Latest News

Beauty at the girl

noreply@blogger.com (Latest News) — Sun, 23 Jan 2011 08:41:00 +0000

Wear the trend

noreply@blogger.com (Latest News) — Sat, 15 Jan 2011 03:49:00 +0000

Pointy shoes, strings of pearls and structured skirts – it’s not a bad remake of a 50s film, it’s time to get back to the flirty fifties in style, with more variety than ever before. Call it the Mad Men frenzy - but fashion this season has gone into the past for some inspiration; with hemlines getting longer, dresses getting fluffier and bows getting bigger and prettier. Fashion forward your wardrobe by re-inventing this look to suit your personality and your body type.

Full Figure

Cinched waists and flattering hemlines makes this trend perfect for curvy girls, as for vertically challenged girls, adapt this trend with skirt suits or simply don on accessories that scream fifties like pearls, head pieces and no-nonsense bags.

While hardcore Audrey Hepburn, Betty Draper and the Mad Men fans can get away in pinched waists, pleated dresses and even, 50s curls and red lips, there are ways to tone it down to suit your subtle style. Wear a full skirt with a skinny belt or pointy shoes and a pussy bow blouse – the pick is entirely yours. Keep it simple, probably add one element to your outfit without overdoing the trend. Go floral, if you're the fun type.

The trend is easy to work into your existing wardrobe, just learn to team the right seperates with the right accessories. The best part? The trend can easily go from night to day depending on how you work with it.

A leather pencil skirt with a soft cardigan can take your from work, lunch through to dinner. For a night on the town, simply pin a sparkly brooch or throw on a gold jacket. This trend is all about clean cuts while still being flirty and feminine so play with textures, prints and accessories to take make this trend yours.
[12 Oct 2010]

Monsoon Makeover

noreply@blogger.com (Latest News) — Sat, 15 Jan 2011 03:43:00 +0000

Invest in a spunky wardrobe this season and make the transition from summer to monsoon an effortless one.

With the scorching summer sun behind us, there’s nothing we want more than some showers of blessings or way. Monsoons are all about revamping your wardrobe, perking up your style with brighter, funkier colours and letting your inner child come out and play. So ladies, do away with the whites and cottons lying in your closet and bring in the neons and pinks to embrace the rains- fashionably.

Not a monsoon goes by without the bare essentials, the quintessential rain coat. Not the dreary, blue-black variety but the fun, bright-neon kind like this Sonya Vajifdar pre-rain jacket in fuchsia pink. With its leopard print inners there’s no excuse to brave the Indian rain without being in-vogue. Don’t want to take your favourite Louboutins or Jimmy Choos on a muddy ride? Invest in some sturdy rain boots. The Nova heart Burberry short rain boots set the mood for a monsoon romance with their classic checks and heart prints. And while we are at it, lets not forget the crucial rain accessory- an umbrella. Opt for the colourful, cheery variety to add some life into the grey skies that the season brings with the season’s fun accessory, the Paul Smith turquoise-hued umbrella.

Fall Fashion ripon

noreply@blogger.com (Latest News) — Sat, 15 Jan 2011 03:39:00 +0000

Trend: Sequins
Party season is incomplete without the bling factor. Let the glamazon in you paint the town sparkly in this dress; pair it with big hair and slick make-up for a no-nonsense look.
Price: Rs. 5,788

Print dress by CK
Trend: Prints
Prints are a huge trend this season as seen on the catwalks of Gaurav Gupta; wear this edgy graphic print dress to accentuate your curves. Try to extend the look with killer heels and a chain-link quilted clutch for a nice brunch with the girls.
Price: Rs, 3,704

Anne Klein Tire Dress
Trend: Classic LBD
All of us have those days when we don’t feel like dressing up for a party.Instant solution: the classic LBD. This corset dress that falls a little shy of your ankles is a perfect addition to make you feel glamorous any night of the week. Add a statement necklace to spice up the look.
Price: Rs. 4,630

Striped Cowl winter top by Sutton-Studio
Trend: Nautical
The nautical trend is always a breather, seen more off the runways on celebrities like Agyness Deyn and Alexa Chung. Wear this cowl top to work with a boyfriend blazer and brogues to perf

I Make You Look Good

noreply@blogger.com (Latest News) — Sat, 15 Jan 2011 03:37:00 +0000

Vogue’s Junior Fashion Editor, Archana Walavalkar takes you behind the scenes of Vogue India's most exciting shoots.
Vogue India arrives in Hollywood:

Supermodel Cindy Crawford, a big fan of ‘Fab’ India?
Being welcomed on set by Fashion Director Anaita Shroff Adajania.

Vogue India, October 2010

A private screening

Orissa-based Prince Dance Group performs for the Vogue team while photographer J.F. Campos captures the magic

Million Dollar Baby:

Prada, D&G, YSL, Stella McCartney, Marc Jacobs and a baby thrown in for good measure.

Rear View

Don’t you love a bit of PDA? Especially when it’s Abhi-Ash.

