What I love the most about blogging is that it gives me opportunity to meet achievers, celebrities from different walks of life. Be it fashion designers or Bollywood stars or Master Chefs, I have been fortunate to interview some very interesting personalities who we celebrate and who inspire us.
And today, I am delighted to share with you a tete a tete with the very popular Celebrity-Chef Kunal Kapur at his lovely signature Indian restaurant, Patiala by Kunal Kapur located in the beautiful Souq-al-bahar.
Chef Kunal Kapur is Chef Extraordinaire and is much loved as TV show host too. He has won several culinary and television awards and has even written a cookbook called ‘A Chef in every home’.
So, here is yours truly in conversation with Chef Kunal.
Hope you enjoy watching the interview as much as I enjoyed doing it.
Hey all you shoe-lovers out there in the Sheikhland!
Yours truly has got some awesome news for you if you like me are always on the look out for cool yet comfy shoes.
And today it’s not just going to be about shoes but about bringing smiles to the less privileged too.
Well, the big news is that we now have a Toms Store in the Sheikhland.
Yes … you heard it right. The famous shoe brand Toms has opened a store in the Dubai Mall.
Toms’ business model has been referred to as the “one for one concept” business model, referring to the company’s promise to deliver a pair of free, new shoes to a child in need for every sale of their retail product. The countries to which the free products are sent have included Argentina, Ethiopia, Guatemala, Haiti, Rwanda, South Africa, and the United States.
Now isn’t that so cool!
Toms are known to be super-comfy but I figured out another reason to love them for and that’s their cute canvas prints.
Toms also do eyewear.
So, I am sure you can’t wait to check this store out and so here is a sneak peek from the launch just for you.
Subscribe to my YouTube Channel follow me on Instagram/Twitter/Snapchat at @ChandniLahoti for more awesomeness on Sheikhland.
I have something awesome to talk about today. If you are someone like me who loves Indian Couture, I am warning you the pictures in this post are going to give you a sleepless night.
Ladies in the Sheikhland, leading Delhi-based designer Mayyrr R Girotra has launched in the Middle East with a flagship store in Jumeirah, Dubai …….
….. and yours truly had the privilege of attending the launch event that was attended by some very influential people of the Sheikhland and was graced by the presence of two famous Bollywood divas, Malaika Arora Khan and Tabu, who looked drop dead gorgeous wearing Mayyurr’s creations.
I also met the Queen of blogging, Miss Malini and had a fan-girl moment with her. *smiles*
Talking about the collection, the one word which came to my mind when I looked at it was ‘vibrant’.
Mayyurr has used stunning colours …
…… and very feminine cuts to create this Couture collection which is beautifully sophisticated and is a lovely melange of the contemporary fashion with Indian sensibilities.
Just check out the stunning details – amazing, isn’t it?
The beautiful jewellery is by Charu Sharma and is another reason to hit this store.
Leaving you with a little video I created for you guys to enjoy –
‘Fashion is a reflection of who you are, so live out loud’.
This is what the very classy, creative and chic invitation card for the Autumn Winter Showcase of Bloomingdales, Dubai quoted and you won’t expect anything less classy from a brand as fabulous as Bloomingdales.
I have been fortunate enough to be attending their fashion shows for 2 years now and boy, how every single time they manage to win our hearts is absolutely commendable and a big applause for all the creative genius behind it – be it the fashion designers to the ramp-designer to the models to the music team and so on I can go.
And this time the extravaganza was no less than a spectacular treat to my eye balls oozing out with some serious fashion for Autumn/Winter this year.
Don’t think words can do enough justice to share with you guys about what beautiful outfits were showcased on the evening of September 17th at Dubai Design District and so I am being sweet enough to make you guys a little video of the event. 😉
So, straight from the Front Row, here is yours truly bringing to you Bloomingdales Autumn-Winter 2015 Collection!Enjoy! 🙂
PS. – If you love the world of real-time updates, then let’s connect on Instagram and Snapchat at @ChandniLahoti
So, straight from the Front Row, here is yours truly bringing to you Bloomingdales Autumn-Winter 2015 Collection!
Enjoy!
