Running inside a dark tunnel
with No light at the end
Running in circles
with no hope ahead.
When art meets fashion and fashion inspires art!
Sunday, November 1, 2020
Friday, October 9, 2015
Hidden treasures of India - Pichavaram
A pristine landmark, maze of canals, gorgeous backwater & beaches Pichavaram is a barely disturbed mangrove forest located near Chidambaram in Tamil nadu.
I had only heard the name of this place before but never knew what it was nor was it on my travel bucket list.
My sister called one day and said "it's a long weekend and I've heard of this place Pichavaram which is a hardly explored mangrove, why don't we drive down it's just about an hours drive from Pondicherry. So early on friday morning my sister, her friend, our cousin & I packed our overnight bags, jumped into the car and drove away.
After doing some research on Google we decided it makes more sense to visit Pichavaram in the morning, so we drove directly down to Chidambaram, checked-in at this hotel called Vandayar. A decently maintained place, was clean enough. After a relaxing siesta we walked to the Thillai Nataraja temple , looked around a bit and called it a day.
We reached Pichavaram at 8.15 am, and decided to take the 4 hours forest & beach rowboat package. Our research on the net told us we better opt for row boat and tip the row man to take us into the mangrove and we were glad we did so. Going in between the dense man made cave like channels of the grove was the most beautiful part of the ride.So I insist you take a rowboat, else you will end up missing the most stunning spot in this place. As the water is only 3-4 feet deep motor boats cannot take you through this.
This place is a confluence of water & greenery. You will find the local tribes walking on the floor bed catching shrimps by hand. You can also spot different types of red crabs and clams - loads & loads of them. If you visit between october & January you are sure to see the migratory birds too.
After about 2 hours ride, we were dropped off near the beach where we spent an hour & headed back. Since the water is shallow the boat guy lets you row if you ask. He was very helpful & patiently answered all our questions. There is also a 'watch tower' with a view of the entire expanse of the mangrove.
Our ride got over at 12.30 pm, lucky for us the weather was cloudy, in spite of it this place is quite humid. Make sure to carry water & a hat.
I had only heard the name of this place before but never knew what it was nor was it on my travel bucket list.
My sister called one day and said "it's a long weekend and I've heard of this place Pichavaram which is a hardly explored mangrove, why don't we drive down it's just about an hours drive from Pondicherry. So early on friday morning my sister, her friend, our cousin & I packed our overnight bags, jumped into the car and drove away.
After doing some research on Google we decided it makes more sense to visit Pichavaram in the morning, so we drove directly down to Chidambaram, checked-in at this hotel called Vandayar. A decently maintained place, was clean enough. After a relaxing siesta we walked to the Thillai Nataraja temple , looked around a bit and called it a day.
We reached Pichavaram at 8.15 am, and decided to take the 4 hours forest & beach rowboat package. Our research on the net told us we better opt for row boat and tip the row man to take us into the mangrove and we were glad we did so. Going in between the dense man made cave like channels of the grove was the most beautiful part of the ride.So I insist you take a rowboat, else you will end up missing the most stunning spot in this place. As the water is only 3-4 feet deep motor boats cannot take you through this.
This place is a confluence of water & greenery. You will find the local tribes walking on the floor bed catching shrimps by hand. You can also spot different types of red crabs and clams - loads & loads of them. If you visit between october & January you are sure to see the migratory birds too.
After about 2 hours ride, we were dropped off near the beach where we spent an hour & headed back. Since the water is shallow the boat guy lets you row if you ask. He was very helpful & patiently answered all our questions. There is also a 'watch tower' with a view of the entire expanse of the mangrove.
Our ride got over at 12.30 pm, lucky for us the weather was cloudy, in spite of it this place is quite humid. Make sure to carry water & a hat.
Wednesday, May 20, 2015
5 earring styles trending in 2015
I am an accessory freak & Earrings are one of my favourite piece of jewelry,...(psst... after finger rings though). What I love the most about earrings are that it always fit :-D...like ALWAYS!
Be it a miniscule stud or a gigantic statement piece...this is one thing that most of us can't do without.
So lets jump in and take a look at those 5 styles of earrings that are trending this season..
1. Mismatched earrings -
I am jumping straight to this head turning jewel of this season. It is so easy to mix & match your earrings and it's like you have a new pair every time. You can also use those single earring stuck with you even after you lost its pair & don't have the heart to chuck it out.
2. Statement Hoops -
These dynamic earrings can add so much spunk to any outfit.
