eStylista

GO INDIA - The mother of all matches: India v Pakistan, WC11 semi final

Nothing unites India like a cricket match against Pakistan. If it is a world cup semi final - the madness and the fervour is taken to a whole other level. 

Ever since we won the quarter finals a mass hysteria began to build up - culminating in today.

One BILLION people will take the day off. 

There has been a colossal exodus to Mohali (the match venue) 

Tickets are changing hands at crazy prices - more than Rs 100,000 a ticket. 

Private Jets are no longer allowed to park at the tiny Chandigarh airport - they have to drop off their passengers and fly back to Delhi.

A friend's husband flew for a couple of days from New York in order to see the match. (I almost bought my ticket - but sanity prevailed. When we win (I am very optimistic) - all bets are off!

Accommodation is gold dust - the entire world and their aunty are converging on this tiny town.

My entire contact list on BBM chat is displaying the national flag.

Prayer meetings have been held, people have been fasting - so that India win.

A woman has declared she will bare all when we do.

I know of a bar in New York that will open at 4.30 am to show the cricket match.

The match has taken social pretensions to a whole other level - www.missmalini.com tells me that some society folk have actual Russian cheerleaders at their house for the match!

So much excitement - so much drama - for a game that is the national religion.

My plans to watch the match are complicated.

Twitter is a wonderful medium to feel the energy and to get a feel of what's happening live. I usually get into a multi-way twitter exchange with a whole bunch of people. We bemoan the team, cheer them on and it culminates in a grand finish when we win (again - notice the optimism).

I am carrying around my blackberry charger and multiple batteries in case of an emergency!

A friend has graciously decided to host the match in his house (there was some noise about my house being the venue, but thank god it's not - playing hostess when so much is at stake is terrible), so will ultimately end up there. It is going to be so much fun - the stress of a match happening so far away is a bit much, but it's better if shared with a whole bunch of cricket-mad friends.

The stakes are high. Imagine being in either of the teams right now. 

I pray for grace. Both if India wins and more so if the unmentionable happens. (It wont!)

It's a cricket match, don't liken it to war - it belittles the sacrifice of our soldiers.

We all want to win but in 6 hours or so from now… someone will be dealing with the result.

My astrologer tells me India will win (yes, I actually called him up and asked him!)

 

GO INDIA……

 

 

Post baby: losing the fat!

I got a lovely message from a friend asking me to blog on how I lost baby weight after my first pregnancy. Having a baby is the most beautiful experience in the world, but trying to deal with the after effects on your body is pretty daunting. Unless you are one of those skinny pregnant women who swing back right into shape (I know a few of those, I secretly found them very annoying :) especially as a new bloated mum).

When I was pregnant with my first-born, I decided to take pregnancy as a fab excuse to eat what I wanted. I was in Delhi at the time - pregnancy is treated as a very special condition. Well-meaning female relatives ply you with all kinds of yummy food. "Take it easy" is a constant refrain. I stood on the scales a few days after my son was born and to my utmost horror, I weighted in at 85 kilos. I had put on 31 kilos. It was way too much - 'normal' weight gain in pregnancy is 12-16 kilos.

Bu I did lose it. It was painful and required a lot of motivation. Here is how I did it. It's pretty much common sense - we have all heard it a million times.

1. Breastfeeding: It is good for the baby and it works wonders in trying to shed the kilos. It only works if you follow point 2 and 3.

2. Diet: The down-side of breastfeeding is that it makes you absolutely ravenous. I remember by first meal after his birth, I all but inhaled a full plate of food. The advice I was given was: control what you eat, cut the fat, no sweets, no chocolates, no refined carbs, no rice, lots of protein and veggies. Eat small meals throughout the day and drink lots of water and fluids. Simple foods, ideally non-spicy (babies rarely respond well to the mum eating spicy food).

3. Exercise: once the doctor gives the go ahead, start with moderate exercise and build up. I started with walking for an hour or so every other day and graduated to 5 sessions in the gym. There is really no substitute for exercise.

I swore by 40 minutes of interval training cardio, three times a week; this meant running at your highest speed for 3 minutes, slowing down for 3 and then running again - at the end I was running for 8 mins and slowing down for 2. I hate cardio. I will happily do weights and pilates but running I do kicking and screaming. You can add cycling, cross-trainers - whatever gets your heart-rate up. If you have had a normal delivery you can start doing ab crunches way sooner than if you have had a Caesarean section.

4. Massage: If you happen to be in India or southeast Asia, you are lucky, massage is way cheaper than in the west. It is really good for conditioning the skin and gently moving the muscles. Once again, on a doctors go ahead, I had a massage a few times a week. On a daily basis, I tried to do dry skin brushing and lots of moisturising after bath.

The birth of a baby is a wonderful time to celebrate the child as well as the mother. So if you are looking to buy a gift for a new baby, think of the mum as well - massage vouchers (with the offer to baby-sit if she needs it) will always go down a treat, or get the masseuse to come to her house :)

5. Consistency: For me - this is the biggest factor in weight loss. How many times do we start a diet or routine will all the best intentions in the world, only to give up in a week or so? Start as you mean to go on. Small, healthy changes to your everyday life. Drastic diets and fads work in the very short term. I was told a zillion times - it took 9 months to put on this weight, it will take at least as long to lose it. I hated hearing it, but sadly, it was true. 

With my second pregnancy - I did not put on so much weight, but even then it has been a struggle to lose the last few stubborn kilos. Men do have it really easy!!

Restaurant review: Momofoku

Address: 171 1st Avenue, New York, NY 10003, United States

Web: www.momofuku.com/restaurants/noodle-bar/

RATING: 9.5/10

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Amazing is an often used word, but in its truest sense, there are very few culinary experiences in life that can be called thus.

Momofoku is one of them.

It gets the sEtylista award for 'the restaurant with the name most likely to make you smile'. It means "lucky peach" in Japanese - but try and say it a couple of times in a row after a martini or two.

New York is special for me because it has little gems of shops and restaurants whose sole purpose is to make you go WOW. Momofoku does this and more.

It is not a fine-dining restaurant, it is a noodle bar - more Wagamama than Hakkasan in decor. You sit across a communal table on a wooden bench. The menu is printed on an A4 sheet of paper. There is no edgy design or snowy-white, billowing table-cloths or fancy silverware or designer-clad waiters.

But what you do have is mind-blowing food. (I am not one to go over-effusive with compliments, but in this case, humour me!) There is a zen-like quality to its simplicity - stripped of pretension, pared down to the basic raison d'etre of a restaurant: to serve tasty food. There are no Heston Bleumenthal-esque histronics - not a single nitrogen canister in sight.

