Fashion Query: A Birkin as Your School Book Bag?

The last time I saw a Hermès Birkin in a Bollywood movie, it was being featured as an honorary prop/character (see “bagwati” the Birkin in Zoya Akhtar’s 2011 film ‘Zindagi na milegi dobara’) “bagwati” retailed at €12,000 in the film (approximately $15,000 USD or £10,000 GBP) eek! So imagine my surprise when director Karan Johar (My name is Khan, Kabhie Kushie Kabhie Gham) unveiled the first look for his upcoming film ‘Student of the Year’ last week and one of the main characters was shown sporting a Birkin as her school book bag. All I’m saying at this point is that this character (portrayed by 16-year-old newcomer Alia Bhatt) better be the daughter of a Sheik, oil tycoon or a shrewd businessperson in order to justify why a teenager would carry such an expensive accessory to her HIGH SCHOOL.

~Fashionwidget

Photo Credit: Red Chillies Entertainment/Dharma Productions

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Another Day Another Victim of Photoshop Anarchy: Bollywood’s Kareena Kapoor

A few months ago Fashionwidget reported that Bollywood actress Kareena Kapoor had shot a sizzling item number for her upcoming film ‘Heroine’. Photos that floated out from behind-the-scenes showed a scantily clad Kapoor (wearing Manish Malholtra) proudly showing off her curvy figure which made it all the more shocking when the official posters were released this past weekend, with one of them showing the actress looking more like a rail-thin supermodel compared with what we’d previously seen. Gone were the curves, her cherubic face and full arms replaced by a too-thin-to-be-real waistline, suspicious looking bosom area, toned tummy, poreless skin and thinner arms. To call this an enforcement of an unfair ideal would be understating the obvious. To be fair, the movie which reportedly has received an “A” certificate (India’s answer to the NC-17 feature) is not marketed towards tweens and teens but that does not excuse this Photoshop fiasco.

~Fashionwidget

Photo Credit: UTV Motion Pictures and Twicsy

Mag-Rack: Australia’s Dolly Magazine Receives Criticism for Launching the Next Miranda Kerr

Dolly Magazine recently held a newly revived version of the talent search/contest that churned out international model Miranda Kerr in 1997. Thirteen-year-old Kirsty Thatcher (pictured) emerged the winner out of the several hundreds who entered the contest and is now receiving heavy criticism for being too young to enter the modelling world. The controversial contest was scrapped for ten years due to negative feedback and concern for the welfare of entrants but has seen a revival under new management of the magazine. Thatcher’s winnings include a contract with Chadwicks, a trip to New York City to meet with agents in the fashion industry and being appointed the brand ambassador for Dolly magazine which includes being a role model for her peers, according to the International Business Times.

In my opinion, Thatcher IS indeed too young for a career in modelling, especially when she is going to seek work in New York City. Nothing can mentally prepare a child for something like that, especially if she is going to be dealing with the rejection, image obsession and other high demands commonly associated with the fashion world. Additionally, from what I have seen she does not look her age. One can only imagine what would happen to her if she falls into the wrong hands and what certain fashion people would attempt to get away with. Plus, a modelling contract with Chadwicks? I don’t know about Australia but here in America, Chadwicks markets older women’s apparel not teenagers. I hope her parents intervene with proper guidance and help this child take the right decisions in her career. The world does not need the next Miranda Kerr or the next anybody else for that matter, just be yourself.

~Fashionwidget

Photo Credit: Dolly Magazine & IBT

Sidewalk Style: Kim Kardashian Gets Peplum-ed in Paris

Parisian Style?

Kim K.

Fashionwidget’s Verdict: Kim Kardashian is very stylish but this look begs the question. Beige can be a very cruel colour on curvy girls as there is nowhere to hide unless you are wearing a beige ball gown. Perhaps, a body sculpting silhouette would have been more flattering (and not to mention forgiving) on the well-endowed Kardashian. The doggy-collar chain in on-trend but I’m not sure I like it with this ensemble and I also would have preferred colourful strappy heels instead of playing it safe in typical noir.

THE LOOK DONE OVER by Fashionwidget

Sporty Peplum Boudoir Inspired Dress – $1,090 at suzannah.com

Peplum Piped Dress – 1,090 at suzannah.com

Bottega Veneta Strappy Colourblock Sandals – $469 at Barneys

~Fashionwidget

Photo Credit: PCN & Polyvore

Bollywood Fashion Update: Double Fashion Assault on Sonam Kapoor via Priyanka Chopra and Cousin Parineeti!!!

WHO: Priyanka and Parineeti Chopra take on Fashion Icon Sonam Kapoor’s style

WHAT: Fashion Showdown

WHEN: June 9th

WHERE: 2012 IIFA Awards in Singapore

Sonam(left) & Parineeti

FASHIONWIDGET’S VERDICT: Sonam Kapoor’s debut on the international scene at last year’s Cannes Film Festival was a big deal for the Indian fashion circuit and perhaps even globally as many international designers such as Prabal Gurung, Victoria Beckham & Jean Paul Gaultier (whom she wore for her debut) began to open their eyes to the baby fashion darling. That said, stylists for both Parineeti & Priyanka Chopra must have known what the were doing when they decided to place both actresses in statements already made by Kapoor. Excuse me while I gasp, if no stylists were involved. I think Priyanka wearing the Dolce & Gabbana dress (previously worn by Kapoor at Cosmopolitan’s Fun & Fearless Female Awards) is actually forgivable because in the long run designers want their clothes to be worn by as many people as possible. It is her cousin Parineeti’s fashion faux pas that took the whole ‘imitation is the sincerest form of flattery’ thing to a whole other level. SHE IS WEARING A JATIN VARMA THAT LOOKS LIKE A PLAGIARISED KNOCK-OFF OF THE JEAN PAUL GAULTIER KAPOOR WORE AT CANNES…LAST YEAR. Should stars be caught wearing knock-offs? Should designers dressing stars be caught allegedly borrowing from other designers? It is one thing to do something like this on a regional level but at an award show that takes place at an international venue where the foreign press is invited? There are pictures on Getty for crying out loud!

