I grew up in cotton. I partied in lycra. I fell for linen. And, sigh, I’m still looking for that perfect blend that personifies who I really am. Unique.

Along comes Julie Kagti who says I can weave my own stole if I want to. In her studio, of course. And being the innovative spirit she is, she’s going to teach us all the intricate secrets behind her gorgeous saris and stoles. She’s organising an event that promises to be a dream come true for fabric freaks like me. A show that’ll answer a few of the questions I’ve always asked my wardrobe: What’s a warp? Where’s the weft? Who does kantha? Is Shibori a person?

The show will have an interactive walk-through. There’ll also be an opp for us enthu-butterflies to try our hand at weaving (yay!). A visual slideshow for the lazy ones will be present as well. The fabric gallery featuring Shibori sounds interesting to me (it’s a Japanese tie-dye form, and appeals to the Boho spirit in me).

The best part is Julie’s line. Saris, accessories (like bags), apparel and home furnishings, to be specific. A completely handcrafted range where the fabrics used are all organic — cotton, linen and a varied range of silks. Colours are inspired by natural elements with that dew-fresh look. She even has a recycled fabric collection in patchwork saris and clothing, highly textured handworked fabrics, knits with kantha work, stylised construction and intricate detailing. Siiigh, I so have found my soul-mate.
Wardrobe-makeover time, said I to myself.

Sutra Show. October 4, 2008, from 11am to 5.30pm at Ista, 1/1 Swami Vivekananda Road, Ulsoor, Bangalore 8. Contact Julie Kagti: 9886065891/sutrablr@vsnl.net, or Michelle: 9886601833/ michelles@istabangalore.com. To buy, contact Sutra, 2nd floor, 44/57 Fayaz Complex, 5th Cross, Siddiah Road, Bangalore 27. Tel: 22484986. Website: http://knotsoncloth.com. Apparel starts at Rs 650, saris at Rs 1400.

Abbas and Aafreen, the couple who welcomed me into their funky new store (the one with an acid green balloon chair right in the centre of it!) have an eye for detail that I truly appreciate. While most of the clothes here are by Bangkok designers, it’s not your usual South East Asian surplus shoppe. Each and every item is handpicked by Abbas himself.

So, I checked out the latest range and found everything from balloon tops, waistcoats, shrugs, jumpers, skirts, dresses, gowns, Capri pants, shorts, hot pants and skinny jeans to bags, shoes and belts. I liked everything I saw and was especially pleased by how fresh the looks are. For example, that high-waist skirt in orange and white vertical stripes with a satin orange bow around it, which can be worn as a tube dress too, is a an absolute must-grab. As are the crushed black balloon top, the two-tone waist coat in baby pink and earthy green, reversible shrug in burgundy and black and the jodhpuri pants in yellow and blue! And even as I was stocking up on the colours, I was coveting the white gown with threadwork and the white hot pants.

Their variety of sizes is impressive too. Whether you’re an ultra petite or a large to XL like I am, there’s something for all of us here. Also on my radar were accessories like the massive brown leather bag, the black tie-up baby doll shoes and the bright red belt that cinches my waist so beautifully.

Considering Abbas does his procuring while travelling to Thailand twice-weekly, I just know that Izzo’s going to be a regular fix for me.

Izzo: Shop No. 4, Pankaj Society, Next to Sarvodaya Video Library, Dr Ambedkar Road, Khar (W), Mumbai; Tel: 9820932230; Price: Ranges between Rs 650 and Rs 4,000.

It’s one of those rare moments that happen in a girl’s life. I realize that I may, just may, have enough clothes for the season! But, hmmm, I’m thinking there’s something missing. So last weekend, I headed out on Mission Accessories. And now that the upscale Great India Place is in the neighbourhood, the trendy Noida gal doesn’t need to hare off to Delhi and Gurgaon to get her add-ons.

My ‘mission’ kicked off from a revamped-last-month “only-bead” accessory store and some other old favorites:

De lemon: This cute little store is all about beads. From earrings, anklets, bracelets, necklaces and bead strings to mobile covers and bags, you can just bead it! Don’t miss the D-I-Y kits — a bunch of assorted beads that you can string together as you like.
Shop for: Day wear, vacation jewellery.

Tana Bana Muah: Strange name, sure, but they have some great stuff. Blingy bags, sparkly belts, sleek clutches beady neckpieces and bracelets. With a lot of satin, for the luxe look. Watch out for their cool footwear — I bought my gladiator sandals a year before they became the rage!
Shop for: Day wear, brunch-with-the-girls gear.