We went there for lunch after a strong recommendation from a foodie friend - apparently they do the most amazing fried chicken. When we spoke to the concierge at the Mandarin Oriental, I am pretty sure he did a mental drool and said "You HAVE to try the pork buns". Thats pretty much all I knew about it.

The cab takes us away from 5th Avenue for a longish drive. We are dropped off in front of a very unassuming building. The restaurant only has three other people inside - by now,  I am slightly concerned. 

After a quick scan of the menu, I ask for the fried chicken. After looking at me rather incredulously - the waiter tells me with a straight face "You need to make an online reservation for that". At this point, he has totally lost me - an online reservation for fried chicken? Seriously? Even for New York, that seems a bit much.

Apparently, the fried chicken is a special that can only be eaten if you have had the fore-sight of getting an online reservation, and these are sold out for months. The chicken, I am told, is served two ways - half is TRIPLE fried after being marinated in Korean BBQ and the other half is southern fried chicken. As one reviewer put is "There may be better fried chicken in New York, but I haven't had it" 

At this point, I am feeling curiously let down, cheated almost.

Thankfully, the rest of the meal more than made up for it. Coming to the pork buns - absolutely divine!!! Without reservation, the best buns ever. Even the shrimp version with mayo, they were finger-licking good. 

The smoked Chicken Wings were perfection. If they were this good, I can only imagine how amazing the fried chicken might be.

The Momofoku chicken ramen, served with a light, airy barely poached egg; stunning, complex flavours, just the right amount of heat - a simple dish done really, really well.

 

To finish off, we had both the offerings - brown butter cake ice-cream and the coconut tangerine truffles, the perfect end to a really, really good meal!

I unreservedly, whole-heartedly suggest you make a trip to Momokoku the next time you happen to be in New York. If you live there, you are very lucky - go there now (or when ever you happen to secure the reservation)!

In either case - I would love a first person account of how good the fried chicken really is.

Link: The Deccan Chronicle quoted eStylista...

A friend just sent me an email alerting me to the fact that I am quoted in the Deccan Chronicle about an article on Twitter.

Since I am quoted alongside of stalwarts like Anupam Kher, Shashi Tharoor and Rajdeep Sardesai - its no bad place to be.

(Now only if they had placed a link to the blog…. )

 

 

Restaurant review: Dinner by Heston Blumenthal

Address: Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park, 66 Knightsbridge, London SW1X 7LA

Web: www.dinnerbyheston.com

RATING: 8/10

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Few restaurant openings have the ability to whip up such a foodie frenzy that they are sold out for months, even before being open two Sundays in a row.

Dinner by Heston Blumenthal managed to do so.

I foolishly happened to ignore a call from Carly at Quintessentially last November - she was offering me a dining slot at Dinner in February. So after the dramatic opening - I called her to get me booking - the earliest she could find was June. 

Luckily, yesterday, she had a cancellation - we grabbed the table and looked forward to an evening of culinary magic, after all - thats what the reviewers promised.

A cursory look at the menu online alerts you to the fact that the simple process of ordering food will be a challenge - for god only knows what "Meat fruit" or "Salamugundy" may be.

So here is the upshot: Dinner is fun. The atmosphere is a curious mixture of medieval and slightly futuristic - like a baronial hall teleported to the future. The lighting is a bit off - very yellow. 40 odd chefs work in the massive glass-encased show kitchen which is the focal point.

It is a big restaurant, it only does a single seating - 150 diners are accommodated at one time. This would explain the impossibility of securing a reservation. It is sold out till June, I am told. Telephone lines will open in April 1 for the next lot of bookings.

When you ask for the cocktail menu you are handed a long, long list of concoctions to choose from - approximately 70 at a rough count. If you are lost (as I was) - order the "Conde Nast Traveller" - it is totally sublime. A marvellous blend of exquisite tastes that smells heavenly. The Strawberry martini is pretty spectacular too.

Coming to the food. 

Its like a delightful lesson in culinary history. Each dish has been researched to the hilt and originates from some archaic recipe dated to the middle ages (and onwards). If you flip over the menu you are told the exact source.

The Heston hallmark of constant surprise is evident. 

The 'Meat Fruit" is a mandarin (nice pun on the hotel that houses the restaurant) - it looks like a fruit but is actually chicken liver with citrus undertones. Very interesting. Replicates the medieval custom of making one food look like another. Start with that.

Then go on to "Salamugundy" - it comprises of 'Chicken oysters' - chicken transformed to an oyster-like texture. My plate was spotless at the end!

 

Or you could go for the Mackerel - really yummy salad - and I am not a huge fan of mackerel.

Be a bit of a pig and order all the sides. The mash is the best I have ever had and so are the baby glazed carrots.

Even if you don't do so - order the Fries -  they are perfect. Very crunchy on the outside and buttery on the inside. Here they are in full techni-colour glory!

Coming to the mains. I didn't really like mine - but Dinner graciously didn't charge for it. But I am not mentioning which one it was coz' I am sure most people would like it.

The other one I tried was the Turbot. It was unequivocally delicious. Tasted like a beautiful summers day. Really fresh.

But it is in the desserts section where Heston's magic comes into its own. When you are ordering the mains, be sure to place an order for 'Tipsy cake' - it takes 30 minutes to make. It is served with spit roasted pineapple - intense, flavourful and mindblowing. Massive calorie overload - but we are not really counting - just be sure to savour every mouthful, you will be working them off in the gym the next day. Its ultimate comfort food.

The Brown bread ice-cream served on a crunchy, salty base - very unusual - lots of layers and textures. 

All in all - it was a memorable meal. English cooking at its very best. More than a meal, it was a total experience. I left with a strong appreciation of the sheer intellectual strength behind the concept and how it permeated into every aspect of the service. 

Dinner might not join the ranks of restaurants I visit very often - but it's a must try. Even if it is to cross off your list. It would have been nice if there was a tasting menu available - but you have to book the Chef's table for that.

Link: Tehelka published my article

Here is a link to an edited version of my last post published by Tehelka. It's about the Christies New York sale. 

 

A round-up: Christie's Modern and Contemporary Indian art sale

The Christies saleroom was pretty lively this morning. The auctioneer, wonderful Hugo Weihe was at his entertaining, painstaking best. He let every bidder, telephone and online, take their time - much to the impatience of some bidders in the room!

A staggering 5 star lots didn't sell - the Subodh Gupta installation 'Black things', the pale Gaitonde and the big SH Raza landscape, MF Husain's 'Embrace' and also his 'Blue horse'. In my opinion, this was partly due to sellers consigning them at very high reserves against (I presume) Christie's advice.

