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The new-age grooms
The season of gifting is here
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The new-age grooms
It
was a one-point agenda. While for every other thing his parents, siblings and friends were there, Rohit Bajaj (name changed) focused only on getting the perfect wedding wear and his 'grooming' sessions. After three trips to New Delhi, one to Mumbai and trying at least three-dozen sherwanis, he finally picked one by Shantanu Nikhil. Interestingly, the price Rohit paid for his sherwani was exactly the amount his bride, Megha (name changed), shelled out for an Anju Modi ensemble. If the Indian wedding industry has thrived on bridal wear, grooms' wear is providing it a further momentum. That most fashion designers have graduated to grooms' wear and have areas in their stores demarcated to display creations for the metro-sexual man, confirm the existence of a buoyant market parallel to the money-churning bridal-wear segment. At the recent bridal weeks, a significant part of wedding collection was also dedicated to grooms-to-be. As much it has to do with tempting designs from the designer studios, as much it is about their new-found muse, the Indian groom, who readily matches the colour of wedding wear with that of his bride. As designer duo Shantanu Nikhil put it, “We have grooms-to-be visiting us with the picture of what their brides are wearing on the D-day and accordingly we customise our designs for them.” Splash of colour Their festive collection at the Lakme Fashion Week was meant to cater to the new-age grooms, who don’t want to play safe with a tuxedo or a three-piece suit. It had sherwanis — double shaded and printed, long kurtas with bundis jacket, bandhgalas, draped kurtas teamed with fluid skirts. If not by halves, bridal market to grooms market can be fractioned in the ratio of 60 to 40 and the difference is gradually tapering. Admitted J. J. Valaya, India’s ace couturier, at the Vogue Bridal Show in Chandigarh, “It is at times amusing to see men mixing and matching clothes but that's how metrosexual men are. They don't mind going the extra mile to look like a Greek God on their D-day.” A staggering 40 per cent business, he said, is generated from menswear and that he termed as, “the evolution of the Indian wedding industry.” Not surprisingly, Valaya presented an equal number of creations for women and men in his collection presented at the Indian Bridal Fashion Week. His male models walked the ramp in bright-coloured sherwanis usually not found on the male colour palette. Even the silhouette was more fluid and experimental. There were floor-touching kalidaar kurtas paired with bundis and churidaars and layering was given much importance. Anita Dongre, too, presented a balanced collection at Lakme Fashion Week. Keeping in mind the preferences of modern men, creations went minimal with embellishments and were well-structured. The same are now displayed at her newly-opened studio in new Delhi, where a separate section is dedicated to menswear. Considering the spurt in demand for menswear, she now plans to open a store that will only house clothes for men. “These days grooms are as particular as a bride when it comes to picking their wedding ensembles. They want more than the clichéd cuts, styles and colours, and are more open to experimenting with different styles,” says Dongre, explaining the groom of the present times, who is stickler for fashion. She also adds that while assembling his trousseau, he ensures that it is an ideal mix of contemporary Westerns and traditional Indian wear. Mix ’n’ match trousseau In their debut collection at the India Couture Week, Rimple and Harpreet Narula, presented some creations for men as well. Laughs Rimple, “Boys are giving us a tougher time, they come for multiple fitting sessions and try more number of clothes than women till they finalise a piece.” While their collection at the India Couture Week was in shades of ivory, they have orders placed of sherwanis and bandhgalas in bright colours. "Not that beige is any less popular with men, but they want to try something other than the obvious.” Hence their trousseau boasts of a kurta in orange, sherwani in royal blue and a shirt for the reception in pink. While fluid silhouettes might be in, men want a creation to be fitted at the waist, since that is a testimony of their leaner, fitter bodies. With a minimum of three wedding functions — sangeet, wedding and reception — slotted as ceremonies, men want to keep each look different, yet very stylish. A kurta and bundi in contrasting colours is preferred for the sangeet, a traditional sherwani is apt for the wedding day and a tux or an indo-western outfit is fixed for the reception. “Silhouette being first and colours second, men want it all different,” Rimple adds. Rohit Bal, known for his affinity for off-white, presented a parallel range at the India Couture Week, dipped in bright colours and done beautifully in brocade. Only time will ascertain if it is the supply of floral brocade with a vintage feel from Sabyasachi that is triggering demand or is it the demand for 'something different' that is guiding designers as to what to create