eStylista

Maid from India...

There is a whole tradition of young women (like me) who are born and brought up in India, (blessed with the many comforts and staff that are de rigeueur in that lovely part of the world) who get married to men living in London.

I love London, but remember acutely the sheer shock of not having the many people in India who made life so simple! "Driver bhaiya" - the friendly chauffeur, the cook, the cleaners, maids. Let us all admit to being a tiny bit spoilt! 

While you might with a sigh say goodbye to an entire staff, once you have kids - one seriously begins to miss an extra pair of hands!!

When my son was born, bringing over his nanny from India became a matter of prime importance. I had done enough research to realise that using the route of the nanny agency may well not work - because there is a cultural difference (I really needed someone Indian, who would speak to the kids in Hindi etc.) 

So I contacted my lovely friend Ratika Puri Kapur. She is a lawyer based in the UK, who does a lot immigration work - but is best known for being able to get 'maid visas' - UK visas for household staff. She was able to get the visa cleared with little hassle and I finally had some sanity return into my life. 

If you are ever in a similar situation, you will do well to contact Ratika - she is single-handedly responsible for the many lunches that (Indian) ladies of leisure attend in London - how would they be possible if there was no nanny at home ;) 

(This post is a plug - but before I knew Ratika, I remember searching high and low for someone I could trust to get this done - hopefully it will be helpful to some new mom)

My Style: Black Beauty

The colour black is the cornerstone of most wardrobes. When in doubt, wear black - right?

It's chic, its slimming - it never goes out of style.

So as the sun seems to be shining brightly in London - I look fondly at my light, bright summer dresses and pick a few black staples from my wardrobe for the eStylista ode to my favourite colour - they will (optimistically) be put away till autumn comes!

Black beauty by estylista featuring hermes bags

Lanvin top
$795 - barneys.com

 

Citizens of humanity jeans
170 GBP - net-a-porter.com

 

Alaia cut-out suede heels
$2,085 - net-a-porter.com

 

Yves Saint Laurent Square-frame metal sunglasses
229 GBP - net-a-porter.com

 

Balmain jacket
weareprivate.net

 

Hermes bag
bagsofluxury.com

 

Hair today, gone tomorrow…

Women have a complicated relationship with hair.

On one hand we want more of it. Mini-fortunes are spent trying to style it, tame it - products, treatments, hair-cuts, blowdries - all in the never-ending quest for shiny manes.

Everywhere else we are constantly trying to get rid of it. When I was a precocious teenager (much to my mother's horror) I came home during holidays with a botched waxed leg - a disastrous result of DIY waxing in boarding school. Ever since then - a lot was dictated by the state of (body) hair growth.

I spent my teens and early twenties juggling waxing appointments. Then came salvation - laser hair removal. Six sessions of laser later, waxing became a distant memory. Freedom from waxing is precious - you can pretty much wear anything at the drop of a hat, without worrying about unwanted hair. Laser was not the most comfortable solution - but the results were so worth it. Whoever tells you laser feels like 'a rubber band snapping against your skin' is patently lying - or has an unnaturally high pain threshold! 

With pregnancies and kids and all sorts of hormonal mayhem a few fine hair sprouted again and I booked an appointment for a laser top-up session at Harrods Medi-spa.

Oh-my-god things change in a few short years.

Hair removal lasers have now totaly become pain free! I don't make this claim lightly. They used the Soprano laser - gently rubbing the handset for 80 seconds over a small area - thats all it was - promise!!

No pain, no discomfort - the most uncomfortable part was cold gel being applied to the skin! Apparently they can treat all areas of the body without pain - I was utterly amazed - given my earlier experience with similar technology. Sporano was much quicker than the older lasers - required no numbing creams. 

Sunlight is kryptonite to laser treatments - it may lead to hyper-pigmentation - something you definitely do not want to contend with. A high factor SPF (something you should be using anyway) and avoiding exposure to direct sunlight are both recommended post laser.

Laser hair removal is (in my opinion) the best way to spend your beauty bucks - it makes holidays so much simpler!! Its not cheap at the outset - but a worthwhile investment - both in terms of time and money. Imagine - never having to wax again!!

(Of course - all treatments should be undertaken after proper medical advice and results vary. It is recommended to go to a clinic you can trust and to an experienced technician - I have heard horror stories of burning and scarring when lasers have been improperly used.)

