This month we’d like to take the time to thank our Bindaas Diva Erika, who wrote us a heart-warming email about her rental experience….

From the very beginning, the customer service is what made me confident about the process. It was my first time attending an Indian Islamic wedding and the glossary in the In’s and Outs section was very helpful in helping me understand the pieces. The collection was absolutely beautiful and I ended up selecting the Raven Black Sharara and my husband rented the Azul De Mar Kurta Pajama. The response I got at the event when I wore my Borrow It Bindaas items was that people thought I looked stunning! I felt beautiful and plus I wore the free headpiece that the team sent as a little gift with my package. The return process was very easy especially not having to fuss with return shipping costs. 

Overall, Borrow It Bindaas’ excellent customer service is what made the experience extraordinary. When my husband’s first kurta didn’t fit, the team rushed another one before we left OH for FL.  I felt like the Borrow it Bindaas stylists were my personal shoppers helping me find an appropriate piece for an Indian/Islamic wedding and also for my body type.  I was in unchartered waters so I definitely appreciated the guidance. Well done Borrow It Bindaas! 

Celebrations of Indian clothing are seen in large strokes across the recent spring/summer runway. Sometimes in factual translations, like dresses sparkling with embellishment in silhouettes mimicking lehengas, and other times through luxurious colors pulled from memories of unforgettable Indian adventures. The gracefulness between West and East is more evident than ever this season. What is certain is that India’s influence for spring/summer has allowed for something more varied and a wide net of influence that is steeped in a rich appreciation for all things Indian! Borrow It Bindaas explores the catwalks of this season to see who has the exact Indian touch!

Matthew Williamson

Matthew Williamson has visited India over 40 times. He experienced the Holi festival in one of his trips, and the idea of carnival-goers throwing brightly colored powders over each other really had him thinking, moreover he drew on this for the powder prints in his Spring/Summer 2013 collection.

Pinks bled into whites on a smooth sheath dress with ambers dripped into ochres over a mountainous scene printed on Bermuda shorts, all of which were brought to life from Matthew Willamson’s colorful India memories.

Marchesa

Marchesa is one of our favorite designers who also found their influence in just a beat of a heart from India this season! Layered gowns were fashioned to form saree-like shapes. Meticulously arranged crystals sat encrusted on radiant fuchsia tones, while a white lehenga inspired two-piece dress floated with feather-like softness down the runway.

We love how the result of the line honored Indian costumes with evolution towards modernity while retaining the classic elegance and modification of our traditions. This season’s designer, Georgina Chapman said that she used traditional Indian techniques and that the silhouettes are embellished with pearls and crystals.

Vera Wang

Vera Wang’s use of layering coupled with South Asian textures, colors, prints, and embroideries. Her inspiration was the masculine tailoring of Indian men’s traditional dress with the delicate grace of saree, and new less literal translation of Indian glamor.

The sumptuous, intricate brocades, gauzy ikats, and the deep color palette of jade, sapphire, and gold were suggestive of India. We think Vera Wang’s dance with the country and its sweeping history and luscious visual liveliness was expertly assembled.

Mary Katrantzou

Mary Katrantzou sure knows how to command a crowd, and she sure knows how to command a print to do something different with it and move it on to a whole new place. Her Spring/Summer collection was of beautiful old Indian stamps splashed with symbolic birds, icons, national symbols, history, and works of art.

She used earthy tones of amber and green to represent India’s rich agriculture wealth, and hints of fresh blue to represent the all-year sunshine and blue skies India experiences. The zig-zag lines are not only to represent the stamps’ edges but also the hundred of railway lines that goes around India. We love how Mary’s perception of the line was more about the stories and print!

So there it is! The richness of India’s visual heritage is always an inspiration to abroad designers. The embroideries and color from India are so magnificent that they will always be an influence in the fashion industry. What’s your take? Leave us and comment and let us know!

