Tantrums you can afford to have!

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In an interview with young, beautiful and talented Niharika Jolly – owner and lead designer at Tantrum shoes, we find out what her brand is all about and how she comes up with amazing shoe names each time an idea strikes her!

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Owner Niharika

What are Tantrum shoes all about?

Lace, feathers, flowers, jewels and bows! I want my brand to be a one-stop destination for anyone looking for ballerinas. Ballerinas are often seen as basic daily wear shoes. With Tantrum, we’ve tried to change that mindset. We’d like people to wear our shoes for special occasions and most importantly we want people to look down at their shoes and feel beautiful.

How did you start out?

Personally, now that I think about it, I started it on a total whim. Today, I don’t know whether I’d have the guts to just go out and start something without a business plan, strategy etc.

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Shoes we would like to take out on a brunch date

What’s is educational qualification?

I’ve studied at a girls boarding school, St.Xaviers and as for my design-realated education, it’s all thanks to a person who I started as intern with and went on to work for. New York-based designer, Jaimal Odedra who’s someone I’d say has taught me so much that an institution couldn’t do better.

So, what’s your other job?

Currently, I’m assisting costume designers in Bollywood.

What makes Tantrum different from the end number of brands available on Facebook?

Most importantly, we make sure we’re not boring! As much as we’d like to deny it, a lot of us may try to ‘grow up’ in terms of clothing to look more mature, using subtle colours, staying safe. BUT, there’s still that child hidden in us. So the idea is to offer a sort of fairy tale shoe. We’re catering to that little girl within you who smiles when she sees a gold poofy flower or a pink bow.

You mentioned you make your own shoes. How?

I do not make every single shoe now as I used to earlier but yes I still cut the pattern of every first prototype that is made. But, every single embellishment is still done or closely monitored by me. We may take time on your shoes but we’re definitely trying to give you the best handmade option. Our shoes are not mass produced by machines. We’re happy do still be made ‘by the hand’.

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Feather-light feet

How does one buy a Tantrum shoe?

Well we travel quite a bit around India and exhibit the shoes, but our Facebook page is what has been the main selling point. All the shoes are photographed and cataloged there. After two years, we’ve finally got our own website and it’s going to be much easier purchasing directly thanks to zepo.in. Also, we’re going to start retailing in Mumbai very soon but that’s still under wraps.

 What’s your favorite type of shoe?

It would definitely be the ballerina. It’s so comfortable (which I’ve come to realize is so so so important!).

You have really amazing shoe names, how do you come up with those?

(Laughs) I try to be creative. In fact, till today whenever I make a new shoe I ask a lot of people what it should be named. I’ve dedicated a couple of shoes to people, friends, fairytale characters, princesses, characters from books, TV shows and the list goes on.

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Oh-so-glam shoes

What inspires you to make new shoes?

Everything beautiful inspires me. It could be fabric, flowers, baubles, places, paintings and even dinnerware! And of course I ask a lot of people for their opinions. My sister, friends and even some of the guys. There isn’t a single time that one of them enters my house/workshop and doesn’t get shown a shoe and asked various questions about whether they’d wear it, if not then what should I change etc.

What are some of your favourite shoe brands?

I admire Ms Selfridge and Charles and Kieth.

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Black statement ballerinas

Our pick from her store are shoes titled “Daily shoe story”. Aptly named, this pair is something that goes well with almost anything! To begin with, they are black in colour. The embellishment on the ballerinas too aren’t too over the top. Together with the small pearly balls, these can be worn to a brunch with a lighter dress or teamed with a all-black number for a night out with the girls. Sometimes, we think we will stocking-clad our legs and wear it with a neon tunic.

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Argentum – Store review

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Cooped up inside one of Bandra’s bylane, Argentum is a destination for all those who take their earrings a little too seriously. A store that mainly dabbles with semi-precious couture jewellery, stocks on everything from bracelets, neck pieces to bangles, but the earrings here are outstanding and like no other place in the city.

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Instantly-glam-yourself earrings

The store isn’t too big and doesn’t have several options, but the limited range of jewellery manages to offer something for everyone. Whether you are someone who likes dainty jewellery or even if you are high on bling, Argentum has at least a dozen pieces for each kind of buyer.

