World Class Style From New Delhi, India
The last thing I want to do on this trip to India is water-down my eye and take a lot of touristy "exotic" pictures.
I'm sure I will take some pictures of "great color" blah, blah but I am really happy that so far I have found looks that I would shoot whether I was in NYC or Milan or anywhere.
This young lady , for example, is as cool as any young lady I have ever met in Manhattan.
The real genius behind this look is that she is very petite, (maybe) 5' 2" and yet her long dress actually real lengthens her entire frame. The sleevelessness is a huge factor in pulling this off.
What I also love is that she is very "put together" and yet extremely sporty. Even though the dress was very long and very slim she was running around like she had a track suit on.
I rarely use the word effortless because I think it is a messy and mostly unattainable concept but she is about as close to effortless as I have seen in a while.
(regarding the bag, because I know it will be commented about, it was more ,for her, about function than form. It was stuffed with paperwork)
Comments on "World Class Style From New Delhi, India"
I absolutely love how her lips and fingernails match the wall behind and her shoes match the leaves on the street. Perfect!
Once again, you've shown us the transcendence of great fashion; it has the ability to cross all cultural/racial lines. Bravo!
after a look at the ruching in her dress, i understand and appreciate how restrained the rest of her look is- relying on small pops of color than other standout pieces.
Lovely. This look completely works on her, even though that long dress with shoulder-to-hem ruching shouldn't!
I had to comment on her. She is beautiful! It's so refreshing to see a face like hers, away from some of the stereotyped beauties that we see around the blogosphere! Scott, thank you for finding her!
What a beautiful face!!! Love the very strategic use of color, and how natural still looks. Gorgeous woman!
she's so lovely
wow...!!!
luv everything abt her...
can i marry her....hehe...
gud work sart...
wiiee
adil sg
I don't understand what you mean about the bag. Why will it be commented upon?
go India hahaha, we can get it too!
she's gorgeous!
Great look! She looks very stylish. Wish I could look like that by just "throwing stuff together". Awesome shot!
stunning.
So stunning and refreshing! I love her lipstick color with the outfit! Can't wait to see more pics from India!
beautiful head to toe. I've dreamt of outfits like this, and pulling something like that off would be a dream come true. Its actually really poetic, it puts a spin on the idea of every day glamor, and yes in a way it is effortless, somehow looks like it perfectly landed on her body, the dress, the bag, the shoes, the cuff. Even though we would think this outfit would not make sense perhaps thats what makes it so fantastic. As for her really crisp and clean appearence contrasting with a rustled background, the photograph expresses a serenity of a busy lifestyle, which seems to describe the idea of India quite well, a type of modernt serenity, a contradiction perhaps, but a goal for us all? Love your work.
I've been staring at the picture for about five minutes now and i just can't place what's so perfect about the shot. gorgeous eyes, lips, and those seemingly unfitting shoes which somehow click oh-so-perfectly... as a writer, i know what you mean by the use of "effortless," but then again, it's the perfect word.
Nice work man. I know you'll keep showing great stuff from there
i actually really like the bag :S
I'm actually surprised that for once a Westerner would not see a place through the eyes of a tourist. It's very nice that you're not acting like the Sari is all India is about. The world is truly becoming a global place and we should embrace that!
I agree with everything you said, and on top of that, she's gorgeous!
I hope you have a good time in India; in my experience, beautiful Indian women are never simply pretty - they're downright stunning.
gorgeous. stunning. those are about the only words i can muster looking at her.
I was in New Delhi for two weeks and i believe it's not a matter of watering your shots down. It's just unrealistic to expect to see western style "chic" in new delhi every day, every time. Being chic doesn't necessarily have anything to do with looking "western". there is nothing wrong with posting pictures of women who carry themselves well in their saris. That is their version of "chic" in delhi. I for one, rarely saw any young women dressed like this when strolling around the chaotic streets of new delhi.
AAHHHHHHH!!! This woman is so beautiful, I want to scream!
