Shooting special lookbooks with heritage design den 85 Lansdowne is The Telegraph ritual. This season too their effortlessly stylish director Shalini Nopany curated a feminine and graceful mood board, hand-picking from a bunch of designers who are displaying at the ongoing monsoon edit at the 85B Sarat Bose Road address. The muses? Sisters Sneha Singhi Upadhaya and Sakhi Singhi. Here’s an album.

The sisters looked classy-simple in beautiful soft hues. While Sakhi was in a Seams Pret & Couture outfit, Sneha got into a Kiran Uttam Ghosh ensemble. A Vipul Shah bag and jewellery by Neha Goel completed Sakhi’s look. She wore her hair open and accessorised with hair accessory by Runway Hit.

Sneha posed with A Fine Story bag and wore jewellery by Runway Hit. Our hair pro of the day, Pinki Paul, tied her in a neat ponytail. Both the sisters were in shoes by Stoffa.

Our make-up pro for the day, Sylvia Ho, kept the looks “minimal”. “Make-up with no-make-up look. This was my focus. The looks were fresh. I wanted the skin to breathe and look natural,” she said. Winged liner + lip stain + T-zone foundation + blush was what Sylvia had in mind for the girls.

Princess-pretty was the vibe of this frame. While Sakhi wore a Ridhi Mehra design with hair accessory and earrings by Runway Hit that upped the charm of her low messy bun, Sneha slipped on a Minaxi Dadoo outfit with striking earrings by The YV Brand. Sakhi’s Vipul Shah bag complemented her outfit to the T. Sneha carried a On Our Own clutch, which complemented her braids. Sylvia changed the colour of the liner for both the sisters. “I used dark royal blue for Sakhi and royal green for Sneha. There was a shiny, textured, blush-on. Sneha’s lips were nude and warm-coloured, while Sakhi’s was pink,” she said.

It was a lot of fun! I had thought it’ll all be about modelling shots and I would have to pose, but it was natural and candid. The sari was my favourite. The Kiran Uttam Ghosh outfit looked pretty good. I actually went back home and ordered one of her dresses. With Sakhi and me, it was a lot of fun. Earlier Sakhi was like, ‘Can we get the dogs?’ and ‘I don’t know how to pose’. She was really conscious, but once the shoot started, she started to enjoy it. She was looking nice and she was loving what she was wearing! I am sure I can make Sakhi do this again! I love rain when I am not wearing white. I haven’t gone out and got wet in the rain in the longest time though... the food in the rain is the best part... the pakodis and chai!

Sneha Singhi Upadhaya

Sakhi looked casual wow in this Jajaabor creation. While the Vipul Shah bag was the perfect prop, shoes by Saree Sneakers and earrings by Esme crystal added cool to the look. Pinki gave her gorgeous beach waves and Sylvia, a hint of white-silver highlighter to the eyes.

Sneha’s soft curls complemented the pastel beauty mood of the Priya Awasty lehnga. The Kaeros bag, earrings by The YV Brand and bracelet by Rohita added to the girlie fun of the look. “Keep the look fresh and simple and add tweaks as per the outfit,” said Sylvia.

I really had a lot of fun. I had initially thought it would be stressful but it wasn’t any of that. I was super comfortable in the Jajaabor outfit. It was something that I would have definitely picked out and worn to an event. The contrast that Shalini aunty had decided on was interesting. I would never wear blue with a black. We’ve always worn matching-matching. I would have never picked out the Ridhi Mehra and Seams Pret & Couture looks for myself. I don’t usually wear mirror-work, but it looked nice and peppy. And, the Ridhi Mehra outfit looked so elegant. Now, especially, I put comfort over fashion and they were all really comfortable. My sister is a veteran when it comes to fashion shoots and I’d be honest, she was a bit intimidating. I am like: ‘Look at you, so confident and you know what to do!’ (Laughs) I was nervous. I kept asking her what to do and she said, just look at the camera and smile! This is my first proper fashion shoot. I LOVE monsoons. It’s my favourite time to be in Kolkata. It’s that one season when you can sport any ganda chappal and it works!”

Sakhi Singhi

The shoot ended on a colourful note with Sakhi in a Basil Leaf outfit, side-braided low bun and Neha Goel earrings and Sneha in a Basil Leaf sari with another stunning neckpiece by The YV Brand and bracelet by Rohita. Her soft curls looked oh-so-glam. The pink Kokommo bag that Sakhi carried looked lovely. Sylvia gave them smokey eyes with a dash of pink, borrowing from the outfits.

This monsoon the festivities at 85 Lansdowne have begun. The mood is feminine with pale colours and fun accents with pop elements of bags and accessories

Shalini Nopany, director, 85 Lansdowne

Pictures: Pabitra Das

Location: 85 Lansdowne

Make-up: Sylvia Ho

Hair: Pinki Paul