My Style: Little Black Dress

 

Dress: Balmain AW2010

Shoes: Alaia SS2011

Bag: Pucci

A Little Black Dress is like a best friend - the right one virtually changes your life. It's there for you when nothing else seems to work. You rely on it in times of dire emergency. It lifts your spirits and is guaranteed to make you feel great. 

The LBD is the instant answer to the dreaded "I have nothing to wear" dilemma.

Style goddesses have embraced it with a passion - from the legendary Coco Chanel (she is credited with its invention in 1926 - prior to that black dresses were only worn in times of mourning) to the oh-so-stylish Audrey Hepburn (remember Holly Golightly's divine Givenchy dress in Breakfast at Tiffany's - it was almost a character in its own right and it has been voted the top female outfit in movies of all time!).

Finding the right black dress is mixture of skill and luck. A few basic principles are best kept in mind. The LBD should not be too tight - it will not work when you feel fat or bloated (unless of course you have the figure for it).

Jersey is a smart chioce - it drapes beautifully, hides tell-tale bulges, hugs in the right places and most importantly flatters. I have an Alice+Olivia dress that is usually the first thing I pack when I'm going away - be it for work or holiday. It's my fall-back option and definitely the most worn dress in my closet - a fantastic investment from a cost-per-wear point of view! I have worn it clubbing in New York, for a New Year's eve party in Goa, to a karoke house party in London and to more dinners than I'd care to remember.

The LBD must be well cut and simple - it is like a chameleon that changes according to the accessories you wear. On a winter's day you might wear it with stockings and boots or pumps, if its warmer - with strappy heels. If it is too detailed it looses versatility.

It should ideally be short - makes your legs look endless. The only exception this would be business attire. The LBD for work is a great option - as long as the hemline skims the knees.

The right black dress, a pair of killer heels, a well chosen accessory - thats all you need to be stylishly dressed for most social occasions.  

The LBD is iconic, perennially chic and a universal wardrobe staple. Styles may change, fashions and trends come and go -  but an LBD is always in vogue.

Little Black Dress by estylista featuring dresses

Helmut Lang | Twisted draped jersey dress | NET-A-PORTER.COM
275 GBP - net-a-porter.com

 

Paul & Joe Sister | Lucile ruched silk-chiffon dress | NET-A-PORTER.COM
240 GBP - net-a-porter.com

 

IRO | Clemence washed-silk mini dress | NET-A-PORTER.COM
255 GBP - net-a-porter.com

 

Harestyling preview for Great Ormond Street Hospital

I was surrounded by hares!

The Celebrity/Press preview for the Harestyling exhibition was a bit of a crush (in the best possible way!). Over 250 people thronged Heartbreak Gallery to take the first look at the 216 canvases painted by the great and the good for an online auction to support Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH).

The brainchild of Michael Van Clarke, Karen Welmen and Caroline Kremmer, the appeal is inspired by Michael's daughter Angelica Van Clarke who had a life saving operation at GOSH when she was 2 days old. Now 15, she too drew a hare to help raise funds for two brand new operating theatres.

(Michael is responsible for the glowing manes and stylish hair cuts of royalty and celebrities. He is also very discreet! I've known him for almost a decade and have still been rather unsuccessful at prying names of his famous clients!)

Caroline has worked tirelessly in making the event a reality! 

A selection of distinguished artists and celebrities have contributed canvases for this great cause. These original works of art will be exhibited and auctioned online, and at the exceptionally glamorous Hare Ball. Its being held on May 26 and promises to be THE event in London this summer!

The canvases are also included in a limited edition commemorative coffee table book with all sale proceeds going to the charity. ( I cant wait for my copy!). They are being displayed at the Heartbreak Gallery in Central London from 16 April 2011 to 8 May 2011. The preview is a must see!

The beautiful canvases have cleverly played on the Hare styling theme - with all possible puns and usages. Well-known names like Nicky Clarke, Sir Alex Ferguson, Stella McCartney, Twiggy, Thandie Newton and Cheryl Cole are the artists for this unique auction. See full list of artists here.

Big names from the art world like Tracey Emin will lead the live auction at the Hare Ball on May 26. This canvas is by Emin and is titled "A kiss to a Hare".

Nicole Farhi produced this exquisite cut-out beauty!

Jamie Oliver played on the restaurant theme...

