In time for fall(almost!)

Hello lovelies!!

I have abandoned you guys for a while and I have no excuses this time! But always 'better late than never right? :) Some of you guys have been motivating me to keep posting and have given me heartwarming feedback that makes me want to be more disciplined and committed to what I have created here!

So, without further ado, here's an outfit my sister clicked me in-she got behind me to finally 'dress up' during my visit to India and took all the shots herself!A Manipuri ensemble of a skirt, top and a stole taken wrapped around. I have paired a Manipuri silk stole and olive striped wrap skirt or 'phanek' with an Indian Gujarati blouse. Gujarati blouses are famous for their vibrant and colorful embroidered designs sometimes with mirror-work. I borrowed the blouse from my sister since I loved it immediately and don't have one of my own! (On my ethnic next -list!)

Manipuri formal outfits worn like this are usually paired with traditional gold jewellery however most young Meitei women now mix and match with all kinds of jewelry from all over the country whether its the Kundan-Polki styles, traditional South Indian jewelry, costume jewelry etc.. Just hit me-I am yet to try a look with pearls-on the cards! :)

I have chosen to go bare on the neck but wore thin colorful metal bangles I picked up from Janpath in Delhi-another street shopping haven in Delhi. I am yet to share pictures of women dressed up during a wedding in these thin translucent stoles-put them all together and they're a vision, all angelic and dressed up as if fairies had descended on Earth for a kitty party!

The beauty of these silk stoles is how delicately the fabric is woven with pretty flowers and motifs and the gorgeous colors these stoles come in! I want to wear these stoles more often but being a doggie-mom, well you know!

So here's looking at me! :) Enjoy and be in touch!

Silk stole and silk wrap skirt -From Manipur, India;Blouse-(Gujarati)Borrowed from my sister;Bangles-Lokai and Janpath, Delhi; Peep toe pumps-Aldo; Earrings-Swarovski;Me-still going strong :)

Shop the look!

Earrings(same)

Pumps(On sale)

Note: Manipuri fabrics and apparel are still not available online! I wish I can make it happen!

♥le grá

  hauteinterpreter

Phanek + Blazer

Good morning!

I am being a good girl today!I have been up since early morning working on a blog post-high time ain't it? :)

Hope you're having a great middle of the week!It's perfect spring time with just that right amount of breeze and sunshine!
It's been a while since I put up a traditional Manipuri outfit so here's one! :)

I have paired a cognac and black woolen tribal phanek(wrap/sarong) with a rust top, a black blazer and some accessories. It's the wool that's bulky-not me ;) Blame it on the wool eh? lol.. I have yet to master the art of wrapping the wrap!:) Women in the North East go about their day-household chores, going to college, cycling even playing badminton in their phaneks!And trust me most of them do not wear belts or tie their phaneks/sarongs with string of any kind! One end is just neatly tucked in. Sigh!

For now I am just belting it!Hey, but i climbed a hill last summer wearing the phanek...without a belt!!And i survived, phanek in place, scaling the hilltop..I can't complain can I?? :)  I have been out of touch -that's what it is..hmmm..anyway!So here it is my tribal outfit!

Black blazer-Elizabeth Donatien;Rust knit top-Anthropologie; Cognac and black wrap/sarong-From Manipur, India;Bracelet-From Leh, India; Necklace-Zara; Ankle strap pumps-DSW

Get the look!

Black blazer
Rust top(sold out) similar
Zara necklace(same)
Bracelet(similar)
Ankle strap pumps

 ♥le grá

hauteinterpreter

 

The Mayek Naiba

Khurumjari!
(That's how we formally say hello or greet each other in Manipuri!)

Today I am wearing the traditional Manipuri 'Mayek Naiba' [I think we also call it the 'Mapan Naiba'-please hep me with this my Manipuri country cousins!! :) ] with a leather jacket(faux) and booties!The 'Mapan Naiba' is a phanek(sarong/wrap) with the trademark stripes and embroidered border. This style of the sarong comes in gorgeous vibrant colors and is traditionally worn with the 'rani phi' or silk stoles(see here). I am putting a little twist to it and wearing it as a maxi wrap! :)

This phanek is made of silk and is worn on special occasions or even everyday to work by working women in Manipur. For work, its worn as a half-saree(see here) and for festive/event settings, it is worn with the stole like I mentioned before wrapped around, with a blouse.

I love experimenting with the phanek as you know by now!;)  Check out these outfits here and here!I think it has a lot of potential as a fabric and garment. The booties and jacket give it a modern and edgy look-what do you think? :)

Chain trim Faux leather jacket-Forever 21; Phanek(Sarong/Wrap)-From Manipur, India; Booties-Mango; Earring hoops-Forever New

Image source-Google

Have an amazing day beauties!!

♥le grá

hauteinterpreter

Tribal skirt

It's been a while since I sported something from my little state in its little nook in Eastern India!Here's a tribal sarong/wrap/phanek which I have folded into half and worn as a knee-length skirt.Remember how I wore it in the traditional way as a sarong?(See here)
Now this is a more modern take on the humble tribal sarong/phanek. Did I mention-the sarong/phanek is hand-woven?I had a little blue bracelet from Ladakh that complimented the phanek fabulously! I wish I could open up a little boutique of my own to showcase these fabrics and clothes from my part of the country!
Until then, Robert De Niro(I love him-he also looks just like one of my dearest uncles!:) ) is being an ambassador(in a way) for a particular traditional scarf called the 'Leiroom'! :) The Leiroom is a hand woven scarf. It is used during ceremonial occasions across Manipur. It is an essential item of presentation during weddings, to receive guest in house and at formal functions .

