Style Prism

A new month always holds new promises - of new beginnings and new adventures! :)

September brings with it the whiff of Fall, the smell of festivity in the air and the feeling that another year is drawing to a hurried end...

For us, Bengalis, all we can think of right now is the upcoming Durga Puja(I know I have been ranting about it in most of my recent posts....but sorry guys, you have to bear with me till the hangover of the festivities are over!)........we count days, we pair up our new clothes with matching accessories, we make plans with friends & family, we lament the fact that this year we'll be getting one day less to celebrate (thanks to the astrological calendar) and we rummage through the archives of last few years in search of the perfect festive Facebook cover photo! :P

The end of September will see us out on the road in throngs, hopping from pandal to pandal through day & night, drinking in the revelry with an energy and enthusiasm that's missing in us for the rest of the 361 days in a year! But then, these simple pleasures are what make Life worth living, eh?

Pictures courtesy: Soumi

I wore this last to last weekend - hoping my light layers will woo Fall to come sooner! *sigh*

Wish the depressing rains would now make way for the fluffy clouds and azure skies of Autumn! (Rain God, can you hear me???)

Love,
Anupriya DG

Beauty may not be only skin-deep. But the part of it that is, needs our constant care & attention.

None of us have achieved that level of Nirvana yet where we don't bat an eyelid when we see that super-sized pimple in the middle of the forehead or we don't scream out in horror when we chip that perfectly manicured fingernail! :P

We all thrive on the high of looking good [albeit in the eyes of the beholder, but in our own eyes too] and the number of salons mushrooming all over the place thrive on this obsession of ours.

But like all good things in Life, you have to find that perfect one that suits you and fulfils all your beauty needs.

Among all the fancy beauty places that I see peppered around the city, I finally found a salon that I can go back to without the fear of disappointing my narcissistic self (if I may say so myself!) even a single time! :)

Green Trends has their chain of salons not only in Kolkata, but in numerous other cities throughout the country. An initiative of the renowned CavinKare group, the chain started off with their first few salons in Chennai and slowly made their presence felt across all major cities of India. Apart from being one of the most popular Family Salons around, they also took to hand, the task of training young men & women to become professional beauty experts and hairdressers by starting the Trends Academy.

Green Trends Unisex Hair & Style Salon offer a full range of grooming solutions for customers and each of their services provide full value for money. Right from hair cutting, styling & coloring services to beauty treatments to skincare solutions - Green Trends is the one-stop answer to all your hair & beauty woes. What's more? There's a high probability that you'll find one right in your neighborhood! :)

The cordial team at Green Trends had invited us over for a tête-a-tête with their Brand Trainer, Mr. Saddique Alam, about the latest trends in hairstyle and beauty.
I, of course, had to ask him about ways to control frizzy hair like mine, on which he advised me to try their Frizz-Control Alchemy Treatment. I obliged, and after about an hour of washing, caring, steaming and blow-drying; I was left quite speechless with the result!

The hairdresser who took me under his wings, used mostly Wella SP and L'Oreal products for the treatment. The Wella SP Smoothen Infusion is the main ingredient which helps control the frizz and the L'Oreal Total Repair serum holds the smoothness in place.
An expert blow-dry and an efficient bit of styling later, I had my look-in-the-mirror-and-don't-recognize-yourself moment! :D

I sooooo wish my hair could stay like this forever!!! *sigh*
(a girl can dream, right?)

Anyway, happy with my temporarily Page 3 celebrity-ish hair, I opted to end the day on a fragrant note by going for the Aromatherapy Pedicure.
The girl was sweet and surely knew how to pamper my feet! Special aromatherapy gels, scrubs and moisturisers with essential oils made my feet soft and supple like a baby's and a fresh & quirky coat of metallic black nail paint just upped my happiness index!

You can see for yourself how relaxed and happy me and Debiparna looked as we enjoyed our pedi session!

Maxi dress: Howrah Bridge

And of course, an event like this one at Green Trends Salon is just an excuse for meeting most of the city bloggers! :)
We looked around, we chatted, we preened and pouted, we clicked, we laughed, we learned and we had lots of fun!

Pictures courtesy: Me, Debiparna, Poorna, Bidisha

I'll be heading to the nearest Green Trends Salon (there are 3 branches in Kolkata) soon in order to spruce up before the upcoming festive season! I have quite a few of their services in mind which I want to try out. After all, we have to look our best during the biggest festival of the year, don't we?
All for the love of beauty, of course!

Have a blissful Sunday y'all!

Love,
Anupriya DG

Now that the end of the year is nearing and the wedding/party season is fast approaching, our wardrobe is in urgent need of all kinds of dresses to doll up in!

To save ourselves last minute panic attacks, it's time we start picking up dresses that suit our body, style & personality......and what better way to do it than from the comfy confines of our couch, a mug of coffee in hand & laptop in front? :)

This year, I bring to you a vast treasure trove of dresses for all ages, figures, occasions & purposes - AvivaDress! Click on the link and it'll open a dreamland of gorgeous dresses for you to pick & choose from!!!

Be it prom dresses or evening dresses, formal dresses or party dresses, wedding dresses or bridesmaid dresses - their wide range of well-cut, beautiful clothes will leave you spoilt for choice.

Hence, I thought of sharing some of my favorites with you while giving you an idea as to how you can style them as well! #win

Come winter, even the workplace comes abuzz with the excitement of cocktail parties & fancy dos.

Pick a sensuous, yet elegant LBD from AvivaDress and turn heads by pairing it with heirloom kundan earrings from your mother's jewellery box! Offset the ethnicity of the earrings by wearing a chunky watch & ring, sling on a gold bag and let your colleagues know who's the boss!! ;)

Tying the knot and losing your night's sleep over what to wear? Hop over to AvivaDress and choose from a well-curated collection of fit-for-a-fairytale wedding dresses!

Give a twist to your traditional wedding look by flaunting a pair of chic ear-cuffs and a hand-harness. Slip on a pair of metallic pumps, hitch up your ivory train and pick up a lovely bouquet. And remember the golden rule - make sure you have 'something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue'!