And this is my Hare - called "Bling Bunny", encrusted with Swarovski crystals… because every bunny should have some bling! I am so excited about this - How often do you see something with your name alongside such creative heavy-weights? Please, do bid for it here. (It does need a good home… :))

Everyone can bid for a canvas. It goes to a fantastic cause. They look impressive hung up - superlative, stylish art-peices with a story behind them - a great talking point for that special nook or feature wall. Art with Heart - and afforable too - the bidding begins at GBP 100. 

 

Restaurant review: Dishoom

Address: 12 Upper St. Martin's Lane, London, WC2H 9FB

Web: www.dishoom.com

RATING: 9.5/10

-------------------------------------------------------------------

Dishoom claims to be "London's first Bombay cafe". It's more like a Bombay cafe given a New York-style makeover. (The music was Thievery Corporation - R was impressed - and he really takes his music seriously.)

Let me lay my cards on the table and begin by saying that Dishoom is the best Indian restaurant in London at the moment.

This is not a claim I make lightly. (And please forgive the effusive gushing!)

It is not the most expensive - in fact its excellent value for money. It does not have pretension to haute cuisine or a celebrity chef in the kitchen like Benaras, nor is it the Indian answer to Hakkasan like Amaya - it is simply a beautifully thought out dining experience. 

For god is in the detail.

From the moment you enter the restaurant, you begin to notice small things - they make you smile, often they evoke childhood memories - of an India that is ceasing to exist, of slow, languorous summer days - before everything was air conditioned and pre the ghastly coffee chains that now dot our cities. It is marked by intelligent, thoughtful design - the decor is pitch perfect. 

Suspended ceiling fans slowly revolving backwards; dangling wires with exposed light bulbs; mismatched yet very comfortable chairs (which I am told are a replica of the chairs one would find in Mumbai's Leopald cafe); filmy period Bollywood posters - there is a subtle humour and obsessive attention to detail. 

The owners planned the restaurant for 5 years - clearly a labour of love.

The clock that forms a focal point is a replica of the one found in Mumbai's Victoria station - it was sent back to India 8 times because the font of the numerals or the shading in its background was not right. 

Its evident that every item chosen as decor has a historical reference - and it all comes together as a witty evocation of a bygone era.

 
 

 

Even the toilet signs have a witty twist to them right down to the picture in the ladies loo!

And the food is good!!

We ordered both the mango lassi and the rose lassi - they were absolutely delicious.

Making a choice of the extensive menu is not an easy process. The pav bhaji was authentic - a little mild for my taste. It was definitely not greasy or dripping in butter. A bit measly on the portion size, especially for something meant to be shared. (Just two pavs? At least that curtailed the carb intake!)

I ordered the chilli cheese toast for pure nostalgia - it was just like Babloo (our cook in Delhi) made it… yummy, but again a bit on the mild side.

The waiter thoughtfully asks if we would like our breads buttered - nice touch.

The house dal would give Dal Bukhara (the eponymous star dish of Delhi's Maurya Sheraton Hotel - lauded as the best Dal in the world) a run for its reputation and money. It is authentic, yet non greasy and without my pet peeve - the huge dollop of butter plonked in the middle.

The chicken tikka is without a question - the best in London  - moist, tender, grilled to perfection. 

The grilled shrimps were mediocre - failed to hit the high note touched by the other dishes...

But the chicken curry was superb. It comes a pretty close second to the one my dad makes - and trust me - that is a pretty serious compliment.

 I made sure, I saved some space for dessert - it was mango and chocolate kulfi on a stick - I love kulfi and the one at Dishoom brought back childhood memories of a post dinner treat sold in Delhi's Karol Bagh market. If you haven't tasted them you have no clue what I'm referring to, but if you have - Dishoom manages a great twist on them. Creamy without being cloying - a must try!

 
The gola/chuski (or slush puppy if you grew up in the west) was a kiddie staple - no childhood summer was complete without them. The ones at Dishoom please the adult palette as well.

The now legendary "chai" at Dishoom is well worth its reputation. The choco-chai R had was an instance of a bizarre combo working rather well.

But the "chai" I had was perfect. The road-side delicacy found in Dhabas (roadside restaurants) all over the Indian highway replicated wonderfully in London - right down to the glass. R found it a bit too milky, but for me it was like being transported back in time.

