Girl with the blue scarf

Livin' on orange juice For all of us who've oohed and aahed on finding the calendar models look so fit and toned, this is a word of enlightenment. And it came as a surprise to me when one of the calendar models offered to divulge the truth about their bods. She said, 'You know, it's all about Orange juice'. About 15 days before the shoot schedule for pin-up calendars begins at exotic locations, we receive a verdict from the organisers to start working out and stop eating bulky meals. And so, 'Drink orange juice' is the maxim these models follow. Once the calendar shoot is done with, the photographer edits the raw pictures with loads of air brushing and heaps of make-up correction. Once done, the final look comes out just amazing. But now that we are in the humid month of April, why am I talking of calendars (it should've been in the beginning of the year, isn't it). That's because I myself got a dose of the orange juice diet. I was down with feve...

Indian Models during IPL = More Work+ Great Moolah It’s the first quarter of the year and Indian models are truly enjoying a treat right now, in terms of good work and great monies. The reason being that the Lakme Fashion Week Summer/Resort 2010, which has recently concluded happened a month prior to its usual schedule (in March instead of April). And due to this shift, it comfortably made way for Wills India Fashion Week Autmn/Winter 2010, which is all set to kickstart from March 24. But to most models, fashion weeks are usual business. What came as an icing to this format are the Indian Premier League matches in India. With 55 fashion shows organised by Mehr Jesia Rampal (yeah, that's actor Arju Rampal's wife and former supermodel), which are already underway at different locations of the matches, models walking for fashion shows there are truly in big demand. Take a look at the statistics. Consider this: The highest amount charged by an Indian model is Rs 50,000 and it is ru...

Gimme that night fever...we know how to show it Delhi-based designer Suneet Varma brought the curtains down with a stunning grand finale at the Lakme Fashion Week Summer/Resort 2010 on March 9, 2010 Of course, it's a kick-arse deal to do the grand finale. But unlike what most people think, a 'grand finale' isn't completely about the Autumn/Winter or Spring/Summer designs which are showcased at the fashion week. It's a brand initiative where a specific look is unveiled. And so, at the Lakme Fashion Week grand finale in Mumbai, designer Suneet Varma revealed 4 pretty looks that women can sport and they can attain that by opting for a range of cosmetics available at the Lakme counters (Got it, why it's called 'Lakme' Grand Finale). Now moving to the super buzzing grand finale show put up for a select audience of fashionistas by designer Suneet Varma. It was as if Tuesday evening had turned into a Saturday night discotheque on March 9 at the Lakme Fashion W...

India-inspired resort wear It is so amazing — All the hype, the buzz, the energy that the days preceding the fashion week carry with it. With just a few weekdays left to hit the Lakme Fashion Week Summer/Resort 2010 to start form March 5 - 9, there is this tingling anticipatory feeling down the spine about 'God! I wonder what's in store'. And that's the reason why I turn into a sleuth-scribe of sorts. I enthusiastically go through look books (booklets which have designs of the collection with details of cuts, fabrics and mentions of initiatives such as going organic, inspirations etc with it) and special mailers which come to us about the collections that will be showcased. I sit down and make mental notes just the way a kid would want to colour the Sun in a shade different from yellow, may be in blue... Honestly, to me, the theme of Resort Wear is all about easy clothing and it's so Mumbai in its spirit of a free, evolved, raring-to-go-woman of this dream city. In...

Chronicling an era with fashion writing Aren't we glad that India has steadily moved out of the recession of 2009. We no longer harbour a fear of going bankrupt or losing our jobs. In fact, since the jolt here wasn't as bad as it was in the West, its buzz time once again. Shops opening their doors with a 'Sale' on its hoarding, designers calling out for a slashed down priced collection and real estate agents drilling down their 'made-up' discount offers. India is truly back in business. An interesting reason why recession'09 didn't hit us so hard lies in our generations-long 'saving habit'. Since over 60 per cent of our income is put aside in savings, finally that's what came to the rescue when people lost their jobs. Westeners tend to save little and spend most of their income (it's a way to enjoy life, you know!) thus when their source of income went haywire, there were no personal savings to bank on. In India, people absorbed 'less...

THE WORLD'S A SMALL PLACE IN NZ A recent trip of 14 hours+2 hours to New Zealand from Mumbai made me understand how small this world is. Sounds weird? Let me explain this 'trendy' statement. Now, what would truly delight a fashion and travel writer who's been sent to an out-of-the-country assignment? Perhaps, some mindblowing, fear embracing adventure sports. True.. to some extent. So, on Day 1, when I got to do Skydiving at NZone in Queenstown, New Zealand, I was ecstatic. I think this was truly a feat to boast about, for I dived in tandem from 15,000 ft, a first for anyone in the Tiwari clan. On the way back from the skydive post at the Queenstown airport, I met up with a group of filmy people who were shooting for a film there. And then came a pair of warm hands which closed my eyes from behind and a loving voice followed, 'Nimishaaaa', you here!' This has got to be an Indian Punjabi heartfelt voice, I thought to myself. Turning around, I was so whelmed o...

Enchanted by Suneet! Recently on a sunny, chilly January day at Famous Studios in Mahalaxmi in Mumbai, there was distinctively pleasant and creative frenzy at its best. Delhi-based designer Suneet Verma was finalising his Lakme Fashion Week grand finale look with the models. And it was my priviledge to have met him here in the city in person for the first time. It was however, two years ago when Suneet's magic had started to work on my mind. At a show called 'Enchanted Forest', every dramatic detail was looked into with impeccable precision replete with a pond on the ramp with water bubbling, birds chirping and clouds lowering towards the silvery bright full moon. While I gazed with awe, supermodel Madhu Sapre made her appearance on the ramp like a princess and others followed strutting long flowy gowns. The show was fabulous. The story about it is long but the great respect for Suneet was born right there and then. And so at the meet recently, Suneet with a dimpled shy sm...