Chemistry in your Closet

May be its just me, but don’t u too think that this week is snailing on way too slow. Yawn!! Anyways, weekend is just round the corner (what a relief!) and I’ve already got into the groove. An unexpected wardrobe crisis sent me to a mid-week shopping spree to a nearby mall. My formal black trousers necessitated a replacement ASAP. So I had to scurry and make that quick purchase with just about minimal time during alteration for checking out other stuff. I utilized this time in exploring some chemistry or rather ‘the’ Chemistry!

The collection at the Chemistry store was fabulous but I didn’t have enough time to pick & try .I forced myself out of the store but my mind kept going back to it. As usual I set out today to do my bit of research on the brand but hardly found enough resources online. I googled and googled again and finally found good amount of information which I’m compiling and dishing out for u.

Chemistry  is one of the fastest growing Indian brands for the fashionable urban woman . It was launched in 2005 by Esjay International which is primarily an export-based company supplying to brands like Zara and Armani and is renowned for its women's apparel both in formals and casual wear. The USP of Chemistry is forward high street design at affordable prices. They offer trend-driven fast fashion to the Indian woman and the range includes western casuals, party wear and accessories. The store is known for its feminine and stylish tops, floral skirts and dresses.

The brand whose main target is the young city-bred woman recently launched a line called Miss Chemistry which is targeted at the 18 to 16 year olds  and has a range of dresses, tops, tunics, T-shirts and the like. The uniqueness about Chemistry stems from the fact that it brings out a new collection every two-to-three weeks that is in sync with the season. And with every collection, Chemistry shows you how breaking away from conformity can be fun!  Here’s a peek at their collections in line with the latest trends - Pull-on Pegs, Stripes, Bucket Bags and Summer Jackets.

Image Source: Chemistry India website

With stuff like that , isn’t some chemistry with Chemistry bound to develop ?!!  Mine is assured, how abt u?

P.S. The Tangier Giveaway is on till 31^st May…rush in ur entries if u haven’t yet!

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Tangier Giveaway

I am extremely delighted to be hosting my first ever giveaway on Pink Diaries and it being a sponsored by Tangier -an avant garde brand of clothing is the icing on the cake. Oh btw, the cake reminds me to tell you the reason for this giveaway is Pink Diaries first anniversary (about which you read here). Yay! Lets pop the champagne now!!!  Enough of merry-making, now I must get down to serious business and shift the spotlight to TANGIER. 

Tangier carries exquisitely designed clothing and accessories for fashion forward ladies. Their flagship store is now open in New Delhi. The collections are an eclectic mix of one of a kind designer wear as well as regular clothes in a variety of colors and patterns. They are fashionable, wearable, colorful and are synonymous with quality, value and unique design. Tangier’s target segment is “customers who make revel in their individuality and make confident purchases”. Check out www.facebook.com/ShopTangier for all your fashion cravings!

Tangier offers coordinated head-to-toe western wear collections for teenagers, ladies and plus-size women.The products (ranging from tops, dresses, party gowns, shorts, capris, accessories etc.) are wearable,colorful and exude originality, great quality and a consistent fit. And all that at a pocket-friendly price tag! Walking the extra mile in customer delight, Tangier offers each customer personalized styling in store. Now that’s a value add service you can’t say no to!

Image Source : Tangier (All images are copyrighted by Tangier)

So,my dear readers, here’s your chance to win Tangier merchandise of your choice and size (conditions apply). Create your own unique Tangier experience, all you have to do is enter this giveway…

Rules:

1. You MUST follow Pink Diaries blog through Google Friend Connect

2. You MUST follow Tangier’s facebook page and leave a comment on their wall.

Bonus entries:
a. Receive 1 Extra entry for replying & polling (both) on Tangier's Discussion forum on facebook page (here)
b. Receive 1 extra entry for liking Pink Diaries facebook page (here)
c. Receive 1 extra entry for blogging about this Giveaway

Pl leave a comment on this post with ur name and blog url/email address and do mention what all you have done for extra entries.

