Season 2008: The desire for luxury

Weekly updates on the home and lifestyle trends in India

The new catchphrase is ‘Alternative Fashion’. Fashion 2008 is about standing out. With Valentine’s Day around the corner, consumers are looking at luxury brands – but the twist comes in with cashing in on ‘something different’.

Chillibreeze Business Research Team

Dress Code 2008

A simple change in hair style or a slight narrow edge to your trousers can somersault your P3P ratings sky high or bring you down with a thud. Such is the power of fashion. This year fashionmongers match the mood of the year in terms of colours, fabrics and silhouettes.

It's the death knell for the humble kurti, predict fashion gurus. An all-time, all-season favourite is the Sari. Certain styles — empire cuts and silhouettes — will continue to rule this year. The trend this season is driven by the holistic desire of luxury. Slimmer cuts, narrow pants, smarter business cards, toneon-tone colour matching techniques will find their way in our lifestyles.
February 9, 2008
Source: Times of India

Alternative clothing's the new buzzword

While changing styles have always been the mainstay of the fashion industry, it is alternative styles of clothing that are now fast attracting the fancies of the hip ’n hep.

With styles like Tattoo, Organic, Punk and Kitsch bravely stepping into the Indian market, experimental is the new-age style statement for the fashion conscious.
February 9, 2008
Source: Economic Times

Valentine's Day: Big business for luxury brands

Well, besides being blind, love can also be illogical. The power of reasoning is proportionate to the spending power of the love-struck. And for luxury brands it means big business. Brands such as Christian Dior, Hugo Boss, Swarovski and Gucci have unveiled special Valentine collections.

While flowers and jewellery remain the most preferred gift items, the demand for “something different” is growing.
February 9, 2008
Source: Economic Times

Tech edge for your home

Today if you walk into a mall and look around, you will be dazzled by the sheer number of brands that promise all sorts of material comforts for you and your family. Right from your kitchen to the bedroom, there are products available for every area of your house so that your home could be a hub of relaxation and ease.

The Indian consumer is lapping up this trend and is slowly and surely getting high on luxurious living. Specialised malls are now coming up and are stocking themselves with digital accessories, high end gadgets and home appliances to simplify lives.
February 9, 2008
Source: Indiatimes Infotech

WIFW to shape up Indian fashion trends

Wills Lifestyle India Fashion Week, India’s biggest business of fashion event, announced the list of participating designers, which includes a combination of fashion czars and promising young designers from across the country. The WIFW Autumn/Winter 2008 edition will showcase collections by 84 designers on the runway and in the stalls.

The designers will be showcasing their collections under the three new categories – Contemporary, Synthesis/ Heritage and Creator, which have been introduced for the first time, this edition.
February 8, 2008
Source: Fibre2Fashion.com

Reliance Wellness to offer beauty solutions

Reliance Retail announces the launch of its second Speciality store -“Reliance Wellness”. 'Reliance Wellness’ is the format of store that will add value to people’s lives, by providing products and services that proactively work to enrich people’s body, mind and spirit.

‘Reliance Wellness’ brings a Unique assortment of best international and national brands such as H2O, Neutrogena, Muscletech, Olay, Sports Nutrition to name a few, in categories such as Nutrition, Sports Nutrition, Personal care & beauty, Cosmetics, Opticals, OTC, Health Foods, Self Help Medical & Fitness Equipment.
February 8, 2008
Source: Fibre2Fashion.com

Golf's glamour attracts India's rich

Indian people are increasingly taking to the greens, in spite of the expensive equipment and high cost of membership in clubs, which means that it is restricted only to the elite.

Designer golf courses, spread over acres of greenery with artificial lakes, waterfalls and white-sand bunkers, are emerging in all the major cities where an increasing number of young professionals can afford club memberships.
February 5, 2008
Source: BBC