The In-betweeners

My favourite thing in my wardrobe these days is a work of sheer passion created by Namrata Joshipura. It is a woolen coat as light as a feather, yet laden with large embroidered red roses, reminding me of Chinese lanterns or Russian Baroque at once.

But this coat must wait for cooler climes. What we are looking to wear now are layers, structures that are somewhere free and elsewhere tailored, closed shoes, pants, tones of oranges and berries. This is not yet winter or festive, it's the wonderful point of just-there.

In summers we wear whites, florals and pastels and wedge heels. In winters, there jewel tones or the omniscient black in silks and finer threads. But it's the trans-seasonal wardrobe that's most challenging to put together. It's never about a look, but a style aesthetic that's mixed and teamed to maximize its versatility.

It is a cocktail sari, a spangled chiffon dress, a cashmere coat over linen trousers, or a navy button-down playsuit — these are our new staples.

Three hours from Mumbai, in Pune, from where I write this, my aunt at 75 greets me in the morning with a steaming cuppa. She wears trousers, always trousers, a block-print shirt from Anokhi and a powder-blue sleeveless jacket that's only lightly quilted, a gift from her US-based son. It's at least eight degrees cooler than Mumbai, but not yet cold.

Last week's Wills Lifestyle India Fashion Week saw an amalgamation of trends and textures, even though the season they were aiming to sell was Spring Summer. Vineet Bahl was inspired by Persian aesthetics with linear patterns and block prints, in shades of off-whites, blacks, burgundy and washed-out blues. Stoles muffled necks and aprons were loosely tied at the back.

... contd.

Daily Fashion Deals

A roundup of daily online fashion and home décor deals.

MYHABIT

French Connection returns to the Daily Deals page with a sale at MYHABIT until Thursday morning, October 27. Women's summer and fall dresses and shirts start at a paltry $15 and go up to $148 for a leather jacket.

Gilt Groupe

Another returning brand to this page is Calvin Klein, with a collection for sale at Gilt Groupe until Tuesday night, October 25. The brand, known for its clean lines and powerful use of black and gray, has women's clothing ranging from $119 to $999.

Rue La La

There is nothing hotter than a man in a well-cut coat—it can turn a mediocre outfit into a powerful, fashionable one. Cole Haan men's coats start at $179.90 and go up to $399.90, and are on sale until Wednesday morning, October 26. Ladies aren't left in the cold either—women's coats are from $119.90 to a jaw-dropping $1,099.90 for a Shearling jacket.

Haute Look

BCBGMAXAZRIA shoes and purses are on sale until Wednesday morning, October 26. Prices range from $49 for a clutch to $262 for a knee-high wedge boot.

Lucky Brand has men's wear on sale until Wednesday morning, October 26, with prices from $12 for a graphic tee to $52 for a pea coat. Of course, jeans are on sale too.

Little $: Stock up on shirts - $15 for a women's French Connection shirt at MYHABIT, and men's Lucky Brand tees start at $12 at Haute Look.

Big $$$: With shipping and handling, you'll be dropping over $1k for Calvin Klein women's clothes at Gilt Groupe. Alternatively, you could pick up a Shearling Cole Haan jacket at Rue La La.

The Thick End of the Wedg

THERE is a town near Alicante in Spain called Elche. They make shoes there. The other reason it is famous is that it is the last palm grove left in Europe — there were once about 250 000 trees but now there are just around 10 000.



And they are the real deal — Phoenix palms. They were planted by the Moors as a defensive line against the Catholics about 800 years ago. The palms lining the streets of Cannes and a host of Arabian capitals (and some modern casinos around the world) are from Elche.



Like many Spanish cities, local political power drifts between the socialists and the conservatives, and they have very instructive attitudes to the palm trees. The socialists (at least when I was a correspondent in Spain 20 years ago) tended to want to preserve the trees. If there was one in your garden you couldn’t cut it down, no matter how much you disliked it. The conservatives (in those days the socialists still called them fascists as they were the modern remnant of Gen Franco’s movement) thought the best way to protect the trees was to sell them, which I presume was why so many were dug up.



