Skip to content
Search

Latest Stories

Styles notes with Neelam: East meets West

Styles notes with Neelam: East meets West

HOW WOMEN ARE CONFIDENTLY EMBRACING A BLEND OF BOTH STYLES

HAVE you ever mixed and matched western styles with traditional eastern pieces?


If you follow any big influencers on social media, you will have seen it has become a huge trend to restyle items across your wardrobe for different occasions. Mixing of items such as crop tops, skirts, palazzo trousers and matching them back to more traditional wear such as dupattas, lenghas and saris is so beautiful and inspiring to see.

As a young south Asian British woman, I’ve grown up with two wardrobes. One being the western side with pieces only ever deemed suitable for western events and then the other half full of traditional clothes with exciting prints, colours, and textures. Rarely in the past did these wardrobes cross over.

But in the last few years, the south Asian British woman has started to make such a name for herself.

Her fearless identity sees her carving out and embracing a whole new style. We see a combination of the modern western culture that she lives in now with the traditional eastern culture of her history and ancestors.

I now love to weave my pieces between western and traditional events, not only to show my authentic identity between both cultures, but also to work on the sustainability of my wardrobe. Using key pieces across both wardrobes allows you to get more wear from a single piece.

As I’ve delved more into this area, I’ve been fortunate to meet some brilliant brands that are true advocates for the combination of Indo-western style. One of those brands is Anisha Parmar London, who specialises in creating statement jewels that blend the two cultures and create an opportunity for true confidence and empowerment in the wearer.

Anisha Parmar, founder of Anisha Parmar London, is a globally successful jewellery designer and multi-disciplinary artist now based in Derby.

Her work is inspired by her own diaspora heritage that spans three continents (Gujarat in India, East Africa, and Britain), and the gold jewellery pieces that have been collected along her family’s migrant journey. Anisha’s own designs bring the concept of the heirloom into today. At the heart of her brand, one thing remains constant: she believes in the power of wearing our culture and our stories in a way that will uplift and empower.

When I spoke with Anisha to find out a bit more about her brand and take on Indo-western styling, she said: “One comment that fills my heart with joy when people wear my jewellery is that they feel like they are wearing pieces that truly represent who they are and their identity. You can style our pieces with traditional south Asian and western clothes in a seamless and authentic way. I use non-traditional materials like wood and acrylic that give the effect of a rich and regal south Asian piece of fine jewellery; however, they feel super lightweight and are easy to wear and style.”

I fell in love with her pieces after meeting at a photoshoot last year. Her use of colour, texture, and motifs along with the delicacy of her craft make her pieces so unique and a complete joy to wear. Each has a unique story to it, making them more than just a piece of jewellery but a representation of identity.

Anisha said: “My pieces take inspiration of the gold and costume jewellery that was handed down in my family as well as motifs I love, which spark pure nostalgia, from mangoes I ate growing up to family trips to India.”

She also added that Anisha Parmar London is all about empowering statement adornments that blend traditional south Asian influences with contemporary design, as an expression of her lived British Asian experience, and added: “I combine unique acrylics and wood with hand painting, enamelling and laser cutting. I love to mix modern and traditional making techniques to give you a rich and regal effect of a traditional jewellery piece in lightweight materials.”

Here are my top three pieces from her collection and how I would style them:

Lead inset Sun Studs

Sun studs from the Cosmic Goddess Collection, £35: Easily styled with any colour combination and a great neutral yet statement option to add to your jewellery collection. I’ve styled these in the past with both western wear, including a Bardot top and jeans, a cord skirt and crop top, along with traditional wear like lenghas or kurti tops and leggings.

Baori Hoop Earrings

Baori hoop earrings from the Pink City collection, £55: These statement earrings inspired by the Chand Baori stepwell in Rajasthan will add a whole new dimension to any outfit. And if you were ever concerned with the weight, they are the lightest pieces and a breeze to wear! I’ve matched these in the past with green swimwear for a contrasting colour combination that adds a touch of eastern beauty to a more western look.

