STYLING TIP: WINTER IS COMING!

It's that time of the year! Leaves are changing color, weather is getting chillier and everyone is bundled up in cozy sweaters and comfortable coats. While your Fall/Winter closet may look like shades of grey, black and beige, here's a quick tip to un-dowdy your attire: accessorize, accessorize, ACCESSORIZE!

By carrying a fun clutch and wearing colorful jewelry, you can still add that spring to your step during the colder seasons. 

The Sandhya Raj clutch, showcased below, is a great example on how to jazz up a standard winter outfit. Happy sweater weather!!

Fashionably Yours,

Sandhya

STYLING TIP: TRENDY SUNNY-DAY OUTFIT

Here is a casually elegant outfit that is guaranteed to brighten up your day no matter where you are - whether you're on vacation, a date or at a girls' brunch. 

Items in this set:

Madewell off-the-shoulder broderie anglaise cotton-blend top $100

Sandhya Raj Royal Blue Raw Silk Skirt with White Hem/Side Embroidery $150
Contact: sandhya@sandhya-raj.com
 

Sandhya Raj Embroidered-Cutwork Yellow Clutch Purse: $115
Contact: sandhya@sandhya-raj.com

Nine West Deputy Women's Flat Shoes Yellow Suede: $39.99

Shourouk Marguerit gunmetal-tone crystal and faux pearl earrings: $101.25

Kate Spade - Heart of Gold Bangle: $32 

Essie Coconut Cove Nail Polish: $8

DAMSEL IN DAISY!

Fall trends do not often see ethereal prints, bright colors and soft diaphanous fabrics but some designers successfully took the ‘delicate-fall’ this season.

Runway trends reflected in retail trends:

Nordstrom Cashmere Scarf: $98
nordstrom.com
 

Olivia Burton Big Dial Watch: $130
oliviaburton.com
 

Dolce & Gabbana Long Gloves: $595
dolcegabbana.com
 

SANDHYA RAJ DESIGNS:

Whether you’re going to a wedding or to the wine country, this Sandhya Raj midi-skirt is a Bohemian delight. Inspired by Dior's "New Look" from the late-40s, this skirt brings a modern twist to the vintage look. 

Fashionably Yours,

Sandhya

SAN FRANCISCO SUMMERS PULL THE WOOL OVER OUR EYES

As I sit on this cold San Francisco summer day in my local neighborhood coffee shop; all bundled up amidst the fog, wind and mist, I can’t help but be reminded of Mark Twain’s quote – “The coldest winter I ever spent was a summer in San Francisco.” Most SF natives know to never leave the house without a jacket in hand, no matter how warm the day might be. I liken SF weather to fashion – very fickle and unpredictable; one minute it is hot, next minute it is windy and cold. Consequently, the local advice is to always be prepared for SF summers – don’t put away your wool coats, layers and scarves after the winter season: you never know when you will need it next. That being said, there is no reason to dress dowdy just because it is cold and dreary. Here are some fun Sandhya Raj designs to perk up your woolly attire. True to it’s motto, the Sandhya Raj coats shown below have an ethnic twist to them.

The straight cut black wool jacket has a bit of added pizzazz with a collar made out of gold brocade. The sleeves take on a geometric twist with the black wool base interspersed with black & white wool sections and cuff. The A-line shaped sleeve is made to match the flowing oversized silhouette of the overall coat. Throw this coat on over a pair of leather pants or black tights, a denim shirt and ankle-length booties and you are set for the wintery-summer of San Francisco.

If you are one that likes to dress bright for the summer despite what the weather might look like, have no fear! Below is another coat by Sandhya Raj designs that showcases business on the outside and party on the inside! The outer grey and black wool base of the coat is juxtaposed with a beautifully bright floral silk-lining. This cheerful lining has a peekaboo effect when you roll up the sleeves and can also be seen when the jacket is unbuttoned.  The high collar helps keep the wind at Bay (pun intended), while simultaneously protecting your neck, thus not requiring you to carry a scarf.

As Tom Hanks famously quoted in Forrest Gump: "Life is like a box of chocolates, you never know what you're gonna get." So dress warm and stay chic, my friends!

Fashionably Yours,
Sandhya

STYLING TIP: HOW TO ACCESSORIZE WITH FLORALS IN A WAY THAT IS FRESH FOR SPRING/SUMMER

This week’s styling tip is a tantalizing look into how fresh-looking florals are the perfect antidote to a mundane everyday outfit like boyfriend-jeans and a tee. Ripped, boyfriend jeans are here to stay for a while – so if we’re going to wear baggy androgynous pants, we might as well dress it up a bit to make the overall ensemble more feminine. 