Welcome to L'Inde. :)
Just wanted to point out its Delhi, not Dehli. I'm pretty confident you'll find lots of unexpected gorgeousness on the streets here. Waiting to see more!
I have only recently discovered this site and I just love it. What impresses me so much is the way you take a portrait of people as themselves wearing their clothes well, not just of a "look" or of them trying to be someone/something else via a costume. It is a subtle and very special talent to be able to bring this out in people, particularly strangers.
This woman is the epitome of grace and beauty. I probably would've baulked at the shoes, but they, balanced by the lip colour, are what make the ensemble energetic and casual enough for day. Plus those shoes look comfortable for navigating a busy life.
she is so stunning!
I agree that this is a beautiful shot. However, I am disappointed in your comments Sart. I understand that you want a more modern take on Indian style, but why not draw attention to the way people are mixing traditional Indian dress and accessories with western style? Why not comment on her armlet or the way the folds in her dress drape in a similar way to parts of a sari? Why do you feel the need to comment on how comparable some dress you have seen in New Delhi is to what you see in Manhattan? What about what New Delhi has to offer Manhattan?
her skin is so....perfect. lucky! and yay for petite girls.
The lengthening function of the dress is really aided by her long legs and high waist. It's hard to imagine this working as well for a woman with a longer torso.
I also find it interesting that her outfit has put together four different shades of black. On my monitor, I count the black bag, the purple-black dress, the blue-black strip up the front of the dress, and her brown-black hair. This multitude of blacks makes her eye color gravitate towards her lip color and appear a warm brown. Fantastic!
Love your site - and you're right, this young woman is the epitome of effortless grace, stunning style, and fresh beauty!
gorgeus gorgeus gorgeus! The ballet flats are my favorite part of this outfit.
What a beautiful woman!
The shoes were unexpectedly playful and they make her look much younger. Otherwise, the long black slinky dress would come off so formal and adult.
She's beautiful.
I wonder if you should comment more on pictures like this, or leave it up to us to figure out. I appreciate your insight, and it would probably cut down on any potential bickering, ala man of undeteminable origin.
Most Indian women are petite but not all :)
And this fine young lady here is more an exception than a rule.
But truly sublime and surprising.
I didn' expect a shot like this.
P.S. I live in New Delhi so... :)
i totally agree with 12:35am. why is chic, as it were, defined by nyc or milan?
to me, your explanation of the photo reads like a typical american tourist. forget about centuries of local tradition, culture, food, and fashion and just look for what is familiar because that is what is best, right?
i ask, why even go to india if you can find these looks in nyc?
greg
isn't she priya kishore??...she always manages to look impishly stylish, without going over the top crazy..i see a striking resemblance to natalie imbruglia in the 90's
I love how she has accentuated her curves through the dress, as well as the pop of colour from her shoes. Kudos that they are practical too. The heels on this site worn by fashionistas often look good, but to my mind are not very practical. Yes, I cannot walk stylishly in heels!
I like the contrast of bracelet on one arm and bag on the other - and even though one is small and the other large - there is a symmetry about it that is further aided by her pose which inclines ever so slightly...
Beautiful picture, and a very "effortless" look indeed. What is so surprising is how comfortable she looks in her clothes, her skin, and her environment, while looking distinct, compelling and stylish. Hardy Amies said looking comfortable was the first rule of clothing oneself, but it is much harder to pull off than people realise, and not that many achieve it, even if they are "fashionable".
She is very lovely..
That cuff, and the placement just above the elbow, is fabulous. She looks as if some giant sea creature has her in its pincers...
I really love your pictures, however, I was a bit disappointed that this was your first shot from such an incredible place such as India. While I understand that you are wary of doing the 'touristy' thing, I hope that you can see beyond the limitations of 'western' fashion and see what is considered 'chic' by Indian standards which includes the various saris worn the the majority of the population. Just like people in the west pay top dollar for Gucci etc, Indian women also pay top dollar for top designed saris and other looks, so I hope that other pictures reflect this reality.
ooh she's got the same bag as me!
