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When
girls wanna have fun Give
your books a charming end PACESETTER:
Meera Sriram
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When girls wanna have fun “Having a party in front of Eiffel Tower in Pune! A great fun time.” “A complete paisa vasool time”, “ Who says girls can’t have fun?’’ These are very few animated reactions from girls who had recently enjoyed all-girls’ parties at different places. At these parties they dance, sing, mimic, act naughty, in short they have a ball. “Why should only boys have all the fun? If marriage is a shackle, even if it is meant jokingly, then we girls, too, should be able to enjoy the last day of our freedom,” says a beaming software professional engineer, Rupa Kapadia, giggling excitedly about her party. She married her businessman fiancée recently. Don’t mistake these parties with kitty parties. For those attending these dos are relatively younger — either the ones who are few days away from the altar or those who are fresh from their own altar — from 18-year-olds to women in their late thirties. Dey’s company, besides forwarding party ideas to its clients arranges such events too. This includes organising the venue, food and drinks, bringing guests in chauffeur-driven limos and others. All one needs to do is to provide the numbers of guests attending the party, the kind of entertainment they prefer etc. In fact, quite a lot of portals offer similar services. “We’re not party organisers as such. Our expertise lies in suggesting themes, depending on the budget of the client. Many girls are aware of these events but are clueless about organising them. We come in handy for them,” says Bangalore-based Sandhiya Lognathan of BBfortheIB@wordpress.com (Black Book for the Indian Bride blog). Generally, the would-be bride wants to be the cynosure of all eyes attending the part. And her friends try to make her live her fantasy for a day. When Harshita Krishnamurthy, currently deputed on a project in New Orleans (USA), and others friends planned a party for their Pune-based friend Gauri, they were aware of her fascination for Paris, especially the Eiffel Tower. “We landed at Gauri’s pad, ordered for a floor-to-ceiling blow up of Eiffel on a wall and a faux French café with its fantastic food, an impeccably curated wine list, and an elegant atmosphere. The menu was all French cuisine — like French onion soup, summer vegetable terrine, little gem salad, smoked blossom flatbread etc. We spent around Rs 35,000 but we eight girls really had a blast!” Thirty-year-old Aakriti Jain, a PR executive, had a gala day for sister’s “last-chance” party. Delhi-based Aakriti had arranged the bachelorette party for her sister Geetika in the family’s farmhouse. “I had invited some of her closet friends and got a customised cake and cup cakes for her. We did pole dance and each of her friends gave her tips on the do’s and don’ts of marriage. We ended the day with one round of shots! Who says girls can’t have fun?” asks Aakriti still living the memories of her sister’s bachelorette party. In fact, the popularity of hen parties have increased so much that shops selling special party accessories have opened up in major metros. One such outlet is Party Huntrez in Bandra, Mumbai. Conrad Curry, business development manager at Party Huntrez, says “Ours’ is a one-stop shop for bachelorette party needs. You can get everything here — masks, soft toys, naughty, feathery handcuffs, soft whips etc. Women from upper middle-class families, the rich and the elite nowadays travel a lot and are exposed to the Western culture and party scenes. These are the women who frequent our shop and avail of the merchandise we offer.” Many five-star hotels like The Lalit in Delhi offers pick-and-drop services for such parties every Wednesday. After the party, which normally starts late evening and ends early mornings, guests, many in an inebriated condition, are safely transported home in cars provided by the hotel. Abroad, these parties may even have male strippers and can be really wild. Indian girls haven’t yet reached that kind of boldness. Moreover, stripping clubs are illegal in India. Out-of-town bachelorette parties, too, have many takers. Sandhiya Srivastava attended one such party with her friends in Munnar Hills. “Depending on the budget and the family sentiments, one can either go out of the city or go abroad to places like Singapore, Dubai, Paris. etc. But many parents don’t like their daughter going out of town just before marriage. So most of these parties either happen at home or at places nearby,” explains Sandhiya. The traditional wedding rituals may be losing to such foreign ideas but Indian parents and sensibilities still rule the roost.
