Timeout lifestyle magazine

WINTER W INTER 2012 2012

THE

GUIDE

EVERYONE’S TALKING ABOUT NorBlack NorWhite PLUS

ACCESSORY REPORT 25+ must-haves for men BEAUTY AMRITA PURI’S NEW AVATAR

Monica Dogra THE NEW INDIE COOL FESTIVE LOOK

TIME TRAVEL The year’s most stylish watches

NEW AGE DESIGNERS AND THE MODERN BRIDE

EDITOR’S LETTER

T

he new Indian woman is quirky, bold, successful and above all, she lives life on her own terms.

She knows what she wants – whether it’s her dream job or wedding and goes ahead and gets it.

And she does this while holding on to Indian culture and heritage, with a touch of spunk to it. In our inaugural issue of The Lifestyle Guide, we decided to celebrate this half woman, half girl. And who better to personify this indie cool, independent woman than our cover girl, Monica Dogra.

Dressed in new age Indian wear, the lead singer, actress and television host might have grown up in New York but her heart is purely Indian, to the extent that people have often wondered why she has a “fake American accent”. Charming and unassuming, meet our cover girl as she heralds yet another role - that of indie cool’s ambassador.

Filling the wardrobes of the new generation of indie cool women cannot be easy, but someone has to do it. Enter our list of the designers who are creating looks for

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the modern bride and how. From bikini saris to printed dhoti pants, there’s a checklist for every mood and personality. Close it all in with attitude - that’s the trick to perfect this festive season.

If all else fails, we have stylist extraordinaire, Pernia Qureshi to talk you through becoming the country’s fashion expert. However, it’s not all clothes; actor, Amrita Puri pouts and sizzles her way through some beauty tips in a photo spread that screams glamour. And there’s something for the men too – from latest trends to the age-old question, how important is men’s fashion.

And for all those who think fashion is frivolous, there’s something from Rahul Mishra, whose interview we carry in this issue.

“Design and fashion to me is just like the tip of an iceberg, only the tip is visible. The 90 per cent that lies underneath is the real thing.” Read on and find out why.

Shruti Thacker Issue Editor

S T N E T N CO COVER STORY FESTIVE FOOT FORWARD 38

The big fat Indian wedding is what legends are made of. There are those who pull all stops with a week-long affair and then there are those who prefer a more intimate setting with close family and friends. No matter which one you are headed to this festive season, fashion has always been and will remain on the forefront of the Indian wedding. Ditch the age-old heavily embroidered saris and pick from our list of contemporary Indian wear designers who are redefining the bridal and festive wear. If that’s not enough to convince you, Monica Dogra sashaying in saris that double up as gowns will help inspire you to adapt the new-age festive style.

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TREND MATRIX 20 JUST IN 22 26 28 34

STREET COUTURE CITY, CITY, PEEP, PEEP TALK OF THE TRIANGLE TEN FASHION COMMANDMENTS

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WOMEN 52 PAST PERFECT 54 62 68 72 76 78 80

CRASH COURSE: STYLE 2012 HAUTE HERITAGE GRASSROUTE QUOTIENT BEDAZZLE SECOND NATURE DESI ACCOMPANIMENTS HIDE CANDY

BEAUTY 82 EYES, EYES, BABY! MEN 88 MANPOWER 91 FINISHING TOUCH 94 IS MEN’S FASHION RELEVANT?

ADDRESS BOOK FINAL WORD 98 APP-SOLUTE STYLE ON THE COVER Pre-pleated embroidered sari, Amit Aggarwal, `56,000, wing clipped earring, Valliyan by Nitya Arora, price on request, gold choker, gold chain, gold-plated earring (worn as pendant), gold cuffs, gold plated ring, silver haath phool with pearls, all Amrapali, price on request.

Photography Anushka Menon Stylist Nikhil D Hair and make-up Anand Kaira Location Aman, New Delhi Cover and cover story design: Sajid Moinuddin, HB Design

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PAPRIKA MEDIA PVT LTD Essar House, 11 KK Marg, PO Box 7964, Mahalaxmi, Mumbai 400 034 General Enquiries and Listings (91 22) 6660-1111 Subscriptions (91 22) 6660-1200

Editorial Issue Editor: Shruti Thacker Copy Editor: Lalita Iyer Contributors: Latha Sunadh, Kimi Dangor, Sujata Assomull Sippy, Mangal Dalal, Al Walling, Vijayeta Basu Proof reader: James Mathew

LIGHT BYTES Latha Sunadh

ART Deputy National Art Director: Pramod Jadhav Designers: Prashant Gujar, Sachin Bhandalkar Digital Imaging: Pravin Pereira, Amitabh Malviya

Freelance writer and editor at Strut120.com What is your favourite festive moment?

The moment the houses light up in all their glory with the diyas - there’s something both sublime and poetical about the matka diyas, not the new-age electrical ones. The smell of warm oil, the smoky flavours of the diyas and the happiness all around - that’s just bliss!

See her work: There’s something about Monica, page 38

PHOTO Senior Photographer: Amit Chakravarty

Business COO: Rajnish Rawat Sr RM Sales (West) : Vishwanath Shanbhag Sales (West) : Ashraf Ansari, Ashwin D’souza, Nitin Ule, Rahul Mahapatra, Shveta Borade (sales@timeoutmumbai.net) Sr RM Sales (North) : Nakul Puri Sales (North) : Amit Singh, Arvind Kumar, Mayank Rathore, Abhay Srivastava, Manoj Singhal.

RM Sales (South) : Mamta Vasanth Sales (South) : Shashwat Rao Head Events & Activation Business : Kashyap Shangari (marketing@timeoutmumbai.net) Production: Harish Suvarna, Mangesh Salvi, Sandeep Borkar Circulation: Shreesh Shingarey, Ankur Dantara, Gorakshnath Sanap, Sneha Shirke (subscriptions@timeoutindia.net) Accounts: James D’Souza, Narender Chowti, Nayana Kamble, Priya Sawant HR: hr@paprikamedia.com Administration: Felita Braganza, Yvette D’Souza

Al Walling Freelance writer What is your favourite festive moment?

When the sky lights up, and so does everyone’s faces, and there is a wild joyful abandon in the air.

See his work: Crash course: Style 2012, page 54

Head Office Editor in Chief: Jaideep VG (jaideep@paprikamedia.com) Publisher & COO: Rajnish Rawat (rajnish@paprikamedia.com) Chairperson: Smiti Kanodia (smiti@paprikamedia.com) Printed by Rajnish Rawat and published by Rajnish Rawat on behalf of Paprika Media Pvt Ltd and printed at Print House (India) Pvt. Ltd., Plot No. 6, Datta Mandir Road, Bhandup (W), Mumbai 400 078, and published at Essar House, 11 KK Marg, PO Box No.7964, Mahalaxmi, Mumbai 400 034.

Distributed by: Paprika Connect & Dangat Newspaper Agency.

The publishers regret that they cannot accept liability for errors and omissions contained in this publication, however caused. The opinions and views contained in this publication are not necessarily those of the publishers. Readers are advised to seek specialist advice before acting on information contained in this publication which is provided for general use and may not be appropriate for the readers particular circumstances. The ownership of trademarks is acknowledged. No part of this publication or any part of the contents thereof may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form without the permission of the publishers in writing. An exemption is hereby granted for extracts used for the purpose of fair review. Published with the permission of Time Out Group, London UK.

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Sujata Assomull Sippy Freelance writer What is your favourite festive moment?

I love the whole feel of Diwali, there is this feel of love, luck and light that Diwali brings. That feeling of a new year with even better new beginnings is what I love about Diwali most.

See her work: Trousseau trip, page 44

Anushka Menon Photographer What is your favourite festive moment?

Lighting of the candles in our home.

See her work: There’s something about Monica, page 38

Mangal Dalal Co-founder of Restaurant Week India What is your favourite festive moment?

Watching the firecrackers whilst nursing a Long Island iced tea at Dome’s air-conditioned and pollution-free section in Mumbai.

See his work: Talk of the triangle, page 28

Santu Misra Photographer What is your favourite festive moment?

I love food, and I have what some might call a severe sweet tooth problem. So eating sweets, loads of them, is my Diwali high.

See his work: Street couture, page 22

Elton Fernandez Hair and make-up artist What is your favourite festive moment?

At the age of nine, during Diwali I set fire to a tiny portion of my neighbour’s dress with a sparkler. She was so upset as her special new outfit had a big hole in it.

See his work: Eyes, eyes, baby! page 82

Kimi Dangor

Nikhil D Stylist What is your favourite festive moment?

When I was seven and realized how inconsiderate we are by lighting firecrackers that not only make the air unbreathable but also are so terrifying to animals, who have far better hearing senses than humans. I watched my friends still go ahead and do it every year but since then I bought myself sweets from the money I saved. I guess I am the Diwali Grinch.

See his work: There’s something about Monica, page 38

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Fashion and lifestyle writer What is your favourite festive moment?

I come from a multi-cultural family and am married into one as well. So we celebrate all festivals – Navroze, Eid, Diwali and Christmas.

Every moment when the family is together, and my house is decorated with lights, lamps and fresh flowers, is a festive moment for me!

See her work: Haute heritage, page 62

Jignesh Jhaveri Photographer What is your favourite festive moment?

The light show – firecrackers and diyas are my Diwali highlight.

See his work: Eyes, eyes baby!, page 82

TREND MATRIX

SECRET CRUSH

APPLE OF OUR EYE We finally understand why the apple was a forbidden fruit in the Garden of Eden. After all, Chopard’s Apple ring has inflicted the same feelings on us. Containing 200 diamonds, this ring is what we imagine people with a G6 would buy with their spare cash. While our pockets don’t run that deep, thankfully, crushing over this notoriously frivolous piece of fashion art doesn’t cost money.

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Zippy

TREND MATRIX

He’s known for his play of textures on his garments. And now, Delhi-based designer, Anand Bhushan has sashayed into the world of home and lifestyle products.

True to his industrial aesthetic, you can expect his signature style of zips, beads and sequins on cushion covers, runners, necklaces and clutches in a colour palette ranging from subtle greys to romantic salmons.

Available at Amor Mumbai (098203-79986).

Floral winter This winter, add a touch of spring to your beauty ritual with L’Occitane Pivoine Delicate collection. Inspired by the peony, the range includes eau de toilette, shimmering powder, fresh mist, lip balm and hand cream. Hints of roses, citrus fruits and peonies ensure that you’ll smell fresh as spring all throughout the chilly season.

DLF Promenade Mall, Shop no.

130 A, Ground Floor, Vasant Kunj, New Delhi (011-4104-2450). Daily 10am-10pm. From `890.

Paisley perfection With bridal season round the corner, it’s probably the best excuse for men to suit up. For those tired of the same old three-pieces, Etro’s Indian jacket is a beacon of hope in men’s fashion.

The Italian fashion house’s limited edition jacket for autumn-winter 2012 is available in two editions bearing the brand’s signature paisley pattern.

Take your pick from a black velvet jacket with a paisley contrast trim and lining or if you prefer a more flamboyant style, try the blue and green velvet jacket with all over paisley pattern.

The Palladium, High Street Phoenix Mills, Senapati Bapat Marg, Lower Parel, Mumbai (022-4341-2294).

Daily 11am-9pm.

The Collection, UB City, 24 Vittal Mallya Road, Bangalore (080-41316924). Daily 10.30am – 8.30pm.

Just in

New store alert: Superdry

Inspiration India This festive season, two Italian brands, Tod’s and Gucci are celebrating India with limited edition bags. The classic D-bag from Tod’s gets a very Indian makeover this festive season. Made of purple silk with paisley prints combined with orange crocodile, there are only two pieces of this extremely limited edition bag.

Shop No- 122, Emporio Mall, Nelson Mandela Marg, Vasant Kunj, New Delhi (011- 4666-2700).

Gucci has also launched its annual India Exclusive product just in time for the upcoming weddings. This year around, the luxury fashion house has created an evening clutch in copper anaconda skin with leather tassel, zip details and the brand’s signature hanging Horsbit.

Palladium Annexe, High Street Phoenix, Senapati Bapat Marg, Lower Parel, Mumbai (022-6749-9492). Daily 11am-9pm.

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Clothing brand, Superdry, best known for their vintage American style T-shirts with Japanese graphics has launched its first store in India. The Mumbai store will retail a range of casual wear including jeans, sweaters, polo shirts, bags and accessories for men and women. To celebrate their inaugural store, the British brand will also sell the limited edition three wheeler car, Superdry Morgan of which only 200 pieces have been created in the world.

The Palladium, High Street Phoenix, Senapati Bapat Marg, Lower Parel, Mumbai (022-4022-3790).

Daily 11am-9pm.

LABEL TO Blur Whether it’s a moochi from an endowed man’s mouth onto a ring or the paisley motif transported from fabric onto an ear cuff, Blur Designs manage to ooze quirk in all its creations. Founded by Shruti Bheda about a year ago, this accessory company sticks to their description of “breaking boredom”. The brand’s inspirations include everything from tiny insects to waves of the ocean and even the city’s chaos. Since its conception, Blur, has pushed its products using social media, shying away from regular modes of marketing. Named so, because the founding folks believe that a blur is limitless and has no boundaries, Blur began as a personal interest in collecting jewellery during travels and has evolved into what we see today.

Presently, Blur’s new collection titled AW 12 sports sunglasses and a lot of different styles of wearing accessories like the ear cuff , tallon ring , palm band and more while

emphasising on trends like neon, baroque , metallic tones, fantasy and minimalist. In the future, the brand looks forward to retailing online and being showcased as a jewellery designer at a fashion week. Deborah Cornelious.

Esbeda, F - 109, Ambi Mall, Ambience Island, NH- 8, Nathupur, Gurgaon.

Shop No 8, Asiad Plaza Shopping Centre, opposite Danabhai Jewellers, S V Road, Santa Cruz (W), Mumbai. Email Shruti at shruzii@gmail.com for more inforamtion.

The leading lady Midnight’s Children meets Mahabharata in Ritu Kumar’s latest collection.

Kareena Kapoor is the latest in a long list of famous brides that designer Ritu Kumar has dressed.

The veteran designer was hardly a surprising choice when it came to devising bridal outfits for Deepa Mehta’s highly awaited cinematic rendition of Salman Rushdie’s Midnight’s Children. Kumar enlisted the help of artisans from Varanasi and Kashmir to create four costumes for the four brides in the movie.

Brides-in-waiting can also pick from Kumar’s Panchvastra collection of lehengas, saris and kurtis inspired by five women characters from the Mahabharata.

The designer spoke to Shruti Thacker about turning to the epics and her experiences in designing for the film.

Why did you pick these five characters from the Mahabharata? What is the link between them and our crafts?

Draupadi, Kunti, Amba, Ganga and Gandhari, each represents a different craft.

“Draupadi imagery” [used on the garments] harks to her younger, queen avatar and represents innocence. Amba, on the other hand, is the darker side of a woman and is symbolised through indigo. I have put in six years of work into this collection and we are presenting five crafts [bandhej, gota, zardozi, indigo and jamdani].