Written exclusively for ‘Borrow It Bindaas’ by Monika Rajwani

Photo Courtesy: Vogue UK

MEET BORROW IT BINDAAS! A fabulous, unique, & affordable resource for the Bride, Groom & their family and friends!  Borrow it Bindaas is the Netflix of Indian Fashion and the first site of its kind, now celebrating 2 years!  Customer’s nationwide can RENT or BUY the latest fashions  keep the look for 5 or 10 days and we take care of the return shipping, just like Netflix! See how Borrow It Bindaas has brought dream weddings to life from the eyes of the Bride, Bridesmaids, Groom & Groomsmen!

ALL ABOUT THE: BRIDE: Ask any bride if they’ve ever worn their wedding or reception saree/lehenga again and the majority of brides will say: “No”. If a bride is not too concerned with having her saree/lehenga as a keepsake, then why spend thousands for an outfit? Take a Peek into our recent Beautiful Bride’s Rental Experience with Borrow It Bindaas:  

 “After hearing about Borrow It Bindaas from a few of my wedding vendors I contacted them right away. With weddings being so expensive these days I wanted to be as cost efficient as possible. Borrow it Bindaas definitely helped me with that. I scheduled a private appointment with their team and in no time picked out my wedding outfit. Yes, I rented my wedding outfit, why not?!  I felt beautiful and fabulous and it was as if the outfit was made just for me especially since it was custom tailored exactly to my fit. I felt like a princess on my big day and received compliments non-stop!”- Mona V. Patel, Borrow It Bindaas Bride

ALL ABOUT BRIDESMAIDS: One of the challenges of being a bride is figuring out what your bridesmaids are going to wear. Finding identical outfits, tailored to each of your bridesmaids is quite a challenge. Borrow It Bindaas saves the bride some stress and takes care of creating a gorgeous coordinated wedding party with sarees and salwars that are available for Rental or Purchase. Take a Peek into our rent Bride Kavita’s Rental Experience of Bridesmaids Salwars:

“We went with a few beautiful churidar suits that were chic and modern. They matched the feel I was going for perfectly. Once we chose the outfits, I didn’t have to worry about a thing. The Borrow It Bindaas Team worked with each of my bridesmaids to ensure they got a custom tailored fit and delivered to them well in advance of the big day. The feedback I got from the outfits was amazing! Continuous compliments about how unique the pieces were.” - Kavita Coomar Patel

ALL ABOUT THE GROOM + GROOMSMEN: Ask any groom or their groomsmen if they’ve ever worn their sherwani/kurta from their wedding /friends wedding’s and chances are you’ll hear a: “No”! Why spend hundreds for something that will be sitting in the back of their closet? Save some space, money, and time by RENTING your Sherwani/Kurta! Take a Peek into our Bindaas couple Yazmin & Patrick’s Rental Experience! With a GROUP WEDDING DISCOUNT, their family, friends and Groomsmen ALL rented from Borrow It Bindaas: 

“I contact Borrow it Bindaas when guest’s and Patrick’s groomsmen started telling us they also wanted to wear Indian clothes! I was in communication with the Borrow it Bindaas team a month or two prior to my wedding where they helped us with sizing, a group discount, and styling our guests. They had a groomsmen collection of 8 kurta pajamas and the rest of Patrick’s friends rented sherwanis and other kurtas from the Borrow it Bindaas Mens Collection. They made the whole process hassle free and all of Patricks friends got to wear kurtas/sherwanis!” -Yazmin

CALLING ALL WEDDING VENDORS: If you are working with Brides & Grooms or know someone who is getting married soon; let them know about the BEST KEPT SECRET in the Indian Fashion Industry! If you would like fliers, business cards, e-fliers or more information on partnerships please contact: Info@borrowitbindaas.com

*Browse the BIB Bridal Collection: Borrow it Bindaas Bridal Collection

*Browse the BIB Bridesmaid Collection: Borrow it Bindaas Bridesmaids Collection

*Browse the BIB Mens Collection: Borrow it Bindaas Mens Collection

Borrow It Bindaas Celebrates 2 Years with An Unforgettable Pop Up Bazaar + Fashion Show!