Theme for a dream
One has to plan well and ensure a theme that is liked by all especially the bride (and at times her family too) — neither too whacky nor too simple. Remember the party is for the bride-to-be and not for yourself.
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Give your books a charming end One such example is the humble bookends that are found in the homes of most booklovers and are used to stack up and support an upright row of books. Traditionally these have been staid and boring wooden or sheet metal stands that are placed at the either end of the stack of books to prevent these from toppling over. Such heavy bookends have been used for centuries, the simple sheet metal ones were originally patented in 1870 and were designed to use the weight of the books themselves to make an anchor. Objects of art However, of late, creative minds have got together to give an altogether new look and meaning to bookends and transformed these from unexciting stands to objects of art. Such is the appeal of the new ones that many people are compelled to buy books in order to display these in their drawing rooms and studies. Ironically, it is known that some people use books as convenient separators for these fabulous new decorative bookends which are fast becoming an important part of the home decor. The digital age of Kindle and Nook book readers may have given us a whole new way to read and enjoy multiple books without carrying a plethora of paperbacks — but real books are holding their own in the real world and their display is becoming a subject of art thanks to these witty and eye-catching bookends. Time was when shopping for bookends was need-based. People generally preferred practical, useful and heavy pieces that would last them a lifetime. However, nowadays like all things beautiful, these too have moved out of the realm of the mundane. No longer a boring or a functional buy, these are today making a personal style statement! Kitsch and elegance The changing, trends and ideas tend to reflect a person’s myriad moods. There is no one individual style. Modern bookends are simply a synthesis of kitsch and elegance creating a range of products that eloquently echo a home owner’s persona. Leading retail and home decor websites like Amazon, Ebay, Etsy and others are finding the demand for these quirky bookends so overwhelming that they are frequently putting out ‘Sold Out’ notices on the popular designs. The most popular ones are those that come with ornate designs, detailed craftsmanship and clever arrangements. Many make it seem that the lifeless static objects have suddenly got a life and a sense of movement of their own. Some are meant to bring a smile to your face while others have a vintage appeal and many are shaped like monsters or popular comic book characters. There are those that give out a social message while some are stunning landscapes with trees and foliage. From grazing giraffes to elegant mermaids and from a Harry Potter’s Hogwart’s Express to superheroes like Batman and Superman designed to hold up tomes, these bookends come in as many shapes and sizes as the fecund imagination of creative craftsmen. Many of these even depict dramatic scenes from iconic movies like Harry Potter and Star Wars. Conversation starters Such is their importance that today many interior designers think of these as central consideration in home decor as these have the appeal to perk up a room and also reflect the personality of the owner. In fact, each of these creative sets usually has a story to tell of its own. Whether it is a man whose head is immersed in a book or another hung by the gallows, whether it is two parts of an ancient trading ship or dragons with wings or even a dainty mermaid split in two, bookends can be socially relevant, ingeniously funny, idiosyncratic or plain whacky and eccentric. The bottomline is that most of them convey a lot of creativity and become instant conversation starters. And even as they transform into artistic pieces of art, bookends are no longer inexpensive stands of yore. Many of these can cost much more than expensive tomes they support and their cost can run into thousands of rupees like any other valuable decoration piece. So, if you have the flair for the dramatic, opt for a bookend that reflects your style. But remember, what you collect must have relevance in the overall décor of your home and should go with the complete ambience of what you would like to project. And once you have the right pair on display, it will add that extra dimension and cutting edge to your overall decor. Linley Walnut Garrick The bookworm L’objet snake gold Grazing giraffe METAL ART HANGMAN MERMAID FOR EACH OTHER OLD COUPLE RESTING START TO FIN Chess Players
