The Tribune, Chandigarh, India - The Tribune Lifestyle

	Warming up Stylish cuts, brighter hues, luscious textures… jackets for men just got more trendy this winter season Jigyasa Kapoor Chimra Albeit detailing is a strong feature in men’s wear this season, spelling trend in men jackets is the aviator style, military-inspired, classic single-breasted to double breasted mid-length and short puffer jackets. From strict silhouettes, high necks, hard lines, layered textures to prints there are a host of options. “Jackets for men are inspired by military styles this season. While on one hand we have the dark colours and stylish silhouettes, on the other we have fur, laconic sport style, biker, simple and puffer sports shape in fashion. Long jackets too are in vogue, but then they are double-breasted and have a fitted silhouette,” says Abhinav, store manager, Van Heusen-17. The most relevant thing in jackets this season is simple forms, as opposed to complex cuts. “Style is one aspect, wearability is more important. Considering that, in our collections we have the reversible as well as the jackets where the sleeves can be detached. Boring and dull hues have moved to the brighter side and this season we have maroon, red, bright blue and yellow for men,” adds Abhinav. Talking of jackets, textures and fabrics are luscious and the most fashionable materials of the season are wool, smooth leather, suede, fur and denim. While these fabrics can be used as a base material or as a decoration, we have layering in vogue as well. “Men’s jackets of autumn/winter 2012-2013 are a combination of materials such as leather and fabric. Some designers have experimented with finishing from leather using different processing that gives it a light sheen, while in others fabric with a print is the undisputed leader (read check). Though protective print cannot be called fashionable insofar as men’s jackets are concerned, its use is dictated by the trendy military direction,” says Munish Jain from Meena Bazaar. In colours it’s the gorgeous forest tones like moss green, berry red, earthy brown, charcoal grey, rust and navy blue that are in while black (as usual) retains its popularity. Trend-o-meter Detailing is a strong feature in men’s jackets this season. Textures and fabrics are luscious, including wool, leather, suede, silk and fur. In style, it’s the aviator, military-inspired, classic single breasted and long jackets that are in vogue. Layering in colours and prints is much-liked. Forest tones, including the brighter hues, are in vogue.
	Global space Mona Just before 2012 finishes its last leg, The Gaur, an American-style boutique hotel opens its doors in Chandigarh. Weekly-changing world cuisine, plush rooms, well-stocked bar and banquets, Gaur has it all and much more. If the restaurant seating is comfortable, the bar has ‘sand art’ for the background. The panels have sand, vinegar, oil and air bubbles making new formations giving different backgrounds intermittently. To begin with, its vintage cars and bikes that stand parked at the hotel’s portico. The owner plans to have vintage rally to promote causes social causes. Special care has been taken to keep the vegetarian and non-vegetarian sections separate. And, it has no ‘No Admission’ sign. Clear glass separates the cooking area from the restaurant and if you feel like you can have a peek into the kitchen. The beautified banquets offer space for corporate meetings as well as private functions. Sixteen rooms in total are divided into executive, deluxe, grand deluxe rooms and suites. “Customer comfort is what we keep in mind. The linen is seven star quality and the rooms are spacious with modern amenities,” says Rajeev Kakar, vice-president, corporate. While the executive room is for Rs 3,875 plus taxes, for luxury suite the range is around Rs 5,475. The meals that offer the best from across the globe are reasonable priced. One can enjoy a meal in less than Rs 375. mona@tibunemail.com
	Emotionally sound Taylor Swift breaks down emotions to 50 million categories to write her songs Singer Taylor Swift says most of her songs are about different types of sadness. The We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together hit-maker said that she breaks down emotions when writing her songs and one of the main themes is sadness over her love life. "I break down emotions into like 50 million categories. There's the missing-him kind of sadness. There's the frustrated-and-confused, don't-know-why-it-ended kind of sadness, there's the sadness tinged with anger... "There's the 'I know we can't be together but I miss you right now', there's the sadness that has guilt with it, there's the sadness that has a little bit of hope that he'll come back. That's why emotions are so beautiful to write about because they all sound so different to me," she said. It was recently said that 23-year-old Swift's close friend Selena Gomez, 20, had started listening to Swift's Red album to cope with her ongoing relationship drama with Justin Bieber. "Sel's been hanging with a lot of her friends, and her family, too. We've all been listening to Taylor's album a lot, too, and she loves it because it's all about breakups," a source said. — PTI
