Lady Gaga's "Born This Way" Video!!

Lady Gaga's "Born This Way" video had it's World Premier less than an hour back! Directed by Nick Knight, Gaga and Laurieann Gibson, this video is probably one of the most awaited music videos EVER. Considering "Express Yourself 2.0" "Born This Way" was the quickest selling single to reach a Million Hits on iTunes, I'm sure you'll be seeing a LOT of this video. Just remember you saw it here first;)

A look at Oscars Fashions!!

So the Oscars took place last night with very few surprises. I knew "King's Speech" would win best movie, as would Colin Firth and Natalie Portman for Best Actor and Actress respectively. A lot of drama however took place on the red carpet with some bold fashion statements being made by some, and some extremely blah and predictable outfits from others.
The most predictable (but not at all blah) came from the presenter of the evening, Anne Hathaway. While I love her dress and think she looks gorgeous in it, for some odd reason red just seems so, SO done on her! Yes, it's Valentino, and yes, it's gorgeous, but it just seemed like the picture was taken from the Archives-

A look that I absolutely loved from last evening was Mila Kunis's lavender Elie Saab gown. Not only is the colour fun and fresh, she looks so elegant and yet youthful having this whole peekaboo thing going on with the lace and the see-through skirt. Definitely one of my best-dressed picks for the evening-

Scarlett Johanson was looking appropriately sexy in her Dolce and Gabbana outfit. I love the fact that she experimented with her make-up and went for an orange eye-shadow to add a bit of sass into her look. I've never quite taken to the whole messy-haired look on the red carpet however... but I hate to admit it, it kind of works for her over here-

Cate Blanchett looked absolutely STUNNING at the Oscars and glowed in her Givenchy Haute Couture dress. I love the fact that she let the dress stand out and kept the accessories and make up to a bare minimum. I loved every bit of the outfit till I read someone's Twitter post that likened the top of it to a beaded toilet seat! Now the dress for me is like one of those 4D eye/mind-tricking paintings... once you SEE it, you just can't unsee it! Toilet seat dress it is!

I love Natalie Portman and loved the way she dressed up herself and her growing baby bump last evening. Rodarte did a surprisingly non-fussy look and made her look beautiful and glowing in a a plum coloured evening gown. Her Tiffany earrings added the right amount of sparkle to her look-

One of my best dressed picks for last night was also Rhea Durham, who is Mark Wahlberg's better (and very lucky) half. She looked absolutely sensational in a two-toned Naeem Khan gown that looked sensational on the red carpet! Lovely!-

Gwyneth Paltrow looked quite blah last evening. I loved her fun Grammy's look, but everything about this shimmery look just looks so old and boring to me, especially the hair-

Reese Witherspoon AKA Evening Gown Barbie looked like she was dressed up to go to her High School prom in Las Vegas. I think the dress looked cheap and boring (it was Armani Prive) and I can't wrap my head around the hair and the hairspray. Incidentally, whenever I'm in LA, I love chatting to people in the entertainment business (EVERYONE in LA is in the entertainment business!) and asking them for inside scoops on Hollywood gossip and who's doing what, and what the stars are REALLY like. I found out that one of the most surprisingly nasty people in Hollywood is actually Reese Witherspoon! Who would've thought?! Anyway I thought i'd just throw that in there... did not make me biased against her look though.. I think it's God awful on it's own-

Michelle Williams wore yet another subtle-coloured gown with sleeves. This look again just seems slightly done to me, and despite it being one of my favourite designer brands, this Chanel dress is just looking quite blah. She still manages to look beautiful though, so "safe" doesn't always spell "bad"-

That's all on the Oscar front for now. Do let me know if there is anyone you thought who deserved a mention in either the best or worst dressed category.
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New Judith Leiber Clutches!

 Nobody does gorgeous evening bags quite like Judith Leiber and nobody has access to the best of Leiber's exclusive collections quite like Bergdorf Goodman's in New York. They have quite the incredible collection of the latest of the Spring arrivals in all different shapes and colours, with just the right amount of Leiber glitz and sparkle mixed in. Here are some of the latest bags from their collection-

 

"Rope" in Indigo, Champagne or Rhine - $3,995  

"Alleta" (oval clutch) Blue Python - $1,995
"Natalie" Blue Python - $1,995 

"Basket Weave" Rhine or Champagne - $3,995 

"Nora" Rhine & Champagne $3,995 

"Alleta" (oval clutch) Gold Python - $1,995
"Natalie" Gold Python - $1,995 

 

"Theda" Gold Python with Mother of Pearl $2,895

"Enchanted" Ombre w/Seahorse - $2,295
"Natalie" Ombre Python - $1,995 

"Theda" Ombre - $2,895 

"Monica" Studded Bow $1,495
"Alleta" Black/Gunmetal Geometric Design - $1,695 

"Flip Top" Looking Glass - $3,995 

"Nancy" Black and Grey - $2,695 

 

