Goa rolls out ramp for India Beach Fashion Week

A melange of designers are geared up to show their creativity in resort, swim, beach and cruise clothing at the first edition of Gionee Smartphones India Beach Fashion Week (IBFW), starting here Thursday.

The event, to be held at Grand Mercure, Candolim here, is conceptualised and owned by UVAR Global. It will witness destination wedding wear and resort wear from over 30 of the finest couturiers in India.

The participating names include the grand masters of the Indian fashion industry like Anjalee and Arjun Kapoor, Anupamaa Dayal, Babita Malkani, Falguni and Shane Peacock, Komal Sood, James Ferreira, Nachiket Barve, Pria Kataaria Puri, Raakesh Agarvwal, Rimple and Harpreet Narula among others.

Well known designer-duo Falguni and Shane Peacock will be the grand finale designers at the event and will showcase their collection focusing on destination bride.

“We endeavour to create a platform where designers can showcase their collections exclusively for beach or cruise wear and destination bride for which there is a great demand but remains unexplored. IBFW provides this potent mix by fusing fashion with luxury, sun kissed beaches and music,” said IBFW co-founder and chief creative officer Pallav Ojha.

The event will also provide an opportunity to young fashion talent to showcase their artistic vision alongside the stalwarts through a joint initiative with Talent House, an online platform where artists from all over the globe engage for creative collaboration in the fields of film, fashion, art, photography and music. This initiative is in partnership with students of Rachana Sansad School of Fashion Design and Technology.

One will also witness 50 pop-up shops, foot-tapping live music and three luxe post-parties juxtaposed to keep attendees entertained and satiated. If you are a shopaholic, you can also browse and buy the finest designer wear and accessories.

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Drape yourself well in sari to look slim

A sari is known to be one of the most flattering pieces of clothing and can make you look visibly slender, if worn right and chosen well.

Experts from FashionAndYou, a flash website in the fashion and lifestyle space, share tips on how to step up your style in a sari:

* Choose the right material: The fabric of the sari plays a key role in helping you hide your body’s flaws. Georgette, chiffon and crepe are the ideal materials to opt for. They stick closer to the body and help you look slimmer. Avoid fabrics like silk, kanjivaram, cotton and tissue as these tend to make you look fuller.

* Drape it tight: If you drape your sari loosely, you will unwittingly add volume to your look. Tie it perfectly and a little tightly for that beautifully thin appearance.

* Limit the pleats: Few of us know this, but adding more pleats to your sari can actually nullify the slimming effects of the six-yards of grace. Go in for lesser pleats for a sexier appeal.

* Minimise the borders: For shorter or stockier women, it is always recommended to go for saris with minimal borders. Broad borders tend to make you look bigger. If your main objective of wearing a sari is to look thinner then it would be ideal to opt for a sari that has no border at all.

* Choose darker colours: The shade of sari that you choose to wear also has a large part in bringing out the slimming effects of the drape. Go in for darker colours as they camouflage your flaws and attract more attention to your face.

* Pick the perfect prints: For those on the heavier side, it is advisable to steer clear of large prints or motifs. Go for delicate work on the saree for a trimmer and more feminine look. Big prints across the sari may look glam, but they also make you look plumper and put your not-so-flattering areas under the spotlight, which, of course is a complete no-no.

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Gauri Khan talks about collaboration with Satya Paul and inspiration behind her debut

This year marks the 30th anniversary of one of the most iconic designer labels in the country. Looking to make it a memorable one, Satya Paul has now collaborated with celebrity interior designer and film producer Gauri Khan for their Spring-Summer 2015 collection. Until recently, the brand’s creative team was steered by fashion designer Masaba Gupta and her last collection, “Disney MonoPop”, is still fresh in memory.

A fashionista in her own right — whose love for bodycon dresses and animal prints is well known — Gauri Khan’s debut collection is called ‘A Tropical Wonder’. Ask her about the inspiration behind the collection and Gauri Khan says, “Balancing the workplace and home while pursuing creative channels has kept me busy for a while. I think that’s what triggered the idea of this collection. I wanted to recreate that ease and fantasy that a holiday promises.”

Developed along the lines of a cruise collection, “A Tropical Wonder” explores exotic prints which have been rendered on casual and occasional wear separates such as sheer tunics, flowing kaftans, shift dresses and fluid saris. The colour palette, true to the theme, brings in a mix of aqua tones, breezy pastels and fresh citrus hues interpreted in the brand’s signature style of abstract art and digital painting.

For the collection, Bollywood’s first lady admits she dipped into her own wardrobe. “The collection showcases a distinctive aspect of my own personal style which is pared down, comfortable yet very feminine. Satya Paul has a unique take on design and through this collection I wanted to showcase a more effortless side to the brand,” says Khan. She even features in the advertising campaign for Spring-Summer 2015 wearing saris from the line.

While Gauri Khan is non-committal on whether she plans to launch her own fashion label some day, this year-long association with the brand will hopefully result in more than one collection. “I think this year has a lot of interesting projects lined up and at this point I’m excited to see what comes of leading the design direction at Satya Paul,” she says.

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Makeup tips: How to avoid the cakey look

Layers of wrongly chosen makeup can make you end up looking cakey. Get your hands on the right make-up base to look flawless, says an expert.

“Every skin type is different. You have different foundations for fair, light and medium skin tone; again it is categorized into dry, oily and combination skin. Getting your base right is very important,” make-up artist Annalia Zhimomi told IANS.

She says for dry flaky skin, don’t use powder.
“Creme based or a liquid foundation rich in moisture is perfect for dry flaky skin. Use it with the help of a moist sponge. This will keep the dry skin in place and give a smooth finish. Any other way of applying foundation for dry skin will lead to flaking of the skin,” she warned.

Women with normal to combination skin, can also use creme or liquid foundation. Again, a moist sponge will be helpful. Then seal your foundation with the help of loose or pressed powder. This will help your foundation to last all day.

Those with oily skin should apply foundation with the help of a buffing (for medium to full coverage) or stippling brush (if its less coverage) in circulation motion, she suggests.

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7 make-up fixes you couldn't have imagined

Every woman is spoilt for choice when it comes to make-up items. A considerable number of us not-born-with-a-platinum-spoon-in-our-mouths lust for that extremely unaffordable gel eyeliner or the perfect shade of lipstick that will burn a hole in our pockets. And making peace with make-up issues is just an unending process. Then there are those moments when no matter how many times and for how long your mirror says, 'You're the fairest of them all', you have that nagging worry that the eye-shadow is a tad darker than what you'd have wanted it to be and so on.