Gaitonde 'Untited'

SH Raza

The first big lot to come under the hammer was the vibrant red-orange Gaitonde. There was lots of pre-sale interest in this particular artwork. I heard from several people in the know that it was a stunning buy and I totally agree. I was a tiny bit in love with it - ultimately it was sold to a lucky bidder on the telephone.

The next big one was the cover lot - the Tyeb Mehta diptych. It went under the hammer (it was painful for me witness - imagine spending so much money on a painting, but what a painting!) for just over USD 2.8 million - a new world record for a Tyeb painting.

I love Tyeb Mehta. He was a genius. This particular offering was from the Tyeb family estate and is not typical of the artist's much loved style - especially as it had no colour. For many collectors, it is perhaps not the most representative of a Tyeb, but I admire it profousely as the , culmination of his stellar artistic career. It is literally Tyeb's last word, a distilled pronouncement of his philosophy. Marked with immense restraint, a profound minimalism, it is very powerful. It may not be very popular (I heard a fair bit of sentiment against the painting as well) but my gut feel is that time will tell. For sure, it will be included in every major retrospective of Tyeb's career. The owner is one lucky collector!

The SH Raza landscape with the bindu (my favourite) and his 'Village' - both beat expectation. Very pleasing, attractive works, so it was not surprising.

For me, the sleeper hit of the show was Manjit Bawa's 'Gaja Lakshmi'. At the preview, I didn't really notice it. I was way too enamoured by the Tyeb. But one very astute, flamboyant collector and art advisor told me that he has been in love with this painting for ten years!

But luckily for Christies, they happened to hang it at the back of the saleroom - it really stood out and looked very, very attractive. The positive subject, the beautiful, vibrant, flawless yellow background - it was stunning. It sold at the upper estimation.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

All-in-all, Christies netted just over USD 9 million. Not a bad figure at all in a dicey economic climate. The biggest learning from this is good artworks, priced well will always sell.

Buying at auctions or even attending is a wonderful experience for an art lover. You are able to see some true masterpeices. I really enjoy the process - the people, the drama, the beauty - especially when done in the company of people who are not only knowledgeable and passionate about art but also know how to have fun.

Art and other dream acquisitions...

This post was written last night - so it is written without the knowledge of how the paintings did in the Christies Modern and Contemporary Indian art sale. While this is published, I am sitting in the saleroom...

But here (in no order of preference) are the artworks I fell in love with and a few which I admire...

First in line is the Tyeb Mehta dyptch - this is the last painting he did before his death. It took him a painstaking 4 years to complete and it is totally mesmerising! It is also eye-wateringly expensive. So much so that Christies catalogue lists the estimation guides upon request. I am reasonably led to expect that it could go for several million dollars - Its going to make a lucky someone very, very happy...

The next item on my wish-list is rather predictable. It's a painting of horses by MF Husain. You can't really get more cliched than this. A painting of horses by Husain is the top request gallerists get from the first-time buyers wanting to display with obvious ostentation their ability to afford expensive art.  But this one is subtle - monochromatic and quite charming.

The third is by one of my favourite artists SH Raza. I am ignoring what may be regarded as the more important painting in the Christies catalogue for one that shows Raza in transition - from his impressionist landscapes to the bindus. I still remember, with great fondness the cover lot of Christies summer sale in London - Raza's stunning "Saurashtra" - I hope Mrs Nadar has given it pride of place in her museum in Saket.

The next one on my dream-list would be this Subodh Gupta sculpture - it is massive, it is attention grabbing and in the words of someone who should know "it is a lifetime supply of 'Chimtas'"!!  (metal tongs used to turn chappatis). Again - very expensive - its marked as USD 600,000 - USD 800,000. In the right home - it would be the ultimate 'statement' peice.

Gaitonde was the master of subtle understatement and a genius with colour. This particular peice is vibrant and rather beautiful.

I also like a few Jamini Roys - they are more traditional, but the religious undertones make them attractive

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It should be a fun sale - lets see how my dream-picks fare....

My dreamlist from the Christies Indian modern and contemporary sale..

The day began with a morning visit to the salerooms of Christie's at Rockefeller Plaza. All I did was sit and watch as the beautiful Ganesha statue I secretly coveted went for over a quarter of a million US dollars even before my (notional) paddle had chance...

So I spent the next few hours putting together a wish-list of paintings that I would, only if I could, buy from the sale of Modern and Contemporary Indian art tomorrow - if money were no object. (A girl can dream... right?) Wishful thinking is my speciality...

I have compiled, in no particular order of preference, my pick of the Christie's sale.

Given what I saw this morning - the financial uncertainty in the markets has not dampened the appetite of certain ultra-rich collectors. So the sale will be eventful.

While I write this post at 11pm tonight, it is timed so that the blog-post with paintings I like, will only be published at 11 am tomorrow morning, New York time - when the sale is almost over :)

Fashion Emergency...

A dear friend (who happens to be the director of Asian Art at Christies) messaged me a few weeks ago about a dinner he was hosting in New York, prior to their Indian sales in March - I happily accepted.

The invitation arrived - beautiful, handcrafted - the venue was a private mansion on 5th avenue. I was excited and packed a suitable black McQueen cocktail dress to wear.

At 5.15 pm on the day, I happened to be (as one often is) at the evening wear department at Saks 5th Avenue. The plan was to go back to the hotel for a quick shower and blow dry, get dressed and rush to the venue.

Whilst trying on a Marchesa dress (shown here worn by Anna Kendrick (L)) - because it was so OTT - I happened to BBM my host (jocularly of course) - "exactly how fabulous would you like me to dress". This was in response to him saying 'hope you are wearing something fabulous tonight'.

So my extremely fashion-forward friend (he is perhaps the most stylish man I know) responded - (may I remind you this exchange happened just before I had to get to the dinner) - "super fab - Vogue is covering the dinner"!!!!

For all male hosts out there - you never, ever spring upon a woman these exact words at such short notice!!

After a collecting my jaw from the floor, I requested Marie, the very helpful saleswoman (I love American customer service) to un-zip me so I could dash and get ready.

But now the zipper was stuck. It refused to move. Despite the strong mistrations of two people - it wouldn't budge. Not one inch.

After 5 (very stressful) minutes a seamstress was called.  She shook her head and pronounced - "We can't do anything, we have to unpick the zipper" - a delicate procedure which could take some time.

At this point I looked at my watch - it is 5.45 pm - the invite was for 6 pm - an decided to wear the dress.

