'Mayans were right!, Human race is over!'

I remember sitting in a tourist bus to visit ‘Chichen Itza’-the Mayan Temple of Kukulcan God, when our guide explained the story of most talked about date- Dec 21st, 2012. According to him, what Hollywood described is the end of world, but the actual translation of hieroglyphics conveys that the date marks end of an era (time-period). This prediction is on the last page of handwritten Mayan book and does not have further description but most of them assume that end of an era also means beginning of a new one. It is 12:58am and the date has just begun in Eastern Time Zone.

My mind is engaged in thinking about the two horrific incidents in USA and in India, so could not get inspired enough to write fashion. There seems no logic and human sensitivity when I think about the criminals of both cases. The Newtown Connecticut killings of 26 lives by a 20 year old boy does not seem to be real even now. It was December 14th and I wish it was only a violent movie that I saw, but instead, it is a news- a real one. The boy was mentally challenged and lived with his mother in a posh town and he killed his mother on 14th morning and drove to Sandy Hook Elementary school and killed students from two of the first grade classrooms and all of them 6-7 years old. The massacre also included teachers, principal and he shot himself before the police could reach him. All of us, specially the parents of toddlers are young children lived the fear- ‘What if...?’ Will the gun-control help avoid such incidents? Will improving healthcare for mentally challenged is the answer? Is improvement of healthy relationships and parenting the answer? Is avoiding divorce situations and assuring love and security for children the answer?

I did not stop thinking and discussing the Sandy Hook case with my husband that I see this another story of hate and crime on Facebook. On December 18th, it was a 23 year old student who gets into a bus in New Delhi at 9:00pm with a friend, only to find out 6 animals who gangraped her. Yes they were animals who looked like men and one of them drove the bus. These shameless monsters cannot be born of a mother, they must have been created by Devils to destroy human race. They had beaten the boy who accompanied the girl and raped her one by one and inserted rod inside her private parts that hurt and destroyed her intestine. Then threw her on road. The girl is in hospital and struggling between life and death. According to news reports, there is an outrage in capital New Delhi and all over India. People are demanding justice for her and praying for the victims life. As doctors say, if she survives, she wont be able to eat and live like a normal being as her intestines are removed while saving her. The angry crowd and students, most of them girls are asking for capital punishment for rapists. Will they be hanged? or Will a death punishment be enough? Will it not end their punishment with minimal pain? I have heard of some more strict punishments in Arabic countries, cutting the arms and leaving the criminal with that for life. Rape and rapists will keep accusing women for not dressing appropriately or being drunk at the time of accident. If the punishment is scary enough, only then these monsters will stop this excuse. Wont it be appropriate to see the punishment as cutting arms and feet of rape/sexual assault criminals and leaving them on road?

I got to see a youtube video from parliament when Jaya Bachan is trying to discuss the case and chairman is ignoring her point completely. The actress and wife of Amitabh Bachan hasn’t even learned to  say the word ‘Rape’ in public but could not stop herself to express her feelings. All of us - Indian women are taught that kind of coyness since childhood. According to ‘Tehelka’ coverage police officers only have to say rubbish about girls/women that they dont dress properly, they go out with boyfriend, go out at night and even have the guts to say.....because she is the daughter of a divorcee...etc, also according to news, police thinks girls who file a complaint about rape do not have good character and do so for money; good girls hide and never complain. 

As a child I loved reading stories from Indian Mythology, and I remember the ancient scripture ‘Ramayana’ talked about the end of ‘Kalyug’ will see extremes of crime and inhuman behaviour, men and women exchanging their responsibilities. All this before a new ‘Avatar’ will be born- and this time it is predicted to be a Goddess. Is it the extreme or will we see more of it? 

It is the night before dawn of 12/21/2012 when we may see a ‘change of era’ or ‘end of the world’, and dont we already have a glimpse of mankind turning into evil being. 

I think Mayans were right! Human race is over! Some have turned into animals, some into silent beings, and those who can feel, sense and express like a human will vanish soon.