In the midst of our daily to-dos, make-up fixes are as essential as - to certain people - breathing. To others, too, who can afford to be a bit relaxed on the make-up front, some quick fixes are pretty essential. We present to you seven such make-up fixes, which are bound to leave you surprised.

The mascara application
Yes, we know what the guidelines on the mascara tube say. But there's no need to follow all the rules, is there? SO, do it the opposite way. Instead of applying your mascara upwards, use the brush downwards, towards your nose. Not only will your eyes look bigger, you'll lashes will look heavier, too!

No gel eyeliner? Create one!
Gel eyeliners, more often than not, are somewhat expensive than their less fortunate cousins, the pencil eyeliners. To get the gel eyeliner look, simply hold the tip of the pencil eyeliner under a flame, let it cool for a while, and bingo! You have the intense gel-like eyeliner ready.

The perfume problem
Not sure how to wear your perfume before stepping out? There are a few pulse points that will help retain the perfume longer than if you were to douse yourself with it. Try spraying the scent behind your ear lobes, at the base of your neck, inside your wrist, inside the elbow. The trick is to target the joints, since the friction at your joints will make sure the perfume  hits the air more frequently, but doesn't wear off soon.

Don't throw away your wands!
The mascara brush is not to be thrown away. Since these are of various kinds, wash them properly once their primary task is done with, and store them to brush your eyebrows. A mini-comb for your eyebrows. You can use a brush for a different mascara, too.

Lipstick to hide those undereye circles
The newest fad to hit the internet, courtesy makeup mavens, is that of using lipstick to conceal undereye dark circles. Use an orangish-red lipstick to hide the dark patches under your eye; and once you apply the lipstick, use the concealer. And see your dark circles vanish!

Finger in the mouth
So, every single time you put on lipstick, and press them together, your teeth ends up with some of the colour? The next time you apply lipstick, put a finger inside your mouth right after you're done with the lipstick application. Pull the finger out, and out comes with it the excess lip colour.

Heat it up
While using an eyelash-curler, make sure you hold it in front of a blow drier for a while. Once the curler is heated somewhat, use it to curl your eyelashes. The heat will make the curl stay on longer.

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No age for love: Big B and Jaya Bachchan coordinate style at a recent event

When it comes to love, then there really seems to be no age.

Bollywood superstar Amitabh Bachchan made a fashion statement as he stepped out with his wife Jaya Bachchan.

The two made an appearance at an event organised by The Film Heritage Foundation where the superstar was made the face of an initiative to save cinematic marvels from getting lost with time.

It was rather interesting to see that the two coordinated their accessories by taking floral picks. While Mr. Bachchan opted for a floral shawl, Mrs. Bachchan rocked a floral purse.

The couple is no strangers to such subtly coordinated style. In the past too, they have been spotted wearing outfits coordinated in a similar manner like the time they both wore red and black at Big B's 70th birthday party.

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Katrina Kaif shares the secrets behind her youthful skin

Known for her milk and roses complexion, actress Katrina Kaif recently divulged the secrets behind her youthful skin.

Don't take your skin for granted, said the actress, who believes in the use of sunscreen, right intake of water and ensures that her makeup is removed well. She also added that women must take care of their body and skin according to their age.

"We shouldn't take our skin for granted, especially since we are often exposed to dirt, heat and pollution daily. We should never underestimate the need for a sunscreen to protect your skin from strong UV rays," the 31-year-old told IANS in an email interview.

"Through the day I drink lots of fluids, especially water to have my face feel fresh and hydrated. I always remove my makeup once I'm home for the day/night and use a moisturiser to not let my skin dry, even when I'm at home," she added.

Currently a brand ambassador for L'Oreal Paris's Skin Perfect range that addresses the skincare needs specific to that age Katrina also said, "Every decade in a woman's life comes with a changing set of priorities. It also comes with a changing set of skincare needs. L'Oreal Paris is addressing these needs of every Indian woman who might be prone to skin problems at some point in her life."

Katrina agrees that while women are asked to take care of their skin with home remedies and traditional beauty products in addition to maintaining healthy food habits, from a young age, she stresses on the need to use special products later in life.

"As we grow older, the demands of a hectic lifestyle take a toll on your body and your skin. This is why, it is essential to use products that replenish the vitality of your skin. Through its Skin Perfect range, L'Oreal Paris has personalised skincare for every age group, making it easy for Indian consumers to improve their skin tone leaving it with a healthy glow," she added.

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Do you need a cleansing device?

If face washes and scrubs are not enough, a range of cleansing brushes and devices are available in the market that promise to offer deep yet gentle cleaning, targetting the oft-missed spots. Devices by brands such as Neutrogena, Clarisonic and Clinique amongst others claim to not just clean the skin, but tone the face, get rid of dryness and help the lotions sink in and work faster. These product-boosting devices are said to help increase absorption of serums, cleansers and moisturizers, while providing a mini-massage. But do they really work?

OFFERS QUICK MINI FACIAL
Dr Shefali Trasi Nerurkar, MD skin, Dr Trasi's Clinic & La Piel says these devices are good and help in providing no touch service to the clients face avoiding the chances of skin infections. And yes these are effective. "It helps in reducing the oiliness in the skin and removes the dirt. Those more than 30 years old should not use these devices very often as the skin can get drier and lose moisture. Instead, a hydrating mini massage is advisable once in two months depending on the skin texture. These devices are good for quick, rapid, home use, power facials at the client's convenience. However, not all types of skin can use the same device," she says.

USE WITH CARE
Dr Geeta Oberoi, dermatologist and founder of Skin and You clinic says these devices help with in-house mild exfoliation but if the device is used incorrectly or with pressure it can cause damage to the skin. "Once a week exfoliation is enough but there are many gentle creams and cleansers available that are safer for home use. Excess exfoliation can strip the skin and one sees a lot of pigmentation in Asian skin caused by excess rubbing. Some of these use ultrasound waves to help with absorption of creams and lotions but most of these devices are weak and on non-prepared skin without the right solutions the devices will not show much effect. Careful use and understanding of pre and post skin preparation is important," she adds.