This is where the aforementioned customer servicebwent  into high gear. Marie dashed off to the shoe department to procure a pair of nude Valentino heels. The dress is bronze with a diamante detail - so subtle shoes. She then made a couple of calls to the hair salon at Saks and to Louisa at the Cle de Peau makeup counter.

In ten minutes I am paid up and was ushered through the backdoors of Saks to get my hair pinned up (by now it is far to late for a blowdry, the only catch - I never, ever pin up my hair - so was very unsure, but assured by the stylist that it worked).

Whilst the haridresser did her bit, Marie got selection of clutches - I chose a mother of pearl clutch by Nada Sawaya. Then I was spirited to the make-up counter where Louisa performed her magic - it was now 6.45 pm - a sptritz of some Aqua De Parma perfume and I was good to go!

It was a total experience - not one I am keen to repeat - but I actually got dressed at a department store!

Marie took me to a waiting car - she was really, really efficient and super-helpful. Ten minutes later at 7 pm (one harrowing hour late) - I arrived at the venue -  magnificent McKim, Mead and White mansion.

My host's ultra-charming partner's expertise lies in monument conservation - and thank god he is very, very good at it.

It was a surreal experience, almost like stepping back in time.

Every detail was beautifully preserved, each decorative item must have been painstakingly selected from the appropriate period. I wondered how it functioned as a home for two people, but what an amazing home to have.

The Vogue photographer was very obliging - he promised to email me a photo, as I didn't have my camera on me (of all the times not to carry a camera!!) My phone camera could not do the light justice, so I wait for the photos...

Finally, after cocktails, 16 of us sat down to dinner in the sumptous wood pannelled library - the table was laid beautifully with an antique silver service - tall flickering candles - it was magical.

Many hours and lots of laughter and delightful conservation later, a bedraggled Cinderella arrived at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel, only to call the concierge and request a pair of scissors to unpick the zipper!

New York…..

I love New York.

I'm off in a couple of hours for a short trip. Its Asia week and the big auction houses - Christies and Sotheby's - are having their Modern and Contemporary sales. For an art lover - it is the place to be. New York art sales are a little less manic than London - you often get artworks at better prices.

Add to that the fab shopping (I seriously contemplated turning up with an empty suitcase and shopping my way through the trip) and the food and the night life… have I mentioned that I love New York?

So I've come to the serious question of - what do you pack for a three day trip to New York?

Very little obviously!!

I tend do most of my casual shopping when I go to the States. It is the mecca for amazing labels that are not available in London or are horrendously expensive - I am thinking Rick Owens, all the denim brands, Alice + Olivia, Alexander Wang (Herve Leger is soo much cheaper there) - the list is endless - with amazing stores like Barneys, Scoop - I am going to have so much fun. 

In my big (empty) suitcase apart from the basics..  All I have is one Lanvin top, my brown Gina heels, a Balenciaga Jacket and a McQueen dress.… That will have to see me through three days (apart from what I will buy, that is...) 

See you all on the other side of the pond….

Social Media 101: what to do and what NOT to do...

The internet and companies like Twitter are changing the way we interact with our world and how companies interact with us. They have amplified the reach of the average consumer. In the past the upset consumer would complain to friends and family or write a letter - but today the damage is considerably more.

 This is a tweet I posted a few days ago whist at the Airport at Delhi…

____________________________________________________________________________

@priyankagill

Priyanka Gill

Said the shop assistant at Kimaya to me "Madam, you are a size large(!!), our clothes are sized according to size zero types!!!" #WTF

17 Mar via Twitter for BlackBerry® Favorite Reply Delete 

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It was a minor incident – I was trying on clothes that were a bit too big for me and assistant said this in response to my asking for a smaller size. The reason (I presume) was that he did not have anything smaller and by some convoluted logic he was trying to explain it away. I am sure he did not mean to be anything other than helpful.

I left without buying anything and tweeted about it!

A few lovely friends on Twitter expressed rightful indignation and that was it.

Today I wakeup to this email.

From: Karmik Varma <karmik.varma@kimaya.in>

Subject: Response from Kimaya

Date: 19 March 2011 08:22:27 GMT

To: Priyanka Gill <priyanka_gill@hotmail.com>

Dear Priyanka,

Greetings from Kimaya!

This is in regard with your recent tweet - "Said the shop assistant at Kimaya to me "Madam, you are a size large(!!), our clothes are sized according to size zero types!!!"

We profusely apologise for the untoward incident that you may have faced at one of our stores and seek your assistance in ascertaining & reprimanding the staff personnel who was involved in the same.

Would you be so kind to tell us the store location and the name of the staff and/or designation and/or description of the person and also the approximate time and date of your store visit so that we could nip this once and for all. 

Once again, on behalf of Kimaya, we extend our sincerest apology and assure you of   taking strict action against the offender. Look forward to your response.

--

Thanks,

Karmik Varma

Vice President, Online Operations

Kimaya Fashions Pvt Ltd

www.kimaya.in

 karmik.varma@kimaya.in

karmik.varma@gmail.com

D -  022 61590507

M - +91 92233 24808

Kimaya gets points for pro-active customer service and trying to retain a slightly aggrieved customer.

But they are taking it a tad too far!!

The sales assistant may have been a bit politically incorrect, but it was seriously no hanging offence.

While companies like Kimaya have begun to harness the power of social media – they have to get the process right. A better way would have been an instant tweet saying “oops – sorry, we really didn’t mean to do this” as opposed to this very formal email. I have nothing against the shop assistant – and really don’t wish to see him reprimanded!

 
A few companies get it right.

Like the Grosvenor house in Dubai. Whilst having dinner at their excellent Rhodes Mezzanine ...

  
I tweeted: 

____________________________________________________________________________

@priyankagill

Priyanka Gill

White tomato soup @ rhodes mezzanine, grosvenor house dubai.. Yummy! http://yfrog.com/55abqpj

9 Nov via Twitter for BlackBerry® Favorite Reply Delete

via  YFrog

 _____________________________________________________________________________ 

Almost instantly I got a tweet back saying, thank you! we are delighted you like it.

That’s the way it should be done.

Social media is a whole new frontier for companies – they have to get it right. Here are my tips.

1. Every company should have a Twitter account – ideally the name of the company. The Twitter handle must be prominent in all contact details.
2. The person in-charge of it has to be soc-media savvy - ideally she/he must be involved in the company. If you are service-based company like a hair salon with regular clients, she/he should know your clients – in my experience outsourcing it to the PR company results in very corporate tweets. 
   