Is it a Photograph or a Story? !!

Is it a photograph or a story? I wonder when I look at this shot by Iggy Barskov - a Boston based photographer. He covered the 'Miss India Show' in a manner that my own eyes if behind the lens would have seen and focussed on those very moments.

When the results were announced and long session of crowns and sashes is done- winners, title holders, friends, family are still floating in their dreams. Is it real? yes it is!! and congratulating each other, a joyous celebration after a celebration began. New England has never witnessed this vibrance on stage before. The picture in which everyone is hugging the other on stage tells a big story that takes me back to the very moment how it all began. 

For someone like me, it was very difficult to find a fine photographer for my wedding reception in New Delhi  and I did not settle for anyone less than Binoy Roy- he was simply the photographer of Bollywood celebrities for fashion/film magazines and celebrated events and that was a perfect choice. When other cameras were busy in shooting all ceremonies, he kept waiting for those meaningful moments and clicking them. My husband gave me a rose when pheras were going on and I said sorry for something very secretly, and he very cleverly shot those. My search for a fashion photographer or my kind-a-view photographer began as soon as the Miss India event was announced in public. I am extremely glad about finding the two talented friends Iggy Barskov and Prashant Singh. Their work can be viewed on 

https://www.facebook.com/IggyPhoto

Masti Photography by Prashant Singh

Anyone who came to me with a photographers name I answered the same way, Is he a fashion photographer/ Can I see his portfolio? The name Prashant Singh was introduced by Shruti Bawa of Goka Love and the same question was asked. Five days before the event, I finally talked to Prashant thinking he must have covered some weddings, events etc, so I requested to see his portfolio. And there came the surprise, Wow!! This is really nice. Please join us for the event on November 17th and let me know if you want a booth.

All this today on photos and the stories each one of them tell us for years. I came across a very nice short writeup about 'Cornel Lucas-Photographer of the stars' by Olivia B. Waxman in Time magazine Dec 3rd issue, I am sharing here...

Cornel Lucas, who died at 92 on Nov 8th was famous for taking lustrous still pictures of the stars of moving pictures. Born in London, the Royal Air Force veteran gained prominence after he shot Marlene Dietrich during production of the 1951 release 'No Highway In The Sky'. After studying his photos with a giant magnifying glass, Dietrich, who was famous for knowing what she wanted, retouched them with an eyebrow pencil.

When she saw the revised prints, she welcomed him to the world of moviemaking with the words, “Join the club, Mr. Lucas!”

Working on sets in Europe and the US, Lucas witnesses the British star Diana Dors ride a gondola in a mink bikini and watched Katharine Hepburn wash her face with ice to make it glow. He learned that Gregory Peck, through confident onscreen, was nervous during portrait sessions. 

When English actress Kay Kendall feared that her nose would look too long, Lucas cleverly assured her that he would use a special shortening lens from America. No such thing existed, but she loved the results anyway.

Photo quote for this Month: “ Which of my photographs is my favorite? The one I’m going to take tomorrow." 

– Imogen Cunningham

Why??...Miss INDIA and Miss INDIA TEEN Massachusetts Rhode Island New Hampshire

Miss INDIA (17 to 27 yrs) and Miss INDIA TEEN( 13 to 16 yrs) -2012  is a perfect way to bring youth together where they can work towards how to showcase their personal and cultural attributes on stage. Rather than classroom style of teaching, we believe that promotion of self esteem as an Indian and enhancing public speaking abilities through an enjoyable project would have more positive impact on young people’s mind and lives.

A beautiful Indian girl is the one who possess inherent self-confidence, charm, talent, intelligence and high self-esteem. As an Indian American, girls will acquire important life skills through rehearsal/training and experience the rich Indian culture, glamour with other contestants of her age.

In words of Dannel P. Malloy- Governor of Connecticut--”Having the oppurtunity to represent your state in a competition such as this is something I am sure you will cherish for years to come”, in his message to Miss India Connecticut.

