Fashion | Beauty | Body Positivity | Lifestyle

Of late I have been trying to step out of my personal comfort zone and try out new things. Since 2015 started I have only read book by authors I have never read before, experimented with my writing style and decided to put my inhibitions aside and finally give personal style blogging a serious try.

Must admit, so far, so good!

I owe this self-growth to my almost 4 years of fashion blogging. In many ways, I have learnt to accept the new and adapt to change thanks to my journey as a fashion blogger.

The nature of the job is such; it requires you to step into uncharted waters for your own progress. Sometimes it can be tricky, most of the times it is rewarding.

Staying true to the spirit of trying out new things, I recently got acquainted with Trendin.com
Everything from corporate attire to casual outfits to Indian ensembles is available under one roof. Trendin is a fashion lover's paradise.

Being plus size I don’t always get my size easily on most Indian e-commerce sites. However, I was pleasantly surprised to find some really good pieces in my size. While the western section had limited plus size options, the Indian and fusion section did not disappoint.

My love for layering is one of my major personal style evolution & achievement that is the direct result of blogging.

Ever since I started layering clothes, I have been constantly experimenting with new ways of doing so.

For my first look, I decided to layer two kurtas together- A classic fit, teal Rang Manch kurta with a bright yellow high-low hem, button front Rang Manch kurta.

Opting to take a sartorial risk, I chose to style the yellow kurta in this manner so that it takes the form of a cape style jacket and gives the otherwise humble kurta an interesting contemporary spin.

Completed this bright and colourful look with a pair of beige Van Heusen wedges and gold earrings.

Along with layering, I love styling vibrant colours. I decided to style both the looks in contrasting colours, so that the final result is an eye catching colour block look.

The second look is less street style and more everyday wear friendly.

Swapping the long yellow kurta with a cropped multi colour printed Akkriti jacket.
With just a silhouette and colour change, the traditional pairing of kurta and pants gets an interesting fusion touch that ups it style quotient by many notches.

Featuring: TRENDIN.COM

Along with being experimental, both the looks are plus size flattering too. The layering doesn’t add any bulk and the final look is sophisticated and chic.

My overall experience with Trendin.com has been an extremely delightful one. From transaction to delivery everything was smooth sailing. I received my order in less than 24 hours of ordering. That was very impressive.

Trendin.com is an initiative of Madura Fashion & Lifestyle and I am quite familiar with most Madura brands. Therefore I decided to try out brands I have never tried before.

Form quality to fit to finish, I was glad I made this choice. Not only did I get to try out new brands, but I also got a chance to experiment with my looks.

My only suggestion is, please add more plus size clothing options, especially in the western section. They were quite a few pieces that I had my eye on, but due to lack of size availability I had to forgo them.

If you are looking for affordable, luxurious, high-end style that cater to every age group, from women, men to children, head straight to Trendin.com

Photography by Suraj Warrier

Till then, tra-la,

Amena!!
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I am a strong believer of dressing according to your body type, but I vehemently oppose any rules that restrict women of any size from dressing the way she wants to.
For those who do not know, there is a huge difference between body type and body size.
Body type is your body's basic structure, often described as apple, pear or hourglass.
Body size is the current shape of your body, like small, medium or large.
Body size can fluctuate but body type rarely changes.

When I was younger, I was petrified of fashion trends, because I was what Indian society fondly calls a ‘chubby girl’.

Ironically, this was around the same time I was applying to fashion schools.

To make matters worse, every magazine and fashion related option piece categorically chose to ignore women of my stature and all they could offer me was a list of fashion no-nos!

Back then you were either thin or fat and the concept of plus size had still not arrived in India.

You can’t wear this, you can’t flaunt your that and so on, till I had convinced myself that the only outfit well suited for me was baggy t-shirts and black track pants or loose jeans.

Honestly, for the longest time, I have been guilty of letting these so called ‘fat girl fashion rules’ control what I wear and how I wear it.

However, over the course of time I have managed to figure my body out, learnt to accept it the way it is and work with my assets.

The one thing I have learnt during my journey is, all these plus size fashion rules and no-nos are just another way to make plus size women feel uncomfortable about their bodies since they don’t fit into the standard norm of beauty.

Ladies, it is time to break these plus size fashion rules, ditch our inhibitions and embrace fashion in all its glory!
Once you start experimenting with fashion, there is a whole new world of possibilities out there for you. And instead of fearing fashion you are bound to fall in love with it.

Old Rule: Black is your only friend!

Plus Size Fashion Blogger India-Fashionopolis-Breaking Plus Size Fashion Rules & Myths-Plus Size Fashion

Marks & Spencer Neon Shirt | Marks & Spencer Cobalt Pants | Dune Gold Pumps | Accessorize Necklace

Collage outfit details here

New Rule: For the longest time I covered myself up in all things black hoping it would make me look a little less round. Big mistake!
While black is known for its slimming qualities (not always though), it is just too absurd to make it the sole colour of your wardrobe!

The real trick to wearing bright colours is to select a fit and silhouette that complements your body type. Once you have figured out what works for you, you too can totally rock a bright and bold colour block look like your favourite fashionista.

Old Rule: Layering is not for the like of you.

Collage outfit details here

New Rule: This rule is usually accompanied by, “more clothes will add more bulk”.
Since I believed this to be true, I made it my life’s mission to avoid wearing more clothes than need be and deprived myself the joy of layering.

When I finally found the guts to give layering a try (happened in 2015 for the first time) I finally realised what a foolish rule this is.

For starters, layering does not add bulk, it is the fabric of the garment that does. So anyone who layers two thick fabrics together is going to look bigger than their normal size.

The key to acing a layered look is by selecting the right fabric and silhouette for the look. Once you figure this out, there are limitless styles in which you can layer your look.

If layered with correct fabric and silhouette, the final look can be aesthetically appealing and figure flattering.

Old Rule: Mixing prints and patterns is so not your thing!

Collage outfit details here

New Rule: There was a time where plus size women were discouraged from wearing too much print and suggested to opt for the smallest pattern possible. God forbid the print should draw attention to our “flaws and imperfections”.

While many plus size women prefer to keep a safe distance from bold and dramatic prints, most of then completely avoid pattern mixing of any kind.

Honestly, print mix is not an easy trend to pull off, but by no means is it impossible.

The trick is to find balancing prints. Prints that complement each other in shape, design or colour as well as are flattering to your body type. Just in the case of colour blocking, it all comes down to the fit and silhouette of the garments. Once you got all these factors aligned, you’re all set to flaunt an eye catching print mix look just like your fave street style goddess.

Old Rule: Go Loose or Go Home!

Marks & Spencer Top | AND Jeans | Zara Necklace | Forever 21 Flat Sandals
Collage outfit details here
New Rule:Since I can remember curvy and plus size women have been made to believe that fitted clothes are their biggest nemesis and will draw unwanted attention to every bump and lump they so desperately want to hide. The best way to take all that attention away is by covering yourself up in loose, oversized and ill-fitted clothes.

This is one of those unspoken rule that has been passed down from generation to generation without really being question.

But here’s the biggest paradox- Trying to cover your curves and fuller figure with loose and shapeless silhouettes will not only make you look bigger than your normal size, it will also hide all your assets.

Instead of trying to cover up, opt for something that fits you well and shows off your curves without clinging to them uncomfortably. This way you end up looking the exact size that you are and not a shapeless entity!

Honestly, there is no shame in having a fuller figure, or wanting to flaunt those curves off.

Most of the times I prefer to play it by the rules but when it comes to fashion I suggest go and break some rules! I don't think it's fair for women of a certain size to feel fashion is not for them. I have always believed fashion is for women of all shapes and size. You just have to find your own style and be comfortable in it.

Till then, tra-la,

Amena!!
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The recently concluded Lakmé Fashion Week Winter/Festive 2015 saw designers showcasing their best offerings for the upcoming season.

While some managed to get everyone buzzing with their ingenuity, others, played it safe.
However, there were a few designers who managed to create innovative pieces while staying true to their own roots.

Tarun Tahiliani’s ‘Easy Glamour’ was one such collection that managed to offer something novel and original at the same time stayed true to the designer’s trademark aesthetics.

Reliance Trends Presents Tarun Tahiliani-Lakmé Fashion Week Winter/Festive 2015-Fashionopolis-Amena

Second time round collaborating with Reliance Trends, this collaboration offers Tarun the perfect platform to showcase his ready-to-wear line.

Seeking inspiration in a variety of things, strong Russian and Central Asian influences could be spotted in the bold and colourful stripes and exotic prints. Shiraz inspired mosaics along with carpet weaves and concentric borders gave the collection a sophisticated tribal gypsy vibe that complement the theme of easy separates and fusion styling.

A traditional autumn winter palette, the collection was a great mix of black creations with occasional bursts of rust, mustard, steel grey, olive and blue.

The silhouettes were a blend of structured pieces and drapes. From capes, capelets, jumpsuits and saris to kaftans, tunics and shift dresses, the collection had something for everyone.

Saris and kurtas were paired with gilets and capelets and kedia style blouses with skirts. Satin draped lungi cowl gowns, saris with velvet obe belts and printed tees with dhotis, offered an interesting mix of silhouettes and style.

Evolving from the dhoti sari, the star of the collection was the jumpsuit sari. The traditional sari gets reinvented yet again till it’s a jumpsuit with pleats and a draped dupatta requiring only a single zipper to fasten it.