3. The monitoring of Twitter should be on going. Constant searches of the company name – and instant appropriate responses (a sense of humour would help)
4. The frequency of company tweets should be regular, not overwhelming - informative, chatty.
5. Running promotions on twitter, announcement of sales – all this is part and parcel of any forward thinking marketing plan.
6. The follow list must be well chosen – clients, individuals important to the industry and potentially every person who tweets about the company. Trying to ‘follow’ every follower will result in a bot-heavy list.

All this done well – will make and maintain happy customers…

Perhaps eStylista should offer social-media training to companies - it would be based on my (extensive) experience as a consumer and happy user of all things online and social! 

My Style: transitional looks

Dress: Missoni AW10

Shoes: Gina for Selfridges

Jacket: Balenciaga

Dressing for transitional weather is challenging, especially in temperamental London.

Winters are easy - many layers, big coats. But come March and your brain is shouting (wistfully) spring but the thermostat can't make up its mind, leaving you in total wardrobe dilemma.

My solution to such quandaries is to fall back on favourite staples. In this case - the Balenciaga jacket. I bought it years ago in New York. It has seen me through everything - pregnancy, travel and seasonal changes. Over a pair of skinny jeans, with a lace top and boots , or to toughen up a dress - super soft, made of buttery leather, very comfy and I love it!

Another fall-back for me is the Italian label Missoni. Its the lazy person's answer to stylish dressing. A Missoni dress, stockings and heels - and you are set for almost anything. Lunch with friends, a spot of shopping, dinner or for meetings teamed with a well-cut jacket. Its perfect for those crazy days when your diary is crammed with assorted appointments. 

Missoni was a life saver when I was pregnant with my daughter - it looked good and stretched in the right places. 

Knit dresses also make great travel pieces - don't crease and easy to pack. 

As for the shoes - they are Gina special editions for Selfridges. Super high but on the comfy scale (one is "I can walk all day" - ten is "my feet are killing me") would be a seven - perfect for car to restaurant and back but definitely not for walking all over town. 

Lets see if you can guess where this photo was taken :)

Blogging....

I've been in Delhi for the past few days. Between work and meetings and breakfasts, lunches and dinners with family and friends - I haven't been able to blog - had serious withdrawal symptoms

My blackberry refuses to send out data, the WIFI at home is not working, and as a result I have been totally disconnected and dependant on Twitter for my news (It is really reliable - I seem to follow a great collective of people!)

Today, after a heavenly head massage/blow-dry and manicure/pedicure at the Hyatt salon (it is only in India where four people will work on you at the same time to finish off everything in little over an hour!) - I went to the business centre to check my (many, many) mails and lovely messages from readers on the blog :

Now nothing makes me happier than nice comments left on the blog (well, at a push the absolutely delish Ostrich Bougainville Birkin 30cm that is currently languishing at Hermes, Delhi waiting for moi. But I don't have a birthday/anniversary coming up... It is pinkish in tone - so maybe a celebration of www.estylista.com? Somehow I don’t think it will fly as a persuasive argument with R!!)

The process of checking emails at a business centre brought back vivid memories (circa 1998) of going to "cyber-cafes" (remember them??) and excitedly reading the (few) emails I got,  logging on to yahoo/msn chat to 'speak' to my then fiancée R - he actually created my first email I'd for me (ah.. True love!) Now ten years hence, we live in a totally different world...

Its also a scary world, technology is a double-edged sword.  The terrible devastation besieging Japan is heart-wrenching, nightmare-inducing and like never before leaves one feeling helpless in the merciless hands of nature. While we happily go about our normal lives, life has come to a standstill for an entire nation.

 "Pray for Japan" feels a bit too pat - but then that is all we can practically do (along with donating). For me - it’s a powerful affirmation to the higher power. So I do pray for Japan and hope it's woes will soon be over so that recovery can begin.

My style: Sari appeal

Designer: Manav Gangwani

There is no garment that celebrates a woman as much as the sari. It clings in the right places (and hides the tell-tale bits). Its slinky, its sensual and it is very, very chic.

For black-tie do's the sari is my first choice. You stand out in a sea of black gowns and there is little chance that someone will be wearing the same outfit.

I don't have a whole host of Indian designers fighting for space in my closet - I have a some by Tarun Tahiliani, Suneet Varma, Sabyasachi and Manish Malhotra but the majority are by Manav Gangwani. 

Manav's USP is fit. His blouses are well cut and look amazing on. He is definitely not for the shy-hearted, but I am assured (by him) that he caters to clients of all sensibilities.

I wear his saris for impact. I get them 'pre-stitched' which means the pleats are stitched in and you can wrap the sari, almost like a skirt - I never really learnt how to tie the six yards of fabric with the elegance it demands. And now I opt for convenience over authenticity

I started wearing his designs a few years ago, and over time he became a friend. He did a fabulous fashion show for the Pratham UK Gala 2010. I can assure you all (male) jaws hit the floor when the models began walking the ramp.

 

Facebook Photos of the Pratham UK Gala

 

Restaurant review: The Ledbury

Address:  127 Ledbury Road, Notting Hill, London W11 2AQ

Web: www.theledbury.com

RATING: 9/10

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Fine dining is a tricky proposition. Its a way for restaurants to charge an arm and leg with the promise of exceptional food, perfect service - leading up to a memorable experience. That is the theory at least, but in reality - it is far too easy to get it wrong.

The main pitfall is stuffiness. The trapping of grandeur often becomes a failing. I remember one meal at Gordon Ramsey's flagship at Royal Hospital road. I wished to use the ladies room. A waitress all but led me by the hand and waited patiently by the door to lead me the 12 steps back to my seat. Now don't get me wrong - Royal Hospital Road is a wonderful restaurant, but sometimes they take themselves a tad too seriously. 

One restaurant that has managed to get it all right - down to the last detail, without making a fuss of it is the Ledbury. Now that it has been awarded a prestigious 2 Michelin star rating - reservations are hard to come by, unless you are seriously lucky. The usual wait for tables is two months.

Firstly - the food is stellar - from the innovative amouse bouche, the amazing breads (the bacon bread is legendary!) to the various courses and dessert (the best souffle in town) - there is no fault to be found. It is interesting, presented spectacularly, so tasty that you would happily ask for seconds.

Where they get it really right is the service. It is attentive, but not stiflingly so. The staff know their wine and food and more importantly they also have a sense of humour. Its the kind of place where you could go in your jeans and blazer, not feel underdressed and yet enjoy some of the best cooking in London. 

The ambience is inviting. The room is not particularly large, but a clever use of mirrors makes it seem expansive. Most tables are good, except perhaps for the one in the far corner behind the service area, next to the kitchen doors. 

If you are a wine buff - you can bring along a special bottle - they charge corkage but will prepare a menu specially for you.

