The little bud that blossomed

 

If you are lucky, when you grow up you gain perspective. You look back at your
childhood and you see people for what they truly are and some of them shine brighter than the rests.

My mother is nothing short of a super hero and even if I spent everyday of the rest of my life trying to repay her for all her support and sacrifice… I will still fall short. I took so much of what she did for granted (as a lot of us do); like the countless times she stayed up with me while I studied for exams, brewing cinnamon coffee sprinkled with words of encouragement, she taught me to climb trees and to stand up stronger when I fell off, she never let me feel like I was limited and everything I am, I owe to her.

For one as generous as her, she asks for nothing in return but time.

Hence I vow to spend as much time as I can with my spectacular mother doing what I can to express my gratitude and flowers are a great way to start.

That’s where Interflora comes in because it gave me the opportunity to pick the perfect blooms, each one special and unique just like my mum.

A simple flower has so much power; it can bring so much joy.

My mum absolutely adored the flowers from Interflora and the hand written note they came with. And that right there is my reward, her smile.

 

The power of Flowers

Valentines day has always been one of my favourite times of year because it allows me to be as corny as I like without it seeming like over kill. This year however, Arnav and I knew we wouldn’t be in town for Valentines day so I decided to surprise him with a little Vday themed brunch on our terrace with the help of Interflora to make everything look beautiful and romantic. What better way to express your love than with beautiful , sweet smelling flowers.

With my already busy schedule in lieu of my Africa trip, I knew I wouldn’t be able to run around town to make my brunch dreams a reality. Thankfully all I needed to do was go onto the Interflora website, click on their Valentines day tab and place my order. Voila, I am a regular Martha Stuart.

Premium, high quality , fresh flowers got delivered right to my door step. With this international flower delivery brand, it certainly is what you see is what you get and I was most impressed at how they take pains to educate the end user of flower care to ensure that the blooms last for 5 to 7 days.

The best part of this whole thing was Arnavs face when he entered the balcony after work to find me waiting for him, a scene so perfectly punctuated with gorgeous flowers.

 

Paris Fashion Week with L’ORÈAL

My day two in Paris was an awe inspiring melange of runway shows, divine architecture and theatrical aplomb. With the Champs Élysées serving as a Runway, you know this Paris Fashion Week is one for the books.

The scene backstage at L’Oréal took my breath away, and I was in for quite a spectacle when the show began.

I had the privilege of watching the the first-ever fashion and beauty show on the Champs-Élysées against the gorgeous backdrop of the Arc de Triomphe with access to both backstage and front.

The backstage experience was like watching a seamless performance. Artists were working their magic with such precision; the energy was palpible and gave me such a rush.

L’Oréal Paris’s global beauty editor Val Garland created 70 different beauty looks for the brand’s Le Défilé catwalk, from two tone lips, exaggerated eyes, bright pink blush, spider lashes to the classic red lip etc.

With just 600 guests invited, L’Oréal Paris transformed the street into a runway. Even though some areas were obviously out of bounds, the streets were still open for the general public so they too could witness the magic. Even though it was raining, nothing could dampen the spirits of the people present.

The magic of L’Oréal Paris’s Le Défilé show went far beyond just the makeup; the location, the designers and the enthralling energy of the crowd made the show a roaring success.

It’s a rare thing to witness an event of such a scale pulled off so smoothly. Some of the biggest names in Fashion like Balmain, Cédric Charlier, David Koma, Ellery, Emanuel Ungaro, Giambattista Valli, Haider Ackerman, Isabel Marant, Mulberry, Off-White, Olivier Theyskens, Pallas, Sonia Rykiel, Wanda Nylon, Pierre Hardy, were showcasing 2-3 unique looks on the 60 meter long catwalk. Two giant screens were set up so you didn’t miss a thing. In total, 70 looks were presented to the 600 VIP guests among 50 incredible L’Oréal Paris Spokespersons. And here is another fun fact- 9,545 L’Oréal products were used during the day between the two Makeup and Hair booths.

What an amazing Day!