3. Tassel Earrings -
These are such simple & cool earrings. Everyone can get very crazy creative with these & see how they accentuate your style.
4. Pendant earrings -
As the name suggests, its almost like you Hook up those pendants & viola - your earrings are ready.
5. Gemstone embellishment -
Gemstone earrings are an evergreen style.
"One should either be a work of art or wear a work of art"- Oscar Wilde .....Take over the statement market and change the game for updating your wardrobe.
Monday, May 18, 2015
Essential Workwear Jewelry
Like Giorgio Armani once said "Accessories are important & becoming more & more important everyday".
A workwear is never complete until you accessorize it. Adding a dash of character to your 9-5 routine can be a challenge. You ask why?....well accessorizing your office clothes with appropriate jewelry will not only stylise your look but also add a feminine touch, it can take you from 'Nice' to 'WOW'....Whatever be your style!
Here are some that will help you accessorise....
Studs/Hoop rings -
A Diamond or Zircon stud looks great anytime, anywhere. They are perfect with any style sophisticated, dress or trousers, skirts, sarees,kurtas.
The second best are gold hoops that come in various design, size & price.
Chain Bracelet -
Elegant & refined these delicate bracelets can add much charm in your business meetings.
Layering chain -
A simple chain necklace can add so much sophistication & polish to any work dress.
Finger ring -
A delicate diamond or pearl ring is that piece of jewelry which will complete your office wardrobe.
Pearls -
Pearls are always in style. Any corporate attire with a dose of pearl looks elegant, professional & feminine.
Keep your corporate attire always classy & elegant.You will feel more confident and give that extra push at work too & of course make a great impression.
"You will never get a second chance to make a lasting first impression" - Will Rogers
& we will be glad to help you make a stunning impression...for your style consultation, get in touch us at studiokalart@gmail.com
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| Photo source: Google.com |
A workwear is never complete until you accessorize it. Adding a dash of character to your 9-5 routine can be a challenge. You ask why?....well accessorizing your office clothes with appropriate jewelry will not only stylise your look but also add a feminine touch, it can take you from 'Nice' to 'WOW'....Whatever be your style!
Here are some that will help you accessorise....
Studs/Hoop rings -
A Diamond or Zircon stud looks great anytime, anywhere. They are perfect with any style sophisticated, dress or trousers, skirts, sarees,kurtas.
The second best are gold hoops that come in various design, size & price.
Chain Bracelet -
Elegant & refined these delicate bracelets can add much charm in your business meetings.
Layering chain -
A simple chain necklace can add so much sophistication & polish to any work dress.
Finger ring -
A delicate diamond or pearl ring is that piece of jewelry which will complete your office wardrobe.
Pearls -
Pearls are always in style. Any corporate attire with a dose of pearl looks elegant, professional & feminine.
Keep your corporate attire always classy & elegant.You will feel more confident and give that extra push at work too & of course make a great impression.
"You will never get a second chance to make a lasting first impression" - Will Rogers
& we will be glad to help you make a stunning impression...for your style consultation, get in touch us at studiokalart@gmail.com
Saturday, April 4, 2015
Fashion Stylist - how to become one
come, lets brainstorm together...
Styling is a whole world of different options, whole palette of colours, Silhouettes, designs, shapes, ideas.Your personal style might be brilliant but that just does not mean you can become a Fashion stylist.
One needs to have an eye for colour, an eye for putting things together. Be honest with yourself, ask yourself if you are good at it or not!
Anyone with a passion & gift can be a stylist, the basic need is an eye for fashion & style. For, good taste is something you either have or not, it cannot be taught.
The best way to start will be to get an internship or do some test shoots with photographers & this is a must, it is usually unpaid. You need to be prepared to not earning for a while, atleast till u get substantial work to show or till you build a rapport with some of the photographers , editors or directors. You may get lucky depending on who you may know or you have a good network of contacts.
A lot of people think fashion styling is a cakewalk, but it is a lot of work, it does not end with selecting clothes , accessories, hairstyles...you also need to bring back the clothes in a good condition to the shop it came from or a fashion show.It is manual work & hard work, so having a passion for it is very important.
So now how do you get that first break or internship...like me & the way most people do..through someone you know or who knows someone in the industry. Keep in touch with them, keep reminding them, keep pestering them. Get it in your head that you have to work hard and push hard because once you get in, its going to stay with you for life.