Vogue at its Peak:

I bet Tenzing dint have his entourage present to take care of his flyaways

Sun, Sand and a fab tan

Cover girl Jacqueline Fernandez takes the plunge in the blissful swimming pool of her beach villa in the Maldives

Vogue India, June 2010

Diving in her Manolos

The underwater Lakshadweep shoot Polaroids

The Vogue team snorkels, holding the sari trail scouting for the right spot

A quick powder and lip touch up

Ready-set-go

To Wear, or Not to Wear? That is the Question.

noreply@blogger.com (Latest News) — Sat, 15 Jan 2011 03:36:00 +0000

Above all, remember that the most important thing you can take anywhere is not a Gucci bag or French-cut jeans; it's an open mind" - Gail Rubin Bereny
I cannot work alone; I need people around. So when I was going through the Spring Summer 2010 trend report, I forced my best friend to stay on the line whilst I tried comprehending (and reading out-aloud to her) the main trends.
“Remember, pastels—the Valentino draped dress is a stunner—and the military look—Ritu Kumar (Label) has paid much attention to detail here—seems to be in this season. When you go shopping, look out for clothes that fall under this category.”

But moments later, I questioned myself why it’s a necessity for her to look for those clothes? What if she’s happy with a flowery looking skirt instead?

"Fashion is made to become unfashionable." - Coco Chanel

Chanel’s right. The military look is in full fledge this 2010 season but it’s bound to not even exist in 2011. Out go the green patched up shorts and the golden-buttoned blue jacket along with the willingness to enjoy that particular piece of clothing again. All because it’s “out of fashion now.” Well, that’s a strange concept since my best friend still loves the flowery looking skirt she handpicked, she wears it all the time (yes, even though the trend reports might say so otherwise).
Now don’t get me wrong. I’m not saying go out there in the world and wear what makes you happy regardless of what other people say (even though that’s a great moral), but what I am saying is go out there and shop happily. Wear happily. Create fashion. Create trends. Don’t follow. Fashion isn’t about buying what other people suggest, but rather expressing your inner personality and putting who you are on display...for everyone to admire.
Today, it’s so easy for everyone to dress on par. The news talks about fashion, the magazines report it and the mass-people all blog about it. In this world of trend reports and opinionated people, it becomes even more important for everyone to remember what they really want to portray.
Don’t worry, the fashion magazines (like us, of course) will continue doing their job of talking about the prints, ruffles, and pastel shades that look the best with your skin tone; you should continue taking the expert advice. After all, some things just never change. Petite black dresses, fluffed-up ruffles, and nude shoes will be your best friends forever. For all the rest, just act like an artist: create a painting with the colors we prov

Waist-it-up

noreply@blogger.com (Latest News) — Sat, 15 Jan 2011 03:34:00 +0000

My office is super stylish. High heels and beautifully manicured nails—some of us even wake up an hour earlier to blow dry our hair, but that’s a secret. And of course, lavishing clothes. One day, my colleague walked into the office in what looked like a white cotton jumpsuit. Unattractive much? Wrong, she looked fabulous. In fact, for that entire day, I thought she was the best dressed at the office—and that’s a pretty big deal around here, believe me. There was just one thing that transformed this “grandmother-oversized-white jumpsuit” into something that’s goes in-sync with Vogue: a belt.
Show-off your curves, hide your flaws, add color, or even try being thinner. Belts have evolved over the years and today they’re used for more than just holding up your jeans. Take a bloated, long, and boring t-shirt and strap on a chic looking belt…there’s your stylish outfit for the day. Even Giorgio Armani believes in belts; on the ramp this season, he takes a simplistic purple dress and transforms it into something that’s more along the lines of chic. All this just because of the large, intricate, and colorful belt. Who would’ve known?

There’s a few ways to wear a belt. For example, professional women wearing their black skirt and white blouse can mix and match with different types of belts. White belts with an intricate yet classy buckle or even playing with a little bit of color once in a while…it can change an entire outfit’s look.
There’s always room for creativity; a brown belt along with an all-black outfit or even a dressy shirt coupled with a belt to show-off your hips. Sonam Kapoor does a fantabulous job with showing her hips off. A puffy pair of pants and a flowery top goes a long way, but using that brown skinny belt completes the outfit.

So what are you waiting for? Before you go shopping for new outfits, recheck your closet. Who knows, maybe you’ll realize that old outfits can be revamped with something as simple as 40 inches of cloth.
By Karishma Galani

Vogue Weekly

noreply@blogger.com (Latest News) — Sat, 15 Jan 2011 03:33:00 +0000

The Devil wears Prada, a film that promised to tell it like it is…offering insights into what goes on at a fashion magazine. Are they true or false..? Join me to find out for yourself!

Blue & Blah!!
Having lost yet another lovely weekend to manic Monday, the first day of the week is cruel for any kind of work. Getting in early, my first few moments are well spent. Relaxing in my chair and sipping a hot cup of coffee and warming up my brains. But it’s not long before the Voguette starts strutting in. The peace and serenity of the office is suddenly broken by the loud, clanking of the stilettos of the stars at Vogue.

It’s a temple of fashion worshippers, but the decibel level of clanking stilettos is much higher than temple bells, it’s almost like living next to the airport. As the decibel level peaks… you know that Vogue has officially started functioning.