 

For more information on Paris, visit http://in.france.fr/

 

Photo Courtesy Unique Agency

Wardrobe Courtesy GUCCI and LabelD

From Paris With Love Part Trois

As promised, we are taking you all back to Paris, as we go through our last day in the most enchanting city in the world.

As they say, the early bird gets the worm and these little birdies were ready and pumped to get many beautiful, well-priced worms. As sunshine broke through our partly closed curtain and dappled our faces we awoke absolutely refreshed and ready for what lay ahead. We barely had time for breakfast so we grabbed some croissants and apples to go before piling into our waiting car. The sky was bright blue and the air was crisp; it was a perfect day for some designer bargain shopping.

Thirty minutes later we arrived at the famous La Vallée Village that spread out before us like a fairy-tale set. We were first escorted to the VIP lounge where we registered for a hands-free shopping experience (more hands to browse) and grabbed a map detailing the locations of their 110 boutiques. They also provide Personal Shopper services but we like to think of ourselves as experts in the field so we skipped it.

Like professionals, we charted out our path and marched forth towards Valentino first where we found the most divine Rock Stud shoes for nearly half the price. La Vallée Village boasts prestigious fashion, food, beauty and home brands like Armani, Baccarat, Burberry, Calvin Klein, Chloé, Coach, Giuseppe Zanotti, Jimmy Choo, Ladurée, Lalique, Michael Kors, Pierre Hermé, Cavalli, Ted Baker, Tods, Villeroy & Boch etc., all going for 30-50% off.

But the truly incredible thing about La Vallée Village is that even if you don’t particularly want to shop, you can plonk yourself on one of their gorgeous benches with an Amorino Gelato or just wander the cobble stoned streets and take in the magic. FYI Disneyland Paris is a hop, skip and jump away!

After a light lunch at Pret A Manger, we along with our many shopping bags piled into the car to embark on our next adventure back in the city.

Le Grand Musée du Parfum is conveniently located on Rue Du Faubourg and happens to be a fairly recent addition to Paris’s experiential repertoire. We entered a typical French building and we were absolutely blown away by the sensory experience. The museum still had a lot of its old stone work which in juxtaposition with the state of the art gadgets and gizmos, gave an other worldly feeling to the entire session. We had a chance to smell scents from 1000’s of years ago; salvaged from excavation sites to be recreated for us. We learnt about how scents went from being medicinal and religious to functional and frivolous. We inhaled individual ingredients and learnt how they intertwine to create unforgettable and historic fragrances.

It was incredible how they made the intangible heritage of perfume come to life in an explosion of emotion and pleasure.

We would highly recommend you pay the Musée du Parfum a visit the next time you are in Paris and I promise you will never select your own perfume the same way again.

We ended our night basking in the glow of the magnificent Opera Garnier which looks even more magical after the sun sets.

This wraps up our unforgettable Paris trip and I must say, we have barely scratched the surface of the wonders this city has to offer. It’s not just about fashion and romance, but about finding exquisite pleasure in the most unexpected ways and giving yourself in to the Parisian experience.

For more information on things to do in Paris , visit http://in.france.fr/

For more information on things to do in Paris , visit http://in.france.fr/

From Paris with Love Part Deux

If I could live in any city in the world, I know without a shadow of a doubt that my darling Paris would be on top of the list. It may sound cheesy or unimaginative to some of you so perhaps I should give you my reasons why:

It is exquisite how seamlessly history combines with the cutting edge in this city. One moment you can be strolling down the sun soaked, cobble stoned streets of Montmartre and the next, you can be knee-deep in shopping bags courtesy some of the city’s world class department stores.

 

We really experienced this merging of the old and new during the third day of our sojourn when we visited the  , The Musée Grévin a wax museum in the 9^th arrondissement on the right bank of the river Seine.  It is one of the oldest wax museums in Europe; founded in 1882 by a journalist named Arthur Meyer and then named after a Caricaturist named Alfred Grévin.

We first entered a room, which housed an elaborate light and prop installation that kept changing around us like magic. We then moved into an old theater, which till date, hosts small performances. I was thrilled to see some of my favorite celebrities, so real you could almost hear them breathe.

Each room was set up in a surprising, unique or mesmerizing way with interactive moments for guests to enjoy.

