ICynosure: October 2014

An experience where style is above the ordinary,

Where celebrated fashion and music are curated,

Where interactive technology transcends boundaries,

And style is decoded.

Style Arrives With Benders Pride Fashion Tour

I spent yesterday evening in the company of India’s most celebrated, most majestic names in the field of excellence. Nothing short of stylish splendour, Mr. Raja Banerji, Assistant Vice President, Pernod Ricard India announced the 10th edition of the Blenders Pride Fashion Tour.

After ten glorious years, the tour is an iconic fashion event in itself. This year the team has taken that unique step ahead and introduced a mélange of Music, Design and Technology to add an exceptional element to the event. At the preview yesterday, a spectacular evening at the Grand Hyatt the team created a sensorial spectacle that immersed the atmosphere with entertainment through dance, music and fashion. Every year the tour goes on to broaden the stage for amazing talent to provide a majestic accomplishable dream for the fashion conscious individuals.

iCynosure being a lifestyle blog, there were a few things that brought sparkles to our eyes…

Decade-Long Commitment

The tour celebrates 10 years of style, substance and excellence, and that I must say is great commitment and a super achievement as well. As Mr. Raja Banerji, Assistant Vice President, Pernod Ricard India emphasized during our quick chat that the tour over the years has evolved into this magnificent platform for showcasing elegance and glamour. Going much beyond fashion, the tour is all about style that brings together various facets of art-forms including literature, music, film and a lot more in the mix.

Fashion Tour as opposed to Fashion Week

Starting mid-November, Blenders Pride Fashion Tour, ebullient and scintillating, will travel to five Indian cities - Hyderabad, Gurgaon, Mumbai, Bengaluru and Kolkata. During the fashion shows the creative artists will mesmerize the audiences with their collections whilst some amazing music tracks by country musicians Ankur Tiwari, Ash & Ashvin, Boom Bay Central, Karsh Kale, MIDIval Pundits and Shaa’ir + Func. Adding a touch of intellect to the tour, specialists from various walks of life will unveil different facets of Style - celebrated author Chetan Bhagat, brilliant actor Boman Irani, ace cricketer Wasim Akram along with Irrfan Khan will be the feature of each fashion shows, giving the audience a peek into their style statements.

Line-Up of Fashion’s Best

Some of the most acclaimed, sought-after names in fashion, music, literature and cinema unveiled the Blenders Pride Fashion Tour 2014 preview. We were given a glimpse into the creations of India’s best fashion gurus Abraham & Thakore, Gaurav Gupta, Little Shilpa, Namrata Joshipura, Neeta Lulla, Pankaj & Nidhi, Rocky S, Shivan & Narresh, Suneet Varma and Varun Bahl, that left us wanting for more. Chetan Bhagat, a man who needs no introduction along with actor par excellence Boman Irani, decoded style in their inimitable ways as they brought laughter, geekiness and fun onto the stage.

Funny Man Boman Irani

During the preview event, Indian film and theatre actor, voice artist and photographer, Boman Irani emphasized the co-relation between confidence and Style. From being a photographer to playing diverse acting roles, he has consistently challenged himself to do something different every time and do so well. On his association with the tour, he said, “I am very proud and excited to be associated with Blenders Pride Fashion Tour 2014 as this is one platform which goes beyond fashion and has indeed revolutionized the definition of style for their audience.”

Little Shilpa and Gaurav Gupta

Both these powerhouses need no introduction. After her last outing in the Indian fashion segment, Little Shilpa is a name to be reckoned with. A quick chat with her after the preview has left me waiting for more from her sewing desk. With three unique concepts strung together with the versatility element, the collection is sure to hook onto the viewers. What can one really say about Gaurav? All glamour and glitter with the Greek Goddess collection, he is all set to offer newer concepts of gowns and sari-gowns to the Indian fashionistas after mesmerising and dressing international celebrities.

This year mark your calendars and make sure not to miss your city leg of the Blenders Pride Fashion Tour.