The service was quick and efficient, despite the restaurant being rather full for a late Sunday night. They don't take reservations for dinner unless it is for a party of 6 or more. But I am told that if you arrive before 7 pm you don't have to wait very long. Why they don't take reservations, I fail to understand!

If I had to be very, very critical - I would also find fault with the cold draught that hit our (rather badly positioned) table every time the main door was opened or closed (I am told the issue is being resolved). 

But thats about the sum total of my complaints.

A little birdie tells me Dishoom is planning a pop-up bar in London's South bank for a month this summer, it will replicate Mumbai's Chowpatty beach - right down to fake sand. If it is anything like the restaurant itself - I am sure it will be a lot of fun.

I definitely plan to be back at Dishoom to try out all the other dishes. I foresee a lot of expansion for this restaurant, it has managed to capture that elusive X factor that is the holy grail of the restaurant business. 

Go to Dishoom - its an experience coupled with great Indian food that has not been dumbed down to suit the western palette - as a lot of Indian food in London often is. 

Bushy tales…

Growing up in India, the local 'beauty parlor' was an ubiquitous part of every day life, curiously emblematic of small-town India; embodying nostalgic comfort in continuity that pervaded sleepy little towns.

The 'parlor' was more often than not be called "Looks" or just "Best Beauty Parlor" a small, kitschy room - with mirrors along one wall, a couple of chairs - with an aunty/didi who would take care of all grooming needs - waxing, threading, facials, manicures and pedicures - although I don't remember mani-pedis being so popular as they are now. 

I grew up in a tiny town called Abohar in Punjab - its barely a speck on the Indian map and it was was home to two such establishments. The one my mum went to was called "Nisha" - the name of the lady who ran the place. It was a matter of grave importance to Nisha that we never ever went to the other 'parlor'. 

Now of course things are completely different - Nisha still exists, but her daughter runs the place - she has upgraded, her place is now 'modern', mum no longer goes to her much, there is someone else in town. 

Once I moved to London - this was almost a decade ago, getting my eyebrows done became a massive deal. One memorable evening in the Nicky Clarke Salon, I was booked in for 'eye-brows' - the technician asked if I wanted them plucked or waxed.. I politely said 'threading, please'.  At her incredulous look, I realised that 'threading' was (then) not something usually performed in salons. I explained to her that threading was performed by using a piece of string to remove unwanted hair... she was amazed!

So then began my search for someone who could 'thread' without me having to make a trip to Southall! 

At that time, there were two big names in London for eye-brow threading - Vaishaly and Shavata. 

Vaishaly was (and probably is) very precious about who she saw. Years ago, I called and asked for an appointment - only to be told that Vaishaly no longer sees new clients, but I could be put on a two year waiting-list if I wanted to be part of the select circle worthy of her tender ministrations. I quickly put the phone down - I  have never been to see her.

Shavata I did see - once or twice. But getting my eye-brows done continued to be a struggle.

Then came Blink Brow bar - it was a complete life-saver, as far as my brows were concerned at least. It is difficult to overstate how much it made my life simpler - finally a hassle-free place I could walk into and get my eyebrows done with even better results than India. 

Recently I was introduced to its founder Vanita Parti - a dynamic woman, who started Blink because of the hassle she faced in getting her brows done! Great companies are born out of necessity.

Now Blink is every where - its even opening up in New York in Hernri Bendel.

Once every couple of weeks, I pop down to Selfridges and get my brows done - there are no magic passwords required, you no longer have to be 'in the know' and the calibre of the their technicians is usually good - its revolutionary!

Of course, brow maintenance is a very delicate art. In the pre-Blink years - due to the questionable expertise of women who did my brows, I have had all sort of brows - thin, thick, and a few times (which I would totally like to forget) two completely mismatched brows!

I now religiously refrain from plucking, especially the DIY variety. I have also learnt patience. The two (minuscule) patches, where I would like a few hairs to grow - will only happen with time. This has made me an enthusiastic proponent of the  Blink eyebrow pencil - I use it to fill in gaps, get the shape close to the 'perfect arch' - the holy grail of eye-brows. 

Vogue tells me that big brows are back and that pencil thin, groomed-to-death eyebrows are passe - thank the beauty gods!

My style: High heels and other matters of the heart...

(Picture credit: Carola Syz)

I begin by stating the obvious. I love shoes. More specifically super high heels - pure works of art and feats of engineering.