for grooms-to-be. Manish Malhotra's plazzo-like-bottoms with sherwanis are an interesting alternate to churidaars, there is so much more than the traditional sherwani for grooms. Meera and Muzzaffar Ali's groom at the India Bridal Fashion Week even wore a bolero jacket, a new addition to cuts for men. With men ready to take the plunge with styling, fashion designers are more than happy to play with silhouettes and colours. Cause and effect This is where the trickle-down effect of the social media comes in. Pictures are postedvarious sites, liked and commented immediately and you can't afford to look any less fashionable than the friend who got married recently! Hence, bespoke fashion has become important, so does the jewellery for men. On the platter is kalgi, pearl necklace, cuff links and buttons. Queeny Singh, jewellery designer, says that maharaja pearl necklaces and buttons done in precious stones for grooms enjoy a huge demand. Looks matter The cost of pre-bridal beauty sessions that Megha readily spared was double the amount of what Rohit spent, but then amount Megha’s spent was sizeable. The metrosexual man is also splurging on the pre-grooming sessions, which includes services like facials, bleach, waxing, threading, manicure, pedicure, hair spa. “In fact, we started with pre-grooming and grooming packages only after queries started a couple of years back,” says Richa Agarwal, director of chain of Cleopatra salons. In case you are a groom-to-be and want to sit next to your bride as she readies, there is a package for that as well.
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The season of gifting is here Sparkle of silver Like all festivals, Diwali also fosters a sense of togetherness among people. At the same time, it is an excuse to socialise, spread joyfulness and exchange gifts. There is cheer in the markets as shops come alive with an array of gifting choices that range from the basic boxes of mithai, dry fruits and chocolates to silver idols of deities, expensive decoration options for the home and even electronic devices like smart phones and tablets. In fact, over the years, gifts with heavier price tags have replaced the modest alternatives in the market. The up-market stores have on display an array of gifting items, ranging from porcelain artifacts and vases to expensive pens, watches, cameras and gaming consoles. Especially, silver has become very popular as a gifting option. Besides the usual, traditional coins embossed with images of deities, other silver artifacts are gaining popularity as well. These include photo frames, cocktail stirrers, coasters and decorative bowls and trays. Silver candle stands and diyas remain two of the most in-demand collectibles. These make for excellent gifts and have a timeless appeal. Porcelain & crystal Other than silver, these candle stands also come in wood, brass, copper, cast iron, crystal and even porcelain. The prices of the latter two can range from a few hundred to lakhs of rupees in cases where these are embellished with precious stones. For example, porcelain Lord Ganesha diya by Spanish luxury figurines company Lladro, which has an outlet in Delhi, can cost around an astonishing ~ 14,000. If you are in the mood to be extravagant, you can feast your eyes on imported candle-stands from Austria, Spain or Italy in gold and silver that are enchanting. The prices can range between $200 to around $ 2,000 (~ 12,000 to ~ 1.20 lakh) for those made of precious metal and studded with stones. Decorative fancy candles and tealights too are in great demand as gifts during Diwali. Stores offer a variety of candles that not just illuminate the home, but add a new dimension to the festive season. Aroma candles are the new fragrance of the season. During the Diwali puja, these fill your home with their alluring bouquet of perfumes. Though one can get a good quality Indian aromatic candle for ~ 5,000, the imported ones especially from luxury brands like Ralph Lauren and Tom Ford can sometimes cost ten times that amount! Out of the box Apart from the conventional gifts, the market today offers a variety of unusual choices that appeal to the young. For those who have liberal budgets, there is an array of options ranging from hi-tech toys like robot kits and ultra-vision goggles to branded headphones from companies like Sennheiser, Bose , Dr. Dre and Skull Candy. However, the ones that are expected to enjoy maximum demand this season are smart phones, tablets and cameras. These make for thoughtful gifts. Several companies bring out special Diwali editions. The list of Diwali gifts also includes electronic gadgets. High on this list are gaming devices that provide hours of fun to the young and old but the price can be as steep as ~ 40,000 or above. Digital readers from companies like Kindle and Kobo Touch are also the new rage and prices start at around ~ 5,500 and can go up to ~ 15,000. Besides these, new technological marvels like Google glasses, Apple Smart Watches and wearable fitness devices have entered the list of potential Diwali gift items. So, this season, don't limit your gifting ambition to a mithai or a chocolate hamper. Give free rein to your imagination and think out of the box.