If you want to get an internship target big fashion houses, fashion magazines, photo studios - the more higher up the name is, obviously better its going to look on your cv, but if you don't get it, do not fret. Get any experience and exposure you can get.
In your internship even if you are at the bottom you will still interact with a lot of people and will make a lot of contacts. You are still in this environment you want to be in and it is what you want and what excites you. You can dream of being in one of the top positions soon in future.
If you do a good work, work hard & are a nice person, people are going to like you & remember you.There could be a higher up person who might help out. Get as much experience as possible, be prepared to work for free.
Check out your local photo studio, anything that is happening locally, TVC, music video, short films anything; just check locally. Just ask, tell them you will initially work free and call you when they have a next shoot or test shoots, anything. Local magazines, window dressing,...you just need a whole variety of things. That way you build a portfolio, more to show & something to back you up; because you need that, you could be that best fashion stylist ever, you could have the best fashion sense, but when you go for an interview and you don't have a portfolio, nobody is going to listen to you or believe you even if you dressed well. Like I mentioned before dressing well does not mean that you are a good stylist, it only means that you have a good personal taste & style; it really does not mean you can dress somebody else with a different body shape, complexion; for someone who is getting ready for a photoshoot; because photos are going to be clicked, that is really different. Plus you might have to work within a theme that may be totally not acceptable as your personal style.
Once again - You need a portfolio to back you up. No one is going to hire you if you do not have a portfolio. Keep a part time job to back you up while you are still styling. Because it is not something high paying especially at the beginning.
Again, go for anything & everything you can get your hands on, anything that needs a stylist-just go for it. That is only essentially going to build up your portfolio.
If you cant get anything like that, don't worry. You can do personal styling - you can style your friends & family. Have a story to tell, take a lot of pictures. That is what most of us do; friends, family, friends of friends etc..and then you get paid.
This is something you have to work towards. You have to be prepared, because it so not something easy to do, but it is a rewarding one. You just need perseverance & something to fall back on at the same time.
It is a really nice job & if you are talented, then you should be able to do it. There are so many great designs out there and u get to play with it. All the different clothes, accessories.You keep producing new work, new look, new thought every time. So just hold on till you get that break-in. Then there is nothing that can stop you from showing the world your talent!
The best way to start will be to get an internship or do some test shoots with photographers & this is a must, it is usually unpaid. You need to be prepared to not earning for a while, atleast till u get substantial work to show or till you build a rapport with some of the photographers , editors or directors. You may get lucky depending on who you may know or you have a good network of contacts.
A lot of people think fashion styling is a cakewalk, but it is a lot of work, it does not end with selecting clothes , accessories, hairstyles...you also need to bring back the clothes in a good condition to the shop it came from or a fashion show.It is manual work & hard work, so having a passion for it is very important.
So now how do you get that first break or internship...like me & the way most people do..through someone you know or who knows someone in the industry. Keep in touch with them, keep reminding them, keep pestering them. Get it in your head that you have to work hard and push hard because once you get in, its going to stay with you for life.
If you want to get an internship target big fashion houses, fashion magazines, photo studios - the more higher up the name is, obviously better its going to look on your cv, but if you don't get it, do not fret. Get any experience and exposure you can get.
In your internship even if you are at the bottom you will still interact with a lot of people and will make a lot of contacts. You are still in this environment you want to be in and it is what you want and what excites you. You can dream of being in one of the top positions soon in future.
If you do a good work, work hard & are a nice person, people are going to like you & remember you.There could be a higher up person who might help out. Get as much experience as possible, be prepared to work for free.
Check out your local photo studio, anything that is happening locally, TVC, music video, short films anything; just check locally. Just ask, tell them you will initially work free and call you when they have a next shoot or test shoots, anything. Local magazines, window dressing,...you just need a whole variety of things. That way you build a portfolio, more to show & something to back you up; because you need that, you could be that best fashion stylist ever, you could have the best fashion sense, but when you go for an interview and you don't have a portfolio, nobody is going to listen to you or believe you even if you dressed well. Like I mentioned before dressing well does not mean that you are a good stylist, it only means that you have a good personal taste & style; it really does not mean you can dress somebody else with a different body shape, complexion; for someone who is getting ready for a photoshoot; because photos are going to be clicked, that is really different. Plus you might have to work within a theme that may be totally not acceptable as your personal style.
Once again - You need a portfolio to back you up. No one is going to hire you if you do not have a portfolio. Keep a part time job to back you up while you are still styling. Because it is not something high paying especially at the beginning.