Be it the Prom, the Christmas Party, the School-leaving Party or the Graduation Party, every girl wants to channel her inner diva on that special day! Months are spent planning the perfect dress and there's no better place to find it than AvivaDress!

Pick from amongst a volley of all kinds of beauties ranging from short prom dresses to long prom dresses; bodycon ones to flared ones; sexy ones to pretty ones - you can browse and browse till you find THE ONE! :)

Pair the dress of your dreams with a pretty headband, stack up those dainty bracelets and flaunt a pair of charming floral heels (make sure they are comfortable - you don't want painful feet to distract you while you dance with your date, do you?)...........oh, and don't forget to pose with the funky party props at the picture booth!

The end of the year means parties, parties and more parties!!! We lose track of the invites that flood our mailbox and lose count of the nights we spend drinking, dancing and having fun! AvivaDress brings to you a lust-worthy collection of party dresses& evening dresses and the pocket-friendly prices & unbelievable discounts ensure that you don't have to be seen in the same dress at more than one party! :D

This party season, pick solid colored gowns or evening dresses and give a quirky twist to the classic silhouettes by pairing them with monochrome printed stilettos and clutches! Flaunt some bling in the form of opulent cocktail rings and danglers, smoke up your eyes, paint those puckers coral and you are all set to rock the party!

What you see here is just the tip of the iceberg. Hop over to AvivaDress and get lost in a deluge of gorgeous dresses! Let me warn you, you'll have a tough time choosing!!!

Do share your picks with me! :)

Have a happy Sunday peeps!!!

Love,
Anupriya DG

Disclaimer: This is a sponsored post. But the views & opinions shared in it are entirely my own.

The biggest festival of the year is over and Goddess Durga, on her journey back to her husband's abode in the mountains, has left a void in her wake that is hard to fill....

The four days of mindblowingly enthusiastic festivity and the crazy rush building up to that, had consumed us so much that now we feel quite lost, as if our very souls have been sucked out of us by the hooded Dementors sent by the Ministry of Life to bring mundane normalcy back into our daily existence.

We are moping, we are feeling lazy, we are missing the festive chaos terribly and we are still thinking, feeling & talking about the fun moments of the last few days.

Oh! And of course, we are compiling archives of all the innumerable images clicked on our camera and phone, along with those begged, borrowed & stolen from our friends & family!

Here's a small look through of a few outfits I sported during the Durga Puja days.....some more outfits are waiting patiently in the folders as they have been awarded the privilege of getting full posts for themselves! :)

[Top: Sepia | Pink denims: Shoppers Stop | Mint shoes: Myntra.com | Watch: Dresslily.com]

[Ikat print tunic: Howrah Bridge | Earrings: some exhibition | Watch: Kenneth Cole | Silver Kolhapuri sandals: Metro Plaza, Kolkata]

[Blue batwing tunic: Zink London | Monochrome printed leggings: Simpark, Kolkata | Necklace: Pieces via Vero Moda | Blue & gold sandals: Metro Plaza, Kolkata]

[Blue ethnic anarkali kurta: local store | Bag: Max | Watch: Dresslily.com]

In other news, I'm going on a short trip to the nearby hills tomorrow along with a couple of blogger buddies!!! :D

Too excited to say the least! Stay tuned for lots of travel pictures to come!!!

For live updates, follow me on Instagram - @anupriyadg :D

Must crash now....have a journey to make ~~tomorrow~~ today!

Love,

Anupriya DG

The later half of the year is always my favorite part of the 365 days.

Coz those are the months when the calendar shows the most number of red-lettered dates....and of course, in India, mostly, holidays mean festivals! :)

Now that the festive hangover of DurgaPuja is slowly wearing off, we are gearing up with renewed vigour for Diwali - the festival of lights!

Houses are getting a thorough cleaning, parties are being planned, new clothes are being bought and some of us are having a tough time deciding on gifts for our near & dear ones.

My most favorite part of the festivities is planning creative ways of lighting up the den - rice lights that'll blink from out of the windows, lamps to be hung on the terrace, candles & tealights for illuminating the rooms and aromatic candles that'll float around in their make-shift oceans of water in decorative bowls/vases.

Here are some more DIY tips for those of you who want your homes to sparkle bright this Diwali:

1. Don't throw away empty wine bottles. Or beer bottles (whichever is your poison). Put in coils of rice lights in them and display them on coffee tables or corner tables. Switch off all bright lights and see your room glow from the muted lights coming from the pretty bottles!

2. Have rotten fruits in the refrigerator? Scoop out the stale pulp from inside such oranges or melons and keep the skin intact with a hole on top. Pour hot wax into these fruit skins and insert a wick in the middle. Your fruity candles are ready for use! (Thanks for the idea, Parama Ghosh)

3. Put lots of fresh flowers (specially fragrant ones like tuberose, rose, jasmine etc.) in cane/wicker baskets. Nestle small light bulbs amongst the flora and take the cord out of the back of the basket through the gaps in the weaving. Arrange these on a centre table or on top of cabinets and charm your guests with the soft glow of lights accompanied by the sweet fragrance of the flowers!

These are just a few ideas to get you started!

Do share your experiments and final décor projects with me!!

Moving on, here's how I went Indian on the last day of the Durga Puja celebrations.

Festivals always bring out the traditional women in us, Indians, and this is the time of the year when we love to dress up in all our ethnic finery!

And as I always say, when in doubt, drape a sari. This goes for Diwali dressing too. :D

[Grey/gold cotton silk handloom sari: Nalli Silks, Chennai | Floral tassar silk blouse: Howrah Bridge | Yellow envelope clutch: borrowed from mom | Braided layers fabric neckpiece: Howrah Bridge | Pearl & enamel earrings: gifted | On my lips: Peach Crush by Colorbar]

Pictures courtesy: Debiparna Chakraborty

When it comes to saris, I either veer towards the quirky or go for traditional weaves in solid colors/stripes/checks.

This sari was love at first sight and even though it came with a blouse piece in the same color, I knew I would be draping it with a contrast blouse, preferably printed. And I loved the final ensemble, even if I say so myself. What do you all think?