See you at the Mumbai Leg of the tour.
~ Heena

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The INK 2014 Conference is scheduled in Mumbai from October 31st to November 2nd. The theme for INK2014 is 'Beyond Boundaries’

Dell India, India’s leading end-to-end technology solutions provider announces the launch of their ‘Dell Campassadors’ program and a strategic partnership with INKtalks, an organization which aims to inspire youth, particularly in emerging economies. The association was born out of Dell’s dedicated focus towards the college student community, who not only exhibit a dynamic use of personal technology but are also advocates for the adoption of new technologies. With this partnership, Dell aims to engage college students through campus ambassadors in a year-long conversation with Dell & INKtalks to foster a strong sense of social orientation and bring student communities together to share knowledge and ideas with peers and work on collaborative projects, all to prepare them for real-life challenges.

The INK Conference is an annual celebration of thinkers and doers from diverse walks of life.

World visionaries – CEOs, entrepreneurs, artists, technologists, scientists & more – gather under one roof for a cross-pollination of ideas and chance encounters for the next big breakthrough.

The conference is known for its exciting ideas, celebrates milestones and looks to the future innovations. The conference encourages interdisciplinary thinking where the opinions and ideas of scientists, artists, entrepreneurs and film-makers, to name a few come together on equal footing.

INK takes the audience on a fascinating journey to expand horizons. Find out more about the speakers here and watch a short video of the INK Conference below.

Dell has been very vocal among the student community and has successfully sustained annual programs such as ‘Back to College,’ an initiative to creatively empower college-going students both inside and outside the classroom by enabling students to seamlessly merge their offline and online lives. The tie-up with INKtalks is an extension of Dell’s Back to College initiative and reflects Dell’s continued focus and engagement with the youth. Dell has consistently engaged with the youth in the past, with initiatives like ‘Achieve with Dell’ and ‘I Can Do Kuch Bhi’ which inspired the youth to unlock possibilities and achieve their ambitions, using personal technology as an enabler.

Ritu Gupta, Marketing Director, Consumer and Small Business, Dell India said, “At Dell, we believe that technology is a key enabler for driving personal and professional growth. The college student community is on the cusp of realising their potential and as a brand, we are keen to help them take that next step towards becoming future leaders. We believe that our collaboration with INKtalks, an organization whose objectives align with ours, to motivate and inspire the youth, will help us engage students at their most energetic and aspirational growth stage. In addition, this platform is designed to provide the Dell Campassadors valuable exposure and learning opportunities to prepare them for real-world challenges. At Dell, we believe that equipped with direction, recognition and the power of technology, the youth can be enabled to further their goals and achieve personal brilliance.”

Lakshmi Pratury, Host and Curator, INKtalks said, "INKtalks is about opening up the imagination of the youth through stories and equip them to create an impact in the world around them. We are thrilled to partner with Dell to take our ideas to the student community at large and get them involved in activities throughout the year. We look forward to engaging with Dell Campassadors who will champion the interaction with their peers, thousands of students in campuses around the country, and catalyze their exposure to INKtalks to help them realising their imagination into an impact to the society. When we combine the technology outreach of Dell with the projects pioneered by INK, we will have a youth community that can use the technology to make a difference in the communities that they inhabit."

Dell at INK Live
Dell will host a session at the INK 2014 Conference, Mumbai on 1st November between 3 and 4 pm.
The session will be on How to Create Your Brand on Social Media?
Find out more about the INK Talks 2014 here and be sure to tweet with the #DellAtINKLive at the event!

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Earlier this month, direct selling cosmetic giant Oriflame launched its ‘The One’ range of makeup essentials with their brand ambassador, the gorgeous Huma Qureshi, Mr. Niklas Frisk, Vice President and Head - South Asia and Mr. Mirek Kopriva, Regional Marketing Director South Asia.

The brand has also initiated a great activity inviting few bloggers from across the country to participate in a niche review program. As you know, I had received all the products of their October launch. I have been using the foundation, concealer, mascara and the eyeliner from #TheOne range and have been mighty impressed. If I have to pick the best product of the October launch, it has to be the eyeliner.

What is Oriflame’s The One Eyeliner Stylo all about?
Oriflame’s The One Eyeliner Stylo claims to deliver a smooth, precise line without dragging or stopping to achieve high colour and style precision. It is expected to dry quickly and remain smudge-free and maintain the colour and shape.

What does the ingredients list of Oriflame’s The One Eyeliner Stylo look like?
Oriflame’s The One Eyeliner Stylo contains Acrylates, Ammonium Methacrylate Copolymer, Glycerin, Laureth-21, Peg-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Butylene Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Benzyl Alcohol, Sodium Laureth-12 Sulfate, Potassium Sorbate, Caprylyl Glycol, Sodium Dehydroacetate, Citric Acid, Tetrasodium Edta, Dehydroacetic Acid, CI 77266 (Nano), CI 42090, CI 28440, CI 19140, CI 17200, CiI45410, CI 61570 and CI 16035.