Borrow It Bindaas (BIB) recently celebrated their 2Year Anniversary with their first Pop Up Shop + Fashion Show! BIB, being the first business of its kind, offers consumers nationwide the opportunity to rent or purchase the latest Indian Apparel & Accessories for a fraction of the retail price. With the Indian Wedding Industry growing at a 100% rate per year and the recent surge in the popularity of Bollywood & Indian textiles & jewels being hot runway & red carpet, BIB offers these fashions at affordable prices! Rental of Indian apparel and accessories has NEVER been done before, not even in India. The company was celebrating a milestone by successfully building a national footprint in a mere 2 years. Since it’s debut, Borrow It Bindaas has generated quite a buzz across the country and featured in WSJ, NPR, Wedding Nouveau, India Journal, Maharani Weddings & much more!  On a recent sunny Saturday in Southern California, BIB dazzled exclusive invitees with an ethnic bazaar style, stunning display of deals on clothing and accessories, delicious o’dourves, and a bright fashion show of spectacular proportions. 

Upon entering attendees were greeted with the sweet aroma of carefully prepared Indian o’dourves, second only to the warm greeting they received from Riddhi and Siddhi Khara, the founders of Borrow It Bindaas. Bollywood music was piping in the background, setting the mystique of an authentic atmosphere as customers grazed over the tables of exquisite accessories and racks of gorgeous sarees, lehenga, salwars, tunics, menswear & more. From the high quality fabrics and intricate designs, shoppers were in awe of the collection and appreciated the affordability of the iconic garments, as they know that such authentic pieces are hard to come by in the states, especially at such great prices!

The fashion show was a hit and very well put together with a display of 30 pieces from their latest collection. The clothing put on display was gorgeous, and the models were beaming, looking as though they were genuinely having a good time.

To see more photos of the event: Borrow it Bindaas 2 year Anniversary Album 

Check out Video Highlights: Borrow it Bindaas PopUp Shop+Fashion Show

VENDORS: Photography: Randery Imagery, Sound: Special Occasions Dj, Makeup: Makeup By Vanessa, Saree Draping: Henna by Rupal, Videography: Demon Productions

When we think of summer, we think comfort and ease is the way to go! That’s why for this summer, classic styles are the way to go, but add a modern twist! Switching up your hair or creating a different hairstyle every now and then can really make a difference in your look! We at Borrow It Bindaas bring you our top favorite summer hairstyles that do not need the perfection of a hairstylist, and can be recreated by anyone at home! As elegant as these hairstyles look, they only take minutes!

The Braid:

The braid is back but more romantic than ever! Do a messy braid to the side, and add some flowers for an ultra feminine look. Or, keep it simple with a tiny French braid at your hairline. It’s a day to night look and can add a bit of drama to your hair for summer.

The Side Ponytail:

You can wear it either sleek like Priyanka Chopra or messy like Beyonce. This style is best worn with a simple top or a strapless dress. After all, you do want your hair to do the talking!

The Chignon:

Whether you’re going out for a formal occasion or lunch with the girls, this up do is the easiest and the most chic. Follow Angelina Joli and sleek it all back into a tight bun to give your face it’s due. For a softer version, follow Frieda Pinto’s; with sections of the hair pulled back loosely. You can make this look contemporary by putting your chignon to the side rather than just at the nape.

The Long & Lush:

Hair that’s long is a statement in and of itself. Keep strands healthy by retiring the blow dryer every so often and instead, twisting damp hair into a bun and letting it air dry. When you release the bun, you’ll have loose waves!

The Textured Bob:

It doesn’t get much sexier than loose, tousled waves. Keep the look natural and not too big, or it could look a little 80’s! Spray wet hair with leave-in conditioner and volumizer (that’s what gives it the salt-soaked vibe. Dry the hair with a diffuser. Finger-comb through strands with a dab of texturizing cream. A brush will leave the style flat. Finish with a light mist of hairspray.