It is an open office environment and yelling across the hall is imperative (telephone conversations are only for gossip). There’s leather and feather, fragrance and fur around me; and chatter centering on the latest shows, the recent opening of Zara and the sad demise of master McQueen. Folders and files steadily pile up on the desks, as the team monitor does her rounds. Work is happening faster than the bullet train at my end--the art desk that’s buried behind huge 17” Mac monsters!

Yes… we do eat!!

As forks and spoons with snacks and lunch boxes alight from the pantry… it’s clear that this is a Vogue that eats! ‘The boys’ as we call them run up and down like marching ants helping to keep everyone’s spirits high and happy, my favourite time of the day and probably the main ingredient to my happy world…!
There’s food all around you. Steamed but not boiled, baked but not fried.
“Oh I just had a quarter of a cube of cheese, no lunch for me…”
“Oh come-on!”
“No, I’ll be fat and then won’t be able to fit in my dress for the wedding next year! I think I’ll pass!!”

It’s a place where chocolate is a sin, cheese is crime and oily foods the outcast! Soymilk, green tea and salads are the different courses of meals. In total contrast to the rest of the office is the art department… It’s carb central. All the goodie stuff, even chocolates brought back from business or holiday trips only make it to the art desk! Kebabs, deserts, rolls, fried chicken and fish… the real action is all here!

Teatime on Tuesday
Time to catch up on deadlines, stories and yes… DEATHLY THREATS!! It’s the best time to get the daggers out… We gather in hushed voices in the conference room, wondering who is being guillotined today. “Why is it so late? How could you be so irresponsible? Make sure you don’t do it again! Can you give me an extended deadline, please? I promise I’ll do better then!

Fun Fridays!!
The same conference room turns into a wine and cheese central… There’s wine and cheese, beer and chips… Everyone indulges in chat, gossip and news. This side of the office mingles with that side…Vogue and GQ i.e.

And sometimes, there’s a birthday cake as well, sometimes a crazy party to celebrate something, like Christmas, or anniversary, a pool tournament even…really!

It’s almost like a farewell before the weekend. We are indeed a merry making family!

Branded- ‘Cinderella and her Choos’
Vintage is great, but last season is passé… it’s not too hard to believe that the girl who can kill you with her words is also a walking brand-store! The Leiber clutch, the Manolo boots and the stunning Stella dress…are some of the things that run in the Voguettes’ blood. The sharp tongue and the Chanel bag--two things that make Vogue what it is!! Afterall, before it’s in fashion, it’s in Vogue!

My awards for the week…

The zero degree award: to the voltas on my head that results in a brain freeze every now and then… but keeps our generators running…
The modern day fairytale award: to the fashion closet, where the Diors, Dolces, Armanis and Vuittons live happily ever after.
Mr Indespensible: ME! I’m told everyday that the girls wouldn’t eat what little they do if it weren’t for me! Glad to be of service!

By Mihir Shah

-12 Others liked this story

Yes… we do eat!!
As forks and spoons with snacks and lunch boxes alight from the pantry… it’s clear that this is a Vogue that eats! ‘The boys’ as we call them run up and down like marching ants helping to keep everyone’s spirits high and happy, my favourite time of the day and probably the main ingredient to my happy world…!
There’s food all around you. Steamed but not boiled, baked but not fried.
“Oh I just had a quarter of a cube of cheese, no lunch for me…”
“Oh come-on!”
“No, I’ll be fat and then won’t be able to fit in my dress for the wedding next year! I think I’ll pass!!”

It’s a place where chocolate is a sin, cheese is crime and oily foods the outcast! Soymilk, green tea and salads are the different courses of meals. In total contrast to the rest of the office is the art department… It’s carb central. All the goodie stuff, even chocolates brought back from business or holiday trips only make it to the art desk! Kebabs, deserts, rolls, fried chicken and fish… the real action is all here!

Teatime on Tuesday
Time to catch up on deadlines, stories and yes… DEATHLY THREATS!! It’s the best time to get the daggers out… We gather in hushed voices in the conference room, wondering who is being guillotined today. “Why is it so late? How could you be so irresponsible? Make sure you don’t do it again! Can you give me an extended deadline, please? I promise I’ll do better then!

Fun Fridays!!
The same conference room turns into a wine and cheese central… There’s wine and cheese, beer and chips… Everyone indulges in chat, gossip and news. This side of the office mingles with that side…Vogue and GQ i.e.

And sometimes, there’s a birthday cake as well, sometimes a crazy party to celebrate something, like Christmas, or anniversary, a pool tournament even…really!

It’s almost like a farewell before the weekend. We are indeed a merry making family!

Branded- ‘Cinderella and her Choos’
Vintage is great, but last season is passé… it’s not too hard to believe that the girl who can kill you with her words is also a walking brand-store! The Leiber clutch, the Manolo boots and the stunning Stella dress…are some of the things that run in the Voguettes’ blood. The sharp tongue and the Chanel bag--two things that make Vogue what it is!! Afterall, before it’s in fashion, it’s in Vogue!

