Though she has plenty of options to choose from, Anjali Chawla firmly swears by one premium brand. “Chanel,” she says without pausing for a breath, “is a brand you can pass on to your children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren.” She finds it “understated and very, very chic”. Resting in Chawla’s wardrobe, then, is an envious collection of Chanel bags, belts, jackets, accessories, even pearls and umpteen dresses that the pretty lady has collected over the years.
While she admits to having more Chanel than any other brand, Chawla’s wardrobe doesn’t give any of the premium luxury brands a miss. She rarely dresses up in Indian attire (“unless one is going for weddings and other occasions where ethnic becomes the buzzword”) and that’s a reason why her wardrobe stocks a variety of dresses, especially formal evening wear. These include long, flowing gowns from brands like Roberto Cavalli and Alexander McQueen.
“His style is so different,” Chawla comments on McQueen’s designs. The designer, by the way, having just launched his fall winter collection for season 2009-10, displays an incredible 100 per cent silk jacquard trapeze dress with funnel neck in bright red on his website (Rs 2,98,750). While most of his dresses include stripes in bold colours, there are also flowing gowns in velvet which have a snug fit. His “red ombre scarf dress,” for instance, is another hot number in red. It’s a floor-length velvet gown (Rs 1,69,750) which Chawla, we’re sure, could carry with a string of Chanel pearls (Rs 50,000).
Chawla’s style statement gives prominence to premium luxury brands. That’s a reason why it’s not unusual to find a selection of scarves, shoes (“I’m guilty of owing innumerable pairs,” she confesses), bags and belts by a host of other brands including Berkins, Hermes, Gucci to name just a few. “I can’t do without my Gucci trousers for sure,” she confesses. Though she’s sporting a complete Chanel look — she wears a belt by McQueen though — when we meet her (including trousers by Chanel), Gucci trousers, Chawla suggests, offer a myriad of options as far as cuts and styles are concerned.
Our recommendation for Chawla — if she doesn’t already have them, of course — is Gucci’s “darted garcon pants” in black/white diagonal bouclé wool and welt pockets. At Rs 48,000, Chawla could pair it well with a long sleeve jacket in the same fabric (Rs 99,250) and a long sleeve shirt in crepe-de-chene with mother-of-pearl buttons (Rs 39,250). The look, however, is incomplete without Gucci’s “pixie” platforms in black suede with 4.1-inch heels which cost Rs 57,500.
Considering Chawla, like most women, is guilty of having ample pairs of shoes, her “brand” pick — besides other well-known brands — include Giuseppe Zanotti and Christian Loubteen. Zanotti’s open-toe ankle boot in black with a bright red heel is available for Rs 38,000.