"Las Rosas" Black or Rhine Backround - $3,995

 "Theda" Taupe Python w/Mother of Pearl - $2,895
"Nancy" Taupe Python (Crystal Flap) - $2,795
"Natalie" Taupe Python - $1,995 

 "Red Dragon" - $4,795
"Roll" in Red - $3,295 

 "Damask" Curved Pouch (Jet/Rhine) - $3,795
"Arden" Rhine Geometric - $3,995

 "Heart N Soul" (Jet,Rhine & Champagne Crystals in one!) - $2,995 

 "Dice" (Pillbox) Rhine or Red  -$345.00 

 

"Byakko" - $5,495

Please contact Linda David from Bergdorf Goodman's at lindampreston@yahoo.com for prices, information or to purchase any of the items listed above  

John Galliano suspended from Dior!!

Over the weekend a shocking bit of news rocked the fashion industry, and surprisingly enough, it didn't have anything to do with the ongoing Milan Fashion Week. John Galliano, the uber-talented designer of the House of Dior, was arrested in Paris for allegedly shouting anti-semitic insults at a couple in a bar on Thursday night. However, on doing some digging online, I found out that that may not have even been the case. A Vogue online article carries the story of an onlooker they had interviewed- "We had a table at La Perle and John Galliano sat next to us," our eyewitness told them. "He spoke to a couple at a nearby table to say 'Cheers' and they insulted him. An argument started and the police came, so Galliano's bodyguard suggested that they should go to the police station to sort it out. He wasn't 'busted' aggressively by police, it was very quiet and peaceful. I definitely didn't hear him say anything anti-Semitic, or against any religion, it was all very calm." Galliano was also released from police custody soon after.
The truly shocking news came the next day when Dior decided to suspend Galliano from his post as head designer owing to their stand on "zero-tolerance" towards anti-Semetism and Racism.
Following the news all weekend, I found Dior's decision very alarming for more than a few reasons. Galliano's case of him being detained by the cops for a few hours (if that indeed is what happened) was hardly news-worthy till Dior decided to take a stand on it. If it's bad publicity they were going for, they are going to get much more publicity with their actions following the suspension that they were before. If they were aiming to appear to be a good corporate citizen and change any bad publicity into good, their reaction has also backfired on that front, with people questioning their motives and their speed to prove him guilty before the cops even had a chance to further investigate the incident.
Even the Satrorialist, the most popular fashion blogger in the world, carried an article where he says,
"So, I understand and agree with the Dior zero-tolerence policy regarding race and religion, but isn't suspending someone based solely on allegation a little hasty? I thought that, even in Paris, you're considered innocent till proven guilty." Apparently not. What will come of Galliano after all of this has blown over still waits to be seen.

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Loving my new Kindle!

On my most recent trip to the US, I ordered over the most recent version of the much-loved Kindle e-book reader from the Amazon site. For those who don't know what a Kindle is, it's the Electronic book (and document) reader from Amazon.com that lets you read without hurting your eyes. It does this by using technology called E-Ink technology, that comes on a digital device, but looks just like paper. On first looking at the device for the first time, you may even be fooled into thinking you are looking at a sticker stuck on a panel. The advantage of using a device like this is that unlike the iPad or a computer or mobile screen, the Kindle doesn't spoil the eyesight. Another advantage for voracious readers is that since the Kindle only consumes battery while turning pages, it doesn't use any power while being static on a page and hence can last for hundreds of page turns and won't need to be charged through a weekend away or long plane rides. With the wireless turned off, Amazon claims the Kindle lasts for about one month on a single charge. The Kindle moreover, holds thousands of books (amazon claims up to 3,500) so you can read various books and jump around them as it allows you to bookmark the pages on all the ones you're currently perusing. 

I, being a typical lover of books, love the feel of opening up and cracking the spine of a new book to read. Yet, I find in Dubai a lot of the books I want to buy are not easily available, or take time to finally get in. I'm constantly amazed with the variety of books that are available on the Kindle, and some obscure ones like on Spirituality or Business that even Kinokuniya at Dubai Mall (my most favourite bookstore!) may not have, will be available in Ebook format on the Kindle Store. I also love the Kindle for having a lot of the Classics, like my favourite Jane Austen, available free to download from the Kindle Store. I've had 2 Kindles since they've first been launched and had vowed after my last one, to not buy another till they didn't come out with a coloured version. The new Kindle however has one distinct feature that tempted me into succumbing to its charms- the fact that it has WiFi and 3G. Yes, it's lighter, faster, brighter, etc (the photograph I took below, is the size of it in comparison to a CD.. it also weighs as much as one!) but the Wireless capability of it remains it's most amazing feature. On my old Kindle DX, I could download a book on my computer via the Kindle store, but still had to sync it via a cable onto my Kindle device. I can now just turn wireless on in over 100 countries worldwide, and have whatever book I want sent via 3G to me in moments.

