myra

MONOGRAM MANIA

2008-09-01T23:40:00.000-07:00

Like champagne, Bourdeaux wines & exotic cheeses - designer monogrammed stuff greatly improve this life .

Though I am not such a huge fan of deigner monogrammed goods, I know loads of people who would love to own atleast one LV baguette.

Pigs tattooed with the logo of French luxury brand Louis Vuitton rest in a farm in the rural area of China's capital Beijing July 14, 2005. The pigs are owned by Belgian artist Wim Delvoye, who has a staff of local farmers and tattoo artists raising sows to use them as canvases for skin art. Image credit:adpulp

These medal portrayals of the Holy Roman Emperor and his wife Maria are cast separate with plain reverse.The separation of the images allowed to compare both captivating profiles as companion pieces side by side, but also enabled craftsmen to incorporate them in other Kunstkammer and presentation objects, such as ebony cabinets or boxes, silver drinking vessels, or precious jewelry mounts.

Historically, a monogram was used as a royal signature. Romans and Greeks used them on coins to identify their rulers. Then, in the Middle Ages, artisans began to use them to sign their work. Victorian period high-class society adapted the monogram for personal use as a symbol of their place in society. Rules for monograms were quite simple. Female monograms had the first initial on the left, middle initial on the right, and last initial embroidered larger in the middle & the traditional male model was- first, middle, last, all in the same size.

The classic Louis Vuitton prototype is what comes to almost every persons mind when we talk about mongrammed bags. Louis Vuitton handbags are the international standard in baggage from which all others are judged. Louis Vuitton, was a professional luggage handler who packed luggage for upper class families. He invented the airtight and flat stackable luggage.
His son Georges introduced the LV Monogram Damier Canvas in 1896, which was an industry first. In 1901, The Steamer Bag, a small handbag to go with larger LV luggage and trunks, was introduced. Later the elegant and timeless Louis Vuitton handbag Keepall was introduced, which first was a fashion icon. Along with its smaller successor, the Speedy, the Keepall's leather is tooled with the trademark LV design throughout, and the hallmark suave curves and handles suggest simplicity and practicality while maintaining the aura of luxury.

I love it! Japanese department store Matsuya bears the vibrant hued fleurs, quatrefoils and famous LV logo of a Takashi Murakami for Louis Vuitton Multicolore Hard Case. Note the “brass” corners, and “S-lock” closure! It’s all lit up, and apparently- it changes colors every half hour! Image credit: 8tokyo.com

Marc Jacobs introduced the graffiti monogram in 2003 while working with Takashi Murakami to create a new canvas featuring thirty three colors, the Monogram Multicolore. And most recently Takashi Murakami fashioned the Cherry Blossom pattern, in 2004, and new Monogram Cerises pattern, in 2005, both of which were inspired by Japanese animation.

The double GG is what strikes your mind when you think of Gucci. Guccio Gucci founded the House of Gucci as a saddlery shop in Florence in 1906. A classic Gucci icon is the leather bag with a bamboo handle. The trademark red striped webbing was later introduced, inspired by the form place on a saddle girth. This became an emblem much as the leather moccasin with leather bit. The logo with the initials “GG” was introduced in the 1960's.

The iconic Gucci driving mocassin.

The iconic Chanel logo is an overlapping double 'C' - one facing forward and the other facing backward. This comes from the name Coco Chanel. "Coco" is the nickname frequently used by Chanel founder, Gabrielle Chanel. Surprisingly the logo was not trademarked until during the first openings of Chanel stores.

I simply love the handbags in the signature Chanel style - Caviar leather with a pebbled quilt finish with metal chains for shoulder straps.

Madonna shot by Mario Testino for Versace Spring-Summer 2006

Gianni Versace had a fascination with classical art and architecture, and it is with the later, beautiful representations of Medusa that the logo is associated with. Whether its silk scarves, ties or belts the Medusa head simply takes your breathaway.

The table was set for royal meal.

I felt like a queen when I was served on customised Versace crockery at the Taj Lake Palace in Udaipur on my honeymoon. When I saw the signature Versace linked border on my dinner plate, I had to turn the plate around to reveal the Medusa logo at the back. The jewel-like cutlery had the Medusa embossed on it too. The wine, bordeaux & water glasses were placed like precious gems on the table.

Etched in my memory for eternity! Thank You Shrav.

MADE IN INDIA

2008-08-21T05:08:00.000-07:00

From Vogue photographer Norman Parkinson's India series

India has always been an artistic stimuli for the creative minds. Yoga, ayurveda, kamasutra, spices, tandoori, architecture, embroidery, elephants, snakes, Buddha & Ganesha are the few blocks that build a fort of intrigue.

She is a diaspora of vibrant colors, exhuberant finery, details & kitsch.

"In every collection I have done, there is always an Indian inspiration,” says Jean-Paul Gaultier, who has been amassing a vast library of intensely colored textile swatches since his first visit to Calcutta and Puri in the 1970’s

Hermès’s India-inspired collection for Spring/Summer 2008 has an array of sari sihouttes, jodhpur pants, elephants, marigolds & the exotic Lakshmi Menon.