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Of designing chips & writing kidlit Meera Sriram has decided to acquaint children with diversity in the world through her books Vibha Sharma An undergrad in electrical and electronics engineering from Chennai, Meera pursued Masters in from a US University. She opted to stay at home with her first-born for a couple of years. It was during this time that she was exposed to children's literature in West. The diversity of content and illustrative styles of picture story books impressed her. When she resumed her work in the chip design industry, she realised that her passion had shifted to something else. She would dream about various things related to children and books — opening a bookstore, writing books, reviews and much more. These ideas made her restless and did not allow her to connect to corporate culture. To give shape to her ideas, she quit within a few months. She says, “Looking back, I do not regret my corporate stint. It was a validating exercise. If I hadn't done it, I'd still be wondering if I should have tried giving it up." She, along with a friend and later co-author Praba Ram, started blogging. They started writing detailed reviews recommending wonderful children's books that they read at home to their children. The two of them regularly exchanged thoughts on various books and subjects for children. Meera could see that her passion was turning into an obsession. They both brainstormed seriously for ideas in the publishing world. Soon they started working on their first book — Dinaben and the Lions of Gir, which was released in 2010. Meera shares, “Inching slowly from one phase to another — writing, editing, laying it out, sending it to print and getting closer to the end product was very exciting. But it also demanded a lot of patience. Professionally, it was a great learning experience.” It is one thing to dream big but it requires immense self-belief, perseverance and persistence to give shape to one's dreams. She says, “It is always challenging to persevere on a daily basis with nothing tangible to show for your efforts until your work is accepted or a book is released.” So far she has coauthored four children's books. Dinaben and the Lions of Gir; Bijoy and the Big River; Subu, the Signal and the recently released, Endangered Animals of India. These books are written to acquaint young children with unique places, wildlife, communities that thrive in natural nooks of India and varied geographical and cultural backgrounds. Meera hopes to keep writing for children, for parents, for social issues, for immigrant families, for environment, for fun and for self-expression. She says, “Stories for children take me back to the fundamentals of life, be it virtues, emotions, or how we look at things. As adults we somehow lose the childlike spirit to draw happiness from simple things. It is important to slow down and rekindle this.” Meera finds the journey of being an author extremely incredible. But she is not one to get complacent about her achievements. She says, “When I look back, I think I had drifted off in a daydream I had never imagined, and now it has played out beautifully. This makes me happy. But the human mind behaves in strange ways; it continues to push the goalpost further away, this is good in some sense. I'm aspiring for new things and hope for more dreams to come true soon.”
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Bling it on
A ROYAL BANQUET
CREATING A STORM IN A COFFEE CUP
POWER DRIVE
BATHE LIKE A QUEEN
TEE TIME
TRAVELLING IN STYLE
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Move
over boys, girls are having fun. And they want to have it on their own
minus the company of men.
Meera
Sriram has decided to acquaint children with diversity in the world
through her books
Move over boys, girls are having fun. And they want to have it on their own minus the company of men.
These all-girl parties are usually “bachelorette parties,” held as a celebration for a bride-to-be or a prenuptial party. Termed as “a last chance” of pure, unadulterated, independent fun — this is day you say goodbye to your singlehood. Obviously, you want to spend it with your friends having no-holds barred fun. What till now was the domain of boys — a bachelor or stag party thrown by the would-be groom’s friends to enjoy what was termed as life’s last free days — now has women joining the trend with gusto and having separate pre-marital parties!
Delhi-based Devashish Dey, managing director of Nightsafari India.com, an event management company, says, “These parties can range from peaceful get-togethers to the craziest of outdoor adventures — a night-out in town to an afternoon lunch or many a times to an out-of-country affair.”