Bringing a glamorous end to the show was the sultry Chitrangada Singh in a black draped gown and velvet and gold embellished cape.

The standout feature of the collection is the Indo-Western fusion and easy to mix and match separates.

For this collection, Tarun uses his couturier skills to create a prêt collection that is aesthetically beautiful, versatile and contemporary.

Tarun Tahiliani is not just one of India's leading designers he is also one of my favourite. One of the few designers who consistently season after season showcases stellar collection that leaves you spellbound and wanting more.

Till then, tra-la,

Amena!!
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It all started with this one tweet from Sachin Tendulkar to Virat Kohli and Virat’s cheeky reply to that tweet.

And then, like they say, rest is history.

WROGNAuditions-WinAHangoverInLasVegas-ViratKohli-SachinTendulkar-Game-Contest-MensFashion-Amena-Fashionopolis

Image source
Tweets from Sachin Tendulkar and Virat Kohli's official handle.

So what exactly got the current captain of India’s cricket team and the Master Blaster indulging in some healthy Twitter repartee?

A game, of course! But not the one these two are famous for playing.

This is a one-of-a-kind, lifetime opportunity game that can make you win a Hangover style trip to Las Vegas with 3 of your best friends!

Wondering how exactly can you make that happen? Then drop everything you are doing head straight for the Wrogn Auditions.

The Wrogn Auditions is a campaign by Wrogn, a breakaway men’s fashion brand.

Staying true to the brand's philosophy, the campaign is a unique concept that invites audience to ‘Audition’ and try their luck at winning a Hangover in Las Vegas.

The only thing standing between you and your dream Hangover style trip to Las Vegas are a set of 10 question.

Simple, right? No, not really! To crack all 10 questions and levels you need to impress Virat with your answers.

In his trademark cool and dapper demeanour Virat asks some brain teasing questions. As you progress the questions keep getting trickier! On top of that, you have a timer to keep an eye out for!
But then, when it comes to Vegas, the stakes are always high!

WROGNAuditions-ViratKohli-WinAHangoverInLasVegas-Game-Contest-MensFashion-Amena-Fashionopolis

Collage made by Khalid Azeez

From the minute I found out about the game, I was completely intrigued by it and decided to give it a try.

With a dramatic design, eye-catching graphics and cool sound effects the game has you hooked on from the minute you press play.

On my first attempt I got out on the third stage. Not one to accept defeat, I decided to give it another try and managed to ace it. Answered all 10 questions! If I may say, Virat was might impressed!

Without revealing too much, the trick to acing the Wrogn Auditions is having a clear mind and answering in a smart and clever manner.

I know this does not sound much or very helpful, but trust me, this is all you need to crack all 10 levels of the game and get yourself closer to the jackpot.

As much as I would like to share more about the Wrogn Auditions, I do not want to spoil the fun of the game for you.

My only suggestion is, go and give it a try. You never know, you just might be the lucky one to win a Hangover in Las Vegas.

What are you waiting for? Start playing now! Who knows, you could be the wrogn one to win it all!

Till then, tra-la,

Amena!!
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I am not a morning person. I am just not! I have tried becoming one, but it has never really worked out.
I have always envied those people who are all bright and chirpy first thing in the morning.
To help me become a more morning loving person my friend introduced me to Clean & Clear Morning Energy Face Wash.
Her logic, anything that can infuse me with a dose of energy in the morning, I should try it out and see!

Since I have tried out everything from herbal tea to meditation techniques, I decided to give the face wash try. Anything that will help me hate the mornings a little less.

While the face wash has not made me a morning person, it has managed to energize my skin and retain the morning freshness throughout the day.
Trust me,like me, if you are someone who is doomed with oily skin, any product that can make your skin look fresh throughout the day is a boon.

I have been using Clean & Clear Morning Energy face wash for over 10 days now. As the days progress, I have started seeing the results. While there has not been a drastic change the overall results have been positive.
After I started using the face wash my face looks less oily and shiny, which is a major blessing for someone with oily skin.

Here are my views about Clean & Clear Morning Energy Face Wash.

Clean&ClearMorningEnergyFaceWash-WithBurstingBeads-Review-SkinCare-Amena-Fashionopolis

Creatives by Digital Daku

Clean & Clear Morning Energy face wash works like a magician and brightens up the dullest skin. Thanks to the bursting beads, you can get a burst of morning energy at any time of the day.
The face wash is available in three fruity variants. Each one has a distinct, no-overpowering scent that lingers in a pleasant way.
The rich foam lathers well and thoroughly removes all excess oil and dirt. The special ingredients help prevent common skin irritation without drying your skin.

The highlight of Clean & Clear Morning Energy face wash is the bursting beads- its trademark feature. These beads gently burst and exfoliate your skin and leave it looking fresh and glowing.

As much as I love the product, it is Clean & Clear Morning Energy Face Wash’s #SeeTheRealMe campaign that has won me over.

Through the #seetherealme campaign, teenage girls are encouraged to show the world who they really are and not give too much attention to what people think about their looks or complexion, hair, clothes or shape.
With so much pressure on women, especially teenage girls, to look a particular way, this campaign comes as a breathe of fresh air. It emboldens teen girls to be proud of who they are and let the world #seetherealme!

Please Note: Before using/ buying any of these products please make sure they are right match and compatible with your skin type.

Till then, tra-la,

Amena!!
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For the longest time I have been wanting to expand my blog. Add a variety of things without diluting its true essence. Since I don’t fancy myself a food or travel expert, like many other fashion bloggers, I could not branch out into those genres.

I decided to go with something that I am extremely passionate about as well as have quite a bit of knowledge about the subject. Nothing better than books fits the bill perfectly!

I have always loved books and reviewing it comes naturally to me. However, unlike my Lit days where the book review was more structured and technical this one is purely on an emotional level.

I have met people whose lives have changed after reading Dante's Inferno or Charles Darwin’s The Descent of Man. Their whole outlook on life changed. I never really experienced that with either of those two writers or their works; or many others, for that matter.

Little did I know, a modern day novel would have a profound impact on me. Never did I imagine, that after reading the book I would start seeing life through a whole new spectrum.

My experience during and after reading Me Before You, by British writer Jojo Moyes, compelled me to write about it.
For my first every book review on the blog I decided to start with Me Before You. It is my first book by Jojo Moyes and it has left me wanting, no craving, for more!

JojoMoyes-MeBeforeYou-BookReview-Amena-Fashionopolis

Photography by Suraj Warrier

On the surface level, the novel tells the poignant story of two diametrically opposite people put together in a difficult situation and their journey through it.

Louisa ‘Lou’ Clark, “one of the invisibles”, British girl hired to care for, William ‘Will’ Traynor, a bitter quadriplegic.

There is nothing new about this storyline. What makes this book stand out is how Jojo Moyes has shaped her characters and their struggles to bring to life an emotional, romantic and grounded in reality story to life.

While elements of fantasy and romance are interweaved into the story, at no point does it ever lose its grip on reality.

Moyes manages to walk the fine line between romantic fantasy and reality. At no point did one side infringe on the other.

She does not mislead us into believing otherwise not did she sugarcoat the hard part. Like Will, Lou and everyone else, the readers too have to face the hard parts.

Here’s how Moyes aced the hardest part of the book. She did not get harsh or overly emotional about it. She dealt it with the finesse it required. And like Lou, the readers experienced the worst of heartache in a sublime manner that is heartbreaking and cathartic.

One of the many reasons why I loved Me Before You with such a passion is, I have never connected with a character as strongly as I did with Lou. (The last time I made such a strong connection with a character, it was Jamila from Hanif Kureishi’s The Buddha of Suburbia)

Most of times you could replace Lou with Amena. Like Lou, I am a creature of familiar. I don’t like taking risk or stepping out of my comfort. I dislike change of any kind.
I completely connected with Lou and her inherent qualities and personal struggles.

Lou is the quintessential girl next door, living in a small English town with her parents and sister and dating a guy who is more interested in marathons than her.

She has been working in the same job for years and had the café she worked in not shut, she would have worked there forever. Loss of employment and her parents’ financial crunch makes her take up the job of Will’s caretaker.

From their first meet, Will makes it very clear that Lou is not wanted and he makes sure she knows it too.

Lou knows she is unwelcome and is ready to leave until she finds out the reason why she has been hired. The reason not only shakes her but also makes her determine to make sure things don’t go as Will's plan.

In the process of doing this, Lou, with the help of Will, truly discovers herself. And through Lou, Will gets to partly relive the life he once had.

Will makes her realise that even though she is physically fit as a fiddle, she’s emotionally paralysed. For almost 7 year she has let a past incident hold her back- from exploring and living her life to the fullest.

In contrast to Lou, Will, who for the past two years has be prisoned within the four wheels of his wheelchair, due to a motorbike accident, is constantly buzzing. His body may not function like it used to, but his mind is a livewire. He introduces Lou to new authors, foreign cinema and the world beyond. He shows Lou her real potentials and what she is missing. He pushes, until she herself is desirous of wanting more.

In may ways Will reminds me of Augustus ‘Gus’ Waters from The Fault in Our Stars. Both men are in the peak of their life-Gus in his teens, Will in his youth, when they both become victims of fate that change their lives forever.