~Fashionwidget

Photo Credit: Viral Bhayani for the photo of Sonam Kapoor in the red Dolce & Gabbana + Getty Images for all other photos

Hollywood Fashion Update: The Best and Worst of the Tony Awards 2012

Held last night in New York City, for me the fashion statements at the Tony awards of the year 2012 did not register any better than India’s IIFA awards which took place a day before in Singapore. Catherine Zeta Jones was not there this year to spice things up and those who did show up, failed to sizzle.

I think it’s just that time of the year where except for resort wear, all the best red carpet looks for the current season have already been worn. I mean, Bernadette Peters showed up in the blue version of the red Donna Karan dress Nina Dobrev made supremely famous at the Emmys. She looked beautiful and was one of the best dressed stars last night but it was a bit underwhelming because we had seen it before and done to perfection. Audra Mcdonald looked stunning in a revival of cobalt blue and rounding out the top three best dressed was Beth Behrs in an effective red Naeem Khan gown.

Amanda Seyfried disappointed in an overly busy for night-time-telly Givenchy number, Sheryl Crow didn’t win either in a dull blue lacy number that did nothing for her cheerful personality or great body. The less said about Jessica Chastain who inexplicably put her boobs on reckless display in a lacy Mario Schwab mini dress, the better it will be for everyone.

Fashionwidget’s Best Dressed Picks

L to R: Bernadette, Audra & Beth

Fashionwidget’s Fashion Query List

L to R: Sheryl, Amanda & Jessica

~Fashionwidget

Photo Credit: PCN

Additional Credit: Fashionwidget

Bollywood Fashion Update: The Best and Worst of the IIFA Awards 2012

The International Indian Film Academy (IIFA) awards took place this weekend in Singapore. With the red carpet absence of many fan favourites (seriously, where were A-listers like the Bachchans, the Khans, the Kapoors & the Deols?) As well as fashion favourites (no Sonam Kapoor, no Kangana Ranaut, no Kareena Kapoor, no Twinkle Khanna) we had to make do with whatever was presented to us on the green carpet. So now, without further ado, here’s what was hot and what was lukewarm at IIFA 2012:

Fashionwidget’s Best Dressed Picks

Clockwise: Chitrangada, Preity, Bipasha & Sameera

Fashionwidget’s Fashion Query Report Card

Clockwise: Gaura, Parineeti, Kalki & Dia

Best Dressed Men

L to R: Prateik, Aryan & Aftab

Best Dressed Female at IIFA 2012

Bipasha Basu

Could Have Been a Contender…PC

Priyanka Chopra

I know, I know, the less said the better.

~Fashionwidget

Photo Credit: Viral Bhayani, IANS, Twit Pics & Twicsy

Fashion Update: Sonam Kapoor Fairs Better in D&G at Winners Dinner but Too Little Too Late?

Sonam Kapoor in D&G

Seen here at the winners dinner party hosted by Dolce & Gabbana, Ms. Kapoor appeared to attempt to redeem herself from the ill-advised and poorly executed McQueen gown she had worn earlier in the evening on the grand Cannes red carpet. This however, came too little too late as fewer people saw her appearance at this small dinner party’s red carpet than her entrance at the steps of the palais des festivals. In my opinion, she should have worn this lovely red head-to-toe Dolce & Gabbana look on the grand red carpet. Very prima-donna, very prima-ballerina. Yes, she was painfully going toe-to-toe with the red carpet but it was a battle could win and did. The fashionwidget is pleased.
🙂

Cannes 2012 Style Diary – Sonam Kapoor

~Fashionwidget

Photo Credit: PCN, IANS, Getty & Film Magic

Additional Credit: Fashionwidget

Repeat Fashion Offenders: Rooney Mara and Elizabeth Banks at the MET GALA 2012

The girl with the dragon tattoo’s Rooney Mara in yet another black dress just like the many she wore during the promotional tour for the film. Why???

The minute Ms. Banks stepped out on the red carpet I found myself asking if she had borrowed her outfit from the set of her hit film ‘hunger games’ or if she’d come as the eccentric character she plays?
Personally, I am tired of this trend of actresses showing up on the red carpet as characters they play in films.

Photo credit: Getty

Would You Wear This Dress? Fergie and La La Did.

GIVENCHY RESORT

La La versus Fergie in Givenchy

SNAG THE LOOK↓

Givenchy Printed Stretch Dress - $2,405 - mytheresa.com

Christian Louboutin Pigalle 120 patent-leather pumps - $625 - net-a-porter.com

Jimmy Choo 'Candy' Clutch - $550 - nordstrom.com

Fashionwidget’s Verdict: In my opinion, Fergie’s choice of shoe(s) helped her win this fashion battle. Just because it’s a resort look doesn’t mean you should look like you’re heading to the beach (ahem! La La) when you’re not. Happy shopping Fashionwidgeters!

Additional Image Credit: Polyvore.com and @Fashionwidget on Twitter.com