Louboutins may not be the most comfortable things to walk around in, but they look  and make you feel like a million bucks! The bright red sole is a badge of honour worn by fashionistas around the world; there is something to be said about suffering for fashion. 

The intricacy of Rene Caovila shoes, the sparkle of Gina heels, the sheer beauty of McQueen boots, girly yet edgy Lanvin wedges - my list of brands to covet is endless. 

Apart from adding height (how I yearned as a teenager to be at least 5.8 - I stopped growing at 5 foot 4 and a half inches - the extra half inch is crucial!) The right heel totally completes your look. You may be dressed in all black, but the statement shoe is an outfit in itself. 

I was asked once how many pairs of shoes I own. The fact that I hesitated and then fudged paid testimony to the fact I have far too many. Wikianswers says the average for a woman for my age is 40-60 pairs. I have (a few) more than that.

Storing shoes is a whole other challenge. They used to be all over the place. in various cupboards, some in boxes, others in shoe bags. Any woman who has scrambled around, all made-up and dressed trying to find the precise pair she bought a month ago (with an impatient partner glowering at his watch) will sympathise.

For a long time I grappled with the conundrum - what you can't see you won't wear. The problem was solved by the Practical princess team. They photographed, labelled, boxed and stacked  - Voila!  I could see (and wear) my shoes again!

Finding a pair of high heels you can walk comfortably in is (almost) like falling in love, it's nothing short of a miracle. Walking around the fabulous, fabulous shoe hall in Selfridges, I saw an assistant walking around in beautiful 6 inch Alaia heels - and she claimed they were super comfortable. She was right, and I found my (current) sole-mate. A match made in fashion heaven!

 

 

Cricket Champion of the World - Congratulations India...

India v/s Sri Lanka. The World Cup final. The holy grail of cricket. Two nations - only one possible winner. The venue was Mumbai's Wankhede Stadium - home-ground for India.

Calling it merely historic would be a massive understatement.

2 April 2011 will go down as the day the dreams of 1.2 billion people came true.

One nation celebrating the achievement of 11 men. Those men bore the weight of its collective expectations and stood true. 

The world cup - the second one in our cricketing history. The last one was in 1983. It's been a long time coming.

It's the crowning moment of Sachin Tendulkar's stupendous, record-smashing career. He was feted, thanked - rightly so. After all, Sachin is akin to god for a lot of cricket fans. 

But today was not just about him. It was about a team that did not buckle under pressure, a team that rose to action after two of its top batsmen were out in quick succession at the very start of their defence. One of which was Tendulkar.

At that point it felt like all was lost. Two star batsmen down. The Indian team could have easily folded like a deck of cards. It has done so in the past. But it didn't. It held faith even when its fans and supporters lost theirs. A few of us murmured that at least we defeated Pakistan in the semis, that was enough, a desperate consolation prize when the trophy seemed to be slipping away. 

But we won - on the shoulders of the silent champions, Ghambir and Kohli and super-star captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni and man of the series Yuvraj Singh. They played steady and strong. Chipping away with singles and twos till we were 200-3.

Suddenly it all seemed possible.

Ultimately it was 6 runs off 13 balls. India held its breath. With one spectacular six Dhoni lifted the world cup. Like a true champion he bore unimaginable pressure. 2007 is not that long ago when his home was rioted after his team came back empty handed from the world cup finals. 

This time - we won!

The celebrations begin. Nothing unites India like cricket.

It's pandemonium on the roads in India. Traffic jams have never been so joyous. People are being made to leave theirs cars and dance as a 'toll-tax' to continue their journey. And they are doing it happily.

Barkha Dutt tweets that even Sonia Gandhi has joined the revellers on the streets.

London's Trafalgar Square is full of people celebrating the Indian victory - with bhangra and great cheer.

At long last we will stop watching re-runs of Kapil Dev lifting the world cup trophy in 1983. This generation has its own heroes.

What a way to herald the post-Tendulkar era in India's cricketing history.

May we hold fast in our hearts and brains - this moment, when we were taught that nothing is impossible. You just have to want it enough. That sheer focus will get you what you want, you just have to try, be true. Ignore the noise, maintain a single focus. Its a wonderful life-lesson.

It's difficult not to wax lyrical about this moment in time. Tomorrow will bring its own realities. But for today - we are world champions. It is glorious. It's a feeling like no other.

Thank you Team India.