In fact, I love it so much that I might just wear this outfit (albeit with different accessories) for one of the Diwali parties!

Also, I have entered this for a Diwali Fashion Contest being held by CupoNation. Vote for me, pretty please??? I swear I'll send you loads of love if I win! (I love you all even if I don't win, but still...just saying! Help me win?)

Love,
Anupriya DG

There has been a tragedy in the family and am still trying to recuperate from that.

Meanwhile, here's the very first Street Style post on the blog!

I'm thinking of making this a regular feature (seeing as how I can't avoid ogling at, and sometimes complimenting, well-dressed women on the roads)........let me know if you guys would like to see more such posts!

I came across Vaishali Pradhan on the NIFT (that's National Institute of Fashion Technology for the layman) campus one sunny afternoon, photographing another girl for one of her school projects.

Vaishali is a second year student of Fashion Communication at NIFT and the first thing she said on spotting me was that she loved ze blog and was an ardent follower!!! :D

I basked in the glory of my fifteen seconds of fame when she added that one of her current (and my ex) professors had actually recommended my blog to the entire class as reference! #cantstopsmiling

Well, these super-cool pair of Creepers was what made me rush to Vaishali in the first place.

Of course, I just had to know where she had got them from!!!

As it turned out, she had picked these awesome-sauce shoes from her home-town, Darjeeling.

And she has promised to give me an insider's list of all the must-shop-from places whenever I plan to visit the hill-station next!

Apart from her cute top, the trendy midi-length monochrome skirt, those ah-mazing creepers and the messy hairdo, the tattoo on Vaishali's left hand was what added interest to her character.

On asking what it meant, she eagerly replied that it symbolises the Flower of Life.

Love,

Anupriya DG

Yesterday, I achieved an almost five-years-old wish of meeting the fun & oh-so-fabulous Tanvi of Tanvii.com! We hugged, we chatted, we laughed and it really didn't feel like we had met for the first time. Thus is the beauty of friendships that have bloomed on the blogosphere. And once again, I'm ever so glad of the day that I decided to start this blog.
And thanks to Tanvi, I also made a new friend - Saumya from Myriad Musings - another stylish diva to keep a track of on the fashion-o-metre!!
Yeah, Saturday evening was good to me. :)

Here's yet another outfit from the festivities of last month.
This floral maxi is one of the favorite pieces in my wardrobe right now........and I have worn it quite a few times in the past two months.
And of course, the star of the post is the Chanel-inspired pearl necklace that I have thrifted from one of our local markets. It's surprising how fast fashion is copied nowadays - knock-offs seem to be out in the market almost at the same time as the originals!

In other news, am going for a small surgery in the coming week. Am scared, to say the least. Wish me luck?

Love,
Anupriya DG

So, I'm finally back...after the first ever surgery of my life and around 10-odd fidgety days of bed rest...

No, the idea that 4-5 strange men actually cut open and peeked into my body (while I was passed out and had no way of knowing whether it was only my tummy that they took the liberty to look at) still does not appeal to me.

Nor does hospital food. Or the sight of freshly unsealed syringes, for that matter.

I won't label the whole experience as bad or traumatic or even revolting.

It was one-of-a-kind, for the lack of a better word.

I fought, and won, the fearful battle with injections and IVs from my new domain on the hospital bed and gave mom my bravest smile when they rolled my gurney into the OT.

Once inside, I didn't know what to expect.

I was not scared. No, not for one moment did I feel scared. (Yeah, I surprised myself too!)

But I was apprehensive. And when the anaesthetist pushed the drug into my IV, I remember telling them that it hurt as it flowed through my unsuspecting veins. I remember wondering whether it was supposed to pain? I remember being concerned whether it was the normal reaction or whether my body was being tricky. That's the last thing I remember.

When sense slowly started creeping back into my numb mind, I felt helpless.

Yes, that was the first feeling I had. Along with the feeling that someone was extracting a hundred daggers that had been lodged into my abdomen. Immediately afterwards came the thirst. A soul-sucking, throat-burning thirst. My whole body seemed to cry out for a drop of water. But it got none.

I think (and I still am not sure, I still think) I was mumbling "Pain! Water!" all the way from the OT into the Recovery Room. And in that order.

When mom & dad rushed in to see me in the Recovery Room (where I was kept for around half an hour under observation, after the surgery), I told them those exact two words, each. I remember my mom's soothing voice as she said, "Just hold on for a few more minutes dear. It'll be fine soon"

By the time they wheeled me back to my bed, I was almost fully awake.

Still in pain and still craving for a drop of water.

And having lost a whole organ of my body to the surgeon's scalpel.

Dear Gall Bladder, your neighbor's will always miss you. You should never have given refuge to that darn stone in the first place!

Sorry for the morbid sickness story...but this experience has been so impactful ( in so many ways) that right from the hospital bed I knew I needed to share it here!

And as a token of appreciation for hearing me out, I leave you with snippets from the Instagram feed! This is what I have been upto this month, when away from the doctors, that is!!! :)

Got meself a new Kindle reader!!! :D

Caught up with my three blogger besties after ages!
From L to R: Soumi, Sayantani, Debiparna, me

Bought a whole lot of beauty goodies from Nykaa.com

Currently reading

FINALLY met the blogger girl from across the seven seas - the fun & fabulous Tanvi!!!

Guess who just treated herself to a new wallet? ;)

Working on the Howrah Bridge AW14 collection! Stay tuned!! #excited

Show me some love and follow me on Insta - @anupriyadg! :)

Can't sit up for a long while at a stretch yet. Must give my aching tummy muscles (and specially the naturally-healing-incisions) some rest...sigh!

Too many friends getting married in the next two weeks - there's not a day in my diary which is not marked for an invitation!

All my lovely ladies bidding goodbye to their carefree bachelor lives - should I start to get stressed already?

Love,
Anupriya DG

December is here. There's more than just a 'nip' in the air. The thought of a steaming mug of hot cocoa appeals to you more than ever before. The smell of oranges is pervading the near-perfect, lazy winter afternoons (it would have been perfect if said afternoons could be spent basking in the weak sunshine with a book in hand. But, being your own boss means not even having the luxury of taking an off from work unless it's an emergency! *sigh*). Your calendar is getting filled with weddings, concerts, fairs and what-not, all of which you are eagerly looking forward to.