All this is not cheap. A (relatively) cost effective way to enjoy the Ledbury is to come for the set lunch. For GBP 35-40 pounds per head you can enjoy a three course meal.

Yesterday we tried their tasting menu. It met expectations and more. R had the vegetarian tasting - and he didn't feel short-changed - that is rare. I would even go as fas as to call it the best vegetarian tasting menu in town. If your date is veggie and you wish to impress - its your perfect choice.

The Ledbury's sister restaurant is the Square - when we tried its tasting menu - very disappointing - mediocre food at exorbitant prices.

If there is one restaurant I can unreservedly (and safely) recommend - it is the Ledbury. It is quite possibly my favourite restaurant in London.

Curly hair and all things fair…

I have a new twitter follower today - Sarah Khan - among other things that struck me about her (she rated an immediate follow) was the fact that she champions curly hair.

Male readers may want to switch off at this point, but I if you are a woman, especially if you have curls - read on…!

Now I have a confession to make - I have curly hair - not just frizzy or gentle waves - its a head full of maggi-noodle curls. Mean girls in boarding school would call me Maggi Noodles - If you are one of those… an apology would go a long way :)

(For those of you who didn't grow up eating this staple of childhood on the Indian sub-continent, Maggi is a brand of very curly noodles manufactured by Nestle)

So I spent my teenage years wrestling (rather unsuccessfully) with my curls; until I bid adieu to the nuns and hostel wardens, began college and discovered the joys of blow-drys and hairdressers. Talk about simple things that change your life - I felt like a whole new person - no, scratch that! - I was a whole new person!

I have acquaintances, some close friends even who have known me for years, but have never seen me au-naturel hairstyle wise. 

There is something about a sleek shiny hair that finishes an outfit - I use this logic to justify my visit to Michael Van Clarke every couple of days or so. Now the problem arises when I go on holiday - especially a beach holiday. Maintaining straight hair is next to impossible - so I learnt to tame the curls.

The answer lies in product. Over the years I have tried and tested most curly hair products in the market. If I am going to wash my hair and embrace the curls (it has been known to to happen - out of sheer necessity) - here is how I do it...

(If I have been good and have remembered to leave in some Phillip Kingsley Elaticiser, its a bonus.)

The product line that has worked for me is the Kerastase oleo-curl line. Before washing I brush out my hair throughly. Then I wash and condition and after removing excess water I take a squeeze of the curl definition cream, run it through the hair and scrunch up the curls. I let it dry naturally, a touch of the serum and voila - a head full of shiny ringlets and I am a whole new person!

Its a totally other matter that the ringlets last for only a day. After a good nights sleep, frizz wins the battle and I am left with a (big) halo of hair - waiting for its transformation...

p.s. now that I have a daughter, I hope that she has straight hair!

Pins and Needles...

I went to see an osteopath today. For the uninitiated - like me - its a daunting proposition - allowing someone to crack your bones sounds highly risky. But my shoulders had become so tight that having a massage was very painful - it was an exercise in endurance instead of relaxation. I decided to bite the bullet.

After observing me stand and bend, Byron Spiers casually offered to make a slight adjustment to my shoulders - this involved a little jerk and an ominous little crack between my shoulder blades - I was petrified!

But 45 minutes later - I ended up a convert. 

He used a combination of acucpuncture and cupping to relieve the tension in the shoulders and at the end of the session - there was a visible difference. I stood a bit straighter and felt lighter. 

Bryons's tips:

1. Breathe right - A lot of people (like me) breathe incorrectly. I was taking short shallow breaths and breathing through my shoulders. The correction was simple - Place one hand on the stomach and when you breathe in make sure the hand rises. 

2. Drink enough water - we have all heard / read it often enough - but in practice, its a bit different - water is back on my to-do list again...

3. Stretch the shoulders - place your forearm against the wall, elbow in line with your shoulder and stretch on the opposite direction. Do this on both sides a few times a day.

Three simple things and he assures me I will feel like a new person. (in a small way, I already do)

Restaurant review: Spice Market

Address:  10 Wardour Street, London W1D 6QF

Web: www.spicemarketlondon.co.uk

RATING: 6/10

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Spice Market is the newest entrant into the London fine dining scene. 

It opened to some very good press at the London outpost of the uber-trendy W hotel chain.

Getting a reservation for dinner at Spice Market is not easy. So when Carly called to ask if I would like to step in for a last minute cancellation, I jumped at the chance.

Michael Van Clarke and Caroline Kremer were our guests. The Hare Ball is their brain-child and they caught us up with the exciting things being planned for the gala event at the Dorchester on May 26 2011.

The (never-ending) battle of the bulge...

If there is one thing men and women have in common - it is the desire to be thin. We may not agree on major issues like toilet seats (they ALWAYS stay down!) and shopping (it IS important) - but when it comes to losing weight, the sexes are definitely on the same page.

I remember when I was younger, I was lucky enough to eat what I like without the tell-tale bulge. Slowly, the pounds began to pile on - so the exercise routines began. I managed to stay ahead - just about, but then the babies came. Now I love my kids - but what childbirth does to the body is totally another issue. 

With my eldest I put on 31 kilos! it was almost a whole other person - I remember standing on the scales, a few days after his birth and seeing the number 85 (kilos) flashing!!

As soon as I could, I began to exercise (a lot) and diet (hated it) - it took one painful year to regain a semblance of what I used to be. 

When I got pregnant the second time round I had learnt my lesson. I was more sensible (and busy running around the first) - I put on 13 kilos. Its eight months on (time flies!) and the last 7 kilos still stubbornly hang on! 

I have tried everything...

Crash dieting - it doesn't work! It only makes you crabby and miserable

OTT exercising - Doesn't work either - the moment you stop (or eat) the inches pile on

The raw food cleanse with Raw Fairies - it was good, but then it can't be a lifestyle choice - it brought my social life to a grinding halt!

Capsiplex tablets - Initially they really seemed to work , but the more I took them, the less effective they became

The key I realise, lies in moderation.

I have finally settled down to one hour of exercise 5 says a week - a mix of gym (with Diego Core) and Pilates on the reformer (with his beautiful wife Daniele Kleiber). 

My diet is a bit of a hit and miss - I avoid carbs as much as I can - but the desserts get me every single time. I am yet to meet a chocolate souffle I can say no to!

But then - life is short - deprivation is bad for the soul (or so I firmly believe)!

My style: the colour Green

Emerald green is my favourite colour. As it was Diwali, I wore a polki necklace. The dress is possibly one of my favourite dresses :) It may be time to take it out of the closet again...