Dr SS Trasi, leading dermatologist, Dr Trasi's Clinic, feels mechanical cleansing devices can cause trauma to the skin. "If used very frequently then they can cause trauma to the basal layer of the skin. It causes pigmentary incontinence resulting in permanent greying of skin. This condition is permanent and no amount of cream or applications can resolve it. I have seen patients with such skin damage and I advise that such devices should not be used on the face. If at all they are used, the user should make sure the product is clinically tried and tested."

HELPS TO UNCLOG PORES
Dr Jaishree Sharad, dermatologist, Skininfinity, explains that these devices help to unclog pores, exfoliate gently and remove all the dead skin, dirt and grime. "They can be used once a week for normal to dry skin and twice a week for oily skin. The mesoporation or electroporation technology helps in better penetration of vitamins in to the skin," she says.

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Check partner’s fingers as you kneel to propose

Have a good look at your partner’s fingers during the ring ceremony as men with short index fingers and long ring fingers are nicer towards women, says a study.

This unexpected phenomenon stems from the hormones these men have been exposed to in their mother’s womb, say researchers from McGill University. The findings may also help explain why these men tend to have more children.

“It is fascinating to see that moderate variations of hormones before birth can actually influence adult behaviour in a selective way,” said Simon Young, McGill Emeritus Professor in psychiatry and co-author of the study.

The study shows a link between a biological event in foetal life and adult behaviour. Men’s index fingers are generally shorter than their ring fingers and this difference is less pronounced in women.
Previous research has found that digit ratio – defined as the second digit length divided by the fourth digit length – is an indication of the amount of male hormones (mainly testosterone) that someone has been exposed to as a foetus.

The smaller the ratio, the more male hormones. The study suggests that this has an impact on how grown up men behave especially with women.

“When with women, men with smaller ratios were more likely to listen attentively, smile and laugh, compromise or compliment the other person,” said Debbie Moskowitz, lead author and professor of psychology.

These men were also less quarrelsome with women than with men, whereas the men with larger ratios were equally quarrelsome with both.

Although for women, digit ratio variation failed to predict their behaviour, researchers said.
“Our research suggests these men have more harmonious relationships with women. This might explain why they have more children on average”, the authors said.

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Everything You Know About Kissing Is Wrong

Everyone enjoys that precious moment of intimacy when they lock lips with their sweetheart! However, other than being the most common expression of love and the stepping stone towards more elaborate love making, there are many other advantages of kissing that you might not know. So, take a look at many health and other exciting benefits behind kissing your partner.

Makes you happier
We occassionally fall prey to the phases of feeling low, when our confidence seems to have dipped considerably. At that point, an intense kiss can work wonders. By immediately uplifting your spirit, kissing makes you feel appreciated. It tells you that no matter what, you have someone to depend upon.

Brings you close to your partner
Our hectic schedules often leave us devoid of sufficient time to express how thankful we are for being in a committed relationship. Kissing your beloved is the easiest, least time-consuming and instant way of assuring your partner that your love is still alive.

Conditions your heart
Kissing your partner releases adrenaline, along with many other hormones in your body. These hormones in turn stimulate blood circulation in the body. This is a good workout for your heart. This also helps in conditioning your cardiac muscles and regulating blood pressure.

Helps you relieve stress
Call it anxiety or stress, personal and professional lives can be very demanding at times. In such scenarios, passionate kissing is the best solution. The act of kissing releases endorphins, which are the ‘feel good’ hormones in our body. It also decreases the cortisol, which is the 'stress' hormone. So, if you are feeling stressed then just take your partner in your arms and steal a kiss!

Gets rid of pain
Other than the happy hormones and adrenaline, kissing also releases oxytocin, dopamine and phenylethylamine in the body. These hormones give you feelings of pleasure, along with reducing your pain. Also, these neurotransmitters gives you a feeling of euphoria. So, if you experience an headache then just lean towards your partner for a lip-lock.

Exercises your face, makes it radiant
Medical studies have substantiated that kissing engages nearly 30-34 facial muscles. The face remains one of the biggest gymming challenges, with a paucity of exercises that can employ the facial muscles. Kissing helps to tighten and tone these muscles, ensuring that your youthful looks are sustained for a longer time. Also, by boosting blood circulation and releasing endorphins, kissing gives you a radiant skin.

Burns calories
Other than being an exercise for your face, kissing is good for your entire body as well. Well, kissing will not burn as many calories as walking, but still it is better than being sedentary. Kissing burns about 2 to 3 calories per minute. So, next time when you are just lazing on your couch, move into your partner’s arms for an impromptu and passionate workout.

Augments your immunity
Kissing is a great vaccination! Yes, those who kiss more often are less likely to fall ill. During kissing, our body secretes antibodies that boost the body’s immune system. So, kissing would not only make your relationship last long, but will also make you live longer.

Makes intimacy more passionate
Kissing is seen as a precursor to love making. A passionate kiss can not only lead you into the action, but can also make it more exciting. Kissing passionately helps to ignite feelings of passion, helping you reconnect with your lover at the psychological level, making sex more enjoyable.

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Baggout-The Online Shopping Guide

E-commerce is spreading its wings at a very fast pace and at a large scale. Now even off-line shoppers are indulging themselves in online shopping. This has created greater choice as well as confusion for the customers. For all those who research products before finalizing the purchase, a start up based out of New Delhi has found a way to simplify their search. It also gives them cash back on purchases made, over and above the discounts given by e-commerce companies. This one stop online shopping portal is called Baggout.

Baggout was founded in 2012 by IIT Roorkee alumnus Deepak Jain and his friend Prashant Mahajan ex- technical architect at scholastic. Baggout works with an aim of helping online shoppers in discovering right products while helping them save money on the purchases through cash back and discounts.

Baggout’s product aggregation feature helps shoppers in saving time. The user can browse through products available across 500+ portals at one place and don’t need to visit all different websites. They just have to log in using their facebook account or through email account.  The portal lists the products available on over 500 retailers. Baggout has partnered with several big Indian e Commerce companies like Myntra, Flipkart, Amazon, Snapdeal, Jabong, Home Shop18, Yepme, Ferns n petals among others. Users can browse through products available on these portals on Baggout and select appropriate product based on their choice. Once finalized, the users can compare its price across all online shops and Baggout also provides the coupon like Flipkart coupons, eBay coupons, Myntra Coupons and many more,  which is applicable on the product.