Whether you have lofty dreams of being on The Voice, shaking hands with world leaders, rubbing shoulders with Ranveer Singh and Shahrukh Khan or finding yourself transported back in time to the age of the sun king of France… you will find your desires well met at The Musée Grévin.

Also you must watch out for the guides who pose as wax statues because they startle you – they happen to be real people!

After a hearty lunch of perfectly pink grilled salmon, salad and frites at Café Grévin, we made our way to Galeries Lafayette – the grandest department store we have ever visited.

It has been an icon since its creation in 1894, the store boasts over 3500 fashion brands from across the world and 25 restaurants spread across its 3 buildings. This store is as much for shopping as it is for art and theater, with its breathtaking, central, stain glass dome which houses a different installation every month to its brilliantly curated window displays.

We happened to visit at a time when Galeries Lafayette was celebrating Dior’s 70^th anniversary in the most magnificent manner.

Apart from devoting no less than 11 window displays to the brand, they installed a gigantic hot air balloon beneath the dome and housed a limited edition collection created by Maria Grazia Chiuri available exclusively at the department store.

Apart from its spectacular  roof top view, the other thing I love about this store is that you can finish your Tax return right then and there.

Down the road from Galeries Lafayette, we have one of the oldest department stores in Paris (founded in 1865 and listed as a historic monument); Printemps is by no means ‘Old’ or ‘Old fashioned’.  Brands available range from extremely affordable to high-end; Walking into this department store is like walking into wonderland minus all the pesky wildlife.

They do many exclusive collections at Printemps and we happened to arrive at a time when GUCCI was presenting its delectable Printemps x GUCCI collection at the store. So ofcourse we had to stop and play.

Apart from shopping, the store has an adorable manipedi bar, a romantic hair salon with gaping windows overlooking Paris, an entire floor devoted to foot wear (I nearly fainted with joy), home décor and personal shopper services among other things. They too have a view to die for up on the rooftop so don’t forget to swing by.

 

Now it was time for Tea . Parisian style .You haven’t truly experienced High Tea until you have had it at Le Lobby in The Peninsula Hotel.

Upon entering Le Lobby, I felt as though I had just gone back into the Golden Age as I stepped into a sumptuous, gilded chamber complete with plush, striped chairs and a live jazz band. A charming maître d’ led me to my table where I learned about their wonderful new Pink Menu in support of breast cancer awareness.

Ofcourse I had to order it and I wasn’t in the least disappointed when they came over with a delicious pot of pink tea and a silver, three-tiered tray full of delectable delights. They had conventional treats like the English scone with clotted cream, a cruffin and rose macaroons along side some unconventional yet divine indulgences like beet puree and pink caviar sandwiches.

I could not resist their decadent dessert spread and helped myself to some raspberry tarts, chocolate biscuits and profiteroles.  Everything was beyond delicious. My high tea experience was just fantastic with impeccable service and outstanding food. The next time you’re in Paris, treat yourself to some indulgent down time at Le Lobby in the Peninsula Hotel.

As our bags got heavier and purses got lighter, we took ourselves back to the hotel to rest for our next bout of Parisian Adventures.  So stay tuned for day 3 !and I promise you won’t regret it.

For more information on things to do in Paris , visit http://in.france.fr/

MIX IT UP at Memorable Matches

With
Surily Goel , Le Mill and Kajal Fabiani
(A two day trunk show for destination weddings)

We grew up playing dress up and it wasn’t so much of the raiding mum’s closet as it was creating costumes from the overspill of ones own closet while mum chased us with a camera.  We play dress up for the same reason we read books or watch movies; to step into the shoes of some one else for a moment, even if that someone else is make believe. It allows us to experiment with looks we may be afraid to sport in real life.

Fortunately expressing your self through fashion is a lot more accepted today than it was ten years ago. We also have access to amazing pieces now, which wasn’t always the case. Take multi-brand luxury fashion house Le Mill for instance, they bring together some of the most fantastic brands such as Saint Laurent, Celine, Balmain, Balenciaga and more from across the globe so we can conveniently pop in and shop whenever we get the itch.

