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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Fitness is Fun again

I was smitten by Reebok EasyTone sneakers the moment I saw their first advert of their new campaign. The gorgeous bronzed, toned thighs and calves on the lifesize posters and billboards and the tagline ‘helps tone your butt and leg with every step’ did more than just leave me drooling. No, I’m not exactly a fitness ‘freak’ and I don’t get carried away with advertisements easily but this time around I just gave in! 

The Ad that HAD me!

Even the remotest possibility of toning my bod with normal walk in those shoes was too tempting a proposition but I didn’t need another pair of sports shoes. So I went ahead and purchased a pair of Reebok Easytone sandals (Reebok EasyTone NVEE Sandals ,as the box reads) and those have been firmly on my feet for the past two weeks! “Carry the gym with you”, isn’t a meaningless tagline after all !!   

My Reebok EasyTone NVEE Sandals



In case you are wondering, what’s EasyTone all about , here’s a bit of trivia. The EasyTone technology used in these new collection from Reebok is claimed to improve muscle tone in legs upto 28%. The basis for this claim apparently is the patented sole technology which mimics walking on sand, causing a higher resistance for your legs against the floor – which makes your legs firmer – even if you are going on simple walks. These incorporate stability balls under the heels and forefoot to create a natural instability to force muscles to adapt and encourage toning. 

Increased muscle activation in butts,thighs and calves



Stability balls under heels and forefoot

Anyways, back to my EasyTones which I wouldn’t make a judgement on if they are as good as the claims but I just love wearing them as they are sooo comfy! Its like gliding on a cushion of air and that is encouraging enough to walk, walk and walk. I feel that they’ve been working my calves a LOT since Moov gel’s consumption has gone up in my home! :D

For those of you feeling inspired to make that purchase of EasyTones, I would suggest you to go ahead…its definitely a superior quality shoe in its class  but do not expect your rear end to magically morph into what you’ve seen in the ads. It might not change your body but it’ll will give you reason to walk more and stay fit. On that note I sign off and get on with my new favorite activity of the day…I’ve got miles to go before I sleep !!!

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Fun to be One!

Pink Diaries turned ONE this week and though I had planning for a special post and a giveway, I really couldn’t do all that I intended to owing to my harrowing work schedule offlate which threw me in an unprecedented writer’s block as well. Nevermind ! Its never too late to raise a toast to this milestone.

The feeling is great and as a nurturer, reaching that first birthday is a high point,isn’t it?  I’ll like to take a moment to acknowledge each of my readers and followers for being a part of this journey and sharing the love . It had be a pleasure to bring that smile, to anticipate that sigh , to share the passion and talk of fashion (wow, it rhymes!) J

Thank you so much for being part of my blog community, sharing these posts and commenting !!! Wish the connect we share with each other sees us through many such celebrations...

P.S. I’ll be announcing a giveaway shortly...Stay close!

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Vanity Size does matter!

We are confused species. Humans in general and women in particular. Especially when it comes to sizes.We want our laptop screens smaller and phone screens bigger knowing the purpose each serve, our torso bigger and derrerie smaller, our rings larger and chains finer..the list is endless. An online shopping order gone wrong has made me rethink how confused exactly I am about sizes.

I am not exactly an avid online shopper and my latest online order hasn’t done much to bolster my trust in online shopping (no points for guessing which site I ordered from!) The item is question was a ‘free’ size Kaftan dress with attractive prints and a chic belt to team it up with but what was delivered to me was a XXL size dress sans the belt and much more sheerer than it actually appeared online. I can accept no-belt thing assuming I missed to read the fine print but a XXL size in which two of my size can easily fit and still leave space for more is certainly NOT done! Free Size does mean ‘One Size Fits All’ but pushing a XXL size as free size hoping that it will fit all isn’t right! Or is it?

I was grappling for a term to describe this experience and Vanity Sizing came close but ‘Inverse Vanity Sizing’ is what it would be best described as. Vanity Sizing or size inflation means the garment is actually bigger and more accommodating than the label suggests. That means clothes sizes are labeled a size or two smaller than actual by shops and designers to flatter the customers. In a nutshell, vanity sizing, as its name suggests, is designed to satisfy buyers' wishes to appear thin and feel better about themselves.

That made me think Vanity Sizing isn’t a bad thing after all. Well who doesn’t want to feel slim and fit and if a label can massage your ego, no one’s complaining. A wardrobe full of XS, S and M sizes is such a joy but the moment the letter start reading L, XL, 2L and what not, you strike the panic button.

Knowingly or unknowingly, all of us at some point of time must have had picked a wrong size and still feel good about it. I have done it many times…like the waist 24” hot pants I bought ages ago – forget about the pants fitting me , the button and the hole are more than 4” apart today ! Similarly, like the time I went shopping with my ‘apparently large’ friend where we both picked a size M – she unsure if she’ll wear it but afraid to admit she is large and me amused at her suicide attempt by asphyxiation! :D

So I’ll let this particular oversized buy pass as a compensation for the undersized ones and I think I should probably gift it to a pregnant friend!!!