Under its affiliate model, Baggout gets a commission on such sales, which it then passes as cash back to the users. It started cash back service in October last year. Users receive cash back on purchases made when they shop via Baggout on e-tailers’ website. The cash back is automatically tracked to the user’s Baggout account and they receive it once the purchase is done. Baggout guarantees complete payment of cash in two months from the date of purchase. Baggout provides cash back using the commissions retailers pay them for referring sales.

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Top 4 Styles of Women Hairdressing

Ladies are all that much mindful of the most recent design going on. They generally attempt to adjust that form in s a short compass of time. Form and styling constantly go as one particularly for ladies as they are constantly all that much fussy about the right garments and outfits and the haircut as per their dress. It is to be remembered that haircut holds extraordinary imperativeness. Ladies make distinctive haircuts as hairdos likewise give another and changed look.

There are different sorts of ladies hairdos focused around the length of their hair as their hair is typically either long or short. As ladies host to go to different gatherings whether it be a corporate or private they have to have legitimate hairdressing that will be splendidly suitable for the events. Unnecessary to say, not different types of hair styling is feasible for ladies to do independent from anyone else and for that expert beauticians are all that much required.

Over the time of years, the historical backdrop of ladies hair styling has advanced as it were. Contingent upon its length and nature the hairdressing is finished with relationship of different hair gel, hair serum and hair styling supplies, for example, hair straightener, hair curling iron etc.

Sorts of Hair Styles:

One of the critical states of any sort of hair styling is that it ought to be suitable with the states of the face.

Fishtail Braid

A plait is all that much famous among young ladies because of its simple procedure. A fishtail twist developed as one of the prominent hairdos in the process of nature as this is straightforward yet appealing and gives an element looks to any young lady. The primary reason of its fame lies in the way that one can undoubtedly decide to tie her hair in this example, perfect for day by day excursion this hairdo is suitable with any sorts of easygoing and casual dress. One needs to part the hair into areas leading and after that begin meshing the segments and towards the end the hair, it ought to be tied with turn and turns. This hairdressing requires less time.

French Twist

French turn is all that much stylish in every conceivable way on the grounds that it gives a clean and flawless searches and is suitable for any night party. Everything it needs is collaboration either from an expert help or from any relatives who have sound information about the tying. To have a French turn, your hair ought to be we brushed and separated in one side with the assistance of hair gel. At that point the bunch of hair ought to be contorted upwards and made it stays in that position with help of the cuts. After the styling, the whole haircut ought to be spread with hairstyling gel on the grounds that it will help the style to be in place for quite a while.

Braid Pony Tail

It is normal haircut for ladies which are oftentimes utilized. From adolescent school young lady to corporate woman everybody can utilize this style as this is simple and clear. However on the premise of its styles this is isolated into two sections, for example, high braid and low pig tail. High braid is the point at which the hair is brushed and tied higher with hair band. Lower braid is the point at which the pig tail is brought down close to the neck. This hairdressing has been broadly increased in value by ladies of diverse ages as amid work or study, no better haircut can be as powerful as it could be.

Basic Bun

A bun is regularly frequented by ladies as there is maybe not a solitary style that takes so less time as the bun does. From formal to casual, easygoing to incidental numerous sorts of outfits and occasions can be suited with buns. One simply needs to brush back the hair and tied it rearward. Nonetheless, there are different hair adornments that can be set on the bun to make it look more delightful.

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Tips to Look Hot on Your Honeymoon

Wedding trip is the sweetest time for the recently hitched couples to appreciate their first wedding night, offer contemplations, and make responsibilities and sentiment with one another. Regardless of the possibility that your accomplice is not the world’s most sentimental individual, wedding trip has a tendency to bring out the sweetest sentiments within each one of us. Also, the ladies’ excellence can make happen anything. Along these lines, pay thoughtfulness regarding the counsel offered underneath to look hot on your wedding trip for an exceptional experience.

Facial Treatment

Get a flawless facial treatment for a ravishing take a gander at your wedding night. Nectar with gold together brings some astonishing qualities that revive the skin giving a gleaming skin and help battle wrinkles.

Special night Hairstyle

Wavy hairdo is one of the best hairdos that provide for you of an opportunity time to go through with your adored one than before the mirror. Apply a hotness protectant serum or hair spread on your tresses. Blow wind all through hair around your twisting tongs for wavy twists. Style the front strands into twists that edge your face & leave your hair open and enhance with a solitary piece hair frill close to your ear.

Delightful Nails

Obviously, delightful nails are an alternate critical variable to look hot on your special night. Particularly, when you hold up the champagne woodwinds on the sentimental suppers with your sweetie, most likely you would like your nails to look cleaned.

Shaving

Shaving can really help improve your body tan by taking out dull, flaky skin that debilitate a sound shine. Do you need your spouse to surmise that he is cuddling a porcupine? If not, guarantee to shave your legs to keep them smooth and bald to look more hot and provocative on your wedding trip.

Tone It Up

To attain to an impeccable body on your first wedding night, join a wellness club; practice day by day and make a point to have a solid eating regimen (bear in mind to incorporate Kale in your eating regimen). With a curvaceous body, you can just about get anything going you wish on your special night.

Ostensible Look is More Attractive

Attempt to wear an insignificant look to make your special first night a noteworthy day. Sport an unassuming look and wear a light cosmetics. Don’t invest hours in sprucing up and making your hubby sit tight for more. Simply have a negligible cosmetics.

Special first night Nightwear

It won’t be a flawless special first night without a wedding vacation nightwear. On the off chance that you wish to support the oomph thing of your first sentimental night, bear in mind to convey a hot wedding vacation nightwear or dress which you can wear to get a tempting looks and draw in your mate.

Keep up Hygiene

An awful body smell or stinky breath may take your dazzling and since quite a while ago held up minutes. In this way, make beyond any doubt to convey a delicate and female aroma. Additionally, you can keep mouth fresheners helpful.

Be Naughty

Quit being a commonplace bashful individual. Recollect that, its your wedding trip so attempt to play with your sweetheart and clue him underhandedly. Get into tub before he approaches for it.

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Priyanka Chopra speaks on girl education in Boston

Bollywood actress and singer Priyanka Chopra sent out a global message of bringing women empowerment through education at a world leaders' conference held in Boston.

After the event, Priyanka took to micro-blogging site Twitter to talk about the "privileged" moment of sharing dais with leaders like Bill Clinton.

"What an amazing day. So honoured to speak at @EFHelloWorld & being part of an amazing list of speakers @billclinton @stevewoz @OfficeGSBrown," she tweeted.

