You longed to hear wedding bells when you saw photos of Kate Beckinsale on her honeymoon flaunting a bikini with Mrs. Wiseman printed across her behind. You envied Britney Spears in her Mrs. Federline t-shirt.
Now you’re getting married, and Boudoir London lingerie boutique is ready with its new Just Married range of wedding-themed wear, just like the duds you’ve seen on celebrities.
Get your new last name as a Mrs. printed on a white, black or pink bikini, and walk the beach of your chosen honeymoon destination in thong slippers that imprint the words just married on the sand. Add soft personalised towels in matching colours, and pack a tote that sports a just married logo.
Don’t forget to spread the wedding spirit with tees for the Bridesmaid and Bride’s Mum – or Hen Party and Chicks on Tour tops for your bachelorette bash.
What better way to tell the world you’re getting married?
Boudoir London, Shop No. 8, Ground Floor, Juhu Tara Road, Mumbai 49. Telephone: 26607940.
Prices from Rs. 600.
The more things change the more they stay the same. Take bell bottoms. Your mom wore them. Now you’re wearing them (Not hers, we hope).
Or that briefcase your dad carried to work. The one he never let you play with. When I grow up, you thought.
You’re all grown up now. And, you can have your own briefcase. Only, it’s called an attache now, and it doesn’t have to be in boring black.
With its Black Label Signat Attaches, Samsonite has transformed the old-fashioned masculine staple into a modern-day feminine fashion accessory. Available in three sizes, the attaches can carry your laptop and has pockets for your cell phone, makeup, pens and keys.
Best of all, they come in pink, red, yellow, (besides the ol’ boring black). The matching floral pop-art prints on the inside will bring a smile to your face on those long business trips.
That’s what we call an open-and-shut case.
Samsonite Black Label Signat Attaches are available at Idandas, N-15 (Next to Barista), Outer Circle, Connaught Place, New Delhi and Samsonite Black Label store, Grand Hyatt Shopping Arcade, Grand Hyatt Mumbai,
Off Western Express Highway, Santacruz (E),
Mumbai-400 055
Delhi may be the centre of power, but it’s Mumbai that’s the real pao centre. Think vada-pao, misal-pao, pao-bhaji and, of course, kheema-pao, the staple of meat-loving Mumbaikars.
Glad tidings for the pao hungry. The Kitchen, tucked in a corner of Khan Market’s middle lane, dishes out a delightful version of the stuff. Although the tiny new eatery does mainly western and far eastern fare, it’s this desi dish that’s the star of the menu.
The kheema is spiced just right, and unlike its sadak chhap avatar, doesn’t come floating in a sea of oil. The pao is soft and flaky, and as a concession to Delhi tastes, it’s braised in a bit of butter. But if you’re a pao purist, you can ask them to serve it oven-fresh. A smidgen of onion-tomato koshimbir adds just the right tang.
Forget those manicured nails. Dip your fingers in the meat and wipe it clean with a crust of pao.
Loosen your corset and allow yourself a contented sigh.
The Kitchen, 75, Khan Market, New Delhi 110003. Telephone: 41757960 and 41757961.
Email: kitchen.delhi@gmail.com
Feeling invisible while everyone around you is yakking or texting on a cell phone? Personal attention seems harder to find than flattering jeans or comfortable heels.
The recently-opened Basil Skin Spa is focused on giving you a one-on-one experience. Owners and skin estheticians Lavina Sippy, Nikita Aggarwal and Jennifer D’Souza make recommendations based on your skin type, and then perform all treatments personally using Thalgo products.
Basil’s four-member team is complete with body therapist, Sunita, who’s here fresh from Goa and not mobbed with appointments – yet. But one experience with her magical fingers and serene presence will have you hooked.
The scent of fragrant oils and soothing background chants fill this mini oasis of white and wicker, and set the mood for Basil’s facials, body scrubs and anti-ageing techniques. The chocolate fondue wrap has antioxidants recommended for brides-to-be, and the hot stone massage relaxes as heat is applied to all your pressure points, one by one.
It’s just the attention you deserve.
Basil Skin Spa, Shop 7, Rafi Mansion, 28th Road, Off Turner Road, Bandra (W). Telephone: 32527092.
Price range: Rs 650-1350
There’s something about a red lipstick that screams sassy. It’s an instant pick-me-up on those blah days. It’s alluring, plus unlike your favourite Cadbury bar, it has zero calories.
The new Red Earth cosmetics shop has lip colours, nail polishes and blushes inspired by the colour of passion. Located at the swanky Atria mall, this Australian import is part of the Espirit Group.
You can create smoky eyes by teaming their kohl sticks with eye shadows in reds, browns or midnight blues. Or go for lipsticks in vixen reds, or glosses in fruity pinks or peaches. And the brand’s Secret Potion will give you a sun-kissed glow that may earn you the title of office flirt.
If you can’t settle on what not to buy, a friendly staff is ready to help you out.
So don’t despair next time the courier boy spills coffee on your favourite trousers in the elevator. Experts say if you’re feeling blue, buy red.