There’s no excuse for a bad hair day now! Whatever your length, cut, or texture is. These styles will be perfect for you! Leave us a comment below and tell us what you will be trying!

Written exclusively for ‘Borrow It Bindaas’ By Monika Rajwani

Photo Courtesy: Vogue India, Glamour Magazine, Daily Makeover, Harpers Bazaar, MissMalani

I first heard about Borrow it Bindaas through Facebook. I had seen a friend like their page and I was curious to know more about them. Lucky me, I discovered they are site for rental of Indian Fashions and I actually had a wedding to go to! I needed an outfit for the mehendi function and to be honest didn’t quite know what to wear to that function. The stylists at Borrow it Bindaas personally selected options that would be appropriate. My favorite feature about my Borrow it Bindaas experience was the ease of ordering and knowing that the company was willing to help me with my size concerns and delivering it to me on time.

The response I got at the Mehendi when I showed up in the Looking Gradient in Turquoise Anarkali- I had looks, looks, and more looks =) Then I was told “you’re killing them in that outfit!!” The whole process in one word: seamless! The BIB customer service is superb, they are helpful far beyond what I ever expected. New Yorkers before you hit up Jackson Heights, consider BIB. You’ll get a great selection, better prices and no worries about what to do with that gorgeous outfit and avoid taking photos. Take some photos and create some memories and then rent a brand new outfit again!

In this edition for Looks for Less we’ve featured actress Chitrangada Singh donning a red anarkali with royal blue touches in the collar and sleeve area. Love her look? Get it for less in Borrow it Bindaas Radiant Ribbons Anarkali. Charming and spellbinding, this anarkali radiates sophistication with a wild burst of color. Royal blue and red compliment one another

You’ve seen her in casual jeans, formal gowns, and even traditional Indian wear. But have you ever wondered what she actually LOVED to wear? Borrow It Bindaas will give you the entire fashion scoop and Do’s on this edition of our Celebrity Spotlight feature on the Dabangg girl, Sonaskshi Sinha!

Sonakshi is a trained fashion designer, having studied fashion at the SNDT College in Mumbai. She also has designed for a movie called, Mera Dil Leke Deko in 2005.

Sonakshi Sinha’s preferred fashion statement is casual wear. She likes jeans and T-shirts the best. She loves to team them up with sling bags, and her Being Human watches. The only other watch she wears is the Rolex, which she bought with her own earnings!

As for footwear, flats it is for her and stilettos get a thumb down. She believes that comfort is a must!

Her favorite Indian designers are mainly young; such as Dev N Nil and Shantanu & Nikhil. She prefers wearing sarees than Indian suits.

Sonakshi looks best in conservative, feminine dresses, and is always opting for bright colors or whites. To dress like Sonakshi, invest in several white pieces for your wardrobe – a smart blouse, an excersie top, a little white dress. She is regularly photographed wearing colorful, fitted dresses made of clingy, stretchy material. Look for printed wrap dresses and dresses with flirty one-shoulder necklines. Try Cache or Diane von Furstenburg for Sonakshi-style clothes.

Sonakshi is one of the few Indian actresses who wears a nose-ring on a regular basis. She has had her nose piereced at the age of sixteen and has worn a nose ornament right from her first film. She keeps on altering from nose ring to a stud. In her upcoming movie Lootera, she will be wearing a very traditional Bengali-lookng nose stud in the shape of a flower.

For her everyday makeup looks, Sonakshi uses Chanel’s Mat Lumiere foundation in Naturel, a black Revlon eye pencil, and varying lipsticks with a matching blush. Her basic makeup routine is; play with lipsticks and wear generous amounts of mascara…or false eyelashes! For fragrances, Sonakshi wear a Victoria Secret’s Pink body spray during the daytime and loves Jean Paul Gaultier’s Classique for the evening.

