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,

Where I lay my head is home

Deep within a valley, far away, rests a lake. Beautiful as any sight can be. With trees so green that it's hard to believe. With travellers coming together and musicians too. Their sound like pied piper pulling us in. Deeper we go, more mesmerising the sounds become. The deafening silence broken by melodic notes. If this isn't paradise, what is? Maybe the wanderlust is taking over me. Or, the rhythm is still lingering inside my head. I can't forget the three absolutely surreal days I spent at the little hamlet town called Naukuchiatal. My camera went into overdrive as did my trance-induced body. With every music genre being represented by some of country's best talents, it comes as no surprise that the music festival was named 'Escape.' An escape it certainly was!

Much Love,

Colors of Colaba

This might seem random. Well, it is. I'm not sure if colors should inspire one anymore after the overload of them all throughout Spring Summer collections. I might be so sick of brights that I might just give them up once again. So why am I writing a post on colors, again? Why don't you think up a very smart reason and enjoy the pictures below. It has taken me over a month to post again. Why? Answer is Bombay. And lack of internet connection. And will. And that other smart thought in your head. But, I missed you.



Lamps



Pencil color Artwork at The Attic

Earrings at The Attic

Building at Causeway

Furniture at Attic

Fruits

Paan/Beetel leaf sweet

Plastic strap watches

Signage for the namesake export surplus shop

Shopping totes

 Much Love,

Glam Girls of Angola

I miss glamour. The old school way.. the big bouffant hair, the overworked eyelids, full lips, big jewels... yes, so Cannes and MET gala bring in few stunning looks off and on, I'm talking about the real life glamour. You know when women used to perm their hair at home.... actually, when curls were really 'in'. (have I told you how bored I am with the women who want to straighten their hair?)

Think of all the sexy secretaries of the 80's bollywood films. The curly hair bombshells who color matched their outfits. The time when earrings were never to be worn without a necklace or the shoes were always matched with the bag. the good old times when less was NOT more. More was still merrier. Curves were hot, sex was suggestive and disco was a cool word.

These ladies seemed right out of a time wrap and stood out amongst the  t-shirt/jeans clad women of Colaba. How glamorous are they even in their ridiculous kaftan dresses and the gorgeous golden jewellery. But what honestly blew me away was their meticulously done hairstyle. I wish we could put so much time into doing our hair. I would kill to wear BIG hair everyday!

While some of you may find this post disconnected with the present aesthetics, I can assure you gold accessories and big hair would be back in vogue with a vengeance.

Much Love,

I suck at math but love proportions

Notice how their hems go longer as their sleeves go shorter?

Notice how they are all wearing Indigo?

Notice their own individual simplistic style statements with minimum fuss?

Notice their super cute haircuts?

Notice how long I must have stared at this pic?

Notice how I must have followed them to the other side of the street to holler them while almost getting hit by a bus?

Notice how I just couldn't come up with a better post title?

Notice that its 2nd post in a day?

Notice how I typed 'notice' twice in a question?

Notice how many generic questions I can ask?

Notice how I want a haircut soooo bad and still refrain from getting one?



Much love,

Possessions

Me1: Imagine No Possession, I wonder if you can" said Lennon in his popular track. It overnight became an anthem of sorts. I sometimes wonder if you ever could leave possessions.

Me2: Forget leaving everything, even parting with the smallest of things, sometimes, is a heartbreaking process. Don't things we surround ourselves with, define us in a way?

Me1: No, Spardha, its all in the mind. You're too materialistic.

Me2: Are you serious? Isn't the smallest thing that you've ever picked up have a memory attached to it? Isn't it a horcrux of sorts? I always found the Hogwartian concept of Horcrux fascinating. Though I wouldn't go as far as to say that a part of your soul is captured in your possessions but don't they have some bitter-sweet memories attached, some hint of character?

Me1: You take yourself very seriously. You present life and your little toys. What do you do to nourish your soul?

Me2: Me1, you die now. I might plug you out.

Me1: You give too many Matrix/Harry Potter references.

Me2: Salim's mother was afraid of photographs, believing that they capture one's soul. Reference : Rushdie's Midnight's Children. I think its another rather extreme concept. For if it were true, I doubt if all of us with Facebook profiles would even have any souls left.

Me1: Get to the point.

Me2: I think you can tell a lot about a person by analyzing the things they surround themselves with. This may not be an accurate measure of anybody's personality but it sure is very interesting.

Me1: Sure. You have no hope.



Sizil Srivastava always surrounds himself with beautiful things. Being a one part Libran, he enjoys the arts. He can paint and sketch to an arguably medium skilled level. He reads when he has time, listens to music when he runs or is drunk. He unfolds paper shopping bags to sketch and paints on the reverse side. In fact, he can start sketching on pretty much anything. He was very attached to the guy who framed his art works and mourns his death. He is 26 years old. These are his 'horcruxes'

What are your Horcruxes?

Much love,

THAT white dress

Move over Duchess of Cambridge, your gorgeous Sarah Burton dress has hogged enough limelight, its time for everybody to take notice of this stunning White dress. I have spent last three days trying to find anything that looks remotely like that dress with no luck.