When I was there the socialists were in power. People used to dig up trees at night and speed them to the nearest port and ship them to clients around the world. The socialists were outraged. People were jailed.



But it was clear then that the conservatives were right. The only way to maintain the grove was to allow people to sell their trees, and so it has proven to be. It encouraged new plantings and fiercer protection of the existing grove. Even today, if you want to line the entrance to your new hotel with the greatest palms of all you would look first to the trees in Elche. A good one could cost $20000.



Commercialising rather than merely preserving endangered species has to be the way forward. I still get irritated when people refer to newspapers as "dead tree" editions. They could not be more wrong. Some 10% of the world’s forests produce timber for the paper industry. If there wasn’t one who would pay for their upkeep? Who would bother planting trees if they could not be sold? If 10% of the world’s forests were suddenly to die it would be regarded as an environmental catastrophe, but that is exactly what so many clever clogs wish upon newspapers.



Of course, the ultimate South African lesson is how we approach the preservation of endangered wildlife. If we commercialised and harvested rhino horns, we would save the species. It may not sit well at polite dinner tables, but it is the absolute truth. Left to the do-gooders, no matter how they spend on tracking and policing, our rhino are toast.

Ode to Jeffrey Campbell

Think you have an obsession for Jeffrey Campbell shoes? Well so does everyone else! The streets have spoken and JC shoes are the talk of the town. Worn by everyone ranging from pre teen to adults, this sudden outbreak of JC shoes has taken over. JC shoes are known for their outrageous creative designs and extreme comfort. It's no surprise these delights have been featured on tons of sites, blogs and magazines --not to mention Facebook fan pages dedicated to our favorite shoe brand. To own a great shoe is to know the shoe itself. Are you constantly finding yourself purchasing shoes for the brand itself? No sense of comfort, not durable, and after multiple usages they're tossed to the back of your closet? Why not get your money's worth and go with Jeffery Campbell?

Where will your first destination be in the 'Meeker' black suede boots by Jeffrey Capmbell? We love simple suede and classic wedge look. The hidden wooden detail adds a bit of spice, while the triangle detailing just seals the deal!

Although the name of these interesting wedges are 'The Boomerang' don't expect to receive these glamorous wedges back if tossed in the air!

'The Tardy' platform boot was created for the bad ass in us all. Durable for the cold weather yet stylish enough for everyday wear! And the fire hydrant red color just adds to the edge of these killer boots.

At last the classic, popular Jeffrey Campbell 'Lita' boot! Although these boots are measured to have a 5 inch heel these boots are perfect for beginner heel walkers or any woman who loves comfort. Bloggers, photographers and hipsters love these shoes --expect to see Lita all year around.

Pull & Bear October 2011 Lookbook

Fall has officially began and every style-savvy girl should start searching to update her wardrobe with covetable, season-appropriate pieces. For stylish, comfortable ideas, your first stop should be a quick peek at the latest Pull & Bear October 2011 Lookbook. Enjoy!

Chilly fall days are upon us, so it's time to start looking for the most coveted and coziest pieces in order to keep us warm and stylish all season long. Need inspiration? Just take a peek at the latest Pull & Bear October 2011 Lookbook and you'll certainly find something to update your winter wardrobe. As usual, the Spanish brand brings casual clothes and accessories for young people who are not afraid to stand out and avoid stereotypes.

Based on the hottest fashion trends but also on the uber-voguish streetstyle, the new Pull & Bear October 2011 Lookbook features affordable, fashion-forward outfits for you to tap into this season. Besides, the label stays true to its incredibly charming vintage flair and comes up with easy-to-wear, relaxed pieces.

Be prepared to enter into a real sartorial adventure and discover a covetable, practical approach to this season's wear. There are fluffy and slouchy two colored jacquard jerseys, cable stitch jackets with batwing sleeves, herringbone woolen blazers, openwork long jackets, check tops with bow, lace tube skirts, and print tees.
Moreover, since the dipping temperatures announce the official start of cold season accessories, Pull & Bear also serves up a plethora of comfy worker ankle boots, basic knee socks, heeled crepe ankle boots, feather hats, cowboy style belts, aran stitch look scarves, welt wedges, hats with bow, wedge boots with buckle, suede lace up shoes, and basic tights.