While their personalities differ- Gus full of life, Will bitter- in their own way they help the women they love discover herself and grown. They open new horizons for the women in their lives by showing them the joys of life and living their life to the fullest.

Will’s sharp wit and intelligent personality radiates through out the book, it is when he is put in the same room as Lou’s overly fit boyfriend does one see his real charisma and the glimmer of the man he was before the accident.

While Patrick tries and fails to impress Lou and her family with his marathon stories, it is Will, with just his words and kind act that manages to leave them all enthralled.

The clever juxtaposing of the two-Will in a wheelchair yet dynamic and Patrick, robust and virile, yet dull and boring-by Moyes is one of the best scenes in the book.

The best part about the book is the title: Me Before You.

The title with the briefest of words captures the true essence of the book. In three small words it says it all- putting my life, my need, wants, desires and choices before you or anyone else and not feeling guilty about it.

This can only happen if one has the freedom and power of making their own choices. The central theme of the book is power of choice. The freedom to make those decisions for yourself and not feels guilty about it.

And staying true to the title, Will does put himself before everyone else who loves him and no one can really do anything about it except support him.

While exercising his rights to do with his life as he pleases he teaches Lou a very valuable lesson. He liberates her from her inhibitions and pushes her to explore the unknown and to live her life to its fullest potential.

There is a lot more I can write about this book. I rather you read and explore it on your own. For a book like Me Before You stays with you for a long time. You don’t want it to end and yet you can’t wait to find out how the story unfolds. This book is my favourite one of 2015.

I have tried to keep my review different from the run of the mill kind. I hope you all like it.

Till then, tra-la,

Amena!!

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For most people a new season arrives with the changing of leaves and the rise and fall in temperature is an indication of the beginning of a new season.

In the fashion world, a new season arrives with the opening night of a new fashion week, that brings with it new trends for the upcoming season.

Like every season, Lakmé Fashion Week Winter/Festive 2015 was also abundant in trends. However, this season had quite a few micro trends that were as strong as the main trends, making it really difficult to pick favourites.
After careful deliberation these are some of the trends that I think are a must try from the upcoming winter festive season.

From Left To Right: Armaan Aiman, Nachiket Barve, Huemn, Masaba Gupta, AM:PM

Attention, animal lovers! This trend may just be the perfect one to show off your love for your furry and feathery friends.

For Lakmé Fashion Week Winter/Festive 2015, designers found inspiration in the jungle.

From in-your-face giraffe print motif to bold horse prints to sophisticated fox to delicate swirling swallows, the jungle resident have taken over the ramp!

From Left To Right: Sonaakshi Raaj, Nachiket Barve, Neeta Lulla, Tarun Tahiliani, Ridhi Mehra

Step aside Batman there is a new cape crusader in town! No longer just for superheroes, the cape is officially the IT fashion trend of the season.

From long and dramatic to short and structured, every designer was set on showing some version of the cape at Lakmé Fashion Week Winter/Festive 2015.

From Left To Right: Vrisa by Rahul N Shikha, Jodi, Sidhartha Bansal, Ajay Kumar, Aartivijay Gupta

This season of Lakmé Fashion Week saw prints of all shapes, sizes, design and colours. From floral to fruity and from animal to artsy, prints of all kinds made an appearances. While some designer deiced to match it the others clashed it.
No matter what their styling preference and technique was, prints ruled at Lakmé Fashion Week Winter/Festive 2015.

From Left To Right: AM:PM, Ridhi Mehra, Arpita Mehta, Urvashi Kaur, Sonaakshi Raaj

If there is one trend you would least expect to see during the festive winter season, it is this one. Quintessentially a summer trend, off shoulder is now making its presence felt during the festive winter season too.

From Aprita Mehta’s mirrored choli to Urvashi Kaur's asymmetrical jacket, baring the shoulders was quite a popular style with the designers.

From Left To Right: Namrata Joshipura, Arpita Mehta, Monisha Jaising, Abu Jani and Sandeep Khosla, Payal Singhal

Let’s face it- festive winter season and metallics go hand in hand. This season too saw an wide variety of metallic in different styles, materials, textures and surface ornamentation.

From Monisha Jaising’s old Hollywood glam gowns to Namrata Joshipura futuristic Holographic fabrics, Lakmé Fashion Week Winter/Festive 2015 was a glittery affair.

Creatives by Digital Daku

Till then, tra-la,

Amena!!
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As mentioned in Part I of my Lakmé Fashion Week Winter/Festive 2015 Trend Report, this season, the trends were very strong, making the selection process a tad bit difficult.

However, after a careful evaluation, I finally narrowed it down to these.

Here is Part II of Lakmé Fashion Week Winter/Festive 2015 Trend Report.

From Left To Right: Ritu Kumar, Swati & Sunaina, Shruti Sancheti, Gaurang, Swati Vijaivargie

While every season of Lakmé Fashion Week celebrates the rich heritage of Indian textiles, this season saw a new wave of Indian textiles and rural handwork.
From celebrating the traditional weaves of Banaras to ahir embroidery from Gujarat, ikat from Karnataka and Hyderabad and hand-block prints in Anita Dongre’s Grassroot collection, Lakmé Fashion Week Winter/Festive 2015 was an ode to Indian textiles and crafts.

From Left To Right: AM:PM, Payal Singhal, Urvashi Kaur, Nachiket Barve, Quirk Box

No longer a taboo colour for the festive season, black was a favourite choice at Lakmé Fashion Week Winter/Festive 2015. The classic black and white combination made its appearance on all 5 days of Lakmé Fashion Week Winter/Festive 2015

From AM:PM’s block print separates to Payal Singhal’s black and silver embellished Indo-Western pieces, this classic duo was found in a variety of silhouettes and styles.

From Left To Right: Nikhil Thampi, Ritu Kumar, Myoho, Tarun Tahiliani, Neeta Lulla

No festive winter fashion week is complete without its share of sarees. While some designer stuck to the classic drapes, others tried to change the game around and create an all-new saree.

Foregoing the classic petticoat, Ritu Kumar chose to drape her saree on a pair of chuddiar while Nikhil Thampi decided to play around with the hemline and add an element of sheer to it and Tarun Tahiliani took it further by getting inspired by the dhoti and creating a jumpsuit saree.

This season of Lakmé Fashion Week saw a new avatar of saree that has left us wanting for more.

From Left To Right: Sonaakshi Raaj, Chiria, Nikasha, Rinku Sobti, Shivangi Sahni

This season, designers seem to be in a fringe state of mind!

From Nikasha’s flapper-style fringe to Shivangi Sahni’s boho-luxe tassels to Chiria’s beaded tribal inspired piece, fringe seems to be the preferred trimming of the season.

Adorning everything from jackets to capes to evening gowns, the fringe trend is worth giving a go.

From Left To Right: Ishita Mangal, Kriti Tula, Ka-Sha, Rouka, Divya Sheth

Layering up for the cooler climate is a norm. However, designers were not layering up to stay warm. They were doing it to stay on trend. From silhouette mix to texture play and from fusion styling to traditional India attire, layering was one of the most the popular trends for Lakmé Fashion Week Winter/Festive 2015.

Creatives by Digital Daku

Till then, tra-la,

Amena!!
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At some point in life you need to take a leap of faith and follow your own heart. The first time I did that was when I decided to quit college and go to fashion school.

Never in a billion years did I think it would be my first eye-opener to the real world.

Since fashion school is primarily about sketching, sourcing and sowing my dad suggested I buy shoes that would be comfortable for doing all my tasks and activities. That is how I discovered Converse.

While looking for comfortable shoes we ended picking my first pair of non-gym sneakers. Before getting a pair of Converse, I used to only wear sneakers for an out of town holiday or at the gym.

To think back to it – I started my career in fashion in a pair of Converse.

Since we use our feet for practically everything we do, our shoes are invariable a part of our life’s journey.
They are with us when we start a new journey or scaling the heights of success. They dance with us in our moments of happiness or help us navigate a rough patch.

At some point your shoe stops being just a shoe and become an integral part of who you are.

This is exactly the philosophy of Converse Chuck Taylor All Star series.

The Chuck is not just a sneaker, but an idea. Every new pair carries a powerful message: This is your blank canvas waiting to be filled, ultimately becoming a unique celebration of your true, authentic self.

Last month, Converse introduced its biggest campaign, Made By You, to celebrate its iconic Chuck Taylor All Star shoes.
The core concept of the campaign is, Converse patrons are given a chance to transform their beloved Chucks from canvas sneaker into an artistic canvas.

The main aim of Converse ‘Made By You’ campaign is to combines customisation and visual storytelling and give consumers a chance to show off their individuality, their emotions, their lives, and their true, authentic self.

Whether you are a famous celebrity travelling the world or a girl next door trying to make her mark, your Chucks tell a story. Your story.

When I got a chance to tell my story through my Chucks I knew exactly what I wanted it to be.
There are a lot of things that make me who I am. I am a voracious reader, an avid sudoku player, a fashion lover, a devout pop culture junkie, a wannabe political analyst, an aspiring traveler and so on. But the one word that describes me perfectly is – Feminist.
Above everything else, I am an egalitarian who is a strong believer of gender equality, equal pay, equal marriage, equal parenting and equal rights.