This Giveaway is open internationally and ends on May 31^st, 2011 midnight. The winner will be decided by a lucky draw. May Lady Luck be with u :)

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Baggit Blues

I had been mulling over the idea to post a review on Baggit but could not find the reason compelling enough to ramble – neither had I bought a Baggit bag in the recent past nor had I been following the trends too closely.

But a column in yesterday’s newspaper about their latest Autumn Winter’10-11 Collection grabbed my attention. The teaser was enough to rouse in some curiosity and I made a quick dash at the nearest Baggit store (in a bid to grab the best one before they run out of stock…Gosh! What a hoarder I’m turning into! ) I didn’t pick up anything, though (did I hear a sigh of relief?) ‘cuz a just-in-time SMS reminder of my credit card dues convinced me I don’t need another bag right now and definitely not a blue one ( alrite, atleast not NOW!) Nevertheless, it definitely merits a mention. Baggit’s new collection of bags is called True Blue range and is funky, functional and VFM as always.

From what I read and saw the Baggit True Blue Range is glamorous and high on style with exquisite detailing and superior craftsmanship in variations of color - blue: navy, marine, turquoise, electric blue and light dusty blues. The designs range from crisp tailored, sophisticated silhouettes to casual slouchy bags to cater to a wide array of fashionistas. Elegant and fun - this true blue collection will surely beat the winter blues away. This value for money collection from Baggit is available from Rs.1,500 onwards.

Images : Baggit Website

Baggit is a premium brand of Bags & accessories for women that is designed and manufactured in India and leads the pack in the non-leather category. The brand came into existence in 1990 in Mumbai and today it is retailed across country in all sales channels. The offerings from the Baggit brand includes Handbags, Wallets, Mobile Pouches, Belts, Caps, Scarves and Footwear. Baggit’s objective is to merge design with social and environmental consciousness, to provide stylish, functional, and durable products that people will love to own.

Baggit unveils exciting new ranges every month as part of its AW ’10–’11 Collection and with each range within the collection, the brand introduces an assortment of trendy new designs and styles in rich color palettes to create perfect bags and accessories that are voguish and exciting each season.

Now these are some blues you’ll love to bring to work instead of Monday morning blues or make your friends at college ‘blue-green’ with envy! : P

Would u buy a blue bag?

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Juice-y Times!

My hair desperately needed a makeover (read my sob hair story here) so this weekend I decided to do something exciting with my otherwise boring straight-ish, long-ish, brown-ish hair. Mumbai’s hip and funky Juice Salon opening near my place could be more than a coincidence; I like to believe its universe’s conspiracy (a la Paulo Koelho)! Though Juice has been working its magic on the celebs and plebs of Mumbai for years now, I never really got to experience it for the lack of drive and energy to commute far distances. So when their new salon opened at closer distance, it got me all excited and eager to try out this ‘Juice’!

Juice, for those who don’t know, is one of India’s trendiest salon with branches in Mumbai, Kolkata, Hyderabad and Dubai and cater to the beauty needs of celebrities and fashion forward folks alike. Juice has been in existence for over a decade and it shot to fame particularly when its ex co-owner Adhuna Akhtar (Farhan Akhtar’s wife) worked her magic on ‘Dil Chahta hai’ cast giving birth to a nation of spikes and goatees !The dream run of cult hairstyles and look makeover continues to rage on ever since which has catapulted Juice as a brand synonymous with extremely stylish, funky, international and cool!

A cloud of not-so-pleasant experiences in the past continues to reside in my memory and plants a seed of doubt whenever I think about trying out a new salon. I stepped into the newly opened Juice Salon with the same frame of mind but all doubts vanished in thin air looking at the swanky interiors and the level of professionalism.