Josef Seibel Ranges Provide Comfort with Style

When the cold weather makes an appearance, the layers come out in force and style can be put on the backburner to be replaced with warm, comfortable fashion choices. But this season one footwear brand is bringing its style choices to the forefront and it refuses to compromise on its comfortable reputation.

A recent survey conducted by European comfort footwear brand, Josef Seibel, discovered that almost 45% of women who are planning to be on their feet a lot during the course of the day will always carry a spare pair of comfortable shoes, with a further 2% having those precautionary flats permanently on standby. The research also revealed that 32% of people had at least one additional pair of shoes at the workplace, for those 'just in case' occasions, with 1.6% having a choice of four or more footwear options.

No woman wants to be glued to their broken-in flatties, but the gorgeous-to-look-at-but-foot-crippling-stiletto alternative is not a viable everyday option in today's working environment. Josef Seibel has a reputation for long lasting, quality footwear and the answer to every woman's comfort versus style dilemma.

Managing director of Josef Seibel UK and Ireland, Martin Ingram, said: "Our statistics show that nine out of ten people find the spring and summer seasons easier to dress for and a staggering 88% therefore feel unhappy about their appearance in the winter months. Bridging the gap between style and comfort for over 100 years, Josef Seibel is a master at producing beautiful footwear and offers a fantastic selection of shoes and boots including timeless classics and new contenders, all of which continue to retain the brand's style with comfort reputation and outstanding quality".

London Fashion Week saw animal print, faux fur and military styling still performing strongly, which have all been incorporated into the winter Josef Seibel collection and, if height is a must, then choose between a chunky wedge or block heels to give you that extra oomph. For those seeking style, comfort and practicality when battling the elements, the brand still has an offering for you with their collection of waterproof, breathable and windproof boots, completed with lining for extra warmth!

A quarter of women admitted in the survey to never choosing style over comfort, but Josef Seibel women don't have to sacrifice comfort for trend driven footwear because the brand offers wide fittings, removable foot beds, sweat absorbing Arnepant insoles and its unique Airped system which acts as a shock absorber as you walk.