Featuring: CONVERSE (MADE BY YOU)

L'Oreal Paris Star Collection Lip Color Pure Scarleto| Loreal Paris Superliner Waterproof Gel Eyeliner | Smashbox Full Exposure Waterproof Mascara

Other than expressing my true, authentic self, I also chose to get the word #Feminist painted on my Chucks as a way of paying homage to all those feminists who have paved the way for my generation.

Form Mary Wollstonecraft to the Suffragettes to Gloria Steinem to Emma Watson and many other nameless women and men who have fought for women’s rights and gender equality.
The best way for me to express my gratitude as well as carry forward the feminist legacy is by unabashedly pledge my allegiance to feminism and everything it represents.

Whenever I wear my pair of red Converse Chuck Taylor All Star sneakers, it brings to life a very intrinsic part of me and lets me show my personality and beliefs in a creative way.

Like me, if you too feel passionate about something and want to show your love and support for the same, Converse Chuck Taylor All Star sneakers are the perfect canvas to do so and let the world know that those Chucks not just represent you but also are Made By You!

Photography by Suraj Warrier | Collages by Digital Daku

Till then, tra-la,

Amena!!
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The one thing I have learnt during my years working as a fashion designer is, most women are really very clueless!

Oh, they know the latest trends and the kind of dress they want, the fabric the colour right down to the shade of the sequins.

However, most of them are happily unaware of the most integral detail: their body shape.

I have spent endless hours explaining to brides-to-be and clients why their dream outfit is just wrong for their body.

While some will say, “I am thin. I can carry off anything!” the others will say, “But this looked great on Kareena Kapoor and my body is similar to hers!”

Yes, you are thin, and yes, you have a “similar” body to a Bollywood actress, but that alone is not enough to decide if a specific outfit is apt for your body shape or not.

Our bodies have a specific structure that can largely be broken down into four basic shapes: Apple, Pear, Rectangle and Hourglass.

Each shape has a certain set of characteristics that differentiates it from the other. (Keep in mind – body shape is not the same as body size. Body size is an individual’s body measurement. So someone who is a size 2 can be a pear and so can someone who is a size 22)

Illustrations via Cristina Alonso | Creatives by Digital Daku

Not sure whether you are a pear, apple, rectangle or hourglass and wondering, “what is my body shape?” Head to Myntra app for all your answers.

To help you find the right fit for your body shape and type, Myntra has launched a brilliant feature called Shop by Shape.
The Shop by Shape Guide helps you identify your body shape and type, offers suggestions on how to flatter your shape and find pieces that best suit a particular shape.

Not only will this feature help you understand your own body shape better, but it will offer recommendation and help find clothes that best suit you body type and shape.

What I love about Myntra’s Shop by Shape feature is, along with educating women about their own bodies, it also celebrates body diversity. Women of all shapes can now find something for themselves.

In a country with diverse body types and shapes, Myntra is helping women of all shapes find the perfect fit for their body type.

Till then, tra-la,

Amena!!
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There is an age-old debate: Can fashion be comfortable? Is it possible for these two to function in tandem? Or is fashion and comfort mutually exclusive?

With people now aspiring to dress in a fashionable manner as well as be comfortable, more and more fashion brands are trying to put an end to the fashion vs comfort dichotomy and create something that is a blend of both.

That is how Liva was born.

For those who do not know, Liva is a new age, eco-friendly, high quality, soft, fluid fabric made from natural (wood pulp) cellulosic fibers.
Liva recently launched its #UnboxWithLiva campaign that is all set to break the stereotype that fashion and comfort cannot coexists together. The main aim of the campaign is to put an end to the fashion vs comfort debate by offering both at the same time.

The fabric is the spine and foundation of a garment and is often the unsung hero of fashion. Therefore, this post is all about celebrating Liva.

The look for the post has been planed with the aim to highlight the key features of Liva.
I have layered two high-low hem tunics together. Both of them are from Global Desi and belong to the pink family. The inner one is on the coral side with cerulean blue embroidery. The outer printed tunic, styled as a duster coat, is in fuchsia pink. To make the pink colours stand out I paired it with a contrast cobalt blue pants.

No stranger to Liva, I have loved it ever since I discovered it. These are the reasons why I am a fan of the fabric.

Free Flowing Fluidity

The key feature of Liva is fluidity. The fabric’s inherent free flowing characteristic makes Liva a perfect choice for a number of silhouettes and drapes.

From tunics to palazzos and from structured jackets to flowy dresses, the fabric can be styled into a variety of shapes and designs.

Plus Size Friendly and Flatters All Body Shapes

Being plus size I always look for fabrics that drape well on my body and do not make me look larger than my size or shapeless.

Since the USP of Liva is fluidity, the fabric has a graceful fall that drapes beautifully on every body shape and size. While it is lightweight, the fabric is not flimsy. What I most love about Liva is, at no time does it add bulk. Even when layering multiple pieces the overall look is body shape and size flattering.

This is boon for any body shape or size, but for plus size it is a matter of joy. This feature of Liva makes it easy for us plus size women to pick form-flattering garments in a variety of styles and silhouette, plus, gives us the confidence to layer pieces together.

Vibrant Colours

Liva has a natural sheen to it that adds to the vibrancy of the colours. If you look at any Liva garment, whether it is in a bright or pastel shade, the colours stand out. Even the most somber colour has a rich and lustrous look to it.

Liva is a durable fabric too. The colour does not fade even after multiple washes.

Natural and Comfortable

Liva is made from natural cellulosic fibers because of which it has great absorption ability and breathability that allows the skin to breathe easily and provide comfort even on the most hot and humid days.

Along with being skin friendly, Liva, compared to other natural fabrics such as cotton and linen, creases much lesser.

Eco-Friendly

Liva is made from natural fibres, produced from wood pulp. This is a natural renewable resource. The pulp used is from the trees that are specially grown for this purpose and more trees are planted than cut down. The best part is, it conserves more water in comparison to other natural fabrics.

Featuring: LIVA

With the growing need and demand for minimising the gap between quality fashion and wearable comfort, Liva has been pioneer on that front. Offering consumer a product that is a fine balance of fashion and comfort.

Along with being fluid, lustrous, skin-friendly fabric, Liva is also ideal for all weathers, flattering to all body types and suited for most occasion.

Photography by Suraj Warrier

Till then, tra-la,

Amena!!
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“To lose confidence in one’s body is to lose confidence in oneself.” - Simone de Beauvoir

A new year is a sign of new things. As the famous saying goes, out with the old, in with the new! Though 2016 is a promise of all things new, by no means am I unlearning my past lessons.

2015 is the year my journey from body shaming to body positive was complete. As a plus size fashion blogger I learnt a lot of things and I am taking those teachings along with me to promising 2016.

Plus Size Print Mix Look - Plus Size Styling - Plus Size Fashion Blogger

Done with Shame!

2015 is when I, finally, once and for all, broke up with shame. For far too long I had given it way too much importance in my life. From my body to my relationship status to my personality and lifestyle choices, everything was open to shame.

Well-wishers and random strangers, both, could at any given time pick a topic of their choice and find ways to shame me with it while I pretended it was not me they were doing it to.

I pretty much let everyone around me shame me. Worse, I shamed myself too!

After years of letting shame win, I decided it was time to go our own way and call it quits for good.

The problem is, we let people dictate what is right and wrong for us and in the process hate on who we are and what we already have. The whole world has body shamed me for being fat. Guess what, I shamed myself more. Everyone I know has at some point shamed me for my unconventional career choices. I did it too. Same goes for love life, marriage, eating habits, and so on. It all ends now! Instead of blaming the world I decided to stop their control over me.

I am done with shame! You can’t shame me anymore. You can try, but I promise you, you won’t succeed!

Peace With Myself

Carl Jung said, “The most terrifying thing is to accept oneself completely.”

After years of shame and denial I have finally leant to accept myself for who I really am and be proud of it. We all cannot be the same so there is no point trying to.

The biggest game changer for me was making peace with being fat.

I stopped treating fat as an abusive word and started seeing it for what it is - an adjective that describes me and not defines me. A descriptive word rather than a derogative term.

I shamed myself for being fat. For not being able to lose weight like others and for not hating myself enough for being fat. It was a paradox. I hated being fat but I somehow still loved myself.

I finally made peace with being fat. I stopped letting it control me. More importantly, I stopped letting people use it as a way to shame me.

For me, fat describes my physical characteristic just like single describes my relation status and fair describes my complexion. It is neither more nor less. Fat is just an adjective and we need to stop seeing it as a bad word and using it in a pejorative manner.

I am no more ashamed of being called fat and that has been one of my life’s biggest achievements and also made me a fierce body positive advocate.

Step Out Of Comfort Zone

2015 is when I changed my outlook about some of the most important things in life.

For the longest time I wanted to be thin. Then it was all about losing weight. Now my goal is being fit and healthy. That is what I want to achieve.

If getting fit means that I will still have to shop in the plus size section, then I am okay with it. If it means never having flat abs, always having some amount of cellulite and random stretch marks here and there, I am fine with that too.

Being comfortable in my fat skin was a new and liberating thing for me. If I am okay with it, then no one else should care.

When I started fashion blogging I almost drove myself insane with insecurities. I eventually learnt that being fat and fashionable are not mutually exclusive. You can be size 2 and not have a sense of style and you can be a size 22 and have impeccable taste.

