Hair Care Tip !

To guard your hair against dust, grime and sunlight, get yourself a leave on conditioner, whislt going out apply just two drops of the serum and you are golden.

Not only does it protect your hair but it adds a shine and bounce, helps you kill a few birds with one stone.

I use Kerestase CHROMA RICHE (Rs.1800)

Ideally apply on wet hair but even if you add to dry hair it will do no harm. Apply with the finger tips only towards the middle and the roots. For bounce, put your head down and apply with fingertips bottom to top, fluffing it out.

Gladiator Sandals !

Gladiators are a hot new trend and should be off the charts come summer. I bought myself a pair recently in Milan. T look gorgeous with capris and knee length dresses, go out for a coffee or wear them to a dinner. Comfortable, gorgeous and trendy, what more could you ask for.

Choosing the right colour is important, brown is popular and works well but i got mine in white from Milan (70 EUR/4900 INR)

You could get them in a high end store in Mumbai (metro, stoffa)for about 3000 or off the Colaba Causeaway for 400-700 (please avoid silver or gold monstrosities, they look tacky)

love em
XXX

Scripture Scarf !

I have been using a scarf similar to the one pictured below as my on again off again travel necksessory.

Almost every time i wear it i get asked where i got it from and if it has any religious significance.



These scarves are not really scarves but coverings for Hindu priests and have religious imagery and scripture on them. They make great gifts for friends who live abroad, i have given away atleast a dozen last year alone. Do warn them to treat them with respect however !

They are nearly impossible to find in Mumbai but can be easily had in New Delhi for about 300.

Mine is in pink and has traveled with me from Milan to Mykonos !

Prepare now to look hot at 50

Ladies, if you want to look hot and glam when you are older, remember that you greatest enemy is the Sun.

if you wish to retain that sexy, tight complexion you have to start now by protecting yourself. It is not easy to wipe away the results of careless living, sooner or later it shows.

I highly recommend two things when you step out in the sun.

Sunglasses

Not a simple accessory this. Its vital to keep you looking hot and mysterious and it keeps you protected.

I have a pair similar to the one below and it works great. Keeps your face hidden so you can check out them boys and keeps your eyes blanketed. My pair was from Police for 120 EUR but you can pick from any up market brand, they all are doing them.

Sunscreen

Dont knock it, we in India dont take it very seriously but this will keep you protected especially if you are light skinned (like i am).
I highly recommend lotion with a minimum spf of 30, if you are spending excessive time outdoors in the harsh glare pick something higher. Spare yourself bad skin and at worse melanoma.

Lakme - Rs. 115 .

my personal fav though is Estee Lauder Day Wear Plus (below)

Rs. 2200 (no one said beauty comes cheap)

Bollywood Actresses that need some help !

One would think folks in show business would make an effort to ensure they appear presentable, attractive at most times. If not at least they wouldn't appear to be complete basket cases that too at highly public/photographed occasions.

The simplest way to ensure you dont appear to half witted is to hire a stylist, not a designer but a stylist, who can help you put your outfit together. Add to that list a good doctor and most important a therapist.

Read on and see what i mean.



Pumpkin Alert! This ensemble seems to be an April 1st Joke played by Abu Jani & Sandip Khosla on Vidya Balan. How else would you explain her actually showing up at the Filmfare awards dressed like this? Seriously?

Suggestion: Stop picking your own clothes, hire a stylist and lose about 30 pounds.


Holy Crap! That is one scary looking woman, Koena went in for the surgery buffet. Usually when you get cosmetic surgery it is either to change the way you look for the better or to take away the years. Very few people go in for surgery to look like cats!
Suggestion: Stay indoors

Celina Jaitley, having been a Miss India you would reckon she would learn a little about dressing with some class. However Celina has seemingly gone the other way and started dressing like street walking hooker on Sunset Boulevard.

Suggestion: Honey, we know you have a decent body and acceptable legs but how about the less is more vibe? Also, while you are at it, change your dermatologist.

Kanagana Ranaut is my fav interview to watch on tv. I love how she murders almost every word she spits out in that nail on a blackboard voice. Add to that Aditya Pancholi ewwwww. When asked about the dress she was wearing in the pic above she said "My dress made Anna Singh" quite a talented dress that....

Suggestion: Keep your mouth shut.

New Jeans

So i went to exchange a shirt for the husband and ended up looking at and liking this fabulous pair of pencil jeans by Tommy Hilfiger.

