Bang Bang Bang

I love my features and have nothing to complain about except for the fact that I have an extraordinarily broad forehead. A lot of times I have tried consoling myself with the fact that this way I have something in common with timeless beauties like Hema Malini and Madhuri Dixit but it has never helped. This is when a hair stylist introduced me to the joy of face framing bangs and ever since I have been a huge fan of the trend. Bangs have a multitude of benefits: they camouflage a high forehead, make long, thin faces appear fuller and almost totally nullify the need for Botox. Short bangs are drastic and give you a rock and roll swagger while brow or lash sweeping ones create a sexy peek-a-boo effect. Its the perfect time to get face framing layers because the trend is big and here to stay.

Weight Shifters

Eggs Eggs are loaded with choline a compound known to help block fat absorption Kiwi fruit A large Kiwi has more than a day’s quota of Vitramin C Lentils Legumes are rich in resistant starch a carb that encourages fat burning and shrinks fat cells Wild Salmon Omega -3 fatty acids in a fish help you fight flab more effectively Yoghurt Low and non-fat yoghurt contain 20 per cent of your daily calcium needs and also helps lose belly fat Apple I hate apples but then it isn’t without reason that man lost paradise over this forbidden fruit. Apples help ferry out some of the fat that you gain from other foods Quinoa Quinoa has all the essential amino acid needed to build metabolism muscle Sweet Potatoes They contain the same carbs as those found in lentils and also increase production of peptide hormone compounds that signal the brain to stop eating Olive oil Monosaturated fats in olive oil help switch on genes related to fat burning Edamame Green soybeens supply 17g of protein per cup and the body torches more calories digesting protein than it does with carbs and fat

Here Comes the Mom

Ash in an Abu Jani- Sandeep Khosla sari By walking the red carpet at the ‘Cosmopolis’ premiere during the 65th Annual Cannes Film Festival Ash proved that she's still got that sensual presence. However, the lady has been looking plain chubby these days which is ‘cute’ for a regular mommy but totally unacceptable for a beauty contest winner, ex-model and Bollywood actor. Her weight gain which has become an issue of national concern can be forgiven but we do wish the actor paid more attention to her make up and choice of outfits.

The svelte Sanjana (from the Pepsi commercial) and the dream like Nandini from ‘Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam’ is what we best remember you for. You are the ideal of Indian beauty for most of us and we would never want you to be a ‘real’ woman. We would love to be seeing a lot more of this

What Makes You Beautiful?

There are days when you look in the mirror and love what you see and then there are times when you wish God had spent just a little more time on you. What makes you beautiful? What makes your eyes sparkle and that smile radiate? There hasn’t been a time when people were more aware and conscious of their looks than now. Fact is that there is no face or body that cannot be transformed with some effort or a lot of money. Faces can be lifted and tummies toned or tucked but what about that glow? The experts say eight glasses of water or eight hours a day and yes we have heard about sleep in a bottle but there are people who follow none of these and still manage to radiate like a megawatt bulb. I guess beauty comes from somewhere within. Beauty comes from loving and being loved and then again like most mysteries of the world there are reasons unexplained. No wonder Anatole France thought beauty "more profound than truth itself."

Odd Stuff

20 adorable stuffed pugs(there’s a sequined rock chic Balmain pug and a crystal covered one by Manish Arora) produced by German company Steiff and customised by international luxury labels are to be auctioned on the Luisa Via Rome website in March and all proceeds will go to UNICEF for its project to help educate children in Bangladesh. Check www.vogue.in for more details.

An illustrated iPad case with the quirky designs of Albert Elbaz in durable polycarbonate material that is high impact resistant. Check Net-a-Porter.com for more details.

Irreverant and indefinitely stylish like all of Maison Martin Margiela’s creations this luggage tag inspired iPhone case is perfect for everyday office looks. Check www.net-a-Porter.com for more details.

Ferrari in association with British company Logic3 has introduced a high end range of audio equipment that includes headphones, earphones and dock speakers. Now, if a pair of oversized headphones with the brand’s signature ‘Prancing horse’ isn’t ‘hot’ what else is? Check www.ferrari-by-logic3.com.

Beauty and braids

Braids are so 2012. With the trend ruling both on the runway and the red carpet you know this classic style is not just for bad haired days. The Herringbone Braid The fishtail braid is intricate and works both dressed up and dressed down. The French Braid Try a side swept messy version of this classic style for effortless chic. The Wind-Swept Braid Works best if your hair is cut in layers. Scrunch your hair with mousse before braiding. The Swiss Braid Flaunt your girly side with this simple style and floral accessories. The Braided Updo Nothing spells sophistication and elegance like an updo. The Ribbon Braid We love what the stylists backstage did to the model’s hair at the Hermes Spring 2011 show. Experiment with scarves of different colours and textures Micro Braids Wear your hair loose with a few randomly sneaked in, or add interest to an otherwise boring pony tail

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.