This has been a major learning experience as a blogger. Blogging introduced me to amazing plus size fashion bloggers and body postive advocates who are unabashed and unapologetic about who they are. They inspired me to push aside my insecurities and be proud of who I am.
From experimenting with my personal style to trying new authors, different cuisines and giving online dating a try, I am not afraid to step out of my comfort zone and try new things.

Wing It Like Adele

It started off as a very achievable 2016 resolution. Something I could achieve and be proud of.

The goal was to be able to do winged eyeliner just like Adele. Simple.

What started out as an easy to attain resolution gradually evolved into something far more that just an eyeliner application technique. It became an attitude inspired by Adele and the way she has defied all odds, broken stereotypes and accomplished what very few can. By doing so she shut-up haters and showed women around the world that your body size has nothing to do with your talent or success. With her achievements Adele broke an unbreakable glass ceiling.

In an industry that thrives on skinny, Adele blew everyone away with her larger than life talent. She showed that if you have it in you then no amount of social stereotypes and beauty standards can stop you. With her modest styling, her curvy body and powerhouse voice she moved away all the clutter of glitter and gyrating dance steps and showed the world that talent is not size specific.
I am all set to wing it like Adele: eyeliner and attitude.

#MorePlusForUs

In a world that loves to hate and mock all things fat, being a plus size woman is not easy - Especially in the fashion world.

For the longest time society has treated plus size people as social pariahs.

However, now with the rise of body positive and plus size movements across the globe, it gives me and every curvy, chubby and plus size woman and man hope.

#MorePlusForUs is my way of to asking for more plus size representation, availability of more plus size fashion and respect for what plus size bloggers do. It is challenging, but we love it and do it nonetheless.

Amidst all the clothing size availability limitations, body-shaming comments, crude jokes and random strangers asking us to eat less and workout more, we still do what we love.

For far too long society has fat shamed people and made them feel less than equal. I have faced it too.
One of my biggest goals for 2016 is to be more vocal about body and fat shaming and encourage people to join the body positive movement and celebrate people of all shapes and sizes.

I struggled with body issues my entire life. This has led to more harm than good. Therefore, it was time for me say goodbye to my body issues and insecurities and be happy the way I am.

The beauty standards are changing and as plus size fashion blogger in Mumbai I am going to do my best to contribute to the global body positive movement.

Somewhere between the business side of blogging and competition I lost my real purpose of blogging. It was to give myself a voice. To connect with like-minded people. I am blessed to have made my blog into a successful business along the way.

However, I now want to go back to the roots. Be more vocal and less politically correct. To freely talk about things that I was once afraid, even ashamed to mention. More importantly, be true to who I really am.

Photography by Suraj Warrier

This post was featured on Independent Fashion Bloggers Links à la Mode (January 28, 2016) along with these awesome posts.

Links à la Mode, January 28

A aveplaneetta: The Pink Nightmare
Attire Club: Color Combinations of Clothes that Work for Any Skin Tone, Hair, and Eye Color
Cat Eyes & Skinny Jeans: {Beauty Board} Faux Freckles
Fashionopolis: From Body Shaming to Body Positive
Funky Jungle: The Capsule Wardrobe Experiment #3 | Half Time Impressions
Happy. Pretty. Sweet.: 5 Blush Worthy Pieces
Head2Heels: Cape-tivated
Hey Just Jei: Is Leather Ethical?
It’s Beyond My Control: How to Wear the Little Black Dress!
Life in the Fash Lane: Officially Wifey
Milk White Moon: Dark Floral
Modavracha: How to Wear the Pantone Colors of 2016 According to Your Skin Tone
Ms. FABulous: #TBT Fashion and Food Diary of 1994
Petite Silver Vixen: Seasonal Skinny Wk 21 | Leather Jacket, Sequin Tie
She Got Her Own: Maxi African Print Ankara Dress
Some Velvet Morning: Amore
So You Like Fashion: Blue Jeans X White T-Shirt
Splash of Teal: Building My Ideal Closet | 10 Shoe Styles Every Woman Should Own
Tell Me, Y…: 3 Sites that Will Make Your Blogging Life Easier
This Season’s Gold: Snowstorm | Warm in Red Coat & Pink Earmuffs
SPONSOR: Shopbop Whistles, Haute Hippie Dresses, Sperry Shoes, Blush Dresses, Black Leather Pants, Lace Up Booties, STATE, Charlotte Olympia, Ruifier, Men's Thomas Mason

Till then, tra-la,

Amena!!
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There is a famous social experiment where people are asked, what advice would you give your younger self. Things you wish you could tell your younger self if you had a chance to.

There are so many things I would like to tell young Amena, teen Amena. Things I wish I could have done differently. Followed some advice instead of being a know-it-all.

While I cannot turn back time, I can learn from the past and make the changes for a better future.

Part of growing up is, experiencing the growing pains. Especially, if you are a teen girl facing every teen’s worst nightmare- oily skin and pimples.

Teenage years were not my best years. Especially if you have spent a good part of your teen years finding solutions to control your face from secreting oil and stopping pesky pimples from showing up every few days. Over the years I have learnt to manage my skin better.

Unlike loads of other women, I was not fortunate enough to leave my oily skin behind in my teens. It followed me into my 20s.

From mudpack, to fancy face scrubs to crazy diets, I tried it all. Some worked, others failed miserably. But none offered a long-term solution.

Living with oily skin my entire life, I finally found a way to manage it. Along with a healthy lifestyle, the key is to invest in a right face wash. In my case, oil-free is the way to go.

When Clean & Clear approached me to be a part of their #ReadyFace campaign I was more than happy to be on board. Not only is it associated with a product that is ideal for my kind of oily skin but it also encourages teen girls to have the confidence to look in the mirror and be happy with what they see.

The best part about Clean & Clear's Foaming Face Wash is, it’s oil-free. Not only does it help control pimples, oily shine and blackheads but it also reduces them by a large extent. Plus, unlike other oil-free face washes, this one does not dry the skin while removing oil and dust.

The most visible difference that I have found is, ever since I started using the foaming face wash I am able to use liquid base makeup. Before, the idea of that was dreadful. Due to oily skin no liquid base makeup would last on my face for beyond 2 hours. And if I had to step out into the sun, my makeup would literally melt away.

That is not the case anymore.

Unlike my teen years, now I only get pimples during my periods. While I still get them, after using the foaming face wash the number is reduced to a large extent.

One of the biggest mistakes I used to make in my teens was, wash my face vigorously many times a day to help reduce the oiliness. That does more long-term damage than good.
I use the foaming face wash twice or maximum three times a day without the need to constantly blot my face for oil residue.

In an over sharing, selfie obsessed world a good product along with a great campaign is the need of the hour. I have always admired this quality of Clean & Clear. They don’t just create a good product, but they also create a healthy and positive ideology with it.

The Ready Face campaign is just that. It encourages young women to be comfortable in their skin. Upon glancing in a mirror, they don’t need to be intimidated by their own reflection.The foaming face wash helps them achieve that and gives them the confidence to be who they are.

Unlike my teen years, now when I look in the mirror, it is no more to check for uninvited pimples or oily shine on my face. Neither is looking in the mirror a necessity or a cause for panic. In fact, I enjoy looking at myself in the mirror and my ready face gives me the confidence to face the world head on.

In today’s technology driven era, there are multiple beautification modes and filters to help you cover up your blemishes and make you look great in the virtual world. However, we live in the real world and for that we need the right product and attitude to put our ready face forward.

Photography by Suraj Warrier

Till then, tra-la,

Amena!!
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Sometimes you need to see things from a fresh and new perspective to appreciate it even more. That is exactly what the team at Liva had in mind.

After establishing itself as the got-to fabric for some of the biggest brands in the country, Liva is all set to give its support and offer a platform to the up and coming designers of Indian fashion industry.

Liva Protégé, a fashion property by the Aditya Birla Group, was created with the aim to help make budding designers big in the world of fashion.

#LIVAProtege by LIVA is an annual, pan India designer hunt to discover India’s brightest and most creative talent in the field of fashion.

What is Liva Protégé?

Liva Protégé is an annual, pan India designer hunt to discover India’s brightest and most creative talent in the field of fashion.

The competition is open to final year students of select colleges. It offers the students a chance to showcase their talent at a national level and get mentored by some of the biggest and best names in the industry.

After a rigorous Campus, Jury Selection and Semi-Final round, the top 2 finalists from each zone- Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Delhi, Kolkata, Bengaluru and Chennai-will be selected by the mentor of that zone.

Under the guidance of their respective mentors, each finalist will have to create 5 outfits made from Liva fabric to be showcased at Liva Protégé 2015’s Grand Finale.

When fluid fashion meets raw talent, the end result is bound to be magic.

Liva Protégé 2015’s Grand Finale showcased the novel and different interpretations of Liva.

Liva’s trademark feature, its fluidity, was showcased in all its magnificent glory.

From cowls and drapes to show the soft flow and grace of the fabric, to pleats and fitted silhouettes to highlight the structured fluidity, each designer showcased Liva in a innovative and different light.

Liva’s natural sheen radiated all through the night in different shades. From basic monochromes to softest pastels to vibrant hues, every outfit stood out in its own way.

From Ganges to Marrakesh and from UFOs to dandelion, the 12 finalists found inspiration far and wide. Each inspiration helped showcase the designer’s ingenuity and their understanding of Liva and how each designer adapted the fabric to their designs along with making the most out of Liva’s key features.