And then, there's the excitement of welcoming yet another new year into the timeline of your life.

Whenever something draws to an end - be it the year, an event, or even a book - we start getting nostalgic and try to soak up the experiences of the whole thing in a rush, so as not to miss out on any of it before it ends.

Thinking of the moments gone by, reminiscing, laughing at the good times, fondling the happy memories, remembering to learn from the mistakes made....these last few days are spent in a heady high, slowly letting go of one year and seamlessly moving on to the next.

2014 gave me many a memorable moment. Good times, great memories - I'll always look upon this year with a heart-warming fondness and a happy smile on my face.

Here's why:

The year started with a trip to Delhi with friends. I delved into a world of fantasy & beauty at the India Art Fair and met some of the loveliest people in the city (thanks to the blogosphere). Needless to say, I came back a richer soul.
The middle of the year gave me a pleasant surprise in the form of THE wedding date! There couldn't be a better reason to wait for 2015 to come!! ;)
I took a bachelorette trip to the hills with two of my bestest blogger buddies (though sometimes we forget that we met through our blogs, it feels like we've known each other since forever) and those few days spent in Gangtok has to be one of the best times of my life. Ever.
All my future travel companions (including my fiancé) has serious competition from these girls, I tell you!
The big, fat Indian wedding season saw two of my bestest childhood friends tying the knot. It was two weeks of insane fun and gala reunions with other school pals, thanks to the occasions!
It was almost surreal to think of those kindergarten days of friendship and seeing those same faces in the form of radiant brides stepping into a happy, new phase of their lives. Who said Light travels fastest? I think it's Time.
And as I write this post, I'm thinking of the same time tomorrow when I'll be on my way to the hills once again (keep watching this space if you want to know where I'm headed to now!)........yes, I'm taking my last trip of the year and I'm excited, to say the least!
Can't wait to breathe out fogs while enjoying a hot cuppa seated in the window seat of a quaint cafe in the hills!!!

I leave you with pictures from my Gangtok trip with the girls. From one hill station to another. :)

Of snoods, sweatshirts & sunnies! :)

Tsangu Lake from the top

While playing tourist, you need to pay heed to such signs...

Sunshine & prayers

Yaks at Tsangu Lake

Enjoying the chill with Soumi

Tourist-y clicks with Debi

Authentic Sikkimese lunch of Chicken Shyaphale

A hot cup of Caramel Chocolate Latte at Baker's Cafe - one of my favorite hillside cafes ever!

If you want to know where I'll be chilling (literally) for the next few days, follow me on Instagram - @anupriyadg :)

By the way, have you started making that list of New Year's Resolutions yet???

Love,
Anupriya DG

Party season is here, people!!

It's time to dress up, put on some high heels and dance the nights away!

Everyone's December diary is full of dance dates, weddings, cocktails, parties, Christmas eves & NYEs. And how can we possibly sail through all of the above without a few awesome-sauce dresses???

That's precisely why I bring to you Promtimes.co.uk :)

Promtimes is a great online retail portal for dresses of all kinds - prom dresses, cocktail dresses, party dresses, wedding dresses, bridesmaids dresses, evening gowns - you name it, they have it!

Their motto is "Dresses: Made well, shop well" and they stick by the same, trying to provide the ultimate shopping experience for their customers by giving them the best products with the best service at the best price.

Here's my pick from the temptingly wide range of products available on the website.

These pieces will make sure you are the star of any party you wear them to! Flaunt them with the perfect accessories, sky-high heels, a gorgeous smile & a killer attitude and be the diva of the coming party season!!!

Throwing a bachelorette for your best friend? Nothing will scream sexy bridesmaid glamour than this satin LBD with a lace bodice - delicate, sensuous and full of oomph!

Pair this with a statement neckpiece, give your hair a volume-enhancing blow-dry, swipe on a bold line of kohl, keep your lips nude and give your girlfriend the best send-off to marital life ever!!! You'll surely be the one being crowned "Best Bridesmaid" at the end of the night! :)

December is the time when even your employers throw a cocktail party - the only time when you are actually allowed to be/feel "high"er than the boss! ;)

Strut up in style and turn your colleagues' heads in this long navy evening dress with an asymmetric sleeve and embellished neckline. Give your earrings & necklaces a miss and go for a quirky head-chain and a chunky cocktail ring to up the style quotient! Go light on the eyes and flaunt the oh-so-winter berry lips as a perfect compliment to the deep jewel tone of the dress.

Rest assured, you'll be taken seriously at the weekly meetings for a long, long time to come!

Turn up in this couture-chic piece with ruffles & pleats and paint the town red this New Year's Eve!

A glitter-tipped manicure, a pair of chunky danglers, smoky eyes and bright crimson puckers are all you need to give this hot li'l number company! Slip on those nude kitten heels so that you can dance the night away in style!!! No better way to ring in the New Year, eh?

There's more where these elegant pieces came from! Go over now and get your dream dresses for the party season!

What's more....Promtimes is offering a discount of upto 75% till the next 9 hours only!!! Go......make the most of this amazing deal!

And yeah, you can thank me later!

Love,
Anupriya DG

Disclaimer: This is a sponsored post. But the views & opinions shared in it are entirely my own.

Going....going....gone!

That's 2014 for you..

Here today, gone tomorrow (well...almost).

I will bid adieu to the year with a winter lookbook for you guys.

It's a compilation of outfits I wore on my recent trip to the hills.

It was freezing and we had to wear five layers of clothing even inside the rooms! So, dressing up everyday used to be an exercise in smart layering and hence I thought it best to create a winter lookbook with these outfit ideas.