Lykke Li's childish voice has been largely appreciated around the world. Even I have fallen victim to the haunting notes and painful innocence evident in her style of music. ever since her first album 'Youth Novels' came out, she has been dominating the underground indie music scene. But its with her second album 'Wounded Rhymes' that she has gone more mainstream. the sound is mature, the video is a brilliantly shot short film and her screen presence is phenomenal. I'm pretty sure we'll see her in a movie soon.

Okay, so lovers and friends, please join forces and find that dress for me or anything that looks remotely like this dress. I'd be eternally grateful.

Lykke Li - Sadness is a Blessing (Director Tarik Saleh) from Lykke Li on Vimeo.

Much love,

Bright Attack!

This is what I hate about working in fashion. I hate it, truly. I make up my mind that this is going to be my signature style (yes I spend a lot of time thinking about such ’frivolous’ things such as signature styles and personal statements) and there comes another season with its crazy truckloads of trends and dare-i-say fads. I shrug them off almost smugly thinking aah-kids-these-days and things-they-wear only to find myself obsessing about those exact things in a few weeks. Its mysterious how the appearance of the same things on the runways to blogs to magazines can completely alter your perception of things. So before I drift into my ‘loathing to loving’ cycle of clogs or culottes and take you through an elaborate account of everyday complex emotions, we would much rather deal into the serious matter at hand. Its about brights. Yes, the colours. Don’t let my blog deceive you, I’m a very grey-scale girl at heart (and wardrobe).

So, its rather disturbing that devious reds and mind-altering neons are making way into my accessory closet (ha, yes that’s what I call that ‘dump’ at the bottom of the TV cabinet.) I even went psychotic at the mall the other day looking for the orangiest lip color. I kept screaming ‘mirinda’ for reference. After 2 hour and more than 50 lipstick trials, I finally found the dreamiest orange at Chambor. My blissful moment was interrupted when my mum pointed out how its the exact same shade as my Tresmode espadrilles. Man, before my bright mania starts invading my apparel wardrobe (No more Prada, Jil Sander or Celine SS re-runs for me) I thought I’d spread out the word. How much longer do I have before the virus spreads?

Espadrilles from Tresmode.

Hand painted Bata Shoes from a Kala Ghoda stall, Bags from Pondicherry Flea

Much love,

P.S. - Brite is the Summer/Resort line of footwear by Tresmode. The graphics used in this post are from their latest catalog.

Observations at WIFW #3 - Editors keep it cool.

Unlike the Carine Roitfields and Anna Dello Russos of the world, the Indian fashion editors like to keep it (relatively) simple and chic. Though there are a few exceptions, I'm sure we would love to see more drama! Its about time we start wearing our heart on the sleeve, non? (see what i did there?) Though it must be said they look so intimidating with their prada bags and perfect manis, they are surprisingly sweet to talk to and encourage the blogger scene (okay maybe not all of them!) 

While we are all fairly familiar with all these glossies (and pretty much feed on them), its good to  know the hardworking souls working behind the scenes, who months in advance scout the global trends, introduce us to the fashion front - runners and inspire us to look past the bad hair days!

So here's to the Editors:

Edward Lalempuria, Anaita Adjania Shroff, Bandana Tewari, Shruti Thacker

Karuna Laungani, Divyak D'Souza, Mohan 

Amandeep Kaur, Pearl Shah, Neena Haridas



Nandini Bhalla, Cosmopolitan, Sujata Assomull, Harper's Bazaar



Sohiny Das, Verve.  Ekta Rajani, Grazia

Observations at WIFW #2

If the show is unbearable, keep the sunnies on!
(make sure you try this only in the front row)
(If you are in the front row, you already know this)

Priya Kishore, Bombay Electric

It smells of love

Mr. Dior's instructions to the perfumer's creating Miss Dior were simple: “Create a fragrance that is like love.” But, the fragrance went unnamed until the elegant Mitzah Bricard saw Christian’s sister Catherine enter the Dior Couture boutique and said: “Look, there is Miss Dior!”. “Miss Dior! That is my perfume!” exclaimed Christian and finally christened the perfume. More than one liter of pure fragrance was sprinkled every week in Dior’s first boutique when it opened in February 1947.

Almost treated as an heirloom piece, this little bottle of Miss Dior has travelled three generations to reach Deepika Dayal's perfume cabinet. This was bought sometime in the 70's for her grandmother. I dare not even spray the half full content of this rare vintage find. 'Please be very careful,' were the only words she spoke to me as I started to take pictures of the bottle but throughout the five minutes that the bottle remained carefully placed on the china dish, her eyes were fixed on it. The box also smells as sweet as the bottle. Over the years, the cardboard too has become protective of the bottle. The bow intact on the neck of the bottle stands proud even with its whithered satin fabric. It smells, feels and reminds me of love. I wonder how many more generations would this bottle travel. Knowing Deepika, it will definitely make it to her kids!

I'm not sure if I have any such treasures worth romanticizing about except my great grand mom's little tin box that houses her little handkerchief collection with embroidered flowers and Crochet trims. But that's for another time.

Much Love,