Mor Necklace

Mor necklace, £45: Mor, meaning peacock, displayed in a beautiful teal colour combination in this piece is just stunning. I would style this with a monochrome look of all green and blue hues either in the form of western pieces or a traditional piece like a sari to give a truly grounded and serene look, much like the beautiful peacock.

I love the transition we are seeing into Indo-western styling and the emergence of new and exciting brands that represent the young south Asian woman. We have a voice, we have a style and we have the confidence to wear it with pride!

Visit www.anisha parmar.com, Instagram: @anishaparmarlondon and Spotify: Empowered Adornment Podcast: Gold Jewellery Stories with Anisha Parmar

Instagram: @NeelamPersonalStylist, Facebook: Neelam Personal Stylist and www.neelampersonalstylist.com/

More For You

Asian community

Menopause is a universal transition - one every woman will experience in her lifetime

iStock

Breaking the silence: Why Asian women must talk about menopause

Kiran Singh

For many women in the Asian community, the journey through perimenopause and menopause is still shrouded in silence, confusion, and, at times, shame. It’s often seen as something we just have to “put up with” quietly, as though struggling through it alone is a badge of honour. But the truth is, menopause is a universal transition - one every woman will experience in her lifetime - and it is time we start talking about it, especially within our cultural communities where silence often masks suffering.

We all go through it - so why don’t we talk about it?

Menopause doesn’t arrive overnight. For most women, it begins subtly during perimenopause, which can start as early as your late 30s or early 40s and last for several years. According to the NHS and the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), over 30 recognised symptoms of perimenopause range from hot flushes and night sweats to anxiety, low mood, brain fog, and joint pain.

Keep ReadingShow less
How AI and music could transform dementia care for south Asians

AI tunes into dementia needs

How AI and music could transform dementia care for south Asians

THE recent World Health Congress Awards in Mumbai were a revelation. Stepping into that room overlooking the Arabian Sea, I was surrounded by pioneers and individuals shaping the future of healthcare with bold ideas.

Amid the buzz of innovation, one topic resonated deeply: dementia. It was not just the medical complexities, but the human stories, the silent struggles of carers, and the potential for technology to bridge the widening gaps in care.

Keep ReadingShow less
Great guide to building healthy eating habits

Good nutrition is the foundation of an active lifestyle

Great guide to building healthy eating habits

Nesreen G and Jayeeta Dutta

PHYSICAL exercise is important when it comes to fitness, but what we fuel our body with plays an equally vital role in achieving sustainable results.

The key to long-term fitness success is developing mindful eating habits that nourish the body and soul, enhance performance and help maintain a healthy lifestyle. This does not necessarily mean following a restrictive diet or complicated meal plans. It is about finding a sustainable balance that works for you.

Keep ReadingShow less
Easter foods

Easter food traditions reveal the deep connection between culinary heritage and faith

iStock

9 traditional Easter foods from around the world

Easter is one of the most important celebrations in the Christian calendar, and across the globe, it’s marked with a variety of traditional foods. While customs differ by country, food plays a central role in how families come together to honour the occasion. Here are nine traditional Easter foods from different parts of the world.

1. Hot Cross Buns – United Kingdom

A classic Easter treat in Britain, hot cross buns are sweet, spiced buns made with dried fruits and marked with a white cross. Traditionally eaten on Good Friday, they symbolise the crucifixion of Jesus. Today, they are enjoyed throughout the Easter period, often lightly toasted and spread with butter.

Keep ReadingShow less
The Chase’s Paul Sinha shares Parkinson’s update after major health scare

Sinha’s message was one of resilience and realism

Getty

The Chase’s Paul Sinha shares Parkinson’s update after major health scare

Paul Sinha, known to viewers of ITV’s The Chase as “The Sinnerman,” has spoken candidly about his experience living with Parkinson’s disease. During an appearance on Loose Women on Thursday, 17 April, the comedian and quizzer reflected on his journey from diagnosis to managing the condition day to day.

Sinha, who was diagnosed with the progressive neurological disorder in 2019, revealed that his earliest symptoms were not what many would typically associate with Parkinson’s.

Keep ReadingShow less