The end result was a Grand Finale filled with prodigious talent and fluid creativity.

Liva Protégé is an experience of a lifetime and each finalist gets one step closer to achieving his or her dream.

Meet the Liva Protégé 2015 Finalist:

Shruti Sancheti was the mentor for Mumbai finalists.

Soham Dave was the mentor for Ahmedabad finalists.

Sahil Kochhar was the mentor for Delhi finalists.

Agnimitra Paul was the mentor for Kolkata finalists.

Manoviraj Khosla was the mentor for Bengaluru finalists.

Chaitanya Rao was the mentor for Chennai finalists.

The judges of Liva Protégé 2015 Grand Finale were Soha Ali Khan, Prasad Naik, Ananya Birla, Narendra Kumar Ahmed and Nandini Bhalla.

This esteemed panel of judges had the herculean task of picking a winner and two runners up from the 12 talented finalists.

The winner of Liva Protégé 2015 is Riturana Deori from Ahmedabad.

Riturana gets an opportunity to work with ABOF.com’s in-house design team OR an opportunity to have upto 5 of his designs sold on www.abof.com and a cash prize of INR 2,00,000/-

1st Runner Up is Nitin Gupta from Ahmedabad.

Nitin gets the opportunity to have upto 3 of his designs sold through www.abof.com and a cash prize of INR 1,00,000/-

2nd Runner Up is Sagarika Joshi from Bengaluru.

Sagarika wins a cash prize of INR 50,000/-

Liva Protégé is not just another hunt for the next big fashion star. It aims to tap into the vast and versatile Indian talent pool and ensure that promising fashion designers get an opportunity to showcase their creativity and make a name for themselves in the global fashion fraternity.

Photography by Suraj Warrier | Collages by Digital Daku

Till then, tra-la,

Amena!!
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After avoiding it for years, finally, in 2014, I found the courage to experiment with layering. Prior to that, I was afraid somehow layering would make me look bulkier. (FYI, this is a major plus size fashion myth!)

The first time I did a layered look was by coincidence. I was at an event where I got to try out the new collection. Lucky for me this was one of those few plus size friendly brands. After finding the courage to wear a sleeveless sheath dress – not a silhouette I generally wear - I needed something to layer it with. In the spur of the moment I picked up a light weight beach kaftan.

While the two pieces were absolutely opposite - one a cocktail dress the other a cotton wrap – together, they looked great. With that one look, I started my love affair with plus size layering.

As a plus size fashion blogger I am always trying out new ways to layer pieces - mix and match and create new looks.

When I like a piece but it tends to be a tad bit snug, I generally use it for layering. That's how I manage to make the most out of the limited available options.

I have tried innovate and interesting ways to layer my outfits. I have paired a maxi dress (styled as a sleeveless jacket) with a kurta, done a kurta on kurta look, dress, tunic and palazzo pants combo and many more.
The options are limitless. You just need to find the combinations that works for you.

Images via: Girl With Curves | Gabifresh | Curvy Girl Chic

More information on the pieces here

My biggest source of inspiration are some of my fave plus size fashion bloggers. Their effortless layering and chic styling has inspired me to try out novel looks that I would have earlier been too scared to try.
Along with inspiration, they give me the confidence to not shy away from experimenting with fashion.

Till then, tra-la,

Amena!!
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For most people, the heart of Lakmé Fashion Week is, well, the fashion. One attends it in pursuit of new trends, fabrics and designers. However, this season, amidst all the glitz and glam there were also some groundbreaking trends and feminist moments. In many ways, Lakmé Fashion Week Summer/Resort 2016 represents the changing face of Indian fashion.

For starters, not everyone considers fashion as a feminist industry. Many find it superficial and vain. What most people are not aware of is, the most iconic, fashion forward creations and trends have also empowered women.

Like every industry, fashion too, has its flaws. However, fashion has been an ally to women and the LGBTQ community over many others. So, don’t be so quick to judge the fashion industry. There is far more to it than meets the eye.

My aim is to show just how socially relevant and feminist the fashion industry can be. Here are four, first of its kind, groundbreaking moments from Lakmé Fashion Week Summer/Resort 2016 that prove just how feminist the Indian fashion industry can be.

Making A Pregnant Statement!

At the close of designer Gaurang Shah’s show, supermodel Carol Gracias appeared on the runway wearing a green-and-pink sari. Now there is nothing new about a supermodel closing a designer show. However, Carol was not alone. She was accompanied by her prominent baby bump. Never in the history of Indian fashion has anyone walked the ramp with a baby bump. First of it kind, a pregnant Carol walking the ramp was nothing short of path-breaking and revolutionary.

For years, Indian women have been asked to cover their protruding pregnant bellies with layers of boxy and shapeless clothes. Breastfeeding a hungry child in public will get you more frowns and scowls than urinating in public. And only very recently we have become comfortable about discussing our periods openly.

In India, like many other parts of the world, women have been told to either hide or be ashamed of everything and anything that is considered as a natural female experience.

Not anymore! This one move by Carol and Gaurang empowers women to get conformable in their own skin and enjoy all attributes of womanhood.

Welcome To The Plus Side

As someone who has spent her adult life working in the fashion industry, I have dreamed and hoped that one day in my life I would see a plus size woman with visible body fat walking the Indian ramp.

Never in my wildest dreams did I think that would happen sooner than later!

Let’s be honest – India is one of the lest body positive and plus size friendly countries in the world. We barely see any positive plus size representation in mainstream. Our fashion magazines our completely thin-washed and finding ready-to-wear clothes over size 18 is as good as winning a lottery.

So image my joy when I see a collection that categorically states, ‘Size No Bar’. Out walks comedian Bharti Singh to prove it, once and for all, that style is not restricted to a single body size.

Bharti walking the ramp for Reliance Retail’s AJIO.com’s launch collection is a sign of hope for plus size women all over India. It sends a message that you can be stylish at any size and being fat and fashionable are not mutually exclusive. Take it from a plus size fashion blogger, Bharti walking the ramp was the need of the hour. It signifies that every woman, regardless of her size, is relevant, desirable, and utterly magnificent.

For a country that has over 60% of its population as plus size, to ignore their existence and needs is not only discriminatory but downright fool hardy from a business standpoint too.

This was the first step towards body positivity and diversity. Next season, I hope to see plus size models instead of thin models showcasing plus size clothes, more designer showcasing plus size clothes, and more plus size showstoppers.

Breaking Gender Binary

Androgyny has been the go to trend for fashion designers for a while now. Gender neutral and gender fluid fashion has been accepted and applauded. Aesthetically, the gender binaries have started to diminish.

Sadly, the representation of the transgender community is abysmal. Often depicted as stock characters and frequently mistaken as drags and gays, most people are clueless about transgender people and their experience. Plus, lack of knowledge paired with age old prejudice makes it even more difficult for them to freely express themselves.

While Indian fashion industry has been more LGBTQ friendly than most, just like plus size, transgender people have miniscule representation in it.

The applause when transgender activist Laxmi Narayan Tripathi walked the ramp for Reliance Retail’s AJIO.com’s launch collection with the words ‘Gender No Bar’ flashing behind, was a telling sign of the changing times.

Globally, we have seen transgender models and celebrities like Laverne Cox and Caitlyn Jenner being accepted by mainstream media and fashion industry.

Laxmi walking the ramp is an indication that there is a hope for inclusion of transgender community in India. Also, it's very promising to see new brands breaking stereotypes and striving for more inclusion and diversity.

A Matter Of Modest Choice

When it comes to modest fashion I have been on both side of the fence. Like Pierre Berge, I too was “scandalized” by the concept.

Mr Berge stated: “Designers are there to make women more beautiful, to give them their freedom, not to collaborate with this dictatorship which imposes this abominable thing by which we hide women and make them live a hidden life.”

As I nodded my head to every word Pierre Berge had to say about the whole concept of modest fashion that has its roots in Islamic and Orthodox Jewish culture, a small part of me was just not ready to write it off.

After some much needed research I started seeing it for what it really is: A choice.

If nudity empowers some women, they why can’t we accept that others are empowered by modest clothing. Why is one a feminist symbol while the other is seen as a sign of oppression and patriarchy? If a woman chooses to dress modestly, should we deny her that right?

Recognizing the need of some women who aspire to dress stylishly and modestly, Gen Next designer, Aqdus Saleem, presented her debut collection aptly titled, The Modest Chapter.

A first of it kind, it has opened a whole new and untapped side of fashion. Plus, it has made people aware of the concept. Contrary to popular belief, modest fashion doesn’t just mean hijabs and abayas. It includes maxi skirts, tunics and flowy silhouettes. The beauty of modest fashion is — its appeal expands beyond a specific religious faith.

While the concept of modest fashion is still a new one, with many still doubting its intention, I, for one, see it as a sign of progress. It empowers women with more choices than they ever had before.

The Indian fashion industry, like many things in our society, has a long way to go on many fronts — staring with diversity, body positivity and feminism. But this season of Lakmé Fashion Week has show us, that fashion is not just about physical appearance but also closely connected with self-expression. While it is going to take time to see a complete change, the good news is, the seed of change have been sown.

Lakmé Fashion Week is all about rethink, redefine and reinvent fashion. The Summer/Resort 2016 edition proves just that.