A bunch of energetic young stylists greeting and welcoming you sends out positive vibes and it did make my maiden visit a pleasant one. When asked during the consultation what I wanted to get done, “a makeover”, pat came my reply with the risk of sounding like a wannabe-cum-desperate 30-something! Before my hair stylist could roll her eyes in confusion, I added with a grin, “a haircut”. In return she offered me three choices of stylists and their respective charges – junior level, middle level and senior level. Without hesitating I chose the senior level hair stylist to wave the magic wand.

Contrary to my belief that such upmarket Mumbai salons charge a bomb for their services, the haircuts were reasonably priced at 500, 700 and 800 bucks for junior, middle and senior level stylists respectively. And shampoo, conditioning and blow dry come complimentary. Now isn’t that deal a steal?!! (I’m getting good with rhyming :))

So the ordeal started with me snuggling into an uber-comfortable backwash with a back massager to get my already washed hair another wash with professional hair care products as the massage chair continued to work its spell on me. In the meantime, Ms. Senior Stylist introduced me to hair spas and TIGI’s range of hair care products but that’s a story for another day. After the wash, I was seated into their chic-looking hair lounge and my stylist took a brief from me of what I’m exactly looking for and it read:

• Wash-n-wear cut

• Layered with a slightly long fringe

• Retain the length

• Make it look voluminous

And with that I left it to my stylist in whose hands lie my looks and locks. She went snip,snip,snip as I looked on my hair transform. After a good 20 minutes of showcasing the power of her scissors , she wielded the blow dry with élan. A round brush here and a paddle brush there.. EE-I-EE-I-O. After lot of gushes of hot air and movements of brushes all over, she brought her hands to rest and Voila, I had indeed transformed into a much younger looking and more stylish self!!

Just when I was about to leave after getting myself snapped by my stylist, they offered me another freebie on nail care and with that a cross-selling of their unique nail care services that included a wine manicure. Wine Manicure?!! With that they just secured another appointment on their calendar very soon…

P.S. Highly recommended by Pink Diaries :)

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Go organic with Nourish

I am fast becoming a 99Labels aficionado. What came across as a chance encounter in the form of an email is evolving into an addiction and I can’t imagine going through a day without peeping in at the current sales on their website. Though I’ve always been averse to the idea of online shopping, 99labels made it seem like a breeze. And with the extra mile they are walking in customer service, this shopaholic is likely to be hooked for life :)

Today I am mighty pleased to place my first order with them. Pleased because I did shopping while at work and mighty pleased because I found a product I’d been searching all over and that too on sale! I’d been looking for Nourish Organic Soaps for quite some time now. So when I received a mailer on Nourish Bath & Body Care products on offer, I promptly snaffled it up!

If you are confusing the above image as any kiddo’s toys or stationery items (which I initially thought!), look again. These are some of the handcrafted products from Nourish’s delectable array of luxurious and fragrant high quality organic products. As claimed, all the products are handmade, with the purest of ingredients like honey, Aloe Vera, olive oil, almonds, cocoa butter and more natural goodies and can be used across all ages.

My order of bath & body care combo looks delicious and the product names are as fascinating as they look – Café Latte Body Bar, After 8 AM Body Bar, Madras Coffee Madness Almond Coffee Scrub, Sweet Almond Lotion and a complimentary Beech wood soap dish. Isn’t that a bountiful of goodness to kick back and enjoy life’s simple pleasures? I’m anxious for my order to arrive and I just hope it’s totally worth the wait!

P.S. For more exciting offers on 99Labels, get onboard now! Here's the referral invite http://www.99labels.com/v1/Become-Member.aspx?re=anamikasingh28@gmail.com

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I Won! I Won! I Won!

A big thank you to all you lovely people who took time out to read and comment on my post which was my entry to the 'Wedding Week Blogging Contest' by 99Labels. Your good wishes and kind words of appreciation have earned me a prize in the contest! I am humbled! 

The reward is purchase credits for shopping (more!) at 99Labels and though I was keeping my fingers crossed for a first or a second prize for bagging every extra credit considering what a hopeless shopaholic I am, a third prize isn’t a bad deal either!

