Cotton Khadi

The first thought that newly engaged brides-to-be have is starting their search for their “perfect” wedding dress. Most women have dreamed of their big day all their lives, and the pressure to find the wedding dress that matches those dreams is unreal. Although planning the wedding and finalizing the design of the dress is a fun process, for many it can be extremely stressful and confusing. Relax! De-stress and enjoy the experience. The trick is to start planning very early so that you don’t have to run around at the very last minute. Decide on your budget for the dress and whether it will be a readymade one or customized to your taste. Your dress should suit the activities and style of your wedding. Ask yourself questions like, “Do I feel beautiful in this dress?”, “Can I dance and move around all night?”, or “Can I sit down?” Dresses with beautiful trains, and detailing across the hem are great, but don’t forget about the top of your dress as well as, as that part of ...

I see extraordinary women around me every day. Amazing, captivating, inspiring! Most of them don’t even realize how extraordinary they are. They just go about doing their everyday chores, multitasking and being the best they can. Lovers, learners, healers, nurturers and carers. Women are everything and more. I could go on and on about so many women who have inspired me all through my life, but I would like to particularly reminisce about the three women who have shaped me and made me who I am today. These three women are my grandmother, my mother and my nanny. THE DISCIPLINARIAN: My mother was a teacher. That would probably explain why she was so strict with us. But there’s more to her than what meets the eye. My mother raised me and my sister single-handedly since my father worked abroad. It is not easy playing the role of both parents to a child, but my mother did it and I will always admire her for it. My mother has always been meticulous, hardworking, organized, punc...

April 24 th is observed as “Fashion Revolution Day”, while “Fashion Revolution Week” takes place during the week of 24 th April every year. Fashion Revolution is a global movement calling for greater ethics, sustainability and transparency in the fashion industry. Fashion Revolution Day commemorates the anniversary of the 2013 Rana Plaza building collapse in Bangladesh, when nearly 1133 people died and over 2500 were injured. These were the victims of an industry dominated by large global corporate groups and their sponsored media who encourage a dream lifestyle of selfishness, apathy, superficiality and greed to a growing worldwide audience of billions. Fast fashion is an industry which provides the latest fashion at low prices. It is an industry that thrives on planned obsolescence, ignorance and waste. It promotes the increase in consumer’s demand for buying more and more by creating a culture of fast changing trends. To keep up with the insatiable need for buying more a...

On the 31 st of October, many countries around the world will observe “Halloween”. It is a Western Christian feast and a prelude to the three-day observance in the liturgical year dedicated to remembering the dead, including saints (hallows), martyrs and all the faithful departed. While it has never been a major festival in India, in recent times, due to the awareness created by the media, Halloween has gained popularity even among the non-Christians. Most of the youth are aware of this festival and celebrate by attending Halloween costume parties. Many a clubs, pubs and other businesses try to capitalize on the concept. Halloween costumes are mostly considered to be scary or outlandish. Here are a few ideas for stylish costumes without the need to look bizarre, overtly provocative or outright creepy. Morticia Addams: I have always been fascinated by this character from the Addams Family. I feel she is mysterious, graceful and elegant. To achieve this look, you w...

Summer can be quite a challenging season to dress for many women considering you reveal more of yourself and your body and have fewer layering options at your disposal. What you wear in the summer can also determine how you feel all day long. Inappropriate summer clothing can really wear you down and exhaust all your energy. Although less is more in summer, it does not have to be boring and dull. The trick is to find the right balance between fresh, cool and flattering. Wear natural fibres: Cottons are your best friend in the summer. Cotton fabrics are breathable, absorb sweat and dry faster. Opt for pure cottons. Linen is even better, although more expensive, it is highly absorbent and a good conductor of heat. Linen fabrics are cool to touch and one of the strongest fibres available. Silks are also a good option and can keep you cool. However, they are high maintenance, especially in the summer, and you might want to reserve your silks for the evening or on special occa...

May 13 th is mother’s day and every mother is special. Everyone has their own way of showing their mother they care and there’s no better day to tell your mama that you love her than mother’s day. No matter what your age or gender is, there is always something you can do for her to make her feel special. Let her have the day off, make her breakfast in bed, cook for her or take her out to lunch or dinner, present her with flowers or take her shopping. Speaking of shopping, while there are a variety of things in the market that you can buy her, you can never go wrong with fashion. Every woman wants to look her best and fashion is the sure way to go. The trick is to buy her something according to her personal style and that will definitely bring a smile to her face. To make things simpler, I’ve categorized moms into different groups. Each mom fits into one or more groups. All you have to do is figure out which group your mother would fit into and get her something that she’...