Another fantastic trend you can play with is the one where you can mix Indian wear with Western wear to create one of a kind Occasion wear. This also makes for a very versatile trousseau for all of you brides to be.

Keeping this trend in mind came together some of the strongest names in fashion which included designer Surily Goel, multi brand Store Le mill and jewellery designer Kajal Fabiani as they host a  DestinationWedding Trunk show – Memorable Matches, just in time for the wedding season. This trunk show solves all your dilemmas of not wanting to repeat your indian outfits and teaches you how to wear it several ways and still make it look different.

We put together two looks mixing Surily G’s gorgeous Indian wear, Some stellar wardrobe essentials from Le Mill and Kaj fine jewellery to show you how easy it is to create multiple looks. A typical traditional look would be matching blouse and duppata but what’s the fun in that.

So On SU we paired the Surily Goel Lengha skirt with a Cushnie crop top, Dries Von Noten Faux Fur coat, YSL Heels and a Chloe Bag. Just the right hint of accessories with some exquisite pieces from Kaj Fine Jewellery and we are ready for that big fat winter reception!

I wore this delicious Balmain pantsuit and paired it with the Surily Goel blouse, YSL Bag and YSL pumps. I completed my look with this beautiful necklace and stylish earrings from Kaj fine jewellery. Ps: you can totally wear the same jewellery with a dress or pants making Kaj Fine jewellery super versatile.

Shop our looks at Memorable Matches: a Curated Trunk Show for Destination Weddings

Where-At Pali Hill Bandra

Date-28th and 29th November

For more information email at rsvp@lemill.in

ON MI
Jacket and Pants- Balmain
Shoes- YSL
Bag-YSL
Blouse- Surily Goel
Jewellery- Kaj Fine Jewellery

ON SU
Top- Cushnie
Jacket- Dries Von Noten
Shoes- YSL
Skirt- Surily Goel
Jewellery- Kaj Fine Jewellery

 

Paris is always a good Idea Part Une

Paris the city of love … the most romantic city in the world they say. Its
reputation for inspiring love is so powerful, people from half way across the
globe are known to fly down just to propose or take pre wedding pictures under the adoring gaze of the Tour Eiffel. I have been to Paris several times before for either work or pleasure but only until this recent sojourn with Atout France, The French Tourism Development Agency in India; did I discover that Paris is so much more than just romance and great sights.
Let me take you through our adventures starting with the moment I clapped eyes on my little piglet SU at Charles De Gaulle Airport where I bid farewell to my family only to get reunited with my bestie. I had gotten in the day before from Spain so I was definitely in a fresher state than SU after her long flight in but we were both pumped for this new adventure.

We hopped into an Uber with all our luggage, which works like a dream by the
way, and head into the city. Our hotel ; Le Belmont was literally a hop skip and
jump from the Champs – Élysées which was perfect because it’s centrally located and well , you can walk to the most iconic street in Paris. The hotel is perfectly sized with 74 rooms and classical French interiors giving a feeling of a home away from home. The bilingual staff were friendly and always ready to help us when we needed.

We unpacked, freshened up and head out into the crisp, Parisian air towards
Jean Claude Biguine (the flagship salon) on 10 Rue Marbeuf for a bit of pre Paris Fashion Week primping.

The salon itself is grand and superbly decorated. The lightening speed and flawless technique of their hair and nail technicians truly blew us away. We are so used to wiling away atleast 90 minutes when we get gel polish done in Bombay so imagine our surprise when our perfect fall nails were ready in 25 minutes each.

We found out which hairstyles had been trending that fashion week given how many fashionistas visit the salon (the beach waves by the way) and had our own hair flawlessly curled by the stylist.

We also had the absolute pleasure of meeting Monsieur Jean Claude Biguine himself who is just the sweetest man. He and Mr Samir Srivastav (Ceo of JCB India) gave us some insights on the new colors, which were going to be introduced to India and how they tweaked color trends to suit Indian skin tones.

After this, we head over to a place we have heard of several times but never
visited- Fondation Louis Vuitton which is an enthralling centre for art and
culture designed by Frank Gehry and sponsored by LVMH.