Just when a third prize was dampening my spirits a wee bit, along came another prize surprise. I've won a FIRST prize in 'My Kodak Moment Photography Contest' by 99Labels (again!). The combined reward looks quite delicious! Double delight, wow! SETE (Smiling ear to ear) :D

While not being a blogger, I love to try my hand at photography and this prize-winning picture was the outcome of a trigger-happy-me and some free time on a beautiful Saturday morning.

Thank God It's Saturday!

If you are wondering what 99Labels is, your curiosity ends right here. 99Labels is an online shopping site that offers private sales of high-end brands and labels –national as well as international – ranging from fashion-wear, accessories, lifestyle products, sports wear and gear, electronics to furniture. They are the pioneers in this innovative concept of ‘event based’ online sales for a limited time period and it’s a members-only community. Members are offered sales up to 70% off label prices!! There’s something for every taste and every budget, so you’re likely to find something worthwhile especially if designer label is your vice.



Membership is by invitation so if you’re game for some irresistible deals, here’s the referral link for becoming a member:

http://www.99labels.com/v1/Become-Member.aspx?re=anamikasingh28@gmail.com

With the prize money in my kitty, the designer splurge will definitely be a rewarding experience this time around ;)







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What the F!

Wanna test the power of the human mind? Read this:
I cnduo't bvleiee taht I culod aulaclty uesdtannrd waht I was rdnaieg. Unisg the icndeblire pweor of the hmuan mnid, aocdcrnig to rseecrah at Cmabrigde Uinervtisy, it dseno't mttaer in waht oderr the lterets in a wrod are, the olny irpoamtnt tihng is taht the frsit and lsat ltteer be in the rhgit pclae. The rset can be a taotl mses and you can sitll raed it whoutit a pboerlm. Tihs is bucseae the huamn mnid deos not raed ervey ltteer by istlef, but the wrod as a wlohe. Aaznmig, huh? Yaeh and I awlyas tghhuot slelinpg was ipmorantt! See if yuor fdreins can raed tihs too.

Freaky, isn’t it? Well, in nutshell it says that the human mind does not read every letter by itself, but the word as a whole, irrespective of the order of the letters. In case you are wondering why I’m writing this on a predominantly fashion blog, that’s bcoz the brand in question has used this mind game to their advantage and created an extremely popular clothing line: FCUK!

If your mind is repeatedly reading this as the F-word, the branding is a success as it has served its purpose of grabbing enough eyeballs and creating a recall value. I myself fell into this word trap and the realization that it stands for French Connection United Kingdom dawned upon today after seeing a billboard with their latest advert of watches that read FCUK – French Connection for Time. Silly me! And I found this a reason good enough to blog about…

French Connection is a British fashion brand known for its edgy and high street styling. It has its presence in more than 1500 outlets across 25 countries worldwide. Though French Connection was found in early 70s, it was introduced in India only in 2007 and is available in over 20 stores across 10 cities.

Anything French has a stylish connotation, which could be the reason behind this fashion-forward brand’s name. Apart from churning out chic clothing, accessories and skin care products, French Connection has always created innovative campaigns – the controversial ‘fcuk’, Fashion vs Style and their latest offering The Man and The Woman through which French Connection unveils its new collection.

The key looks for ‘The Woman’ this season are dresses with sequins and corset detailing ; cropped military pants; cigarette pants with ankle zip for a more refined look ; ruffled shoulders, shorter cropped and clean collarless designs in winter wear and knitwear with beading, stripes, military shoulders and flowing styles.


Autumn Winter Collection 2010
Image Courtersy: French Connection Website

 Browsing through their website was as refreshing as their collection. Their official blog has interesting sections like trend alert, who wore what, outfit builder, best sellers, look book and the dish for you to rustle up a quick healthy low cal meal. Now that’s what I call a bagful of goodies!

