Before we know it, its another year and Spring Summer 2014 is upon us !! .... A very happy New Year to you peeps !! .... We at DSB had a very lovely vacation, December 2013 was packed with things to do, events to attend and precious family time .... we have been so busy that we put the blog in hibernation .... but before we share with you the wonderful things we saw and chronicled for you in December .... we thought we will bring to you a recap of some of the wonderful trends we picked up from the Fashion Design Council of India's Wills Lifestyle India Fashion Week Spring Summer 2014 .... which caught our eye and is on our to do list !! .... One benefit of watching Fashion Weeks live is definitely the education that we fashionistas get about how things can be styled and adapted to a general girl's wardrobe ..... coz lets face it ..... we all have our favourite things in our closets which are much loved ..... but too often worn and seen ...... The trick is how to update the old favs with new styling and add a few more priceless classics to see us through spring !! ..... As we girls went through the DSB photo archives of the amazing shows we saw in October at Pragati Maidan .... we decided that the first post of the new year is definitely going to be tips and trends we ourselves implemented in our wardrobes or are planning to in the near future !! .... And what better new year gift can we gift our dear readers than sharing with you our top 15 styling trends we gleaned from the Spring Summer 2014 shows !!!!

15 Style Tips from FDCI WIFW Spring Summer 2014

15 Style Tips from FDCI WIFW Spring Summer 2014

1. Abdul Halder SS 14 : 

Abdul Haldar SS 14 Wills India Fashion Week

2. Ashish N Soni SS 14 :

Aha .... one of our most favouritest classic trend everrrr ( spell check on DSB is optional btw:) .... since Katherine Hepburn and Diane Keaton showed us how cool it was to rock in Menswear !!! ..... A girl who doesn't care if clothes are men or women as long as they make her feel good ..... very very good .... is a girl after our own hearts ..... Many in the fashion press called this look from Ashish .... androgyny!!  ... but we beg to differ !! .... THAT humongous white silk bow and exaggerated men cuffs at the coat sleeves will make a girl feel pretty, very very pretty ..... with a huge whale of powerful confidence !! .... The trick here is to wear an oversized men's shirt .... perhaps from your BF / hubby / dad's wardrobe .... the sleeves long enough to upturn the cuff ..... Wear it inside a slim fit jacket with a huge bow fashioned out of a thick fabric scarf or stole .... we have rocked this look and gonna do it again ... a very nicely updated evening look !!

Ashish N Soni SS 14 Wills India Fashion Week

3. Hemant and Nandita SS 14 :

A perfect way to update a waistcoat or style your mini skirt and shorts !! ..... You can applique or just add flower hair brooches to a plain waistcoat .... and add lace to your shorts hemline !! .... Voila ... isn't this outfit a cool transition from spring into summer !! .... Delhi is mega cold right now .... but as we all know .... by March we will be packing away our woollens again ... and that is just two months away from now !! ..... If you have a favourite pair of printed pants that you are wearing this winter .... don't give it away to your fav cousin yet .... just take a pair of scissors to it, add lace and make yourself some pretty summer shorts :)

Hemant and Nandita SS 14 Wills India Fashion Week

4. Annaikka by Kanika Saluja SS 14 :

Usually, Kanika Saluja's ready to wear clothes are more of a couture presentation .... but THAT modified Kedia blouse caught our style radar straightaway !! .... A Kedia is a traditional blouse worn by Kutchi men from Gujrat .... it has fitted long sleeves and a flared high waist .... perfect to pair with shorts, trousers, mini skirts and even maxis !! .... Oversized silhouettes are "in" internationally .... but in or not .... this shape is perfect to hide love handles, rounded stomachs or pregnant waists !! .... Infact we picked up a few traditional angarkha (crossover) style ones from Dilli Haat and trust us .... they are a very very versatile piece to have in your wardrobe .... In our previous post on our DLF Promenade Bloggers Contest win, Fashion Designer Anupama Dayal is wearing a lovely Kedia style with black trousers and boots ... do check it out here :  Anupama Dayal in a Kedia Blouse

Annaikka by Kanika Saluja SS 14 Wills India Fashion Week

5. Krishna Mehta SS 14 :

Krishna Mehta SS 14 Wills India Fashion Week

6. Malini Ramani SS 14 :

Malini Ramani SS 14 Wills India Fashion Week

7. Masaba Gupta SS 14 :

This look from Masaba is a no brainer .... it is so simple and stunning that we sometimes think Masaba is a better stylist than professional stylists .... except for the fact that she is a brilliant designer too !! ... THAT wraparound is a take on a little known style of traditional clothing from Assam called the "Methoni" .... The village ladies that go to fish in the ponds in Assam .... would wrap a home spun piece of cloth around their chest instead of soiling their normal outfit .... The cloth is normally white with one or two coloured stripes running around the edges .... So they wrap a piece on their chest .... and wrap another one diagonally across their body ..... to tie a woven cane basket to their waist to hold the fish they catch .... well look at the pic below !! .... So stylishly and effortlessly put together !! .... Another DIY project up our sleeves with a matching crossbody bag and sneakers :)

Masaba Gupta SS 14 Wills India Fashion Week

8 : Nachiket Barve SS 14 :

Nachiket Barve is another designer whose clothes are more like couture pieces .... trust us you have to see them up close to truly appreciate the beautiful embellishments and finishes !! .... THAT cape is something we girls are all making in our own way in a very cunning short cut hahaha !! .... Do you or your Mum own a peignoir ?? ..... A "Peignoir" according to Wikipedia "is a long outer garment for women which is frequently sheer and made of chiffon or another translucent fabric .....  The word comes from French "peigner", to comb the hair ......  describing a garment worn while brushing one's hair, originally referring to a dressing gown or bathrobe " ..... Yes we are referring to the matching robe that comes with silk pajamas and night gowns :D ..... If you have one ... well and good ... if you don't ... why you must buy one !! .... Can you see the possibilities ? .... Just get some beautiful appliques or if you have a printed silk one .... take it to your Darzi and give it a tulip cut , rim the edge with silk ribbons .... add some tasselled pom poms .... and wear it with shorts , cigarette pants with a bralet or ganji vest .... Voila !! 

Nachiket Barve SS 14 Wills India Fashion Week

So these are eight of our fifteen style tips to update your wardrobe ..... the next and last seven are coming up on tomorrow's post ..... did you like them so far ? .... Do send in your comments .... we would love to hear from you ..... Until then, Happy New Year once again lovely peeps :)

DSB

P.S. : Read part 2 here :)  Part 2