We deeply regret losing Sabina Sehgal Saikia, a write for the Times. I did not have a chance to meet her, but I have read her column or two and of course, One of our team members, Liza, knew her.

We lost her in the terror attack on the Taj Mahal hotel in Mumbai. Sabina was trapped on the sixth floor of the Taj Hotel that was worst affected in the deadly strike by terrorists.

Sabina had been SMSing her family and friends until Wednesday midnight, after which they lost contact with her. She had texted her husband for the last time at 2 am Thursday saying that she was trapped in the bathroom.

A massive fire has gutted major portions of the floor Sabina was on. Till late Friday night, her husband, who is also a journalist, was “hoping against hope” that she would be found alive. But that was not to be.

Her body was flown to the capital Saturday night and brought to her south Delhi home. Sabina leaves behind her husband, a daughter aged 14 and a son aged 11.

We express our deepest condolences to her family. She will be sorely missed, but the memory of her lively personality will live in our hearts

Just a little interesting and distinctive blouse designs for your viewing pleasure.

All three of them are from SareeMax

A charming and a beautiful saree in green with the border embellished with sequins, stones, beads, resham and gota pati in floral design. Saree is sparkled with sequins buttis and sequins, stones, beads and resham work in floral motifs. Pallu in pink glass tissue embellished with sequins buttis and sequins, stones, beads and resham embroidered floral design. Blouse in green with sleeves border embellished with sequins, stones, beads and resham. The back of the blouse is embellished with sequins, stones and beads. A brocade and glass tissue saree.

From Cbazaar

This saree has everything that I generally dislike in a saree; unintended shimmer in the fabric, embroidery so busy that it starts to look like a blob, two colors that vie for your shifting gaze, style of blouse that is incongruent with the style of the saree; but I really really like this saree!

The effect of glassy texture of the pallu is very exclusive; sort of warning the viewer that the person wearing the saree is too delicate to be touched or even approached. The embroidery adds to the exhibited populace!

I really admire this saree blouse design; it is innovative, it hides a lot, yet, it reveals a lot too! I am not convinced that the three straps holding the blouse will actually stay snug for an evening, but just focusing on the design element, it surely adds an exciting and unexpected twist to the saree blouse design.

The saree is from CBazaar

Here is a full picture with ghaghra style saree

This is not from the most recent collection but I have meaning to show case these for a while.

This show was notable because Agnimitra actually brought the real artists who do this incredible thread work (kantha) with her on the ramp; it was greatly appreciated.

I will write about that some other time, but didn’t want it to go un-noticed.

There is certain authenticity and earthiness to the sarees here. I like the long sleeve blouse with the first saree. Earth tone colors with detailed Bangla kantha work really brings out the cool look.

I liked the saree but she lost me when I saw that god awful ring! Please don’t make the saree a nautanki costume.

Interesting! Recently seen at Maya Nagar Magazine Launch.

This is from march 2008 Wills fashion show.

There is certain understated elegance with just a little edge in this saree.

This might seem like a Satya Paul saree, but it isn’t.

India is always excited about cricket and being Indian, the designer duo Anjana Seth and Shashi Kant have beautifully portrayed their love for cricket in their creation. The blue saree has many motifs related with cricket on it. The interesting pallu of the saree contains the summary of a cricket match.

I have talked about my disappointment with the cricket cheerleader “sarees”, like this one by Orissa Cricket

I think they could have done a lot better; keeping the ethnic lines and yet making it modern and fluid and suitable for dancing.

On Wednesdays, we let the saree do all the talking and this one tells you a very rich story.

On wednesdays, we let the saree do all the talking.

Love the jeweled blouse design! Goes well with the saree.

If you think that I am going to make a peachy pun, you are mistaken.

I LOVE this picture. Even if I didn’t know the story behind it, I’d guess from the attitude and confidence that this pink saree clad woman is showing.

The women, who operate in India’s northern state of Uttar Pradesh, wear pink as a kind of makeshift uniform - and their ranks have swelled to several hundred strong.

They arm themselves with lathi - traditional sticks - which they have used to beat men who have abandoned or abused their wives and policemen who have refused to register claims of rape.

Aarti Devi, 25, says: “On my own I have no rights but together, as the Gulabi Gang, we have power.

“When I go to fetch water, the upper-caste people beat me, saying I shouldn’t be drinking the same water as them. But because we’re a gang, they’re scared of us and will leave us alone.

I FULLY support women’s rights, but not sure if I can fully support vigilantis.

Via Inconsequential Blogger

Click for a better view. Ads are the force thak can make a trend!

Thanks but no thanks. I don’t particularly think that the feather trimming on the saree looks any good!

Sometimes I have thought about fur trimming for a saree, but I don’t think I’d trim it the way it is done here.

Anyway, it was worth trying and now we know that it doesn’t look good, so lets move on.

The costumes were designed by Niharika Khan and I thought she did an exceptional job of recreating period costumes.

Above two sarees are a perfect examples where she tried to recreate not just the colors but the fabrics and texture of the paintings of Raja Ravi Verma.

His original paintings sell for millions and even the copies of his paintings demand a pretty penny. If the art market hadn’t frozen because of the financial crisis, we would have seen his work reach stratospheric prices.

After hearing about Perdesi girl for so many years, glad to see that desi girl is getting the attention and respect she deserves.

But I am glad that the director had the good sense of having Priyanka clad in a saree for this song.

And that is what is sweet and perfect about Saree, it is sexy and it is iconic.