How was it working with Deepa Mehta? What inspired the looks you created for the film?

The inspiration for the costumes came from a vintage feel because of the time period we were working with: the four weddings are set around the 1920s and 1930s. During that era, very few clothes were produced by machines and because of that, the collection was heavy on these traditional crafts. We are going to request the actors from the film to model the garments on the opening evening. We will be using the costumes as an inspiration to create clothes that are more wearable in the urban milieu.

What challenges did you face while using vintage techniques in contemporary times?

I’ve concentrated on vintage techniques and how these can be easily translated into modern fabrics [such as jersey], like we do with Label. Vintage textiles are a good discipline to study, but it’s not entirely applicable in today’s world; what you can do with them is not that relevant.

A lot of traditional handicrafts like hand block-printing are now being done by screen printers but the motifs and aesthetics of the old Indian textile are still retained.

A lot of them have to be modernised because these crafts are either dying or are not practised any longer – but the aesthetics do remain.

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TREND MATRIX

Street coPreuture senting the

most stylish, quirk and fun outďŹ ts thay t caught our eye this month on the streets of India fro m the roving eye of photographer Santu Misra

Mariia Cherniakovych, model, 24

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Lifestyle Guide TimeoutThe Mumbai Lifestyle

Lifestyle

FOB

Sailex NG, designer, 28

Divya Mishra, design manager at Rahul Mishra, 29

Sohiny Das, stylist, 28

Jagvir Matharoo, designer, 29

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Disha Gaur, stylist, 23

Bhawna Sharma, model, 37

Carol Gracias, model, 33

Anupama Dayal, designer, 37

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Lifestyle

FOB

Sahil Kochhar, head designer at Rohit Bal, 25

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TREND MATRIX

EDWARD LALREMPUIA, STYLIST, NEW DELHI Josh Goraya’s designs are classic, with a quirky twist. The fit is immaculate, and though menswear is his forte, a womenswear line is coming up soon.

His showroom is inside his work factory in the city outskirts, which makes the secluded experience more personal.

CITY, CITY, PEEP, PEEP Designers and fashion industry experts from all over the country reveal the best kept secret stores in their city to Shruti Thacker and Al Walling.

Illustration by Pramod Jadhav.

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ANUJ SHARMA, DESIGNER, AHMEDABAD

WENDELL RODRICKS, DESIGNER, GOA

As a student walking through the crowded streets of the old city, I found in Teen Darwaja, a small 2x3mts shop called Munnavar and Sons run by Khan Chacha. He sells factory reject fabrics and one can find anything from mulmul to corduroy to knits to shiny polyester.

I have bought some very fine cheese cloth and corduroy. I still visit the small shop to buy fabrics.

There’s a shop called Paperworks in Campal, Panjim where you can find paper in all its forms - from lamps, to postcards with vintage Goa photographs on them.

One day I was passing by and came across the sign; when I peeped, I found a treasure trove of every conceivable paper product.

My best buy from Paperworks is an agenda stamped in gold on a leaf rubbing.

GAURAV BHATIA, MARKETING DIRECTOR, MOËT HENNESSY INDIA, NEW DELHI In the winters, Shaw Brothers, the sublime store beckons for their cornucopia of delicious shawls. It has the cream of Kashmir – their jamavars, kaani, sozni shawls are what legends are made of. Four generations in the family have been buying from them. On my wish list: a handsome, antique dorukha (reversible) shawl in a gulaabkaar pattern! Sheer woven elegance.

EINA AHLUWALIA, JEWELLERY DESIGNER, KOLKATA I’ve been going to Weavers’ Studio for years now. It has been specialising in high quality handwoven textiles and weaves for the last 20 years. They have beautiful and highly innovative and contemporary weavers in stoles, saris and fabrics, as well as very intricate traditional ones. There’s a beautiful double layered stole woven in wool and silk that I bought from there and it makes me happy every time I wear it.

APARNA RODDAM, BRAND CONSULTANT AND DIRECTOR AT SCRIBBLE MEDIA AND ENTERTAINMENT PVT. LTD, HYDERABAD Eighty-something-year old Suraiya Hassan’s weaving unit in Tolichowki, Hyderabad is homage to handloom and craft revival. Her modest workshop in Hyderabad is dedicated to reviving extinct techniques such as himroo, mushroo and paithani. Khadi continues to play an important role in her life, in fact she even knows how to spin it herself!

SUHANI PITTIE, JEWELLERY DESIGNER, HYDERABAD It may sound straight out of a Hindi film but I would recommend the shops in ‘bandook kee gali’ (lane of guns) in the old city. A haven for artificial pearls - both strung and loose, this little lane is in the ulterior areas next to the Charminar. Just walk, and along with the pearls let your eyes feast on some really old guns and pistols displayed on some shop windows. Super fun!

SANCHITA AJJAMPUR, DESIGNER, BANGALORE

Cinnamon is an absolute treasure trove with clothes, eclectic accessories, silver jewellery, selection of quirky artworks, crockery and cutlery, rustic candlesticks, photo frames, vases and jewellery boxes. The exhibitions and displays are always interesting and one can relax in the pebbled courtyard after shopping. There is always something for everyone.

DIVYA THAKUR, FOUNDER OF DESIGN TEMPLE, MUMBAI

MAITHILI AHLUWALIA, BUNGALOW 8 PROPRIETOR, MUMBAI

A lovely shop opposite Opera House, Neemrama is a real gem for contemporary kurtas. The kurtas are short, fitted, sexy and breathe perfectly for muggy Mumbai.

Pukhraj, shop no 47 is amazing for its rare antique jewellery finds. It is one of those spots in Mumbai which is almost like an heirloom, as three generations of ladies in the family have been seduced to buy here.

RACHANA REDDY, ACCESSORY DESIGNER, BANGALORE The Qurio City Shop in Kamraj Road is somewhere I love going for quick inspiration. It’s quaint, real, has a lot of interesting curios and is unlike any other lavish antique shop.

I found it while wandering around the area with a friend and I have my eyes set on some stunning Victorian furniture there.

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TREND MATRIX

TALK OF THE TRIANGLE

Mangal Dalal takes you through a quick culinary traipse of our three most cosmopolitan cities.

A

n integral aspect of culture, food is a great way to get acquainted with a city, especially given how diverse our cities tend to be. Bengaluru, with its hyperactive online gastro-communities doesn’t care much for pretence or expensive meals (a seven-course meal at the most expensive restaurant we featured, Grasshopper, is `1,850++).

In Delhi, however, aspiration and image is more important but we decided to pick restaurants that focus primarily on the food, as well as hipster central, Hauz Khas Village.

In Mumbai, Ellipsis is the quintessentially South Bombay restaurant, Cafe Zoe typifies the transformation of mill land in Lower Parel and Arola quietly dishes out good food in a hotel and area favoured by all people Bollywood.

BANGALORE MONKEY BAR Opened in May, Monkey Bar is what other pubs in Bangalore should grow up to be. With a quirky ambience, a comforting yet energetic vibe and an eclectic menu, it’s a place one would likely frequent despite the competition. The menu is imaginative without being outlandish – though brazenly diverse with peppered heart Moroccan style finding space alongside dabeli and pork sorpotel as well as mee goreng. The burgers, though, are the safest choice if you’re not in the mood for berry pulao or chilli bheja. Now if only it didn’t get so crowded and they stopped playing awful retro cheese.

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GRASSHOPPER Grasshopper is charming in its self-importance; one has to make reservations in advance for a sevencourse prix fixe menu and provide credit card details in a country where customers get away with too much.

The long drive along Bannerghatta road, however, is worth it solely for the gorgeous setting akin to being at someone’s farmhouse. If that person were a fashion designer – its five tables are spaced out over the porch and garden outside the Grasshopper clothing store and gallery. With organic produce grown in the garden adjoining the kitchen, one would expect more from the menu, although the experience tends to be better than the meal itself. It’s still worth asking if the baked onions with feta as well as the braised lamb will be on your menu. But it’s hard to complain whilst sipping whichever wine you choose to take along with you. God bless BYOB.

MUMBAI ELLIPSIS

LIKETHATONLY Likethatonly opened in August to much gushing about the design of the restaurant that could be described as a girl hipster’s paradise. A welcome fountain is a shower attached to a bathtub with a phonograph; metal insects replace chopstick holders (great to purloin); the menu is designed to be presented neatly folded into a paper hat. For that

itself it’s worth a trip to Whitefields any evening for a couple of smoked tomato Bloody Marys (served in a jam jar). The irreverence of the décor and the Asian-inspired food make a safe bet, but non-vegetarians will probably eat better (the spider roll, salmon carpaccio and pork belly especially) so perhaps it’s worthwhile reconsidering your dietary preference.

Bucking the stand-alone trend of the past couple years in Mumbai of formulaic all-day spaces, Ellipsis serves modern American food in uncompromising luxury. Thomas Schoos, who gained recognition for designing Tao in New York, designed the restaurant which could easily double as an art gallery; our favourite viewing spot is the long communal table upstairs with its twin carved pillars and tiled top. With cocktails designed by Death+Company (NYC, of course), it isn’t surprising that the bar takes precedence most weekends.

Whilst the menu changes daily, get the pork belly with steamed buns, the gnocchi, the corn chowder and exotic mushroom risotto.

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DELHI INDIAN ACCENT Indian Accent’s only possible flaw could be its location at New Friends Colony: fairly residential and slightly remote. The attention to detail and thought put into every dish, the impeccable service and tranquil ambience make it one of the best dining experiences one can have in this time zone. Chef Manish Mehrotra’s contemporary approach to Indian food isn’t envelope-pushing in its presentation, but the flavours are authentic, intense and successfully attempt at evoking memories and creating an emotional bond. The khandvi ravioli, soft-shell crab with flame-roasted coconut, signature foie gras galauti and Old Monk soaked rum balls are some of the many fond memories we hold on to.

CAFÉ ZOE

AROLA

Possibly the cheeriest place in the city, Café Zoe shows how much a little bit of personality can make a difference. From its communal notice board to the quirky hand-drawn chalk boards to the chor bazaar sourced vintage knick-knacks, the airy restaurant is charming and generally agreeable. Open from breakfast until legal drinking time ends, the culinary highlights are the mushroom tea, smoked salmon bagel, truffle cappelini and the tenderloin cheeseburger. An urban legend says if you tweet about Zoe when you’re there (especially on a date), a complimentary glass of wine mysteriously gets sent across. Go on the weekend to be seen, but Monday nights often prove to be more legendary at Café Zoe

Sergi Arola has a Michelin star (or two) in Spain, but was a bit of an unknown commodity before his restaurant opened in June.

The JW Marriott marketing vehicle righted that heinous wrong, and now the city has a pricey tapas lounge which stays true to its roots.

As far as tapas go, Arola is generally spot on if you stick to safe options such as the gambas, patatas bravas, and the tartare (if you like your cows raw). The subtle, rustic flavours do feel a bit out of place in a contemporary restaurant that features dark tones and an exquisite collection of gin, but you could contemplate that whilst smoking a petite Cuban and staring out at the Arabian Sea from the verandah.

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GUNPOWDER

Picture courtesy: Parikhit Pall

Hauz Khas Village, frequented b y an yone e ven sneezed upon b y someone else interested in cult ure, is a quaint re volving door for bars and restaurants. There’s probabl y a ne w one e ver y da y and that’s wh y it’s nice to visit a restaurant that has been around longer than most. Gunpowder is a bit of a treasure hunt, so it’s probabl y best to have lunch at Ye ti, sunse t drinks at Amore and then head with a nice bot tle of red for peninsular (read sou thern Indian ) food. The food is homel y and the place bare, laidback and offers lovel y vie ws of the reser voir and adjoining tombs. Idd uki pork curr y with Malabar parot ta and the prawn fr y make for a happy meal, unless you have low tolerance for spice.

SMOKE HOUSE ROOM The extremely talented Chef Gresham Fernandes’ baby, Smoke House Room will intimidate some in its molecular approach to food, but it’s a promising archetype of restaurants to come. Mushrooms exemplify the thought behind the menu, and the best experience is usually the sevencourse one. From fragrant smoke billowing out from under the carpaccio to light bulbs bearing passion fruit centred chocolate to spheres of liver paté that look like grapes, it may be closer to art than food. The only thing going against it is the lack of warmth in its ambience, especially when the nightclub Shroom next door is boisterous.

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TREND MATRIX

The ten fashion commandments And lo, it came to pass that much before Fashion week germinated, the prophets of garments set forth these style edicts.

And it was good! On the whole.

Illustrations by Matt Herring

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THOU SHALT ENDEAVOUR TO FIND THE PERFECT WHITE SHIRT Sir Paul Smith, fashion designer “Whether you are a man or a woman, the white shirt is an essential staple as it works with everything. Buy one in a high-quality cloth and it will last for many, many years.”

Sir Paul Smith’s second choice of career (his first was to be a professional cyclist) earned him a knighthood in 2000, 30 years after opening his first store in Nottingham. He recently showcased at London Fashion Week for the 14th year running.

THOU SHALT APPROACH MAXI DRESSES WITH CAUTION

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Henry Holland, fashion designer

“Think not that a maxi dress covers a multitude of sins, and acknowledge the fact that it acts as a street sweeper, collecting fag butts and dog shit.”

Henry Holland shouted his way into London Fashion Week in 2006 with a collection of cheeky slogan T-shirts that ended up with more press coverage than the actual catwalk collections. He has since developed his House of Holland label into a fashion tour de force, and designed multiple successful hosiery collections with Pretty Polly.

THOU SHALT NOT TRY TOO HARD

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Lulu Kennedy, Fashion East, founder “I think it’s nice to see people looking like they’ve just rolled out of bed and bunged whatever on. Rather than tottering around in fierce heels, wouldn’t it be good to bounce around in battered old Converse? Then again, we all love tottering around in fierce heels… but maybe paired with a big cosy jumper, or dungarees, or your favourite old T-shirt. Don’t wait till evening to wear your best jazzy clothes, it’s entertaining to be overdressed for daytime!”

Lulu Kennedy is the formidable figure behind Fashion East in London, a platform for up-and-coming fashion designers that launched the careers of Jonathan Saunders and House of Holland.

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THOU SHALT ENJOY KNITWEAR Cozette McGreery, Sibling (knitwear label)

“Have fun wearing knitwear, and be colourful even if it is a jolly flash of sock laughing from under an all-black outfit.

Don’t feel like you should Prada it head-to-toe, or wear an entire ’70s wallpaper pattern outfit if you feel uncomfortable. Just fling a leopard-print Fair Isle cardigan over a black T-shirt and black jeans.”

Cozette McCreery is one third of Sibling, the gloriously punky knitwear label that specialises in jumbo jumpers and novelty knits. So iconic are Sibling’s designs that its Knitted Skull and matching Skeleton leggings now sit permanently in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York.

