RECOUNTING JULY: A MONTH THAT WAS NOT TO BE...

Hello Everybody,

How have you been? Trust all's well at your end! Let's do a quick run-down on all that transpired in the month gone by...

Preparations for the 2012 London Olympics are not underway...but they're all set to host the games even today as they are already showcasing the medals to be given to the winners next year! Now cut to last year,same time in August 2010...ten days before the countdown to  the prestigious Commonwealth games we were yet repairing our stadiums,the grounds, the residential complex and in some places construction was still under way! In India,they'd call it the 'jugaad' culture...now go google it out to find out what that means!

FASHION - TODAY, TOMORROW & FOREVER

Hello Everybody,
How have you been? Trust all's well at your end. Well, there's nothing really special happening at my end...the month just passed by...except for the last 3 days of January which was very very exciting.....out of the blue and in a long time I was given a reporting assignment and I had fun taking it up!!
 

Chandigarh, a li'l city in North India organized the first ever Chandigarh Fashion Week where supermodels from across the country, internationally and from the city participated in this 3-day event held at the Taj Hotel.

 

I have always been this shy and introvert kinda girl...and you bet, I still am! I don't know where this energy and confidence came from…I was actually interacting with the models, designers (yeah yeah…one or two big names too!) and taking their quick sound bites for the camera. We had Russian model Natalia, film actors Udita Goswami, Shahwar Ali and well-known models Jesse Randhawa, Simran Kaur Mundi (reigning Miss India-Universe), Shriya Kishore (reigning Miss India-Earth), Amanpreet Wahi, Barkha Kaul and many other regional models who I must say also have it in them to become the next supermodel (thank God, barring two or three none of the 42 models were size-zero...as I absolutely detest it!)

India is known for its culture, traditions, villages and spirituality. We have 31 states, 1618 languages, 6400 castes, 6 ethnic groups and 29 festivals which is not just celebrated with great fervor both India and across the globe.

Now you must be wondering that a little while ago I was talking about the fashion show and from nowhere I came to discussing India. Okay...let me come to the point. There is one state in India which is known to be flamboyant, filthily opulent and spendthrift when it comes to weddings....it has to be Punjab!! You ought to attend a Punjabi wedding to know what I'm talking about! Punjab is known for its extravagance when it comes to wedding celebrations...be it the designer wedding trousseau and exquisite jewellery (polkis, kundan, solitaires and of course gold...never mind the prices of gold going up!!), the cuisines (never mind the prices of essential food commodities/ items going up, there has to be 50-75 dishes in an affluent Punjabi wedding!!) and the elegantly decorated venues (yes...now a days we have the "theme" or the "concept" wedding and there's a separate industry looking after this as well!).

And it is exactly this weakness (as I may put it) of Punjab that the designers had come readied and prepared to capture the ever flourishing apparel and clothing market and cash-in on the on-going wedding season!! Yes, it was definitely raining wedding with almost 25 out of the 30 odd designers showcasing designer wears for occasions like the engagement, marriage or even the reception ceremonies. There were exquisite wedding trousseaus for both men and women. Take the colorful bridal lehengas and saris with heavy zardozi and intricate embroidery, the embellished motifs on the blouses for women, the flowing gowns, flowing party dresses, mermaid dress, layered-dress (reminded me of the multi-layer cream cake you get to see in a Christian wedding!!). For men we had diamond-crusted attires in velvet and silk in rich dark colors, which added to the royal look on the sherwanis and the band-galas, which was the highpoint at the 3-day fashion event.

Now another weakness the North Indians have is that they are in love with the Hindi film industry….oh…don’t get me wrong. Even I love Hindi films, the actors and actresses….but outta here people tend to ape fashion trends depicted in films indiscriminately without having a clear sense of what suits them and what does not. Here again in the fashion week-end, besides the ethnic wear we also had a good dose of western clothing - men’s wear in colors of pink and purple, funky open chappals, trendy jewellery, headbands, wooden bangles, stylishly beautiful short dresses and the untidy hair…..all of which I understood was that attitude in fashion goes hand-in-hand. This point was re-iterated when I happened to ask Pallavi Jaikishen, a veteran fashion designer what was in and out this summer….and guess what she said…“It’s simply the attitude that matters!” Definitely, attitude and fashion complete and complement each other!

The designers breath-takingly beautiful collection just swayed the audience away...I don’t think there's a better place other than India to market “fashion” as we are a consumerist society! At times I even tend to believe that we consume fashion just like food without really understanding the whole essence of it! Though I belong to the North India and somewhere trace my roots in the West of India (I also belong to Mumbai better known as Bombay until sometime back) as well...here's one respite for all of you is that at least Sonyaa does not count herself in this mad-rush especially when it means spending lakhs on designer wears!
 

All in all if I had to sum it up, on the positive side this 3 day fashion bonanza was not just a showcase of designer wears ....but it was talent, creativity and the spirit of the people working behind the ramp, the designers, the organizers, choreographer, technician in putting this show together and the people who came in great numbers to watch this spectacular event that made it a huge success!!!!

Did you enjoy reading this article? Do you agree/ disagree with what I have to say? Whatever it may be….do not forget to share your views, opinions and thoughts with us on the same.

Take care and ciao until next month.
Love,
Sonyaa

MUMBAI MERI JAAN!

Hello Everybody,

How have you been? Hope you're doing great....well please accept my sincere apologies for not updating my blog on time....blame it on my hectic travel schedule....yes, a one month trip to Bombay nee Mumbai (India)...a trip which was filled with some good and bad, happy and sad moments and some which took me down the memory lane. So are you ready?

Let's start with the good one's first! Though it was planned to be a one month trip....but I guess it was only meant to be a 15 day holiday....confused?? Well, I was put up on bed as I'de been terribly ill....so 15 days on bed and next 15 days of exhilarating fun! Anyway no regrets!

ENOUGH IS ENOUGH: AN ACCOUNT OF 26/11 TERROR ATTACKS IN MUMBAI

Today, I express my heartfelt condolences to all the kiths and kins of those who lost their lives in the 26/11 Mumbai attacks and at the same time I also express my deepest gratitude to God for sending his knights in armours in the form of those valiant soldiers those who fought till the very end and till the last breath.

Well, when terror struck in 1993, terrorists may have thought that they had succeeded in their intentions of polarizing the society; but that was not to be. Again, Mumbai stood the test of endurance when her lifeline – the local trains of Mumbai were attacked where commoners lost their lives.

WHERE IS INDIA HEADING FOR??

As a concerned citizen of my country, I have several points to raise about the growing apathy that has gripped our country. It’s just a little prayer that I am banking upon to prevent the dooms day which is not far if we don’t act know, a stand which all of us will have to take, a decision that may make or break our country. You certainly must be wondering what on earth am I talking about…have I gone crazy?? Or have I become cynical??As you read on, let’s revisit the events unfolded during the last couple of months and you will understand WHY!