Here a few of the recommended picks from their bestsellers list:

Image Courtersy: French Connection Website

As I wind up this post, I recall that I had bought a French Connection top in bargain shopping from Bandra last year. I had dismissed it as just another European brand and tucked it somewhere at the back of a pile of clothes in my closet. Now I realize that FCUK at that price was a STEAL. I can’t wait to go home and search for fish for my prized catch. Some days turn out be days of realization and how!

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Partying made easy with Remanika

A shopping jaunt this weekend acted as the perfect retail therapy that I was dying to endure. Apart from soothing my senses and satiating my shopaholic soul, it helped in upping my brand awareness. Among the places I shopped at, one of them was Remanika . I always find their stuff enticing – partly because of the unusual palette of mauves and greens and partly because of the jazzy look of their exclusive stores. And when I took a sneak peek at their campaign for the latest collection - Pink Martini, I couldn’t help but notice…partly bcoz of Remanika and party bcoz of my natural inclination towards anything Pink :)

Born out of the need to be a differentiator in apparel brands by creating experimental styles for youth at affordable prices, Remanika has graduated to a a well recognised youth clothing brand in metros. From a single store in south Bombay selling 'Go-sexy'-trendy youth wear and club wear for women in 90s, Remanika has come a long way.

Another draw for me to Remanika, though it might sound silly, is that it rhymes with my name…my real name, that is ! ;) But it is interesting to know that the brand was named 'Ramnika'-a Sanskrit word meaning a woman who is appealing to eyes but people called it Remanika so over the years it has been rechristened to its popular name.

Edgy style, sexy cuts, and lean fits have become Remanika’s signature style and blending in western cuts with traditional Indian embellishments lend a unique touch to their apparels. With target segment being young women between 18 to 35, there’s something for every young hip thing in town. New collections are introduced every season and their names are as interesting and vibrant as the collection itself : 'Lipstick Jungle' for the urban educated woman who has seen a sea of changes in her character and role ; 'Go Getter' for those fashion conscious who are on the move ; 'Plan it Earth' and 'Chemicals Between Us' eco-friendly collections ; ‘Open Road’ for youngsters facing varied choices and my favorite Pink Martini ! 

A dress from the Open Road Collection

They have a couple of new ventures under brand name 'Ruggiero' and 'Rachel' that are slated to become as popular as the flagship brand. Ruggiero is into bulk wear-cargo pants, trek wear, layered clothing- for go-getter women and Rachel is exclusively for Reliance Trendz fashion stores. I checked out Rachel clothing myself and am delighted to tell you that with Rachel, Remanika goes quite easy on the pocket without compromising too much on style.

Remanika is available through exclusive outlets and multi-brand outlets like Pantaloons, Shoppers Stop, Lifestyle, Central and Reliance Trends in 90 outlets across 27 cities. So next time when party wear worries play on your mind, don’t look further – Remanika is just a mall away! :)

Photo Credit : My good friend Shweta (alias Mili)
Shweta is an IT professional-turned-photographer, a style queen, a yummy mummy and an ardent follower of my blog who scores very high on the pink quotient !
For more of her fabulous work, do check out her photography website http://www.tclphotography.com/

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Get trendy with Jeggings

I was very fond of my skinny jeans in my early college days. They were a big rage back then but as time progressed, the skinnies made way for the bootcuts and flares and while my wardrobe was being revamped with the flared and low-rise variety, my skinny jeans met its fate as a capri, then shorts and then hot pants and finally as wax strips before ending up in the dustbin laden with oodles of hot wax!!!

Fashion being cyclical, few years on, the flares lost their flair and a similar treatment was deliberated to them. Though they served well in ways more than one – compliment the tank tops better, hide the belly jelly and make definitely superior wax strips, in hindsight I shudder to think how on earth did I wore those embroidered nirvana jeans with flair (and flare ofcourse!) What goes around, comes around, they say and it holds true for fashion in equal measure. As a natural progression, the extra piece of clothing swaying at the bottom had to lose itself and transform into a leaner and trimmer cousin – the straight fit. Gradually, as size zero went on to become a obsession from a mere trend, it inspired the denims for a similar metamorphosis.

