“You might ask yourself why fashion is producing such a polarity of dictates this fall. After all, isn’t fashion about expressing one’s individuality. Doesn’t anything go? To a certain extent, this is true. This fall, you can be an S&M secretary/vamp; a ’50s prom queen; a futuristic time-travel babe; a ’40s lipstick-and-lace kind of a gal; a pared-down tomboy; an ethnic, fringy, upmarket hippy; a be-sequined party girl; a satin-and-fur siren; or an oversized, overshaped cross-dresser—and I’ve probably missed a couple of themes. But what are fashion designers for if not to prescribe to us a formula by which we choose, purchase and edit our wardrobes? If beauty gurus sell dreams in a bottle, then designers peddle fantasy in a frock, sexuality in a skirt or even power in a pantsuit. And it generally helps when most—if not all—are singing from the same hymn sheet.”

- Tina Gaudoin on Fall fashion, The Wall Street Journal

Hi Vandana, I personally love Jade on Altamount Road. Beautiful fabrics and wonderful designs. Otherwise look for smaller places that give amazing discounts and have beautiful outfits. There’s Vaishali in Juhu, near SIET College. There is also a small store called Sushma in Juhu near Banana Leaf. A friend says she loved this store called Sagar. The usual suspects are done to death - or go for Shymal & Bhumika - am sure they’ll put together an outfit for you at reasonable rates. :D Ask me if you need anything more! :D Happy Trousseau Shopping!

Lambretta Tin Poster I got from a store called Metal from Priya, Vasant Kunj!

Nightingale Planner in Fiery Orange picked up from Crossword!

Dull day at home. Cushions with Delhi & Bangalore maps from Home Stop.

It’s that time of the year - when we look for signs to keep us secure, do significant things on dates packaged to perfection so they attain mammoth nirvana proportions in our life. Yes, I am talking about the 11.11.11 syndrome - the one that even Aishwarya Rai played victim to. The baap of all dates this year.

But this post is not about a date - it’s about an idea, an inspiring idea that took the help of a significant date, wrapped it around like a warm blanket and went ahead it playing an unusual tune. So readers, meet Project 11 and its producer Ranjan Singh, a dear friend and a wonderful filmy personality. His first film as producer is here - Project 11- which is creating ripples with its super cool trailor here.

Ranjan calls it the short ‘long’ film called Project 11 which has been entirely self funded till now and will premiere on Glamsham on 11.11.11 at 11.11 am.

And what does it have? A cool 11 characters from 11 countries and 11 stories told beautifully by 11 directors. It’s 11 minutes long and is available only at the specified time for free viewing. (So, please make sure you catch it on time).

Ranjan, the producer and my friend, is very very passionate about films and is always ready to back independent films. A film buff and a crazy producer - he’s full of ideas and puts a lot of effort and hard work in everything he does. (p.s you should check out his cool projection room with a giant screen and heaps of DVDs of every movie known to mankind).

Do set your alarm for 11.11 am and watch Project 11. But before that, read this small interview of Ranjan Singh - just a few crazy questions between friends.

 The most grueling 11 minutes of your life? 

Its actually a little more than 11 minutes. This one’s from my childhood - a time when there was just Doordarshan, and we had to watch Krishi Darshan while waiting for the Sunday Film!

 Hottest 11 minutes… 

Last month in Udaipur…when the boat accidentally left me and my girlfriend behind at the beautiful Jag Mandir’s gardens…and we were stuck there for a little more than 11 minutes!!

What can you do in 11 minutes for us?

I can make you watch Project 11, before anyone else does!

When you were 11, I ——————————————— ( Fill in the blanks)

… I got my first Playboy mag, from my seniors in the hostel!

 What’s your association with the number 11? 

As of now, I need 11 days of sleep!

Why should we watch the movie?

coz its FREE!…and you can watch it even if you are in bed or on the breakfast table! Even when you are painting your nails while getting ready to go and watch the first day-first show of Rockstar!

 Project 11 is on twitter & facebook. Go ahead, join the fun!

These Hachette books are just Rs 99 - they have a strong message, are in the coolest of colours and are much-needed in my life. :D

P.S Downloaded some awesome e-books on the iPad. Will share my favourites soon.

Neon is the new black!

Nothing beats cups that tell you how to make coffee + tea. Rs 65 at Westside. C’est La Vie!

Everyday I wake up at 7:30 am. Walk straight to the front room - sit with the paper. Stare out of the window. Meditate for 5 minutes - but think of what to cook or what to wear. Run around screaming at bob - asking him to wake up or get ready. Shout instructions to the maid - make masala chai. Drink half of it - run to put the geyser on - more yelling at maid - bathing and getting dressed - throwing clothes on bed while searching for the right purple shirt without creases - scamper - shove breakfast down the throat - tell maid to cook curry exactly like an andhraite/mallu - shove breakfast down bobs throat - look for shoes - empty bag - look for keys an mobile under a pile of magazines. And finally, run out of the house and while on that Royal Enfield that spews sound - yakk away to bob about what went wrong, what could have been done and what I want to do. Busy busy, you see!