Yes i know, thats usually how these stories start but what we like, we must have. Therefore...

Yes! that is my ass, smaller than J.Lo bigger than Kate Moss :)

i especially love the golden thread work on the back pockets, when done right it can really make your pair seem ornate but not blingy and vulgar.

The pair is just the right length and the fit seemed like it was made just for me.

Hilfiger is such an American brand, preppy (not as much as Ralph Lauren) however this pair with its tapered length, low waist & thread work is a lot more European. If they had used actual gold it would have been perfect for the Russians (sue me!)

Pencil Jeans by Tommy Hilfiger
INR 4000 ($95)
Tommy Hilfiger
Vama
Kanchenjunga,
Pedder Road.

Bathroom Adventures !

His

Hair Care - Loreal Proffesional Shampoo, Loreal Out of Bed gel, Tec Professional Hair
Shower - Calvin Klein Face Scrub, Marks & Spencer Shower Gel
Shave - Loreal Shaving Cream, After Shave moisturizer, Nivea after shave balm
Body - Body Shop deodorant, Cologne - Fahrenheit by Christian Dior

Mine

Shower - Body Shop Passion
Body- Secret Platinum Deodorant, Body Shop passion fruit body butter
Hair - Kerastase Bain Miroir shampoo & Bain Volume Conditioner, Kerastase Active 7 hair serum, Toni & Guy Label M protein spray,
Face - Neutrogena Deep clean mask, Cetaphil cleanser.

How not to Fashion - Globus & The Ghost of Kareena

I wasnt going to say anything but i am (still) being bombarded by these images and i can no longer hold my peace. I am wondering who signed off on these images as worth sharing with the public? Someone ought to get fired.

My first few thoughts when i saw this -

1. Why is Michael Jackson working with globus
2. That is Kareena!!!!
3. Boy does she look hungry
   
   Unless this is targeted towards transexuals, i fail to see how it will induce someone to partake in their emaciated, badly lit idea of what is en vogue.
   
   I dont get how Kareena is doing Globus instead of Gucci. I mean what are her handlers doing?
   
   The other one is M.S. Dhoni and Big Bazaar. Not to be snobby but he is the captain of India, he could go a little high end. Money is nice but a little class will go a longer way.
   
   Someone there ought to get fired too.
   
   
   
   
   

Save your face - Use a toner

It is surprising how many women don't follow a proper skin care routine, if you love your face you have to start using a toner. Women who use heavy make up fairly regularly or those that have skin that tends to get irritated easily must follow a proper skin care program. u

Avoid directly apply foundation/pan stick/concealer which is terrible for your skin. Use a toner before this step, using a toner will keep your skin hydrated and keep it clear and healthy.

Directions for use :

• Wash your face
  
• Cleanse with a cleanser
  
• Pour required amount on a cotton pad
• Apply liberally
  
• Use your concealer or foundation
  

There are plenty of toners in the market like Revlon, Everyuth but the best one in my experience is the Chambor Hydra Max available for Rs. 495.

Sweets for my Sweets - Girly Gift Ideas under 1500 bucks

It was my friend Mini's birthday and she loves bath stuff so i went across the Body Shop to have a look.


The body shop is a huge international change and they carry a lot of variety across their product lines. You have plenty of skin care and bath products in multiple scents and smells. The variety is just amazing.

I am not too impressed with the pricing (475 for a deo stick is a bit excessive) but it is still a fair bit cheaper than say H2O and has a wider product line.

There were a few pre packed gift boxes starting at 1500 and going north from there.

I would rather pick up the items myself and make my own little gift basket because
1) its personal 2) it allows me the best value for money 3) You can create a better gift set

They have some fabulous scents and ranges, the passion fruit was tremendously arresting so i picked up everything in that series.

I ended up with a shower gel (475) a body butter (500) bar of soap (225) the grand total came to 1200 bucks. There is plenty of other stuff and the variation goes on so it really is up to you as to what you want to get.


Their packing is good enough on its own so you don't even need to do much wrapping.

Price wise its not that much cheaper than prepackaged gift packs but the item sizes are too small or you end up with things like an overpriced loofah (with gift packs)

They have a great deodorants and shaving stuff for men too, i am going to pick up some for the husband next time.

Body Shop
Ground Floor,
City Centre Shopping Mall
Bombay Central.