I am not a fashion victim but I do, consciously try to ‘follow’ fashion so grabbing a latest pair of skinny Levi’s Diva jeans was both a choice and a need. If you care for my opinion, I’d say it is worth every penny you put in – these are extremely comfortable, exceptionally stylish and uber-chic.



Photo : Inky Pinky

 Crystals and diamante adorning the fabric is clearly a glamorous option for buttons and rivets and the embellishment is done quite aesthetically to make it appear least garish. It’s designed to bring out the Diva in you and the silver sequined letter ‘D’ is your passport to flaunt it too!

As I sat basking in the glory of my newly acquired Diva status, the skinny jeans were apparently working overtime to transform themselves into their anorexic cousin this time around – the Jeggings. Touted as the next big thing in fashion, Jeggings are extremely skinny jeans that are styled to look like leggings. Jeggings are slated to become a fashion staple ‘cuz they are much more comfortable that the skinny jeans and offer a more modest and stylish alternative to wearing leggings as pants. However, jeggings is not a style for everyone as they they give wearers no room to hide :D

Jeggings are available at all Max stores and Lifestyle outlets across India. So while I chalk out my plan to burn that muffin top off my waist before embracing the jeggings, you go take a look at the collection in your nearest store and join me in the calorie burning endeavor. Let’s build a lean nation! ;)

P.S. For styling tips on leggings, click here

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High on Design

I could not say no and succumbed to the charm…Before your mind starts getting ideas, let me clear the air. The ‘item’ in question is my latest buy – a chic Hidesign bucket tote bag. A Hidesign bag has always occupied the top slots of my must-haves list and owning an iconic bag had moved my style quotient up by several notches. I have bought Warhol 02 – Hidesign’s ‘IT’ bag and a best seller ,as the makers put it!Over the years, Hidesign’s USP has been the sensuous naturalness of its high quality leathers and the smooth soft glow of its solid brass fittings and my proud possession exudes every bit of it.

I was intrigued to see Puducherry written on the tag (thanks to my growing inquisitiveness about brands and attention to detail ever since Pink Diaries took shape :)) and that was enough for my blogger alter ego to get kicking. A quick google search and a languid perusal of some glossy magazines threw up interesting facts about the brand and its success story which is the stuff legends are made up of!!

This luxury brand, indeed, has its roots in the sleepy town of Pondicherry. What started as a hobby of leather crafting in the workshops of Auroville, boasts of being an internationally acclaimed brand. It features leather handbags, garments, briefcases, travel bags, wallets and belts made of genuine leather. Three decades old and still going strong, the brand has its presence in 23 countries in over 2000 outlets collectively in India and abroad. The retailing, however, started with Britain and Australia in 70s and India developed into a potential market only in late 90s. The phenomenal change in consumer landscape in India in the past decade has contributed to the brand gaining immense recognition and ushering it in the ‘affordable luxury’ segment. Interestingly, it was primarily seen as a men’s briefcase brand, but gradually its elegant shoes and handbags for women have taken on the brand. With the modern Indian woman making smarter choices for herself, the dart has evidently hit the bulls eye!

I ponder what is that one thing that appeals me so much about Hidesign. Is it the contemporary styling or clean silhouettes or competitive pricing? I find it hard to put a finger on any one of these. An obvious choice for me would be all of the above. Like all other women-on-the-move, I too rarely have the time and patience to change my bags frequently so what I look for in a bag is functionality, style and durability. A Hidesign bag fits the bill completely and that too without burning a huge hole in my pocket: P

The makers have stayed focused on their strong heritage of fine hand craftsmanship and innovation in age-old practices of vegetable tanning with natural materials like seeds and barks and sand casting for their brass hardware. The ecological use of vegetable tanning creates fashionable leathers in multitude of hides & hues that age exceptionally well and sand-casted solid brass fittings provide a soft glow to the leather, giving it a distinct look. They strongly believe that the way to the best leather is still the natural way and this belief clearly gives them the competitive edge.