	No political move Actor-director Ben Affleck has denied the possibility of being Senator John Kerry's potential successor, insisting he is not running for office. There were reports that he appears on the list to become a US Senator if Kerry is appointed as the Secretary of State. "I love Massachusetts and our political process, but I am not running for office," he said in a statement posted on his Facebook page. "Right now it's a privilege to spend my time working with Eastern Congo Initiative (ECI), supporting our veterans, drawing attention to the great many who go hungry in the US everyday and using filmmaking to entertain and foster discussion about issues like our relationship to Iran," he added. The 40-year-old father of three himself played coy when asked about the matter during a December 19 taping of CBS' Face the Nation. "One never knows. I'm not one to get into conjecture... It's a big deal for me to come down here and be on your show that I've watched so much, but I'm not going to get into speculation about my political future," he had said. — PTI
	Priyanka sad about Barfi! Priyanka Chopra is sad that her film Barfi! is out of the Oscar race but the actress says she is glad that the film was sent in as the official entry from India. The Anurag Basu-directed film, starring Ranbir Kapoor as a deaf and mute boy and Priyanka as an autistic girl, was initially in the running to qualify for the best foreign language film category at the 85th Academy Awards but failed to make it to the short-listed nine films. "I am very sad about it. We as a team are sad about it. But I am glad the film was considered and sent as India's official entry to the Oscars. It was a very special film for us. We made it from the heart and I am really happy for the kind of response I've got for Jhilmil's character," Priyanka said. Her role as an autistic girl earned rave reviews from critics and audiences alike and the film also enjoyed a good box office collection. "I was very nervous about playing a differently-abled person. It could have been a caricature or it could have looked fake. I am grateful people have seen it for what we were trying it to be," she said. The film recently had its premiere at the Marrakech film festival, where a number of fans had gathered to catch a glimpse of the film's stars. "It was an amazing premiere at Marrakech, there were thousands of people standing in the cold. It was really great." The actress has a number of projects at hand now, including the Mary Kom biopic being made by Sanjay Leela Bhansali. "I'll start work on the Mary Kom project in mid-next year and I have to begin training for that. I have met her and she is very involved with the project because the film is inspired by her life. She is a great girl, so much fun and has been very helpful so far," said Priyanka. — PTI
	Living life Matru size Imran Khan plays Matru in Matru Ki Bijlee Ka Mandola. It was a challenging role for him and he is glad he did it. He talks about an innovative marketing strategy for the film. Playing Matru It was a challenge for me to play Matru because I am a clean-shaven Bandra boy and Matru is a hardcore Rohtak guy with a beard and he is rugged and unpolished. I used to take pictures of myself everyday while I was getting ready for the role. I almost turned it down but Vishal Bhardwaj had faith in me and I am glad I stuck as I am very happy with the movie. I did several workshops to play the character. Marketing strategy I told the marketing team that we should have Matru's Messaging Service on social networking sites in which we will write festive messages for people in Matru's unique style. I think it is a great way to familiarise the character with audiences. I hope it works out. I have been giving creative and marketing inputs for the movie. Vishal sir listens to us! Admiration club I think she is amazingly talented actress. She is so energetic and lively. I like that she is straight-forward and blunt. She gets along with my wife also. She liked my look in the movie quite a lot and thinks it is the hottest avatar I have had so far in my career.