My awards for the week…

The zero degree award: to the voltas on my head that results in a brain freeze every now and then… but keeps our generators running…
The modern day fairytale award: to the fashion closet, where the Diors, Dolces, Armanis and Vuittons live happily ever after.
Mr Indespensible: ME! I’m told everyday that the girls wouldn’t eat what little they do if it weren’t for me! Glad to be of service!

A week in my life

noreply@blogger.com (Latest News) — Sat, 15 Jan 2011 03:32:00 +0000

To cure your Monday morning blues, head to the appropriate desk to get the fix you need-whether it’s banishing your dark circles or getting your sugar rush.
Tuesday:

Nothing like walking in at 10 am and finding a pair of Louboutin’s waiting for me at my desk…

Wednesday:

Fellow Voguette adds a splash of color to a gloomy monsoon day.
Thursday:

I bet this doesn’t happen in your office!!
Friday:

Voguettes “hard at work”

Fashionably Beautiful of course!

noreply@blogger.com (Latest News) — Sat, 15 Jan 2011 03:31:00 +0000

The first ever Vogue Beauty Awards finally took place last night amidst much fanfare! 4 months of rigorous planning and over a thousand products later, the entire beauty industry and our favourite women got together at the fabulously lit Rooftop at the Trident. The lovely pink tint set the mood for the evening - over tons of champagne and some seriously beautiful women the topic of discussion was obviously, beauty products!

The awards were hosted by our editor Priya Tanna (who looked lovely in a classic red sari by Pratima Bhatia, chandelier earrings and hair done up in a glamorous side part)).

The Beauty & Health Director Geeta Rao (in a chic Abraham & Thakore shift; glitzy Choos and sexy bed head tresses)

The Vogue ladies were present in their fashionable best and also put to test some of the autumn winter makeup collections for the beauty department – Fashion Director Anaita Shroff Adajania went for ladylike chic in a taupe dress by hot favourite Atsu and Chanel’s new stone grey eye shadow

Junior Fashion Editor Archana Walavalkar sizzled in a tiny hot pink Raakesh Agarwal number teamed with a molten gold eye; Fashion Features Editor Priyanka Khanna opted for a fashion-police proof LBD by All Saints ; a vintage snake cuff and her signature eyeliner; Junior Features Editor and resident watch expert Rishna Shah found her little silver dress in a tiny boutique in Geneva (where she attended the watch fairs!);

Fashion Coordinator Archana Thani in a delicious yellow mustard one shoulder and lastly me after frantic searching went for a dark chocolate Monisha Jaising embellished one shoulder dress paired with dramatic eyes (with a hint of khaki shadow as suggested by the Beauty Director! )

By Priyanka Kapadia

Fashionably Vogue

noreply@blogger.com (Latest News) — Sat, 15 Jan 2011 03:30:00 +0000

Major Monday
Spotted: Junior fashion editor Archana Walavalkar strutting in fashionably late. Look like its going to be a great week ahead !
Why we cant get our eyes of her:
Her sexy olive tan
Her oversized gold rimmed vintage Ray bans
And that she carries her lunch and her 4 pm snack in an Hermes Birkin Bag.

Bummer ! Tuesday morning is wet and mucky
Spotted: Bride-to-be Daneesh ‘the body’ Davar hovering around the Vogue bridal rail.
Why we can’t get our hands off her:
That body . She’s a 10.
Love how she beats the monsoon with her no-fuss look . Don’t be fooled completely though -she’s come well equipped with a pair of pewter Pierre Hardy Stilletos.
Really dig that she’s not a ‘match-my-bag-to-my-shoes’ kind of gal.
Don't miss: That Jimmy Choo bag.

Hot Hot Hot- Wednesday
Spotted GQ Juniour Fashion Editor Antara Motiwala on-the-go
Why we can’t wipe the smile of our faces long after she’s left the room:
Her flaming red hair.That's hot Antara!
She has that sexy gap in between her teeth -She shares this exclusively with Madonna , Georgia Jagger and Lara Stone.
That she throws on her tweed Chanel jacket to stay warm in the freezing cold temperatures of the Conde Nast India office
Don't miss: Her Anya Hindmarch bag

Sneak Peak into Thursday
Oops! Just walked in on Vogue India’s Fashion Bookings Editor Suhana Sharma in the toilet .
Why she’s just our kind of girl:
Because she doesn’t forget to put the toilet seat back down!
We adore her androgynous style. Her Sabysachi maxi dress is a must have this season.
And that she has a body of 12 year old boy and has one of those at home too .