But when I get to Juhu circle and stop by the signal - that’s when everything loses relevance. I see this board and then all my misgivings melt away. And I just wave to this man, he smiles and I fall silent. Because, in my head - I need this everyday to remind me that this is all that matters. After all, this is all that really matters!

Often Bob and me would wonder what this man is all about. And am glad someone did this - made this video because this makes me smile. This is and will always be the solution to all our problems.

Ciao!

Thought you might want to see some more pictures of my orange zest.

This is also the reason why I am seriously thinking of buying a smartphone next - either an Android OR Apple 4S.

This Retro Camera App on Android is my favourite - makes your life look so pretty!

This small and cute black book given as a gift by corbis pictures is kinda awesome. Perfect to fit into your little clutch.

The nail polish looks a bit lighter here but it’s crazy bright!

My cup runneth over!

Just wanted to share a thought. I recently met up with an actress who was very warm and nice. After a lot of questions, interviews and gossip, I asked her - “Who are you? What kind of a person are you? How do you define yourself?” and she just swished her hair, winked at me and said, “I am the answer to your question. I am to you what you are to me. I am the response to how you treat me. If you’re good to me, I am good to you. If you hate me, I will too. People often forget that we are reflections or responses to the way they treat us”

Amen!

Pretty nails and me? You’d think it’s a match made in heaven. Far from it. I am one of those kinds who have a desperate need to bite my nails. Red nailpolish…gnawed just a little bit. Burnt orange? Better still, I seem to break my thumb nail while chopping veggies for the Sunday pasta. What you see is a half eaten nail that shows broken strips of red – grotesque-looking and simply annoying.

I do dream of those round long-tipped ones that women “shush” men with and make love on satin bed-sheets. The ones that seem to be attached to endlessly long fingers that run seductively along the rims of champagne glasses. No siree, I seem to have angered the nail gods a lot the last few years– but this month, I got a second chance to prove that I’m capable of nail-beauty once again. This time, in technicolour and off I went to Saks, the newest salon for some mani-pedi love.

Saks Hair & Beauty is UKs largest luxury chain of Salons and the very first salon just opened in India, in Mumbai, in Bandra. Now there are approximately 190 salons in UK – and it seems so popular over there. But then, there are very few things people know about it here in India. So when the sweet PR girl offered me a treatment to choose – I chose nails. Yes, exactly what I needed after a few long days of stress and work (remember, the cool project I was talking about).

And so at Saks, they have this really nice nail label – called Jessica Nails. I was like “ok, let’s see what this is about” and as I walked the pristine white corridors, I saw a rainbow. No silly, a rainbow of Jessica shades. There were colours I only dreamt of – seriously! Lime green (not the tacky one, the nice limey one) and orange ( just like a popsicle) and the coolest purple-red ( ok, it’s undescribe-able). And so in a quiet room, where white towels parade as ghosts of minimalism, I sat down with a nailboy ( the manicurist) who told me a lot of stories and offered me lots of nail advice.

Apparently, Jessica Nails was every celebrity’s manicurist. It was founded by Jessica Vartoughian in 1969 and she was actually called “First Lady of Nails,”. Now really, I didn’t know that when I opted for this treatment. And this is the nail go-to for people like Sarah Jessica Parker, Scarlet Johannson, Reese Witherspoon, Madonna and more.

But then, slowly I learnt that Saks is the only place in the city that offers Jessica Nail Treatments. Before the manicure even begins, each Nail cultivist analyzes the client’s nails and prescribes a precise regiment based on the nails’ condition which is used throughout the manicure and pedicure. And yes, he saw my nails and prescribed me a nice scrub (which btw was soft and scrubby and made my nails gleam) and lots of cool products that made my hands look all satiny-like. They ask you a lot of questions- are your nails brittle? Dry? Do they break easily? Do they get all peeled up? So do some research and tell the specialist who you really are. Nail biter? Yes sir!

And now to the special bits – there is the Nibble No More – a kind of serum-type thing, made especially for nail biters. A fast and effective treatment formulated with bitter Cactus Extract giving nails an undesirable, bitter taste, helping to break the lifelong habit of nail biting, while stimulating healthy new nail growth. You must try it!

The Shatterproof Nail Coat called Diamond Endurance, the “Bend, Don’t Break” nail treatment and also, an anti-aging hand spa – there’s something for everyone.

And then to the best part – the orange zest nails. Call me anything but classy – my nail rituals only end with dark or bright shades. Something about neons – they just call out to me and Orange Zest was super duper good. You gotta see the beauty here. And they also have an express lunch-time manicure ( approx 30 mins) that works wonders for those starved for “me-time”.

Saks is looking to expand though I’m not aware of the details. But you can join their facebook here and twitter here and their blog here.

I am not joking when I say that I’ll go there again. Coz I think that red-purple is stuck in my brain. When I do, I’ll tell you how.

Have a good day!

P.S I couldn’t resist - I bought the Orange Zest for a cool Rs 525 and I tell you, it lasts for a very very long time. Minimum two weeks without chipping! Hurrah!