To clarify, the 3G Kindle does NOT ship to the UAE as it has obviously not signed up to be on the list of the countries where the Kindle does work. However, once you have the Kindle with you, you CAN download book via 3G on the device without any issues. You can also read the books you buy from the Kindle store on your Kindle App on your iPhone or iPad or Computer. I'm absolutely LOVING my new device and have already read my first book on it. I hope you're able to get your hands on one and love yours as much as I do!

Book review- Immortals of Meluha

My friend Soniyaa was recently raving about the book, 'The Immortals of Meluha.' "I can't put it down," she exclaimed excitedly, "and I'm sure you'll just love it too!" After going from bookstore to bookstore in Dubai, I was unsuccessful in finding the book, and Soniyaa promised me she'd bring it back for me the next time she visited India. Luckily for me, she made a trip over the following few weeks, and I was able to figure out what the fuss was all about.
The Immortals of Meluha is one of the best books I've ever read, it's that plain and simple. I read it over the span of 24 hours, and I literally could not put the book down. It isn't one of the best written books I've read- far from it really, and neither is the story the most gripping I've encountered. What I did absolutely love however, is the way the book has simplified by fictionalizing Indian mythology, and the story of Lord Shiva. For those interested in Hindu mythology, or Hindus wanting to understand more about their religion or the origin of certain words and customs, this book will give you invaluable insight into the same.
Based in the 1900 BC, the story is a fictional account of Shiva, a Tribal leader who moves his tribe from the foothills of Mount Kailash to the perfect land of Meluha, a city built on the teachings of Lord Ram. The book, the first in a series of 3 (the other 2 are yet to be published) follows Shiva from when his destiny is first apparent to others around him, to when he falls in love with Sati (Parvati) to when he slowly starts to realize his own greatness. (Women beware: you WILL fall in love with him on reading this book!) I'm quite curious to do more research on the historical facts as laid out by the authour, Amish, as I'm sure a lot of creative liberty has been taken while trying to fictionalize the story line. Also, the colloquial dialogue as used in the book did not really appeal to me at all, and I read another reviewer write that the dialogue read as a film script- it does. Not a very well written one that too. As I said however, the book is SO much more than the quality of it's writing, and hopefully the second and third books in the Trilogy will be much better edited, while retaining it's fascinating storyline.
I can't recommend this book enough to those who, like me, are interested in reading more about Lord Shiva or Hindu Mythology in general. I promise you, it'll be one of the best books you've read. For those who have no interest on those subjects, steer clear of this one!
Check out the first chapter of Immortals of Meluha here and check out the promotional video of the book too-

Grammy's Weekend in LA!

So for those who aren't following me on Twitter you might not know that I was away in LA over the past week, and between jet lag (12 hour time difference from Dubai was a nightmare!) , hanging out with friends and shopping, I had very little time to get online and post on my blog. Oh, and of course there was this little thing I had to attend over the weekend... this musical awards night thingy... you may have heard of it... THE GRAMMY'S???!!! So for a few weeks now (actually no, make that months) if anyone's made any sort of conversation with me like, "Any travel plans?" I've been like, "well not over the next few months but then in Feb I go to the GRAMMY'S!" or even, "so how's life?" "All ok I guess... but I'm excited coz in Feb I leave to go to the GRAMMY'S!" till it reached a stage where people would say, "Hello!" and I'd respond with a, "Hi, my name is Kiran and in Feb I head to the GRAMMY'S!" I kid, I kid.. Sort of anyway. I was SUPER excited to be attending (you know, the Grammy's!) and when Feb rolled around, I just couldn't WAIT to be able to head to LA and experience the magic of the evening!
So the evening was pretty amazing and it was super exciting to be able to watch all the performers live on stage. We were seated in VIP boxes that had the disadvantage of being fairly far from the stage, but the advantage of being private spaces where you could kick off your heels, drink some wine and enjoy dinner while watching the show. The performers were all amazing, but my favourite of the night just HAD to be Justin Bieber and Usher perform.. they were incredible! We saw all the behind the scenes action, including Christina Aguillera fall on stage (they missed capturing that on TV) and... well that was pretty much it. The question most people asked me was what whether the breaks got taken for commercials during the show or whether they just went through the entire thing- They do pause for breaks and ads during the show, during which time they have past performances playing on their screens, and have celebs up from their seats saying hello to each other and running to use the restrooms.  The entire evening was a once in a lifetime experience and I'm SOOO happy I got to experience it! Unfortunately, we weren't allowed to take in any cameras, so all I got are blurry pictures on my Blackberry to share with you guys...

