Free People and India

In my last post when I said that 'It's party time', I really did mean it, folks! An Indian Summer brings to you a superb giveaway from the iconic fashion brand - Free People! Read on to know more about the giveaway, and also get a glimpse into Free People's deep India connection!

Free People is one of the immensely successful brands owned by Urbn Inc., who also own the fabulous Anthropologie and the hip Urban Outfitters. Free People designs clothes and accessories for the women who enjoy a modern bohemian style and revel in the nomadic spirit.

I have always been drawn towards Free People because of their eclectic designs and also the very visible connect with India. In 2010, they launched the speciality line known as FP One, designed by a three member team of designers, completely in love with India! All FP One clothes are made in India and are made to blend traditional old world aesthetics with modern fashion and design.

Merrie, the lead designer and the brains behind this line, has always been infatuated with India, it's colors, the fabrics and the skill of the craftsmen. She spends six months each year in India, developing new body styles and techniques, prints and embroidery. The FP One line beautifully uses age old textile craft methods in contemporary silhouettes and styles.  

Also proudly proclaiming Free People's love and connect with India is it's store at Rockefeller Center in New York. The fitting rooms are decorated with rangoli, brass urlis filled with flowers, kilim ottomans and yards and yards of lovely textiles from India, transforming the simple act of trying on a dress into a magical experience!  

The Give Away! 

And now comes the really fun part! Where ever in the world you might be, you can win a $100 gift card to shop from FreePeople.com! Free People ships internationally and will email the gift card to one lucky, oh-how-lucky, An Indian Summer reader!

All you need to do:

1. Look through the fabulous collection at FP, and pick a favorite piece of clothing/dress

2. Tell us the name of your favorite pick from FP and also tell us 'where would you wear the dress to on a gorgeous summer day', by leaving a comment:

• Right here on An Indian Summer's facebook page 
• make sure you are logged onto facebook to be able to do this

Or

• In the comments section of this post

Or

• Both the above places to double your chances!

That's it!

Free People and An Indian Summer will announce the winner on Tuesday, July 3rd.
Grab your lucky charm and enter your comment now! May the power of the charm be with you :)

Thank you Free People for hosting this lovely giveaway! Can't wait to see who wins! 
Also check out Free People's blog for more fashion and lifestyle inspiration.

..........................................................................................................................

Winner Update [June 03, 2012]!

Oh My God!

What a fabulous fabulous response to the giveaway!

I adored reading through your comments and stories

I wish I could send YOU ALL a giftcard

But

There has to be one winner 

And

Tada...

The lucky, oh-so-lucky winner of $100 gift card from Free People is

Kiera Jean!

 Congratulations Kiera! Send me an email and we'll send the $100 giftcard your way.

Thank you  
To everyone who participated

Keep reading An Indian Summer for never ending inspiration

And 

Many more fun giveaways :)

 

[All images copyright: Free People and An Indian Summer]

What time is it?

It's party time!

An Indian Summer 

My little bloggie blog

Turns 5 today!

It has been 5 long years

Since I have known you

And you have known me

And I don't tell you enough

But I do love you! :)

Thank you

For being there

For writing to me

For motivating me

For inspiring me each day

 

Thank you for being the fabulous readers and friends that you are!

XOXO

[Pics taken by me at home]

What is there to know

 All this is what it is

You and me alone 

(oh, and An Indian Summer)

Sheer simplicity

For your listening pleasure

Kings of Convenience

And

For your viewing pleasure

Enrique Menossi!

Sheer simplicity, is exactly what I love about these rooms and spaces, photographed by the brilliant photographer Enrique Menossi. No grand furniture pieces, no statement art, no rich embroidered textiles or expensive rugs - just plain simple aesthetics of color and texture working together to create beautiful livable spaces.

Ooh...look at all the linen bed furnishing in these bedrooms...
simple, yet so very elegant

 

[All images: Menossi Fotografo]

Olga Naiman

Olga Naiman is a stylist, creative director, event designer, set designer and founder of APARAT. She has worked on many interior design editorials with magazines like Domino, House Beautiful and Real Simple. Her portfolio is a burst of color and rich design aesthetics. Take a look at the rest of her fabulous work here.

[All images: Olga Naiman]

There are days like these

When the sun is blazing hot

And there is work to be done

Lovely new friends to be met

Brilliant conversations to be had

Over afternoon cups of tea and evening glasses of wine

And then, as the day ends

In the comfort of a cool home

Mellow music to be played

Favorite magazines to be flipped

Loved blogs to be browsed

A hand picked collection of rooms to be shared

From some creative homes far away

Spaces and rooms I heart

From the ever fabulous blog, DesignSponge

Click on the image to go to the house tour story

And tell me if you heart them too!

[All images: Sneak Peeks from DesignSponge]

Aao Goa Chalen*

* Come, let's go to Goa!

For Goa now has Casa Tota, designed and run by the folks who own and are the creative brains behind Graham and Green! Casa Tota is an 150 year old Portuguese house, carefully and lovingly restored. (Read about Goa and the Portuguese connection here). With the Graham and Green team at it's helm, Casa Tota is beautifully furnished and styled. The casa is available for rent though the year. You can find more details right here.

[All images: Graham and Green]

Side Note. But Important Note:

While we are on the topic of lovely furnishing and such, some good news for my favorite peeps in Bangalore! Dastkar Andhra is organizing an exhibition from June 21st till 24th at Lady Jehangir Hall. And Delhiites, we are going to host Dastkar Andhra at Aga Khan Hall from Aug 23rd till 25th. Mark the dates!

After Vacation Blues

Is what I have right now!

I am back in town 

After a week in the hills

Refreshed by the crisp mountain air

And, eager to turn around and go back

As soon as I can :)

The lovely cottage Dak Bangla Homes in Himachal Pradesh

Carpet of daisies covered the hills

Lazy afternoons in the cottage

My recipe for getting over the vacation blues is to start planning the next one! And I have stumbled onto another pretteh place today while browsing through my favorite travel sites. Don't go anywhere, the aforementioned pretteh place coming up in the next post! 

[All images by me]

Checking in

Hello my favorite peeps! 

Hope the week has started on a bright note for you

I am taking a break this week

At one of my favorite places in the hills

I'll be back later in the week

With stories from the hills 

And of the creeks

Be good till then

Much love!

[Image: Via my husband's iphone]