Fashion Police

Brightening up our lives with bold hues

Even amidst the heat of summer, when you close your eyes. What do you see? We are sure, it’s nothing close to muted tones or low-key shades. It must be the other way round, bright blues of the sea, shades of orange that put the sun’s rays to shame and of course, the blood-red shades that represent closely with the different shades of fire.

Dressing up for soirees

The best part, they say, about receiving an invitation to special events is always the dressing up part. Even food comes in second, compared to fashion, especially in specialty soirees.

The Bohemian look is back with a twist

Have you always been called a free-spirited human being for your style and fashion statement? Then you are probably the right person to read this article. Your fashion statement is to be the most natural, making zero compromises on functionality or even comfort.

The millennial revolution with the sari

Sari has been termed as one of the most feminine garments by many of the recognised designers of our time, from Maheen Khan to Chondona Dewan, and this very garment which has been worn by our grandmothers and our mothers could have naturally lost its charm with time, especially with the Gen Z. Surprisingly, quite the opposite happened! The beautiful garb has been re-interpreted by the new generation and has been re-energised enough to make a vigorous entry into the future of fashion and last a few more lifetimes.

Complete your outfits with winter jackets

People get quite confused about whether they should invest in a proper coat, jacket, or blazer for the brief winter in Bangladesh. Our suggestion is: like any apparel essential, one needs to have at least one or two trendy coats hanging in their closet, otherwise a wardrobe is never complete.

Wedding bells and the confessions of an outfit repeater

It is near impossible to manage a new set of clothes every day. It is neither justifiable, workable, ecologically efficient, financially viable, nor intelligent. But then there’s social media and society’s deep-rooted judgement against misfits like a tacky outfit repeater. How do we manage both – or do we?

The year 2023 in a brand-new style

Here are 3 outfit suggestions from Star Lifestyle and designer Tenzing Chakma for the year 2023.

Welcoming the new year in the Gatsby style

With respect to that larger-than-life lifestyle of the famous fictional character – let’s begin our New Year, and welcome it with open arms and true to our characters.

Silk saris you need before the year ends

Statement silk saris promise to take you back to the ‘60s and help mimic your favourite Bollywood heroine. Decades ago, this very silk sari conjured images of eye-catching young women from elite society but today, that image has somehow faded because of the scarcity of the authentic fabric and the existence of cheaper alternatives that actually look nothing close or exclusive as its predecessors.

Pregnancy and motherhood: Confessions of a ‘not-so-perfect’ mother

Dreams relating to motherhood began quite early in my life. It was mostly inspired by pregnancy photoshoots with celebrities like Brooke Shields, Kirsten Dunst, and Demi Moore. These ladies made pregnancy look like a piece of cake. With their long and thick hair resting on their shoulders, and finely manicured hands cradling their perfectly shaped bellies – everything looked handpicked, as if from a favourite fairy-tale.

Breaking down the backless style

A little provocative, definitely bold, and sometimes even extravagant, the backless dress or blouse, offers a clever twist to any sort of regular styling. Imagine, a lady wearing a suit and suddenly, there is a backless twist to the attire that every person would now seem more interesting than ever. Saris are beautiful on their own, the wearer often plays with the blouse to make it even more attractive than usual. One can go sleeveless, add fluffs to the blouse, put on interesting necklines, or even go backless.

Support heritage, protect culture and feed authenticity

Some have taken a similar stance when it comes to fashion. The Chakma, Marma, Garo, Santal and others have their own traditional, heritage wear; many of the new generation may not feel comfortable wearing their heritage outfits and that’s where fashion designer Tenzing Chakma begs to differ.

This summer is all about Boho-chic styling

Picture this — Jaya Ahsan in gladiator sandals, maxi skirt, a solid-colour tank top and multilayers of natural wooden beads round the neck; or maybe Azmeri Haque Badhan, in a patchwork crochet midi-dress with leather belts and hunter wellies. What are we talking about? Boho–chic fashion of course! Like many other 90s trends making a comeback, Boho is back again with a bang. So, we are ready to welcome back floral waistcoats, midi dresses, ripped jeans, cargo pants, printed scarves, fringes on everything including belts, bags and sandals.

Monsoon and the cotton sari: Shades of a woman

The versatile cotton sari is her perfect monsoon companion. Simplistic down to the last thread that make a handloom sari, they exude an aura of grace in all Bengali women. The myriad variants that exist enriches our fashion repertoire and it’s safe to say that there is one cotton sari type for every shade of a woman.

Mastering the Jamdani trade with Zaaya

Zaaya became quite popular after people watched REKKA starring the gorgeous actress Azmeri Haque Badhan. Her saris became a cult favourite after the airing of the web-series, early this year.

Star Lifestyle’s ‘5 top picks’ from the 2021 Met Gala

Like everything else, no bad situation lasts for long and as the world heals itself in its own pace, one of the most coveted fashion event of the year, the MET GALA 2021, finally took place at the Metropolitan Museum of Art (MMOA) on September 13, with the exclusive theme In America: A Lexicon of American Fashion.

Karutantra: Where fusion fashion finds a place with Jamdani saris

The story of the Jamdani, however regal it maybe, has been unable to reach the height of its former glory in the 21st century. And Marzia, mostly blames a handful dishonest tradesmen for the descent in the trade.

