Bong Mania Overloaded: winter series

This would be our first fashion post beyond sarees,so let see how you'll like it. I thought of following up our usual saree post with another one of our favorite Indian ethnic attire, the Mekhela Chador. Some of you might have heard of it and some of you might be clueless. For those of you who have never heard of it before, Mekhela Chador is a traditional Assamese attire, which is made up of two parts; the bottom portion is called Mekhela, which is worn like a skirt and pleated on the right side (as opposed to the left side in a sari) and the top portion is called Chador, which is a long piece of cloth draped around the body, starting from the Mekhela in 3 triangular folds. You can just say its the cousin sister of your saree. Those who complain about the hassle of pleating the saree can easily opt for a Mekhala.

Mekhla Chadors are usually woven out of silk, mostly Muga Silk or Pat silk. The one that I am wearing is woven out of Muga silk. The golden hue of it is the most striking and brightens most skin tones and easier to carry for day and night both. I have paired this mekhla with contrast blouses before but this time paired with the matching blouse it came with.

Went for an day time Annaprason ceremony (first rice ceremony) of a little champ. So I decided to go easy on my accessories with a deep lip color. Paired with a kundan set and maroon lips with a small maroon bindi. You can easily pair these mekhlas with statement gold jewelry for evening parties but I feel keeping it light brings out the grace of the mekhla chador. Infact they look best when matched with traditional Assamese gold jewelry which I really want to try someday.

I am really curious to know if you've heard of Mekhela Chador before or is this the first time you've heard of it, talk to me in the comments down below.

I hope you like our look! If you want to revisit our last post click here. If you like the post please do like, comment and share it. Your words of encouragement keeps us going. Please do follow us on Facebook and Instagram for latest updates on the blog.

Happy New Year everyone from the whole team of Bong Mania Overloaded! Hope you all had a wonderful start. I had a memorable one as Moumita, Li'l K and I spent it together. The sweet smell of the scarlet roads, waving of the Sonajhuri trees and the calmness of the Kopai greeted my new year. As I walked through the forest along the petite river, the music in my ears and rhythm in my heart gave me an unearthly content. Thus freezing those moments in the camera was very much justified . As we share our first post of the year sending all of you lots of warmth and sunshine.

Winters and Kashmiri Shawl-walas in our house has been a "ever so permanent" (not sure if this term exist though, but you get it!). In fact we used to feel the winter not by the temperature in Kolkata but by the incoming of Shawl-wala in our house!!!!!! Not sure if the word "fashion statement" ever existed for Ma, but if it did, winters have been synonymous with loosely wrapped shawl or buttoned up Kashmiri coat over saree. We loved the happiness in her face when she used to flaunt her latest collections and carry them with grace. Thus being her daughter am flaunting my collection, n authentic and intricately hand embroidered pashmina acquired from our very old Shawl-wala.

This tomato red Dhakai saree is adding abundant brightness to the winter afternoon. Paired it with a hand embroidered designer blouse. Keeping the whole look easy and effortless, did put on very subtle makeup and jewelry.

I hope you like our look! If you want to revisit our look from last winter click here. If you like the post please do like, comment and share it. Your words of encouragement keeps us going. Please do follow us on Facebook and Instagram for latest updates on the blog.

It’s that time of year again! The holiday season is coming in hot, which means there’s a party or gathering at every turn. It was highly requested that we share a saree look and tips to make that can make us party ready for this season. So here is a the most glamorous look of the year and with a rule book of how to party in a saree

Rule 1: Wear a rich colored but light work saree

The moment you say party in a saree, I think of a black or red simple Benarasi styled in the most outrageous way. Remember to choose your saree wisely as you don't want to look like a Christmas tree yourself. So lighter work sarees are always convenient for the comfort and also look of the event. I had this red benarasi in my wardrobe an was all ready to grab the onlookers attention. It had rich work on its border and anchal and was perfectly made for the occassion.

Rule 2: Be bold on your choices for blouse

Ditch the usual matching blouse, pair with a contrast blouse, pullover , crop-top, jacket etc. Or if you want to style like I did, pair the saree with a bold stylish blouse that amps up the oomph factor in the look. This sleeveless deep neck silk blouse had a cute bow at the back and aptly made the look all the more stylized.

Rule 3: Accessorize rightly

Accessories make or break a look. So put as much thought into them as you put while choosing the saree. Based on accessories you can dress up or down a look. As in this look I have paired with statement gold 4 lahari necklace, smaller earrings, chur and a statement ring and made the whole appearance gorgeous and rich depending on the setting of the party I was attending. You can go for a lighter version too with only statement earrings and no necklace.

Rule 4: Keep your manes manageable

You surely don't want to feel "when can i go back home" if you are in a hot and happening holiday party. So make sure your hair listens to you. you can keep your locks open or in a bun if they are tamable. Also listen to your outfit, like what goes with it. I had put up my hair in a bun with with red roses adorning it. Roses are in trend in hairstyles now days, you see celebs like Priyanka Chopra, Anoushka Sharma and Deepika Padukone sporting them with style. Try them this winter and your look will be enhanced immensely.

I hope this will help amp up your holiday style for those all of the fun parties you’ll be attending this season! If you want to revisit our party look from last winter click here. If you like the post please do like, comment and share it. Your words of encouragement keeps us going. Please do follow us on  Facebook and Instagram for latest updates on the blog.

Winter is the best time to play dress up. Not only for the weather but also the various events that are lined during this time. So here comes the look of the evening I have been planning for ever. It was a Reception Party for Jr. K's Annaprason (find out what I wore for his annaprasan here). Although its said that "you can never be overdressed or over-educated" I had planned my look to be unapologetic-ally"overdressed" and I confess that I loved everything about it. So lets do a breakdown of the whole look!

Attire

The saree is a very unusual muddy gold handwoven Benarasi with all over meenakari. Draped it in seedha pallu style to showcase the rich pallu. As the color of the saree was subdued Sanchita designed a contrast green blouse with zardousi work done all over it bordered with stone and pearls. The back was done with net to amp up the glamour quotient.

Hair and Makeup

As the blouse had very intricate work on it and a sensuous back, so decided to keep the hair in a bun wrapped with red roses. The hair inspiration came from the highly popularized wedding look of Anushka Sharma. The hair was done by Trendz, Naktala.

I chose to have a evening party appropriate makeup but not over the top, so kept it dewy yet glamorous.

Accessories

This was the part where I was a little confused on what to wear. Fashion Junks or heirloom gold jewelry. Finally decided to adorn the later as the gold on gold looks brighter than anything else. Thus am wearing my wedding choker, necklace and sita haar, earrings and rings. I adorned a semi precious kemp mangtika on my head. But the look was absolutely incomplete without the Marathi Nathni which has turned out to be my favorite jewelry piece in recent times.

If you like the post please do like, comment and share it. Your words of encouragement keeps us going. Please do follow us on Facebook and Instagram for latest updates on the blog.

Details you want to know

Rule 1: Wear a rich colored but light work saree

Rule 2: Be bold on your choices for blouse

Rule 3: Accessorize rightly