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THOU SHALT THINK TOP TO TOE Louise Gray, fashion designer

“Adhere to a total look – think about all the extras. I love large earrings, make-up and tights. Mix as much as possible – everything matches if you like it. Make your own choices and find your own personal style – dress for yourself and don’t be shy.”

Louise Gray is a young Scottish designer with an infectiously irreverent attitude to fashion. Her designs incorporate a riotous approach to colour, and have been showcased

by Fashion East and NewGen – and were recently on schedule at London Fashion Week.

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THOU SHALT NEVER WEAR CAMEL Jaime Perlman, creative director, British Vogue “A camel is an aggressive desert-inhabiting creature, not a flattering hue.”

Jaime Perlman has worked at British Vogue since 2005. She doesn’t like camel-coloured clothing

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THOU SHALT ACCEPT THAT DIP-DYE IS OVER Geoffrey J Finch, creative director, Antipodium, London

“Groomed locks have never been more attractive. This summer has seen the reign of mangy cheveux reach its dip-dyed jubilee and suddenly the got-it-together gloss of a seen-to do holds sexy promise. Don’t get me wrong, I have indeed championed a dabble with distress – “so nonchalant and fuss-free!” – but isn’t it nice to shake out the cooties and look, well, clean?”

Geoffrey J Finch is the creative force behind Antipodium, the cool kid of London fashion. The label has shown at London Fashion Week since 2006, and Finch’s last collection took the city as its muse, printing Thames riverscapes on to blouses and dresses.

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THOU SHALT NOT WEAR HIGH HEELS IF THOU CAN’T WALK IN THEM David Koma, fashion designer

“I see so many people hobbling down the street looking really uncomfortable in heels. Nothing is less chic. I would advise wearers to train at home before going out in them. Wear heels to look confident, easy and flawless. Or not at all.”

Central Saint Martins graduate David Koma recently showed his seventh collection at London Fashion Week.

His designs have been showcased in Topshop and on Beyoncé.

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8

THOU SHALT EMBRACE COLOUR Brix Smith-Start, owner of Start Boutique London

“Gorge yourself on burgundy, overripe plum and black cherry until the juice dribbles down your chin!”

A renaissance woman of sorts, Brix Smith-Start has had an eclectic career that has taken her from playing guitar in The Fall, to duetting with Nigel Kennedy and founding four successful Shoreditch boutiques with husband Philip Start. She now combines buying for the Start boutiques with her blossoming role as a fearsome TV fashion pundit for shows such as ‘Gok’s Fashion Fix’.

THOU SHALT SET THINE OWN RULES (S0 DISREGARD EVERYTHING YOU’VE READ SO FAR...)

Roksanda Ilincic, fashion designer

“Thou shalt not follow what is set by others but learn to make new rules. Thou shalt never lose a sense of wonder in fashion.”

Serbia’s most famous designer has shown at London Fashion Week since 2005, and her trademark draping and glamorous silhouettes have adorned the ethereal forms of Florence Welch, Gwyneth Paltrow and most of the Royal Ballet. She recently launched her first childrenswear collection at Liberty, giving a new generation of tasteful tots a slice of Ilincic chic.

COVER STORY

Organza blouse, Dolly J, `13,000, Sharara pants with gota border, Nikasha, price on request, silver maang tikka, silver ghungroo choker, silver link chain, silver spike cuff, silver ghungroo cuff, silver ghungroo necklace (worn on wrist), all Silverline, price on request

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There’s something about Monica Unconventionally stylish, effortlessly idealistic and unusually warm – Monica Dogra hits all the right buttons to become the star India is dying to get a glimpse of.

Latha Sunadh chats her up to see if she fits the bill. Photography

by Anushka Menon.

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onica Dogra suffers from a multiple personality disorder – at least that’s how you see it. Lead singer and songwriter of one of the biggest bands in India, an actress whose fabulous debut included a certain Mr.Aamir Khan and a warm host of one of the most popular television series ever, The Dewarists – Monica regularly wears many hats and rocks them in style. And that is perhaps her biggest strength – to lead a life that’s filled with variety, surprises and new discoveries every single day. Quiz her on her multiple acts and she’s all smiles, “I’m not really wondering about the many hats I wear. One can’t really prepare for this kind of a thing – it just happens and I am enjoying it. If you are passionate about your life, your work and yourself, your mind and body just come together and you’re

out there doing things you love. I love everything I’m doing at the moment,” she says, nonchalantly.

That is the beauty of Monica – she’s always straight-talking, warm and to-the-point. We met her exuberant self as she was getting ready to meet her fans and make her presence felt at the NH7 Weekender in Delhi and nothing could have prepared us for the beautiful, interesting and fun being that is Monica.

Her multiple interests only make her more lovable and the fact that she stands alone in a sea of “me-toos” with something new every year is of course, fascinating to say the least.

“In my mind, everything I do is interconnected, it’s all one thing in the end. This is the kind of stuff you so badly want to do with your life, the kind that keeps you awake at night.

I need to do this in order to feel complete,” she adds, passionately.

But well, acting and singing are two

Gold fish brocade jacket, Chanderi silk skirt, all Dev R Nil, price on request, Woolen cape, Anju Modi, price on request, gold earrings, gold cuffs, gold plated ring, all Amrapali, prices on request, silver ring, Silverline, price on request

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Pre-pleated embroidered sari, Amit Aggarwal, `56,000, Wing clipped earrings, Valliyan by Nitya Arora, price on request, gold choker, gold chain, gold-plated earring (worn as pendant), gold cuffs, gold-plated ring, Silver haath phool with pearls, all Amrapali, prices on request

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very different mediums, is there something that melds them together for Monica? “In my mind, they are just the same – on stage while singing, we are moving, we are performing, creating drama and almost acting out the song and that is exactly how movies function too. There is a lot of movement, acting, performances and sound – isn’t it the same?” she asks, innocently. And that’s precisely why she deserves applause - her deep rooted understanding of music, art, culture and drama.

Her beginnings in the industry were pretty sublime. She’s a New Yorker who came down to India to make some good music and in five days, she had met up with more than a few musicians, from Agni to Raga to Randolf – discussing, reminiscing and looking for opportunities to create something amazing. And that’s when she met Randolf Correia who later became her music partner as they together embarked on a journey called Shaair + Func. “I came down to India to make music – there was always a connection with India that I could not deny. My family was in New York but I desperately wanted to be here. My early years were spent in NYC – but my cultural identity came from India,” she says with conviction. “This is also the reason why most people think I fake an American accent. I come from New York,” she chuckles. And we immediately catch the drift – she knows how to laugh at herself and that in itself is what great artists are made of. The ability to catch things the way they really are and it keeps her grounded too. Ask her to describe herself and she giggles like a child, “It’s tough to see yourself like that; I don’t know who I am. The moment you say something, you behave exactly the opposite – and worse, once you pin yourself down, there are expectations cropping out of it,” she adds. But there are a few things she admits she is and primary among them, her mercurial personality that she describes as “honest and diligent”.

She also admits to having too many ideas and personalities within her.

“I am just beginning to explore the personalities within me,” she admits, easily. In the end, she laughs and says, “You should ask this question to someone else, I don’t know.”

Perhaps, her ideas about music and art were picked up ‘in-house’ from her family. Her mother is a singer and in her childhood, Monica really took to understanding music from her peers, friends and even her teachers.

“The streets of NYC gave me a lot of inspiration – there were many bands playing, each to their own tune and that really had a deep impact on me. The fact that people are sharing music with everyone. They don’t care who is listening, who became their fan or who heard them out. It’s the fact that music is for sharing and it’s so wonderfully pure and this mission of connection to someone through music, that’s amazing,” she adds, all melancholic and nostalgic. This kind of inspiration really shows in the way Monica deals with her own journey as a musician in India.

Her genuine need to connect to her fans on a more deeper level without the expectations of fan clubs and pompous groupies – her need to make good music with a dose of drama, that’s just what she wants. And then there is the kind of music she admires that’s made by powerful women. “It gives me great joy to listen to inspiring women who make great music. Women with a strong sense of identity, who make beautiful music without objectifying something, that shows great ideas and aesthetics,” she adds.

Her first show was at Zenzi, the neighbourhood popular pub in Bandra where she and Randolf put together a neat little show with a few numbers and that’s simply how the journey began. Soon, with the response they got, Shaa’ir+Func was born, in all its glory and drama and music flowed.

“We wanted to showcase great energy in our performances. Things are never the same, they go up and down. But, we wanted to promote good music, great thoughts and wonderful new ideas through our music. Call it unintentional reinvention, but we wanted to keep our music fresh, real and strong,” she says with utmost sincerity. “Music was never a back-up plan, an option on the side or a simple hobby – it was our thing, the only thing we wanted to do,” she adds. And that’s exactly where her strong work ethic and excellence at

‘’

Women with a strong sense of identity, who make beautiful music without objectifying something, that shows great ideas and aesthetics

what she does, comes from. And so together, the band released their first album New Day: The Love Album in 2007, followed by Light Tribe in 2008 and Mantis in 2010.

And as she works on her new solo album this year, Monica admits that she’s trying her hand at something she really believes in and she has never done something “of her own”. This album in the making is still too young to talk about – but one thing is clear.

It gives Monica another venture to dip her fingers into and show her prowess.

“It’s a scary thing, I am now the voice of my own production, the whole thing is mine. It’s challenging, I’m trying and I’m ready,” she adds. As for the movies, she’s all ready to enthral us with two new movies up for release, in the next year. “There are two movies in the making, Firefly and Bijoy Nambiar’s next, David with Neil Nitin Mukesh.

“The process is exciting and challenging and I think I’m going to surprise myself and my audiences next year with the two performances. And then, there is The Dewarists which is now on the second season after winning accolades and Monica is happy with its success. “It’s great to contribute in a little way to the music scene in India.

And the fact that television can indeed educate, share and be a part of music in this country,” she explains.

As you chat with Monica, a few things become clear about her personality – she’s not afraid to take chances and that’s final. Her tone is determined and she’s ready for every curveball life throws at her – at least she’s about living her life on her own terms. What catches the eye is her personal style in the midst of all the many talents she possesses, her bohemian, effortless and easy-going individual style is so attractive – and no one seems to deny the existence of it. From Indian wear to casual western, it’s the way Monica pulls it off with her little personal additions that makes her the indie designers’ dream. “I have a very relaxed sense of style, I love natural fabrics and unusual cuts,” she says with conviction. For a female musician in a country like India, there are very few role models when it comes to sharing wardrobe ideas. But Monica sticks to the drama, especially with

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Shaair+Func she’s experimented with fun make-up, interesting eyewear and unconventional stage costumes. Her style is simple, “it’s basics that have been tweaked to add that extra dose of identity,” she says. And we agree, her ideas in fashion are not the run of the mill kind, they’re imaginative and never subtle. Her favourite designers too salute the individual style that Monica portrays – her picks range from mainstream enfant terrible, Manish Arora whose ideas and silhouettes fit very few bodies and even lesser minds to a rather small indie label, NorBlack NorWhite whose silhouettes and style is progressive and avant-garde. With Monica, the fashion scale seems to move to the extremes and that’s where her potential lies – to create a newer illusion in your mind every time.

Her fashion/music influences too remain clear and easy. “Music is a big influence on my style inspiration.

Movement and free-flowing silhouettes are the kinds I gravitate towards,” she says. Her personal life on the other hand, isn’t too colourful. Quiz her about her relationship status and Monica gets naughty. “Let’s just say, I’m not married yet!” she chuckles.

Whether she’s single or not, is a question to be answered but right now, she’s having fun and taking her own sweet time to figure things out. This month, as she sashays in an Amit Aggarwal sari on the cover, she’s looking gorgeous. So that just reiterates the fact that indie or not, freeflowing or traditional – one size does not fit all. Monica remains poised and as a bride she hopes to be one who is easy-going who is “focussed intently on love. Keeping that in perspective and ultimate importance.” Now that’s the real deal – and Monica is as real a celebrity can be.

And while all the hats she wears are multi-coloured and multi-faceted, it’s easier to notice why Monica wears them in all their splendour – because and only because, she believes in herself and she is always trying. “That’s what I do, I try harder all the time”, she adds with a smile.

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Wrap top, Amit Aggarwal, `13,050, Applique lehenga, Indian by Manish Arora, price on request, gold-plated maang tikka, gold-plated payal, gold chain payal (worn on head), gold choker, gold rings, all , Amrapali, prices on request Stylist: Nikhil D, Hair and make-up: Anand Kaira, Location courtesy: Aman, New Delhi.

R COLifVeE le tyY sR STO STORY COVER

Trousseau trip The new age bride is often looking for something original and different and when it comes to a couturier, her choice is often not the usual suspects, finds Sujata Assomull Sippy

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here is something about “The Big Fat Indian Wedding”. No other country celebrates marriage quite like India, with some weddings going on forr 10 to 12 days. Indian couture is really about bridal wear. With the new style mantra being uniqueness ness and not following-the-herd, a bride needs to choose carefully. Luckily for brides-to-be, things have never been this good as Indian dian designers have realised that the he most important (and lucrative) market is the bridal market. This means there is plenty to choose from and finding an outfit that at says something about out her personal style statement is no longer tough.

The choices are many, with young and edgy designers rs like Masaba Gupta, a, Anand Kabra and d Varun Bahl looking at bridal ridal wear being their mainstay. stay. From a waterproof resort-style t-style bikini sari to a Mughal-inspired ired vintage style sharara, there really ally has not been a better time to be a bride.

Here are a few w bridal trends for this season and how to wear each look:

NEW INDIAN IAN There was a time me when every bride wanted ed a western

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festyle Guide The Lifestyle

look – ball gown stylee or mermaid lehengas worn with corsets was the de rigueur wedding outfit.

Thankfully now, fashfash h hion is going back to its roots and celebrating all things

Masaba Gupta

Indian, with most international As a design phibrands taking inspiration from losophy, Nikasha our rich embroideries and draping shies away from techniques for their bridal wear. It using “weighty” is fitting to see that most Indian over-the-top emdesigners are also taking the trabellishments and ditional aesthetic and giving it a also suggests that modern twist. Masaba Gupta and brides stay away Nikasha Tawadey are two designfrom very heavy ers who have become synonymous fabrics. In her with this look. There is the bohelatest collection mian feel that both their collections “Veni” she uses a have, yet it is very dressed up. It lot of layered efme is this balance that attracts many fects to add volume brides to their styles. They also and give that both like to play with very Indian celebratory feel.. st collection colours. Masaba’s latest om Benares”. is called “Postcards from It is very vintage, yet has a fresh ve and feel, thanks to innovative rides find modern cuts. “Many brides nage, and the sari difficult to manage, want something easier [to wear].” ng for a long She recommends looking oti or the kurta with palazzo, dhoti sherara. She suggests you team these with a beautiful choli and a hagra fixaheavy dupatta. “The ghagra tion for weddings, I feel,l, is very sed they done. Brides have realised no longer have to look like a chandelier,” she says. Every bride should enjoy theirr own ey can wedding, so clothes they n are dance the night away in a must.