Playing dress up on Friday
We styled the new GQ intern Jessica to look fabulously fifties.
Why we’re mad about this look:
That super cute Puja Arya dress is so on trend . Accessorised perfectly with a bright purple bag and grey Manolo's.
We channel ‘mad men’ in our very own Conde Nast India office.
She seems to have mastered that look of ‘careless disdain’. Super model in the making?
By Nikhil Mansata

Bag the Lady: A week in the life of a Voguette

noreply@blogger.com (Latest News) — Sat, 15 Jan 2011 03:28:00 +0000

There's a certain romance to working at a fashion magazine, Vogue in particular, that is hard to describe. The walls are lined with racks of luminous colors and myriad fabrics, all boasting labels that would give the most well stocked fashionista's wardrobe a severe complex. Chignon's are perfectly coiffed, and you would think that any one of your colleagues could easily have written the bible on how to walk, or rather glide, in skyscraper heels. They walk the walk, and talk the talk. The dresses are fun and flirty and the trousers are impeccably tailored. But the real stars of the show are the Voguette’s handbags that make their way across the office every morning, the most enviable eye candy. If they're not already in your closet, they're definitely on your lust list.
(Monday)
Keeping It Classic...

Bandana Tewari with a classic white Tod’s, just one from her enviable collection.
(Tuesday)
Trial Run...

An internship at Vogue comes with a dosage of fashion.
Ahilya Kaul flaunts her DKNY and Nikita Manilal masters effortless chic with her LV Monogram.
(Wednesday)
As Big As It Gets...

Kareena Laungani rocks an oversize Marc Jacobs while Karishma Sakhrani goes to town with the ultimate DKNY hold-all.
(Thursday)
Metal Mania...

Priyanka Kapadia brightens up the day with a fun metallic Marc by Marc Jacobs handbag.
(Friday)
Style Statement...

Anaita Shroff Adajania and Divia Thani Daswani up the fashion ante with must-have Tod’s and Dior handbags.
By Anusha Lalwani

6 Months = 1 Night at FNO

noreply@blogger.com (Latest News) — Fri, 14 Jan 2011 12:28:00 +0000

Somewhere between the A/W shows in Paris, Editors from 16 Vogue countries met over a hush-hush breakfast and discussed the merits of repeating Fashions Night Out over countless cups of coffee and very little food. As each of us shared our thoughts, it became so clear that Fashion’s Night Out had grown much bigger than a one-off event. All of us agreed to agree that there would be an encore.
That was in March, and as I submit this blog, I am hours away from the main event. Tomorrow night, 6 months of meetings, planning, agreeing, disagreeing, partnering and hoping will culminate over a grand finale at the DLF Emporio Mall, from 6pm to midnight.
Thought this was the best time to share with you the inside stories on all that will be revealed tomorrow night.
Some decisions were easy to make: Manish and Rajesh were both on my wish-list to design the Vogue FNO T-shirts. Thankfully I didn’t have to choose as both matched my enthusiasm with theirs and partnered with us right away. The not so glamorous task of taking this idea and turning it into a stylish reality was entrusted to art editor Mihir Shah who spent many hours and after hours perfecting the production and design. Deliciously cool and unique, each one is a steal for Rs. 500. And when you remember that their sales proceeds will go to Habitat For Humanity ‘s Women’s India Builds initiative, it’s easy to reach out and buy a few. I should know. At last count I was 20 down!

Some decisions weren’t: That the evening would take the shape of a late night shopping experience was a given. That every partnering brand ( all 65 +) had to participate in the luxury lucky draw and sponsor a gift worth Rs. 50000 was mandatory. That DLF Emporio would play hosts for the evening was unarguable. What took weeks and weeks of discussions to get around to were the highlights for the evening. We were shopping for a few cool ideas, a few big draws that could make FNO bigger, better and busier than year 1.
It all started with a shoe: I recall gushing and wowing over the extra big shoe designed by Jonathan Saunders last year for London’s FNO. The dream was to create the extra long sari and I needed the support of a designer who’d be as creatively charged and excited over this as I was. The only name that came to my mind was Suneet Varma and when I saw his eyes light up and smile widen as I took him through the idea, I knew right away that this was going to be an extra special collaboration! Tomorrow, when you see this installation (which has been declared by Limca Book of Records as the world’s longest embroidered sari) know that it’s a labour of man-hours, resources and above all love!

A store was born: When fashion director Anaita popped up the idea of the pop up store over lunch, it sounded adorable. But impossible to execute. Between our day jobs (the magazine, lest you have forgotten), fashion weeks, twenty odd shoots, events, it looked like this would be nothing more than a cool idea. However, the fashion team took it upon them to get some of the finest contemporary designers into creating a line of limited edition goodies for sale, just for that night at our very own pop up store. Bags, mugs, stoles, tunics, shoes and t-shirts - I predict the Vogue Loves store is going to be one of the best ideas of the evening. Hope I can get to the Rahul Mishra tunic and Sanchita Ajjampur shoes before they are sold out!

Bag ladies: That was our working title till it was re-christened Vogue Steals. A call from features director Bandana and 70 plus of our celebrity lady friends generously donated gently used designer bags which I know, are going to fly off the racks for a fraction of their original price. A Gucci for 10,000? Proceeds going to charity? Looking good never felt this good!

And Tarun provides the icing: Taking on a fashion show in a mall, amidst thousands of manic shoppers featuring real girls in place of models is not a task for the faint-hearted. Which is why, it had to and could only be Tarun Tahiliani who could breathe this to life. He loved that there would be real girls, he was sold on doing this not once, but twice in the same evening using the entrance to his store as a ramp(8pm and 10pm). He, along with fashion editor Edward handpicked the girls from 150 plus entries (of which 20 were men!)and the show is going to be as much a surprise for me as it will be for you. Will the makeover be magical? Tomorrow will tell.