In the picture with me is stylist and wonder-woman Elika Gibbs and her friend Tamara Mellon - I don't know her very well, but I hear she loves her shoes ;)

Dress: Balmain

Shoes: Rene Caovilla

Jewellery: Rakyan's Delhi

My style: glitter and gold

What do I have in common with Elle Macpherson, Claudia Schiffer and Hayden Panettiiere?

I wore this special edition Versace dress to my birthday in June 2009. The theme was Burlesque - bling was mandatory! The party was at Home House - fab space and Janina in their events team is super helpful! Caroline Hurley at Quintessentially Events produced it beautifully...

DRESS: Versace (SS09)

SHOES: Versace (SS09)

STYLED BY: Katy Scarlett Taylor

The dress got a lot of attention! It was a runway piece and it certainly did the rounds..

It made its appearance on the cover of Tatler UK with Elle Macpherson, Vogue UK with Claudia Schiffer and Hayden Panettiiere with InStyle, it was also Gwyneth Paltrow's choice for the Grammys!

I loved wearing it…  

… writer's block, privacy and other things

After the AMAZING McQueen / Paris experience yesterday - I now sit in front of my MacBook with a massive case of writer's block. What cheers me up is my Google Analytics screen that tells me many (497.. yippee) people actually came to the blog and read it!!

Blogging is a surreal experience. You are putting yourself out there, especially if the blog is about YOU!

Over the past few days, well-meaning friends have queried me over privacy, "Why would you want to put your life out in the open?" to "Are you ok with your photos being on the internet?" and "Is R ok with all this?"!

I have given it some thought, and the short answer is that I have a point of view! I like articulating it, and enjoy the process. In absence of a full time 'proper' job; the blog forces me to critically look at my activities and my day and try and distill it and its fun!!

Privacy is a bit of an evolving concept.

Pre-Google it existed as the default option. Then we got used to seeing our name 'out there' and it gave a secret vicarious thrill followed by a (never-to-be admitted) sense of disappointment that the only place where your name came up, in the right context, was a government census record!

Pre-Facebook, we would have never dreamt of having our photos or our lives open to a large group of "friends". The profile photo is linked to a name and it is public. As long as it's a nice photo, I don't think many people care if the world can see it or not!

Twitter has further shifted boundaries - it's mobile, it's on the go and it's addictive. I slowly, sadly see my Facebook friends coming onto it. The illusionary veil I had drawn notionally between Facebook and Twitter is dissolving.

For me, Facebook is very 'social' - a way to keep friends on it aware of what's (superficially) on my mind and what's happening with my life. Its like making polite conversation with acquaintances at a cocktail party - with all the associated judgements that we make and shields we put up.

Twitter is a bit more intellectually challenging, a conversation where I am trying to hold for a nano second the attention of people I don't really know. It's like a party where I meet total strangers, may never see them - this informs what I talk about. Why do I do it? Because it's fun! (really!!… you should know me by now :))

Social pages in magazines, 'street-style' blogs, even friends commenting on or a Facebook photo validate for us the notion that it's ok for you and your image to be out in the big-bad-web.

The shenanigans of women attempting to acquire the cachet of a magazine profile are par for the course in Delhi and Mumbai and in cities across the world.

And as for R, frankly, as long as I don't put up information about him or my kids without his knowledge, he doesn't really care...

Paris Fashion Week: The Alexander McQueen Show

As I sit propped on the sofa nursing my aching feet - after a while certain (fabulous) shoes become instruments of torture! - I reflect on things I have learnt today:

1. If you are standing on a tilted escalator that is moving downwards in high heels it is better to stand facing up. If you have travelled by Eurostar - you know what I mean. Till I was told this I was in major danger of slipping and taking down people standing ahead of me!

2. Paris is a beautiful, beautiful city (Yes, I know it is stating the obvious) - but I fall a little bit more in love with it each time I visit. 

3. Sarah Burton @ Alexander McQueen Rocks!! With this collection she has proclaimed independence from the McQueen legacy, while still holding on to its heritage of craftsmanship. It is her declaration of independence. The colours, the prints, the brocades, the complicated drapes I adored about McQueen has been replaced with an edgy, grownup refined sensibility. Its different - time will tell if its commercial, but it is very, very brave. Mono-chromatic clothes designed with immense restraint, STUNNING shoes… I cant wait to see this collection in stores. (But I do miss McQ himself...)

4. It is good to have fabulous friends in high places who can organise such amazing experiences. Take a bow, Charu Sachdev of Kitsch India :) 

5. While the McQueen show was everything I thought it would be - it put into strong relief the theatrics and drama of the Dior show. The crowds outside were smaller, it was more organised. But the Dior show was much more of an EXPERIENCE, I was truly lucky to witness both!

 

Alexander McQueen… *sigh*

As I type this, I am surrounded by clothes - having a major god-what-do-I-wear moment...

It's a McQueen show - so something McQueen obviously - I have the most amazing shoes in mind. (Pics to follow later in the day). So we start from there. The rest of the outfit I want to keep neutral - to focus on the shoes.

I'm thinking black - but its such a pretty day. Its an evening show - so something more dressy…. choices, choices - if I don't make up my mind, I am going to be late! 

So I will now stop procrastinating...

Paris Fashion Week 2010: part deux for moi :) Yay!!

 

 

OMG.. Pucci gifted me a handbag!

I have never been a big Pucci fan. But their Fall-Winter 2010 collection was quite a departure - the dresses were short, oh-so-sexy and fun.. I ended up buying these three dresses from their New York store. 

In November, Raj got this email from the wonderful Konstantine...

From: Konstantine Shakiashvili  Subject: Dear Rajvhgjj To: Rajjjjkkk Date: Tuesday, November 16, 2010, 11:30 AM Dear Rnnjkaj . I hope all dresses worked out well. I was just reaching out to let you know that we are giving our "Marquise bag" to our clients as a gift. we are putting Initials on the bag and I was wondering what would that be for your bag. also what would be the address to ship. sending you picture of the bag, Thank you  Konstantine Emilio Pucci Boutique 701 Fifth Avenue New York, NY 10022 212.230.1135 T 212.230.1179 F www.emiliopucci.com

And the bag arrived today!!

I have bought a lot of clothes from a lot of brands - but this is the first time, I have been gifted a $1595 bag...

Its great marketing - I am definitely calling Konstantine to see what new things they have...

Restaurant review: 5 Pollen Street

Address: 5 Pollen Street, Mayfair, London W1S 1NE

Web: http://5pollenstreet.com/

RATING: 5/10

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I have an admission to make...Trying out new restaurants is not something I like very much!