Again, go for anything & everything you can get your hands on, anything that needs a stylist-just go for it. That is only essentially going to build up your portfolio.
If you cant get anything like that, don't worry. You can do personal styling - you can style your friends & family. Have a story to tell, take a lot of pictures. That is what most of us do; friends, family, friends of friends etc..and then you get paid.
This is something you have to work towards. You have to be prepared, because it so not something easy to do, but it is a rewarding one. You just need perseverance & something to fall back on at the same time.
It is a really nice job & if you are talented, then you should be able to do it. There are so many great designs out there and u get to play with it. All the different clothes, accessories.You keep producing new work, new look, new thought every time. So just hold on till you get that break-in. Then there is nothing that can stop you from showing the world your talent!
Saturday, December 27, 2014
Heaven on Earth
Have you seen heaven on earth? I have !
....arid mountain breeze, picture-perfect Gompas, colourful prayer flags enfolds this magical land of 'High-passes'.
Like many, I too am a travel enthusiast and Leh-Ladakh has been amongst the top places in my travel bucket list and finally in the fall of 2013 I visited this intriguing, 'freezing high barren landscape'. Yes, this was my first impression as I got down at Leh airport.
There are many ways to reach Leh, most starting from Delhi, So my sister & I flew from chennai to Delhi and yes, unfortunately we chose the boring & the easiest one, the daily morning flight from Delhi to Leh.
This is one place to where one cannot just pack a bag & leave. We were warned to give acclimatization utmost importance and factor in day 1 just for that. We had to start taking Diamox tablets 2-3 days prior to our trip to aid acclimatization and treat altitude sickness like nausea, breathlessness etc...along with this good SPF sunscreen is a must.
As we got out of the airport, we were received with a placard, warm smile & friendly hello :) ....these 2 attributes were something we got to see throughout our trip, people of Ladakh are very friendly & content, we city dwellers can learn these qualities from them.
That evening we explored the area around our hotel & shopped a little at the Tibetan refugee market...the colourful red & turquoise set in Tibetan silver jewelry are very hard to resist...asked around & made plans for the next day..oh I also made a friend, a fellow jewelry designer, a native but works out of London and has a shop in Leh during the summer.
In our excitement to visit Leh, we did not realize that out of our 5 days trip, 2 days actually goes off in getting to & from Leh, so we actually have only 3 days there, one will need a minimum of 5-6 days in Leh. So we did not get to visit Nubra Valley, camp at Pangong or ride up Khardung-La - the highest motorable road.
....arid mountain breeze, picture-perfect Gompas, colourful prayer flags enfolds this magical land of 'High-passes'.Like many, I too am a travel enthusiast and Leh-Ladakh has been amongst the top places in my travel bucket list and finally in the fall of 2013 I visited this intriguing, 'freezing high barren landscape'. Yes, this was my first impression as I got down at Leh airport.
There are many ways to reach Leh, most starting from Delhi, So my sister & I flew from chennai to Delhi and yes, unfortunately we chose the boring & the easiest one, the daily morning flight from Delhi to Leh.
This is one place to where one cannot just pack a bag & leave. We were warned to give acclimatization utmost importance and factor in day 1 just for that. We had to start taking Diamox tablets 2-3 days prior to our trip to aid acclimatization and treat altitude sickness like nausea, breathlessness etc...along with this good SPF sunscreen is a must.
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| First Sight as you come out of the airport |
From here we were taken straight to our accommodation, we stayed at Hotel Tso-kar on Fort road, my sister was keen on a place closer to the countryside but i managed to convince her that we should stay near the market...attributes of a born "shopaholic".
As advised or rather ordered after a light breakfast we slept the rest of the day off, also thanks to the long journey from Chennai to Leh.
.jpg) |
| Hotel Tso-Kar |
Day 2 was dedicated to the rich artistic creations of the Buddhist ex-Kingdom. Our hotel manager sweetly made all the sightseeing arrangements & permits required & also gave us a great deal :-D
We started to Alchi Monastery, en route our first stop was "Kargil Hall of Fame", do I need to say more...
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| Hall of Fame |
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| View from Hall of Fame |
Our next stop was the 'Pathar Sahib Gurudwara' -
After a peek at the Magnetic Hill ( I still think it was gravity) we finally headed to Alchi Monastery/Alchi village, one of the oldest monasteries in Ladakh situated on the banks of river Indus, know for it well preserved wall paintings. Our next stop was Likhir monastery.