For his Hermès spring/summer runway show, Gaultier sent models out against a backdrop of cascading red pigment reminiscent of the handfuls of colored powder that Indians toss in the air during the Hindu festival of Holi. But this was not a folkloric collection: there were subdued sari gowns with metallic detailing, soft turbans in lambskin, and jodhpurs made of alligator skin.

Armani experimented with subtle shades of the Rajasthan desert sands

Inspired by Indian maharajahs, Armani took those heroic bejeweled males who "dressed themselves for pleasure's sake" — in all their elegance, glamour and splendor and translated the details to women's clothes. The Indian odyssey was inspired by a trip to Rajasthan.

The House of Boucheron's jewellery legacy continued when it launched the fragrance - 'Jaipur' named after the city in India and with a bottle shaped like an Indian Navratan bracelet.

Perfumer Jean Paul Guerlain created- 'Shalimar' in 1925. It was created as a tribute to the legendary lovers Mumtaz Mahal and Emperor Shah Jahan and the Shalimar Gardens of Agra. (In Sanskrit Shalimar translates to '' the home of love''. )

The Devnagri script on the Kenzo bottle adds to the graphical delight against the bright crimson.

When Kenzo Creative Director and photographer, Patrick Guedj, was traveling through Northern Indian last Spring, he was deeply inspired by the Holi festival. The limited edition of their new fragrance called -Holi was launched around valentine's day in february 2008.

Its rather strange that the Indian creative minds rarely look for inspiration within.

P.S. Look out for the 'Made in India' labels when you shop.

A SHOE 'FETISH'

2008-08-11T00:00:00.000-07:00

Meet the fifth star of the Sex & the City, she's tall, bright and blingy. I am talking about a pair of sky-high blue Manolos that play a 'big' role in Sex & the City the movie. A pair of satin blue Manolos with a massive silver buckle are the star of the movie. It started off in the T.V. show & continues in the movie, Carrie Bradshaw's 'shoe fetish'

These blue satin Blahniks are involved in a plot twist in the film.

Dior's 'Gladiator' was another one to attain fame after SATC the movie.

Manolo Blahnik with his signature shoe.

Salvatore Ferragamo, Christian Louboutin, Manolo Blahnik, Jimmy Choo are the few sought after names for every shoe buff.

According to Webster 's; a "fetish" is "a material or object regarded with superstitious or extravagant trust or reverence." If that's what a "fetish" is then what is a shoe fetish. One psychiatrist in a journal article said that shoes of woman are very phallic. Technically, there is no such thing as a 'foot fetish'. Freud discribed fetishism as a love for an inanitmate thing, so, not a body part. Shoe fetishes do exisit though, and for them to qualify as a fetish, the object (in this case a shoe) must be present in order for the [usually] male to have an orgasm. If an orgasm can be attained without the shoe incorporated into the sexual play, it is not considered a fetishism. I would say they are symbols of sexuality and powerful femininity. Though I may not have a full-blown fetish of shoes, I do admire shoes in an odd way. When I see someone in shoes that appeal to my eyes I become curious as to what made him or her purchase that shoe? What made them like it? What made me like it? And where can I get a pair?

Audrey Hepburn getting a 'shoe-fit' by the legendary Salvatore Ferragamo

One place I wish to visit is the Ferragamo shoe museum in Florence. Ferragamo is to shoes what Ferrari is to cars. His unmatched ability to pair anatomy and engineering put Ferragamo in a class of designers all of his own. His biggest accomplishment was his discovery that ‘the weight of the body in an erect position falls vertically upon the arch of the foot’. Thanks to this principle, Ferragamo ‘sculpted revolutionary lasts that supported the arch and enabled the foot to move like a pendulum in reverse’. Contrary to his competitors, Ferragamo concluded that the arch couldn’t be ignored and all the support should not be placed on the heel.

Some interesting shoe quotes:

"When it comes to getting dressed, men are a little bit more important than handbags but less important than shoes. At any rate, we are merely accessories." – Ashton Kutcher

Did Paris Hilton get that bunion after wearing shoes from her own collection?

"I have always loved shoes, and after working on my recently launched sportswear and fragrance lines, this seemed like a natural next step,” the heiress says.
Each Paris Hilton footwear original will include a heart-shaped comfort pad and pink soles.

Nicole Richie was the first to wear these gorgeous Balenciaga Ankle booties back in April, whilst out and about in Hollywood. Lohan wore the same shoes whilst leaving her home to go and relax with a few friends poolside at the Roosevelt Hotel in Hollywood on a sunday.
Lindsay Lohan has made many girls around the world jealous since she admitted how much she indulges her shoe fetish. The star said, "I own 5,000 pairs of shoes. It's mad. I do love fashion. Stella McCartney is great, she sends me loads of free stuff."

There were nods of agreement from bizarre girls when Gywneth Paltrow exclaimed: "Men measure inches differently than women."