Nikasha’s collection is ghtly also bohemian, but slightly more conventional. It iss all about the lehenga-sari this season for her. She is known for her deliciouss st play on colour; her latest collection is full of limee greens, turquoise, mintt and pista. She feels a bride does not have to stick to the classic red. Nikasha’s embellishment of choice is gold gota.

This type of appliqué embroidery originates Nikasha Tawadey from Rajasthan and was a as traditionally used only in garments made for spe-cial occasions, so it lends ds itself naturally to bridal al wear. Though it gives a heavy look, it does not weigh as much as otherr embroidery techniques..

Thhe Lifestyle TThe LLiiffeest sttyyylle Guide Guuiidde G

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ELEGANT ECLECTIC You can still be different yet elegant. Not every bride wants to be something daring and dramatic.

If it’s something chic and more quiet yet inherently modern Indian you are looking for then hen Pantine by Shon Randndhawa highlighting chikan and Parsi ghara or Anand Kabra’s use of Indian craftsmanship blended with western silhouettes Shon Randhawa maybe the right choice. Says Shon, “A A bride should be the centre of attention, not her clothes or jewellery.” She used traditional thread embroidery like chikan or Parsi ghara and then dresses them with gota and zardosi to add that touch of gentle glamour. Lehengas and anarkalis are her favoured styles for this season. Anand Kabra feels brides should stick to happy traditionally Indian festive colours like pink, flame and mango. He has played with his signature kali sari (similar to a lehenga sari) and also the sharara for his latest bridal collection.

Anand Kabra

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RETRO RESORT An out of town wedding is more a norm these days and most destination weddings take place at resorts..

As we all know, location can change the mood of any ny Nachiket Barve event and a resort location n gives a wedding a more relaxed and free spirited feel. Brides at resort weddings should choose outfits that have a feel of celebration, yet effortless chic. Anupamaa Dayal and Nachiket Barve, both known for their love for colour and light fabrics, make wedding clothes that naturally lend themselves to beach destinations. Anupamaa’s use of bronze instead of gold and silver gives her styles a more relaxed feel and she says , “An Anupamaa bride is all about being free-spirited, yet Indian.” Though she goes for looser silhouettes, there is a feel of sensuality in all her designs. Her favoured fabrics are chiffon and chanderi.

Nachiket Barve is known for his colourful take on fashion.

For his bridal wear, ear, he likes to use colour blocking and ombre shading, and he believes what you wear must work for the location of Anupamaa Dayal the wedding. Says ys Nachiket, “It is always a great idea to incorporate elements from your location. Colours, fabrics that are motifs, drapes should work with sunscreen-resistant your setting. This helps tie the and they never theme together.” need ironing, so This means if you are getting they are perfect for married on the beach, you can afdaytime soirees. ford to be a little sexy in what you They describe wear. One option (though perhaps their resort saris not for the wedding but for one as “Minimalist on of the pre-wedding functions) is design and maxia swimsuit-inspired sari. Shivan malist on colour and Narresh are well known for and detailing.” swimwear, and they have made the They feel its bold resort sari their trademark. Based simplicity acts as a on beachwear, it is probably not good balance with the correct option for your wedthe “madness that ding ceremony, although a perfect is associated with dressing solution for pre-wedding Indian weddings!” functions. Shivan and Narresh use

Shivan

Narresh

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WHITE WEDDING With destination weddings becoming more popular, many brides now choose to change into western wear after the wedding ceremony. Especially for receptions, the dress is becoming a popular choice. Gauri and Nainika are well known for bringing vintage style glamour to the red carpet. Though they do not show bridal collections, they are finding an increasing demand for their gown, for wedding receptions and pre-wedding cocktails. The collection they just showed at Wills India Fashion Week (WIFW) was entirely in ivory and may work well for white weddings. Silhouettes were long and lean and cascading layers and ruffles added a feel of delicate drama. They had a very “My Fair Lady” feel, and would work perfectly for someone looking for that old-world charm.

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Gauri

Nainika

EDGY AND ALTERNATIVE Fantastical and surreal styles make for a very y modern and cutting-edge av look for bridal wear. Gaurav Gupta’s love of using bold embroideries and daring g cuts is a refreshing take on bridal wear. Gaurav’s latest collection “Sylph Aviary” has all his edgy signature touches.

Though his silGaurav Gupta sed houettes are based tional on Indian traditional wear, he adds a gown twistt to them all. His embellishments have an almost threee v dimensional effect; Gaurav describes his clothes as “sculptural.’ Even his colour palette injects a feel of fresh boldness. Toxic pink and carrot red are his current favourite hues.

Many other young Indian designers have recently turned their hand to Indian couture. Amit Aggarwal is a prime example of this. His Indian collection recently debuted at Ensemble. He has a very clean approach to Indian couture and the sari gown is his preferred silhouette. While his designs may have a slightly avant-garde feel for your ceremony, they are a perfect option for the reception – easy to wear, bold and different enough to ensure you are the centre of attention on your special night!

Amit Aggarwal

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WOMEN

Picture courtesy: NorBlack NorBlack

FASHION FOCUS

M Mega-stylists t li t and d indie i di cooll designers tell us why it’s hip to be Indian The Lifestyle Guide 51

WOMEN

Past perfect Indie label NorBlack NorWhite’s designs take a new spin on Indian classics, finds Shruti Thacker.

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anada-born, Mumbai-based designers Amrit Kumar and Mriga Kapadiya may have a contemporary eye for fashion, but their indie brand NorBlack NorWhite is purely Indian. With each collection, the pair focuses on a different region of India and highlights that region’s local skills in textile creation and art. So far, they have explored Kutch and Banaras, resulting in Indian crafts like bandhej and zardozi seamlessly integrated on western silhouettes. “It’s a journey for us to explore India and our history through textiles, art and adventure. It’s partly an anthropological experiment, part art and part fashion,” they said.

Time Out caught up with the duo to talk about their draw towards village street style, the challenges of starting a business in India and creating a family for themselves within the artisans’ community.

What is NorBlack NorWhite all about?

NorBlack NorWhite’s philosophies develop from questioning the past, appreciating the present and taking it to the future. Respecting the way things were created, the style in which they were made, and the simplicity yet intricacy in textile design inspire our work to bring it into this chaotic present world, while hoping to spark the light of the future.

The name was born from the duality of the two of us who founded the label, a balance between extremes, blurred boundaries between old and new, East and West, not being this or that, but everything in between. It’s a play on the mass love for black and white designs, and about digging deeper to ask questions. Most importantly, it’s an expression of our love for Michael Jackson.

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How did NorBlack NorWhite come into being?

It evolved as a natural progression of the two of us wanting to work together, wanting to explore the country, hungry to learn and create. When we moved to Bombay in 2009, we had no clear plan or goal. There was so much to take in and absorb. We spent the first few months running around, getting to know the city and travelling around the country.

We had been working with art shows, fashion, and festivals back in Toronto. We knew we wanted to use those same energies here. It was only after a trip to Kutch, where we were exposed to some amazing artisans, textiles and workmanship that we became more focused on what it was that we wanted to achieve.

Nowadays, there are a lot of Indian designers who have made a shift towards western design and aesthetics. You guys have done the opposite. Please explain the move away

from the West.

It comes down to respect for history and the power of the ancient. Practices that have evolved over centuries find their home here and that fascinates and awes us. We know not whether all of them will make it to the next decade and being able to document and create with these techniques and textiles makes us lucky. We still infuse a lot of our influences growing up in the West, into what we make. But we generally stay away from the monotones and repetitive shades of grey. Colour makes us happy. And nobody does it better than India. The street style in villages rather than the cities turns us on.

Your label is a staunch supporter of Indian made products and promotes Indian artisans – please explain the process of working with certain regions for your collections.

Understanding the ancient processes and culture of art within artisan families is the core of why

we create in India. “Made in India” is sadly being associated with “cheap” labour, mass production and overall quick and cheap. These ideas hurt us, when really the history of textile practices, the livelihood of thousands of skilled artisans and the intricacy of creation and design should be celebrated when people think of Made In India. We are working towards this.

Kutch remains the most special for us, because that’s where it all began. The bandhani artisans (artists) in Bhadhli are family. When we visit, we stay with them, laugh with them, eat and create with them. And also watch trash TV with them.

Aziz Bhai is a master with colours and patterns, he ‘gets it’ and creates magnificence, which we love.

Travelling and working in Banaras was much more challenging and overwhelming. There are definitely a lot of people trying to hustle you. But we found wonderful people to work with and the zardozi work there is stunning.

Most recently, we travelled to Kerala and sourced from there. It’s our other home in India after Bombay and being there is rejuvenating every single time. The sea, the food, medicinal plant history, palm trees and all the coconuts!

Is there any Indian designer you would like to collaborate with?

We love the colours and aesthetic of both Sabyasachi and Péro by Aneeth Arora and it would be super fun to collaborate on a collection together.

You moved to India and started your company in 2009 – did you face any challenges while setting up your company?

How did you overcome them?

Yes lots and the challenges keep coming.

Firstly, speaking broken Hindi didn’t help while communicating designs and working, although

we’re lucky artisans are visual, so we’ve found lots more ways to communicate. Our Hindi is progressing and the people we work with enjoy communicating through image and references.

Walking into the bank to deal with our accounts, we wouldn’t be taken seriously as two young women running a business. At first this drove us mad, but is something we laugh about now, while being more business-like in getting our work done.

Of course, stressing the importance of timing and having to be super clear about deadlines, implications has been a work in progress. Overall, being women from India but not from India, travelling the country to get our own work done has its moments; many people trip out, but these conversations are the starting point of breaking stereotypes and helping people understand others just like us.

You shuffle between Toronto and Mumbai.

What is the one thing about both the cities that you both love and can’t live without?

Bombay inspires and enables us to create. We can’t live without the chai, the magical way that just about anything can be delivered to your doorstep and the interactions and connections the city forces upon you.

Toronto is about reconnecting with our family, friends and our community who are all creators and superstars in their own paths, continuing to inspire us daily. Toronto has fabulous sushi, really great dance parties and kind people from around the world.

What are the various textiles and techniques you use in your collections?

We love bandhani and have featured it in all our collections so far. Mainly because of the fantastic relationship and connection we share with our artisans in Kutch. We’ve also worked with ikat from Andhra and added some zardozi glint from Benaras.

Most recently, we’ve been using a lot of silks and experimented with lungis from Kerala for our upcoming collection.

Would you ever think of showcasing your collection at any of the Indian fashion weeks?

So far we haven’t shown at any of the fashion weeks in India because it just hasn’t aligned with how we work. But we haven’t shut the door firmly on it. If and when we feel that it would be a representation of who we are, we’re down to trying it out.

Who is the ultimate NorBlack NorWhite woman?

NBNW is for those who appreciate ancient techniques presented in a contemporary style, simple silhouettes and vibrant colours. It speaks to people who respect each garment hanging in their closet and pay attention to the fine details of their favourite art.

The ultimate NorBlack NorWhite woman recognizes her inner goddess power and flourishes in colour.

What’s the future for NorBlack NorWhite?

We’re starting to focus on producing more minicollections and not being so bound by fashion cycles. We are also looking at creating in mediums other than textiles. We want to continue telling stories but experiment with how we tell them.

Amrit Kumar and Mriga Kapadiya (above), all outfits from NorBlack NorWhite’s spring summer 2012 collection

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WOMEN

Crash course:

Style 2012 From path-breaking designers to faces to watch out for on the red carpet, Al Walling gets Pernia Qureshi talking on the A-Z of fashion in India.

Teacher: Pernia Qureshi Credentials: “I particularly enjoyed working on Aisha, and it was life changing for me in terms of career,” says Pernia on the Sonam Kapoor starrer that catapulted her into the public consciousness.

Having been immersed in the world as a muse to several designers early on, Pernia wanted to establish a global luxury retailer offering the best in Indian fashion. Thus, the lithe and accomplished dancer (trained as a Kuchipudi dancer, she is a disciple of Raja Radha Reddy) launched Pernia’s Pop Up Shop, now quickly gaining momentum as a go-to online stop for those looking for some good internet retail therapy.

“I decided to create a collection because the e-store needed an in-house brand,” explains Pernia, on the progression from stylist and online curator to designer.

What inspires her in all her endeavours? “Like they say, beauty is in the eye of the beholder; inspiration lies in everything that surrounds me. From people to art, I gorge on ideas from everywhere.”

Course: A quick summary of Indian fashion’s status quo, over a series of six lessons.

Course Fee: Free (but non-adherence to the codes of style may result in suspension from the school of taste).

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Pernia Quereshi

Lesson one

Fashionable finds India is a treasure trove of eclectic finds, being a diverse nation sprinkled with creative spices in every nook and corner. There’s always a steadily flowing stream of fashionable beginnings, some of which have gone on to make a mark. On the flip side, there have always been certain places which are slightly ulterior and are known to the locals only. Pernia tries her hand at

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scouting and picks her favourites.

“India is a place where there is no shortage of talent in the field of design. Our history is peppered with all things luxe, and the embroidery and textile production today is truly impressive. It’s only natural that there is a lot of fresh talent making use of the luxury India offers in terms of inspiration and raw materials.”

y Clan

Play Clan: They have fun, fresh and vibrant designs. Right from apparel to accessories to home décor, every piece is a gorgeous mélange of fashion, art and design.

Divya Mohta: She is amazing for kitschy traditional silhouettes with a contemporary twist. Mohta’s digital prints combined with innovative colour combinations really make each piece pop.

Suitcases by Nappa Dori

Hanuman Mandir, Delhi: This three-century old market is a haven for bangle lovers. Find everything from metal and glass to lacquer and embellished Meenakari work.

Nappa Dori: From quirky and colourful trunks to beautiful leather accessories, they fuse the vintage with the modern wonderfully.

Janpath, Delhi: One of the best brica-brac markets around, I recommend going through the abundant Kolhapuris available for cute and comfy day-wear flats.

Outfit by Tambourine by Divya Mohta

Laptop bags and sleeves by Nappa dori

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Lesson two

Meet the young guns of fashion Young blood has always been one of the most exciting aspects in fashion. After all, without new design crusaders, fashion would cease to be a progressive medium. Pernia, with her quick and discerning eye, picks her top choices, and tells us why we should look out for them.

“I’m highly instinctive and decisive to the point of being impatient. It’s a quick drill for me to scout for the best upcoming Arpita Mehta: She does great work on both ethnic and fusion wear. I like how she keeps her colours sober.

Bodice by Ruchika Sachdeva: I love how she sticks to her signature androgynous silhouettes mixed with sharp tailoring.

gs, aand nd d designers – it’s all about gut feelings, haat knowing what works. I truly feel that the new crop of designers show a lott of d yet much- needed experimentation, and is are all unique in their own way. This ret etty ty y keeps the world of Indian fashion pretty interesting, indeed.”

Dhruv: An upcoming designer whose designs are minimal and sticks to monochrome. Definitely one to look out for.