A meal at the ones I know and like is like visiting an old friend - comfortable, you are bound to have a good time - no nasty surprises. A new one is like a blind date - no matter how good the reviews, there is a strong possibility of an "OMG - what am I doing here!" moment.

Pollen street is tucked away in one of the side roads, off Regents street - the location is a bit awkward and it's a tiny restaurant. We got there at 8.30 pm. It was a Saturday night and the restaurant was lacking atmosphere - not really a good sign.

Here is the lowdown. The lighting is bad - I hate seeing a shadow of my head on my plate. The restaurant is tight - not much space for service. The tables are too close together. You get a plate of baby veggies on ice with a small olive oil dressing to nibble on - not really the best combo, especially on a cold night. The menu is pretty much standard for a modern Italian restaurant - with a few small twists. 


Well, the food is not too bad (I am being generous). R had the mushroom flan, he liked it,  I am not a big mushroom fan. I had the asparagus salad - it tasted better than it looked but it did not make me say "wow - this is amazing!" This is perhaps the leit motif for the food.

The mains were the same story. Our friend Sanj had the trout - which was really nice, I had the sole - again, nice but uninspired.

The desserts were a bit of a disappointment - I had the cannoli but left most of it on the plate, the waitress asked me how it was, I said I didn't really like it. She smiled and said "Good!" and whisked the plate away!! Raj had the chocolate fondant, it was so-so. Gurmit had the "iced tiramisu soufflé" - pretty much a regular tiramisu with less sponge and a bit of ice in the centre. The cappuccino R had was too strong and he left most of it. The mint tea I chose was too weak!

I'm not going back again. I'm going to stick to my usual haunts till something more spectacular opens. We have a reservation for Heston Bleumenthal's Dinner in June (!) We'll also be trying out Spice Market at the W soon...

 
 

Paris Fashion Week: The Dior Show

From a gloomy morning in London, the Eurostar whizzed me into a perfect day in Paris - bright, sunny and crisp. 

Eurostar is really the most sensible way to get to Paris from London - you avoid the hordes at Heathrow, the cues for security and the long journey from Charles De Gaulle airport to Paris city centre. You just have to make sure you have a car booked to take you from Gare Du Nord station to your destination, or you might end up standing for long time in the taxi rank.

Quintessentially had a car waiting to take me to the oh so trendy L'Avenue restaurant.  I quickly said hi to the lovely Ruth (manager of the Dior showroom on Sloane Street) who had organised a lovely lunch. I ended up at the Plaza Athenne hotel to meet my friend Shalini Sharma (editor at Hi-Blitz magazine in India) for a quick bite.  Then it was off to the Musée Rodin - a white tent was erected there for the Dior show.

The atmosphere outside was electric. Hundreds of people thronged the street: by-standers, photo bloggers, journalists, cameramen, photographers. Every few steps, one of them would kindly ask for a photo :), it was my 5 minutes of fame. I stopped and posed and thoroughly enjoyed the attention. The trick is to wear something that stands out and smile! Now I wonder how I can find out if any of those photos made their way to the net.

I wore a Dior leather dress in hot pink (SS11), with a big dark blue Versace fur. We pushed our way in through the crowd. Kalyani Chawala - the face of Christian Dior in India, was at the entrance to make sure her invitees got in. She took us to our seats - there was palpable anticipation in the air, a sense that we were part of an important moment in fashion history. The set was very Dior - perspex, clear glass, chandeliers...

The lights dimmed and then brightened. "The show must go on" is a term often used but never has it been so true. In an unprecedented move, a visibly emotional Sidney Toledano, the vice-president of Dior, stepped onto the catwalk and read a speech in French - the gist of which was "It has been deeply painful to see the Dior name associated with the disgraceful statements attributed to its designer. However brilliant he may be... all these skilled workers who preserve day after day, never counting the hours, the value and vision of Monsieur Christian Dior these skilled workers today have broken hearts. What you are about to see now is the results of their immense work." Sindey Toledano speech

And what a collection it was. The first few looks eerily channeled the spirit of Monsieur Galliano - the buccaneer, swashbuckler with massive capes and flamboyant hats. There were lots of fur trims, chiffon dresses, a truly beautiful collection. 

And as each member of the 1200 strong audience began to wonder who will take the bow at the end - 30 men and women dressed in white coats of the Dior studios, and ateliers stood on the catwalk, beaming, clapping, wiping away a surreptitious tear. The tent resounded in a protracted massive ovation.

I was lucky to witness the show - it was pure theatre - emotional, yet exhilarating! 

On the way out, after posing for a few more cameras (it was so much fun!!) and speaking to a few bloggers on the street, it was time to head back to London.

It was a fun day - can I say once again how much I love fashion....

The morning of the Dior Show

Late nights are a terrible idea if one intends to leave on time to catch an early-ish Eurostar to Paris. Especially if the morning also involves getting a 5 year old to school and dealing with a baby. After a fair bit of juggling, lots of help and some bribery (how do kids know when you are rushed and vulnerable, and susceptible to agreeing to just about anything to see them out of the door in their uniform?) I quickly got ready, found my passport, forgot my sunglasses, pen and notebook and rushed out, only to be told by the driver that there was a massive pile up en route to St Pancras. So, I was dropped off at Baker Street Tube station (all dressed up in a fur coat and a massive Birkin bag!) I took the Jubilee line to Kings Cross - I haven't been on the tube for a while, especially after my pregnancy last year! The things one does for fashion!

Looking forward to the show - will blog and tweet!

How to... Attend a fashion show

So you've been invited to a fashion show? (In my case, it's a Christian Dior Show at Paris Fashion Week!!) After a few cartwheels, you sit down and think OMG, what am I going to wear? In today's age of photo/fashion blogs, if you get it wrong, your sartorial choice may be recorded for prosterity with the dreaded "what not to wear" tag.

In times of uncertainty, I did what every self-respecting, tech savvy woman would do - I called my friends. That didn't work out so well, so then I trolled the net and after a few voyeuristic sojourns on varous twitter feeds arrived at the all important question "does one only wear Dior?" After calling up one of my fav salespersons, Amir, who used to be at Versace and has just changed jobs and now works at Dior on Sloane Street, I went shopping :).

After much deliberation, I bought a dress (or two); checking first to make sure how many had been sold (3 worldwide!) - I did not want to be sitting next to someone wearing the exact same outfit. Later, I nipped in to see the fabulous Elena at Michael Van Clarke. She is a genius with a hair dryer. All set!

The evening ended at Zuma with fabulous company - a few close friends and a (straight) Irish broker who knew handbags, shoes and fashion as well as he did his swaps and bonds). Many martinis and laughs later, I was in bed - tomorrow is another day! Sooo excited ...