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| Alchi wall painting |
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| Alchi Monastery |
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| Indus from Alchi |
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| Mane/prayer wheels - Alchi |
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| Likhir Monastery |
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| Likhir Monastery |
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| Likhir Monastery |
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| Future Buddha - Likhir |
The next day early in the morning we set out to the famed Pangong Lake, after a few hours across steep uphills & very rocky roads the view we got to see made it all absolutely worth it..I just cannot explain the magnificence of what we saw in words, nor can picture capture the magnanimity of this splendor. We were told, true essence of this place can be got only if we camped there at night, unfortunately for which we had no time. But for the few hours we spent there itself we got to see many shades the sparkling water camouflaged into.
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| 3 idiots climax scene location |
Changla-pass, Sangam (the spot where River Indus & Zanskar meet), glaciers, greenery & water that follows you everywhere are other things we got to see en route. Unlike many places in India,people of Ladakh surely understand the value of water & know how not to abuse it. We also saw a mountain of multani mitti, of course multani mud trafficking happened.
Our last day at Leh was spent in leisure, while my sister decided to hire a scooter & visit more monasteries like Thiksey, Hemis, Shey & Shanti stupe; I spent a lazy day exploring the market & picking up souvenirs.
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| Sangam of Indus & Zanskar |
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| Shanti Stupa |
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| Thiksey Monastery |
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| Future Buddha - Thiksey |
This is a place one can never get bored of how many ever times they visit...so I might go again & may be next time around I will choose to take a road-trip from Manali to Leh!
Friday, November 21, 2014
10 similarities between Revenge & Ek hasina thi
Amongst all other things, I am also addicted to english sitcoms & hindi daily soaps. I have been following #Revenge for the last few years and then earlier this year a new hindi series started #EkHasinaThi. Initially I was not too keen to watch it but my sister n mom watched it and I used to sneak a glance once in a while...after a few peeks I realized that it reminded me of Revenge and that is when I started following it fully.
So here is why I think #EkHasinaThi is inspired from #Revenge -
1. Greysons & Goenkas - Power packed influential families/businesses.
2. Money & power thirsty Victoria overrides many relationships & does whatever she has to, to marry Conarad Greyson to achieve her ambition.
Similarly Sakshi does the same & blackmails Rajnath Goenka into marrying her.
3. David & Amanda clark's and Nitya & Payal's families are destroyed to cover up the mistakes done by the Greysons & Goenkas.
4. Not so well to do Amanda Clark & Nitya Mitra change identity & become rich , strong n manipulative Emily Thorne & Durga Takur respectively to bring justice to their loved ones.
5. Emily & Durga marry into the Greyson & Goenka family to take revenge.
6. In both, each family member have their own dirty agenda and does not hesitate to plot against each other to save their own ass.
7. Victoria & Sakshi can go to any extant to protect their son.
8. Nolan Ross & Dayal Takur magically appear to out of thin air to help Emily & Durga to plot n plan thier revenge.
9. Jack Porter & Dev Goenka - lost & found childhood friends/love interest eventually get involved in helping Emily n Durga to achieve their goal.
Last but not the least....
10. Conarad & Lydia .... Rajnath & Ryma.
So here is why I think #EkHasinaThi is inspired from #Revenge -
1. Greysons & Goenkas - Power packed influential families/businesses.
2. Money & power thirsty Victoria overrides many relationships & does whatever she has to, to marry Conarad Greyson to achieve her ambition.
Similarly Sakshi does the same & blackmails Rajnath Goenka into marrying her.
3. David & Amanda clark's and Nitya & Payal's families are destroyed to cover up the mistakes done by the Greysons & Goenkas.
4. Not so well to do Amanda Clark & Nitya Mitra change identity & become rich , strong n manipulative Emily Thorne & Durga Takur respectively to bring justice to their loved ones.
5. Emily & Durga marry into the Greyson & Goenka family to take revenge.
6. In both, each family member have their own dirty agenda and does not hesitate to plot against each other to save their own ass.
7. Victoria & Sakshi can go to any extant to protect their son.
8. Nolan Ross & Dayal Takur magically appear to out of thin air to help Emily & Durga to plot n plan thier revenge.
9. Jack Porter & Dev Goenka - lost & found childhood friends/love interest eventually get involved in helping Emily n Durga to achieve their goal.
Last but not the least....
10. Conarad & Lydia .... Rajnath & Ryma.
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