We visited the store on a cold rainy day but the warm approach of owner Rishi Pherwani was good enough to get us into the mood for some heavy-duty shopping. The afternoon began with a hot cup of green tea, followed by a tour of the store and ended into, there are no prizes for guessing – jewellery shopping!

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Our warm hosts

To begin with, Argentum stocks on jewellery priced between Rs 2000 to Rs 35,000. Most of their pieces are made using silver and semi-precious stones and each item is hand-crafted as against machine-made stuff available at other stores in the city.

We specially liked the place for their massive collection of earrings, spreading across delicate everyday stuff to glamorous hoops, chandelier, drip earrings, studs and others.

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Rustic earrings

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Power-packed studs

Apart from earrings, Argentum also stocks on hand gear and cocktail rings that are as interesting, but the stock is limited to a handful of artistisnal pieces.

Hand-pounded bangles

Hand-pounded bangles

Unique square kada

Unique square kada

What’s more? On buying, the attendant packs up your pick in a box that is adhesive-free. This ensures that your jewellery stays as in and doesn’t darken, which is generally the case with silver items.

All in all, Argentum offers a wholesome shopping experience for a woman who loves to bedazzle.

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Timescity Gourmet week from July 15-21, 2013

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TimesCity, a popular destination that has so far helped us explore restaurants, nightlife, events and movies, is all set to hold it’s first ever Gourmet Week from July 15-21, 2013. The event taking place in three cities in the country - Delhi, Mumbai and Bangalore, gives foodies a chance to dig in without burning a hole in their pocket.

With an expansive choice of cuisines ranging from Japanese, Chinese, Italian and Indian, gourmands can explore platters from around the world at select Times Food Award winning restaurants.

To give you a taste of these, the curators have worked closely with chefs of these restaurants and have crafted up a menu that highlights 3 best dishes from each menu, starting at Rs 750 per person.

We tried the menu at Cafe Zoe and came home pleasantly satisfied for Rs 1200 per head. Here is a look at what our first course looked like.

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To book a table and for more information, log on to http://timescity.com/

 

Circle of love- Patchi, Palladium review

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Forest Gump’s mama always said that life is like a box of chocolates and you never know what you are going to get. But if you are at this store, there is little to worry about!  With a strong presence internationally, Patchi, the worldwide renowned chocolate brand finally launched its 2nd boutique in Mumbai at the Palladium mall. Much to our delight.

Located at Phoenix Mills, Lower Parel, the 450 Sq. feet store is a sweet haven with a wide array of chocolate collection.

Patchi Store

During our visit to this pit-stop, we picked out top ten things we LOVED about the store. Here they are:

1) Birth announcers – Nothing shows that you are celebrating more than a scrummy box of chocolates. To help you do that Patchi has come up with a line of chocolates that is especially for new parents. The range includes chocolates wrapped in cutesy wrappers in vibrant colours and lovely embellishments. While there is pink for the girls and blue for the boys, the store is happy to customise the wrappers for you.

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2) Bespoke wrappers: Talking about customizing, we LOVED that Patchi has a huge range of chocolate wrappers one can choose from. How often does a brand think about so much detail? We adore the cute-little pictures and drawings on wrappers, the birds and shapes. One is definitely likely to find at least a handful of wrappers that suit their occasion.

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3) More than chocolates: Apart from being an ace chocolate store, the showroom also has amazing home decor items to choose from. Limited but enough to glam up a boring zone in your home. You can pick from vases, bowls, chalices, show-plates. What’s more? You can get them to fill these up with chocolates too, in case gifting is on your mind.

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4) Something for everyone!: One item that we absolutely adored at this store is the dark chocolate box that had something for everyone. One box is good for the family, as it packs in 55, 70 and 80 % cocoa levels.

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5) Bridal wrappers: If you are a finicky bride and want your wedding chocolates to be as dressy as you, then this is a place to shop from. Patchi does fantastic chocolate cases that are dressed in various hues with many colours, styles, studs, etc – to fit every ceremony.

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6) Chocolate lolly pops: Who would have thought of that? We love the store for it’s unique thinking. While the rest of chocolatiers are basking in chocolates alone, Patchi has come up with chocolate lolly pops that are not too sweet, yet delicious so your kids can chomp them off!