I was really surprised by your tone in this post. You seem very dismissive of previous comments left by many of your readers--people who have both an affection and appreciation for your work as well as the beauty and fashion unique to India. If you are indeed a true sartorialist, I would expect you to be much more appreciative of the various fashions presented throughout the globe, and not just those that you have traditionally found yourself compelled to shoot whether "in NYC or Milan." Shame on you for belittling the encouragement and enthusiasm of your readers, shame on you for degrading the unique and traditional fashion of a nation and people new to you, and shame on you for your ignorant preference of western culture. I find it hard to believe that you will be able to see or capture through photography any part of India that would truly represent the people and culture. You consistently photograph color and textile in Italy and other parts of the Western World, don't you think it short-sighted and self-spiting to dismiss such photos of India's textiles--ones used across the globe (especially in Italian fashion)--as "touristy" and "exotic"? You shouldn't worry about watering-down your eye, you should worry about narrowing your mind--before it's too late.
That's incredible! If you hadn't told us that she was only 5'2" I probably would have guessed she was just another 5'10" model that you shot. Great eye!
Aaah nice shot. I knew you would find something like this in Delhi. Am so glad you're not only shooting women in saris and tie and dye salwar kameez because thats not what all Indian women wear.
Seriously, if you like this lady's style, you have to visit Mumbai.
AA
her eyes! HER EYES, omg! she's just so damn beautiful, so elegant! her face is perfect! she's probably one of the most perfect persons we'll ever see here! great shoot, great colors and GREAT GIRL!
Im so glad your in India, I miss Delhi so much and yes our woman are beautiful and their is more to them style wise then just a sari although they always look best in them!!
Sundar!Sundar!Sundar!
the eyes, the lips, the skin...
the dress, the shoes...
the attitude...
simply stunning.
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I have been recently in Delhi and I can tell you that the amount of stylish people you see is not less than any western cosmopolitan big city. Sometime the level of sophistication is well above Western standard because of a light and soft oriental influence. But without that "ethnic flavour" which is out dated
thank you Scott, once again, for showing us that the true style can be found anywhere. I cannot get enough of being surprised by you. This woman is amazing.
Absolutely gorgeous - I love how she has pulled off such a "tall" silhouette despite being petite. Absolutely gorgeous - and thank you for showing a diffferent face of India.
Absolutely speechless. Wonderful.
She is really beautiful - the lipstick is the perfect shade, the shoes, the bracelet mid arm and the bag is perfect! Not to mention the dress which really fits her like a glove - she looks amazing - Very impressed!
I think my favorite thing is the way her red lips contrast her yellow shoes, separated by the long dark line of the dress. The detail on the dress is fantastic, but when you take the picture in all at once, the red and the yellow are what jump out at you.
Let's count (this can be done on 1hand) women at 5'2" that wear flats. Add confident & practical to stylish.
Those are the shoes I've been looking to buy for Spring!
I was living in India for a year and I have to agree the comment of anonymous at 12:35.
The concept of "chic" is all relative to personn and place.In case of India it has a lot to do also with what is acceptable for a woman to wear (sleevless clothes are not for the majority of the population)Colors also have a true meaning.
Althought globalisation has some good aspect it's also nice to travel and find something totally different. Isn't it dicovering different things that makes us richer and more inspirated? I'll stop traveling when I'll be sure to find away, the same thing I have at home.
As for myself, hope to see some nice shots of Indian woman ( is this one really Indian? I doubt it), wearing their Sari or not...whatever will be stylish and inspirating.
Bossy must have the shoes.
:O Lovely. That face...amazing
Shes just like Hillary Duff with dark hair XD
she...is...divine
don't know if you've seen this already - check no 20!
http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2008/mar/09/blogs
Incroyable! This young lady is quite stunning. The dress, armlet, bag, shoes, the whole ensemble works rather well here, IMVHO. A great start to the weekend. Looking forward to seeing more. Nice pic, Sart.