Sonakshi has some of the longest hair in the film industry. Often she will wear her hair in a high tight bun or ponytail, slicking it away from her face. She will switch this look up sometimes teasing the hair in the front to create a “bump” to give her hair height. At other times her hair is fairly simple, some side bangs that she will wear on her face at times.

Sonakshi Sinha’s style icon is her Mother, Poonam Sinha. She believes that there is no one as beautiful and stylish as her mother!

We hope you can use makeup, hair styling, and fashion to look just like Bollywood’s diva, Sonakshi Sinha! Let us know what you think!

More Looks Of Sonakshi Sinha We Love!

Written exclusively for ‘Borrow It Bindaas’ by Monika Rajwani

Photo Courtesy: PinkVilla, B4U, The Purple Window, Vogue India, Times Of India, Business Of Cinema

Filed under: Uncategorized

In this weeks Looks for Less, we’ve featured actress Vidya Balan who looks divine in this gorgeous neutral saree. Love her look? Get her look for less in our Borrow it Bindaas Bollywood Inspired Time to Shine Saree. Add interesting texture to your wardrobe with this dazzling champagne hued net saree with antiqued sequin cog-shaped scales. The preciously detailed borders and contrast blouse shows mesmerizing mystique, punctuating with burnt orange and coal black. This look says diva from head to painted toe.

Shop the Look: Time To Shine Saree

Borrow It Bindaas is so excited to work with KIS Cubed Events! Stay tuned for more  wedding tips from KIS (cubed)!  KIS (cubed) Events is an exclusive wedding & special event planning company that serves as your one stop shop. They specialize in local event and international wedding planning from all around the globe. They are always looking for new and creative ways to branch out to showcase world culture through the bond of marriage. Their comprehensive event planning services range from the smallest details to planning the entire wedding.They customize their services to your needs and provide you with your own personal event or wedding consultant. They will provide a high level of service in a helpful and efficient manner, and deliver nothing but perfection with ‘Keeping it Simply, Sophisticated, with Style! Follow them on Facebook to keep up with their latest work: https://www.facebook.com/kiscubed 

I first heard about Borrow it Bindaas through a friend of mine who was also trying out the site for the first time for our good friends wedding. I went ahead and rented the Varda Saree with Silver Stones and my friend rented the Swan Lake Saree The stylist team helped me choose this saree as it was my first time wearing the saree and didn’t even know where to begin. They helped me choose a saree that was perfect for a first-timer! There were no pleats required which is the hardest part! My favorite feature about my Borrow it Bindaas experience is that it was very easy! The return postage was the best and not to mention it was great to have a complimentary kit complete with pins bindis and draping instructions! I also liked that we go two blouse sizes so I could choose between the two blouses. I wore this saree to a wedding and the response I got at the event was that everyone loved it. The color was perfect for a wedding and the stone work was gorgeous. Truthfully, I felt like a model! My overall experience in one word-Seamless! The package arrived on time, the saree fit perfectly and it was easy to send pack since they sent a pre-paid return envelope. Thank you Borrow it Bindaas-can’t wait to rent from you all again! 

Shop:  Lehenga Style/Ready Made Saree  

Rent Varda Saree: http://borrowitbindaas.com/varda-saree-with-silver-stones

Rent Swan Lake Saree: http://borrowitbindaas.com/swan-lake-saree-1

In this weeks Looks for Less, we’ve featured actress Sonali Bendre who looks beautiful in this blue net saree. Love her look? Get her look for less in our Borrow it Bindaas Bollywood Inspired Coins in a Fountain Saree. Get the party started with this majestic and wonderfully designed cool blue Bollywood Inspired net saree, clad with embroidered sequins and green maroon velvet border enhanced with gotta patti. The velvet blouse with gold thread design adds gorgeous contrast to the flowing net.

Shop the Look: Coins in A Fountain Saree

DIY Mehendi Invitations in 10 Easy Steps

In this post Neha Goyal of Marigold Events writes about DIY’ing Mehendi invitations. Neha was recently featured by Marie Claire India on DIY trends.

