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

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

 

A tete a tete with Peplum

Its officially summer, but the best part about being in the bay area is the breeze, which allows you to use elements from your fall/winter wardrobe, whenever you like!So I am using my peplum jacket with jeans this time, and gold accessories.

It's Ginger's birthday too and we're doing all the things that she loves doing, including meeting her favorite people and doggie friends!She gives her love to all of you! Happy Wednesday my friends!Muaaaahh!

Peplum jacket-Forever 21; Jeans-Mango;Strappy block heels-Zara; Bracelet-From Dubai; Earrings-Vintage Manipuri(a gift from Ma); Watch-Dolce & Gabbana

Shop similar items:

Peplum jacket( a pretty pink faux leather version)

Jeans

Block Heels

Bracelet

Earrings

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

Traditional Manipuri finery

We have a decently numbered Manipuri community here in the bay area and we got together for a feast called the 'Ningol Chakouba'. The festival is similar to 'Bhai Duj' as known in most other parts of India. Its a beautiful concept; married women are invited by their brothers for a feast. It is a time for sisters to get pampered with gifts and a lavish spread of food items. It is one of the major festivals in Manipur.

It is a time for us women to dress up in traditional finery and look our best!It is of course a big deal!Going back and meeting all your folks again is very looked forward to, and eagerly waited for all year.

For an experience away from home, I chose to wear this hand woven silk stole in golden yellow, draped in traditional style and put in place with a brooch. I think yellow suits me no?The stole(called a phee in Manipuri)(read more about it here) comes in beautiful colors and looks ethereal on women during weddings and festivals. The wrap(called a phanek-this design in particular is the mayek naiba) is also hand woven and is tied at the waist,  also a classic piece(both the phee and the phanek are made in many beautiful, bright colors)-it could take a while to wrap it right :).  I paired the outfit with jewellery , designs which are very original and unique to Manipur.

Stole and Wrap- Wangkhei Manipur, India;Jewellery-Manikumar, Manipur, India; Sandals-Jimmy Choo

Traditional Manipuri Jewellery-Manikumar Jewellers; Manipur, India

Brooch-A gift; Earrings and bangles-Manikumar Jewellers,Manipur, India