You know them for their coveted brown bags, but Louis Vuitton has taken a colourful turn with the latest addition to their series of illustrated city travel notebooks. The book is called A Passage to India and it’s all about Mumbai.

LV’s volumes on New York, London and Tokyo have been adorning the coffee tables of wealthy LV customers for the past few years – and are the way the luxe brand gives a nod to its best-selling markets.

Mumbai is the ninth city to get a travel notebook, and it’s filled with ravishingly simple watercolours by French artist Florine Ansch of everything from Dabbawallahs to the Gateway of India. Turn the pages and Aishwarya Rai stares out at you longingly. A pink parrot flutters gaily in another, and a snake charmer – a tiny bit of the West imagining an East long gone – squats in yet another.

LV has captured Mumbai. Just like it has captured the hearts of the fashionistas in India’s metros.

A Passage to India: The New Travel Notebook on Mumbai, Louis Vuitton.
In Mumbai: Taj Mahal Palace & Towers, Apollo Bunder. Telephone: 5664 4134.
In New Delhi: The Oberoi, Dr. Zakir Hussain Marg. Telephone: 5150 5095.
Price: Rs 3,750.

She’s extremely picky about her clothes. She’s allergic to the pollen in flowers, too. And she thinks eating chocolate is sacrilege. She’s unfortunately your best friend who’s turning a year older. And you’ve run out of gas about what to get her.

Just to float an idea, ever thought of a balloon bouquet? Balloon Basket makes balloon bouquets in various colours, shapes and sizes for almost every occasion, like birthdays, baby showers, birth announcements, and anniversaries. They even have birthday balloons that sing.

Your hard-to-please friend will agree that balloons are a refreshing alternative to the usual oh-so-boring gifts, and they need no watering to cheerfully last for four to five days. All the balloons are imported, and each bouquet is customised at your request. Orders can be placed just one day in advance and prices vary depending on the size of the bouquet (and your wallet).

Balloon Basket, Shop 2-A, Crystal Shopping Arcade, 36 Altamount Road, Mumbai 400026.
Telephone: 23530861.
Price: Rs 450-Rs 5,000.
Home delivery available (charges apply).

You’ve overdone it again, haven’t you? The fried food. And the mithai. Just like last Diwali.

What you need is a healthy energy shot. Try wheatgrass juice. Proponents claim that an ounce of wheatgrass juice has as much vitamins as 1.5 kg of green leafy veggies. And, no, you don’t need to grow it yourself – get it from Priya Mann.

Mann has been growing wheatgrass for her family and friends for years, and their overwhelming demand recently convinced her to go commercial. Her wheatgrass is pesticide free – instead she uses natural tricks like neem leaves to keep the insects away. And she waters her plants with chemical-free tube well water.

Mann grows wheatgrass in individual plastic packets that each serve up a single dose of one tablespoon of juice. Just cut the wheatgrass one inch above the soil, juice it using an electrical or manual juicer, hold your nose and drink.

Bottoms up!

Priya Mann, 118, Malcha Marg and H-27 Jungpura Extension, New Delhi.
Telephone: 9899887932. Price: Rs 20 per packet.

The weight of the world is on your shoulders – literally. Your purse carries your cell phone, make up, laptop and so much more.

Kipling, known for their light-weight sporty backpacks with the signature stuffed monkey key chains, just opened their first flagship stores in Mumbai, Delhi and Bangalore with chic styles you’d never have recognised as being from the same Belgium brand.

For daytime through evening wear, the bowling ball shaped bag from their Deva line comes in black with tan leather trim, accented with orange and hot pink polka dots and a leather version of the monkey.

Or for a more casual look, try the outdoorsy Vintage line in muted stripes or the Basic line in many solid shades and shapes, including laptop bags and change purses.

All bags are made from light washable, durable nylon fibre and come with their own monkeys, each named after a different Kipling employee from around the world.

So lighten up a little, would you?

Kipling, UGF-18, West Gate Mall, Shivaji Palace District Shopping Mall, Raja Garden, New Delhi.
Telephone: 42131539.
Price range: Rs 2000-Rs 9000.

The weight of the world is on your shoulders – literally. Your purse carries your cell phone, make up, laptop and so much more.

Kipling, known for their light-weight sporty backpacks with the signature stuffed monkey key chains, just opened their first flagship stores in Mumbai, Delhi and Bangalore with chic styles you’d never have recognised as being from the same Belgium brand.

For daytime through evening wear, the bowling ball shaped bag from their Deva line comes in black with tan leather trim, accented with orange and hot pink polka dots and a leather version of the monkey.

Or for a more casual look, try the outdoorsy Vintage line in muted stripes or the Basic line in many solid shades and shapes, including laptop bags and change purses.

All bags are made from light washable, durable nylon fibre and come with their own monkeys, each named after a different Kipling employee from around the world.

So lighten up a little, would you?

Kipling, Poonam Co-op Society, Linking Road, Khar (W), Mumbai. Telephone: 26050884.
Price range: Rs 2000-Rs 9000.

Brad and his luscious-lipped Angel have been dodging the paparazzi in Pune for weeks. It will be Penelope’s turn next.