The pageant is expected to be a great assimilation of Indians from different community groups celebrating their heritage in a unique vibrant atmosphere, and a wonderful day with the help of beautiful, talented contestants from three states and a number of accomplished artists who are performing at this show.

The contestants will participate in Evening Gown and Indian Ethnic Dress rounds . The winner will be decided after Question-Answer segment among selected five finalists based on their scores from first two rounds. Judges will be eminent, respected members of Indian, American and International community.

Entries are open at www.missindiatristate.com There is an oppurtunity for a possible moment of Titles, Tiaras, Sashes, Prizes, lots of pride as an Indian-American and an oppurtunity to be seen as a role model by others in coming years. The winners and title holders get a sense of accomplishment and that stays in their profile for life.

The awards/recognitions of this pageant are Winner, First Runner Up, Second Runner Up, Viewers Choice, Miss Congeniality, Miss Talented, Miss Photogenic. Winners will receive $500 in cash and gift certificates and oppurtunity to represent their state at Miss India USA. 

Beautiful Quote for this month: "The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams."

-Eleanor Roosevelt

Mon Amie 'Bagwati'

Who can forget pleasing, graceful, classic, shapely, intriguing personality from Bollywood movie ‘Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara’- Bagwati!. Farhan Akhtar even cohosted Zee Cine Awards with her at Macau in early 2012. Ms Bagwati is a classic Hermes Kelly bag named after famous Hollywood actress ‘Grace Kelly’ . The star used the bag to hide her pregnant belly from the paparazzi and the bag become so associated with the actress that Hermes named it in her honor. These bags are produced in limited quantity by craftsmen in Paris every year and can only be ordered from a Hermes store. It is said that there is a one year waiting period before you get them delivered. The bag is big enough for a mother yet courtly enough for a member of royalty and not even affordable without that kind of ‘Royalty’.

Purses, pouches, or bags have been used since humans have needed to carry precious items. We can see ancient Egyptian hieroglyphs showing men wearing purses around the waist. The railway revolution of 1843 turned bags into luggage or handheld bags style. Both Parisian  brands Hermes and Louis Vuitton emerged as luggagemakers then. In 1896 the Louis Vuitton monogram canvas was introduced and is the brand’s most recognized symbol to this day. By 1930s, most of the bags used today had been invented, including the classic handbag which had handles and a clasp frame, the clutch, the satchel, and the shoulder bag. The Chanel 2.55, so named because it was released in February 1955, was the first popular shoulder bag. Coco Chanel first made these quilted bags with long gilt chains in jersey and then switched to leather visualizing the demand for luxury.

One cannot miss the splendid charisma of clutches held by hollywood and Bollywood celebrities during Red Carpet events. Sometimes, I barely even notice what the other person is wearing and get distracted by loveliness of their accessories. Recently I was very impressed by the choice of Black retro clutch carried by  a friend Preeti Nigam Munjal from Andover. The bag is a necessary accessory and I feel someone so important that it helps and supports me all the time and always stay close to me. So I would love to call it ‘Mon amie Bagwati’ (in French), or ‘My friend Bagwati’. Bags are very personal, they hold the things you need for the day and the things you want to have just for comfort. Market is full of sophisticated, timeless, simply brilliant designs and brands to chose from and I think it is really wise to invest in a good quality one, and also New Englanders must stay away from famous closeby fake destinations (as I have heard) like Canal Street in NewYork. My accessory designer friend Deepashri once told me that fake designer bags do not have quality stitches and fine hardware and not even a  proportionate well placed gusset which is what makes all the difference so you cannot compare an authentic designer bag with a fake one.

Before I got an introduction of Coach, Chanel, LV or Burberry, I liked an Indian brand ‘Da Milano’ and used to visit their Connaught place based showroom in New Delhi to check their collections and buy’em. They were expensive for someone in early 20’s yet the quality of craftsmanship and variety of styles never disappointed me and I remained their loyal customer for a longtime. Their styles were functional and fashionable at the same time. At Wills India Fashion Week 2012 a newly emerged handcrafted leather accessories designer label ‘SRZ Studios’ introduced ‘asusual unusual’ a unique handbag and luggage collection made with 100% biodegradable vegetable dyed leather inspired by grandparents wardrobe and made with retro style for both men and women. One can buy them at Taj Hotel boutiques in India.

