegal immigrant accused of kidnapping 4-year-old girl from laundromat

​NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detained an illegal immigrant who was...

Video4 hours ago

Astronauts aboard Artemis II homebound after historic and record-breaking moon mission | BBC News 

[embedded content] 

Uncategorized4 hours ago

Trump’s ‘final’ deadline for Iran to make a deal is just hours away and more top headlines

​NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!. Good morning and welcome to Fox News’ morning newsletter, Fox News First....

Video5 hours ago

Donald Trump invites Artemis II crew to the White House. #ArtemisII #BBCNews 

[embedded content] 

Uncategorized5 hours ago

Video shows teens take over Chicago streets as mayor warns of ‘trends’ that can turn ‘deadly’

​NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!. Hundreds of young people filled the streets and sidewalks in Chicago last...

BBC News World5 hours ago

JD Vance arrives in Hungary to back Orbán’s re-election bid

​ JD Vance due in Hungary to back Orban’s re-election bid. 8 hours ago. Nick ThorpeBudapest. EPA. US Vice-President JD Vance...

Trending News

Join Our Newsletter

Stay updated with breaking news and exclusive content.