The 7" platform boots which kickstarted Gwyneth Paltrow's shoe parade

F.I.Y. High heel marathons have officially hit the states. It’s fitting that the latest high heel marathon occurred in fashionable New York City.

YELLOW JUXTAPOSITIONS

2008-08-05T06:14:00.000-07:00

A month in Mumbai & back in Delhi, I had no access to the digital media, my computer had crashed, seems like it missed me!

So I finally got down to using my basic skill sets acquired in art school & decided to get my fingers off the mouse.

I started tearing off pages from some glossies & realised I was tearing out all things yellow.

So 'Yellow' was the theme.

I then sandpapered a wooden box of chocolates gifted by a friend & started pasting the fragmented yellow bits on to it & voila!

Look what I created...my own cigar case.

Next time I have a party, I shall serve some vanilla flavoured Phillies in it.

WHY I LOVE VOGUE

2008-08-05T04:37:00.000-07:00

Bursting with rich color, texture, glossy text, it is luxury within the flip of a page.

It is an 'institution'

It is the only magazine that would inspire a hollywood movie.

You don't buy Vogue because it gives you realistic fashion advice or because it has any real practical use to your life. You buy it because it captures the lavishness of the fashion industry and lets you into a world that you will never know, but will always aspire to.

I love Vogue because everyone in it is beautiful, flawless skin & no flab on the sides (so what if its the airbrush & botox, the end result is fab!)

The fact that most of the magazine is filled with advertisements adds to this experience. High fashion adverts of Louis Vuitton, Cartier, Dior add to the visual splendor.

Its always been a dream to work with Vogue, even if I do not get paid.

Half of my dream got realised when it came to India last year, still praying...hard.

F.I.Y. Kate Moss has done a record 23 covers with Vogue.

DIGITAL REVERIE, CONTINUES

2008-08-05T04:28:00.000-07:00

The Sun, the Moon & the Stars are elements which never fail to inspire me.
I love all the warm tones I can use while painting the sun, specially the yellows.
Love the serenity & romance that go with the moon.
Can't help but hum the Coldplay number, "Look at the stars, Look how they shine for you, And everything you do, Yeah they were all yellow"
I call this one 'Japan'.
I find the country very mysterious. Love the bamboos, the kimono, the ikebana, the bonsai & the sushi.

DIGITAL REVERIE

2008-08-01T00:11:00.000-07:00

When it comes to spinning dreams, nobody can beat me.

One afternoon I decided to use my expertise by letting some of the dreamy colors flow onto my digital canvas & the result was not bad at all.

I call this one 'Tuscan Sun'.

Its me on my bicycle soaking in the soft sun, lying around on the poppy fields, sipping on wine & nibbling on olives & cheese.

MY MUSE

2007-09-27T08:05:00.000-07:00

Its been the longest since I have stayed out of the city. Two and a half months.

My Mumbai has inspired a slew of writers over time from Rushdie to Kiran Nagarkar to Rohinton Mistry, Suketu Mehta, Siddharth Sanghvi not to forget Gregory David Roberts. I have not read any of their books, probably cause I was taking Mumbai for granted like the rest of us, now that I do not live there any more, I am beginning to realise the value of the city.... or is it a continent?

Let hundreds of such author's bloom, why should New York take it all.

Too much of literary stuff, I just want to do the things I want to do, once I am back there. Can t wait to loaf aimlessly on Colaba Causeway; watch a movie at Eros or Regal; hit my gym after that, then pretend to be on some road-side cafe in Rome while leisurely sipping iced tea at Pizzeria & chomping on a slice of Margarita, hang out at Leopold's. Walk down Kala Ghoda whilst reminiscing the awesome monsoon wedding I had not so long ago, then catch up with old friends & sip Breezers at Sundance or Mondy's; browse at the Crossword; then look at all the shoe shops down Kemp's Corner & window shop at Breach Candy while the soft breeze sways my curls.

Post dinner indulge in some decadent deserts at Mocha while listening to the cute discussions of college kids on the next table & then have my brother-in-law drive me down the entire stretch of Marine Drive till Cuffe Parade. Try to get my sister to go with me to Polly Esthers.... oh I love that place. Another day would be spent having breakfast at home & long conversations with mum & dad about how life has been a roller coaster since the beginning of 2007. Lazily lying around in my parents cozy bedroom looking & commenting on the wedding pics...

Awww... this is making me cry. That's it.

EVERYBODY LOVES FASHION

2007-09-27T07:58:00.000-07:00

It is worth asking why fashion remains the most culturally potent force that everyone loves to deride. We have to admit it that we love fashion & it matters.
There are those who scorn fashion & feel that this compelling world of surfaces and self-presentation is unworthy of regard, but technically speaking fashion is at the back of their minds & its just the brains that remind them to revolt against it.

The intellectuals thought of it as a wasted & vain subject to discuss; substantially, a person who happens to mention in serious company, an interest in reading Vogue, is looked upon as dorky! But to my respite there are universities like Yale offering courses in History of Fashion & that helps me prove my point.