How is Oriflame’s The One Eyeliner Stylo packaged and priced?
Oriflame’s The One Eyeliner Stylo is packed in a neat sketch pen pack with a perfect narrow felt-tip for application. It is packaged in the range’s ombre colour of purple. Though it is priced at INR 499 for 8ml, currently there is an introductory discount offer of 25%.

In what shades is Oriflame’s The One Eyeliner Stylo available?
Oriflame’s The One Eyeliner Stylo is available in two shades at the moment; Black and Blue.

My experience and opinion about Oriflame’s The One Eyeliner Stylo
Since I have very sensitive eyes, I have always stayed away from uncomfortable products that are difficult to use for eye makeup, especially Eyeliners and Mascaras. However, with Oriflame’s The One Eyeliner Stylo, eye makeup application is as easy as drawing on paper. I love the fact that the eyeliner is developed in a manner that it facilitates smooth and consistent application with the most tenderness hand. Whether I want to create a simple or a dramatic look, it doesn’t become a sore point of the makeup routine. Simple strokes enable me to achieve my desired look. The colours are not as intense, but for me, it’s the way I like my eyeliners as the mildness in the shade gives a more natural look. As it is also a smudge-proof product, it stays longer and no touch-up is needed. Though it doesn’t really impact the lower line, and seems like a very light line.

Product Strengths:
§ Perfectly narrow tip for application
§ Smudge-proof and long-lasting
§ Mild shade gives a more natural look

Product Weaknesses:
§ Not available over the counter
§ High price point compared to the competition

Will I recommend the product to friends/family? Sure, Yes
Will I purchase the product again for personal use? Definitely!

To know more about Oriflame Range of Products join the Oriflame India Facebook Page. Have you tried their products? Do share your experiences.
~ Heena

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We as Gujarati Jains, celebrate Diwali as the most important festival of the year. Not only does Diwali bring in the New Year, but also is very important as the business community celebrates their business during the festive period.

Every year, we try to follow as many traditions and customs as possible and make the most of our #GharWaliDiwali. This year we are extremely excited to celebrate Diwali with our princess. I’d be decorating our home with traditional dias and beautiful rangolis. A spread of delicious sweet dishes along with some wonderful packed gifts for near and dear ones shall adorn our home.

Dhanteras is celebrated as a day to honor Goddess Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth. We shall follow our ancestral tradition and purchase a few items that are considered auspicious on the day. First a new utensil in iron for our kitchen, followed by a beautiful light for the living room. Apart from the household items it is considered pleasing to Goddess Lakshmi to buy precious metals. My mother-in-law believes in buying silverware on this auspicious day and so keeping tradition we shall be bringing home a beautiful silver dinner set. And of course there will be a beautiful gold jewelry piece for our little princess.

The next day is Kali Chaudas which falls on Aso Vad Chaudas, the day that is celebrated in honor of Goddess Maa Kali. It is the day that is celebrated as the day that good trumpeted over evil. Maa Kali killed evil king Mahishasura and brought an end to everything bad. As Gujarati Jains on this day we follow a ritual called ‘Kakarat Kadvo’ meaning removing evil and negative energies and rubbish from the home and placing it at crossroads to destroy it. We usually encircle our homes with a couple of limes and then set out to place them at crossroads near our homes. One must be very careful as not to step on limes laid out on the streets. It’s a small quick ritual that we shall complete at dawn.

Diwali is celebrated the next day which is the most important day of the festive season. It is the last day of the Hindu year and a day to celebrate the business. In addition to all the celebrations, the Business Community prays by way of Chopda Poojan and Lakshmi Poojan. Books of business accounts are worshiped and set for the next financial year, along with offering prasad and gifts to employees. It is the big bonus day for the community.

Lunch is served in the office and then the entire office is called to celebrate along with their families. Gifts and bonuses are distributed, lunch enjoyed together and then fire crackers are burst to make the arrival of the New Year.

Since we are working professionals, we will celebrate the day with worshiping the cheque book, followed by lunch and gifts arranged for our house-help and their families. Our family usually plays card games on this day to try our luck and enjoy an evening of family fun.