GFO: Standout factor at Girl Forever: bling! Stock up on sparkly ballerinas, bags and belts, as well as the swimwear and colourful bead necklaces, if you’re planning a beach vacay.
Shop for: Smart casuals, look-at-me moments.

Kazo: Kazo’s disc-like decor — complete with strobe lights — sets the stage for the perfect night out. What’s to want? Denim, linen, lace, lycra. Halters, shirts, bottoms, camisoles. Jewellery, shades, boots, belts, caps, hats. Sigh, what’s not to want? Load up on sexy apparel and some stunning, stand-apart jewellery.
Shop for: Pub crawls, club evenings.

De lemon, Shop no. 261, Phone: 0120-3121655, www.de-lemon.com; Tana Bana Muah, Shop no 5, Phone: 0120-3235800, www.muah.in; GFO, Shop no 46 & 47, Phone: 0120-2453914, www.girlforever.com; Kazo, Shop no 29, Phone: 0120-4381500, www.kazo.in; All at The Great India Place, Sector 38 A, Noida. Prices between Rs 29 and Rs 5,000.

Note: The RIFF festival was canceled due to recent events in Jodhpur. (October 6, 2008)

A full moon night, an old, old fort in the middle of an undulating desert and melodious music — who can resist this potent combination? Not me. Come October 10 and I’ll be in Jodhpur to be a part of the second 4-day Rajasthan International Folk Festival (RIFF). The annual event at the grand Mehrangarh Fort, brings together some of the most talented folk musicians from across India and the world.

I managed to take a sneak peek at this year’s programme and it is totally drool-worthy. The festival begins with a celebration of the rare Maand tradition of Rajasthan by its best known exponents, the sisters Parveen and Rehana Mirza, followed by the inimitable Shubha Mudgal: she’s singing Maand, too!

The following night will belong to Ajmer’s famous quwaals Zakir and Zaki Ali. And if you are into gypsy music and jazz like me, don’t miss the concert the night after, which gets together renowned French guitarist Titi Robinson, European jazz group Yuri Honing Trio and an eclectic mix of Rajasthani folk artists. Hungary’s best known Roma gypsy band, Parno Graszt, will be on right at the end.

But it’s not just about stage performances. I’m going try cramming in the nightly jam sessions at Club Mehran, which offer an interesting twist on ‘folk blues’, with American Phoebe Legre, British guitarist Jackson Scott and Guru Rueben Mashangwa from Manipur.

And the icing on the cake? The special dawn devotional concert on the last day which will feature folk music maestro Prahlad Tipaniya and his ensemble.

Oh and did I forget to mention, the irresistible Mick Jagger has just agreed to become a patron of the festival. Who knows, we may just get a ‘darshan’.

The 2nd Rajasthan International Folk Festival, Mehrangarh Fort, Jodhpur. Oct 10-14. For full programme details, visit: www.jodhpurfolkfestival.org.

Last Saturday, with the breeze and the sun melding perfectly, my gal pal and I decided to return to La Terrazza. We’d discovered the new restaurant earlier and decided it was worth a lunchtime visit. That’s because it’s located on the terrace of a building and open on two sides — just right for a day like this.

The pleasant white and blue interiors sets a rather Mediterranean mood and we were only too glad to settle into the plump cushions. My pal started the meal with a Zucchini and Asparagus Soup while I settled for the Tomato and Basil Soup. The menu seemed a little stark but third-generation chef and restaurateur Vikram Malhotra assured us that he’d be adding more dishes by the end of the year.

We continued with a Greek salad — a generous portion, but a little on the creamy side — and then moved on to the main course. While I had a very nicely flavoured Grilled Fish in mustard and lemon sauce, my friend ordered the Seasonal Vegetables with Basil Rice. I ordered some pasta in place of the mashed potatoes (accompanying my fish) and wasn’t disappointed. It had a dash of basil pesto and complimented the fish well. The Seasonal Vegetables were also delicious, served in a creamy sauce and went very well with the rice.

There was an extensive dessert menu but unfortunately the cheesecake wasn’t available. We shared a creme brulee instead.

Just one thing was missing: The wine. Soon, promises Malhotra. That would make it perfect — just like the day.

Vicky’s La Terrazza, No 99, 2nd Floor, 5th Cross, 6th Block, Koramangala, Bangalore — 95. Phone: 41751635/36. Meal for two costs between 700-800 plus taxes.