She is an Angel!!!! can she possibly be more beautiful?
her eyes are incredible and he skin a dream. I wonder about her life in India...
I've seen plenty of saris and the like worn in New York, and I don't think they look out of place at all. I find the intro of this post unneccessary and more than a little offensive.
I never saw women in any part of India dressed like this! I can hardly believe you found her there! I love this photograph, and hope that everyone else there will be more willing to incorporate such 'effortless' western style into their everyday clothing choices! (And effortless, it is.)
Fabulous, Mr. Sart.
As curly girl glass said... what a perfect matching... beautiful! It almost doesn`t matter what people wear... :)
N.
The real beauty is in her natural body - SHE HAS CURVES.
That's why she stands out. She's wearing the dress, shoes, and bag - they're not wearing her.
PERFECT
What a pleasure to see, for a change, a petite, curvy woman looking so stunning! Love the outfit, especially the bracelet (armlet?)and her use of colour.
I actually look a lot like this girl in terms in height, build, and facial features. I've been considering buying brighly-colored flats, and this photo has given me the final motivational push to do it. And I would kill for that dress!
I love this! The black dress, the yellow shoes, the black bag, the bracelet, and the red lipstick. It's all so great.
Absolutely love it! I like that you pointed out the fact that she's "very "put together" and yet extremely sporty". That totally sums up her whole outfit :)
Gward this image is PERFECTION. India, I'm in love. -Ant
yes, she is beautiful, and the shot is beautiful, but her outfit isn't inspiring me at all. the flats look worn out and mismatched in an amy winehouse way, and i think they are the wrong kind of shoe with a dress of that proportion and length. her nails and lips, however, are great.
Anon 7:23
There are more than 1 billion people in India and countless languages and distinct cultures. And in urban areas, there is now a rapidly growing middle class. So I wouldn't be so confident, as some posters are, to suggest that there is a single cultural norm to which all women are subject! I had to laugh at your use of the word 'acceptable,' as if there is an homogenous Indian standard of acceptabiity!
Somehow, the bag works for me. It looks like she's off to a destination with a purpose. Gorgeous.
It is true that the dress is exceptional. But what I like the most are the shoes. Beauty is in contrast!
Also a lot is in the great composition of the picture. Was it intentional? She perfectly fits on that background!
Mr.Sartorialist,
A great example of ethnocentrism... going to India to photograph ladies that dress like westerners... isn't it sad?
She is Beautiful
Great find! The arm cuff and the yellow shoes really make it for me. She's doing comfort and style perfectly.
Thanks Sart for intimating in your comments that good style should look like it came from Milan or Manhattan. Too bad about wasting your money on the air fare.
Blah, blah.
@Ema: Of course she's Indian. It's a diverse country. You shouldn't impose your exoticist expectations on people like that.
Love this shot, especially the colour of her shoes.
what a beautiful lady
note to the sartorialist: shoot in early am and late day, now that the hot windy season is descending upon the gangetic plains..lots of people head to the mountains right about now. I hope you have a least one cow in the street shot.
I like the small (emphasis on the small) accents of colour (lipstick, nails, shoes).
I love the pop of color in her shoes...and I am so amazed at how tall she looks! I never would have guess 5'2!
BTW does anyone know what bag she is wearing?
oh wow thats miu miu bag that she was holding (i guess). Very classy .. but wud love to see her in sari as well. her skin is different from other indian women, she must be mixed((another wild guess)))heheh
sara,cph
My favorite so far and by far. I like the comment about her being very petite and all because I really couldn't have guessed althought the brick wall behind her might be an indicator but then again. Anyway very NICE!!!
Marvelous! She's so exotic. This is exactly the kind of petite young lady I wouldn't mind bouncing up and down on my lap. She's absolutely lovely. Great photo!