P.S. What has been your vanity sizing experience?

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A LILY and her Fireballs

I couldn’t have been happier for my friend Anita for her feature in Bangalore Times for her innovative home décor ideas and that qualifies her to be my Limelight Lady (LILY) this month. I owed her this feature on my blog and it’s been looong overdue but her Fireballs left enough spark to wake me up from the slumber. In case you are wondering what on earth is this LILY, read here. And those who aren’t wondering, lets shift the spotlight. So Anita, my LILY, bask in the glory of your Fireballs!

Anita has launched her own line of handcrafted home lighting and markets them under the trade name – Fireball. She is an IT professional with a penchant for crafting that inspired her to create this unique hand-made piece of art which draws its inspiration from ‘The Sun’ and it reflects in all her designs.

Fireball translates to the shades of light that the Sun brings to us. At the first glance, it is tough to comprehend how this beautiful yet intriguing piece of light is made. I’m given to understand that it is made out of PVC sheets that are cut to shape like Star, Round, Oval and brought to life in the backyard. The use of Compact Fluorescent Light (CFL) within the lamp ensures the product is eco-friendly. Fireball is modern, classy yet affordable lighting that perfectly blends into any décor.


Depending on the design, making a piece of Fireball can take anything between 3-6 days. These are available at Mother Earth outlets in Bangalore at affordable prices ranging from 450 to 2500 bucks. And if the Fireballs have caught the fancy of others residing at different coordinates, just drop in a line at diya.anitha@gmail.com and get it shipped home in no time!

Collection @ MOTHER EARTH, Domlur Store - Oval , Round & Pentagon

Featured in The Times of India, Bangalore edition

Check out her facebook page for more...

www.facebook.com/pages/Bangalore-India/Fireball/145053492208810

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Spa-licious Sojourns

I couldn’t have found a better way to utilize my Me-time this weekend. (Read about my Me-time theory here) The opening of a new swanky spa close to my home gave me the perfect excuse to go OTT with pampering and grooming. Living in an upmarket neighborhood does help, after all!

My recent spa experience was a complete treat for the senses. The moment I set my foot in, I succumbed to that addictive world of fleeting pleasure. Trust me; I had the faintest idea of what a terrific experience was awaiting me and now I can’t help grinning away like a Cheshire cat. That’s what a day of spa indulgence does to you and two days in a row just ensure that the grin only gets bigger!! :)

Image Source: Sereno website

Sereno Spa was a welcome change from the run-of-the-mill spas and salons in every nook and cranny of the city. The resemblance of the name to that of one of the hottest spas in the country (Sereno at Park Hyatt, Goa) was nothing but a chance. The menu, however, boasted of internationally acclaimed therapies and treatments one would find in luxury wellness centers and I was tempted to try on something fancier that the usual Aromatherapy massage. My pick was Balinese Massage and Champagne and Rose Hydrating Facial. Champagne and rose – how cool is that!

Doesnt their spa room look inviting ?!!

Balinese Massage, I learnt that day, is a full –body, deep-tissue holistic treatment that combines acupressure, reflexology, stretching and aromatherapy to stimulate flow of blood, oxygen and "qi" (energy) around your body, and bring deep relaxation and wellness. Over an hour of gentle stretching and acupressure and soaking in the choicest of aroma oils followed by sauna and a shower catapulted me into seventh heaven. BLISS, I swear!

From seventh heaven, I took a flight to cloud nine when the champagne and roses started working their spell on me. Champagne and Roses Hydrating Facial is a restorative and de-stressing treatment with pure organic aromatherapy that leaves the skin feeling soft, hydrated and youthful. Champagne has complexion-toning properties and roses replenish skin’s moisture and deeply hydrate the skin. A variety of Thai-make products like powdered pearls scrub for exfoliation, champagne grapeseed moisturizer, honey mask, champagne and rose butter cream were used in this treatment. A 60 minute session left me completely relaxed, recharged and rejuvenated. If I were to dedicate a song to myself, it would have been “(Tipsy) Kiss from a Rose”! :D

I wrapped up my weekend smelling luxurious, smiling uncontrollably and looking shiny. May be it was the spa effect or was it a halo on my head?!!! O:-)

Which is your favorite spa therapy? Talk to me...

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The Gift of Time

The announcement of a blogging contest at Indus Ladies has got my creative juices flowing. Its been a long time since I wrote a commissioned post and this seems like the perfect opportunity. The contest is a prelude to the International Women’s Day celebration and therefore, centers on women. The topic is ‘A perspective on roles of Indian Women’ and this post is my entry for the contest. I tag Tanvi, Chandni and Ritu to participate in the contest.

Indusladies 2nd Annual International Women's Day Blog Contest

I love Saturdays. Well, who doesn’t! But my reasons for loving Saturdays might differ from yours. I love them for a very simple reason that my husband is at work on Saturdays and I get the ME time I so look forward to the whole week. Don’t get me wrong here – I looove spending time with him and family too (whenever they are around) but there’s a greater person that itches for a fair amount of undivided attention – That’s Me!