The actress spoke on the importance of girl education and women empowerment, which plays a significant role in development of a country, at EF (Education First) Hello World's Day with World Leaders Conference held Friday.

Other attendees included former British Prime Minister Gordon Brown, co-founder of Apple Steve Wozniak.

The actress, who looked uber-chic in a sophisticated black dress, also said that she was delighted to talk about her favourite subject.

"Gratified, talking about my favourite subject #GirlPower 2 all the ladies out there... Happy Valentine's Day. Always remember u are so VALUABLE," she further tweeted.

The actress has time and again proved that girls are no less then men and even her success graph evinces the same with movies like 'Fashion' and 'Mary Kom'. To channel the same energy, Priyanka also supports Girl Rising campaign.

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Attract More Love into Your Life with Crystals

Transform your love with your special one with the gentle healing and loving energy of crystals. Crystals have been revered for thousands of years for their healing properties and their use dates back to the indigenous traditions of Native Americans, Egyptians, Polynesians, Chinese and Indians.

What is Crystal Therapy?
Crystal therapy is non-invasive, where the stones are placed on the body. These stones work gently on aligning, cleansing and activating the chakras, repairing the aura, thus bringing the mind, body and spirit into a state of balance and harmony.

Crystal and Love

Whether you are looking for true love or nursing a heart break, wanting to improve communication with your partner or resolving conflict, crystals help in transforming any imbalanced energy into a state of harmony, bringing love and positivity into the relationship and environment.

Here are some of the healing properties of crystals for matters of the heart.

Rose Quartz- A high vibrational stone, its unconditional loving energy vibrates with the heart chakra, wearing this stone helps attract loving relationships, supports an existing partnership and restores trust and harmony in a relationship.

Rhodonite- It is known as the emotional balancer, as it stimulates and heals the heart of issues like self-destructive tendencies, rejection and anger.

Healing Benefits:
It promotes self-love and forgiveness, heals shock and panic attacks.
Its energy helps one to be calm in upsetting situations, helps one to take back projections of blame and resentment towards the partner.

Physically helps in healing wounds, aids bone growth and reduces inflamed joints in cases of arthritis.

Rhodochrosite- Another high vibrational stone that helps in expanding consciousness by integrating material and spiritual life for a balanced outlook. It reminds us of selfless love and compassion towards one-self and humanity in whole.

Healing Benefits:

• An excellent stone for relationships as it attracts a soul mate in one’s life for the highest good.
• It heals sexual abuse while teaching the heart to face the painful truth without shutting the heart centre.
• It draws new levels of creativity in different forms and encourages one to have a positive outlook towards life.
• It helps in emotional release thereby enhancing freedom of expression of feelings and bringing a new found joy, creativity, light in relationships and life in general.
• Try this crystal love ritual to strengthen your relationship:
• To perform this, you need three things:
• A Large Rose Quartz Crystal
• Rose Incense Stick
• Red Candle

Light the candle and rose incense and allow yourself to settle down and relax, breathing in and out slowly and gently. As you go deeper into the inner silence, hold the rose quartz crystal to your heart centre for a few minutes. Feel the gentle loving vibrations of the crystal opening your heart chakra.
Open your eyes slowly and look into the flame and say aloud three times "I allow love to enter my life for my highest good. I welcome and offer unconditional love to my partner and allow it to manifest in our lives in the most loving and supporting ways, so be it.” Stay with the energy for a while, hold the crystal on your heart centre and meditate. Allow it to reveal some magical insights to you in the form of thoughts or dreams. This will help you to develop a strong bond with it. Since thoughts are pure energy, intention for the highest good is most important in any ritual.

Key elements of healthy relationships:
Love yourself: When you love yourself, you are happiest and tend to attract loving experiences and your life becomes a mirror reflecting only good which is inside you.

Cultivate joy in everyday life: What is that one thing that makes you jump with joy? It could be playing the guitar, dancing, swimming etc. Any activity that ignites a spark in you helps one in cultivating joy in everyday living.

Share unconditional love in words and action: A simple "thank you”, “I love you”, “miss you”, or giving your partner a loving hug makes a lot of difference.

Practice the art of listening: Allow your partner to pour out their feelings or thoughts. When you listen not only to their words but also to the silences in between, you will understand and know your partner better.

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Taking selfie is empowering, not self-obsession

Is one’s love for selfies just an exercise in self-obsession? Perhaps not.

New research suggests that clicking selfie’s could actually be an empowering activity, helping young people to develop their identity, and boost confidence and self-esteem.

The report, compiled by a leading cosmetic surgery group called Transform Cosmetic Surgery in Britain, contains results from a recent study of 2,000 British respondents in the age group of 18-24.
The study revealed that eyes are the stand-out feature for both men and women, and the smile is classified as the most attractive asset.

“It is interesting, but not surprising, to see that looks and image are very important to young people.
“We’re not sure whether this has always been the case or if it has, in recent times, been heavily influenced by the onset and proliferation of social media profiles and platforms,” said Steven Taylor from Transform Cosmetic Surgery.

In an age when health and appearance are given the highest priority, and obesity is classed as the most embarrassing physical feature, it is no surprise that a surge of selfie hybrids – including the ‘belfie’ and gym selfie – are on the rise.

The study also found that 29 is the age when people feel most confident about their body, and 25 to 34-year-old love their bodies the most.

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Expert Tips On How To Choose The Right Foundation

Picking up the correct shade as well as type of foundation is a must for every bride to flaunt a flawless face on her wedding day. However, it is quite a tricky thing for most women to find the right foundarion for themselves. In fact, not many brides know the right tricks to choose an “ideal” foundation.

Well, if you also face tough time while selecting the right foundation for yourself, then it is time to shed all your worries. Here are a few fantastic tips to figure out a perfect foundation shade as well as type, so that you never go wrong again!

Choosing foundation according to skin type

Oily Skin
As your skin already secretes enough oil, try avoiding oil-based foundations. Such foundations can cause bleeding of makeup and make your face look patchy. Instead, you can go for oil-free or matte formulations for a flawless finish of makeup. Also, you should remember to set the base with a matching or transparent compact powder to look gorgeous all day long.

Dry Skin
This type of skin is always in the need of extra moisture. Therefore, it is advisable to go for the ones enriched with moisturisers. Such foundations will help you to cover all the flaws of your face while adding the much-needed moisture at the same time. In case you want light coverage, a tinted moisturiser is the best bet for you. On the other hand, go for oil-based or creamy foundations if you require heavy coverage.