This stainless steel-ribbed wine chiller will perk up even the most boring home bar. The cooler offered on www.roomstory.com has a stylish design which will ideally complement barware. Great for picnics or home dinners, it will keep your wine or even soft drinks chilled for longer hours. price:
Rs 2,800
Bring beauty to your home with Stone Reed diffusers with candles available on www.neimanmarcus.com. These will fill your home with the spirit of Diwali with crisp fragrant oil. The candle with hand-poured wax further enhances the beauty of these diffusers. price: From
Rs 5,575 to Rs 9,835
The Partridge Nest is a striking tealight and candle holder available on www.amazon.com that blends nature's beauty and modern art and captures the spirit of the festival of lights. Warm Earth tones lend a sophisticated touch to this bird's nest made of iron, glass, poly-resin, acrylic and bronze. price:
Rs 750
Gift someone a vase from Fab Furnish in cream or ivory. Alternatively, you can also give your home a heavenly look with this vase, which will blend with all colour schemes and metals, making it a highlight of any room. Its floral designs and embellishments add an interesting character to the vase. price:
Rs 2,745
The Diwali hampers of Foodhall will pamper your mood and tastebuds. Lifestyle stores have tied up with various brands to offer a bevy of gift hampers that include chocolates, chees, nuts, tea and coffee, spices and fruits. You can also customise these to suit your palette and create your own unique hamper. price:
Rs 6,100 for the Grand Celebration Hamper
You can also find some imaginative gift options from the Body Shop. One of these is the Indian Night Jasmine Gift Hamper, which will make a delightful gift for any lady. It contains three bottles- one each of eau de toilette, body lotion and bath lily shower gel. price:
Rs 3,995
Delight your loved ones with gourmet chocolates from Royce, the famous Japanese confectionary store in Delhi, Mumbai and Bangalore. It offers some of the company's unique products including Nama chocolates, potato chips dipped in chocolate and also a range of unique confectionary items. price: Ranging between
Rs 755 and Rs 1,000 per 100 grams
Make writing an experience for someone this Diwali. The iconic MontBlanc Meisterstuck is a black stainless steel rollerball with carbon casing, platinum-plated clip and stainless-steel rings. It is inlaid with the emblem of MontBlanc widely considered the marquis brand of fine pens. price:
Rs 1.10 lakh
Whether as an accent or as an accessory, a mirror can brighten up any design in the house and become the star attraction of a room. An example is the Baroque style mirror, with a silver-plated designer frame, available at D'Mart decor store. It can surely become a conversation starter. price:
Rs 1,33,500
Samsung's latest addition in its smart camera range is the NX Mini, which can be an excellent Diwali gift. It is one of the slimmest and lightest interchangeable-lens cameras in the world. It comes with a 16 GB memory card. As a launch offer, customers will also get a Samsung backpack free. price:
Rs 27,490
The new Kindle Reader by Amazon that has been launched in the Indian market during the festive season is small and light with a long battery life. It has whisper-sync technology, built-in dictionary and new exclusive features like vocabulary builder, Kindle Freetime and Good Reads integration. price:
Rs 5,999
Google Glass will make for a great surprise gift to someone special this festive season. The wearable smart device gives you the power of hands-free technology. You can seamlessly sync it with your smart phone to make calls, browse the Internet, access emails and even take pictures, shoot videos and also listen to music. price: Around
Rs 75,000
