All Bling with Ash Gupta!!!

All Bling with Ash Gupta - Rupika Chopra

Los Angeles!!! – The city of dreams and opportunity with much more to offer than meets the eye. This was my first visit to the west coast and it was a delight to see, that the land of Hollywood filled me with experiences beyond surprise. In a city known to have less soul – soul is what I found there among the people I met. The drive to achieve goals beyond one’s limit – is what L.A. fills you with.  The energy was infectious, liberating and uplifting leaving one motivated. I believe there is always a way to look at things and habitually, I choose to see the brighter side of life. I have an intuitive way of connecting with the energy of the land I travel to and my gutt about a place leaves me mostly on the right side.  To be honest, I was a bit of a lost soul in the first eight days, but I took no time to be in the flow of things. I have not enjoyed a city as much, as it was about enhancing  and discovering my best self.

Are you wondering wether I am sharing about the city or proceeding to my fashion post?  Well! hold on to your epiphany!! This post is dedicated to the most generous, talented, humble, positive, dynamic ace photographer ASH GUPTA! I cannot miss an opportunity to share how unique it was to work with this humble legend.  His thought process and conceptualisation is inspiring.  He just makes you OWN WHO YOU ARE!!!

Ash has shot with some of the most successful people in the entertainment industry – Jennifer Lawrence, Ben Affleck, Steven Seagal, Paulina Rubio, Carmen Electra, James Kaufman, Priety Zinta to name a few! 

I had the most wonderful time shooting with him and also interviewed him on his up coming series – Ash’s Anatomy. We covered the part, where I got to ask him questions about the series he shot called “The Warriors of the Sun” – dedicating to the Nirbhaya case. He was torn and ashamed of the barbarous act and he dedicated three months shooting models adorning a head gear of a warrior depicting how powerful women are. He also shot some being in a cage and some with weapons. Some images also have a blotch of red in it, that was his way of depicting his anger and sadness towards the inhumane brutality.  

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WORRIORS OF THE SUN

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This man is all heart and his way of bringing beauty alive through simplicity is remarkable. Nothing can replace authenticity, evolution and positive energy and that is what I brought home with me. I can truly call home away from home because of the largesse of friends like him. I can’t wait to be back and work on some amazing concepts with this luminary.

All Bling with Ash Gupta - Rupika Chopra

much love

xoxo

 

The Empowering Animal Prints!!!

Empowering Animal Prints - Rupika Chopra

The Enchanting Animal Prints :

Happy New Year Everyone!!

2019 is a year of major transformations!!! 

For me the New Year is all about breaking the norms and feeling empowered. And empowerment has a lot to do with how you feel within about yourself. And how you feel about yourself has a lot to do with the awareness you have of the soul within. That leads to boundless confidence and a self reliant attitude. That is why when you see the most charismatic personalities wearing Animal Prints, their demeanor instinctively overpowers you.

For me clothes are an extension of one’s personality. So when I am in a mood to feel stronger and powerful, I adorn myself in these exotic layers.

Empowering Animal Prints - Rupika Chopra

Empowering Animal Prints - Rupika Chopra

Animal Prints have been popular from the 18th Century and yes this was very much a part of exhibiting Power and Wealth, including Furs in the later years. Remember, I shared in a blog post about ” furs “and how they were the symbol of wealth. Similarly these eye grabbing exotic animal prints represent confidence, strength and power. These prints are impactful no matter how you wear them.

Empowering Animal Prints - Rupika Chopra

Empowering Animal Prints - Rupika Chopra

From Tiger Stripes to Cheetah Spots to Leopard Rossettes to Zebra prints all grab abundant attention. In 1925 Marian Nixon crashed cars as she walked down in Hollywood Boulevard in a Leopard Skin coat with her Pet Leopard on a Leash. The print became a symbol of high fashion glamour. All the leading ladies were seen enjoying in it’s embrace – Elizabeth Taylor, Marylin Monroe, Jayne Mansfield, Joan Fontaine, Debbie Harry, Rita Hayworth and many more displayed their styles with accessories, hats and clothing. Animal Prints were also seen on dresses, and shoes. 

Empowering Animal Prints - Rupika Chopra

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The Iconic Animal Prints became a lot popular in the United States in the late 1960’s during the Bohemian Movement. This print has seen incarnation from its inception in the 18th century. In the 1920’s – 1930’s animal skin was kind of a trophy hanging on the walls of great courageous men. 1940’s and 50’s witnessed the Pin – up girls in skimpy skin outfits and lingerie taking eroticism to madness with “Vanity Fair” selling Leopard Print Underwear.  Fur Coats took the lead in the 50’s signifying power and grandeur. 

1960’s saw the print in more sophistication and became more popular with Bob Dylan’s song Leopard Skin Pill Box Hat. 1970’s and 80’s became all about glam rock look and one witnessed these prints being cat-walked by the most stunning women on the runways which continued to scorch the ramps and the fashion scene in the 1990’s.

My favourite Models- Cindy Crawford, Naomi Campbell, Kate Moss, Claudia Schiffer, Tyra Banks, Amber Valletta, Shalom Harlow drove the world crazy with their looks and these iconic prints. 

Empowering Animal Prints - Rupika Chopra

Empowering Animal Prints - Rupika Chopra

And yes, how can we forget the famous Shania Twain, who sizzled in the leopard rossette velvet bustier and pants with the Magical Leopard Cloak and boots with the round vintage Leopard Luggage Bag-  walking around turning every man down, oozing confidence and sexiness. That song has been my anthem song forever.

So you see, the everlasting impact it has on anyone’s mind ?? Hell yeah! She became my favourite artist since then.

Empowering Animal Prints - Rupika Chopra

Empowering Animal Prints - Rupika ChopraNo matter how you wear the animal prints you are bound to grab attention. But hold on, wear this print with some metal in your being because that leaves a lasting impact.

I am wearing two different outfits – One is a long well cut dress in the Zebra Print and the other is the Co- ord set with the Tiger print. Both look exceptionally desirable in different fabrics. 

The dress is a cotton and lycra one and the Co – ord set is made of silk and they look equally enamouring. Animal prints tell a story far louder than you can imagine.  So when I dress up in animal prints I never fail to feel the charisma it adds to my persona. And anything less than that – Well “That don’t impress me much”!!

Dress : Tom-tom , Belt : Gucci , Co-ord set : JASPAL , TOP : ZARA