PS. – If you love the world of real-time updates, then let’s connect on Instagram and Snapchat at @ChandniLahoti.
I am obsessed with handbags. I can just never get tired of shopping for handbags and let me share a secret with you guys. smiles
The most number of fights that I have had with my husband is for nothing else but for my never ending romance with my handbags, that now probably need an entire wardrobe. wink
But hey, anything for the love of handbags! Don’t you agree?
And to add to my ‘Lust-Have’ List of handbags, there is a new international tropical handbag brand that has launched in the UAE that has had me all besotted and all you ladies, hold your breath, as the pictures in this post are definitely gonna make you drool. Aranaz – as lovely the name of this brand as was the collection which I was invited to have a look at the Riva Beach Club on the Palm Jumeirah.
I instantly fell in love with the handmade awesomeness.
Especially the clutches were really unique and classy.
The Aranaz collections are designed and created in the Philippines and sold worldwide, from New York to London, and now in the UAE.
Each bag is crafted using locally sourced products and specialised techniques such as woven sea grass, wood engravings and mother of pearl inlay.
The intricate and eye-catching designs make Aranaz bags a favorite among royals, celebrities and the jet-set.
Amina Aranaz, part of the mother-daughters trio behind the Aranaz brand and its collections, said: “We are thrilled to have a presence in the UAE. The country offers a great lifestyle for its residents and visitors with so many fashionable people who I think will be drawn to the unique offerings of our bags.
“What we offer are fun, statement pieces with functionality – a great addition to enhance any summer outfit,” she added.
Wanna know more about these bags, then have a look at this video –
When I was a newbie in the Sheikhland and was looking to buy furniture and homeware, Crate & Barrel was one store that completely fascinated me, inspired me and also managed to make some good business from me (LOL). Well … they make everything look so tempting with their vignettes and home styling that I just wanted it all for my home. Needless to say that Crate & Barrel is one of my favourite stores in the Sheikhland when it comes to shopping for homeware, home accessories and furniture. What makes them stand apart is the great quality and tastefulness of stuff you get in the store and any home décor enthusiast is sure to go crazy with all the inspiring settings they create inside the store.
And being a fan of the brand, it was my absolute pleasure to be invited for the 5th anniversary celebrations of Crate & Barrel in the Middle East.
There was a table setting workshop where the stylist of the store demonstrated how to set a table for a formal, informal and buffet setting.
And so you don’t miss some fabulous tips, here is a video of the workshop for you –
There was a fun quiz too and a festive atmosphere inside the store that I thoroughly enjoyed along with my other media friends and fans of the brand.
Sometimes I don’t really have to shop but I go to the Crate & Barrel store simply to get some inspirations for vignettes and settings. It’s amazing how tastefully they do it. I guess it is one of the best stores to borrow some ideas for your home sweet home. So here are some of my favourite pieces/vignettes from their latest collection as seen in the store.
Loved the Blue theme, the cushions and the wooden candle holders – how cosy the setting looks –
Looooved this lamp! I absolutely need this in my love and if you are a lover of the coastal theme, I am sure you have fallen for it too like me.
Colourful candle holders – always a great idea for adding a pop of colour to your place
A dried lemon twig in a vase in the dining area – loved the idea!
I would love my kitchen rack to look like this. Those glass pitchers and the wooden bowls are so pretty.
Loved the colourful napkins –
Where do you draw inspirations for vignettes? I would love to hear.
By the way, I also met the very beautiful and utterly talented International Presenter Shereen Mitwalli on this occasion. I must say she is so inspiring. Here is our sweet selfie moment together –
Allow yours truly to take you through an aromatic journey today with the tale of an evening recently when the Sheikhland weather had started tilting to being pleasant, with the event – season in full bloom in the city. The evening when I could not stop falling in love with the glittering face of this city when I looked at it from the 69th floor of the JW Marriott Marquis.
And what made the whole falling in love much more romantic was the divine aroma in the air as I was at this fantastic venue for the exclusive launch of La Collection 34 And its Bazaar by Diptyque Paris.