Normal Skin
If you have such a skin type, you are indeed blessed as your foundation choice may range variously from tinted moisturiser to the mineralised bases. Just choose the one depending upon the occasion as well as the type of coverage (light or heavy) you want, and you are good to go.

Tricks to choose the right shade

Selecting a suitable shade of foundation can be cumbersome and tricky. Hence, it is preferable to not solely depend upon the lighting of the cosmetic store you are buying the product from. Rather, you should try your shade in daylight. You may try and test the foundation shade by applying it on the skin between your thumb and the index finger.

And, if that still does not satisfy you, then you can apply the foundation on your cheeks and see if it is matching with your skin tone. You can even click pictures after applying the foundation and see how it will look in pictures.

These days, many reputed cosmetic brands provide a free facility of makeup-trials to their clients. In this, they implement full makeup on you, to check its suitability. You can certainly opt for such brands for choosing a correct shade of foundation for yourself.

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Health Benefits of Fruit

Fruit has been recognized as a good source of vitamins and minerals, and for their role in preventing vitamin C and vitamin A deficiencies. People who eat fruit as part of an overall healthy diet generally have a reduced risk of chronic diseases. USDA's MyPlate encourages making half your plate fruits and vegetables for healthy eating.

Fruit are important sources of many nutrients, including potassium, fiber, vitamin C and folate (folic acid). Try incorporating blueberries, citrus fruit, cranberriesor strawberries for added benefits.

Eating Fruit Provides Health Benefits

The nutrients in fruit are vital for health and maintenance of your body. The potassium in fruit can reduce your risk of heart disease and stroke. Potassium may also reduce the risk of developing kidney stones and help to decrease bone loss as you age.

Folate (folic acid) helps the body form red blood cells. Women of childbearing age who may become pregnant and those in the first trimester of pregnancy need adequate folate. Folate helps prevent neural tube birth defects, such as spina bifida.

More Health Benefits of Fruit:

• Eating a diet rich in fruit may reduce risk for stroke, other cardiovascular diseases and type-2 diabetes.
• A fruit containing eating pattern is part of an overall healthy diet and may protect against certain cancers.
• Fruit helps maintain optimum health due to the health promoting phytochemicals it contains – many of which are still being identified.
• One to 2-1/2 cups of fruit are recommended each day, depending on how many calories you need. To find out how much fruit you need, take the Healthy Eating My Way
  

1. Why is it important to eat fruit?

   

   • Nutrients. Most fruits are naturally low in fat, sodium, and calories. None have cholesterol. ...
   • Health benefits. Eating a diet rich in vegetables and fruits as part of an overall healthy diet may reduce risk for heart disease, including heart attack and stroke.

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Try these DIY fruit face packs for every skin type

We’ve been taught to eat fruits from our childhood to stay healthy. Several experts and celebs claim they eat fruits every day but did you know you could reap in its benefits for your skin too by using them for making face packs? You read it right — fruits have several benefits as they are high in antioxidants. The only thing you need to be careful about is using the right fruits for different skin types. And the good news is, there is something for every skin type. Here’s a guide.

While beauty salons too offer fruit facials, they aren’t restricted to just the application of fruits. They involve the use of some or the other cream or gel which will have chemicals and may cause a reaction if it does not suit your skin. To top it all, they will charge an exorbitant amount for what you can do yourself at home. All you need are fruits which are suited to your skin type.

Since oily skin is prone to attracting dust and dirt, it needs fruits which can remove this oily film and leave it feeling soft and glowing naturally. Try packs made of orange, lemon and strawberry for the same. Click here to see these face packs.

Dry skin on the other hand, craves moisture and hydration. As a result, citrus fruits are a big no-no for it. Fruits which are rich and pulpy work best. Banana, papaya and even peach make for good face packs for dry skin. Here are some face packs you can try.

Besides these two, people with normal skin type also need some amount of care and upkeep. While they can try any fruit pack as such, tomato and watermelon are good options as they not only tone and make the skin tighter but also remove tan and keep signs of ageing like wrinkles, lines, etc at bay. 

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6 Simple Hair Care Tips Every Bride Must Follow Before Hitting The Bed

All soon-to-be brides dream of looking perfect from head to toe on their wedding day. For this, they try out various natural as well as cosmetic treatments to get those beautiful and glossy strands. In addition, they avoid exposure to sunlight and pollution, so as to prevent their hair from damage. Well, as a soon-to-be bride, we are sure that even you would be doing all of these things to get perfect hair before your wedding day. But, what if all these things still do not make your hair healthier?

Well, that is probably because you might be missing some of the basic hair care tricks before you go to sleep. Yes, you read it right! So, here are some of the simple yet effective hair care tips that will help you get beautiful and lustrous hair before your wedding:

1. Make a loose bun or braid

If you sleep with your hair open, then it is time to say goodbye to this habit. Always brush your hair and make a simple bun or braid before you sleep. One of the best options is to make two pigtails. And, make sure that you do not tie your hair too tight as it will again result in breakage. By tying your lovely locks, you will save them from getting entangled during the night.

2. Wrap your hair in a soft scarf

In case you do not want to tie your hair, then you can wrap a satin or silk scarf on your head and cover your hair completely. The idea is to reduce the friction between your hair and the surface you sleep on. And, these fabrics being very soft in texture will cause least damage to your hair. This way, you will also prevent hair-damage to a great extent when you will comb them in the morning.

3. Never sleep with wet hair

There are two major ill effects of sleeping with wet or damp hair. Firstly, you will make the filling of your pillow wet, which if not dried properly, can cause some or the other kind of infection. Secondly, as your hair will dry up while you would be sleeping, there will be high chances of those lovely locks getting badly entangled and looking very messy.

4. Use satin pillowcase

If you want the texture of your hair to improve, then it would be a good idea to invest in a satin pillow case. In comparison to the rough ones, this soft fabric causes lesser friction between your hair strands and the pillow. Hence, it prevents damage caused to the hair due to heat. In addition, make sure you keep changing them on a frequent basis, preferably twice a week.

5. Nourish with essential oils

Well, this tip is more relevant for those having dry hair. It is not just your skin that needs to be nourished every night, but your hair and scalp also need this treatment before you go to sleep. Just take a small amount of essential oil of your choice and gently massage your scalp. This will help in increasing the blood circulation and hence, will facilitate hair growth. Furthermore, the nourishing oil will enhance the shine as well texture of each strand.