Shift by Nimish Shah: One designer whose Western design sensibilities I’m a fan of. I love his co-ordinated as well as mix and match separates.

D hr u v

Shweta Kapur: I love the colour palette she uses and the futuristic and edgy touch she adds to her pieces.

Shift by Nimish Shah Autumn Winter 2012 Jacket by Shweta Kapur Bodice by Ruchika Sachdeva 2012 Sari by Arpita Mehta

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Lesson three

Style commentators To bring forward clothes from ramp to reality, there is an umpteen number of publications, online portals, newspapers and media outlets doing their rounds. It is, indeed, a sea of opinions. Thus, making swimming easier is Pernia, with her list of online blogs to read up on, and fashion personalities whose opinion matter and make a bigger cut above the rest.

“The fact remains that Bollywood largely dictates most people’s

sense of style. It is both enduring and enraging, but Bollywood definitely has become more style conscious, the effect of which is slowly creeping up on people. Meanwhile, more style blogs are popping up every now and then which shows how receptive certain trend-setters are, and though in the larger scheme of things, it’s still in an infant stage, such style commentators certainly do play a key role in bringing the best of India to the world’s stage.”

The Blogroll: Take a scroll down Pernia’s most logged-on blogs

ia’ as On the Pulse: Meet Pernia’s favorite fashion scribes.

TheDevilWore by Santu Misra: An extremely quirky and candid blog, just the way I like it. From highstreet fashion to couture week, he taps it all.

Vinod Nair: I am a fan of hiss direct, non-fussy and honestt take on fashion. He has a clarity rity to his work that I find very commendable.

Lazy Manx Cat by Lesly Lobeni: It is an extremely clear and astute blog, which is to the point and easy to comprehend. Lesly has a style of her own, which makes her take on fashion unique.

er Carine Roitfeld: The former hout ho out editor of Vogue Paris is, without ng g a doubt, one of fashion’s living icons. I love her dishevelled style, and her irreverent sartorial take. Très Chic.

Wearabout by Manou: An extremely talented photographer whose blog is a reflection of his knowledge of the lens. Besides stylistas, he also takes great shots of ordinary (but that doesn’t mean less stylish) people.

Man Repeller: Leandra Madine’s blog is one of the most influential fashion sites around and is one that I enjoy reading immensely. It is the right amount of individualistic style, trend consciousness and addictive quirk.

Hilary Alexander: As the Daily Telegraph’s fashion director, Hilary is a journalist to the core, one of the most knowledgeable minds around and someone I admire tremendously.

M anou

Derek Blasberg: He is New York society’s most stylish man-abouttown, and his writing is both erudite and frothy. There doesn’t ever seem to be a dull moment in his life.

Santu Misra

Lesly Lobeni

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Lesson four

The veterans Fashion may always be looking for the next big thing, but it is the stalwarts who have sustained the evolution of style through years of hard work, vision and dexterity. Pernia notes her personal picks on the supreme authority: designers who have been there, done that.

“There are designers who seem to be in a rut, regurgitating

the same designs over and over again. Whether it’s a loss of interest or lack of imagination, I don’t know. However, the heartwarming fact remains that there are stalwarts of Indian fashion who do manage to keep things interesting, and come up with reinventions every now and then, making sure fashion only moves in one direction: Forward.”

Ritu Kumar: She is the epitome of Indian bridal wear. If there is anybody, it is her who knows exactly what an Indian bride is looking for.

Hemant Trivedi: His contribution to the Indian fashion scene cannot be denied. I especially love the way he can intuitively create collections that are trendy for many seasons to come.

Manish Malhotra: His name may be synonymous with Bollywood, but when it comes to celebratory bling, there is no one better. He shook up the film industry when he started, and hats off to him for still being the czar to the stars today.

Rohit Bal: A true legend in the industry.

You can always count on him to show something spectacular. Daring and dashing, he has always remained a star, both on the ramp and off it.

Ritu Beri: She has displayed, time and again, a refined understanding which is capable of immense style, and I find her designs very versatile.

Manish Malhotra Spring Summer 2013

Rohit Bal Spring Summer 2012

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Ritu Kumar Spring Summer 2013

Ritu Beri Sping Summer 2011

Lesson five

The stylistas

Pratima Bhatia: Her personal style comes across as very eclectic and fun, and she always maintains her femininity in her outfits. She keeps it interesting by playing around with a lot of textures and colours.

Sapna Kumar

K aly ani C

Picture courtesy: MissMalini

Fashion will always need her poster-children, a bevy of beautiful women, all unique in their own ways to inspire, and spark trends. A style arbiter herself, Pernia decodes the looks of some of her favourite glamour girls.

“Today’s celluloid stars are all trend-conscious, which accounts for the rapid popularity of personal stylists. Actresses are competitive even off-screen, in the wardrobe department, and are constantly on the lookout for new hot designers, although they do stick to their allegiance for bigger brands. I’m all for this mix of both established designers and newcomers — and it’s safe to say that the glamour industry today is spearheaded by a cool breed of stylish women who are polished and poised, and also daring in their sartorial choices.”

hawla

Sonam Kapoor: One of the most fashion-forward and experimental people I know, she is never afraid of pushing boundaries and always looks extremely well put together. Her chic ensembles have forever changed the way Indian actresses dress.

Sapna Kumar: She has an inimitable sense of style. She looks great in almost everything she wears and being a veritable clothes horse, she is also highly adept at styling herself for photo shoots.

Kalyani Chawla: She has an extremely glamorous sense of style. Her look is evolved, mature and impeccably elegant. Her make-up, especially, is always spot on.

Prerna Goel: I’ve taken notice of her style sensibility, which is perenially sophisticated and feminine. She appears to be high-fashion without being overtly label conscious, which is great to see.

Prerna Goel

Pratima Bhatia

Sonam Kapoor

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Lesson six

Style guide The stylist in Pernia brings forward three key looks, incorporating a fusion of Indian designers, for three different moods. Doll up, ladies.

Worldly Sophisticate Let this Morrain Print Goddess skirt

by Namrata Joshipura be the main focus. Keep the rest minimal by pairing it up with a white jersey top from Morphe by Amit Aggarwal, Bansiri Jolie earrings and Monroe L bag by Sanya V Jain.

Boho Belle Look carefree in Pankaj and Nidhi’s Melbina embroidered tunic. Use the Janavi shawl as a head scarf, adorn your ears with Bharany’s Bali earrings and carry this really cute Augustini leather bag by Poem Bags.

Ethnic Glam Look glamorous in this Sabyasachi’s pink sari with butti border. Pair it up with Naina Balsavar’s pacchi work pearl coral with uncut diamond ear tops and a Boyce leather bag by Poem Bags.

Pernia’s Top Five

Styling Tips

goes a e right size always Know your size. Th for you. rk wo tfit ou an g long way in makin ld overlook fashionista shou No self-respecting de tones. nu e lov lly na perso stylish lingerie –I and go, ces. Trends come Invest in classic pie th care. wi ht ug bo be ld shou but classic pieces ul to the de. It’s disrespectf Follow the dress co l party. tai ck co a to in jeans host if you land up nic, clean k comes with hygie Nailing a good loo no -no ? er oth shor t. An nails. I prefer them h. lis po il na ed Chipp

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WOMEN

Haute heritage Whether it is gorgeous clothes or the glorious confines they are housed in, Kimi Dangor lines up stores that give you high-fashion with a hint of heritage and old-world charm.

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ashion stores are about more than just racks of billowy fabric, piles of pretty clothes and an array of accessories and accoutrements. They are as much about the interplay of light, layout and interior décor as they are about aesthetic and ambience. Especially if there is a touch of history and legacy thrown into the mix. From fashion destinations that marry couture to custom, being housed in heritage homes, well-preserved Portuguese villas, even British-era hotels’ signature stores to multi-designer boutiques, here’s a check-list of outlets where you can ogle at the lattice work, louvres and high ceilings even as you shop for organic cotton kurtis and zardozi-laden lehengas.

MUMBAI BOMBAY ELECTRIC The JC Report is right; no other Indian store defines “modern Indian cool” quite like Bombay Electric. Where else will you find some Manish Arora madness nestled next to a pristine Péro dress and a head-turning Little Shilpa hat? If you’re thirsting for some fresh fashion fodder, look out for Karishma Shahani’s handdyed reversible up-cycled cloth,

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Riddhika Jesrani’s elephant and zebra necklaces, butterfly print pocket squares by Kundalini Arts and Retarded Velvet’s kitschy Amul and Thums Up prints. And don’t blame us if, in the bargain, you fall in love with the space. 1 Reay House, Colaba, is after all, over a hundred years old and located in the historic Apollo Bunder district. The store has retained the 16-feet high beamed ceilings and original tree-sized teak beams, believed to be a gift from the King of Burma. This unique amalgam of a fashion forward vision and vintage charm gives Bombay Electric a flavour very much its own. A brainchild of the elfin Priya Kishore, the store’s palm tree-lined courtyard often doubles up as a cool venue for music concerts and photo exhibits.

1 Reay House, BEST Marg, Colaba (022-2287-6276). Daily 11am-9pm.

ENSEMBLE Long heralded as India’s first haute couture store, the Ensemble outlet at Lion Gate, launched in 1987, is as much a testament to history as it is to fashion’s way forward in India. The 3,000 square-foot boutique occupies pride of place in the Great Western Building, once believed to be the Great

Western Hotel, with a grand staircase and its very own ball room. According to a plaque outside the entrance, it’s also been the residence of an Admiral (1764-1792) and has served as a court premise too. So, if you haven’t already

been awed by the store’s historical heritage you are sure to be boggled by the finery on display. Labels on offer include established names like Tarun Tahiliani, Rohit Bal, Anamika Khanna and Malini Ramani, as well as young blood like Gaurav Gupta, Varun Bahl, Anand Kabra, Amit Aggarwal and Shift by Nimish Shah, among others.

Great Western Building, opposite Lion Gate, 130/132 Shahid Bhagat Singh Road, Fort (022-2284-3227).

Mon-Sat 11am-7pm..

Glocal – is also a highlight on the Bungalow 8 itinerary.

Grant Building, 1st, 2nd & 3rd floors, Near Radio Club, 17 Arthur Bunder Road, Colaba (022-2281-9880). Daily 10.30am-7.30pm.

KOLKATA EKRU Ruchira Kandhari and Ekta Jaipuria’s flagship store at Roopchand Mukherjee Lane is a labour of love.

The old Bengali ‘bari’, acquired by

BUNGALOW 8 With its old Burma teak rafters, weatherworn walls, iron columns and terrazzo floor, one can’t be blamed for thinking it’s an old hacienda. But as you explore the three floors that house concept store Bungalow 8, you realize the effect is deliberate. It may be one of Mumbai’s most innovative fashion and lifestyle spaces, but it effortlessly fits into Grant Building in Colaba, an 1857 construction.

Owner Maithili Ahluwalia has left the cracks as it is in the wall and the patina of the woodwork, artfully add to the vintage vibe of the store. In contrast, the clothes and accessories available are by younger breakout brands like in-house fashion line The Bungalow created by French designer Mathieu Gugumus Leguillon and curated by Ahluwalia, Christina Kim, Deepa Gurnani, Hanut Singh and A Peach Treaty. Ahluwalia’s specially curated trunk shows with upcoming Indian and international designers – at present an ongoing series called

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the duo and restored over a period of three years with the help of sculptor Narayan Sinha, is a 2,500 squarefoot property attempting to capture a bygone era. Dotted with restored vintage furniture, mirrors, antique photographs, chandeliers and sculptures by Sinha, the store not only houses Ekru’s diffusion, ethnic and bridal lines, but also has a special bridal salon for consultations and a terraced café for coffee and relaxation.

Steeped in all things Bangla, the store is just the place to explore and lighten your pocketbook and your mind.

40/1 Roopchand Mukherjee Lane, Bhawanipur (033-6522-8668). MonSat 11am-7pm.

85 LANSDOWNE Arguably Kolkata’s most popular multi-designer store, 85 Lansdowne stocks nearly 40 established and upcoming designers from across the country. But what makes this fashion destination unique is the 76-year-old Bengali mansion it is housed in – spread over 5,000 square-feet and two floors. Friends-turned-partners Shalini Nopany and Pooja Goenka took a year to painstakingly restore the old structure; they retained the red cement floors and louvred windows and procured vintage furniture to go with the feel of the environs. Various rooms of the mansion lend space for the store’s shop-in-shop format, where labels like Sabyasachi Mukherjee, Kiran Uttam Ghosh, Tarun Tahiliani,

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Manish Malhotra, Rohit Bal, Cue by Rohit Gandhi and Rahul Khanna, Ranna Gill, Dev r Nil and Rahul Mishra, among others, are displayed in a luxurious space.

Sarat Bose Road, Lansdowne (0332486-2136). Daily 11am-7.30pm.

NEW DELHI LES PARISIENNES When fellow French women Catherine Prakash and Lucie Salaun decided to start their own vintage chic

boudoir, they figured the old ‘haveli’ in Shahpur Jat that Salaun lived in had great potential. The duo retained most of the original features of the ‘haveli’, said to have been built in the 1930s, thereby lending a retro charm to their boutique. White-washed walls with lattice work, high ceilings and dark wood door frames and furniture lend a whimsical charm to the store. Les Parisiennes first opened in September 2011 with their in-house line of womenswear and accessories and expanded to a full concept store in October 2012, adding furnishings, linen, crockery and home décor to their repertoire.

5B Shahpur Jat, Dada Jungi House, Asian Village (011-2649-6754).

Daily 10am-7pm.

KIMAYA History and haute couture entwine at Kimaya’s One Style Mile store in Mehrauli. The property, said to be built in the 18th century was originally known as Kutub Haveli Sarai. Today, part of it plays host to Kimaya’s array of opulent designer labels – Pam Mehta, Tarun Tahiliani, Shantanu & Nikhil, Rohit Bal, Anamika Khanna and Rocky S. The 3,500 square-foot space, its arched doorways, ivory walls, glittering chandeliers and a mix of vintage and utilitarian furniture allude to the heritage of the premises, yet give the store a contemporary feel. Apart from the Mehrauli property, owner Pradeep Hirani is also working towards

restoring a 200-year-old structure called the Habibullah House for his next retail venture in Lucknow.

One Style Mile, Kutub-Serai, 6-b Kalka Das Marg, Mehrauli (011-2664-5150). Daily 11.30am9.30pm.

GOA WENDELL RODRICKS DESIGN SPACE The Goan designer’s flagship store is tucked away in an old bungalow in the heritage area of Campal, amidst elegant cottages built by the Marquis de Portugal in the early 20th century. Originally the residence of Bernard Gades in 1944, who served as Chef Estado Mayor during the Portuguese rule, the cheery yellow and white house has been beautifully transformed into a boutique. The woodwork has been gently restored and the heritage design flooring has been repaired and retained. Rodricks uses each room of the house for different garments – White Room (his signature colour), The Eco Goa Room (that retails eco-friendly cottons with natural dyes, including scarves and saris woven by Poonam Pandit with the students of the Home Science College in Panjim), a Menswear Room and a Salon for silks and linens. A café in a verandah overlooking a garden makes it an idyllic place to linger.