This is just the beginning: In addition to all the above experiences the best of Indian and international luxury brand are all geared to seduce the shopper in you. My advice: No use fighting the temptation. Whether you walk away with a tee or the seasons most coveted bag or just come in to get a glimpse of our September cover-girl Bipasha Basu and Jacqueline Fernandes make it a fun night out!I could go on but Delhi awaits. See you at FNO!

Exfoliate, Don’t rip your skin

noreply@blogger.com (Latest News) — Fri, 14 Jan 2011 12:26:00 +0000

In Delhi at Dr Raj Kubba’s wonderfully serene and aesthetic clinic. I am having particularly bad skin day but I love Dr Kubba’s unfazed and gentle manner . I find myself put back on Clinique 3 step .I am a three step drop out but it’s nice to get back on it though with a few amendments of my own .The magic is in the salicylic acid that improves exfoliation of dead cells and cell turnover. I find the smell of the toner is stronger than I remember but I am assured it has only denatured alcohol which is not harmful. It does get my eyes watering though my skin seems fine.

The Clinique Counter at Dr Kubbas
I have a special fondness for the brand Clinique. It was started by a Vogue beauty director Carol Philips in collaboration with a dermatologist, Dr Norman Ohrentriech way back in 1960. It was then bought over by the Estee Lauder group but they haven’t altered the brand’s DNA and philosophy which has always been the belief that beautiful skin is not something you are born though that always helps with but something you can achieve. Later when Vogue launched in India I interviewed Dr. Norman’s son David now Chief Dermatologist at Clinique USA. It appeared in our launch issue so I do remember it quite clearly.
Back to my skin – it is looking better which means it was badly in need of exfoliation and a more disciplined cleansing routine .While microdermabrasion and glycolic peels are the answer to more dramatic exfoliation, the aftercare required is something I can never follow because of my crazy schedule ,crazier commute in Mumbai’s even crazier pollution and sun. Scrubs are a strict no no as well because exfoliation should not be abrasive . That’s why even in traditional remedies besan is always mixed with malai to soften its abrasiveness . Often when you have facials the rough washcloths used by most places are very damaging to skin so opt for water sprays or get up and splash your own face if possible.
Other brands you may want to check out for their gentle exfoliation : L’Occitane Immortelle facial mist , Kiehl’s Ultra facial toner , Lancome Exfoliante Clarte.

-1 Others liked this story

AAAh Testino

noreply@blogger.com (Latest News) — Fri, 14 Jan 2011 12:25:00 +0000

Geeta Rao with Mario Testino
In the world of photography especially fashion photography Mario Testino is a legend. But if you live at Vogue he is a cross between an uber legend, where everyone pores over his latest cover or fashion story with hushed admiration and an in house buddy, where his name tossed round with a familiarity that comes from the fact that each time you see a cover you like from the Conde Nast world...Vogue, Vanity fair, W or a campaign for D&G, or Prada or read a riveting quote on photography it is likely to be from Testino. A writer called his style ‘Luxury realism’ -his ability to fuse gloss and accessibility that makes his signature style.
When I met him ever so briefly in Paris at a Lancôme launch it was a memorable moment. He has shot Julia Roberts as the new face of Lancôme and a film with Penelope Cruz for their fragrance Tresor. He talks of women and beauty with a charming sense of celebration. He enjoys both clearly.
Naturally I had to get that groupie shot with him and he did find time to tell me he had heard a lot about Vogue India. Until he puts me on the next Vogue cover and until we have him in India to shoot, here are a few of my favourite Testino pictures.

Vogue UK cover with Kate Moss shot by Mario

Mario's popular Madonna's Ray of Light cover

Beauty SOS with Aaron de Mey

noreply@blogger.com (Latest News) — Fri, 14 Jan 2011 12:24:00 +0000

Lovely to be in Paris and have the man behind the French coquettes collection share his tips on make up for Indian humidity and weather.

Here are his tips:
Don’t fight the climate work with it. Add a few drops of moisturizer to your foundation to make it lighter and more fluid
Use concealer after your moisturizer not before.
Use a light reflecting powder or foundation.
For the day you can go with pressed powder and skip foundation.
A trick I use is to only powder the sides of the nose and top of forehead to cut obvious shine but let the rest of the face bare.
If you are doing a smoky eye do your eye first and then do the foundation blending it well.
For a smoky eye use a flat brush to place the shadow on the eye lid but don’t take it above the crease of the brow bone. Buff the eye shadow well with a fluffy brush and then add mascara.
For big eyes use eye kohl outside the eye for a defined eye use it inside the eye. Once you draw it go over with a Q tip and blend up and outwards.
Always have a water spritz or spray handy to refresh your skin.

