Makeover

Hair isn’t the most conventional of artistic mediums but when the likes of Guido Paulo and Odile Gilbert take charge you just expect the extraordinary. There were sleek ponytails and chic ballerina buns too but 2011 was more about pushing boundaries in terms of creativity and hair remained a focus through the seasons. Get inspired by the hottest runway looks of this year.

Some Like it hot

Staying indoors during the rains can be just as much fun as a bright sunny afternoon spent at the pool all you need is a steaming hot cup of coffee, a delicious snack and these vibrant city cafes that take very seriously the task of making the experience worthwhile, tell you what else. While a decade ago ‘coffee’ in the city meant an uncomplicated brew at ‘India Coffee House’ or ‘Koshy’s’, today with beverage chains world over redefining coffee culture, television shows and films romanticizing the experience, elements like slower paced gourmet service and stylish decor have all found their way into the lifestyle of the city’s ‘cafe au laiters’. “Monsoons have this way of making me nostalgic and always bring back memories of college. Chitchatting and gossiping with a group of friends over cappuccinos with whipped cream is my idea of a perfect rainy evening”, says Reshma Rai, a Customer Support Executive with Standard Chartered. “Sipping on a flavoured cappuccino with lots of chocolate reminds me of two of my best buddies and all the great times spent with them at various coffee shops. Services like Wi-Fi and free internet being offered at these places means always being connected and never being alone”, says Sonali Pimpare a Software Engineer, with VSimplify who has just moved to the city. “A cup of Caramel Sin is my way of unwinding”, says Sonali.M a Hardware Engineer with HP. The monsoons have their own sweet, time tested connection with the much loved beverage and it’s that time of the year when a city is defined by its coffee shops and this city is definitely defined by these coffee shops. Café Thulp No 998, 1st main, 1st block, Koramangala, Bangalore. Details: 08040933344 If their cheerfully coloured walls, a game of Monopoly or cozying up in a corner with a best seller (they have a decent collection of classics and contemporary novels) doesn’t up your spirits on a murky afternoon, their succulent burgers or delightful coffees definitely will. “The mother of all moos, our beef burgers (Rs 450) are particularly popular”, says Padma Kumar Pillai, the café manager. Foam on the range, (Rs 50) is his coffee pick. Café mocha No 577, Kalyana Mandapa Road, 80 feet road, 8th block, opp Bethany high school, Koramangala, Bangalore. Details: 08030224711 Raindrops, roses and red wine sheeshah is the equation for a perfectly romantic date at this Arabian themed café that needs no introduction. To split with your buddies there’s always Keema Ghotala and Maggi with white sauce. When the weather is a little too delightful to get work done some Irish coffee should see you through at this Wi-Fi enabled zone. Bistro Claytopia No 318, 6th Main, 2nd stage, Indra Nagar, Bangalore. Details: 08041323394 Your skills could range anywhere between artistic excellence and amateur finger painting, but with a juicy lamb burger (Rs 149) and cup of bistro caramello (Rs 85) to go with clay painting means a burst of colour even on the gloomiest of days. Their colours are non toxic which makes it possible for you to eat while you paint. “Ceramic pieces are priced from Rs 220 to 600. We return the painted pieces to our customers after a day or two once they’ve been glazed and fired”, says Zalmon, the manager of this charming studio cafe. Café de Verve No 3140, 7th main, 2nd stage, Indra Nagar, Bangalore. Details: 080 41161316 As the clouds cast their spell, you could fine tune a Power Point Presentation over cups of café latte or face book with a scrumptious panneer sandwich in hand at this internet café that plays great music. Gustoes No 10, College Teachers HBCS, Banashankari, 3rd stage, Bangalore. Details: 080 26796098 This gallery café definitely has a lot more than just coffee to offer on a rain soaked evening. “We display works of young artists and photographers and as for alcohol we have limited ourselves to serving wine”, says Ashwin, the proprietor. Discuss art over a round of pool or lounge on a bean bag as you catch the action on their big screen. “I have also seen people bring along games like chess and UNO to play here” he adds. 2/3 Café spa No 1/74,36th cross, 26th Main, 9th block, opp HDFC bank, Jayanagar, Bangalore. Details: 08022441353 Indulge in a foot massage (charges range from Rs 30 for 15 minutes) post puddle splashing as you choose between traditional filter kaapi and flavoured cappuccino at this cosy little place. While their menu is limited, their cheese and pepper sandwiches supposedly are popular with regulars. Comics café 3rd floor, Gopalan Arcade (Next to Raja Rajeshwari gate), Raja Rajeshwari Nagar, Mysore road, Bangalore. Details: 08028607427 With the hottest Wii games and an extensive collection of Japanese and American comics (over 1500 comics including ones that have just been released in the United States) to choose from this is one place where being geek is chic. Unlike novels that are time consuming comics make for light reading when the skies are over cast and all else is gloomy .They maintain a database of visitors who are intimated the moment latest titles are added to the collection. Matteo coffea No 2, Church Street (Beside NASA), Bangalore . Details: 08043336000 Now this is a place that you head to for some serious coffee education. “Décor, ambience, comfortable couches and good music itself provide a great experience for our guests, so we don’t concentrate on providing other forms of entertainment”, says Partha Sarathy, Manager Operation’s. Their roomy Red Chester couches and coffee (some of the best varieties in the country and others imported from all over the world) are enough reasons to visit this joint that has gained ‘it’ status among the city’s coffee connoisseurs.