158, near Luis Gomes Garden, Campal, Panjim (0832-2420-604).

Mon-Sat 9.30am-6.30pm.

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SOSA’S Goa’s earliest fashion address Sosa’s is housed in the Latin quarters of Fontainhas and Rua de Ourem creek, its yellow and white painted façade made famous by appearances in movies like Dil Chahta Hai. The building, an old Portuguese house, is over a hundred years old, say locals. And the property has been in manager Myra Silveira’s family for 15 years now. Cement mosaic VWRQH ÀRRULQJV ZKLWH DQG JUH\ VODWH walls and clean lines characterise this essentially Goan store. Brands on offer are an eclectic and youthful mix– clothes by Ravage, Rahul Mishra, Anuj Sharma, Gaurav Gupta, accessories by Vrinda Gokhale and Vani Gupta.

E245, Rua de Ourem, Fontainhas, Panjim (0832-2228-063). Mon-Sat 10am-7.15pm.

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HYDERABAD TARUN TAHILIANI When it came to pitching a tent in the Nizam’s city, couturier Tarun Tahiliani picked an antique bungalow, which was once ostensibly a nawab’s house (vintage unknown), in the plush neighbourhood of Banjara Hills. And while the exterior of the house remains untouched, the interiors have been very gently tweaked in keeping with the designer’s signature style. Shades of beige, ecru and ivory convey the label’s timeless elegance, whereas Osler chandeliers, hand knotted carpets, Venetian mirrors and Swarovski detailing in the structure’s high ceiling dome signify luxury and sophistication. On offer are Tahiliani’s trademark chikankari, resham and gota classics as well as his opulent anarkalis, lehengas, Swarovski saris and digital prints.

8-2-577/1/C Road No. 7, Banjara Hills (040-6690-3377). Daily 11am-7pm.

BANGALORE CINNAMON Housed in a traditional Bangalore bungalow is Radhika and Abhishek Poddar’s fashion and lifestyle outpost, Cinnamon. Though the structure is nearly 90-years-old, the Poddars have given it a modern spin with a frosted glass frontage and interiors that are stark, angular and contemporary. The high ceilings and white-washed walls lend an unfettered flow to the 2,000 squarefoot shop layout, conceived by Italian designer Andrea Anastasio. And showcased against this pristine background are lines by Jason Cheriyan, Vivek Narang, Pero, Salt, Sanskar, Eka and Rajka – a line-up that reflects the Poddars’ distinctive aesthetic leanings. Partake of their unique fashion, accessories and home décor lines and then take a break at their in-house café under a leafy tree.

11 Walton Road, Off Lavelle Road (080-2221-2426). Mon-Sat 10.30am-8pm, Sun Noon-8pm.

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WOMEN

Rahul Mishra’s Spring Summer 2013 collection

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Grassroute quotient Fashion’s new darling boy Rahul Mishra talks to Shruti Thacker about marrying good design with livelihood for weaving communities.

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hen Time Out met Rahul Mishra at his studio, the usually shorts and T-shirt clad designer had excessive hair product and mascara. He’d just returned from a magazine photo shoot and was amused by all the attention he had been receiving. Indeed, in a short span of time, Mishra has become Indian fashion’s darling. Getting noticed by veteran designers like Rajesh Pratap Singh and Abraham and Thakore is just a cherry on top of a booming fashion career for this science graduate. “I always wanted to be an artist, but my father had different plans for me. I wanted to go to National Institute of Fashion Technology or any design college, even Delhi College of Arts. I read somewhere, “make your hobby your profession, there’ll be no single working day in your life,” and I never wanted to work in my life [laughs]. But my father was adamant, so I studied physics because of him, [later on] I studied design because I wanted to do it for me,” he said.

When it comes to design, Mishra is grateful for being from a non-fashion background. “I enjoy pattern making because I’m good at geometry. If I start dissecting my clothes, it’s just geometry and nothing else,” he said. But it’s not just the progressive shapes on his clothes that have earned him a name in the industry. His debut collection as a Generation Next designer at Lakme Fashion Week in 2006 had trousers and jackets made with Kerala cotton handloom that could be worn inside out. It was his use of Indian textiles in a contemporary and fresh manner that got the designer noticed and he has since been a staunch supporter of Indian fabrics. So far, he’s worked extensively with Chanderi, Banarasi silks and Kerala cotton handloom.

Each collection takes up a tedious eight to nine months – from the mood board to motif design, graphics and the final step of weaving, as Mishra is often at the forefront creating fabrics and providing

sustainability to weavers. He prefers the slow process of luxury. “Fast fashion cannot be luxury.

[My garments] are serious couture without being over the top and have a lot of sensibility.” That’s one of the main reasons why Mishra stays away from quick and easy processes like printing. “It may not make sense business wise, but when you are talking about designer wear and bespoke tailoring, the slowness is required.” And creating new fabrics and reviving Indian techniques for every collection

“I NEVER WANTED TO WORK IN MY LIFE”

Rahul Mishra

is not simple. “For every craft, I need to work differently. For example, Chanderi is completely designed by me as the weavers are willing and have far more strength to be able to control everything,” he explains. But it isn’t always easy. If a craft is struggling, Mishra steps in to create a collection around it; it has to be mutually benefitting.

He’s currently working with Kerala cotton handloom, something he used for his debut collection in 2006. “I want to help these weavers and [it] also gives me a breather while my new developments are going on in Chanderi, Banarasi and ikat. I need to balance it out and it helps my weavers as their production becomes continuous.”

Providing employment to over a hundred weavers is a responsibility Mishra takes seriously. “About 30 per cent of the styles [in my collections] are flamboyant, but 70 per cent of the styles are commercial. Ultimately, it’s a ready-to-wear show and it’s those 15 minutes on the runway that decide how much production my team is going to have, how much weaving I can give to my weavers.

Every garment is worth a lot of time and a lot of employment.”

For his spring-summer 2013 collection, ‘Weave, Sow, Yield, Bloom’, Mishra confessed that he took a risk. “I did the reversible line five years ago, but sometimes you need to force yourself to make it different from the last time. If people say I’m being repetitive, that’s okay; I still need to give them [weavers] work. I needed to take this risk to help my weavers [in Kerala] which is where I started from and I owe them a lot. This sort of a risk is not a big deal.” With this confidence the designer preordered the production of fabrics even before it hit the runway.

As we speak, Mishra’s mind has already moved forward to the future. Simultaneously, he’s working on a project with the government of Kerala and the Ministry of Tourism to support the dying craft of handloom there. The focus is to create younger,

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Rahul Mishra’s Spring Summer 2011 collection

Rahul Mishra Autumn Winter 2012

“FASHION CAN GIVE BACK TO INDIA WHAT BOLLYWOOD AND CRICKET CAN’T”

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Rahul Mishra’s Autumn Winter 2012 collection Rahul Mishra’s Spring Summer 2013 collection

wearable products from the age-old craft to provide a living for the weavers there. However, there’s a clincher. While Mishra will advise on how to take Kerala cotton to the next level of design with interiors and even talk to hotels about creating staff uniforms with the fabric, his brand name will be completely absent from the project. And what’s he going to get in return? “Maybe one day, a Nobel Prize,” he laughs it off.

On a more serious note, Mishra takes his role of bringing the Indian textiles to the centre stage of Indian fashion more seriously. “My job is to make craft aspirational. My client is in her 30s, loves her saris and is more aware of what she wants in her life. But I still need to inspire young India to wear khadi because they’re the big, bright future – for my brand and the craft.” Even with such strong Indian aesthetics, Mishra likens himself to Issey Miyake and Yohji Yamamoto who have a strong Japanese sense of style and yet create seamless contemporary designs. “I need to be a global guy with a very strong Indian connection.”

And it’s this connection to the grass-roots level that he holds so dear. “Design and fashion to me is just like the tip of an iceberg, only the tip is visible. The 90 per cent that lies underneath is the real thing. [In India] after farmers, the second largest population is of weavers. I really wish these policy makers and a lot of people amongst us didn’t take fashion only as an outer appeal.

Fashion can be a big economic force, think about it, designers employ so many people and give crafts a new definition. Villages constitute 70 per cent of India and it’s not going to be a developed country till the villagers don’t get basic necessities like 24-hour electricity and become prosperous.

Fashion can give back to India what Bollywood and cricket can’t.”

This kind of responsibility results Rahul Mishra’s Spring Summer 2013 collection Rahul Mishra’s Spring Summer 2011 collection

in the need to make clothes that are commercially viable of utmost importance. “So far my record has been 70 to 80 per cent pieces going from the runway to the shops without any changes.” Along with his thriving runway collections, Mishra is also in talks with the Future Group to create an affordable line that makes Rahul Mishra, the brand, a household name and get rid of the various taglines of western, Indian and Indo-western styles that the Indian women have grown accustomed to.

“There’s a taboo in Indian fashion today that you have to wear either a sari or a kurta or kurti with tights, somehow we are trying to create a uniform for those who aren’t gifted with a really great body.

The Indian woman tries to invest in something that other people will give her a compliment about. She should simply wear what she loves wearing, it’s all about feeling good on the inside.” Hence Mishra’s amalgamation of Indian fabrics with free-flowing silhouettes- outfits that make you feel happy about yourself. “Clothing has this amazing power of making you happy, making you feel good about yourself. We need to look at clothes from that point of view.”

Rahul Mishra’s Spring Summer 2013 collection

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WOMEN

Bedazzle From diamonds to beads, we list the top jewellery pieces for all occasions.

TRADITIONAL

Mini peacock earrings, Damiani *

Crimson Radio ring, Zevarr.com `21,150

Pristine necklace, Tara Jewellers `8,40,000

Bangle, AS Motiwala Fine Jewellery `3,50,000

Diamond bangle, Pure Gold `6,67,748 * Price on request

Diamond, pearl and emerald set, Begani Jewels *

MODERN Orchid earrings, Valliyan by Nitya Arora `4,500

Balley necklace, Christian Dior `1,55,000 Drops of gold cuff, Eina Ahluwalia `5,500

Pink panther necklace, Chopard *

Kelly fine jewellery bracelet, Hermès `2,27,500

Gold metal and blue coloured beads necklace, Gucci *

Shogun ring, Swarovski `9,200

* Price on request

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Bangles, Ayesha Accessories `150

Olva necklace, Vero Moda `595

Tribal crown necklace, Urban Turban at Shop Inonit `750

Black and lime mesh bib, Zara `1,590

EVERYDAY Hand o

f Fatim

a pend `229 ant, Toniq

Mississipi gold brooch, Done by None `399

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WOMEN

Second nature Add the finishing touch to any look with a watch that compliments your personality. Dainty to funky, we pick watches for every mood.

DAILY Party girl, Marc Ecko `6,210

Femme, Gc `89.500

Watch, Tommy Hilfiger `5,995

Vanitas, Versace `1,72,000

St Tropez, Toywatch `10,745

Watch, Giordano `9,950

Play gla, Esprit `4,495 Watch, Burberry `24,950

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LUXURY Dior VIII, Dior `4,30,000

Gancino sparkling, Ferragamo `68,200

Formula 1 lady steel and ceramic, TAG Heuer `2,24,000

Metiers d’Art Fish watch, Vacheron Constantin *

Limelight dancing light watch, Piaget * Ladymatic, Omega * Vanitas, Versace `1,72,000

Imperiale Tourbillon, Chopard *

* Price on request

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Desi accompaniments

WOMEN

This wedding season, pair your saris and lehengas with India-inspired clutches and shoes.

Allegro clutch, Swarovski `65,000 Venetian sunset silk frame box clutch, Anusha Lalwani `6,075

Euphoria handbag, Tarini Nirula `2,600

Zip embroidered clutch, Anand Bhushan `9,800

Gold shiny mini box, Zara `3,390

Ornate armour clutch, Rachana Reddy `7,200

Palace ponga clutch, Bally * * Price on request

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T-bar ats, Crimzon `2,500 Glaare, Steve Madden `4,999

Totem sandal, Jimmy Choo `45,000 approx Pigalle strass 120 gold, Christian Louboutin *

High heel T-strap sandal, Gucci *

Kolhapuri wedges, Mochi `890

* Price on request

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WOMEN

Divina, Furla `39,500

Roulis handbag, Hermès `3,77,000

Haley city bag, Esprit `5,999

D-styling mini python bag, Tod’s *

Miss Dior bag, Christian Dior *

Hide

candy Work W ork or or b brunch, r nch ccomplete omplete your look with the trendiest bags and shoes.

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Messenger bag with studs, Zara `4,790

The TTh he Lifestyle LLiififfeesstt yylle Gu G Guide uuiiidde

Skull box clutch , Alexander McQueen at Kitsch *

* Price on request

Soma, Vanilla Moon `2,990

Kimmie, Steve Madden `4,999

Platform pump, Christian Dior *

Sandals in suede goatskin, Hermès `75,500

Mary Jane platform, Celine *

Greet-ings shoe, Kenneth Cole `17,490

Victorian calf hair bootie, Fendi `79,114 * Price on request

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BEAUTY

The smoked effect Apply bronzer to sculpt the face and line the eyes and inner waterlines with a black pencil. Blend frosted purple eyeshadow into the liner over eyelid.

Use a black eyeshade on the outer crease of the eyes and ďŹ nish off the look with a matte soft pink lipstick like Kinda Sexy by MAC. Expert tip: Pat down the lipstick with a foundation for a washed out pale mouth to balance the heavier eyes

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Eyes, eyes, baby!

Pull off four high-end, sexy make-up looks.

Amrita Puri shows you how.

Amrita Puri is best known for her role as the conservative Shefali Thakur in the fashion-focused film, Aisha. Two years on, moving away from her character’s minimal make-up and tied hair, Time Out decided to give this theatre actress a glamorous makeover just in time for her upcoming film, Kai Po Che. Elton Fernandez hair and make-up stylist, creates three looks on Puri that you can copy at home. Choose from sexy, red-mouth or smoky eyes. Photography by Jignesh Jhaveri.

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Pretty in pink Apply a cream concealer to cover any dark circles around your eyes. Use a black pencil liner all along the upper and halfway through the lower lashlines and smudge and blend with brown eyeshadow all the way up into the eyelid and browbone with a round fluffy brush. Add two coats of mascara over curled lashes for that oomph effect. Paint your lips in two colours for an ombre effect – pink towards the outside and peach on the inside.

Expert tip: Blend two shades of lipsticks by patting your lips with your fingers using a light clear gloss.

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Punk rock Use generous amount of kajal on your inner waterlines to bring about an exotic sexiness to your eyes. Apply waterproof black mascara through the eyebrows to add intensity followed by a soft brown shadow that fills the outer brows to add softness. Use a plum eyeshadow around the eyes and up till the browbone, diminishing in intensity as it moves further away from the lashes.