Beauty at the Taj

noreply@blogger.com (Latest News) — Fri, 14 Jan 2011 12:23:00 +0000

‘Friends-of-the-bride’ is the theme of this months’ beauty shoot. Reams has been written about looks and fashion for brides but if you are the BFF ( Bride’s Best Friend) this season you know how much pressure you will face – at the sangeet, at the reception and at all the parties after the big day . We shot at the Dolphin suite in the old Taj and now I hear that President Obama and his wife may just be put up at the same suite. Go ahead take a peek.

                                              Corridors of the Taj

                                                     Jewellery on display

                                                 Our work table in Dolphin Suite

                                             Manasvi poses for her solo

                          Riddhi Burman, our talented photogrpaher waits for the next shot

                                      friends of the bride at the Dolphin Suite

Geeta Rao Answers Your Beauty Queries

noreply@blogger.com (Latest News) — Fri, 14 Jan 2011 11:42:00 +0000

Is it good to use a day creme with SFP or a purely stand-alone sunblock?
- Deebba Ali,
Dear Deebba

I personally think two in one products are not as effective as standalone products but they are certainly more convenient.
But using a day cream or moisturizer with an SPF will work on a daily basis as long as you are not very exposed to the sun. If you are going out in the sun then I suggest you use a sunscreen over your moisturizer. Or go with a higher SPF as a stand alone. If you live in India avoid sunblock which tends to be heavier and can be greasy and save it for the beach or swimming. Many people like to use all their products with an SPF ie foundation, lipstick, blush etc but this will not substitute the use of an effective sunscreen.

Geeta Rao

Sun Kissed or Sun Drenched

noreply@blogger.com (Latest News) — Fri, 14 Jan 2011 11:38:00 +0000

Bronzer might be the single most widely bought / used makeup product in the summers but its real magic is brought to light only in winters. Imagine pale dead skin transforming into a healthy complexion, tinged to spring-y perfection – the mighty bronzer can do all that.

And this.

Overdoing the bronzer can be disastrous – red carpet or not. Key is to dust the bronzer along the contours of your face instead of applying it all over. Start off with a light dusting along your hairline. Follow with drawing the infallible three on the side of your face – Start above your temple, pull into the hollow of your cheek and out onto your jaw line. Remember the three – this will be your secret weapon for everything from killer cheek bones, effortless contouring to the faux glow. Follow the three with a light dusting of the bronzer on the bridge of your nose. Now without dipping your brush into your bronzer, run it along your neck – you don’t want a pale neck on your gorgeous sun kissed face!

Eco Chic

noreply@blogger.com (Latest News) — Fri, 14 Jan 2011 11:37:00 +0000

Sure, you always give up your seat to pregnant women, watch Captain Planet, recycle all your recyclables, turned vegan or eat all your greens. I'm not going to tell you what to do, except you, yes you by the computer, stop running the water while you brush your teeth! (tsk) but I will show you where to shop; Mika Organic.

Mika Machida’s eponymous line is the poster child for all that is good in fashionably organic (not to mention graphic design).

You may have seen some of her signature tops infiltrating the net for some time now, like her butterfly or elephant tops. Her work is different and the fact that she uses water based inks and certified organic cotton is just a bonus to her truly incomparable designs that meld environment with art. Remember, chic need not mean unsustainable; embrace organic fabrics.

By Ruhi Sheikh of Republic Of Chic

Shooting with Shruti

noreply@blogger.com (Latest News) — Fri, 14 Jan 2011 11:36:00 +0000

Singer and actor Shruti Haasan is in our beauty section this month in our story ‘The lady and the vamp’ two party looks we like for this month. Shruti ‘s image was very stuck in a ‘rock chick ‘mode in my mind and I wasn’t sure she would be able to carry off the very elegant and polished glamour that we needed for one of the looks. But as I discovered she has an amazing quality of projection and was also very professional at the shoot. When she walked in I was riveted by the quality of her skin with translucent texture which always makes it easy for the makeup artist ( in this case Namrata Soni) and photographer (Jatin Kampani) to work their magic.

We tried two distinct looks – Party girl /Dolly Goth and elegant glamourista. There are no real party rules this reason and you can choose to go whichever way works best for you. But even if you go the mini Goth route remember to make the look contemporary by keeping it polished and not over the top. So do the smoky eye or the deep plum lip not both. Try a smoky eye in dark green, deep blue or grey for a variation on heavy black.

If you want to go the elegant classic route choose a bright lip with flawless skin. To get the skin mix a little highlighter into your tinted mosituriser –don’t use heavy foundation and see your skin glow. It will help your lipstick stand out as well. Try colours like deep coral, orange red and raspberry red to be on trend. Go very easy on eye makeup –I recommend a soft brown pencil and mascara -no hard liner. A hint of blush will balance the look - pat it into skin at the apples of the cheeks so it looks like a natural flush of colour. Just a note on the up do you see in the accompanying picture- this works better on a young girl like Shruti. If you are older go lower and looser as updos can be ageing

The Malaika factor

noreply@blogger.com (Latest News) — Fri, 14 Jan 2011 11:35:00 +0000

It has been a year since we launched our new look My beautiful Life in the magazine - a longer format of the old one with a more detailed shoot and our first choice to kick it off was Malaika Arora Khan. There are things you want to know about Malaika – the secret of her absolutely fabulous body and her great skin and hair top the list. We shot her with Prabuddha Dasgupta and he wanted her in her natural element against the bright winter sun. It was an effortless shoot- Malaika is a natural in front of the camera and equally candid off camera when she chatted about her beauty rituals and work out regime. She is even better looking stripped off all make up in real life with her signature minimal moisturizer and hint of gloss.