The Herman Cain moment: Ascent is logical extension of Obama presidency

"White people work for Republicans! Not African Americans.”
That’s what Rep. Maxine Waters, D-Calif., told me back in 1991 when I was a young staffer for a Republican member of Congress.
If black people aren’t supposed to be working for Republicans, then, by that same logic, black people certainly aren’t supposed to be winning straw polls in the Republican presidential race.
But that is exactly what Herman Cain has done.
The former chief executive of Godfather’s Pizza is surging in national polls. His surprising success reflects the appeal of his traditional conservative views on the economy — including his 9-9-9 tax reform plan — and the way that the tea party movement, whose supporters generally back Cain, has upended the Republican Party.
But Cain’s candidacy is also the ultimate extension of the Obama presidency: A contender for the highest office in the land can be taken seriously regardless of race.
Despite the viability of a candidate such as Cain, there is a great irony to his early success. We are heading into a 2012 election cycle in which Republican and tea party conservatives appear eager to support a candidate, who just happens to be black, based on his convictions and ideas. The Democrats, on the other hand, appear willing to recycle the race card to keep this country’s first black president in office.
Before 2004, I never believed that we would see an African American elected president during my lifetime. Neither major political party had nominated a black candidate, and a serious and viable individual had yet to emerge that would change this. I have worked in politics for more than 20 years, and I have seen Republican candidates reluctant to reach out to communities of color, always thinking it was fruitless. I have also seen Democrats who appeared to take the black vote for granted.
I changed my mind in September 2004 after watching an electrifying speech at the Democratic National Convention by a little-known candidate seeking to become the junior senator from Illinois. I felt that suddenly the unthinkable had become possible — perhaps America was ready to move beyond its troubled history with race and elect a black man to the most powerful job in the world.
During the 2008 campaign, Barack Obama competed and won in states where the percentage of African American voters was in the single digits compared with whites, Latinos and other ethnic minorities. He attracted voters based on the content of his message, not the color of his skin. Obama’s election in 2008 did not usher in a post-racial America. But eventually it did usher in Cain as a credible candidate.
Politically, the two men could not be more different, but their mutual success is inextricably linked. In the nearly three years since Obama was elected, dissatisfied conservatives have rallied around the tea party movement — citizens alarmed by the rapid growth of government and the reach of the president’s health-care reform law. From organic gatherings and rallies, the tea party grew into a political force whose candidates promised to rein in the federal government.
Cain, like Obama, has proved to be a telegenic and riveting speaker. At the start of their candidacies, few people thought either man had a chance. The mainstream media followed the campaigns of more established candidates such as Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, N.Y., in 2008 and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney today. But unexpected early victories on the campaign trail shifted attention toward Obama four years ago. And now, Cain’s upset win over Texas Gov. Rick Perry in the Florida straw poll last month has changed the Republican contest.
For me, however, Cain’s surprising strength at the polls, corresponding with Obama’s sagging approval ratings, speaks volumes about where our two parties stand on race in America today. Republicans, desperate to deny Obama four more years in office, are seeking a nominee with the right balance of experience, knowledge and confidence to lead the nation through economic problems at home an d foreign policy challenges abroad.
In the latest Washington Post-ABC News poll, released this past week, Cain’s supporters are the most committed to his candidacy, compared with supporters of the other GOP contenders. Seventy percent of Republicans polled said that the more they heard from Cain during the debates, the more they liked him. Given that the percentage of African Americans who identify themselves as Republican is approximately 10 percent, Cain’s support is overwhelmingly drawn from whites, Latinos and other ethnic minorities.
Conversely, Obama and some of his supporters have begun to use race as a wedge issue to bolster his reelection prospects. Several members of the Congressional Black Caucus have called the tea party movement and its supporters racist. In August, Rep. Andre Carson, D-Ind., the CBC’s chief vote-counter, told the audience at a CBC event in Miami that “some of them in Congress right now of this tea party movement would love to see you and me … hanging on a tree.” He likened to “Jim Crow” the efforts of the tea party and its supporters in Congress to limit the size of the federal government. This was from a member of an organization that calls itself the “conscience of the Congress.”
I attended a tea party gathering on Capitol Hill last year, one at which racial epithets were allegedly hurled at Rep. John Lewis, D-Ga., and other black members of Congress. But from what I observed, I found the group to be respectful and nonthreatening. I was welcomed and praised for my conservative political commentary on television and radio. Where was the proof of systemic racism?
There will always be a fringe element in this country that is unable to accept individuals based on the color of their skin. But to me, continuing to paint the tea party as racist — even as Cain is surging — is simply more race-baiting by dissatisfied Democrats.
Equally problematic is the insinuation that black voters should blindly support the president. Cain himself made that criticism in a recent interview, when he said he thought blacks had been “ brainwashed” into supporting Democratic candidates for president.
Consider Obama’s speech to the Congressional Black Caucus gala last month. “I don’t have time to feel sorry for myself. I don’t have time to complain. I am going to press on. I expect all of you to march with me and press on,” the president said. “Take off your bedroom slippers, put on your marching shoes. Shake it off. Stop complaining, stop grumbling, stop crying.”
Here, the president of the United States, speaking before a largely African American audience, elected to use imagery from the civil rights era to say in essence: “Don’t criticize me. Just keep working for me.” What is left unsaid here, of course, is: “Keep doing these things for me … because I’m black.” Perhaps the president feels comfortable with this implication, given the popular media narrative that Republicans and tea party activists are either implicitly or explicitly racist. Yet those voters are behind Cain’s growing popularity.
During his campaign four years ago, Obama generally refused to invoke race or racial imagery. Now he apparently feels compelled to do so to generate support for his policies and his reelection bid. I thought the Democrats had maxed out the race card and cut it up with scissors, never to be used again.
But it seems that Republicans and conservatives have taken a step forward to support a black candidate for the presidency, while Obama has taken two steps back by using race to divide Americans, rather than bring us together.