	SRK to quit smoking? After Rajnikanth, Randeep Hooda and Saif Ali Khan, Shah Rukh Khan is believed to be considering giving up on smoking. Shah Rukh, who is known to be a chain smoker, has landed in trouble several times for his smoking habit. However, he has finally decided to quit smoking not only for the sake of his health, but also his young daughter Suhana. Earlier, SRK said that his children hate the deadly habit and he is trying hard to quit smoking for his kids especially daughter Suhana, who keeps warning him when she sees him puffing away. Well, let’s hope Shah Rukh Khan welcomes 2013 on a fresh note!
	Family show Jennifer Lopez's twins Max and Emme have joined their mother, her backup dancers and toyboy Casper Smart on stage at the end of the singer's concert in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Lopez, 43, held four-year-old Emme up in one arm and waved to the adoring crowd with the other. Over the past few days, Lopez has been burning up the stage on her Dance Again world tour. She was even joined by the children's father and ex-husband Marc Anthony on December 21 to perform their duet No me Ames (Don't Love Me). Lopez, who is now in a relationship with 25-year-old dancer Smart, was determined to learn from the demise of her marriage. "I had to figure out what I did wrong that I was in a relationship where I was accepting situations that weren't good for me.” — PTI
	The search is on Hollywood superstar Halle Berry has been spotted checking out churches with fiance Olivier Martinez as part of her wedding planning. The 46-year-old Oscar-winning actress, who has experienced a tumultuous year battling her ex-boyfriend Gabriel Aubry, escaped Los Angeles for the holidays with her French fiance Olivier Martinez and jetted over to Paris. Wearing a winter coat, leather leggings and boots, Berry and Martinez held hands as they took a stroll in the City of Light's romantic Saint Germain Quarter. According to the onlookers, the couple checked out Saint-Sulpice and the Abbey of Saint-Germain-des-pres, two historic churches in the picturesque city. — PTI
	Sonu pairs up with Nagarjuna After a gap of seven years, actor Sonu Sood is all set to star with Nagarjuna for another Telugu film Bhai. The duo, who were last seen in hit Telugu blockbuster Super in 2005, will be seen in Veerabhadram directed film which will hit theatres by the end of next year. "Will soon start shooting with Nagarjuna for Annapurna studios next Bhai. We shot together for Super for his home banner 7 years ago. How time flys," Sood posted on Twitter. Sood, 39, has got a flourishing career in Southern film industry apart from being a known name in Bollywood. — PTI
	A step forward Sriti Jha, who abruptly exited her hit show Saubhagyavati Bhav and tackled her marriage rumours, is now excited about doing a new show. She will be the new entry in the hit show Balika Vadhu. Over to her for details. Is it true that you are doing Balika Vadhu? Yes, I am doing it but I will play a new role and not replace anyone like the rumours suggest. I knew the makers of the show for long as I did two shows with them including Jyoti. I met writer Purenduji who discussed the character with me. It’s very exciting and challenging. I can’t wait to start shooting. What do you think about the show? It is one of the best shows we have seen on TV in the recent past. I am very excited to be a part of it. I love the way the story has moved forward and the kind of plots weaved in. What do you have to say about Pratyusha? She is doing a good job as Anandi. She’s a sweet girl with lot of energy. Why did you exit Saubhagyavati Bhav? I don’t want to talk about it. It’s over. Though the character Jhanvi will always remain special for me.