Let me know your thoughts! :)

{Maxi-mum Layering}
When I was packing this maxi dress in my luggage, my mom actually thought I was crazy. I don't blame her.....who really thinks of wearing maxi dresses in 10 degree Celsius temperature?
Well....I do! :P
I got looks from all and sundry roaming the hilly lanes of Darjeeling that afternoon as I strolled around in my layered maxi outfit. But a thermal inner, a fair isle sweater vest, a woollen peplum cardigan with leather trims, a snood and my locally purchased gloves made sure I was warm enough to enjoy all the attention! ;)
Of course, one pair of thermal leggings and one pair of cotton leggings inside helped. A lot!!

{Of Chunky Knits and Fair Isles}

What's winter without a liberal dose of cozy, chunky knitwear? A fluffy cardigan in chunky knits is a wardrobe must-have.....specially in any nude(ish) hue. And of course, fair isle patterns work as instant shift-into-Christmas-mode stimulators - be it on a pair of warm leggings or on a pair of indispensable socks!

Fling on a scarf, flaunt some subtle pieces of jewellery and you're good to go!!

{Coat Caper}

Since the temperature in my city never goes low enough for coats, this trip saw me and my sister excitedly packing our coats even though they took up more than half the space of the luggage!

I paired this pink beauty that I had picked up at an unbelievable price on my Delhi trip last January with a pair of printed denims and a snood in a contrasting hue!

[Coat: Janpath, New Delhi | Denims: Promod | Blue snood: 109 F]

So how are you all layering up to brave the chills this winter?

Layering is an art. If you have stylish winter pieces in your wardrobe, you can create magic by mixing and matching separates while keeping yourself warm at the same time! :)

Ring in the New Year with a smile, a cheer and some rockin' smokin' booty shakin'! :D
See you in the Two Oh One Five!!!

Love,
Anupriya DG

Hola, guys!

How's the brand new year treating you all so far?

2015 is sure being hard on me - what with all the wedding preparations on in full swing!!!

Yeah, it's almost time for me to shed the carefree cloak of spinsterhood and put on the responsible cape of married life. I'm excited, apprehensive and hopeful at the same time.......wish me luck, won't you???

*****

Coming back to fashion, one of my most favorite attributes of winter is that it allows us to lend more character to our outfits through the art of layering.

Layering not only gives us more opportunity to use individual pieces of clothing in various ways, it also makes mixing and matching ever so much more fun!!! :)

Here's how I wore one of my favorite jackets in three ways by accessorizing it differently and styling it with different coloured pants. Contrast bags and shoes, a stole draped around the neck or a scarf stylishly tucked inside the lapels can absolutely transform one statement piece into different looks! So what are you waiting for? Take out your key winter pieces and start experimenting today!

You can learn more about the art of layering and tips on winter fashion over at the eBay fashion blog!

eBay has got an amazing collection of stylish winter clothes that can make you quite the head-turner this season! Browse, shop, indulge today - the happy days of layering up in style will get over soon!!!

[One jacket, three ways (L to R) - 1 | 2 | 3]

eBay has their exciting new year collection up on the website and you'll surely fall for some of their lust-worthy pieces. Give your winter wardrobe a makeover - pick from eBay's wide range of fashionable winterwear and have fun layering up in style!!!

You can also read all about new trends, hot happenings in the fashion world and all that you need to know about clothes and accessories on the brand new eBay fashion blog!

*****

So, while you spend the rest of your winter days trying out new ways of layering, I'll be running around with last minute invitations and whatever's (still) left of my trousseau shopping. I just wish I can finish everything off in time.....or else, my guests just might encounter their first ever runaway bride!!! #facepalm #tensed

P.S.: Hope my fiancé never reads this post. Particularly the last line.

Love,
Anupriya DG

Winter is the season of foggy breathes, warm woollies, hot cocoas and fun events. Fairs, carnivals, parties, barbecues, weddings and festivals of all kinds fill up our social calendars.

We find ourselves running from literary meets to film festivals to cocktail parties to evening soirées, only stopping to warm ourselves up with nostalgic conversations with suddenly-come-across old friends or with a tastefully acquired sip of soul-warming port wine.

The rare free moments we get to ourselves are spent obsessing over what to wear to these events! Each outfit is as good as the first picture of the same that goes up on any of the social media platforms and then it's bye-bye-favorite-LBD to back-to-racking-our-brains-over-what-to-wear-next!!!

When the lovely folks at MissChase.com asked me to review their cool website, I instantly fell for their trendy collection of clothes and accessories. If you have been eyeing the UK fashion designers/stores/websites, then MissChase.com is the desi answer to your style quests. Browse, pick, buy from their selective range of fashionable apparels and accessories and I'm sure you won't have to go "But I have nothing to wear!" when you get invites to those winter soirées any more! :)

Since, I'm waiting on the threshold of a new phase of my life......and this huge (and I mean HUGE) change will demand me to be clothed mostly in ethnic Indian fashion for the next few weeks, at least....hence I thought it practical to pick up some accessories to style, rather than clothes (Miss Chase stocks western wear, their styles, inspired largely by prevalent UK fashion trends).

The beauty of the wide selection of accessories available on Miss Chase is that they are versatile pieces that can complement all kinds of outfits, styles, silhouettes and patterns. I have already envisioned this oversized Cotton Candy clutch and the chic pair of strappy heels that I chose with a lot of my Indian clothes that will see me breezing through the days of occasions and rituals that are going to engulf me soon!

I styled these two beauties for a look fit to be flaunted at any evening soiree - be it a literary meet or an art exhibition or even a dinner date with friends.

Maxi dresses lightly layered with cardis or smart jackets is my go-to style for all kinds of occasions. Just finish the look off with some fun jewelry, a pretty clutch and killer heels to turn heads wherever you go!

P.S.: As you read this, I'm going crazy making last minute preparations for my D-day! #nervousbride

P.P.S.: This is the first time I'm wearing stilettos on ze blog. Otherwise, I'm always a chappals girl, as you all know by now! :D

Love,

Anupriya DG

Hello from this newly-married-and-loving-it blogger who's really sorry to have been MIA (missing in action, silly!) for the past one month!

I know you'll forgive and forget once I share you all the exciting wedding pictures, but before that I have something even more exciting for you all!!!

Who doesn't love ice-cream? And that too when it is made with Belgian chocolate???

Drooling already? Maybe reaching out for a bar of Magnum from your secret stash in the refrigerator?