6. Give a dry massage

While the last tip was for the brides with dry hair, here is the one for those having oily hair. Instead of using oil, simply massage your scalp with your fingers to increase the blood circulation and facilitate growth of hair for the entire night. But, make sure you do not to put too much of pressure while doing so as it would result in hair loss.

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5 on-the-go hairstyles for curly hair

Styling wild curls has never been easy, but some on-the-go hairstyles could definitely save your day! You don’t have to go out of your way to set your hair, in fact all you need is a few bobby pins or a headband! Here are some 2 minute hairstyles that’ll get you going:

Use a bandanna
Just accept your hair texture as it is, especially in hot, humid weather. Don’t straighten them out in a weather that doesn’t seem to favour your hair. Enjoy the natural curls and leave them loose. Don’t use too much product or you might sweat that out too. If it’s too hot, just wear on a colourful bandanna instead! This will set you up for a walk on the beach in no time.

Headbands work
If you are short on time and want to tame your crown portion, then a steady and comfortable headband works. It can be a thick, sleek band or simply a nice broad one. These do great to set rather bushy locks, especially in a professional environment. To add to this, tie your hair up into a high bun for a chic look.

Side-swept curls
This is the perfect cheat-code to a red carpet look! Move your curly locks to one side and pin your hair right behind either ear. Tease and back-comb the crown portion if you find it too flat and use a volumising mousse and a shine spray for the look. You will be set to dazzle in a floor length gown or an A-line dress with this hairstyle! Here is how you can trick your hair into looking thicker.

Loose, low pony
We all have those formal, rather grand events to attend once in a while. And for times like these, up-tight hair-dos don’t always work. Since you have gorgeous wavy texture anyway, just back comb your hair or use a broad-rounded brush for that extra volume. Then, tie your hair almost near your nape into a loose ponytail. Wear a sleek head-band to top it off. Want a thicker ponytail? Try this!

Plaited bun
If you are off to a party or a wedding after work, this style is perfect! Preferably, this would work for longer hair. For this style, begin with tying your hair into a usual plait then, just tie that plait into a simple bun. Pop in some fresh flowers, if you are heading to a wedding or even a brunch date. Leave your front hair or bangs just naturally wavy. Try these tricks to style your hair naturally.

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7 reasons your wife is stressed out all the time

Many men complain about their wife acting stressed out all the time. And sometimes the words they use are not that nice. Basically, many husbands want to know: "My wife and I both work, but when I get home, it's not like a fire drill for me. For her, though, it's like the end of the world if we don't stay on schedule, if the dishes are in the sink, if we eat late or the kids are playing for a few minutes instead of brushing their teeth. What's her problem? If she wasn't so stressed out, our home life would be so much more relaxed."

Here are some reasons why your wife finds it difficult to 'calm down' on a regular basis.

1. Women are judged differently than men are
If your kid is wearing mismatched clothes and has pen on his face, and you bring him to school, everyone is like, 'Awww! Dad did such a good job!' This is something that involved dads actually find kind of insulting. But if a mom brings a kid into school looking a mess, the teachers, the other parents, and anyone else within a mile radius is thinking, 'Hmm, is she a closet alcoholic or something? Poor kid.'

2. Judgment matters a lot to most women
It's all well and good to say, 'I don't care what people think about me!' when you're having a blast at a party when you're 22. It's actually fine to say that as long as you're not a parent. But here is the thing — children deserve not to start out with the deck stacked against them because they don't fit in, they are always late, their lunch is a crappy lunch that the other kids look at with disgust, they wear unwashed clothes, and so forth. We are evolutionarily designed to be group mammals. Mammals need to fit in or they get ostracised and left for dead. Anyone who has been through school knows this is not just applicable to meerkats. So, as independent and creative as you hope that little son or daughter is, your wife knows that if she shows up to preschool with a donut for lunch and knots in her hair, the other kids are not going to want a playdate with her. There is a lot of stuff that has to happen behind the scenes for your kid to reach the baseline level of fitting in that will give him or her the confidence needed to one day decide that fitting in isn't important. And your wife is probably in charge of everything that helps your kid look, act, and feel relatively normative, which is stressful.

3. Women are often more intuitive than men
You can be like, 'Oh, my mom doesn't care if we're 15 minutes late to lunch!' And your wife, since she is more sensitive and perceptive to the nuances of your mother's nasty faces, will be like, 'Get the hell in the car now so I don't have to deal with a guilt trip for the next five months.'And you know who's right? Your wife. Unless you want to have the discussion with your mom about her guilt trips.

4. Women need more sleep than men
Women are most often the ones who are up with the kids in the middle of the night. So, your wife has a sleep deficit, which means she's more easily stressed out. If you want a less stressed wife, get up with the kids.

5. Women know that housework matters
This is related to points #1 and #2 —women are judged differently, and judgment matters. So, your wife knows that if she hosts a playdate and the house looks like a disaster, with obvious dirt and grime, the other mothers are going to be grossed out. Before you say how people shouldn't care about visiting a dirty house, just pause for a second. In life, there are proxy variables. So, if you, who used to be a pretty good looking, virile guy before shackling yourself to a wife and kids, went on a date with a woman who was really fun, spontaneous, fit, and loved dancing and having fun, what did you take those proxy variables to mean? Probably that she would also be a good time in bed. We all use proxy variables. In society, there is a baseline expectation that your home does not look dirty and messy when you entertain guests. Keeping a fairly normal looking home is a proxy variable for 'understands how society works.' So, if your wife wants her house to be clean before having people over, or just as a default in case people come over, this is basically saying, 'I want others to view our family as a reasonable group of humans who fit into society and with whom it may be plausible to have a friendship, not as a visiting band of Martians with no working knowledge of this planet and its social mores.'

6. Your wife wants to feel heard
Your wife wants you to empathise, understand and validate her anxiety or stress. So, she starts out just a bit stressed, and when you minimise her feelings, she gets more and more openly and obviously stressed or anxious in order to convey to you how upset she is, which she then hopes will result in you finally understanding the importance of the situation and responding with empathy, concern, and love. Of course, you're on the other end of this, trying to act calmer and calmer, and minimise the issues more and more, so that she realises how small of a deal this stuff is. You're at cross purposes, which in psychology, is called being 'polarised,' and each of you ends up acting more extreme than you really feel, with her as a caricature of a neurotic shrew, and you as a laid back guy.