	CHATTER BOX On the judges’ panel Other than acting in Balika Vadhu and hosting Crime Patrol, Anup Soni has now taken up another job. He will be judging a television reality show called Big Fame Star on Big Magic. Soni feels the show is the right platform for aspiring actors from the hinterland. Solve the puzzle In the weekend episode of Arjun, the heartthrob of the nation, Sunil Khanna, is preparing for his masterpiece, in which he has invested lot of funds. His life depends on this project, as most of his films haven’t done well in the last few years. While announcing his film at a press conference, he gets to know that his son has been kidnapped. Arjun then begins the investigation and realizes that Sunil has got threatening calls. There is also a suspicion that all this is just a marketing gimmick to promote his film. His teenage son also had some enemies at college. As Arjun goes through the investigation, several shocking realities come to surface. How will Arjun solve this case? For the love of food Gaurav Chopraa who is known to be one of the most impressive personalities of Indian television was recently shooting for Big Switch Season 4 in Himachal Pradesh, Dharamsala. Known to be a foodie, he is also very particular about his diet. So, he took to eating healthy Tibetan food. Commenting on his new found food discovery, Gaurav Chopraa said, “Though I am a foodie I watch what I eat. Tibetan food is amazingly healthy and hence I got really hooked on to it. I used to make everyone on the sets of Big Switch 4 eat with me. Since I am back from the shoot now and there are hardly any good restaurants serving Tibetan food .” The show is slated to go on air in January 2013 and is expected to be tougher than its previous three seasons. Sharad’s wishlist We often wonder what our actors would be if they were not actors! Would they have been the characters they play in their serials – a regular banker, a businessman or the next door neighbour or would they follow their passion and be what they want to be? Sharad Kelkar, who is the anchor, host and analyst of Shaitaan - A criminal mind, the new investigative series of Colors is known for playing fictional characters. So, the question that arises is what does cc want to play in real life, what would he be if not an actor? The answer is a defense personnel, serve the public and the country. Coming from a sports background, Sharad always wanted to be something that would give rest to his agile, restless mind! Sharad applied for the Civil Defense Exam where out of the thousands that applied, Sharad was amongst the top 100 candidates. After clearing another exam, Sharad was then a part of the top 20 wherein he had to face an interview panel of the heads of the army. Sharad did not manage to clear the interview; however, this experience taught him a lot in life. Canada bound After whetting our appetite with unbelievably simple vegetarian recipes in the first two seasons of Vicky Goes Veg, the celebrity Chef will now travel Canada to discover the taste and culture of the country. The show is named Vicky Goes Foreign – Canada Tadka. He sets out to learn more about the food, culture and people of the Maritime Provinces, the beautiful prairies and the magnificent Canadian Rockies. Watch Vicky as he digs for potatoes, shucks scallops, mixes some Poutine rapée, bakes and breaks bread, tries out delectable delicacies and shops for the best local ingredients to cook some incredible Canadian and Indian recipes. Announcing the brand new season, Shibani Sharma Khanna, Channel Director, NDTV Good Times, says, “Vicky Ratnani is one of the most loved chefs in our country and after the success of the Vicky Goes Veg series, we are delighted to announce Vicky Goes Foreign. Indian audiences are in for a treat with delightful food of Canada coming to their homes. We are positive that the show will be well received.”
	ASTRO TURF P Khurrana ARIES: Listen to your heart, regardless of what your head keeps telling you. Don’t please somebody else at the expense of your own needs. Today you will find people generally hard to pin down. Tarot message: Use your instinct to get into the top circle of power. Lucky colour: Burgundy. Magic number: 30 TAURUS: Enduring relationships can be formed with new people who live at a distance. Stick to your regular job as the best way of boosting your reserves. Inconsequential encounters can have far-reaching impact on your psyche. Tarot message: Learn from past experiences. Lucky colour: Silver. Magic number: 52 GEMINI: Older people and family commitments can take up your time. Don’t try to dodge your commitments though the ramifications will stay with you for a long time. Children may need attention, so take care of them. Tarot message: Be articulate with people. Lucky colour: Purple. Magic number: 60 CANCER: A recent training or practice programme should pay off big-time today. Enter a competition that will stretch your abilities and offers a fantastic prize, as you might just win. Contract and agreements can be