Expert tip: Don’t be afraid to use your eye pencil as a lipstick. In this instance, we used a frosted maroonbrown eye pencil to fill in the lip.

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Vintage glamour Apply foundation like Givenchy Sublimine for a sheer, even coverage.

Dust the cheekbones with a soft bronzer like Laguna by NARS and blend into the blush on the apples of cheeks with Amour by NARS. Choose a golden-olive eyeshadow for the eyelids and blend into a matte whitebeige shadow on brow bones. Mix Eternal Flame lipstick by MAC with some lip balm and gently pat onto the lips.

Expert tip: Transparent mascara through the brows will give them direction, giving your face a clean, structured look.

Earrings by Periwinkle.

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MEN

SUIT UP Picture courtesy: Gucci

All the fashionable essentials for the stylish Indian man

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MEN

Manpower Four new looks for the man in the making.

Mr. Dandy

Raiding your grandfather’s closet has never been so trendy. Think old school professor for this dandymeets-geek look. Bow tie, check, argyle vest, check, pocket square check. Add a dose of cute and you are ready to charm your way through most situations.

Look from Allen Solly autumnwinter 2012.

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Laid back

Get the ‘just-rolled-out-of-bed’ sexy vibe with a T-shirt and chinos; just remember to have a mix of cheerful colours to keep things interesting.

Tried and tested on concert goers and sci-fi movie buffs, the robot graphic adds the quirky element without trying too hard.

Look from French Connection autumn-winter 2012.

The Sunday brunch

Champagne and a lazy Sunday meal fit for a king needs an outfit that will not go unnoticed. Update your usual white trousers and shirt combo with an icecool blue blazer. Finish the look off with a pair of classic brown loafers.

Look from Gucci Resort 2013.

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Lifestyle

MEN

The new corporate

Dress and feel like a boss with a serious pinstripe suit. Avoid looking like the ofďŹ ce clown by opting for one or two pieces from the suit (unless you are really daring!). Ambition with this style is mandatory.

Runway look Canali autumn-winter 2012.

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MEN

Casper, GAS *

Scribe, Bally *

Dictateur at, Christian Louboutin*

Trainers, Yves Saint Laurent at Kitsch*

Finishing touch Attention is in the detail and no one knows that better than a well-dressed man. Channel your inner gentleman with premium watches, man-friendly bags and playful cuffs.

Blue formal shoe, Zara `43,790

Velvet loafers with tassles, Canali `35,000

High top trainers, Puma `3,999

* Price on request

White wall shoes, Kenneth Cole `13,990

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Watch, Salvatore Ferragamo `61,300

Character automatic, Versace *

Sportivo watch, Emporio Armani `18,995

Dressage watch, Hermès `7,28,000 approx

Star world time GMT, Mont Blanc `2,83,250

Malte 100th Anniversary edition, Vacheron Constantin *

Seamaster cera gold, Omega *

Barnato 42 midnight carbon, Breitling for Bentley, *

King power F1 Great Britain, Hublot * Watch, Gc * * Price on request

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Belt on back satchel, Kenneth Cole `18,890

iPad envelope, Tumi `10,500

Alden wallet, Fossil `2,395

Tote, Emporio Armani `80,000 Pen drive, Hermès `17,000 approx

Limited edition Jonathan Swift Gulliver fountain pen, Mont Blanc `58,400

Cufflinks, Yves Saint Laurent at Kitsch * My colors braded leather bracelet, Tod’s `11,000 Sciarpa scarf, GAS `2,800

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MEN

n o i h s a f s ’ n e Is m relevant?

Men’s clothing trends have traditionally been outshone by women’s brands and collections. Not for much longer, argues Christopher Butler

T

he Western media has h always been dominated by man’s quest to attract the opposite sex: the love story stor st ory y between the red-blooded lleading le ead adi man and his damsel. Think aabout ab ou it: the ‘main man’, whether aactor ac acto cto tor or or politician, used to be the distinguished, well-groomed type, di isti such as Cary Grant, and later the iconic, boyish but stylish James Dean. In the ’80s and ’90s however, this devolved into unidentifiable and unrelatable cold-hearted manmachine action stars such as Sly Stallone and Arnie.

Beyond pecs and biceps, the relevance of men’s ‘style’ hit a brick wall, and expressing yourself through fashion was confined to radical sub-cultures such as mods, punks and,later,New Romantics, punk pu nkss an and who all music and wh ho al ll married m fashion fashio fa on to t amplify their distaste di d isttas as te aste te for conformity.

Sartorial Sart Sa rtor oria ia expression was down upon w wa as looked looo mainstream by m ain ai society, soci so ciet ci ety and the ety action-star icons acti ac tion on-

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never sold the idea that it’s perfectly acceptable to express emotions or show ‘panache’. Instead, masculinity was bottled and sold to us as aftershaves, razors and cigars. Yes, there were rock stars, such as David Bowie and Prince, but their gender-bending image was deemed far too unorthodox for the Average Joe. Time has been kind to these pioneers, but it has taken their innovative messages close to 30 years to ripple into everyday mainstream men’s fashion, to really be recognised and now championed.

Times have changed, however.

Take David Beckham, who is arguably the most prolific men’s style icon of recent years. In 1998, we were quick to question why a married, heterosexual, professional footballer would want to wear a sarong. More importantly, why were men everywhere turning to icons of football for style tips? Not any more.

Here was a man who was able to defy conventional style rules, yet become a mainstream hero.

Now he bucks the alpha-male trend, yet appears masculine, and … well, dandy.

Dandyism was an underground fashion movement that bubbled up through the French Revolution to revolt against the flamboyant milehigh wigs of Louis XIV’s decadent aristocracy. Periwigs were swapped for hair gel and mutton chops, and men started dressing themselves for themselves – much like today.

Today’s fashion climate is not about the elite and their rules, but the individual.

Fashion allows men to be comfortable with their identity and wear their hearts

on their rolled-up sleeves.

In a further step, other metrosexuals such as Kanye West took mainstream fashion to a young African-American audience in the noughties, proving that you don’t have to be as flamboyant as Prince to express personality and emotion through bold colours and innovative styles. At the 2011 Coachella Music Festival,the fashion industrypraised Kanye for wearing a silk top from designer womenswear brand Celine.

More importantly, it was welcomed by hip-hop fans.

The differing reactions to both Kanye in 2011 and David Beckham in 1998 show us just how the boundaries of men’s fashion have changed in such a short space of time.Musiciansturned- style-icons Justin Timberlake and Jay-Z broke through with a look that was relevant to the modern man.

Both would later capitalise on their perceived image by launching their own fashion labels. Justin’s William Rast and Jay-Z’s Roc-A-Wear target the man on the street looking to emulate their style icons.

From rappers to actors and even beyond to politicians and sports stars, today’s male style icon comes in all shapes, colours and sizes.

Men are now also looking side to side instead of up into the stars for inspiration. Fashion blogs keep up with trends: the most pioneering being the dandy-inspired The Sartorialist. The site created a ‘fourth wall’ by taking conventional fashion photography to the streets and

snapping real people.

The popularity of these blogs among men shows that they are not only curious about fashion, but more so about their fellow man’s style. The model carved from dreams has been replaced by the man on the street.

Fashion brands are also making men’s fashion more accessible. “At Ted Baker we have seen menswear purchases become more prevalent across the world,” says Emma Pearcy, the store’s brand manager in the Middle East. “Men are doing well at taking better care of their appearance. As proof of this, Ted Baker has opened ‘‘Ted’s Grooming Room’’: while travelling in Istanbul, Ted came across the joys of a traditional Turkish wet shave.

He then brought this treatment to the UK – after all, it is important for gentlemen to keep things “trim and proper.””

Men’s retail is no longer confined to the corner next to the kids’ section.Floorspace has increased and many retailers now offer standalone men’s stores. These stores are increasingly drawing inspiration from international fashion houses, which are dedicating more and more time to men’s fashion.

2011 saw Asia’s first (and the world’s third) dedicated men’s fashion week take place in Singapore. At the same time, Internet shopping portal Net-a-

Porter launched Mr Porter, the first dedicated global menswear retail site, offering accessible men’s style from designer labels to niche brands, alongside directories and advice.

Then again, fashion is always going to be subjective. One man’s knitted reindeer sweater is another man’s haute couture. As long as it’s worn with confidence, what anyone else thinks is, really, irrelevant.

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ADDREKSS BOO

Alexander McQueen Kitsch, 233, Upper Ground Floor,DLF Emporio, Vasant Kunj, New Delhi. (011)(46098212). 48, Dr. V.B Gandhi Marg, Kala Ghoda, Mumbai (022)(2268-7777).

Allen Solly 47, Bungalow Road, Kamla Nagar, New Delhi.

Amit Aggarwal Ensemble, 36 Santushti Shopping Arcade, Race Course Road, New Delhi (011)(2638-3255).

Amrapali Juhu-Phoolwari Cottage, Near Prithvi Theatre, Juhu Tara Road, Mumbai (022)(2612-5001).

Anamika Khanna 2/1 Outram Street, Kolkata (033)(4265-5361).

Anand Bhushan B73 Sector 51, Noida, (0120)(2482-250). Arts and Jewels M71 Main Market, Greater Kailash I, New Delhi (011)(2923-3080).

Anand Kabra 6-3-665/B Panjagutta, Hyderabad (040)(2332-6393).

Anupamaa E/27 Poorvi Marg, Vasant Vihar, New Delhi (011)(4166-1575).

Anusha Lalwani Aza, 21, Sify Apartment, Altamount Road, Breach Candy, Mumbai (022)(2351-7616).

Ogaan, H-2 Hauz Khas Village, New Delhi (011)(2696-7595).

Aquamarine 20 Colaba Causeway, Opposite McDonald’s, Colaba, Mumbai, (022)(2202-0434). 6 Sankalp, Turner Road, Bandra (W), Mumbai (022)(25432262).

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AS Motiwala Fine Jewellery Manek Manor, Ground Floor, opp. St. Stanislaus High School, Hill Road, Bandra (W), Mumbai (022)(2655-8585).

Ayesha Accessories Mumbai Oberoi mall, Int., Business Park, Oberoi,Garden city, Off - W.E. Highway, Goregoan(E), Mumbai (98204-77224). Ambiance mall,F116, 1st floor, Vasanth Kunj, Phase II, Nelson Mandela marg, New Delhi (011)(4087-0048).

Babita M BM Studio, 5 Gautam Ashish, V Mehta Road, Vile Parle (W), Mumbai (98197-37215).

Bally Ground Floor, Palladium Mall, Phoenix Mills Compound, Lower Parel, Mumbai (022)(4347-0544).

Begani Jewels Ground floor, Songadh Apartment, 48, N. S. Patkar Marg, Hughes Road, Mumbai (022) (23638706).

Blur at Esbeda Shop No. GF - 04A, MGF Metropolitan Mall, Saket District Centre, New Delhi. Shop No 51/57, Atria Mall, Ground Floor, MRF Showroom, Dr Annie Besant Road, Worli, Mumbai (022)(2481-3588).

Bombay Electric 1 Reay House, BEST Marg, Colaba, Mumbai (022)(22876276).

Breathing Space by Eina Ahluwalia 1D Ajanta Apartments, 10 Gurusaday Road, Kolkata (98317-59111).

Bungalow 8 Grants Building, 17 Arthur Bunder Road, Colaba, Mumbai (022)(2281-9880).

Calvin Klein 1 Amba Sadan, Linking Road, Khar (W), Mumbai (022)(26484794).

Canali Shop No.223, DLF Emporio Mall, Nelson Mandela Marg, Vasant Kunj, New Delhi (011)(4604-0731). Shop No.17, Ground Floor, Palladium Mall, Phoenix Mills Compound, Senapati Bapat Marg, Lower Parel, Mumbai (022) (4009-8685) Cartier 103 DLF Emporio, Vasant Kunj, New Delhi (011)(4678-8888).

Chemistry 210 Govindham, Waterfield Road, Bandra (W), Mumbai (022)(66547210). Converse 711 Bharat Bhavan, Linking Road, Khar (W), Mumbai (022) (2648-8860).

Chopard The Oberoi lobby, Nariman Point, Mumbai (022)(2288-4757).

Zimson, Shop 109, The Collection, UB city, Vittal Mallya Road, Bangalore (080) (4098-2100).

Christian Louboutin Ground floor, DLF Emporio Mall, Nelson Mandela Marg, Vasant Kunj, New Delhi (011) (4101-7111).

Cinnamon No. 4, Walton Road, Bangalore. (080) (2221-2426) Curio Cottage 19 Mahakavi Bhushan Road, Near Regal Cinema, Mumbai.

(022) (2281-6559). Cypress Windward Apartments, Bandra (W), Mumbai, (022) (2605-0218).

Damiani The Oberoi, Dr Zakir Hussain Marg, New Delhi, (011)(2430-4452).

Dayal Opticians 14A Lajpat Nagar, New Delhi, (011)(2981-5507).

De Grisogono 305 DLF Emporio, Vasant Kunj, New Delhi, (98100-06000).

Diesel G14/15 Palladium, High Street Phoenix, Lower Parel, Mumbai. (022) (2493-2727/2493-2729).

Diesel G14/G15 Palladium Mall, High Street Phoenix, Lower Parel (W), Mumbai (022) (2493-2727).

Dior The Oberoi, Dr Zakir Hussain Marg, New Delhi, (011)(4150-5161).

DKNY 222 DLF Emporio, Vasant Kunj, New Delhi (011)(4604-0754).

DKNY 222 DLF Emporio, Vasant Kunj, New Delhi (011)(4604-0754).

Done by None Visit www.donebynone. com Emporio Armani 126 DLF Emporio, Vasant Kunj, New Delhi, (011)(4606-0936). Ground Floor, Palladium Mall, Senapati Bapat Marg, Lower Parel, Mumbai (022)(4004-3377) Ensemble 130/132 Great Western Building, Shahid Bhagat Singh Road, Mumbai, (022)(2284-5167).

433 DLF Emporio, Vasant Kunj, New Delhi (011) (4604-0746).

Ermenegildo Zegna 135\136 DLF Emporio, Vasant Kunj, New Delhi (011)(4606-0999).

Esprit F12 Select Citywalk Mall, Saket, New Delhi, (011)(4057-5097).

Linking Road, Khar (W), Mumbai (022) (2649-7565).

Esprit F12 Select Citywalk Mall, Saket, New Delhi (011)(4057-5097).

Linking Road, Khar (W), Mumbai (022)(2649-

7565).

Ethos Watch Studio 240/240A Backbay Reclamation, Block No III, Nariman Point, Mumbai (022)(66550351).

Fendi 143 DLF Emporio, Vasant Kunj, New Delhi (011)(4604-0777).

Fossil At select outlets around the country. (022) (2648-4794).

French Connection 318 Satyam Building, Linking Road, Khar (W), Mumbai (022)(2648-2731).

GAS Phoenix Market City, LBS Marg, Kurla (W) Mumbai Gaurav Gupta Shop No. 339, 2nd floor DLFEmporio, Vasant Kunj, New Delhi (011)(4104-2989).