Most of us are instinctive collectors of things we admire and feel are precious. Some collect knick-knacks, others paintings and a few go for more exotic stuff like matchboxes, old records and rare coins. But there are those who hanker after creative collectibles that defy the common and prosaic uses of everyday objects and present these in inventive and artistic way.
bookshelf or as a desk accessory besides making a wonderful traditional gift. 
shape of a curly snake. The L’Objet snake bookends are made of pure 24-carat gold plated brass with marble bass. The bookends measuring eight inches in length and six inches in width that come together to form
Lazy elephants
SPIRAL STAIRCASE
Leaning ladies
SUPERHEROES
Hogwarts express
Sailing ship
Gothic castle dragons
sculptural bookends
Few royals have lived a more majestic life than Bhupinder Singh of Patiala popularly known as the Maharaja of Patiala. Renowned for his extreme lavishness, he was the symbol of super abundance of pomp and wealth. One such extravagance was a grandiose banquet service crafted for him by the leading gold and silversmiths over a century ago which today is considered as the largest and most expensive banquet set ever made. The historic set was auctioned some months back to an unnamed bidder by Christie's. It later turned out that Germany's famous Fabergé Museum had bought the set. Comprising 1,500 pieces made in silver and gold and weighing almost 600 kilos, the set now occupies the pride of place at the world famous museum.
Bored of sipping your coffee from the same old bland mug? This new cup is guaranteed to add excitement to your morning perk-up. Two British designers Andreas Bös and Jonathan Strauss have designed what is being described as the perfect coffee cup. Called Deviehl, it has been created for people who love their coffee and want to savour it in true style. It took 18 months to engineer the incredible coffee cup that might be as close to luxurious as it gets. Each conical-shaped Deviehl is a technical marvel made from 25 separate components, with an inner form made of hydrophobic leather, carbon fibre and exotic woods like Cocobolo and Zebrano that keep the coffee at optimal drinking temperature. Though many may balk at the price tag but for the true connoisseurs what's a few thousand bucks when it comes to relishing their favourite
cuppa.
The world’s leading passenger car manufacturers are going into hyper drive in their search for petrol substitutes with Peugeot in the forefront. The French automobile giant has climbed the bandwagon of the electric car revolution, with a stunning-looking concept car which could hit the road in a year's time. Called Peugeot 1001, it will move on city roads on a quartet of rubberised spheres and not tyres making it a very cost-effective car. Its Dolorean-style gull wing doors will make it one of the geekiest vehicles ever invented. So, gear up and get ready for a dramatic drive, once this pyramid-like car hits the road.
She was the ultimate diva who conquered the world with her charm and courage. In private life, Cleopatra was known for her beauty baths and extravagant bathtubs. Inspired by the legendary Egyptian Queen's penchant for dramatic and grand gestures, designers at the German luxury brand Ippolito Fleitz have created a splendid seashell-shaped bath. Crafted like an enclosed seashell, with a large domed canopy, the bathtub is a bit over the top, but it is perfect for the modern-day
Cleopatras!
‘GRAND’ MOBILE
Are you a keen golfer who’s always on the lookout for good clubs, putters and irons? If you are looking for a great driver without having to burn a hole in your pocket then look no further than the newly launched Callaway Big Bertha Alpha Drive. Like many quality drivers it has adjustable weights, lofts and face angles but what stands it apart is its adjustable centre of gravity. For the first time ever, a driver lets you adjust the vertical centre of gravity independent of everything else. This not just eliminates unwanted spin, it gives keen golfers a completely optimised ball flight and longer distance. So, go ahead and custom-fit the driver to match your swing and making a mark on the fairways.
NEWBORN'S GOLDEN DREAMS
What would a leading fashion house like Louis Vuitton have in common with auto giant BMW? Plenty. For one, the people who patronise high fashion brands also drive luxury cars. Recently, when BMW decided to add a bit of French glamour to its German engineering, it asked Louis Vuitton to create a line of bespoke luggage that would complement its sports model BMW i8. The result was a four-set luggage — two travel bags, a business case and a garment bag —made from extremely sturdy material and designed to match the interior of the car. But the stunning set is not just for low-flying car affionados. Even if you can’t afford the $1,40,000 (Rs 84 lakh) plug-in hybrid BMW sports car, you can still look classy with this LV luggage.