Since then Malaika has been a judge at our Vogue beauty awards . She has had a successful run of judging reality shows on television and has had the cult song ‘Munni’ to her credit. Here are some excerpts from our interview:
No coffee please: Malaika does not drink tea or coffee and is a complete water addict. “I start my day with hot water, lime and honey and drink water through the day.When it comes to exercise nothing mild works for me.” She loves Pilates for the lean look and mixes it with power yoga, abs, circuits and core training. She will do anything that requires high intensity at the gym: kickboxing, interval training, kettle balls you name it and she can do it. It is her big fix. “Going to the gym is the most precious part of the day for me, she says and I aim to work out four to five times a week. “Mention the fact that this sounds like a boot camp workout and her voice perks up. “I am a boot camp sort of person. I like to push myself” she agrees.
Skin care: She will not travel without her Chandan stick and her small mortar and pestle to grind her own fresh sandalwood mask wherever she is .She is a fan of Dr Rohini Wadhwani’s Infusion treatments at Skin Essentials (Mumbai) and is a regular user but she also has a list of home recipes she can tick off like an expert. For example there is her signature egg white and almond oil face pack (“great for tightening the skin”) and a recipe for a mask she reels off for me like a pro: Grind together almond, almond oil, mash a banana into the mix. Add a pinch of saffron if you like. Apply to your face in smooth circular movements so the almond grains work as a scrub. Keep on for ten minutes and rinse off. See the difference.
Secret hair recipe: A mix of special Nilgiri oils (she gets all her oils from Ooty) with hibiscus flowers, methi seeds and saffron that she personally boils and uses every week. And she swears by her regular massages with her maalishwaali with some more Ooty oils (ok she is keeping the mix a secret) for some extra toning.

Julia Restoin Roitfield - the new face of Lancôme

noreply@blogger.com (Latest News) — Fri, 14 Jan 2011 11:30:00 +0000

Joining a star-studded roster that includes Julia Roberts, Penelope Cruz and Kate Winslet, Julia Restoin Roitfeldhas become the newest face of Lancôme. The 30-year-old daughter of ex-French Vogue Editor Carine Roitfeld has been announced the ambassdor for Lancôme’s Ultra Lavande SS11 collection, a disco inspired line designed by Lancôme’s Make-up Artistic Director Aaron de Mey.

Roitfeld, who has also appeared as the face of Tom Ford’s Black Orchid fragrance, stars in the Ultra Lavande SS11campaign shot by Mario Testino wearing the lavender and silver palette on her eyes, lips and fingernails.
"There is a very fresh, youthful, playful and joyous side to this collection, which I really like", says Roitfeld, whose delicate features make for a picture-perfect face of Lancôme.

How to get chiselled cheekbones

noreply@blogger.com (Latest News) — Fri, 14 Jan 2011 11:29:00 +0000

Defined cheekbones are the most coveted facial trait of them all. Made famous by the likes of Sophia Loren and Audrey Hepburn, high cheekbones are both sexy, and youthful because of the slimming effect they have. And if you’re not naturally blessed, Lancôme’s senior make-up artist Stafford Braganza gives you the cheat sheet in three easy steps.

Contour: Start by sucking your cheeks in and apply blusher or bronzer one shade darker than your skin tone in to the hollow of your cheeks. The trick here is to dust the colour under and not over your cheekbones. Blend in an upward diagonal direction towards your temples.

Highlight: Apply a gold or copper highlighter high on the cheeks blending it in circular motions outwards towards your temples. A highlighter catches and reflects the light, giving the illusion of prominent cheekbones.

Colour and sculpt: Finish off by blending a light colour (peach or pink) directly over the apple of your cheeks, maintain the blending motion upwards towards your cheekbones. The key to achieving this look is to always, always blend properly.

Pic Credit: Getty Images for Kiera Knightley; Mehtab Maan for model shots

Swedish Blogger Designs For H&M

noreply@blogger.com (Latest News) — Fri, 14 Jan 2011 11:28:00 +0000

From being commentators to creators – bloggers are taking the fashion world by storm. One such blogger going the extra step is Elin Kling, a Swedish fashion blogger who is set to create a capsule collection with H&M.

The collection consists of nine styles and two accessories will be available to buy only in Sweden from 3^rd February. The style will be minimalistic with a slight edge, which according to Klin is a reflection of her personal style.

Elin Kling started her fashion blog, Style by Kling, in 2007 and is the first blogger to collaborate with H&M. While, Jane Aldrige of Sea of Shoes blog is another blogger who has created a line of shoes for Urban Outfitters in the past, this is the first time a fashion blogger is creating an entire clothing collection for a high-street brand.

Shruti Thacker