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7) Sugar-coated almonds: This one makes up for a perfect festive treat. All you have to do is empty these sugar-coated dry fruits in a serving bowl or a plate and let your guests nibble endlessly.

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8) Diamond-crusted photo frame: Rushed to a new born’s party and don’t know what to pick? Along with boxes of chocolates, you can gift this frame that looks chic, classy and can fit any decor theme.

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9) Gold bar: As a child, we remember eating gold chocolate coins, so this bar made us nostalgic. Taste-wise the chocolate is uber creamy, with high cocoa notes and melts quickly the moment it hits the roof of your month. It is ideal to gift for weddings, graduation parties and anniversaries.

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10) Chocolate crispies: Nothing beats the joy of chomping off wafers coated with yummy chocolate. Apart from loose chocolates, Patchi also does pre-packaged boxes which includes chocolate dipped orangettes, mints, chocolate bars, etc. But our pick is the chocolate wafer that is thin, crispy and tastes oh-so-good.

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Address: Patchi, 3rd floor, boutique No T22B, Palladium, Phoniex Mall, Mumbai

Tel: +91-22-67499090

Fighting the monsoon for my skin

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I had no clue until now that the monsoon was turning out to be my skin’s worst enemy. My face has broken out so badly, it’s terrible. And I have a lot of important places to go to. When I received information about Avène’s three-step solution for acne, I was on board immediately. If you’re facing the same problem, you should try it with me.

Specifically developed for cleansing and moisturising oily skin, Avène’s new line of treatment contains specific ingredients which reduce sebum production, soothe irritations and leave the skin feeling fresh and mattified.

I’ve already started following the procedure. Here’s a step-by-step guide for you:

Cleanance Gel

Cleanance Gel

Step 1 - Cleanse with Cleanance Soapless Gel Cleanser

It cleanses and purifies your skin while respecting its pH. This very gentle paraben-free cleansing gel is perfectly suited for young, oily blemish-prone skin of the face and body. It purifies the skin and controls oil secretion without abrasion (no rebound effect). Its seboregulators and anti-bacterial key ingredients eliminate impurities and excess oil. Key ingredients like Cucurbita pepo help minimize excess sebum, while Avène Thermal Spring Water soothes the skin, leaving it clear, fresh and non-irritated. It prepares the skin for treatment. This is a very economical product, as a small quantity is enough to be effective.

FACT: This product was tested morning and evening for 21 days by 30 people with acne-prone skin, and 100% of the users noticed that their skin was clearer after 15 days!

Triacneal

Triacneal

Step 2 - Treat and eliminate imperfections with TriAcneal

Paraben-free TriAcneal helps eliminate severe imperfections while smoothing your skin. Effectiose ®, a patented innovation from PFDC Research Center (France), regulates the influx of irritating substances at the follicle level. Glycolic acid helps to peel away impurities, while Retinaldehyde regulates the formation of skin flaws and prevents residual marks. The soothing effects of Avène Thermal Spring Water provide the skin with a feeling of instant comfort in this formulation as well.

FACT: This product was tested on 47 people with skin imperfections. As early as the second week, 85% users noticed a decrease in residual marks on the face!

Cleanance Mask

Cleanance Mask

Step 3 - Restore radiance with Cleanance Deep-cleansing Purifying Mask

Have oily skin with light imperfections? This paraben-free mask, which turns into a scrub, erases, eliminates impurities and tightens pores, a three-in-one way to perfect skin! Enriched in soft clay and vegetal key ingredients, this mask absorbs excess sebum, while its micro-particles unclog your pores gently, giving your complexion clarity. Its mattifying qualities help restore your skin’s velvety texture.

FACT: This product was tested by 32 people with oily skin once or twice a week and 97% of the users felt that their skin was purified, smoother and exfoliated satisfactorily! 80% of the users said they experienced a visible no-shine result as early as one hour following application!

I’m sure, like me, most of you must be unaware of Avène and its presence in India. Log on to their website: aveneindia.com and you’ll find products recommended for you after a diagnosis along with instructional videos. Try it and let me know. :)