The bag that one carries add a lot of personality to your outfit. One can try wearing a white basic blouse with blue jeans and carry it with red leather envelope style bag, alternatively try a Vera Bradley quilted shoulder bag also. You can easily see the difference. Also, there is no rule that the bag color or texture has to match your shoes. If you care, bags are also a status symbol.

Now what I am thinking of is a bag which can carry my IPad, wallet, cellphone, some makeup and yet look sleek, very stylish and be luxuriously branded.

Fashion Quote for July 2012: “When I first moved to New York I bought VOGUE instead of dinner. I just felt, it fed me more.”

-Carrie Bradshaw

Power Dressing For Indian Women

Women of Indian origin love traditional elements from culture and often wear heavily embellished and embroidered clothes in bright colors. Indian culture is very expressive but for power dressing most important thing is how to control it and chose the style that works best for our personality and work environment. A woman’s clothes and accessories reflect meaningful things about her and they can help in showing right business attitude while in a formal social or business occasion. Armani is the designer who first created power suits for women as he realized that there is a need for women at their workplaces to be taken seriously. It is an art to look professional while retaining femininity. Business and social entrepreneurs and those working in a corporate environment must practice this and master it.

Indian women worldwide seem to be obsessed with famous Indian Kurti (Tunic Top). When they wore it in late 90’s and till mid 2000‘s it looked unique, professional and stylish. If you wear the same kurti now, it will easily make you blend in the crowd. Try a sherwani style with pashmina or handpainted silk stole, or silk top with brocade blazer for that professional stand-out look. 

Power dressing is related to job environment and the local culture too. Classic cut clothes, dark colors, neutrals, minimal patterns usually help in conveying the right image.  To stand out in a crowd, a  professional looking designer bag, statement ring and a sophisticated pair of shoes will work. Heels and a little makeup is a must add-on to feel confident about yourself. A polished look always wins, you can go for white clothes too but it is bit difficult color to carry, make sure it has the right silhouette and details, also matched with right accessories. For common Indian skin it is very easy to be lost in a light color Indian outfit, whereas the key is not to let beauty of your clothes and accessories overpower your face and personality.

For most of the Indian women, Freida Pinto’s natural makeup will work better than Red Retro. This Indian actress from Mumbai, who became famous from Slumdog Millionaire has created a space for herself in Hollywood’s glamorous events and fashion magazines. A fine watch must be an essential and also for final touch you can’t go wrong with blow dried hair. Low cut, tight or short clothes are not appropriate at any level in a professional environment. Bags that look like a weekend tote or a mommy kit are a strict no too. Also, one should try to find alternates to floral prints and embroideries. There are many options if you search-pin tucks, tone on tone embroideries, khadi silk, swarovski crystal components, block printed and jacquard variety of silk fabrics and much more.

Professional women often struggle with how glamorous should be their look for a formal evening. When in doubt, Black and white is a safe choice. Recent trends in Milan and the wall street journal’s view says that power dressing is now prettier than ever. Oscar De La Renta in their fall 2012 collection showed lace suits. I also love Naeem Khan’s corporate fashions for Fall this year with lots of Asian ornamentation done in a way that it stays business like and formal. If you have evaluated all the options for your personality and found the one that works best for you, then there is no need to change it , you can stick with it and maintain a signature style. Simi Gerewal always wear whites, Bollywood stars Rekha is always seen wearing heavy silk saree with gold jewelry and now her follower Vidya Balan too during all award ceremonies. The typical ethnic look with traditional Indian attire can work in Indian gathering but that should not be done in a multicultural environment or at a formal business conference, meeting or even office party. Another point to consider is when starting a new job or changing careers, dress more conservatively than creatively.