The image of a lake full of lotus flowers is the inspiration of Good Earth's set of Sarovar Jewel glasses. These are decorated with gold-base lustre colour. These glasses come in sets of six and can be optimally put to use to serve cool sherbets, fruit juices, wines or even plain water. price:
Rs 4,200 for a set of six
This Diwali, choose a different gift. Go natural and gift a bonsai plant from www.flaberry.com. This miniature tree is an elegant ornamental plant and gives a classic touch to home décor. It has a winsome aura that will enliven any space in the house and also helps release stress. price:
Rs 1400 onwards
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bling it on
TIME FOR GOLDFINGER price:
Rs 67.80 lakh
BARBIE GOES HEP price: Ranging between
Rs 2,100 for a headband and Rs 1.2 lakh for a leather bag
ICONIC FRAGRANCE price:
Rs 3.42 lakh for a 40 ml bottle
SEAWORLD BENEATH YOUR FEET price:
Rs 1.62 lakh
VISION FOR ADVENTURE price:
Rs 52,800
HANDBAGS FOR A SONG price:
Rs 7.7 lakh
CHARGING THE APPLE price:
Rs 4,500
SMART CAMERA FOR A SMARTPHONE price:
Rs 30,000
The MIDAS TOUCH price:
Rs 18 lakh
JUST JET IT Price: Yet to be decided
SEASONAL WATCH price upon request
DIAMONDS, MY FOOT price:
Rs 12 crore
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Raise your bar
Magical aroma
Art meets elegance
Vase to go for
As you like it
Body basics
All about chocolates
The right choice
Mirror-mirror on the wall
Click on happiness
To relax and read
A hi-tech gift
Glittering effect
Gift a bonsai
For Agent James Bond, time has always been of essence. And for that he has depended on his Omega watch in a number of his movies. Recently the Swiss luxury watchmaker produced a one-of-a-kind Omega Seamaster ‘Aqua Terra’ wristwatch to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the 007 film Goldfinger. The watch with an 18-carat yellow gold dial and matching case and bracelet was put under the hammer via an an online Christie’s James Bond auction. The British secret agent’s obsessive fan following ensured passionate bidding and when the hammer came down, the watch went for 10 times the base price proving that Bond still stirs and shakes the hearts of his fans. 
Sometime back when it launched the McDonald-inspired McFries iPhone cases, it was clear that Italian luxury brand Moschino’s sense of design bordered on the quirky. Now it is back in the fashion headlines with its Barbie collection which is a vibrant assembly of baby-doll dresses. The 28-piece collection comprises T-shirts, sweaters, bags and headbands and a mirrored iPhone cover all in bright neon colours, gold and silver. The collection also includes pink-and-black logoed backpack and pink leather cross-body bag shaped like a motorcycle jacket and is a hark back to the heady 1980s when Barbie was the fashion queen of the world.
It’s a marriage of two of the most iconic brands in the world. Britain’s Bentley Motors has collaborated with French luxury glassware company Lalique Cristal to launch a limited edition fragrance Lalique for Bentley which has been inspired by the legendary “Flying B”, the mascot of Bentley cars. The blue crystal edition is very unique and imposing and is decorated with matte and shiny crystal elements to emphasise the wings of the Flying B logo. Obviously the perfume that smells like the luxury car’s leather seats can only be afforded by a man who drives a Bentley, which is among the costliest cars of the world.
Though the price may be somewhat daunting, this eye candy is worth the last penny. The cool transparent kayak called Molokini by American company Clear Blue Hawaii is perfect for people who want to take a long paddle out to explore the calm sea and see what’s beneath it without getting wet. Made from the same polycarbonate material used in bulletproof glass and fighter jet canopies, it is guaranteed to protect you against dangerous conditions just in case you get swept up looking at the undersea magical world.