Under My Umbrella

Burdened by a reputation of being an object of utility this beautiful accessory has never been accorded the ‘glam status’ that shoes, bags and belts enjoy and we find ourselves especially unenthusiastic about carrying one when we are all dressed up. While silk and chiffon parasols are definitely not for the roads there are quite a few interesting and more practical options available at city stores that vary from understated to chic just like everything else in your wardrobe. The umbrella is an embodiment of functional fashion that made its beginning as an indispensable element of English fashion. It’s not without reason that the women of the Elizabethan era chose to flaunt its stylish variant, the parasol as a dress accessory or the charismatic Gene Kelly used it as a prop in his timeless rendition of ‘I’m singing in the Rain’. More recently when it rained at the Golden globes last year, style icons like Mariah Carey, Penelope Cruz and several others gave it red carpet status by tastefully matching their Cavalli gowns and Armani blazers to carefully chosen umbrellas. There is nothing quite as sophisticated as the old fashioned steel tipped black umbrella (priced at Rs 200 upwards) that works particularly well for men. It gives you an air of mystique irrespective of what you are wearing. An umbrella can also be an easy way of infusing a burst of colour to a monochrome outfit on a murky day. Transparent umbrellas that were quite the thing last year (plain and polka dotted versions are priced at Rs 100 upwards) work when you want to make a statement but looks like they now have competition. Umbrellas in unusual shapes and ones that change colour we here are the hottest new additions to the market. More on this later.

A Tale of two cities

So much has changed over the last two years and thank God I started this blog it now in a small way stands testament of everything that has and everything that hasn’t. One thing that certainly hasn’t changed is my fascination for all things beautiful. I am happiest when surrounded by beautiful colours, beautiful people and even more beautiful clothes (shoes, bags, belts too :D) and moving to a different city has only meant a whole lot of new fashion experiences.

Bangalore figures in every Chennaiites list of shopping destinations and suits you well especially if you are on a budget and are looking for pocket friendly deals but that's not all. With close to 25 malls (plazas included) to choose from, the lanes of commercial street with their teeny tiny surprises (well cut sequined LBD @ Rs 300..more later)and of course the city's shoppers with their highly individualistic sense of style I promise this year is going to be interesting for both you and me

If you follow my blog and have feedback to share do write back to vanndyy@gmail.com.

Mad abt Mrs Nene?

The sight of a brand new Vogue cover always makes my heart leap, whether it’s catching a glimpse of it at a newspaper stand or simply finding it mysteriously lying on my table. So what happens when I catch my all time favourite Indian actor as the cover girl I have to say it took me a while to catch my breath and I’m sure that’s pretty much the effect that this beautiful, beautiful woman has on all her million, billion, trillion fans.



Madhuri at Varun Bahl's show (Couture week 2011)

Eternal is the first word that comes to your mind when you want to describe that million dollar smile or for that matter pretty much anything about her. Perfect features, lustrous hair, a great complexion and of course that brilliant smile are only a part of the mystery. So what makes her exquisite when there are so many other equally beautiful women? I personally think it has a lot to do with her absolute Indianness and that painting like delicacy (probably what inspired so many of the renowned painter MF Hussain’s creations). Here’s hoping we get to see a lot more of the diva this year.