I agree with dexter obvious (6:50pm). Her lips and shoes are striking, but once those colors draw me in...it's her eyes that capture me.
Gorgeous girl and photo but am I the only one that hopes we will see something a little different? Remove the wall behind her and it could be manhattan.
Thank you so much for your site. I think about it every day now when I get dressed. I always love your comments, they're so enlightening, I wish you would comment on every photograph you post.
to Anon 1:40 am
I think I did show what New Delhi has to offer Manhattan
Anon 4:21am
first, wait till you see the photographs tomorrow, i think they capture a real essence of Delhi
secondly
her dress is by an Indian designer, so doesn't that reflect a modern part of India?
I think you have over reacted
thirdly why can't i also have my own opinion in the comments on my own blog.
That dress is so sleek. She is serene. Her face is striking.
What a fabulous woman and a truly magnificent photograph. Could the setting have been any more perfect? The colors are just stunning. I love her style and those cute little satin flats. Wonderful!
Just made my day!
she's beautiful. absolutely stunning face. and i think her bag is an excellent combination of form & function.
sart - this picture is absolutely the most amazing picture on your site! perfection in every way - both in terms of her fashion, and her interesting and intelligent beauty.
for the people that want pictures of 'authentic' india - go to an ethnographic site. this is a western fashion blog and the images are part of a conversation to inform western fashion - which centers around NY, Paris and Milan, with feedback from a dozen other satellites. Not that a lady in a sari can't inform western fashion (as she has) - but this is a great image of how current and vibrant world fashion can be, and how one can be perfection in a western fashion sense anywhere. now, sart, is this young lady single? probably not, alas.
thanks for brightening up my friday!
Who knew a little black dress could be so controversial??
Love the dress, especially on her, the rest of the look is just okay for me (sorry, that sounded like Randy Jackson, didn't it?).
But the shot itself is gorgeous and that comes down to the composition (her beautiful face, her pose, her yellow shoes against the red background, her red lips, etc.). This is why I love your blog, not because we all have to agree on what is 'modern style.'
Looking forward to more shots from India...very exciting.
I think it's a little ethnocentric to assume that because she's dressing in this way, she's dressing in a specifically "Western" style. It seems to me that often Westerners put more emphasis on the purity of Asian culture than Asians themselves do - as long as that purity means Asians are dressing in styles and following customs that date back to generations before. Given that Americans are no longer wearing most of the styles of the past (except as 'vintage'), why should we be surprised that this woman is wearing a more modern dress and not a sari or salwar? Indian culture changes with time, just like any other. There are certainly plenty of women who wear saris, but I'd guess that in metropolitan New Delhi especially it'd be hard not to come across people in so-called 'Western' clothing.
What a beautiful photograph. I can't wait to see more pics from India.
Sart, I love your pictures and the new ways you inspire us to look at clothing.
However, you wrote, "This young lady, for example, is as cool as any young lady I have ever met in Manhattan."
Are you surprised to meet someone "as cool" as this outside Manhattan?
I am slightly alarmed at the Orientalist (and even slightly racist) nature of some of the above comments. There are hundreds of distinct cultures as well as DOZENS of languages in India. This woman's beauty is absolutely NOT an "exception, rather than the norm" as someone put it. And dear Sart, why would you state that "she looks as good as anyone in Manhattan"? Why must NYC be the centre of the world of beauty? Why not Peru, or India, or Malaysia or Nigeria? If anything, I find her beauty to be non-conformist whereas in NY, I find most women striving to catch up with the latest trend. In fact, almost all of your coverage of fashion editors is bland in this way; in so far as they all dress trendy.trendy.trendy as if their lives depended on it. Beauty is in confidence (which this Indian woman has in strides), rather than intimidation (which uniform luxury items imply).
Buck up folks, and do a little reading outside of your box.