It is truly an extraordinary structure once you get inside and personally witness all the architectural marvels brought to life by the architect. To me, there was nothing traditional about this building, which from the outside almost looks like an iceberg ensconced in a bed of greenery.

Modern technology and mind-bending innovation greet us through the likes of the curved glass panels, cascading waterfall, trippy-mirrored pillars and the best acoustics imaginable in their auditorium. I especially loved how precisely built the structure is, allowing the Eiffel Tower to cover La Défense, which the architect didn’t think kindly of.

Construction of this structure began in 2008 and by 2012 they had reached a
milestone with the introduction of the glass sales, which were made up of 3584 laminated glass panels, each one unique. It is no wonder the teams who were part of the architecture have been awarded several awards for this project..

After this, we rounded up our day with a smidge of sightseeing at Pont
Alexandre, which is the most extravagant bridge you will ever see. No matter
how often I stumble upon it, it knocks the breath right out of me.

 

During our time on the bridge, we saw no less than 3 couples, from different cultures, shooting wedding pictures.

That must be some kind of record for a bridge.The sunlight had begun to wane and the Eiffel Tower stood sentinel over the Seine as we looked upon the handful of restaurants and pubs on the rivers edge.

Rosa Bonheur stood out to us like a flower in a meadow, all lit up in pink with the river glittering around it. With a scattering of bar tables, regular tables, and barrels to use as tables, the vibe was chill yet super chic. The menu isn’t too expansive but the bar is fully stocked and the crowd seemed to be Très Local.

We used this opportunity to test a local snack; sardines and bread and to my greatest surprise, enjoyed it. Its glass and wood façade allows for great views of the river and the sunset, which is always a welcome delight when enjoying a glass of Rosé with your friends.

That’s how we ended day one in Paris, watching the sun set on the River Seine followed by a restful sleep at our hotel. More adventures to come so watch this space for the second edition of this story.
BISOUS

 

For more information on things to do in Paris , visit http://in.france.fr/

 

Festive Hues – By Sue Mue

“How do you guys work together being friends..is it hard?”

If I had a rupee for the number of times we get asked this question, well let’s just say we would have a whole lot of rupees.

It is rather unorthodox I suppose, successfully and amiably being able to work with ones best friend without a calamity and we do know and appreciate how fortunate we are.  And to tell you the truth, we wouldn’t want it any other way.

 

Disclaimer: But do not attempt this feat unless you are absolutely certain that you and the best friend in question can perfectly balance each other out or else you run the risk of destroying a business and a friendship in one fell move.

In any relationship, it’s not how you feel about the other person as much as it is about how the other person makes you feel about yourself. With SU as my business partner and best-friend, I feel I can accomplish just about anything because there is nothing we cannot do if we put our minds together.

In this story, we are both wearing garments from SUE MUE’s Ariella Collection. This brand is based out of Delhi and specializes in Bespoke and fusion wear. The silhouettes are exquisitely Indian at heart and yet have a cosmopolitan spirit, making them an ideal pick for the women of today. Their dainty ensembles have set some serious Bridesmaids and bridal goals in our minds! What we adore about Sue Mue’s collection is, that they are customised straight from the heart. With this, we are prepared to take this festive season by storm!

Our upcoming challenge – juggling SU’s wedding planning and an avalanche of projects that we just couldn’t turn down. The role of Bridesmaid is one we take very seriously, especially during the couple of months leading up to the wedding when sh*t starts to get real. I remember before my own wedding,; the numerous times I began to sink under the pressure and SU would always be there to throw me a lifeline and drag me up to the surface for cookies and ice-cream.

When I walked in to Tote for my wedding ceremony and found my décor colours had suddenly changed at the last minute, because my father decided to get creative early that morning, I felt like I was about to lose my mind when SU grabbed my hand and told me very firmly “ Calm the hell down, it’s your wedding day and nobody will know the flowers were supposed to be white”. Those matronly words may just have saved my wedding for me because after that I was as calm as a monk and I felt invincible.

There is no such thing as a perfect, hitch free wedding and that’s the beauty of it because there is no perfect, hitch free relationship. The good and the bad are both important because without one, the other cannot exist.  Having said that I pray SU’s wedding is the wedding of her dreams and I will strive to help make it so.

