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| (From top): Mishi Saran autographs copies of her book, Chasing the Monk?s Shadow; Milind Soman with Riyaaz Amlani at the launch of Salt Water Grill; designer Gogee with Akashdeep Sehgal; a model shows off an outfit from Marks and Spencer?s Spring-Summer 2005 line |
London look
For every fashionable woman out there looking to flaunt the boho look this summer, Marks and Spencer of London has all the right stuff. Take a look at the brand?s new Spring-Summer 2005 collection, which is as bohemian as it comes. The new line was presented to a big crowd at Delhi?s Ansal Plaza.
The womenswear range bordered on the cool and the casual and was divided into three different lines ? Boho, Gypsy and Ibiza. The first of these lines though, seemed to be the biggest hit of the three. With contemporary elements interwoven with influences of the ?70s, the Boho line is eye-catching.
Marks and Spencer designers have flirted with fabrics like medium-wash denim, crinkled cotton, georgette, cheesecloth, crochet and voile to create the line. There are pretty printed and tie-dye tops paired with denims and trims in a vibrant palette of spicy reds and pinks find expression on everything from kaftans and jersey tunics to fashionably-faded jeans. The new collection also has a line of black and white creations that takes in tiered gypsy skirts, embellished skirts and even outfits with traditional toile prints.
Men don?t have reason to complain either, as Marks & Spencer has unveiled four distinct lines especially for them ? Country Club, Vintage, Sp and Tailoring. Incorporating the latest international trends, the Country Club range showcases a preppy look. So think jersey crew T-shirts, vests, basic jeans, button-down shirts and stain-free chinos. While the Vintage range has an authentic washed-down look, it is also about relaxed fits. The rainforest mood and a tropical feel characterises the Sp line. So think neons, luminous pastels and frosty tones. Besides, the ready-to-wear ensembles, Marks & Spencer also offers personalised tailoring for those who like their clothes fitted to perfection.
Oriental odyssey
It was the search for her true identity that led writer Mishi Saran to follow a monk?s trail and travel across China, Central Asia and India. Thus was born the book, Chasing the Monk?s Shadow, which sees the author following in the Chinese scholar, Xuanzang?s (most of us probably know him as Hiuen Tsang) footsteps some 1,400 years later, visiting dusty cities in China and Central Asia that were once the outposts of empires, Buddhist sites and erstwhile kingdoms in India, Pakistan and Afghanistan ? all of which Xuanzang himself wrote about.
?An Indian woman with a China craze, a Chinese monk with an Indian obsession; we had the same schizophrenia, the monk and I. It seemed logical to take the same road,? said Saran at the launch of her book at the India Habitat Centre in Delhi. During the panel discussion, former ambassador to China, Salman Haider, pointed out that the journey was born from Saran?s intimate relationship with China.
Saran did Chinese studies from Wellesley College in the United States. Subsequently, she spent two years in Beijing and Nanjing. Priced at Rs 495 and published by Penguin, Chasing the Monk?s Shadow travels seamlessly back and forth in time between the 7th and 21st centuries. Saran uncovers the past with consummate skill even as she brings alive the present through her vivid and engaging descriptions of people and places. Her gripping chronicle includes an extraordinary eyewitness account of Kabul under the Taliban regime, just one month before the events of 9/11. Running parallel to the account of her travels is the moving story of the author?s inner journey towards a new understanding of her roots and her identity.
Dining on the drive
The name says it all. Salt Water Grill, the latest in the line of new restaurants hitting Mumbai, offers diners a chance to eat as they listen to the soothing sounds of waves breaking on the shore. Salt Water Grill is located on Marine Drive. Patrons eat on moonlit sands at candlelit tables and can dine off a menu featuring European grills and wines.
Dropping in to check out the new dining hub on Day One were a host of celebrities including choreographer Shaimak Davar and model-actor Milind Soman who looked as hunky as ever.
Deriving its name and inspiration from essential elements of food and life ? salt and water ? the restaurant is the brainchild of Riyaaz Amlani and Impressario Entertainment and Hospitality. Its launch follows on the heels of the success of Mocha ? Coffees & Conversation, Donut Co. and Finale ? Happy Endings ? all by the same company.
Chef Viraf Patel is holding the ladle in the kitchen. His cuisine combines organic and robust-tasting ingredients in dishes cooked on a charcoal grill.
Said Riyaaz, ?Mumbai, which has the coastline embracing it, has never before had an opportunity to enjoy the serenity of its treasures on the beach. We want to bring back the joys of being by the sea, the stars and the sands.?
Fashion focus
When fashion designer Gogee showed off her Lishkara Collection 2005, Mumbai?s movers and shakers turned out in droves. All the usual Page 3 people were there including Rajat Bedi, Sameer Malhotra, Suresh Wadekar and Alka Yagnik?s daughter, Sayesha. And, of course, one of the chief guests was Yagnik herself along with Jamuna Pai and Sapna Mukherjee. All three ladies inaugurated the evening with a traditional lighting of the lamp.
The fashion show was a celebration of colours as models swirled in vibrant gypsy skirts. Choreographed by Sameer Bayani, the show highlighted Gogee?s bridal collection, a mix of traditional and modern saris and kurtas with innovative designs. The long flowing skirts embellished with intricate embroidery and wispy chiffon saris drew the biggest applause. And of course, what was the best part about the evening? Why, the top-notch models walking down the ramp for the finale. There were actors Akashdeep Sehgal looking sharp with a red tikka on his forehead and Sumit Sachdev, VJ Purab Kohli and model Bhairavi Goswami.
Photographs of Delhi events by Rupinder Sharma