Ms Cruz is due in January to scout locations for her new film in which she plays a role most Hollywood actresses would kill for: a 17-year old flamenco dancer, Anita Delgado, who wins the heart of Jagatjit Singh, the flamboyant Raja of Kapurthala.

So now that Diwali is over, fill the void by curling up with the hundred-year-old royal romance Cruz’s movie is based on. Author Javier Moro’s Passion India uses Delgado’s diaries to take you to the world of Indian royalty during British times.

Find out how all the jewels and Belgian chocolates in the world can’t keep the bad things at bay: Delgado comes up against the jealousy of the Raja’s other wives and concubines and the contempt of the British because of her humble background.

Once you’re done with the book, you’ll be ready for the movie. Cruz plays the lead. And makes her directorial debut. Whoa!

Passion India, by Javier Moro, Full Circle Publishing. Rs 295.

There’s a nip in the air. Diwali is upon us, and so is the wedding season. And here’s another reason to celebrate. Bandhej finally comes to Delhi, after its triumphal progress in hometown Ahmedabad and neighbouring Mumbai.

It’s a little tough to find because the road leading to it is now a dirt track, behind what will be the biggest South Delhi mall. But the hike is worth every bump.

For those who came in late, Bandhej houses elegant ethnic apparel, and trendily tailored western wear under one roof, and their collection of saris – sensuous Kanthas, Patolas and Banarasis.

Founder Archana Shah, an NID graduate, started Bandhej 20 years ago. Her gorgeous weaves come from collaborations with craftspersons from around the country.

Bury your face in the rich folds of the riotously coloured silks and rich brocades as you try on the skirts, shirts, scarves and stoles.

The goddess of wealth is smiling. Treat yourself like a goddess, too.

Bandhej, Square 1 Mall, Behind Hotel Marriott, Saket, New Delhi. Telephone: 29563042.
Prices for silk saris from Rs 6,500.

We’re off for our Diwali break. See you again on Thursday, October 26. Have a Trendylicious holiday!

You’re not so great at time management – especially while you’re getting ready for Diwali. Even though you always want to give your beauty needs proper time and attention, it’s hard not to end up spending more time than you’ve intended to at the parlour.

But Fahrenheit is a hair salon that doubles up as a fashion salon – now that’s the kind of multi-tasking we understand. Get your highlights done as you pick out your outfit for the evening. You can even match the dress to your streaks.

In fact your hair is not the only customised cut here. An in-house design team will create an outfit for your size. And if you’re in for just a cut and blow-dry, you can still pick some of their Indo chic wear off the rack.

So enjoy that extra time at the beauty shop. After all you’re visiting two places – and all the better that they’re under the same roof.

Fahrenheit, 19-21 Shreeji Darshan, Junction of S V Road and Shantilal Modi Road, Opp the Ration Office, Kandivali (W), Mumbai. Telephone: 28663232.
Prices: Rs 255 for a trim, Rs 175 for a manicure, Rs 350-2000 for facials, and Rs 200 onwards for clothes.

We’re off for our Diwali break. See you again on Thursday, October 26. Have a Trendylicious holiday!

Do you wait for the man in your life to come home with a pack of yummy delights? A Trendylicious writer in Delhi does just that each time her guy goes to Mumbai for business.

And on her recommendation, we sampled the Brownie Cottage, where we discovered their unusually Trendylicious hampers for Diwali.

You can try the silver and gold boxes with kundan flowers on top, filled with their premium dark chocolate brownies with perfect crusty outsides and gooey insides. They have walnut and chocolate chip, hazelnut and Belgian truffle varieties, or fusion flavours After Eight, Ferrero Rocher, Toblerone, and Twix.

For a more unique presentation, brownie bouquets combine fresh flowers with brownies at the bottom. You can also check out jars filled with bite-size brownie toffee bits.

Home delivery for this holiday is sold out, but you can pick up hampers at their kiosks throughout the weekend – even on Diwali.

The brownies are baked fresh everyday, don’t require refrigeration and are free of chemical additives or artificial flavours.

Diwalicious!

Brownie Cottage, Gagangiri Soc, Next to Baskin Robbins, Near Crepe station,
Carter Rd., Khar - W, Mumbai. Telephone: 98202 9118, 98202 91196.

Price: Rs 350 onwards for boxes, Rs 500 onwards for bouquets and Rs 200 onwards for jars.

Let there be light, with a trendy twist. Here are our recommendations for the best diyas in Delhi:

Kriti Creations:

Get flower power. Floral diyas with a wick in each petal, in oxidised white metal. Great add on – a Ganesha in the centre. Rs 75

You keep your doors and windows open for the Goddess of money. Enhance your good karma with Feng Shui candle highlighter bowls with coloured glitter on the inside. Choose your colour wisely: light red in the south for fame and recognition, green in southeast for growth and wealth (or in the east, for health), in southwest, pink for a good love life, and blue in the north, for a fast-track career. Rs 150 – 200

The Next Shop:

Chai glass diya holders covered with broken glass bangles give off a kaleidoscopic effect. Rs 231

Coloured stones strung with silver wire with a diya inside for extra shine. Rs 146

Wishing you a Trendylicious Diwali!

Kriti Creations, B-63, Khan Market, New Delhi. Telephone: 24618694.
The Next Shop, N-16, GK-I, New Delhi. Telephone: 26229381.