Deepa Narula, researcher and educationist from India who owns many schools in New Delhi, says that the embroidered Indian suits make her merge with the crowd which does not support her position as an administrator. She needs to reflect her power to maintain control in campus. She has now turned to Western talilored dresses in solid colors and wear them with tights. She admits that for social gathering in evening her choice would be long suits made famous by Pakistani fashion designers in New Delhi.

It seems that here is a beginning of another trend. It is very common for celebrities in West to come up with their product line, and now the well known Telugu actor Chiranjeev’s brother Pawan kalyan is launching a clothing line of sportswear apparel. We can hope to see more Indian celebrity brand apparels coming in near future. Talking about trends, Jharna Madan has come back with fifth rank in Mrs India International which was held in Atlanta in end of May 2012. We are surely going to see many more participants going for beauty pageants from New England area in coming years.

Lady Gaga was in a Hong Kong fashion event recently and she wore a white contemporary white gown designed by Indian designers Alpana and Neeraj Mittal, also a hat designed by Shilpa. It is a dream come true for designers who believe in their creativity and work for out-of the box collections. The IIFA rocks will be held in Singapore this year and will showcase collections by designers Suneet Verma, Masaba and Varun Bahl. 

As India New England Women of the year 2012 is around the corner in Boston, we have known so many powerful women having ability to move people, organizations to another level and ability to make community groups stand together for various causes and for what they believe. Dear Indian women, you have worked very hard to earn meaningful positions in our society , reward yourself with quality pieces, and above all style ideas and universal principles of dressing, make sure you wear lots of attitude.


Fashion Thought for June 2012
"Fashions fade, style is eternal." YSL

Those Who Wear Black...

New england has very conservative style of dressing so formal often means Black. What makes me write this blog today is viewing Ralph Lauren’s Fall 2012 line and is full of long black dresses with heavy gold ornamentation, feels like inspired from Egypt. American women with classic taste have always been pairing black with silver or white gold but it seems that a lot of yellow metal will be worn with black in 2012 as D&G, Bottega Veneta and many others have also shown the same combination in their clothing and accessories for Fall this year.

In Indian fashion scenario, color Black is viewed as modern, fashionable and glamorous choice. The tradition tells a different story though, about black clothes not to be worn during any joyous, auspicious occasions. Recently, I read guidelines for travel to India which said ‘Do not wear Black clothes while visiting a Jain temple’. Inspite of availability of finest Indian traditional clothes in black, it is hard to find a Hindu bride or groom’s mother wearing Black saree during wedding, or a part of trousseau collection. The Pooja (ceremony of worshipping Hindu God) host and their close family members also avoid wearing Black.

The popularity of Black as a formal choice comes from the fact that it helps wearer hide curves and look thinner, but that also depends on the silhouette. There has been centuries of religious and cultural symbolism in India favouring bright colors. We can blame it on heat also. Schoeller Textil’s coldblack technology has come up with a fabric finish if applied on the garment, the wearer feels temperature a few degrees lower, should make it easy to wear black during summer.

Black threads in India are often worn by men, women and kids as protection from evil. Black beads are also part of Indian traditional necklace ‘Mangalsutra’. A consultant from Gabriel Design was surprised to know that the Black spaniel and diamond necklace they were displaying actually resembles an auspicious piece of jewelry given to a wife from her husband after marriage. 

Lakme India fashion week in March 2012  showed designers using Black and mixing it with whites, gold ornamentation and prints. I liked the way Anita Dongre, Arpam Vohra, Malini Agarwalla and famous designer Rohit Bal have used it keeping the conservative Indian styling in mind and playing with colors and surface ornamentation. Although a new england resident will still find these clothes too modern to be worn in an Indian social get together. 

The Indian designer Manish Arora who is known worldwide for his surrealist runway collections, joined french designer Paco Rabanne in 2011 as an art director and worked on a project to create ready-to-wear line which can portray the right brand image as this french designer also is known for highly creative surreal creations. He has now resigned. I am sure Lady Gaga is not happy with this news as this design duo could create more things well suited for her.

Fashion thought of the Month: “Those who wear Black live a colorful life”.