Well, till now, for us, Kolkata ice-cream lovers, Magnum has been a thing of lustful dreams........something that we saw in our NRI friends' Facebook pictures or fantasised of tasting one day...

Last Saturday, Kolkata finally witnessed the launch of the much-awaited Magnum ice-cream that will be available at all major F&B outlets from March 1 onwards!!! :)
We got our first royal taste of the iconic ice-cream at the Magnum Masterclass held by Masterchef Kunal Kapur and hosted by the lovely actress Soha Ali Khan.

From enriching our knowledge about the varieties and characteristics of Belgian Chocolate to making us taste our very first Magnum to feel the experience of that distinctive 'crack' as we bit into the magical deliciousness, Masterchef Kunal Kapur engaged the audience with his effortless charm and inspiring persona.

As I tried to save myself from getting lost in the sinful yumminess of a Chocolate Truffle Magnum, the chef and Soha rustled up some sweet concoctions using the ice-cream. He gave a fun twist to the traditional Bengali crepe dessert, Patishapta, by filling the crepe with Magnum, nuts, berries etc. instead of the age-old coconut, jaggery and kheer fillings.
The result, needless to say, was as amazing to taste as it was to look at! <3

Soon it was our turn to try our hands at experimental desserts using Magnum and a few other ingredients that we were provided with.
Our group ended up making a vibrant concoction of layered ice-cream, flavoured with chocolate chips, candies, jellies and sprinkles. Madly Magnum (that's what we named our creation) was fun to make, fun to look at and fun to eat too!!! ^_^

Soha Ali Khan is a self-confessed Magnum lover and it showed every bit as she posed pretty for pictures with her favourite dessert!
I should have asked her how she indulges in all that ice-cream and still flaunts such a figure! Some people are just blessed, I guess! *sigh*

Apart from the happiness in the knowledge that we can get this royal treatment any time we want to, from 1st March onwards......and a whole lot of fun memories........I also brought home these two sweet surprises - a Magnum-shaped pen drive and a jar full of yummy goodiness!!! :D

Magnum has already launched in other cities in the country and Kolkata is joining the ranks soon enough! You can pick from three delicious flavors - Classic, Almond and Chocolate Truffle. So guys, go out, grab a bar and indulge in the royal experience!!!

You can follow Magnum India on Twitter and Facebook for more updates.

Photos courtesy: Debiparna Chakraborty & Anupriya DG

I have a whole lot of awesomeness planned for you guys! Stay tuned....and stay stylish!!!

Love,
Anupriya DG

In today's world, the position of women in the society is in a very sensitive state of being - on the one hand, they are growing more strong and independent by the minute, conquering stereotypes and rising to the top in every field imaginable; while on the other hand, they are being neglected, abused, tortured, raped and even killed almost everyday.
On the one hand, there are men who are fighting for justice, voicing their opinion to enforce women's rights; while on the other hand, there are men who are saying that a woman should not dress provocatively or step out of the house after a certain time in order to stay safe.
Such is the hypocritical face of our society. And at the end of it all, we, women, are left to fend for ourselves, stand up for ourselves and fight for ourselves. Which we do with confidence and courage.
The world should remember, for every helpless woman getting raped, there are ten strong ones gearing up to get her justice.
We may be daughters, wives, sisters, mothers or even grandmothers; but over and above all, we are women! And proud to be so!!

*****

This little discourse has nothing to do with today's post. Or even with the fact that it is International Women's Day today.
It came out of the various comments/articles/debates/opinions flooding my news feed about a certain documentary that's doing the rounds of the social media. I won't start talking about it here (coz the whole world and its neighbor is already doing so)......I would also not provide an Youtube link for your perusal (coz the video has been removed from the channel. Nazi rule, anyone?).........but I'll always urge you to call a spade a spade, even if the whole world calls it something else.
That, and to do whatever little you can to make this world a better place to live in.

*****

Vandeepp Kalra poses with a self-portrait of her with her baby made in mosaic

Coming back to the post, on this International Women's Day, I thought of presenting to you a wonderful and inspiring lady that I had the good fortune to meet recently. Her story and her work will say the rest.

Vandeepp Kalra is a self-taught mosaic artist hailing from Kolkata and one of the pioneers in her chosen field of art. What started as a hobby became an obsession and eventually a fully fledged career, Vandeepp Kalra’s love for mosaic art is a patchwork of her experimenting nature, delving in different forms of art, avid reading and the will to carve a niche for herself by creating unique art out of fine pieces of glass. Being a self taught artist, Vandeepp was always drawn to different mediums of art, may it be Oil, Acrylic or Water. She has even visited various art galleries showcasing these popular mediums along with participating in workshops in order to strengthen her skills. However, she discovered mosaic art as her preferred medium after perusing books on art & craft & learning its various techniques & applications. Vandeepp’s art pieces are mostly inspired by her life experiences and travels abroad with husband Kapil Kalra who works for the Merchant Navy. Color plays an important role in her compositions and at times becomes the subject itself.

Her studio at Wood Street, Kolkata has an unusual range of mosaic canvases, mirrors, candle scones, furniture, wall art & gift items. A piece of mosaic art approximately takes one to two months to make, depending on the size and intricacy of the work. The studio imports exemplary quality mosaic tiles and stained glass from Italy, United Kingdom & the Netherlands as well as sourcing from India. The tools used to chisel the artwork are also imported from The Netherlands and United Kingdom.

The studio offers product customization to cater to client specifications as their mission is to create an everlasting experience for its patrons, by forging an ongoing relationship with every customer.
Vandeepp believes that mosaic art is still very nascent in India and wishes to bring awareness and appreciation for this beautiful medium of expression through her works.

The blogger girls with the artist - (L to R) - Debiparna, Dolon, Vandeepp, Me, Poorna, Astha

Vandeepp was sweet enough to gift us little green souvenirs - plants in pots adorned with mosaic art by the artist herself!

You can drop in at Vandeepp's studio in Wood Street to see her gorgeous pieces of art or follow her Facebook Page to stay updated about her work.