 

I won’t call it self-love (though I admit I’m quite vain! :P) but I love spending time with myself for a simple reason that ‘Me-Time’ is liberating, exhilarating and peaceful all at one. Spending quality time with myself has always been therapeutic for me. Making activity almost irrelevant does that trick. I could spend that time doing anything from curling up in bed with a book or flipping through my favorite channels or facebooking endlessly to pampering myself in a spa or indulging in retail therapy without having to care much of the responsibilities that awaits me when the Me-time ends.Over time, it has become my quick fix for an instant rejuvenation.

And its heartening to know that it isn’t just me. I find more and more women appealed by this idea of Me-time. Women today, Indian Women to be particular, do realize (and definitely should!) that there is something beyond the labels that the world has metaphorically pinned upon their torso - homemaker, nurturer, mother, daughter-in-law and wife. Each responsibility, of course, constantly entails being a constant physical presence in the lives of others. Not many of us can look beyond these responsibilities even for a fraction of time without feeling guilty or selfish. 

My two cents to all the women reading this and on the brink of getting convinced of Me-time – your spending time with yourself is not being self-centred, it's self care! Irrespective of what role you play in life, care for yourself first so that you care for others better. There’s something magical, fun and empowering about spending time with oneself. You will always return with a renewed sense of gratitude for what awaits you. Discover yourself. Let your hair down. Turn up the volume. Croon louder. Laugh harder. Nobody will sue you for that!!! :)

Happy Women’s Day and a toast to your new-found freedom!

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Fresh Lilies

Lilies are on my mind lately. No, I’m not getting hint-y about my gifts of choice this Valentine. Flowers aren’t figuring high on my wish-list this time around. I mean they are always nice-to-have and place the right accents on the right occasions, but don’t we have remaining 364 days to celebrate love through flowers. I’d say, “Bring on a solitaire, honey!” :D

Oh, I totally digressed from the point! Let’s get back to the lilies. Starting this month, I am going to introduce a new section on Pink Diaries where, to begin with, I will feature ladies (fellow bloggers included!) whom I know from close quarters for their out-of-the-ordinary work and notable achievements. Lady, I pronounce thee Limelight Lady – LILY for short.

Kickstarting this LILY series is my dearest friend Shweta alias Mili whom I have mentioned on my blog a couple of times already. She was an obvious choice for me choosing to place her in the spotlight owing to our looong association and a common bond of love for photography. She has been my inspiration for going behind the lens and continues to inspire me every single day.

Shweta is a budding photographer who shun her cushy IT job to pursue her passion. She can create magic with her camera and her forte is lifestyle photography. She runs her own photography business under the name ‘The Creative Lens’. Quite a stunner herself, this yummy mummy can send the temperature soaring when she puts her best foot forward fashionably and how!

Here are some of her drool-worthy shots:

N.B. All the images are copyrighted and I have obtained permission for publishing them.

She is currently based out of Switzerland and will be in India this summer. So in case her work has caught your fancy, check out her website (http://www.tclphotography.com/) and drop in a line. U can mention my name for a blogger friend discount ;)

Wish this LILY a blooming future and freshness forever !

P.S. Let me know what do u think of my new section.

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KISS : Keep it Short & Simple!

Although I'm truly madly deeply in Valentines mood, I don't intend to freak you out with overtones of PDA. The title is solely meant for my recent Goa trip (about which u read here).Packing for a beach vacation is always eeeasyy. Just throw in ur skimpiest outfits and a pair of flip-flops and you are sorted. And just in case u want to add panache to those formal dinners which are quite likely to come your way, pack in a LBD and a set of killer heels. Disclaimer: This is usually my idea of packing for beach vacays and are subjected to change as and when the situation demands :P

Traveling light is more of a misnomer for this trip. Though I adhered to my packing guidelines, it wasn’t light by any means. Driving down in your own car gives you all the room in the world to carry your household. Well, sorta! I didn’t plan in advance what all I intended to wear but I tucked in outfits with special attention to the hemlines and coverage and ensured that I don’t run out of choices.

After all, Goa is one place where every one dares to bare unapologetically. Even with a spaghetti top and a capri , I felt like the most clothed in female in the whole of Goa. Fine, I’m exaggerating it a wee bit more here but my feelings were somewhere close to that. So I jumped at this opportunity to show off my freshly waxed arms and legs. The excess baggage that I carried along came handy in my modest skin show.

Here are a few of my favorite looks from the trip:

Attitude?? SO !!!
Top- Marks & Spensers ; Shorts- MTV Accesories ; Bag - No Dimensions(bought online) ;
Accesories - Bandra ; Ballet Flats - Bata

Dress- AND ; Accesories - Peora ; Sunglasses-Fastrack

Top - Jealous ; Hot Pants - Globus; Bag - Bangles(store in a B'lore mall); Flip-flops - Hypercity;
Accesories -AVON ; Stole- Bombay Stores

 

Jumpsuit - Bargain buy from Goa flea market; Spaghetti - Thrift ; Accesories - Forgotten !!! :D
I just cudn't resist the temptation of wearing it !


So how did u find these? Which one did u like best ?If at all :D

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