Coming back to the iconic range, the brand has an array of classic bags that remain the best sellers and exhibit the brand’s core attributes - being clean, sharp, practical, contemporary and elegant. The bags that have become signature pieces in the recent years are the Virgin, Logo and Warhol 02.

Pic Courtesy: www.hidesign.com

The Virgin Bag is the biggest rage currently. Its a petite purse-like carrier that comes in many colours and is embossed with elephant prints. A variant of the original Virgin bag, the Baby Virgin, is equally popular. The bold textured vegetable tanned leather and hand stitched craftsmanship makes this shoulder bag for day wear stand out from the rest.

Logo is the latest icon bag in vegetable tanned crocodile grain embossed leather with exclusive logo handle detail. It’s a medium sized tote bag for day occasions.

Warhol 02, the new ‘IT’ bag, is a bucket tote bag made in vegetable tanned faux crocodile leathers. This medium sized tote bag is also ideal for day wear.

As I sit mulling over what would be a better investment between Virgin and Logo after Warhol02, my attention is drawn to trendspotting segment in a fashion magazine that illustrates the new prospective icons on the block – Mughetto 02 ,Fiori 02 and Queen 01. Hmmm…tough call! Looks like my research on LV, Ferragamo & Bottega Veneta will have to wait. Ladies, keep watching this space for more …

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The Luxe carries Hermes

Recently I stumbled on an article in a leading daily on Ms.Ambani's recent public appearance. More than the real issues being discussed in the meeting, it solely focussed on the handbag she carried to the meeting!! Apparently, she was carrying a Birkin as opposed to a Kelly that would have suited the occasion more, as the author presumed. More often than not, media construes too much out of unintentional actions and this to me appears to be one classic example! The author went to the extent of deciphering what must've been going on in her mind, considering the gravity of the occasion that made her choose a Birkin over other handbags as it gives out casual vibes. Much ado about nothing ,I'd say! For all you know, she might have chosen one because a white handbag went well with a pastel pink outfit that she donned :)

When I asked several people whom I consider to have more than a passing interest in fashion if they know the different between a Kelly & a Birkin, I received very different replies. Most of them seemed to be as clueless about this terminology as I was so I decided to take the lead in giving them a heads-up on the who’s who of the luxury bags segment.


Hermès is a brand of luxury goods that specializes in leather, ready-to-wear, lifestyle accessories, perfumery et al. Two of its iconic, limited edition hand-crafted purses are the Birkin bag & the Kelly bag. Each bag is carefully handmade from beginning to end by a single artisan and are distributed to Hermès boutiques on unpredictable schedules and limited quantities, creating scarcity and exclusivity. The waiting list for these bags run into a couple of years. These bags start at about $7,000 and can go well beyond $50,000 (OMG!) depending on hide and hue and are named after a duo of beautiful actresses – Jane Birkin & Grace Kelly respectively. For a celebrity, socialite or fashionista to be seen carrying a Birkin or Kelly is a testimony of her living a good life and that she has ‘arrived’!

But choosing a Kelly over Birkin or vice-versa had always been a subject of debate. May be it is because these handbags are seen more as personal statements rather than fashion accessories. The Kelly remains the classic choice for a formal do and is hugely popular with women who identify themselves with the bag’s muse, Grace Kelly who exuded royalty and refined manners and tastes. On the other hand, the Birkin, designed for the bohemian Jane Birkin, is the pick for the women on the move – casual yet understated.

The choice may be difficult for the yuppies in select social circles where owning a bag that can cost as much as a car is seen a status symbol but not for me, simply because I’ll have to rob a bank to fund even the least expensive one irrespective of what vibe it sends out. Nevertheless, it’s good to stay updated on the things that make a woman’s world go round. So girls, next time someone mentions Hermes, just brag on!!

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