Boli si surat, aankhon mein masti hai hai:D

Rain check

A year back the month of June would have meant discussing sun protection and anti-perspirants but bless this beautiful city and its topography I think I can finally take out my transparent umbrella and stay stylish through the pre monsoon showers. Moving to Bangalore bang in the middle of what I believe to be one of the coldest of winters (at least of the ones that I have experienced) wasn’t the best of ideas. By January my hair felt like straw and even swimming in moisturizer wouldn’t help. Chopping off my elbow length hair to a pob was easily one of the craziest things I have done this year but it definitely helped. Growing out a highly experimental hair cut is always tough and I have to say Biotique’s Therapeutic Bhringraj oil saw me through it. I have always stayed away from facials of any kind for the fear of distressing ‘God given good skin’ but the extreme differences in weather had me running to the salon looking for an insta fix and I have to say the Shahnaaz Honey facial works wonders on dry to normal skin. I have now already abandoned my cork wedges (they made so much sense when I picked them up from Chennai) for block heels in PVC and am totally looking forward to lots of puddle splashing and a fantastic monsoon.

Survival strategy
• Hair spas
• Leave-in Serum
• Loose powder
• Water proof liner/Mascara
• Honey facials
• Block heels in PVC (only if you cant do without them)

First blush

The head rush that love brings is enough to make you glow like a megawatt bulb, but if Monday morning madness does anything at all to your natural radiance this year you can still fake it like a pro.

Rose tint

Choose peachey coral cream blushes and top it off with a gold highlighter or for paler skin use a shell pink cream blush and highlight with silver

Doe eyes

No dramatic smoky eyes because on this day it’s all about keeping the look soft. Sweep a shimmery pale nude colour all over your lid. Use a matte brown in the outer corner and crease areas and line lower lids with a brown eye pencil/ eye shadow to complete the look. For smaller eyes, don’t go overboard with dark brown, this will only make them appear even smaller.

Pop kiss

Bee stung lips are big all through this season. Bright lips can be carried off by most skin tones if you know which colours work for you. Ruby reds(Inglot 401 or MAC Red She Said) and coral orange look great on darker skin tones. Fire engine reds and hot pinks flatter pale skin.


It could be 2020 and men with makeup would still be a no no, so leave the mascara and gloss for the ladies but there’s so much that you can do with that shiny mop on your head. It’s not without reason that Delilah chopped off Samson’s locks. There is a time tested connection between a man’s vanity and hairline

Medium length somehow works extremely well with the theme of romance and so do soft curls.

Bed head

Is a tussled style which requires careful gelling

Shag

Slightly longer hair worn up to the shoulders either straightened or tussled in the front.

When in doubt just keep it short.


Tips and toes

• Red nails are super, super hot at the moment
• Red ties work if properly co ordinated with clothes and accessories

Leg warmers

This winter temperatures dropped just enough for even the most sun-scorched of cities to take to Fall/ Winter trends. While strutting your stuff in faux fur is still quite out of question there are others that can effortlessly be accommodated into your existing wardrobe.
The winter essential of Bangalore city this year I observe is the hooded jersey. In the brightest of colours, teamed with everything from casual denim to cotton leggings what is particularly interesting is that so far nobody’s (men, women, kids) got it wrong. From what I hear Chennai experienced some very English weather all through December and while investing in a hoodie tee is an option it’s also the perfect time to pull up your socks quite literally.
Do away with boring black and disown done to death white, knee length socks in bright colours and interesting patterns work fabulously well with everything from short dresses to micro shorts. Alternatively use patterned or even opaque black stockings to accessorise an outfit. From chunky knits to delicate lace everything works. Bottom line: To stay sexy don’t show leg :D

• Choose a length that suits your body shape.
• If you're short, knee high socks that cut off below the knee are best paired with a hem no lower than the middle of your thigh.
• If you're in a colder climate then knitted socks might work for you. But avoid chunky and overt knitted socks: they were last a fashion trend back in 2007, and trends seldom repeat themselves so quickly.
• Avoid pairing knee high socks with tartan and plaid skits unless you can otherwise avoid the school girl overtones.
• Don't be afraid to layer.