They say beauty is more than skin deep but having great skin definitely helps, which is why I was thrilled to learn that India’s first flagship Dermalogica store and salon has opened its doors on Nepean Sea Road.

As I enter the sleek black and white store, with chrome and polished concrete finishings, I feel more like I’ve stumbled into a trendy bar complete with a glossy white bar top, flanked by bar stools and a funky Andy Warhol-style rainbow print adorning one wall. I know I’m in the right place when I lovingly admire shelves full of my favourite Dermalogica products, including some great travel packs for a range of skin types as well as stress release candles and these fantastic buffing cloths based on the same design used in Japanese bath houses to ensure you can reach even the trickiest regions.

I am a little alarmed by the scary-looking dentist chair in the front right corner but my thoughts are quickly put to rest when one of the salon’s helpful therapists explains it is used for express 15-minute walk-in treatments for those who want great skin on the go. Very handy indeed!

The salon offers complimentary face mapping, where one of the therapists dons a pair of binoculars and examines my face and takes notes on a cartoonlike map of the face divided into 12 targeted regions. After the examination, the therapist explains which are my problem zones and offers free product samples to help to combat them.

I then opt for one of the salon’s facials which are definitely more on the clinical than pampering side and I am offered lots of helpful skin advice along the way. I am also told the salon will soon be offering a range of body treatments. I particularly like the sound of the sea salt scrubs and back therapies.

As I step out of the store with glowing skin and a bag full of goodies and samples, I know I’ll surely be back for more.

Dermalogica: 16 Alaknanda, Nepean Sea Road, Mumbai; Tel: 23682548/49; Prices: Products from Rs 900, facial: starts at Rs 3,000 for 30 mins.

It had been a month of miseries. All me and my gang of girls wanted was to get away for a looong, old fashioned slumber party with bonding, good food, and a whole lot of giggles.

So I did what Trendy girls like me do: scour the net, make a few calls, and hit upon the perfect spot — Rao Raj Vilas in Kuchesar, 80 kms away from Delhi, a smallish fort, now a stylish heritage retreat!

Via the Hapur bypass, we turned into the tiny lane that leads to the retreat (be warned, the road’s not too great). The royal family of Rao Gulab Singh, whose clan has lived in Kuchesar for ever, was at hand to welcome us. There are six rooms, each with a charming, rustic feel, and we chose two suites, Maharaja Vilas and Rao Vilas.

Lunch was served by the pool, set in the middle of the courtyard. We lingered over our Breezers (you can also choose from the standard gin, whisky, rum and vodka in the cabinet), and later, pots of ginger tea. The other guests kept to themselves, and all was blissful peace and quiet.

Dinner, homey but excellent — laal maas, chicken, bhindi, sukhe aloo, raita followed by gulab jamuns and ice cream — was served on the terrace of one of our suites. A slumber party is so much more fun when you just sit around and someone else does all the work! The night was one long chat marathon.
The next day, apart from long walks around the estate, we were driven to the family’s mango orchards. With tea in thermoses, cookies and sandwiches, it was a great picnic.

Breakfast — cereal, eggs to order, parathas — was at sun-up, and we were morose. Time to return to the madding crowd. Till my best friend piped up: ‘Did I tell you I’m planning a slumber party next month?’

I’ve already packed my pjs!

Rao Raj Vilas, www.raorajvilaskuchesar.com; tariff: Rs 3,000-Rs 6,500; call 9350965541, 9837643761 or e-mail kuchesarfort@gmail.com for reservations.

I adore Chanel. Coco made the LBD a fashion staple. The string of pearls that she wound with such pizzazz around her neck is still seen as the ultimate accessory. She was also the first to stress that black is beautiful. And deep. And mysterious. Just like a woman.

For me that mystery is best spelt through dark smoky eyes in true black. So I hailed Coco Chanel once more this month when the brand launched its Exceptionnel De Chanel range — a smoky eye palette defined by a volumising and curling mascara, an eye liner pen, and stunning black shadows. The smoky look this time is all about black with hint of pearl. Coco’s colours.

This is how my little makeover at the Chanel counter went: first, the Chanel Les 4 Ombres eye shadow quartet in Smoky Eye — it goes from purest white to silver to anthracite grey and black. The hues were layered and blended to give my eyes a new dimension. The smokiness was lit by little silver lights. Then the contours of my eyes were magnified with the Le Ligne De Chanel in Noir Lame. Here again the liner has two textures — one solid matte and the other with pearly lights. Choose one. Or both, as I did!