Gauri & Nainika Ogaan, 4A Santushti Shopping Arcade, New Delhi (011)(43583969).

Gc Boutique Palladium, High Street Phoenix, Lower Parel (W), Mumbai (022) (2494-0956).

Gucci Galleria, Trident, Nariman Point.

(022) (3027-7060). Palladium, High Street Phoenix, Lower Parel, Mumbai (022)(4333-9988). The Oberoi, Dr Zakir Hussain Marg, New Delhi (011) (43583969).

Guess? G27 Select Citywalk Mall, Saket, New Delhi (011)(4053-4550).

Hublot Kapoor Watch Co. 243 A, DLF Emporio Mall, Vasant Kunj, New Delhi (011)(4676-7777). Rose, 3rd Floor, Hormuz Mansion, Above Cymroza Art Gallery, 72, Bhulabhai Desai Road, Mumbai (022)(2362-0275).

Hermès G-1 & 1st Floor, Bharat Insurance Building, 15A, Horniman Circle, Fort, Mumbai (022)(2263-0092).

Jack & Jones Phoenix Mills, Lower Parel (W), Mumbai (022) (2204-0894).

Jaeger-LeCoultre 245 DLF Emporio, Vasant Kunj, New Delhi (011)(46098209).

Jimmy Choo The Galleria, Nariman Point, Mumbai (022)(3027-7070). Joss 40 MGF Metropolitan Mall, Saket, New Delhi (011)(4052-4677).

Josh Goraya Studio Culture Cultivation, D-26, Sector 2, Noida (0120) (4249-614).

Kenneth Cole Shoppers Stop Ltd, Eureka Towers, 9th Floor, B-Wing, Mind Space, Link Road, Malad (W), Mumbai, (022)(4249-7000).

Masaba Zoya, Gulistan, 184 D’Monte Park Road, Off Turner Road, Bandra (W), Mumbai (022) (2642-0888).

Munnavar and Sons Kapad Bajar, near Nimbu Galli, Dhalgarwad, Ahmedabad (0792)(5329-597).

Nachiket Barve 7, Unnati Society, Shahaji Raje Road, Vile Parle (E), Mumbai (98258-80781).

Neemrana Shop No. 6, Ground Floor, Purshottam Building, New Queens Road, Opera House, Mumbai (022) (2361-4436).

Nikasha 212 A, Peacock lane,Behind Community Centre, Shahpur Jat, New Delhi (011) (2649-0080).

Ogaan 4A, Santushti Shopping Arcade, New Delhi (011)(24672429). H2 Hauz Khas Village, New Delhi (011)(2652-0205).

Prem Sagar Building, 703 14th Road, Khar, Mumbai (022)(2605-2318).

Omega Ethos, 22, Cr2 Mall, Nariman Point, Mumbai (022)

(6655-0351).

Pantaloons High Street Phoenix, Senapati Bapat Marg, Lower Parel, Mumbai (022)(3003-4800).

Patine Shop No. 5, Laxmi Mahal, Bomanjee Petit Road, off Kemps Corner, Mumbai (022)(2387-4878).

Paul & Shark Inquiries (022) (6767-3873). Palladium, High Street Phoenix, Lower Parel, Mumbai (022) (2498-5020). E23 Central Market, Lajpat Nagar, New Delhi (011) (2981-0227).

Planet Sports Sobo Central Mall, MM Malviya Road, Haji Ali, Mumbai (022)(3000-8253).

Periwinkle Bombay Electric 1 Reay House, BEST Marg, Colaba, Mumbai (022)(2287-6276).

Péro Ogaan, H2 Hauz Khas Village, New Delhi (011) (2696-7595).

Piaget Piaget Boutique, Oberoi Mall, Goregaon (E), Mumbai (022)(2651-5757).

Porsche Design 201 A, DLF Emporio, Vasant Kunj, New Delhi Promod Atria Mall, Dr Annie Besant Road, Worli, Mumbai, (022)(2481-3559). G56 Select Citywalk Mall, Saket, New Delhi (011)(4053-4501).

Pukhraj Shop No 47 Mumbadevi Road, Dagina Bazaar, Kalbadevi, Mumbai (022) (2242-6747).

Puma 462 Phoenix Mills Compound, Senapati Bapat Marg, Lower Parel, Mumbai (022)(6660-2296). Punita Trrikha Square One, Shop No 324, C2 District Centre, Saket Palace, New Delhi (98998-00818).

Pure Gold Unit No. G-02b, Ground floor, Plot No. A-3 & P-1B, Select Citywalk Mall, District Centre, Saket, New Delhi (011)(4105-4545). Phoenix Market City, Unit No. F-11, First Floor, L. B. S. Marg, Kurla (W), Mumbai (022)(6180-1249).

Rachana Reddy Visit www. rachanareddy.com Rahul Mishra at The Apple Tree Unit 326, A1 Building, Shah & Nahar Industrial Estate, Lower Parel, Mumbai (022)(2493-3448).

Rohit Bal G06 The Crescent at the

Qutab, Lado Sarai, New Delhi (011) (2952-1734).

Sanchita C3 Leela Galleria, Old Airport Road, Bengaluru (080) (4126-5399).

Salvatore Ferragamo 121 DLF Emporio, Vasant Kunj, New Delhi (011)(4660-9082).

The Grand Hyatt Plaza, Grand Hyatt, Santa Cruz (E), Mumbai (022)(3062-1018). Sia 221 DLF Place, Saket, New Delhi (011)(46102705).

Shaw Bros D-47 Ground Floor, Defence Colony, New Delhi (011) (24690364).

Shivan and Narresh 12 Hauz Khas Village, New Delhi 16. Inquiries (011) (2653-6072). Neptune House, Ground Floor, Pali Hill, Bandra(W), Mumbai (022)(2648-3773).

Sisley M18 Greater Kailash I, Main Market, New Delhi (011) (4653-6206).

ShopInOnit Visit www.shop.inonit.in Shoppers Stop Inquiries (022) (26435424/2624-0451/2670-5603).

Small Shop 4 Sankey Road, Opposite Windsor Manor, High Ground, Bengaluru (080)(2226-3728). Silver Streak 321, C D Marg, Trilok Building, Khar (W), Mumbai (022)(2648-4503).

Sobo Motor House Hughes Road, Chowpatty, Mumbai (022)(2361-2751).

Sosa’s E-245, Rua De Ourem, Panaji, Goa (0832)(2228-063).

Splash Emporium Dananam, 46 MG Road, Bangalore (080)(25597335). Oasis Centre, Green Lands, Begumpet, Hyderabad (040)(44386244).

Stella McCartney Kitsch, 232 DLF Emporio, New Delhi (011)(46098212).

Steve Madden Palladium Mall, Senapati Bapat Marg, Lower Parel, Mumbai.

Suraiya Hassan Bose Weaving Unit Safrani School premises, 1-86 Dargah Husain Shah Wali, Raigurdam, Tolichowki, Golconda, Hyderabad (040) (2356-3792)..

Swarovski Linking Road, Bandra (W), Mumbai (022)(2640-2510). Atria Mall, Dr Annie Besant Road, Worli, Mumbai (022)(2481-3320). 14/A Khan Market, New Delhi (011)(4175-7394).

Suhani Pittie 9 Mid-Town Road, Banjara Hills, Hyderabad (040)(23352495).

TAG Heuer Boutique 201 DLF Emporio, Vasant Kunj, New Delhi, (011)(46098205). Ground Floor, Palladium Mall,

High Street Phoenix, Senapati Bapat Marg, Lower Parel, Mumbai (022)(40043355).

Tara Jewellers Ground Floor, Queens Palace CHS Ltd, Waterfield Road, Bandra (W), Mumbai (022)(2642-5824).

Tarini Nirula Inquiries 98739-96684.

Tarun Tahiliani Road no. 1, Banjara Hills, Hyderabad (040)(6690-8088).

The Qurio City Shop No 101, Near Shree Eye Hospital, K Kamaraja Road, Bangalore (080)(3422-51413).

Tissot G14 Select Citywalk, Saket, New Delhi (011) (4058-8722).

Tod’s Galleria, Trident, Nariman Point, Mumbai 21. (022)(6632-4343). 122 DLF Emporio, Vasant Kunj, New Delhi. (011) (4666-2700).

Tommy Hilfiger The Forum Mall, Hosur House, Bengaluru, (080)(22067669). 25/26 Select Citywalk Mall, Saket, New Delhi, (011)(4058-8770). Raheja Chambers, Junction of Main Avenue, Linking Road, Santa Cruz (W), Mumbai, (022)(2646-2847).

Toniq Lifestyle International Pvt. Ltd, 462, Senapati Bapat Marg, Lower Parel, Mumbai, (022)(5666-9201). Lifestyle Lower Ground, Ambience Mall, Phase 2, Nelson Mandela Marg, Vasant Kunj, New Delhi (011)(4087-0300).

Toy Watch At select outlets around the country. Inquiries (99305-25227).

TUMI Ground Floor, Palladium Mall, Lower Parel, Mumbai, (022)(6615-2295) Valliyan Bombay electric, 1 Reay House, BEST Marg, Colaba, Mumbai, (022) (2287-6276).

Vanilla Moon 423 DLF Emporio, Vasant Kunj, New Delhi. (011)(46060940).

Varun Bahl SF14 MGF Metropolitan Mall, Saket, New Delhi, (011)(40533202).

Varun Sardana Inquiries (9891253928).

Vero Moda Palladium Mall, 1st Floor, High Street Phoenix, Lower Parel, Mumbai. (022) (4347-3780). Zoya M68 Main Market, Greater Kailash I, New Delhi 48. (011)(4173-1635).

Watches of Switzerland 231 Link Corner Building, Linking Road, Bandra (W), Mumbai, (022)(2640-2511).

Westside A15 Feroze Gandhi Road, Lajpat Nagar III, New Delhi, (011)(29832159).

Weavers’ Studio 5/1 Anil Moitra Road, Ballygunge, Kolkata (033) (2440826).

Wendell Rodricks Design Space

Near Luis Gomes Garden, Goa (9823481361).

Westside A15 Feroze Gandhi Road, Lajpat Nagar III, New Delhi (011)(29832608).

Wills Lifestyle Shop No 3/4, Select Citywalk Mall, Saket, New Delhi (011) (4265-8267).

YSL Kitsch, 233, Upper Ground Floor,DLF Emporio, Vasant Kunj, New Delhi. (011)(4609-8212). 48, Dr. V.B Gandhi Marg, Kala Ghoda, Mumbai (022)(2268-7777) Zara Palladium Mall, High Street Phoenix, Lower Parel, Mumbai (022) (4347-3850).

Zevarr Visit www.zevarr.com

The Lifestyle Guide

97

FINAL WORD

App-solute

style

Vijayeta Basu picks the best and the newest apps for all your fashion and style needs.

From trend spotting on the streets of Paris and Milan to trying out new hairstyles and make-up, it’s all possible in the palm of your hands, with these handy, über stylish apps.

Lancôme Virtual Palette Go Try It On

Let’s not fool ourselves. Make-up is a science – it is all very tricky and complicated. Thankfully, Lancôme’s masterstroke is this app. Browse through their tutorials to learn proper make-up techniques or showcase your own skills by applying make-up to a virtual face, so the rest of your body can match up to your happy, shiny face.

Available on iPad, iPhone and iPod Touch. Free.

So, you have got a hot date and your bestie is in some other corner of the world, fret not. Transport yourself into this virtual dressing room by submitting your photo and then waiting for the much needed seal of approval. It’s your very own What Not To Wear – without Soha Ali Khan, thankfully.

Available for iPhone and iPad. Free.

Pose

Fashion Kaleidoscope

You know a fashion app is worth its salt when a Hollywood mega-stylist, such as Rachel Zoe, not only uses it, but also ends up investing in the company. This ultra-hip app lets you create your own profile and follow fellow ‘posers’ with who you can share your fancy fashion finds. Just click a pick, slap on the price and brand and send it to all your friends and followers. This is the ultimate social networking app for those who live, breathe and wear fashion.

Available for iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad, Android. Free

This gorgeous app is sure to leave you shaking in your stylish yet affordable boots. Fashion Kaleidoscope brings you the best in street fashion from cities like Madrid and Tokyo . With a single tap, you get full details on the outfit and where you can buy them online. Or you can share them on Facebook and Twitter, in the hope that some generous soul (hello, mum) will buy them for you.

Available for iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch and Android. Free.

Cool Guy

Net-a-porter Magazine

While stylish girls get to have all the fun, let us not leave the metrosexually clued-in guys behind. This app is designed for those men who want to access their entire wardrobe, just with a swish and a tap. The evolved man can now pick and choose items of his clothing and put it neatly in a virtual suitcase – so that the favourite tie or the smelly pair of sneakers isn’t forgotten.

Available for iPhone, iPad, iPad Touch and Android. Free.

The online luxury fashion retailer’s iPad app is a thing of beauty. Those who can’t afford to nab a Marc Jacobs denim shoulder bag can surely while away their time viewing their stellar collection in a stunning magazine format. The app also supports video, so you can see the models strutting their stuff on the red carpet across the globe. Also, you’ll never have to feel frumpy with their list of 25 of the newest trends.

Available for iPad. Also available for iPhone and iPod Touch. Free

InStyle Hairstyle Try-On

The luscious locks of Hollywood starlets are coveted by many, but which hairstyle would actually look good on you? Katie Holmes’ sleek chic do? Or Jennifer Lopez’s tousled mane? This app solves the problem by providing more than 250 different hairstyles. Upload your photo, pick a celebrity, plant their hair on your head and tweak around with the various customisations, so you can’t really say that you’ve had a bad hair day. Ever.

Available for iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch. Premium version $5.99. Free version also available.

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The Lifestyle Guide

StyleBook Trendtracker

The iPhone has been the go-to smartphone for all those who are style conscious; but why should only Apple product owners have all the fun? This heavy-duty app designed for all fashion fanatics does not judge, as it is available on various platforms. Even BlackBerry. This app gives you access to a jaw-dropping number of over 500 runaway photo and video galleries. It’s fashion for the serious minded folks.

Available for iPad, iPhone, Android and BlackBerry. Free.

ShoeAddicts

A visual delight, this app offers up a veritable smorgasbord of divine shoes, heels, wedges, pumps and more – direct from fellow shoe addicts. Think of it as Instagram for shoe lovers. You can add to the shoeline by simply snapping a picture of your heels, enhancing it with filters and borders provided by the app and tagging your location.

Available for iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad. Free.

The ultimate dream for any teenage girl in the 1990s was to own a wardrobe like Alicia Silverstone in the classic teen hit, Clueless, where she mixed and matched her outfit on a dated personal computer. Now, we don’t need a dusty old desktop for it, we have the StyleBook. Just point and click the items in your closet and then create customized outfits– with your actual clothes and accessories! Guys shouldn’t shy away either; they have a special app for men as well.

Available for iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch. $3.99