Shining Bright with 6 Yards Story

“This year I am obsessed with toe rings and you would get to see a lot of it in my collection soon enough! Plus, there will be range of polas to choose from,” informed the designer.

The story of the magnificent choker jewellery

Many sources claim that the chokers were first seen during the French Revolution. History states that females of the upper class French society used to wear ‘blood red,’ neck-hugging, jewellery almost similar to the modern day chokers as a symbol of tribute to the martyrs who had lost their lives at the guillotine.

Business by day, Party by night: switching between office and party wear

Imagine a day when you are tired to the core after ‘back-to-back’ presentations at the office, but you also have to make it to a party after the excruciating hours, all because it’s your best friend’s bash and she is ecstatic about it.

The story of The Lost Garden with Grace by Haneef

The same thing happened to me a week before, right when I thought I was done searching for trendy floral design posts, entered Grace by Haneef, a brand that immediately took my breath away. For a moment there I was thinking it was probably not local because of the uniqueness in the outlook (a very international vibe was being emitted).

Futuristic makeup and Khadija Islam Reem

While most of us grew out the impulse for experimenting with makeup, for some it stayed as a lifelong obsession, and Khadija Islam Reem, is from the latter group who went onto call the art of makeup, her one true calling.

Grooming salt and pepper hair

Ok so you have drooled over Milind Soman and George Clooney for years now, especially for that gorgeous grey hair! But did you also know that it takes effort to show off the ever-popular style statement?

The Russian folk story: The Malachite Casket gets a deshi twist

Scrolling down our favourite online e-commerce platform, Go Deshi, in search of local entrepreneurs making headlines in the community, we came across two sisters with magical painting abilities. Both of them armed with the knowledge of sketching and painting professionally, knew they had to do something different to be recognised for their talent.

Hairstyles to look out for

With a fresh haircut, completely different from what you are used to, it is expected that the stay-at-home glum will eventually be forced to exit.

Heal the world with monsoon

To those who believe monsoon is for the dull and colourless, let me rectify the statement. It is indeed for the spontaneous and the most fashionable.

Your print story

Also, just wondering about millions of colours and what to pair with them can give any person a serious headache. And imagine what can happen when someone asks you to pair your polka dots with the stripes.

Sumaya Khan Couture continues to create magic with the Festive Saga Series

With so many couture designers making a name for themselves in the local arena of fashion, why does Sumaya Khan Couture have a cult following? Was it because of her wholehearted devotion to authenticity or because of her colourful creations, which brighten up an industry bogged down by pandemic blues?

Words that scream style

Any fans of Sex and the City here? Then here are some that will immediately put you on nostalgia train. “They say nothing lasts forever. Dreams change, trends come and go, but friendships never go out of style!”

Leather Bespoke: Custom-made leather products

This is the story of Shamim Shorif, founder and chairman of the brand Leather Bespoke, and as the name suggests, he is also a person who wants to make a name for himself in the famed industry, already occupied by super successful conglomerates.

Stay at Home Eid with Suvastraa

Eid is almost knocking at the door. While this year may be a sombre repeat of the year before and we are stuck at home trying to stay safe and secure from the virulent disease, some of us are not as upset as we used to be earlier.

Pahela Baishakh 2022: Pahela Baishakh is back

Pretty in pastels with Rose by Nizhu

Rose by Nizhu, a popular designer’s collection of Bangladesh has developed a fitting Eid collection for 2021. The latest wardrobe by the fashion house consists of minimalistic designs in soft and sombre colours like pastels and corals.

Baishakh for the hip and cool

We can wear pop art inspired by the Bengali Film Industry. Nothing can be more fun and more Bangladeshi then having Dipjol, Shabana and Manna in their signature moves as prints.

A look back in time with Shahrukh Amin

Even the colours evoke a sense of nostalgia, with soothing hues such as ivory, beige, ocean blues, greens, and corals to sizzling hot blood reds and wine, he has every colour for the differing moods of women. But it is his personalised couture, especially his regal evening wear and bridal wear, that gives away his true nature as a romantic.

Sun baked fun and picnics

On the contrary, a little bit innovation from our ends could turn things around. After all, isn’t this what the pandemic has taught us? That we can, and must work with whatever options we are given.

Modest fashion by Tahoor

Butterfly shaped kaftans, oversized capes and bell-bottom pants. We are not only discussing our Eid wardrobe wish-list here, but what is trending in the world of modest fashion.

Beautiful Mrinmoyee Jewellery

“I used to order bespoke jewellery all the time; some of the designs were manufactured based on inspirations while others were jotted down on spot. Later, when people began to appreciate the creativity, inquiring about the sources, that’s when the idea ‘to start a jewellery business popped up,” revealed Hai, co-founder of Mrinmoyee.

Revelling in earthen tones

Brown is one shade that is available almost anywhere, from the pathways we walk on to the walls of our homes. “Browns always make me feel safe and comfortable,” said Fatema Zohra, an avid fan of Aranya Bangladesh, a sustainable and ethical fashion and lifestyle brand in the city, chockfull of handcrafted wardrobe in earthy hues.