:)

Robert De Niro wearing the Manipuri 'Leiroom'

Turtleneck-'W' India;Tribal sarong/phanek-From Manipur; Boots-Corso Como;Bracelet-From Leh, Ladakh-India;Earrings-Forever 21;Necklace-Forever New;Belt-Mango

♥le grá

hauteinterpreter

The Phanek Pareo!

Hey!

I am so excited to share this outfit with you!Like you know, I love to dress up and try out new ways to wear clothes. I was wearing this red phanek(read about the phanek here) at home when I started experimenting ways I could tie it instead of simple wrapping it around my waist. Being beach season, I thought, why not tie it as a sarong? So I pulled out two ends of the phanek(wrap skirt) tied the two ends together mid way and played around it a bit, tying it like a Hawaiian pareo! I love draped dresses and this kinda created a new silhouette too with the temple borders! I especially love the little flap it creates. Being silk and starched, it worked keeping the silhouette in shape! Sigh!! If only I could stitch!

Feedback welcome gals!!

A little note about the ring now! It is actually a vintage scrapbook sticker (from Michaels!) which I stuck to a plain ring to create this beauty!How did I do :) ?

Silk Temple border phanek(wrap)-From Manipur, India; Polka dot D'orsay pumps-Lucy's Manipur, India;Shrug-From a boutique in Mumbai; Earrings-From Jaipur, India;Ring-Michaels; Bow belt-Forever 21

The Half-Sari

The Half-sari is a lesser known way of dressing up, specific to Manipur in India.The half-sari was created by working women in Manipur- a practical and manageable way of wearing the traditional outfit.
As I have mentioned before, the Manipuri traditional outfit is a combination of the phanek(wrap) and a phi(stole). Instead of wrapping it around as usually a stole is, one end of the stole is pleated and tucked into the phanek and the other end worn across one shoulder as the sari is worn. Instead of pleating it and pinning it to my shoulder(as working women do), I'm leaving it open here. The delicate silk stole with floral motifs and the striped 'Mapan naiba' phanek (wrap) compliment each other. Mixing of prints- tried and tested, and interpreted here yet again! The outfit is accented with vintage Manipuri design jewellery. These designs have still not been incorporated into mainstream Indian jewellery and are are still limited to Manipur and only available in the region. Hope they are soon!

Silk stole, silk striped wrap(Mapan Naiba), puff sleeved blouse-From Manipur, India;Vintage Manipuri design gold necklace and studded gold bangle-Manikumar jewellers, Sagolband Manipur, India;  Strappy heels-Zara; Gold studs-Tanishq

 

Peplum and the phanek

Happy Friday Bonitas!

A day for the phanek again!I am pairing it with a short peplum top/jacket and satin pink peep toes. An ode to the poesy of the Manipuri fashion tribe!

This is the month of the festival of color-Holi in India! Back in Manipur, young men and women gather to dance together 'under the moon light' every evening for 5 days, during the 'yaoshang' or Holi month. It's called the 'Thabal Chongba'. It's amazing to see the energy and excitement as they twist, swing and dance around a circle to the rythm of drums and traditional beats! Truly an occasion to witness!

Am so excited about my upcoming vacation! Here's to a happy and chic weekend and swag days ahead!Hope to see you guys real soon!Keep visiting, I promise I'll be back with more from my home country! Stay classy and lovely! <3

Peplum jacket-Forever 21; Phanek(wrap) -From Manipur, India; Satin peep toes with floral motifs-Forever New; Vintage style gold Peacock earrings-From Bikaner, India; Bangles-A gift from my Mom-in-law :)

Shop similar items:

Peplum jacket

Satin Peep Toes

Earrings

Joie de vivre

Hello Monday!Life is good and colourful. Its all in the way you look at it!

I jazzed up the phanek(Manipuri wrap) last weekend by wearing it as a sarong, tying its ends around my neck like a halter. Since the phanek is vertically stitched half way up the ends of its width, it drapes on well without any open ends. I love dresses that beautifully and sophisticatedly drape around one's form. When I tied my phanek this way, I actually loved the silhouette and the way the temple borders criss cross each other. The belt adds a dainty touch to look. There's a  new world of possibilities with the humble phanek!Lets go experimenting!

Stay happy and celebrate the joy of life!<3

Temple border phanek(wrap)-from Manipur;Jacket-Wet Seal; Almond toe pumps-Shoedazzle.com; Earrings-Forever 21; Bangles-Charlotte Russe; Belt-Sarojini Market, Delhi

Shop similar items:

Jacket

Pumps (love these!)

Belt

Earrings

Bangles  (same)

Dressing up the Manipuri phanek

This is a snapshot from my experimenting diaries :) A bright Manipuri phanek(wrap/sarong) with temple border, belted and paired with boucle and Choos.Read more about Manipuri fabrics here.

Boucle jacket-Zara; Handwoven temple border wool wrap(phanek)-From Manipur, India; Bow shimmer belt-Forever New; Mary jane pebble stoned heels-Jimmy Choo; Tibetan Lucky signs bracelet-From Ladakh, India; Watch-Dolce and Gabbana; Earring Studs-Icing

boucle jackets