And after a long (really long) time, you get to see some outfits on the blog! :)

This digital print tunic is one my recent go-to outfits and this bag is one of my most favorite wedding gifts!!! Of course, you all know how much I love colours....right?

Posing with more of Vandeepp's amazing creations in her studio!

[Digital print muslin tunic: Howrah Bridge | Yellow leather bag: Eske (gifted) | Sandals: Inc.5 | Watch: Giordano (gifted)]

I have been to a whole lot of new places and events in the past few weeks........so stay tuned for a deluge of exciting posts coming soon!!

Till then, take care fellas!
And HAPPY WOMEN'S DAY!!!
Today. And everyday!

Love,
Anupriya DG

Today, I am starting a new series on the blog - Kolkata Konnect - for my readers to know my city a little more, its places, its people, things to do and things to love.

This is my endeavour to put Kolkata out there on the "happening cities of India" map - an endeavour to break some myths and surprise you with some of the coolest stuff that you'll find in this multi-cultural city of mine.

Whoever has been following this blog for quite some time now, knows my love and passion for photography...........so I couldn't think of a better way to start this new series than with a review of a photography studio that I had the privilege of visiting recently.

Studio Pomegranate(interesting name, no?) is a one-stop solution for all photography needs, located in the heart of the city. Established in 2009, Studio Pomegrante has come a long way, now having two studio spaces - one in Wood Street and one in Shakespeare Sarani.

They cover a vast area of photographic needs right from portraits and family albums to fashion and lifestyle photography to e-commerce product shoots. The dedicated team at Studio Pomegranate, not only excels in behind-the-camera skills, but also provides services such as high-end scanning, archiving, archival giclee printing and even photography workshops.

Studio Pomegranate is a name synonymous with quality and good work, so the team does not even hesitate to refuse a project if they think they can't dedicate enough time to it. For them, the high standards of work and the brand reputation comes above everything else.

Check out their work at www.studiopomegranate.in and get ready to be mesmerized by the vast subjects they cover and the brilliant outcome they deliver every time!

Follow Studio Pomegranate on Facebook and Instagram to stay updated about their fun projects and amazing work.

A glimpse at their workplace

Frames from various projects

Nothing can make me smile more than a camera aimed at me! :D
Photo courtesy: Debiparna

The final shot!
Photo courtesy: Studio Pomegranate

[Sari: Straavi | Blouse: Howrah Bridge | Pearl necklace: New Market, Kolkata | Wooden bangle: Kamala, Kolkata | On my lips: Peach Crush, Colorbar]

Many of you might be thinking whyever I went to visit a studio wearing a sari.

Well, the invite to the Studio (which mentioned a photoshoot as part of the event) urged us to "be yourself" and I couldn't find anything better than a sari that went so well with my 'just-married' look! :)

What do you all think of my "newly-wed-Indian-woman" avatar???

So now you know where to head for the next family photoshoot or product photography or even if you yourself want to learn the ropes at one of their photography workshops.

I'll be back with my wedding post soon!

Till then, stay stylish!

Love,
Anupriya DG

Summer is almost here in full force and the sun is getting stronger with each passing day.
The sunglasses are working overtime and the refrigerators are cradling too many bottles of water in their depths. And the weather's sorted for the next 3-4 months. Sizzlers, anyone?

Thanks to an ever-booming social scene, parties, occasions and events are not restricted to the colder months anymore, but spread out throughout the year. Hence, our house, inboxes and Facebook walls are flooded with invites to dinners, birthday parties, cocktail parties, film festivals, red carpet events, brand launches and even the occasional weddings even during the hotter-than-Angelina-Jolie summer months!
And these deluge of invites sometimes make us more apprehensive than happy - the reason? The ubiquitous "We don't have anything to wear!"

But, worry not! Here I am, to make dressing up in summer all the more fun and fabulous!!!
Those of you who are regular readers of the blog, have heard me rant about Promtimes.co.uk before. Those of you who are more passionate about fashion, must have checked out the awesome collection of dresses available on the website. And those of you who are smart enough, must have shopped from them too! :)

Promtimes has just launched a whole new collection of Prom dresses for 2015 and I'm not exaggerating when I say that this range of feminine, flirty and fabulous dresses will leave you lusting! The silhouettes are beautiful, the cuts are elegant and the colors are gorgeous, to say the least!

Here are a few of my top picks for summer from the new collection up on Promtimes.co.uk

Buy here

When in doubt, go for neutrals.
You can never go wrong with a nude-hued dress - a pretty tone of flesh, a pale splash or beige or even a pastel salmon pink. And when such a dress comes with black lace trims, you know you've got a head-turner! Pair this dress up with black Swarovsky earrings, black lace pumps and a neat bun at the nape of the neck.

Buy here

Want to be the star of the party? Stand out in a sea of LBDs by flaunting a flowy dress in a bright, summery hue such as lime green! A textured bodice adds interest while the vibrant color grabs eyeballs. Pair this flamboyant dress with accessories in a contrast hue such as royal blue or fuchsia for more zing! A jewelled minaudiere, a cocktail ring and a milkmaid braided hairdo is all you need to turn heads in style!

Buy here

Bored of the quintessential little black dress? Paint the town red in a little red number - pick one with net panels and appliqued flowers for a romantic chic look. This dress is best worn with glittery gold peep-toe pumps, edgy ear cuffs and a pulled back hairdo!

So, go, browse and buy! Promtimes offers a wide variety of such fabulous dresses including Cocktail Dresses, Evening Dresses and even Wedding Dresses for the gorgeous summer brides!!!
Summer-time parties will never be boring again!

Till next time, keep it stylish!

Love,
Anupriya DG

I have been thinking for the last few days.
Thinking. Maybe procrastinating. Same thing almost. At least in my mind.

Anyway, so I was thinking about Life. How I have almost spent almost one-third of it already and yet can't think of anything spectacular that I have done.
I mean, maybe I have done a few things my parents could be proud of. Or maybe I have even done a few things that made my own heart glow with joy. But things that would make me feel like I have achieved something in Life? Not that many.

I was thinking about how there is so much to do still. So many wishes to fulfill. So many dreams to make true. So much of Life left to live.