I really like that dress. You mention it is by an Indian designer, do you know the name? I want!
i'm sure you can find a way to capture a more quintessentially indian style without taking touristy pictures.
i noticed it before when you went to china - your blog is very western-centric in terms of fashion, which is too bad, because the rest of the world has very interesting things to offer.
somehow i doubt that you'd have taken a picture of this girl in paris or new york.
I love everything about this outfit. The bright shoe is a genius touch. Her lips are amazing. Not many people can pull off the red lip but she does it quite effortlessly. je l'adore!!
I love the dress and the way she makes it somewhat casual :) LOVE LOVE the cuff braclet on her arm.
absolutely love it! Show us more!!!
I am the same height and figure, and she is an absolute inspiration to wear flats and a long dress!
Stunning!
I'm Indian, for what that's worth in this comment thread. And I think the shot and the girl are stunning. What's more, I think accusing Sart of ignoring "Indian sensibilities," whatever that amorphous term means, is profoundly silly -- when I first glanced at the photo, my first thought was "Wow. The dress fits her like a classic sari, especially with that elegant ruching. And look at all that uniquely Delhi red in the photo. His eye is amazing!"
You hair-trigger tempers should think outside the box.
Well said Anon 1:29.
You trolls need to relax. This is a fashion blog, on world fashion, through a western framework. If you want a world fashion blog with an Eastern point of view, knock yourself out. Just make sure you're based in Tokyo or someplace other than Manhattan.
This is one man's humble view of what he finds when he's out and about. That's all. And it's more than enough.
Great photo!!!
I always used to say that New York and Berlin is all very fine, but the Sartorialist will never be able to do a Sartorialist in India. Thank you, oh, thank you so much for that slap across my face!
The lipstick is a little too intense for my taste.
Beautiful lady.Great eye to find her Scott!Good Job!
She is so exotic looking compared to most of the other subjects of this blog. I love the dress and the shoes. You're right about the lengthening effect; I thought she was quite tall. I didn't know people dressed like this in Dubai. Thanks for enlightening me.
So chic.Outrageously chic.
Your photos stand up perfectly on their own, but I always enjoy it when you add a little commentary - it's very interesting to read about what you look for (people seem to forget that this blog is, after all, shaped by your aesthetics and sensibilities!). This is a lovely picture and the pop of her bright red lips is wonderful!
i'm glad you're focusing your attention on non-anglo girls too. i think she has proved to be more beautiful than all of them! or most of them at least. she has a down to earth quality that high fashionites in new york sadly miss and it's what lends to her beauty. of course -- that dress!
Habitual,
If this is your opinion why then did the Sart even need to leave the US?
Yes, isn't this Priya Kishore, owner of Bombay Electric, one of India's most fashion-forward shops? http://bombayelectric.in/ Nothing wrong with that if so, and she's gorgeous regardless, but if she's a global fashion insider, it's hardly suprising she's super-chic.
love the bag...
I think the dress works because she's so petite and curvy- all the 6' model-types were beginning to get old and give me a complex... It's refreshing to see someone beautiful style and curves!!!
First: my jaw just dropped to the ground. she's gorgeous.
Second: I think it's Priya Kishore--she owns a store in Bombay called Bombay Electric.....i did an internship in India and I went there in search of stuff to bring home--amazing stuff
The composition of this picture is splendid. I love deep hues and 'fresh look'of that youg lady. Well done indeed Mr Satorialist!
She's an inspiration; smartly dressed, world wise and wonderful to look at. As one person commented, she's very 'down to earth' in her look - yet exceedingly stylish and confident. Men step aside when she walks down the street.
John
for Anon 1:58pm
how can i define beauty, for me, from anywhere else but New York? that is where i live and what has shaped my concepts - to state anything else would be false. Should I feel bad that that is my background?
When i say that she looks as cool as any young lady in Manhattan it is because i have never heard that New Delhi is a "international fashion center" ,have you? I also have never heard that of Chicago?
I think I have the right to be surprised, it is honest,
sorry if I was not expecting