Now how would a girl feel when she is surrounded by all her favourite things in the world – candles, perfumes and beautiful fragrances. Ahh …. well I guess it’s difficult to put it all in one emotion for that huge smile flashing across my face was a mix of being happy, mesmerised, relaxed, refreshed and curious as to what’s the story behind this lovely range by Diptyque aris, now in markets for you to buy.
Well, this girl is also lucky coz she got an opportunity to talk to the spokesperson from the popular brand who took me through a beautiful aromatic journey behind the range.
Presenting the video I filmed exclusively for all you my lovely readers for you to know more about 3 of my favourite picks from the range – Mimosa – the perfume, the solid perfume and the candle Le Redoute (in a separate blog post)
The Armani Hotel with its stunning view witnessed the launch of a promising multifunctional fruit drink in the presence of its glamorous brand ambassador Nargis Fakhri. The event was one of the best I have attended this year with an entertainment program hosted by none other than the very popular RJ Kris Fade.
But what made it really memorable for me was a rendezvous with the stunning Nargis Fakhri, a Bollywood actress and a fitness enthusiast climbing up the charts of popularity.
She is beautiful. She is charismatic. But the best thing about her is that she is a star with no tantrums, very relatable, very grounded. Her knowledge about fitness and well-being has inspired many including yours truly.
Presenting a lovely conversation here with this lovely star, that also I shall reckon as one of my most memorable interviews with a celebrity.
About 2B:
2B Active’ and ‘2B Relaxed’, two natural and refreshing fruit-flavoured are lightly carbonated, multifunctional fruit drinks containing no artificial flavors, colors or preservatives.
Packaged in a chic 250ml can, 2B is a tasty natural alternative that is designed to resonate with consumers who want an energy boost 2B active or 2B relaxed. The drinks were developed by Dr. Armin Breinl, member of the Austrian Anti-Aging Society, with a new formulation that features natural ingredients to promote health and well-being.
Shiraz Javed, CEO of 2B MENA and Asia commented, “2B Drinks is a convenient way for active individuals to accomplish their daily nutritional goals while maintaining their busy lifestyle. These nutritional drinks offer a thirst-quenching refreshment from real fruit juice and a boost of natural energy. The result is a multi-functional beverage that fits well into our mission to promote healthy living.”
The drink is available at all convenience stores throughout the U.A.E including Al Maya, Choithrams, Al Safeer, Lifco, All day Minimart, E-mart, F-mart, Istanbul, Emarat, Abu Dhabi Co-op Society , and soon they will be available in Spinneys, Geant, Union Co-op Society, Eppco-ENOC, Ramla, Al Douri, Milestone, Waitrose, Cinemas and all major vending machines across UAE.
It will also be available soon at all major Hotels, Clubs, Bars, Fitness outlets and Spa’s across UAE
So, do try this one. It’s absolutely worth checking out.
Until I see you next with yet another Sheikhland update,
They say that September is the January of fashion and it is so true when it comes to Sheikhland where September is all about fashion events drenching the city in high fashion moods.
Well, this year yours truly had the pleasure of being invited to preview the Autum-Winter 2014 Collection by Marks & Spencer at the gorgeous Waldorf Astoria, the Palm Jumeirah. What was really exciting for an ex-Londoner and forever-London-lover like was the theme of the show. No points for guessing here – the theme was ‘London Calling’.
The simple yet luxurious, wearable in practical life yet stylish, the collection was designed to represent the charm and sophistication of London.
Don’t you worry if you could not be there, yours truly has tried making a little video right up there for you all to have a little experience of the show.
There could not have been a better start to the show than sounds of thunderstorm and models walking the ramp with brollies, wearing jackets and yet looking all glam – reminding me of my London days where winters were all about rains every now and then and fat jackets, thankfully to which M&S has given some interesting colours than the usual boring blacks or browns.
The collection showcased covered both day and night wear for autumn and winter.
The ladies’ collection made a decent attempt to bring together luxurious cashmere and wool layers in powder pastels with an interesting use of colours to create a contrast triggering off a look based on Modernist-Minimal lines.
Pretty shades of cornflower blue, dusty lilac and blush tones beautifully complemented by rich greys and neutrals promised a warm yet a happy looking wardrobe for dull winters.
