Rapunzels of Kerala

Young girls in Wayanad

I love the women of my country – so beautiful, hard-working and strong. Carving their paths, against all odds, in a man's world. While that's true about most of the country, where the testosterone outshines the estrogen, there's always Kerala - the god's own country and the shining beacon of hope to the women around the world. Mother Earth hasn't only blessed this utopic state with breathtaking beauty but also the highest ratio of females (reaffirming the natural beauty, I guess). The fairer sex enjoys its spot in sunshine here. Women work, study and continue to bring hope to their sisters across the nation. Seeing the social and political atmosphere, we could all use some female inspiration. While I could list number of reasons that make the women in these parts exceptional, I choose to share a very small (almost insignificant) reason that makes these women remarkable to me. I'm always fascinated by people who do important things and make them appear so simple and effortless. Meet the women of Kerala. I don't understand how they manage to keep up their traditionally long, wavy, medusa-like manes and yet get their day's work done. They go around doing their business – taking the public transport, farming, walking around the dusty roads with their immaculately done-up hair, loosely hanging down their shoulders. No comfortable ponytails or I-mean-business buns, just thick, shiny, black hair, massaged with coconut oil, brushing their strong shoulders as they unapologetically celebrate their womanhood. It's magical. They are like goddesses. At least to me. As I sit in my bed, typing this post with my hair tied up in a messy scrunchy bun, I wish I could be a little less shabby.

In Kollam

In Kollam

At Munroe Island, Kollam

In Kollam

There's more posts coming from my recent trip to Kerala.
Come back soon.

Much love.

The Indie Initiation

“...the only people for me are the mad ones, the ones who are mad to live, mad to talk, mad to be saved, desirous of everything at the same time, the ones who never yawn or say a commonplace thing, but burn, burn, burn like fabulous yellow roman candles exploding like spiders across the stars and in the middle you see the blue centerlight pop and everybody goes 'Awww!' What did they call such young people in Goethe's Germany?”  

- On The Road, Jack Kerouac

These are the people who inspire me. These are the people I want to be counted in someday. These are the people who were there at the NH7 Weekender, Pune. At least in that environment, in those colours, the bright lights, the drunken haze and the magical sound of music, everybody looked like energy was literally flowing out of them and feeding the so happy and satisfied. If only we could live our life making music, making each other happy and counting the smaller joys of life, everything would make so much sense. But till that happens we'll just have to hold on to these beautiful memories and wait for the next NH7 Weekender. Wish I could share the music... Ankur Tewari & the Ghalat family, King Creosote, Swarathma, Papon and the East India Company, Reggae Rajahs, Bhayanak Maut, Mother Jane, Imoge Heap... my head is still ringing with the beautiful music. So many artists that I'd never heard before. It feels like a giant, professionally run crash course into Indie music. A class I'd like to enroll to more often.

 

Much love,

Rules are for City Kids...

...I'm too old-school to follow any,' he said to me. I was not surprised.

He didn't seem like the kind of guy who followed rules. He wasn't the rebellious type either, who would make his own. He was just a good-hearted jolly 'ol fellow. Share a thought or a tune, sit a while and he'll amaze you with his life's stories. Sounds like one of those Jack Kerouac characters. He was the ideal travel partener. Probably the last of the beat generation. Though I didn't know that then. It was a happy accident. He was 50, I was 24 and we had cultures, experiences, religions and what-nots-of the world dividing us. But that only promised a long, entertaining and very involving conversation. With a tune in his heart and a piano on his tie, his enthusiasm was infectious. Meet the Saxophonist/Harmonica player/Guitarist of the Big Bang Blues Band - Mark Mowry

Based out of Delhi, do not miss their gig if you come across one.

Much love,

Sabyasachi WIFW A/W 11

So when you hear the grand finale is by Sabyasachi, you are bound to brace yourself for a fantastic mindblowingly crazy show. Sabya is a genius and nobody can deny it. He's consistently been churning out collections that are not only a hit with the fashion critics but also with the buyers. His style is so developed and mature that some can argue that he's not experimental enough. Which is true to certain extent but Sabya continues to remain in his comfort zone and yet bring out a range that is exciting. A/W 11 wasn't only a fantastic collection but also an immensely entertaining show. Yes, it does look mildly inspired by Jil Sander and also reminds you of Prada but it would be unfair to write him off. If Jil and Sabya had a baby, this collection would be born. A very beautiful baby indeed.

The show started with a jazz singer singing 'I will survive' with a live band. the broadway-esque lights read Wills Lifestyle Sabyasachi with giant books on both sides. The runway was lit with bulbs on the sides. The strings of bulbs hanging on the top only added to the grand 40's drama.


Here are some pictures:

   

  

  

I know this is the first update of the fashion week, there's more coming. Some save best for the last, I don't I guess. So, is this collection a hit or a miss?

Much Love,

Bigger is Better

Here's the new Vogue Post, you can check it out here :

Body Con is done and over with, its time burn them skinnies to ashes ‘coz the summer sun is out with all its fury. Bring out your Cropped blouses, baggy pants and super graphic prints as Célinedictates the biggest trend of Summer. Big pants are flattering for almost any shape when styled right. This trend is the perfect mixture of comfort and fashion.

Whoever said fashion was unforgiving, never heard of Phoebe Philo.

So, are you wearing the BIG pants this summer??


Much love,

The Party Girl

Andy Warhol: I wonder if people are going to remember us?

Edie Sedgwick: What, when we're dead?

Andy Warhol: Yeah.

Edie Sedgwick: Well I think people will talk about how you changed the world.

Andy Warhol: I wonder what they'll say about you... in your obituary. I like that word.

Edie Sedgwick: Nothing nice, I don't think.

Andy Warhol: No no, come on. They'd say, "Edith Minturn Sedgwick: beautiful artist and actress...

Edie Sedgwick: ...and all around loon.

Andy Warhol: ...Remembered for setting the world on fire...

Edie Sedgwick: ...and escaping the clutches of her terrifying family...

Andy Warhol: ...Made friends with eeeeverybody, and anybody...

Edie Sedgwick: ...creating chaos and uproar wherever she went. Divorced as many times as she married, she leaves only good wishes behind.

[laughs]

Edie Sedgwick: That's nice, isn't it?
Factory Girl Script
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 

She had a poignantly vacant, vulnerable quality that made her a reflection of everybody's private fantasies. She could be anything you wanted her to be — a little girl, a woman, intelligent, dumb, rich, poor — anything. She was a wonderful, beautiful blank. The mystique to end all mystiques.
Andy Warhol, in The Philosophy of Andy Warhol
 
 
If you have the taste for really wierd cinema, nothing really like cinema, maybe just a slice of somebody's everyday life - you should watch Andy Warhol's movies (Poor Little Rich Girl) . Or you could always watch the Factory Girl to understand the twisted 6os and Andy Warhol's Superstars. It was a beautiful world - glamorous and yet full of grime.
 
Model - Avni Sharma, Styling/Photography- Spardha Malik 


Much Love,