Going the DIY route for invitations adds a personal touch to wedding celebrations. If you are a creative person, adding DIY touches to your/your loved one’s wedding is the way to go! It is fun, rewarding, and a great keepsake.  

Supplies

1. Patterned note card sets (including envelopes)

2. Double Stick Tape 

3. Font of your choice

4. Contrasting 8.5″ x 11″ sheets of paper

5. Paper Cutter

6. Embellishments, such as adhesive crystals

7. Paper cutter

8. Computer

9. Microsoft Word

10. Ink Jet Printer

Please Note: The links to external websites are not affiliated with Marigold Events. You may choose your choice of Stationery/Paperie you like.

Easy to follow Step-by-Step instructions: 

1. Write the invitation copy. It could be a poem describing the event, along with Bride’s name, Location, Date, Venue, and RSVP information.

2.  

3. Set up an 8.5″ x 11″ document in Microsoft Word for printing the copy. Depending on your note card size, divide the document in equal sections using the Tables feature. Copy and Paste your content in each section using your favorite font.

4. Set up another 8.5″ x 11″ document in Microsoft Word for printing the copy that goes on the front of the card. Example, [Bride's name] Mehendi. I like Edwardian Script font for printing headings for invitations. Divide the document using the width of the card and thickness you want for the banner.

5. Print test documents on regular 8.” x 11″ sheet of paper.

6. Once you are happy with the alignment of the text on the paper, print as many copies you need by HAND FEEDING the paper to the printer one by one.

7. Cut the paper along the table’s lines on the Microsoft Word document. 

8. Using double stick tape runner, mount the invitation copy on the inside. 

9. Similarly, mount the banner on the front of the card.

10. Decorate the invitation with clear adhesive crystals, or embellishments of your choice. 

11. [optional] You may wish to create envelope liners for your envelopes with decorative paper. You may also want to use calligraphy to write the addresses on the envelopes.

In this edition of Looks for Less we have featured actress Rani Mukerjhee who looks beautiful in a white saree with red velvet borders. Love her looks? Get her Looks for less with Borrow it Bindaas Bollywood inspired saree-The Alluring Off White Saree. Delve deep into this light cream shade faux georgette saree adorned with heavy pearl and maroon velvet border. Resham floral buttis with lurex gold embroidered edges kick up the style a few notches while keeping it fresh and fantastically stylish. We love the pops of black and red to frame the pearly white frost. Very chic and perfect for any occasion. 

Shop the Look: Alluring Off White Saree

This month we’d like to take the time to thank our Bindaas Diva Donna, who wrote to us about her and her sister’s rental experience….

I heard about your site from a co-worker that I work with which I have to say that I was thankful for. The best feature is that you made it so easy to return it back to your company and you had many choices to choice from. I used this for a wedding over in New Delhi,India. My sister and I were told that our sarees looked very nice and we fit right in with all the girls from India since we are not from India. We rented the raspberry rush saree and the arctic wind saree. The return process was awesome and very convenient.  Overall my experience with Borrow it Bindaas was excellent. The team that I spoke to were all wonderful and very helpful. You saved me money by not having to go out and buy a saree that I will never wear again. I would definitely recommend Borrow it Bindaas to any of my friends if they have a need to rent one. Your were a lifesaver and I appreciate your company! Thank you Borrow It Bindaas! 

In this edition of Looks for Less we have featured actress Priyanka Chopra who looks beautiful in a net saree with striped sequins. Love her look? Get her look for less with Borrow It Bindaas All The Glitz and Glam Saree. Hot pink, purple velvet, gold sequins… need we say more? Make a mark in your social circle with this captivating hot Bollywood inspired pink net saree that will make you look like a Bollywood star, awash in a sea of gold shimmery sequins and purple velvet trim. The violet Jamewar blouse keeps it classy.

Rent/Buy The Look: http://borrowitbindaas.com/all-the-glitz-and-glam-saree