If you are planning a trip to a wildlife or bird sanctuary, do it in style. Make sure you have not only a pair of binoculars but are carrying the recently released CL Companion Africa Binoculars by Swarovski Optik, a subsidiary of Swarovski AG. Made by using high-precision optics, the lightweight binoculars’ excellent light transmission and special coating guarantees bright, high-contrast images and true-to-life colours. Though the elegant design may be inspired by the vibrancy and colours of African nature, the binoculars will be equally effective in the National Parks of Ranthambore, Kaziranga and Periyar. 
These days Pharrell Williams is on a song in more ways than one. The American singer, musician, song writer and record producer has of late added another feather to his cap. He has turned a fashion designer and an extremely successful one at that! Recently he partnered with heritage Parisian leather goods company Moynat to create a capsule collection of handbags inspired by vintage steam locomotives. The Train Bag, in hand-tooled acrylic resin is in a numbered limited edition run and boasts a brass smokestack, side rods and steam-dome clasp and is flying off the shelves much like Williams hit albums.
The Apple smartwatch may yet be a year away from its launch and cannot yet be pre-ordered but what you can pre-order is a charger dedicated to it. An American company Dodocase is in the final stage of developing a charging stand and is accepting pre-orders which are coming thick and fast. Not many know that the only way to charge the smartwatch will be to attach a magnet to the back of it. Dodocase’s charging block does just that. Made from walnut wood, it will use inductive charging that will easily snap the watch into place. So, in case you are planning to buy the Apple watch, it will be best to pre-order the charger as it will be useless without it.
American company Relonch is in the final stages of developing a powerful camera called the Relonch camera case, which attaches itself to the back of an iPhone and takes professional, magazine quality pictures, which you can share instantly on your phone. The iPhone’s screen becomes the viewfinder, along with the interface for adjusting the camera settings. The case is designed to work on both iPhone 5 and iPhone 6, and the best part is that it also serves double duty as an external battery pack for your phone — giving you an additional four hours of use. Truly a camera that clicks in more ways than one.
If you thought paying around Rs 3 lakh for a Nikon D800 full format DSLR camera was too steep, then you have the option of not reading this piece. American company Brikk that designs and manufactures some of the world’s most expensive accessories for smart devices, has launched a luxe version of the Nikon Df camera with Nikkor 14-24 mm f/2.8 lens in 24-carat gold which is set to go on sale in November 2014. The camera is obviously for those shutter-happy people who want to add a touch of golden glamour to their photography and have the wherewithal to do so.
Till now we all thought Nike just makes great sports gear and shoes. But we have been proven wrong. The American multinational, in collaboration with a Seattle-based design firm called Teague, has come up with the concept of a super-luxe plane designed exclusively for professional athletes. A 400-seater jet has been re-designed to fly a team of 13 players. It includes lie-flat beds, a fully-equipped training room and a recovery zone that offers players pre-game therapy and massages. The emphasis is on rest and relaxation when teams are travelling between games. There is also a self-serve eating area stocked with nutritious food and drinks and a lounge for players to celebrate victories or commiserate over defeats. Though yet in the concept stage, Nike expects the orders to flow in given the massive budgets of leading sports teams these days. 
Swiss luxury watchmaker Piaget celebrates nature in a very special way with its Four Seasons Dancing Light Collection inspired by the changing seasons of the year. It comprises four watches that match spring, summer, autumn and winter. Spring is represented by a pink and green mother-of-pearl dial with fluttering butterflies, summer has a diamond-studded centre with a blue mother-of-pearl dial, the autumn edition bears a plethora of yellow, pink and white gold with polished gems and winter’s chill is expressed with
gold snowflakes drifting above the ice-blue mother-of-pearl dial. In case you want to be seasonally stylish, this is the collection for you.
If you love kooky footwear, this one surely takes the cake. American fashion designer Tom Ford’s new shoes are so special that they’ll simply take your breath away. Created by jeweller to the celebrities Jason Arasheben, the pair took more than 2,000 hours and close to a year to complete. And the reason is not far to seek. The shoes are studded with 14,000 round white diamonds weighing 340 carats and you’ll need a weighty wallet to own them. The question is if you have a choice between a super luxury penthouse or these loafers which one will you choose? For some, the penthouse may sound more appealing.