Baring your ankles while adorning these jeans always gives them a gentler appearance. Teaming up a pair of jeans with a soft white t-shirt (or a neutral colored one) makes the outfit versatile enough to be embellished with bright hues. Blossom patterns have gotten plenty of love from the street style - this week we have used an orange, magenta-pink, blue and yellow paisley fully-embroidered clutch from Sandhya Raj Designs, paired with floral pumps that seamlessly contrast the outfit. Pumps always kick it up a notch and make any outfit dressier. Throw on a matching orange & white scarf, some gold & pearl jewelry to compliment the neutral side of the outfit, and you’re ready to channel the season’s dreamiest street-style trend.

In order to make the outfit more casual, swapping out the pumps for a pair of ballet-flats such as the orange ones below, makes the attire aesthetically appealing while keeping the comfort-fit.

TIME TO SEEK THE HIDE: LEATHER UP!

As fickle as fashion is, there are some styles that are timeless. One such style that always rocks my world is the leather jacket. It is one of those unique unisex trends that stands the test of time. This fashion trend had a very practical beginning before colliding with fashion; it was first seen when fighter pilots sported them during WWI. In the 1950s, Hollywood evolved this trend into the icon for the rebellious culture aka Marlon Brando in The Wild One; thus embracing it as the perfect wardrobe for the perfect “bad boy.” Give a teenager a motorcycle and throw on a leather jacket, and he was seen as a rebel including the lovable Fonzie from Happy Days. Over the years, the leather jacket became quintessential to rock stars which eventually became synonymous with street style.

WOMEN'S FASHION TRENDS

Diane von Furstenberg Pre-Fall 2016
Photo: Courtesy of Diane von Furstenberg
Source: vogue.com                                                                                                                            

Chloé Fall 2016 RTW
Photo: Kim Weston Arnold
Source: vogue.com
 

MEN'S FASHION TRENDS

Balmain Fall 2016 Menswear
Photo: Monica Feudi
Source: vogue.com

Canali Fall 2016 Menswear
Photo: Kim Weston Arnold
Source: vogue.com

SANDHYA RAJ DESIGNS

In collaboration with Theo&Ash, I designed their leather jacket collection that showcased this fashion staple in Theo & Ash's vintage yet ruggedly sophisticated style. 

Theo & Ash
source: http://www.theoandash.com/

Theo & Ash
source: http://www.theoandash.com/

CELEBRITY SIGHTING!

Bollywood star, Ayushmann Khurrana, was seen sporting a blue leather Theo&Ash jacket that I designed for their menswear collection. He paired it with a color-matching, printed button down shirt and pink-accented bowtie, making his overall appearance oh-so-dapper!!

Fashionably Yours,
Sandhya
 

FLORA IS THE NEW FAUNA OF FASHION

The creators of fashion have taken on an atypical, flamboyant beast for this Fall’s fashion trends –soft flowers and bright colors, with East-meets-West silhouettes, are now ruling the fashion jungle.

Dolce & Gabbana, Winter 2016                                                                                                           
Source: dolcegabbana.com

     DELPOZO                                       Dolce & Gabbana                                     TED BAKER     

               Embellished Gloves                              Boxed-clutch                                        Pointy Pump                                          Source: Vogue.com                                         Source: dolcegabbana.com                          Source: tedbaker.com

FASHION TRENDS

BLOSSOM BLING

Many designers made their regal stamp this Fall 2016. A dazzling assortment of embellishments in botanical designs such as vines, creepers, damask and floral prints were seen blooming on the runway.

Marchesa Fall 2016 RTW        Photo by Luca Tombolini     Source: vogue.com

   Balmain Fall 2016 RTW         Photo by Monica Feudi        Source: vogue.com

 Reem Acra Fall 2016 RTW         Photo by Marcus Tondo         Source: vogue.com

Pumps with Daisy Jewels: $1,295 dolcegabbana.com

              Oscar de La Renta Floral Crystal Bag: $1,890               oscardelarenta.com

           Loulou de La Falaise 24K Gold Leaf                      Necklace: $2,910                                                          modaoperandi.com

          OUR DESIGN               

Here’s our rendition of blossom and bling coming together in this gorgeous gown. This gown has a train so fabulous that it will ‘chu-chu’ its way into making the wearer the belle of any Ball. The gown is entirely hand-embroidered with white thread, pearls, and blush-pink and white French bud-roses. The glitzy fabric is the perfect base for such elaborate work making the fabric twinkle as it sways.

Fashionably Yours,