Hair Care - Rejuvenation

Up until a year ago i was having major issues with my hair, breakage, hair fall and everything in between. The thought of being a 25 year old bald girl drove me to seek some help.

Bblunt at Kemps Corner has some terrific treatments for hair fall, volume, scalp enrichment and other treatments. I chose the ritual (Rs.2200) and then complemented this with a bevy of products from Kerastase.

• Bain volume shampoo (Rs 1200)
• conditioner (Rs 1400)
• Activeur 7 serum (Rs 2200) which works to prevent hair loss
  

About 30 days after the treatment and regularly using the products my hair began to get better and it looks great now (even if i do say so myself)


Recently i picked up the Toni & Guy's Label. M protein spray (Rs 875) this makes my hair look pretty healthy and shiny but after a few hours it gets oily. So i might discontinue using it.


However, before using the products its imperative to get a scalp test or at least consult someone who knows hair before choosing a treatment of selection of products.


About Kerastase
Kerastase is a high end hair care product line from L'Oreal. The pricing as listed above is high, especially considering how often you have to use the products. Although from my personal experience they have been worth every penny and really rejuvenated my hair.

My neighborhood beauty shop is offering some of the products at 40% discount but i fear it could be contraband. The only place to officially get Kerastase products in Bombay are Bblunt & Frank Provost.

About BBlunt
BBlunt is walking distance from my apartment and i have been going there for about 3 years. They have qualified folks working there and you shouldnt have a problem finding a stylist to suit your needs. My last hair cut was Rs 1100 and the last time i colored was about Rs. 6000.

You want to treat your hair good, check it all out!

BBlunt
Hughes Road
Below IDEA,
Tel : 65980370/01

Muse - I hope they find one.

Muse is a luxury retail outlet in Kala Ghoda set in a breathtakingly gorgeous building, brilliantly designed and lovingly restored. The ambiance is more 5th Avenue than Bombay.

Each of the three floors are a lesson to Bombay in how old buildings should be treated and what they can turn into if only in the right hands. The place truly is beautiful.


Unfortunately the care that went into the structure seems to be missing on the merchandise. I spent an hour pondering everything they had on each floor and couldn't find anything half way interesting on any of the floors. (Ground floor was accessories, books and trinkets, the first floor was Exchange while the second and last floor was ready to wear)


It was a whole bunch of random, little known European brands of limited merit thrown in, overpriced and not interesting at all. I didn't see any Rock & Republic, 7FAM or DVF. I did see denim by VB which is probably the biggest marketing scam purported on the public in a while.

They have two people manning the whole place which is just as well as for the best part of an hour in the middle of the day, i was the only person there. Not impressed.

One would be better of trying Thanks at Worli, The Trident & The Hyatt.

Avoid!

Muse
Address: 46 V. B. Gandhi Marg,
Kala Ghoda,
Mumbai-400023.
Tel: 022 2262 5702.

(Pictures courtesy of newsvision.in)

A feature on Muse being green was done by UTVi. The link is below

Old School Shoes

Get yourself one of these, ultra cool, timeless, old school chucks from converse.

Any colour will do, so long as its red.

Price : INR 899/$20
Availability : Widely available, try Panatloons outlet in Phoenix Mills.

For those visiting from Europe or North America, these are special bargains, almost half price.




Another pair is this ultimate, blingy pair from Yohji Yamamoto for Adidas sold under the Y3 label. Get these and let em burn with envy. Very cool, not very expensive but very unavailable.

Price : INR 8000/$200 or thereabouts.
Availability : Unavailable.

An ode to Hidesign

Girls love bags, girls love leather, so girls love Hidesign. The prices are good, quality is international (20% bought by Louis Vuitton) and you are never too far away from an
outlet in Bombay.

A truly international brand from India with outlets in North America, Europe to Australia. It might not have the cache of Prada or Gucci but some of the stuff is just as good if not better.

I got this signature while ago in black (also in brown)

A very versatile bag, It goes with just about everything and is fairly spacious.Perfect for the movies, fancy dinner and also a great travel bag . Carry when you are wearing Jeans or that Black Dress.

Price : INR 2650(66$) they retail in the US for about $170 (6800) Sometimes its good to live in India.

Hidesign
CR2, Nariman Point
Oberoi Shopping Arcade
Phoenix, High Street, Lower Parel
Juhu near JW Mariott