My favourite looks of the collection were the gorgeous shades of Red, Blue and Green for the jackets breaking away from the monotony of the usual dark colours in jackets. And the other has to be the fascinating ponchos creating such a statement look. ( see the video for them)
The Autumn Winter Menswear collection is based on classic, masculine elegance with a focus on bold tailoring, fine fabrics, contrasting textures and iconic pieces.
I found that the collection showcased was a nice blend of fashion and practical clothing. The fabrics, the colours and the cuts can easily be adopted from the ramp to real day-to-day life.
The collection is now available in Marks & Spencer’s stores across GCC.
If you go and check it out, I would love to know how you found it.
Howdy Dowdy beautiful people in the Sheikhland and around the world? The temperatures in the Sheikhland are roaring high and so are the spirits of everyone with Ramadan being celebrated and Eid just round the corner.
And who doesn’t want to look her gorgeous best in the festive season? Yeah yeah … I can imagine all of you ladies nodding your pretty heads. 🙂
And also I see you nodding when I say that a gorgeous skin is the first step to look your best. And so, I am sure you would be interested in knowing about a fabulous skin care range by a very dependable brand Neutrogena Middle East – The Neutrogena Pore & Shine Range. Remember I talked about it’s launch here.
I have been using the Daily wash and scrub for almost a month now and would love to share with y’all what I think about them.
But before going to my review, I just want to know if we all understand what skin pores are. If you don’t, well here is what they mean –
Skin Pores? – For every hair on your body, there is a corresponding skin pore. Although we can’t see all of these pores, we can see some of them. The same holds true with hair; while we share the same number of hairs with apes, human hairs are much less coarse, and most are so wispy they can’t easily be seen.
Maintaining clean, healthy skin pores is important for maintaining healthy (and healthy looking) skin. Dirt and oil on your face collect around your pores like leaves and debris collect around a storm drain. When those pores get clogged, it creates a pile-up of oil and dead skin cells in the follicle. Soon, bacteria make their way to the blockage, and the growth in bacteria causes inflammation.
What makes skin shine (not glow) ?
If your face is constantly shiny, you probably have oily skin. The oil your skin produces helps keep your skin moisturized, but if your body produces too much oil, it can cause acne. Oil, or sebum, is produced by sebaceous glands and secreted through pores, and if your glands secrete excess oil, there’s not much you do to stop it. You can, however, control it.
I have a combination skin that tends to get oily in the T-zone and shine because of the excess oil. I also tend to get acne on my forehead. Also because of Dubai’s hot and humid climate, which also means being exposed to air-conditioning, makes my skin behaves in a ridiculous way and is not a happy healthy skin.
I was in desperate need of a magic potion that could help me and the launch of Neutrogena Pore & Shine Range could not have come at a better time. Especially designed to cater to the Middle East region, I particularly in love with the Pore & Shine Daily wash, which has become an imperative part of my daily skin regime.
Pore & Shine Daily wash – The bottle with the Greenish gel says – Visibly mattifies the skin and unclogs pores with tangerine & lime and let me tell y’all, it does what it says. My skin feels brighter, clearer and healthier ever since I have been using it. Ofcourse it contains Salicylic acid that brightens up the skin and makes it glow and the Tangerine-lime give it a lovely scent.
I use it twice a day and it also is pretty effective in cleaning the make up off the face. Just a small quantity of it builds up into a foam that is easy to blend all over the face.
So, there is a big thumbs up to this product as far as I am concerned.
Pore & Shine Daily Scrub – Talking about the scrub now, it says on the packaging – visibly mattifies the skin and helps tighten pores with tangerine & lime. I just use the scrub twice in a week – what I like about it is the microelements which are gentle on the skin. The other scrubs that I have used in the past leave my sensitive skin with red rashes but this one is skin-friendly and it wakes your skin up, making it feel fresh, matte and clean.
My favourite out of the two would be the daily wash because my skin has shown quite a bit of improvement ever since I am using it. It is definitely worth a try. I have not used the scrub daily but whenever I have used it, my skin has loved it though I am not the daily scrub kind of a person.
This time I have also tried filming a little video with the review – hope you like my first attempt with something like this. 🙂
Until I see you next, keep glowing, love your skin, be beautiful!
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