 

 

Un-Perfect

I am in a profound thoughts kind of mood today and in the midst of my meandering thoughts, I fell upon an idea I suppose has always been there but hadn’t yet come to light for me. Perfection is terribly over rated and it just does not exist. How can it ?

Our obsession with perfection dates back centuries, I mean the French were so obsessed with it that in the 18^th century; men and women alike took to powdering their faces ghost white and wearing horribly uncomfortable wigs utop their heads.

Women especially fall victim to the siren call of attaining perfection. We have suffered through rib crushing corsets for the perfect waist, bone breaking shoes for the perfect foot size, starvation for the perfect weight and elaborate procedures for the perfect skin and hair….. And the forces that dictate the rules of perfection are ever adding to the list making regular women feel constantly inadequate.

I have had enough and I refuse to step out of my comfort zone to fit into some mould of someone else’s making. I just want to be MI.

In order to celebrate my revelation, I turn to the brand, which represents a person who isn’t bound by oppressive rules of perfection. They look for comfort, self-expression and quality in their wardrobe. I created two looks, both of which I rarely do in real life but have grown to love after this.

I was always afraid of Boyfriend jeans because of my height but found the perfect pair at Benetton. Top that off with a feminine blouse and a jacket and you have casual chic down!

My usual Idea of sporty chic is more structural but I tried something more laid back and girly here with a red sporty dress and matching sneakers.

So I say, strive for improvement not for perfection.

Phorography-Mrinmai Parab

ON MI
Outfits-Benetton
Sunglasses-Rayban
Sneakers-Adidas

 

 

MISU goes to Pushkar

When I travel I feel I get awfully greedy. I want to see it all, do it all… devour the culture and absorb the essence of the place I am in. When SU and I arrived in Pushkar, I wished I had 100 eyes so I wouldn’t miss an inch of its vibrant and energetic landscape.

For those of you who do not know, Pushkar is a small, enchanting city about 3 hours from Jaipur. It plays host to the only sacred Brahma Temple in the country (dating back to the 14^th century) and has quite an exquisite view of the lush Aravali Hills.

 

SU and I both have very similar travel tendencies; we like to get out and do things because you can only truly experience the place you are visiting by imbedding yourself right into the heart of the place.

Having said that, when a resort is as all encompassing and exquisite as the Westin Pushkar Resort and Spa, you may be easily convinced to just stay put.

The resort is an Oasis of comfort , luxury and activities to suit all ages, moods and desires.

The property boasts 80 sprawling villas and 18 Deluxe rooms so if you want your very on private pool… you can have it. And you know what the best part of having your own private en suite pool is?

A floating breakfast delivered to you while you bob about in the cool blue water. You can follow this with a massage in your villa or at their Heavenly Spa where you can further indulge in a hearty steam or dip in the hot tub.

 

If you aren’t in the spa mood just yet, the property also has its own theater so you can curl up on a lazy boy with a blanket and catch a movie.

In order to makeup for a morning of inactivity, we decided to get a hold a of a couple of bicycles (made available by the resort) and see if its true what they say about never forgetting how to ride a bike. Turns out, its not quite accurate because SU has definitely forgotten how but with a little practice, anything is possible.

Activity leads to hunger and our feet led us to the Seasonal Tastes restaurant. Their Rajasthani fare was especially good but they also have lighter fare available for those less adventurous.

 

Their main hotel pool is seriously a sight to behold and got us thinking of what a glorious location this would make for a destination wedding.

They have created gorgeous, dedicated indoor and outdoor spaces for this very reason. They even have a wicked bar with a downstairs room for those post event after party’s.

I have to admit though, from all the wonderful attributes at this resort, my favorite of all was the hospitality and my bed. I know it sounds absolutely mad but if you have ever had the chance to plunge into a Westin Heavenly Bed, you know how divine those things are. Its a bed which hugs you back.

These 3 nights at the Westin Resort and Spa in Pushkar taught me that sometimes its alright to slow down and just BE. After just one day it began to feel like home and that is what makes a resort a true success in our opinion.

 

 

Read more about the Westin Resort and Spa in Pushkar here