So, I think the time has come to make a bucket list. The bucket list of dreams I want to fulfill in this lifetime. Small dreams. Big dreams. Sane dreams. Crazy dreams. Weird dreams. Difficult dreams. Funny dreams. Clichéd dreams.
It's time to make the bucket list of my dreams.

*****

I took time out from said procrastination to take these outfit pictures - my first ones post marriage.

Now that I have (more or less) settled down into the new life and new routine, I can go back to dressing up for myself. And taking pictures for you all!! Yeah, my life is (almost) #backtonormal! :)

Pics courtesy: Debiparna

This pair of sliders is my new found love! I have almost been living in them and you guys must be prepared to see a whole lot of these beauties in the coming summer months! <3

P.S.: For those of you (non-Indians) wondering what that streak of red is in the middle of my hairline.........this dash of vermilion is a symbol of Hindu married women. This bit of red on the forehead warns straying male eyes that this lady is taken!

I'm so happy to put up this outfit post almost after three months! Life is good!!

And now, back to making that bucket list! ;)

Love,
Anupriya DG

One of the best wedding gifts I received was an OTG (Oven-Toaster-Grill) and after a couple of months of apprehensive procrastinating, I finally took the plunge and started trying out my baking skills around five Sundays ago.
Since then, there has been no stopping me. Sunday mornings in my new household come with the promise of soul-warming buttery smells that fill the air and put a smile on the faces of my husband & in-laws. :)

After successive Sundays spent baking a batch of not-bad-for-a-first-timer butter cookies, a moderate plain cake, a better chocolate cake and some yes-I'm-getting-there choco-chip cupcakes; I finally decided to whip up a large batch of Choco-Vanilla Marble Muffins last Sunday.
And since it was the fanciest confection to come out of my oven, I decided to do a recipe post for you all!! Just to let any future (or existing) bakers out there know that it's not as difficult as it seems!
If I can do it, so can any of you!!!

Preparation Time : 40 mins
Cooking Time : 50 mins
Quantity: 12 muffins

Ingredients:

All-purpose flour - One & half cup
Butter (softened) - Half cup
Sugar - One & quarter cup

Eggs - Three
Milk - Three fourth cup

Baking powder - One teaspoon

Vanilla essence - One teaspoon
Choco chips - Half cup

Cocoa powder - Two teaspoon

Method:

1. Mix the sugar & butter in a blender till it forms a soft, fluffy mixture.

2. Put the mixture in a beating bowl and add the vanilla essence. Beat well.

3. Mix the flour & baking powder in another bowl and keep aside.

4. Beat in the eggs one by one in the butter mixture and fold well after adding each egg. Whisk it well so that the mixture has a smooth consistency.

5. Add the flour mixture and milk alternately. Add the flour in four parts & the milk in three parts, beating well after each addition so that the mixture doesn't form lumps. The batter should be beaten to a smooth consistency - remember, the better you beat it, the better your cake will turn out to be!

6. Divide the batter into two portions - take one-fourth of the batter into another bowl and mix the cocoa powder in it.
7. Beat well till the cocoa mixes with the batter completely.

8. Grease the cupcake tray with butter or put in paper liners into the moulds. I have a six-mould tray, so I have to bake a batch of 12 in two parts.

9. For getting the marble effect, put in a bigger portion of the vanilla batter along with small dollops of the chocolate batter. Then use a thin rod or edge of knife to swirl up the mixtures into a marble texture. Do it lightly so that the chocolate batter does not mix completely with the vanilla batter.

10. Preheat the oven at 180°C and bake for 25 mins. I take out the tray after around 10 mins to embed the choco-chips on top of the semi-baked muffins and put them in again.

11. Once done, take them out and set them on a cooling rack to cool for around 15 mins.
12. Serve with tea or have them just like that! :)

Soft & moist Choco-Vanilla Marble Muffins ready to be devoured!

Do let me know if you try it!
Trust me, baking is an addiction, specially for those with an undying love for confectioneries (like me)!!

*****

I'm going on a holiday (the special one that comes after the wedding!) soon and I promise to be back with a lot of beautiful pictures and experiences to share with you all!

But while I'm away enjoying the sand & the sea, I'll leave you guys with some scheduled posts so that you won't miss me much! ;)

For live updates on where I'm going and how much fun I'm having, don't forget to follow me on Instagram - @anupriyadg

Love,
Anupriya DG

Hey there fellas!!

I'm away on holiday [the one named Honeymoon ;)] and am enjoying the beautiful beaches of Krabi while looking forward to all the shopping I'm gonna do from Bangkok in the next few days!

Meanwhile I thought of sharing with you guys ways of styling a maxi dress.
This yellow houndstooth jersey maxi dress is one of the most favorite items in my closet and my go-to option for all kinds of occasions, seasons & looks!

I have worn it in scorching summer heat as well as in the freezing climes of a hill station.

Check it out for yourself and let me know which style you like best! :)

[1 | 2 | 3| 4]

I'll be back with loads of pictures for you all!

Till then, follow my travel updates on Instagram - @anupriyadg

Love,
Anupriya DG

Hello, September!

For The Love Of Beauty {Review: Green Trends Salon}

'Tis The Season To Dress Up! {Review: AvivaDress.co.uk}

Durga Puja Style Diary I

Embrace Thy Ethnicity {Durga Puja Style Diary II}

Flower of Life {Street Style}

Pearl It Like Chanel {Durga Puja Style Diary III}

Insta-Wednesday {November 2014}

Started On The List Yet?

Dressed to kill! {Review: Promtimes.co.uk}

Winter Lookbook: When In The Hills

Style Remix: Winter love

No More Nothing-To-Wear Syndrome {Review: MissChase.com}

Royal Experience At Magnum Masterclass

Women's Day Special: Tête-à-Tête With Mosaic Artist Vandeepp Kalra

{Kolkata Konnect} Review: Studio Pomegranate

A Dressed-Up Summer! {Review: Promtimes.co.uk}

Time to make that bucket list...

{Chef's Diary} Choco-Vanilla Marble Muffin

Style Remix: Houndstooth Maxi Dress