Finally, my lashes were swept with their Le Mascara Exceptionnel De Chanel. One sweep was enough to curl and add volume to my scanty lashes. Loved the effect.

But my fave were the two single black and white shadows Ombres Essentielle de Chanel, prettily called Dark Star and Platine. I can use them singly to line eyes or blend together for depth.

Finally, I have my own piece of Chanel!

The Chanel Boutique, The Imperial, Janpath, New Delhi. Phone: 41116840.
Chanel counters at:
Arcelia, Shopper’s Stop, Select City Walk, Saket, New Delhi. Phone: 64507487.
Shopper’s Stop, Juhu, Mumbai. Phone: 9967586462.
Bangalore Central Mall, 47/48, Opp Mayo Hall, Residency Road, Bangalore. Phone: 32408758.
Prices Rs 1, 600 on.

Long ago, as visiting relatives unpacked their foreign-smelling suitcases and bottles of perfumes, jars of creams and boxes of colour cosmetics tumbled out, one name impressed itself on my little-girl mind: Estee Lauder. Those two words, magical in their mysteriousness, became associated with beauty and romance and an adultness that always seemed ungettable.

Now that I’ve outgrown my pigtails, though, I know age is in the mind. And beauty lies in the here and now. In keeping with my growth, the 62-year-old brand — named after the only woman in Time magazine’s list of 20 business geniuses of the 20th century — has arrived with its first store in my very own city.

The Lauder line, too, has evolved with time. Starting with an ‘all-purpose cream’ and ’skin lotion’ and a couple of other products, Estee Lauder now boasts of a range that takes care of every skin condition and enhances every look. The trained beauty advisers, thankfully, took the decision-making out of my hands and suggested I try the Re-Nutriv line — a collection of day and night cremes, lifting serums, revitalisers, cleansers and make-up. The line incorporates new technologies for intensive lifting, firming and moisturisers that show themselves in luminous, radiant skin.

In the make-up range, I loved the six Indian skintone-friendly shades they’ve added in Doublewear liquid and powder foundations. The Jewels of Summer colour collection has shades of pinks, berries and metallics — ambrosia for warm skins — and I couldn’t resist picking up their signature golden-fluted lipsticks in Tender Rose.

Just for ol’ time’s sake. My suitcase may not have the well-travelled smell, but I’ve come a long way.

Estee Lauder. The Collection, UB City. 23, Vittal Mallya Road, Bangalore 1. Tel: 40982000. Prices: Rs 800 upwards.

The name conjures up images of wooden beds with floating canopies, super soft kurtis over bikinis, or even the odd scrap of mulmul deemed safe to tinker around my gadgets with. But if muslin symbolises simple, homespun, security-blanket-worthy comfort, Muslin is all about a lush, decadent and uber sensual romp. The store specialises in lifestyle accessories, including some stunning swatches of silks for upholstery. On spying a piece of pink and maroon silk, I’m very tempted to forego cushion covers and tack it up for a fitted dress with a wide flouncy skirt!

And then there’s all the unique bric-a-brac, guaranteed to give your home a touch of conversation-piece chic. Metal and glass fuse to create a candelabrum that mimics the motif of an organ, fittingly named Beethoven. Buffed wrought-iron fireplace tools make me consider shifting base to the nearest hill-station if only to use them. But while some of the stuff on offer may be a tad too stuck in the groove — silver service platters, towering blocks of scented candles, photo frames and vases — a candelabrum with crystal drops bravely improves the view considerably, gleaming alluringly amidst the glass platters and silver filigreed fruit baskets.

Apart from such dazzling finds, it’s the selection of fabrics at the far end of the store that manages to make it all worthwhile. Cascades of emerald green and blood red silks in checks and petals and giant polka dots. Linens in a variety of vegetable dyed block prints. And all that jute, benarasi zari, chanderi silk and more on offer is almost like an education in Indian textiles.

Of late, there are so many stores for the decor enthusiast to browse through. But I, quite understandably, have a ’soft’ spot for this one. SO much more intimate than buying my home accessories at the mega mega mega mall, right?

Muslin: 11 Raghuvanshi Estate, 11/12 Senapati Bapat Marg, Lower Parel, Mumbai; Tel: 32177005/6; Prices: Beethoven candelabra: Rs 13,995, ember fire tools: Rs 1,595, fabrics from Rs 300 to Rs 19,000 per metre.