Till then, tra-la,

Amena!!
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Spring may not be a season we experience in Mumbai, however, spring cleaning is one ritual most of us perform year round. That time of the year where you decide to clean out everything with great gusto and energy.

I had my session of spring cleaning a few weeks ago. Amidst all the cleaning I discovered some lost treasure and, finally, decided to let go of things I have been hoarding for years.

I have always been a lipstick junkie and strongly believe one can not have enough lipsticks. But the sheer number of lipsticks I was holding on to, some over fives year old, was baffling. After sorting things out, I finally cut down my lipstick collection to half its size.

In the process of sorting my lipsticks out, I picked out my favourite ones- colour wise- and decided to put together a list of my favourite lipstick shades.

For my first list I decided to go with my most favourite shade: Red. A compilation of my best red lipsticks.
Some of the lipsticks mentioned here are pure reds, others belong to the red family and/or have a red undertone.
I know a lot of people who shy away from wearing red lipstick because they are not sure if it will suit their complexion. Trust me, red lipsticks suit all skin tone. You just need to pick a shade that complements your skin tone.

I have consciously made and effort to feature red lipstick shades that suit Indian skin tones. So there is something for everyone.

A warm red with coral undertones, Starlet Red adds an instant colour pop to your look. Styled in a crayon packaging, the lipstick is well pigmented and gives good coverage. It has a lovely matte finish and can easily last up to five hours without any touch up.

Due to the lipstick's strong matte formula it can dry out your lips. To avoid that, apply a lip balm before applying the lipstick and you don’t have to worry about your lips drying up.

Sadly, my lipstick broke while applying it. You need to be careful not to put too much pressure while applying the lipstick. Other than that, Starlet Red is a great shade and will suit most Indian skin tones.

Price: Rs 650

A vivid red with bright orange undertones, Pure Fire is an ideal colour for the summer season. The lipstick is well pigmented and has a smooth velvety texture making it easy to apply. It has a lovely matte finish and stays put for over four hours.

Price: Rs 995

A lush maroon tinted gloss with fine bronze glitter that is more deep than bright. This shade is ideal for those who are not comfortable wearing bright colours. A sultry shade of deep red gloss, MAC Courting Chic is perfect for those who want to play it safe with red.

Price: Rs 2,000

A perfect pink red shade, it instantly brightens your face. Pure Vermeil is one of those shades that look good anytime of the day. Like all the Pure Reds, Pure Vermeil is well pigmented, has a creamy texture and easy to apply.

Price: Rs. 995

Ruby Woo needs no introduction. Any red lipstick lover has used it at some point of time in her life. A well pigmented, classic blue-based red shade, Ruby Woo offers great coverage. However, as gorgeous as the shade is, its biggest draw back is, its matte formula dries out the lips. Ideally, always apply a lip primer or lip balm before applying Ruby Woo.
This is one shade of red that looks good on all skin tones.

Price: Rs. 2,250

Lip lacquer are a category in themselves. They are not lipstick nor lip gloss, they are more like liquid lipstick.
Strawberry Topaz is a deep coral red with fine milled glitter and has rich finish. Well pigmented with a thick texture, Revlon Ultra HD Lip Lacquer can easily stay up to 4-5 hours. Since it is opaque, it can be worn without any base even on pigmented lips.

Price: Rs. 850

Pure Garnet is deep berry shade with plum undertones and a hint of burgundy. A maroon red, Pure Garnet is ideal for those who like to wear a subtle shade of red. Pure Garnet is well pigmented, offers full coverage and looks best on people with mind-tone complexions.

Price: Rs. 995

A bright, warm red, with coral undertones. It has a semi-glossy finish and can look more orange than red on application. It is soft and creamy and lasts a good five hours.

Price: Rs. 699

A heartfelt thank you to the team of My Glamm and for doing my hair and makeup. Thank you to Pallavi for all her support and a big thank you to the makeup maverick, Bijon, for doing my makeup and for all his inputs, wisdom and help. It was great fun working with the team of My Glamm.

Photography by Suraj Warrier | Edit and Creatives by Digital Daku

Makeup, hair and location: My Glamm

Till then, tra-la,

Amena!!
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email me- a.fashionopolis@gmail.com

The one question I constantly get asked: Can fashion be feminist?

The first time I encountered this question was when I was doing my Masters in English Literature. People could not understand, how a feminist could also be a fashion lover. How could someone, who is a women’s rights and gender equality advocate be a part of an industry that makes its profits by perpetuating unrealistic beauty standards by constantly telling women what is wrong with their body and appearance and how to change it.

The biggest argument against fashion is, it is patriarchal and panders to the male gaze. Plus, in its pursuit of “perfection” it sets very unrealistic beauty standards for women. Therefore, a woman who chooses to embraces fashion cannot really be a feminist.

To being with, this argument is flawed. Feminism has very little to do with personal appearance and everything to do with an individual’s rights.

Along with equal rights, feminism is strongly pro choice. Not only in the case of abortion but this is applicable for everything. If a woman wants to have a child or not is her choice, then why can’t we extended the same liberties for women who want to shave their legs and wear makeup? Why is one choice progressive and the other not?

By saying that women who follow fashion trends, or shave their legs, or wear bright lipsticks are not really feminist is validating the myth that women become feminist because they're too ugly!

In words of Roxane Gay, “I believe feminism is grounded in supporting the choices of women even if we wouldn’t make certain choices for ourselves.”

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Are fashion and feminism really compatible?

Yes! Contrary to popular belief, fashion and feminism are not mutually exclusive. In fact, a large part of fashion has been very feminist in its approach.

FASHION AND WOMEN’S EMANCIPATION

A century ago, women did not have the luxury to unhook an undergarment and discard it at their whims and fancy. Nor could they burn it to make a statement. Back in the days when the Suffragettes were fighting for women’s right to vote, a lady named Mary Phelps Jacob aka Caresse Crosby was getting her patent for what is now infamously referred to as the bra.

With that one move, Caresse managed to free women from the human cages called corset and give them the freedom to dress as they please. While we may take our bras for granted, a 100 years ago a garment like bra was nothing short of a revolution – a fashion revolution –that liberated women from the bondage that had entrapped them for years. Along with being bone crushing, often, corsets made it difficult to breathe easily. Thanks to the bra the women were no longer required to wear such restrictive undergarment.

Fashion & Feminism - Can Fashion Be Feminist?

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If we owe the Suffragettes our right to vote, then we owe Mary Phelps Jacob our gratitude for giving us the freedom and luxury of no more being trapped in a garment that is not only uncomfortable but also claustrophobic.

History is filled with icon fashion forward creations that played a very significant role in women’s liberation. Knowingly or unknowingly they have contributed largely towards women asserting their own independent identity.

FASHION AND GENDER INCLUSIVITY

Fashion has not only worked towards women’s emancipation, it also has been big advocate and supporter of LGBTQ rights as well. One of the first industries in the world to be openly pro-LGBTQ, fashion has always had a very gender inclusive in approach. Openly gay men were creative directors of couture houses when other industries would not hire them. From Yves Saint Laurent to Karl Lagerfeld to Alexander McQueen, sexuality has never come in the way of an individual’s achievement.

How can an industry that has always welcomed people of different sexual orientation not be considered feminist?

While most industries still perpetuate it, fashion has managed to blur some of the masculine and feminine binaries.

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From Marlon Brando’s machismo to David Beckham’s sleekness to Jaden Smith's gender fluidity and from hyper masculinity to metrosexual, men’s relationship with fashion has immensely evolved.
Things that were once considered “feminine” are no more taboos. Men are now comfortable wearing - what was once labeled as traditional feminine - colours like pink and pastels. Pedicure, manicure and waxing are no more looked upon as female rituals. Men don’t shy away from dressing well and looking good. Some men even enjoy wearing makeup. These subtle changes have helped diminish the gender binaries.

FASHION AND THE FEMALE ASPIRATION

One of fashion's biggest achievements has been, it acknowledges and celebrates female aspiration.

For years, we have celebrated male aspiration as a sign of success and achievement and shrugged off female aspiration as frivolous.

When a man aspires to buy a Bentley we applaud his ambition. However, when a woman states her dream is to own a Birkin bag we belittle her for being extravagant.

How is a Bentley, a car, a sign of achievement and Birkn, a bag, not?

Both are top of the line products in their respective industry. And yet, we see one as a sign of success and the other as a sign of vanity. How is a car more significant that a bag?

The purpose of both is to make a statement while being productive. A car takes people form one destination to another. A bag is used to carry things around. Then how is one superior to the other?

Here is where fashion comes in. By targeting female consumers, they have managed to respect and validate the female aspiration. What was once considered as excessive or spendthrift by society is now seen as a sign of achievement.

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Fashion managed to break that sexist outlook that male desires and aspirations are superior to that of women. It was one of the earlier industries that pandered to women’s wants and not just their needs. For years, women’s wants were never discussed. It was all about their needs. Fashion changed that. It gave women the liberty to desire for more. To not feel guilty after splurging on a pair of shoes or bags or jewellery.

Some women may not want to own a Birkin. Instead, they desire to own a Bentley. Guess what, they are free to do just that. Similarly, a man may not aspire for cars and bikes and instead want luxury bags and shoes! That too is acceptable now.

If men don’t get judged for desiring to own exorbitant cars, bikes and watches then society has no right to mock women’s wants. At the end of the day, a Bentley and Birkin are two sides of the same coin.