finalised. Tarot message: Try to accomplish long-term tasks. Lucky colour: Golden. Magic number: 42 LEO: A joint meeting will be held to review the situation and plan a future strategy. Financial gains will accrue through relatives and well-wishers. Make sure you know what is needed beforehand and the delays will not be as long. Tarot message: Take one thing at a time. Lucky colour: Orange. Magic number: 55 VIRGO: Those eligible will decide to get married and win the blessings of their family. A certain misunderstanding with a close relative will get cleared. A dream might stay with you and give you a cause for introspection. Tarot message: Listen carefully to words of wisdom. Lucky colour: Blue. Magic number: 65 LIBRA: A slow moving day. Women will pass through a period of depression. Domestic matters proceed well. Financial situation should ease out. Tarot message: You will receive a useful tip at the stock exchange, which can be put to profitable use. Lucky colour: Red. Magic number: 28 SCORPIO: Students: you are unlikely to face financial problems today. Work prospects improve. Do not argue with elders. Remember the saying; if you love someone, set them free. Tarot message: Allow a sick situation blow over before you start a new project. Lucky colour: Green. Magic number: 58 SAGITTARIUS: You are unlikely to be in the mood to start new jobs. Health can dampen your plans. The opportunity to exercise and benefit from your natural talents is highlighted. The best outlet for pressure is passion and romance. Tarot message: Do not fall for rash promises. Lucky colour: Grey. Magic number: 29 CAPRICORN: Look forward to a fulfilling day. Let your imagination go and enjoy the creative ideas that manifest. You are likely to be oversensitive towards others, but this will help your communication. Tarot message: Try an offbeat style of handling things. Lucky colour: Pink. Magic number: 44 AQUARIUS: Turn your attention to matters of money and the budget. If there are problems, discuss them with partners or close associates. Forgive and forget is the best policy. Tarot message: Do not swing away from the course you have charted so far. Lucky colour: Yellow. Magic number: 49 PISCES: Enjoy a friendly gathering in your neighborhood. Luck is on your side and good things will come your way. With love partners, co-workers and even rivals, you will be favoured. Tarot message: Be positive; think carefully before taking action. Lucky colour: Beige. Magic number: 64
	THE YEAR AHEAD Madan Gupta Spatu If your birthday is December 27... This is not the year for starting projects; consider how everything is prone to transformation. For the moment, you must rely on what you have and make it suffice. Free yourself from the sense of possessions and expectations that poison life. Jupiter, the planet of success, sends beneficial influences to your sign. Optimism will give you a full vision, allowing you to reach a certain sense of self-confidence. You'll enjoy a pleasant evening and receive the trust of a person who you thought was ‘cold’. You'll be able to know this person better. Catching up on your correspondence is the key if you want to maintain supportive and loving relationships. Don't let a disgruntled soul get to you. They may ramble on, but you can tolerate it. Talk gently to them so they learn how to be gentle in their ways. They'll calm down on their own, eventually. Employees can expect stress and a strong sense of intolerance. If you wish to undertake something new, you must consider difficulties that will arise especially at the beginning. Patience and faith in your goals will help, but will not be enough - you must choose someone who can help and accept the advice of others with benevolence. Romance surrounds you at every turn. If you're already in a relationship, schedule a luxury holiday with your partner. If single, you are likely to meet someone special at a pottery class, public garden or restaurant. You'll manage a new task really well and this will highlight your initiative and great ideas. Your popularity gets a big boost early in the year and you can ride the wave for longer than you expect. The work assigned to you might be a test of your expertise and knowledge. Therefore, you should put all your efforts into this task. Its successful completion will bring many other offers for way. If you are still pursuing studies, then this timeframe will be favourable for you. Personal illness, fatigue, emotional issues, loss or injury may stunt your ability to 'perform'. Mood: Emotionally cluttered. Compatible signs: Scorpio, Gemini. Lucky colours: Red, Magenta. Lucky days: Tuesday and Friday. Lucky numbers: 5, 9, 11, 15, 40. You share your birthday with Salman Khan (Abdul Rashid Salim Salman Khan. December 27, 1965, Indore) who is the eldest son of Bollywood screenwriter Salim Khan. He is the fourth Indian actor to have been replicated as a wax statue in the Madame Tussauds museum in London. The numbers 3, 6 and 9 will play a key role in his life. The year 2013 will bring a great reward to him.