The day after is Besto Varas which translates as New Year. On this day, we generally go to seek blessings from our elders be it our parents, extended family but also most important Lord Mahavir. Elders usually give children good luck money on the eve of this wonderful new beginning.

We shall wake up as early as possible; hopefully around 6 in the morning to visit the temple and then seek blessings from our elders. We will collect as many shagun Rs. 11 to bring in luck in the New Year.

Bhai Beej is the final day of the celebratory season which emphasizes the sibling relationship. Brothers go to the married sister’s home for lunch followed by a small puja similar to that done on Raksha Bandhan. Sisters usually cook a sumptuous meal for her brother who in turn gives her loads of gifts. I’m going to this for my brother and enjoy the day together.

It’s going to be an amazing few days. I cannot wait for the festivities to begin.

~ Heena

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Every morning I ask myself if I’m happy and I know that I couldn’t have been happier. You must wonder why? Simply because I’m a mom, simply because I have a little bundle of happiness sleeping right next to me practically snuggling into me making me the happiest person in this world.

She bring in so much light into my life that it becomes most important that I ensure that I do everything that I can for my princess. Just like every mother who dreams to give the world to her children, I wish the same for my little one, especially health and immunity that would ensure her wellbeing.

However, it wasn’t the same always. Early on my daughter was diagnosed with Baby Colic and identified as Lactose Intolerant. Never ever heard about children not being able to drink external milk and consume milk products, my life literally turned upside down.

However, this didn’t seem to affect her at all, touchwood! She remained her fun-self, super active and highly charged with every passing day.

Health is what brings in a wealth of life, #ImmuneIndia.

With a little hiccup of a medical difference, I become more attentive to my daughter’s health needs. As a mother I did put in my best foot forward…. We, Princess and momma created a wonderful program to bring health into our lives.

Personal Needs of every individual are different and so we identified our desires and needs and put them in line with what our bodies warranted.

Lifestyle fuels health and thus we incorporated a sustainable sleep, exercise and nutrition regime.
Environment that we live in also decides the quality of your health. However we try not to shield from external factors, but go and expose ourselves to it; to up our immunity.

Nutrition is food for health. Thus we try to manage a healthy balanced diet filled with various colors and fibers. Ofcourse we do indulge in some junk food at times but we try and balance it out with good stuff that flushes out the toxic.

Last but not the least we add some old-age remedies of natural ingredients into our daily lives to help boost our health and immune system. Earlier my mother-in-law used to add Herbs, Chamomile, Amla, Honey, Aloe Vera and many such things and make a paste for us to gulp every day. However now we strengthen our immunity with a spoonful of yummylicious Dabur Chyawanprash daily.

So once I am rest assured and I don’t have to worry about the health of my child, I put all my energies towards enjoying each other cause real happiness is not an immediate event, it is not a single act. Real happiness is the tiny instances that fill your heart with intense, which can be relived without a thought.

As you run around the whole house,

It’s fun to run behind you my Minnie mouse!

When you jump into the cool shower,

My heart bursts open like a beautiful flower!

Your naughty antics and beautiful smile,

Make my otherwise vile life worthwhile.

Your Happiness and Health are my main concerns,

Which Dabur Chyawanprash takes care of without a yearn!

So what do you do to ensure the health of your little one? Isn't a healthy baby a path to a happy home!
~ Heena

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At times I feel like running away from the hustle-bustle of the city life and take refuge in a greener, a quieter and a more serene heaven. A place that you can call your own, a place that takes you from man-made to natural. And what better than having a second home; more like a holiday home in the middle of nature. Though second homes have been in vogue for a long time, their reach has been often restricted to the extremely affluent. But not anymore! The holiday homes concept has taken the urban professionals by surprise and offered a getaway from their hectic lives into a fun-filled natural environment. A cluster of towns and villages have emerged around metropolitan cities that are now catering to the demands of holiday homes.

With Mumbai being such a hectic place a lot of projects offering holiday homes have emerged around the city; especially Shahapur, Lonavala, Wada, Malshej, Alibaug, Karjat and Khardi. Though the options are endless for those who are looking for a second home, finding the perfect one is the real test.