7. Your wife is Type A, and that's partly why you married her
There were plenty of indicators that your wife was extremely organised, like perhaps at her job, or that she was always throwing someone a perfectly planned birthday party, or that she tries her best at everything she does. And part of you liked this attention to detail, and to you. Men, who marry women who they later complain are too rigid and perfectionistic, usually come from childhoods where nobody really had a laser-like focus on anything, especially not them. At the beginning, and at many points throughout the marriage, your wife's focus and detail-oriented nature makes you feel loved and confident that the kids, the house, and your lives in general are under control. So, you take the good with the bad. The same woman who wants to be five minutes early for everything is going to plan you an awesome surprise 40th birthday party and take care of you excellently when you're sick, and your kids are never going to be the last ones picked up from practice or the ones whose mom forgot the field trip money.

So, send this article to your spouse and use it to open up a conversation. Which of these reasons most resonate? How can you both work together to alleviate some of your wife's stress? How can she communicate what she needs, and how can you respond with acceptance, love and empathy?

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IBFW 2015 gave new definition to destination wedding

The inaugural edition of Gionee Smartphones India Beach Fashion Week (IBFW), held out something for everybody who plan to throw a destination wedding. From James Ferreira’s range meant for sun-kissed beaches as well as Swiss Alps to Anjallee and Arjun Kapoor’s “Persian Fantasy” collection for various wedding functions, there were a plethora of options for fashionistas.
The three-day event, which concluded Saturday night, took place at Grand Mercure here. It was inaugurated by Goa’s Deputy Chief Minister Francis D’Souza and witnessed Indian fashion industry’s grand masters like Anupamaa Dayal, Babita Malkani, Falguni and Shane Peacock, Komal Sood, Nachiket Barve, Pria Kataaria Puri, Raakesh Agarvwal, Rimple and Harpreet Narula among others showcasing their collections.

With destination wedding as theme and Goa as venue, the event started with the presentation of Dayal’s collection titled “Masti”. Dedicating the show to adoption of the homeless dog movement of PETA, the designer unleashed a line-up of silhouettes that can be worn separate to bring out the diva in a woman.

Taking inspiration from Goan hues, there was joy on the runway when models in their cheerful mood showcased designs dominated by large flower prints that bloomed on the garments.
While Dayal impressed attendees with her fun and easy going collection, Barve brought designs inspired by the Kalahari and Namib deserts of Africa on sensuous silhouettes like safari shirts, bikinis, skirts and cholis.

Titled Kalahari, the designs played beautifully well with hot rustic palette of sand, sky and sun colours on fabrics such as tussar silk, tulle, kota, chiffon, silk, crepe georgette, organza, chanderi, raw silk, spun silk, and satin. There were varied options of silhouettes for all the “go-getter” ladies who love to experiment with their looks without fear of going over the top.

Beachwear is incomplete without Ferreira’s creations.

The designer, known for his unique draping style, worked up his magic when he showcased a line that consisted of sharp tailoring teamed with bright prints and solid colours.

He experimented with construction techniques, introducing double layered saris and a combination of knit and jerseys on kurtas.

Destination wedding wear got a new high when Anjallee and Arjun Kapoor presented an assortment of looks with their “Persian Fantasy” collection for wedding ceremonies like sangeet, cocktail and reception.

On one hand, there were Persian architecture-inspired embroidery and jewellery motifs, and on the other there were corsets, body suits and corset belts teamed with saris to give a contemporary twist to the six-yard wonder.
Some of the outfits that grabbed eyeballs were fishtail gowns, and saris in black and red georgette in women’s wear. For men’s wear, it was an elegant combination of textures and fabrics with a collection of waistcoats, kurtas, pyjamas, sherwanis and Indo-western options.

Fashion and Bollywood go hand in hand. And it was again proved at the fashion week, which witnessed actors Amrita Arora and Ali Fazal adding a dash of Bollywood quotient to designer Dolly Sidhwani’s range.

The show of Dolly Sidhwani was marked by a celebrity-studded front row too.
Apart from her husband Ritesh Sidhwani, who is a film producer, Sanjay and Maheep Kapoor, Chunky and Bhavana Pandey, Zoya Akhtar, Sarah Jane Dias and Adhuna Akhtar were seen lauding the designers’ creative take on ensembles for men and women.

Asmita Marwa’s show also had star power as actress Shriya Saran walked for the designer.
As far as business is concerned, domestic buyers like Aza, Fuel and Indiaqueen.com were seen keeping close watch on participating designers’ creativity.

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Mother's day...

Mother's Day is a perfect time to celebrate your mother and all her wonderful qualities. Why not make this one the best Mother's Day she's ever had?

1

Discuss the day with your other family members. You don't want to step on anyone's toes! Perhaps your older sister was thinking of bringing Mom to the water park for the day--you could all pitch in and have a fun afternoon. Or maybe Dad heard Mom mention how nice a relaxing day at the spa would be. The more information you have, the better a decision you can come to. Remember: multiple brains are always better than one.

2 Consider giving her a gift. Be it a stuffed animal and a card, or a new patio set for the deck, a gift is always appreciated. Flowers and chocolates are one option, or consider a photo collage of her as a mother. A fancy recipe book of all the family recipes would be nice as well. And you can't go wrong with a gift certificate to her favorite store! Think about your mother as a person; think about what she likes to do. Show you know her by choosing a thoughtful gift.

3

Devise a plan for the day. You have tons of options, depending on where you live, what your mother likes to do, and how much money you can spend. Is she always on the go? One choice is to spend the day relaxing at home--make her a healthy breakfast, run her a bubble bath, watch some movies and reminisce about the past. Or you can take her out--go to a museum, a water park, the movie theater, a play, or pack a picnic and grill out at the park. Another option is to give her a break and send her off for a day alone, perhaps at the spa for a manicure, pedicure, and haircut. Meet her for lunch and give her your gift. Whatever you decide, make sure you focus on Mom today.

4

Make contact. If you live across the country or overseas, and can't celebrate with Mom, be sure to send a sweet card and give her a phone call. Perhaps include a gift certificate with the card, or send a small gift. You could even order flowers from one of the many websites that offer those services. But overall, a phone call is a must. Your voice is a wonderful gift to a mother whose baby is far away.

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