Red Earth, Atria Mall, Shop No. 122, 1st Floor, Dr. Annie Besant Road, Worli, Mumbai. Telephone: 400 018, 2481 3523.
We’ve all had these moments. A night crying your eyes out over a glass of wine. A few seconds when time stands still because you’ve met your soul mate. Life goes on. Usually without the chance to stand back and take it all in.
But at Gallery 302, images of Aadya, the universal woman, will take you along a journey to past and future selves. Aadya, flying high as a cloud in a starry sky, or lost in an internal world, or looking for meaning in childhood memories.
This isn’t an exhibition of paintings, but a fabric–scroll that’s unfurled itself across the room, with colourful threads hanging along its bottom. It’s a tapestry of a woman’s life.
Fashion designers Gunjan Arora and Rahul Jain have forayed into art by weaving Aadya’s world out of their usual media, fabric and thread. They believe today’s hero is a woman.
You may hear echoes of your own life somewhere along this river of fabric.
My Image My Memories by Gunjan Arora and Rahul Jain is showing at Gallery 302, D–302, Defense Colony, till August 15 2006.
Imagine having alternative personality choices to indulge in. Walk into a room and see the other you step out of the mirror. Live out your dirtiest fantasy – and then scrub yourself clean.
These are just some of the perks UK–based Lush brings to India.
Try hard to resist their bath and beauty products after you realize they’ve brought a new twist to the standard shapes, textures and colours. Their massage bars, luxury bath melts and bath bombs of fizzing bubbles are proof. And they come in unusually refreshing scents, like their Melomint Bubble Bar that combines watermelon and spearmint, or Alkmaar Soap made of jasmine, honeysuckle and rose.
If you begin to give in, collect the must–have dusting powder loaded with shimmer ’n shine and trip the light fantastic with your partner on a dusky disco night.
Finish with a sinful dessert of chocolate massage bars – instead of the old–fashioned, calorie–filled brownie fudge that won’t do you much good anyway.
Moral of the story? Binge all you want. Just keep looking better and better doing it.
Lush retails in Bangalore, but you can order online on lush.com.
Wondering why oil prices are going through the roof? It’s hard to believe when you have barrels of the stuff oozing out of your skin that you’d happily give away for free.
Oh, you oily thing. Tarika Pimple Removing Powder is guaranteed to zap those zits and leave your face radiant and glowing.
Made of micronutrients found in the Himalayas, this unpretentious, dust–coloured powder deals a death blow to chronic acne and excess oiliness. Mix to a paste with humble H2O and then smear on the nasty, bumpy bits on your face. Let it dry, and rinse off. It’ll sting a wee bit, but that only means it’s doing its thing.
Those oil companies had better find another source, because your supply will run dry in no time.
Matri Store, Aurobindo Marg, New Delhi.
You’ve tried fancy serums and detanglers. You’ve given in to the Avon and Oriflame ladies touting specially–formulated shampoos and conditioners. You’ve even had your overseas cousins smuggle in Aveda and Frederic Fekkai salon products. But nothing seems to control your hair. And the weather is only making matters worse.
But help has been right under your pretty little nose. Wash health back into your stressed tresses with Kama Ayurveda. Made in Coimbatore, these plant–based bath and beauty products contain no extra colours or fragrances. No wonder the Oberoi hotels exclusively stock Kama Ayurveda for their guests. Not to mention the Ananda Spa in Rishikesh. The brand’s complete line is available in faraway places like the Dao Spa in Cannes, France and the Neem Tree Spa in Atlanta, Georgia.
The Bringadi Intensive Hair Treatment packs a punch with sesame oil, milk, indigo and gooseberry (and it could reduce the number of hairs that get stuck in your comb when you run it through that mane of yours.) Or try the new Sanobar hair cleanser and conditioner with essential oils of cypress and orange.
After all, the best days are good hair days.
Kaaya Moksh, 75 Bhulabhai Desai Road, Opp. The American Consulate, Mumbai. Telephone: 23634733.
Good Earth Verandah & Good Earth, Raghuvanshi Mansions, Raghuvanshi Mills, Senapati Bapat Marg, Lower Parel, Mumbai. Telephone: 55720345.
Kama Ayurveda, 3 Jangpura Extn, Near Post Office, New Delhi. Telephone: 24328041.
You wait for it throughout the year. For the moment to blow candles, cut the cake and then... your friends stuff your mouth with cake: the mouthful of cloy. Urgg! And the same old boring Black forest or Pineapple cake.
Well, now there is another reason to wait for this moment. Breads and More has introduced a whole new range of melt–in–your–mouth cakes for all you chocoholics. Mars, Toblerone, Snickers or Oreo Cookie – take your pick. Cakes made out these chocolates will leave you wanting for more.
The confectionery understands the needs of last–minute parties so basic–shaped cakes are baked on your request and delivered within 20 to 30 minutes from your order time – as fresh as it gets.
Need more reasons to get excited? Breads and More makes custom–shaped cakes. If planning a birthday party for a little one, opt for cartoon cakes available in shapes of Telly Tubbies, Flinstones and the likes.
Have you already started counting the days left before your next birthday?
Breads & More, N–Block market, Greater Kailash I, New Delhi.