One such emerging destination is Koroli, the newest Hill Station about 90 minutes outside Mumbai. Koroli is being developed by the E&G Global Estates as part of Maharashtra Government's initiative to develop the city of Nashik and build its infrastructure to help put the place on the map. A piece of the universe specially nurtured for inspiration, for inhaling the untouched beauty and for bringing in the calm within the mental chaos.

It was a privilege when E&G Global Estates invited a few bloggers to visit their new holiday homes project and experience the wonders it offered; the feel of the blades of green grass, the smell of the moist red soil and the sound of the humming of the birds. All through I kept humming to myself.

We want to be Nature’s friends,

At E&GKoroli our search ends.

Together we will #DiscoverGreen

Momma and her little cutie bean!

We spent most part of our day at the E&G Green Courts, a planned hill station that offers amenities for both natural and modern living. The project offers Premium Natural Villas - one of its kind; fully furnished along with the latest facilities and security. With the Vaitarna Lake as a backdrop and green lush mountainous ranges as a window setting, the Green Courts is a paradise everyone must own.

The luxury project offers 4BHK villas, perfectly named Kingsmead and 2BHK villas called Silver Springs with personalised swimming pools, private gardens and much more. The project allows numerous sightseeing options in the vicinity including Trimbakeshwar Shiva Temple, Kalsubai Peak, Dugarwadi Waterfall and Anjaneri Ranges.

One point during the discussions that I found really interesting was the option of renting back the villa to the group to earn a passive income. What an amazing concept that not only ensures the villas are well maintained but also earns an income.

A virtual walkthrough of Green Courts Property

Have you ever thought about a holiday home? Such a delight to have a place to go back to, to unwind from the day-to-day routine and mundane.
~ Heena

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Accessory Shopping via Silvette, Website Review

With the festive season just around the corner, all women will be thinking is about putting together their looks for the celebrations. From clothes to shoes to handbags; but the most important is the jewelry which accentuates the entire look in seconds.

I personally love it when I have endless options of exquisite jewelry, well who wouldn’t. So this season keep all those diamonds, pearls and gold away. This season is all about Natural Semi-Precious stones. Since I had very few such pieces, I kept looking for some spectacular designs at my trusted brands. However I couldn’t find a single piece I liked, everything looked too made up. So I took my journey on the internet and chanced upon an amazing website, Silvette.

Silvette offers an amazing range of handcrafted Jewellery with Natural Semi Precious stones that standout in a crowd. Be it an oversized neck piece or a delicate bracelet; a statement cocktail ring or a gorgeous pair of earrings; you will find everything on their online jewellery store.

While browsing through the collections I was simply in awe of the rainbow of colors and natural settings with just a hint of metal that holds the piece together. Each piece is a statement piece in itself that easily takes you from formal to casual and even festive. I love the fact that the pieces are handcrafted and worked on by human hands, they feel so personal. Perfect too, just made for me.

Currently they have three collections on offer on the online store; Allure, Eleganza and Panache. Each collection is targeted for a certain purpose and ocassion.The Allure colloection is characteried by simple, lightweight pieces that are economically priced and casually worn. The Panache collection are statement pieces perfect as party wear; they are beautiful eye catching pieces. The Eleganza collection is an exclusibe collection that is perfect for the diva in you, the pieces are glamorous and attention seeking.

I simply love all the jewelry, however my utmost favorites are the cuff bracelets. They are simple yet gorgeous and attention-seeking, they warrant a second glance ever time you look at them.

Apart from the stunning entire, the shopping experience too has been a positive for me. I browsed through the products and then placed an order via the online store. The products were delivered to me in 2 working days neatly packed with bubble wrap and in a cute little cardboard jewelry box.

One thing that surely needs a mention here is that the pieces are one-of-a-kind. If you really like one, add it to the cart immediately and hit the checkout button for the payment options. Cause if you decide to come back the next day to purchase it, it may not be available. I did miss out on a beautiful cuff.

If jewelry is on your mind, make sure you check the site before you spend your moies. You could browse through the collection on the online store; follow them on Facebook and Instagram for exclusive offers, events and promotions.

Website Strengths:
§ Excellent quality products
§ Only one-of-a-kind pieces
§ Hassle-free online shopping
§ Free Shipping for over INR 500
§ 15 Days Returns Policy

Website Weaknesses:
§ Only one-of-a-kind pieces, so you may lose out on some pieces

Have you read the entire Diwali Series? It's the second year we are hosting this series.
~ Heena

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