Like every other industry, fashion too has some fault lines. It is still not inclusive of all bodies and the beauty standards are still very unrealistic. However, many voice within the industry are rebelling against these standards and asking for more diversity. The entire plus size and body positive movement has be spearheaded by plus size models and fashion bloggers. While the journey has just begun, it nowhere from being over.

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The constant demand for equal representation of plus size bodies along with straight size ones is finally being heard by industry insiders.

Sooner or later, fashion is going to become body positive.

Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie describes feminist as, “the person who believes in the social, political, and economic equality of the sexes.”

Many times over, fashion has proved it believes in the social, political and economic equality of the sexes. Therefore, fashion is feminist.

Till then, tra-la,

Amena!!
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When I was in fashion school, I literally had only 4 clothing items in my wardrobe: Oversized t-shirts, baggy jeans, knee-length kurtas and track pants. I had a few pieces of each in different colours, but the basic silhouette and structure was the same.

I was so used to wearing the same clothes on a daily basis that my classmates had labelled it my uniform.
What most of them did not realise is, the clothes I wore were the only ones available that would fit my fat body! In fact, the t-shirts I used to wear were from the men’s section as the women’s one would be tight. And the kurtas were tailor made.

Today the options are not as limited as back then, but, as a plus size woman I still struggle to find quality clothes that complement my body.

Globally, the fashion world is getting more inclusive. However, the Indian fashion industry has yet to to come to terms with body positivity and non straight size bodies. In India, the body positive revolution is in its nascent stages and plus size fashion is still not considered a part of mainstream fashion. Not only is this problematic but also discriminatory. For a country that is inherently on the curvy side and more than 60% of our population is size (UK) 10-12 and up, we barely address the needs of plus size people.

Most fashion brands in India are still playing it safe and catering mainly to straight sizes. But not all. There are a few brands who have opted for a more body positive and size inclusive approach. These brands have understood the needs of plus size people and decided to give them what they want. By choosing to be more size inclusive, plus size fashion brands in India are breaking the age old stereotype that plus size and fat people can’t be stylish and don’t like to dress up.

As a plus size fashion blogger, I am a patron of most plus size fashion brands in India. As much as I love their clothes, it is extremely important to talk about the amazing work these brands are doing.

One such brand is Alto Moda by Pantaloons. One of the first few brands in India to embrace plus size fashion, Alto Moda has been my go to brand for a few years now.

Plus Size Fashion Blogger - Plus Size Fashion Blog India

When I finally got the chance to collaborate with them, I was beyond happy.

For starters, I could fit in all their clothes and not a select few. You have no idea the kind of happiness freedom of choice can give you. From always being told,“sorry we don’t have this in your size”, to, “yes, we do have this in your size”, those words were like music to my ears.

As a plus size fashion brand, Alto Moda is not just making clothes, but they are also creating quality and stylish collections that are flattering for different plus size body types. Along with providing amazing fit and on-trend designs, the brand is well priced too. The women’s wear range starts from Rs. 399/- onwards.

While most Indian fashion brands still prefer to cater to straight size only, by choosing to make plus size fashion their USP, Alto Moda has sent out a very strong body positive message. More Indian fashion brands need to follow their lead.

One of Alto Moda's strength as a brand is, it has a diverse range of collections. From Indian wear to Western wear and from causal to festive, they have something for every mood and occasion.
I decided to create three distinct looks that will help me showcase the brand's aesthetics and versatility.

Colour Block Festive Look

Plus Size Fashion Blogger - Plus Size Fashion Blog India - Fashionopolis

I love bright colours and I love colour blocking. I instantly fell in love with this salwar suit. The vibrant colours in classic Indian silhouette suits most body types.
The kurta is a straight cut with a hint of A-Line and the salwar has the right amount of cowls to balance the look out.

Depending on the occasion, the look can be glammed up or toned down.

Full set is for Rs. 2699/-

Print Mix Casual Look

I have a weakness for prints and Alto Moda has some really pretty ones to play with. For a fun, print mix look, I decided to pair a paisley print top with a floral print shirt and classic blue jeans. What I liked about the shirt and top is, they are distinct, stand alone pieces and can also be paired with different pieces to create novel looks.

Paisley Print Top: Rs. 999/- | Printed Shirt: Rs. 1049/- | Jeans: Rs. 1599/-

Monochrome Fusion Look

Alto Moda offer a variety of separates - individual pieces that can be mixed and matched.
This white tunic instantly caught my eye. The asymmetrical hemline gave it an interesting edge. Instead of pairing it with leggings or jeans, I chose to pair it with black ankle length palazzos. The end result was a sophisticated, black and white, Indo-Western fusion look. This is one of those looks that complements most body types and is multi-occasion friendly.

White Tunic: Rs. 1299/- | Black Palazzo: Rs. 1149/-

Along with affordable and trendy plus size clothes, Alto Moda has a vast variety of India wear and Indo-Western fusion pieces. The fabrics and silhouettes are perfect for plus size bodies and the designs are a healthy mix of classics and new trends.

The Western wear section has a wide selection of tops, shirts and jeans. I do wish they had more options in dresses, skirts, jackets and party wear attire. There is a serious demand and need of quality western office and evening wear clothes.
Along with the women's wear, Alto Moda also has wonderful men's wear section for plus size men.

As a plus size woman who has struggled to find quality clothes her entire adult life, a brand like Alto Moda is a blessing and boon. They have managed to understand the needs of plus size people and create clothes that look good, fit well and give us confidence.

Alto Moda is not just making stylish plus size clothes. The brand is also sending out a very important social message. Where most fashion brands in India categorically ignore plus size people and their sartorial needs, here is a brand that is body positive and celebrates body diversity. A brand that has consciously chosen to be inclusive of different body types and has given visibly fat and plus size people a chance to dress stylishly, look good and be comfortable and confident in their own skin.

Thank you Alto Moda for thinking about people like me and providing us with the best of fashion.

Photography by Abhishek Arora

Till then, tra-la,

Amena!!
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5 years ago if you had told me I would be reviewing phones, I would have called you delusional. I used to be one of those people who would run away from the mention of technology. Blogging changed all of that.

When your job requires you to be online most of the time, it is very important to invest in quality technology, especially, a smartphone.

For me, a phone is not just my primary source of communication and connectivity, it is also one of my main modes of work, research and entertainment. I use it for just about everything and anything.
I am always on the lookout for a phone that fits all my needs in one and LeEco’s newly launched Le Max2 caught my eye.

LeEco’s Le Max2 is the latest smartphone to hit the market. It a premium Android smartphone and is available in two variants:

4GB RAM + 32GB storage at INR. 22,999/-

6GB RAM + 64GB storage at INR. 29,999/-

Design and Display

Le Max2 has a very sleek and polished look. The rose gold colour all-metal body is a welcome change from the traditional black, white and silver style of most Android smartphones.

While it has a compact design, Le Max2 is a big phone and is heavier compared to other Android devices. Personally, I am used to using big phones, therefore, this one was easy to handle.

Le Max2 has a 5.7-inch QHD display and 2K resolution. The display is very crisp and sharp and the viewing angles are great.

The good thing about this phone is, the higher resolution display does not compromise its battery life. A good battery life is something that is very important for most of us. Le Max2 does not disappoint on that front. With moderate to heavy usage the battery life delivers as promised. It easily lasted me a day after using the phone for calls, emails, browsing the net, watching videos and clicking loads of pictures.

The fingerprint scanner under the camera is a nice touch and convenient for unlocking the phone.

Performance

Thank to the 4GB RAM, you can easily multitask, use several apps simultaneously, watch HD videos and play games without the fear of any slowdown, stutter, lag or the phone hanging.
One of the biggest drawbacks of most smartphones is heating issues. Le Max2 doesn't have that problem. Even after heavy usage, the phone does not heat up and stop functioning.

One of the key features of Le Max2 is Continual Digital Lossless Audio (CDLA). It is the world’s first smartphone to swap the traditional 3.5 mm headphone jack with a USB Type-C audio port.

They have swapped the traditional headphones with a USB-C headphones. The aim is to provide a better audio quality and help users make the most of all their features. Compared to traditional head phones, the CDLA headphones offer better sound quality and listening experience.

Camera

As a fashion and lifestyle blogger, one of the most important feature of any phone for me is the camera. Le Max2 has a 21 MP read camera and 8 MP front camera.

The camera quality is amazing. When shooting in natural light or well lit conditions, the colour reproduction is highly accurate and the picture quality is one of the finest compared to any smartphone within the same price range.

The low-light performance of the camera is pretty good as well. It takes a little longer to focus but it delivers quality images even in poor lighting conditions.

The front camera is great for taking selfies as well as video calling.

When it comes to camera quality, Le Max2 completely delivers for the premium price they are charging.

Overall Experience

Without doubt, LeEco’s Le Max2 is a powerful smartphone that has some really strong points in its favour. It has a great display, amazing camera, good battery life and top-notch performance quality. Plus, the ‘Supertainment’ content ecosystem adds an additional overall value to Le Max2.

LeEco Le Max2 is a fine balance of attractive package and brilliant performance. For under INR 25,000/- this is a good looking phone that delivers on most counts.

Location: Tea Trails, Fort.
Photography by Abhishek Arora

Till then, tra-la,

Amena!!
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