Where the magic happens.. Staples Center, LA

As you can tell, we were one of the first ones to get there.. the entire Stadium was empty

The show was about to begin!

Can't remember who that was performing

A lot of the announcers stood over the Grammy symbol which is actually in the center of the stadium. Think this is a picture of either Miley Cyrus of Jennifer Lopez

Unfortunately that's all I have for you guys! If you have any questions about the evening or the event, please ask away in comments below and I'll be happy to answer them. Unless of course that question is, "what the hell was up with Gaga's egg??" I'm just as lost about that as you!

Book Review- A Fine Balance

I'm constantly on the lookout for good books to read and am always asking friends for book recommendations. I like books that are gripping and engrossing, and ask my friends, while suggesting titles, to give me names of books they just couldn't put down. A close friend of mine highly recommended this book and raved about it's story, it's historical relevance (the story takes place in India under the reign of Indira Gandhi) and most of all, how well written it was. My best friend seconded that opinion and told me she too thought A Fine Balance by Rohinton Mistry was one of the best books she too had ever read. I then, of course, had expected to love it.
When I started to read it however, instead of the "I can't put this book down" type of feeling I was accustomed to with good books, I was most happy to put the book away between readings. I can honestly say, this has been one of the slowest reads I've ever gone through, and it isn't even because I was savoring the contents... but to be honest, it's not because I hated the book either. I, for the life of me, can't figure out what about this book took me MONTHS to finish. However once I'd gone through half of the book, the rest half zipped by over few days. I think it just took way too long for the characters to develop and for their story to merge and begin.
The story revolves around 4 main protagonists- Dina, a 40- something poor widow who is trying to make ends meet; Om and Ishvar who are two tailors who have come from the village in hopes of making some money in the big city and Maneck, a young college student who comes from a quiet world in the hills. The book follows these four through their adventures and their misfortunes, as misfortunes is what this book is all about. India is going through a time of corruption and crisis under the Emergency, which is not only the backdrop for the happenings in their lives, it almost is the fifth, more silent protagonist of this story. There are problems in the country, and consequently in the lives of the characters, no matter which way you turn- like I said, the book is all about misfortune, and it seems just when the slightest glimmer of happiness is returning to the characters in the book and their stories, their situation (as a direct result of the Emergency) is again brought back to misery and defeat. Some reviewers that I've read say that the characters come to life in the book... while I agree that a lot of effort (almost half the novel, as I mentioned before) has been made to define the characters, I just feel like they are still not developed enough, if only for the constant cloud of gloom that hangs over their heads.
If I am confusing you with my review, it only is because A Fine Balance is one of those rare books I'm very confused about- I can't really tell what my feelings about it are! I'm really glad I read it, but while I think it's one of the most well written books I've read, I can't really say I loved it.. if that makes any sense. Lets put it this way- If you like reading Oprah Book Club reads, which this also happens to be, this book is a must buy. If however, you, like me, don't like reading heavy, depressing books (which I find most of Oprah's recommendations to be) or are the type who ponders about the misery and unfairness of life, this book might really bring you down. If you're on antidepressants and need prozac to get out of bed in the morning, I suggest you stay far, far away from A Fine Balance . The end will make you want to rip your heart out. If you want a piece of literature that's just really well written or want to read more about the dirt and poverty in India, really, look no further!

Story of Another's Miracle!

A few days back I posted a story here about a miracle I believe I've witnessed. A really amazing thing happened after that.. I had a lot of people share their own stories of their miracles with me. Some narrated it when they met me, while some wrote in to tell me theirs, and one of the most mind blowing ones was shared with me, unprompted, without the person having read my blog or knowing anything about my experience. I was attracting miraculous stories from everywhere, which in itself I considered to be a mini miracle in itself!
Another incredible story was sent in from a reader of mine whom I've never met, but whose story has absolutely blown me away! She was kind enough to let me share it with you, as long as I changed a few details to keep her identity under wraps. I have changed a few things where possible, and in other places I've just blocked out the names of cities and places so as to not to spoil the flow of her writing. Hope you guys enjoy her marvelous story...


Dear Kiran,

So here is the story from my own life of what I consider a
miracle. It's not an appearance like your miracle but it is still
wonderful and supernatural occurence.

Just as I was finishing high school and preparing my university
applications, my father was keen that I take a year off between school
and uni and go travel, work, experience something new.  He felt that a
gap year would give me a little perspective before going to
University.  I used that gap year to travel and teach.  I spent 6
months teaching in a school in xxx. During that time. the
headmistress grew very fond of me and gifted me with a beautiful small
silver statue of a hindu deity.    I have taken that small statue with
me everywhere over the years: to university in xxxx and in xxxx, to
xxxx where I went to University, to xxxx when I studied for my Masters,
back to xxx and xxxx and now I have it with me in Dubai right next
to my bed in our home.  In most of the places I've lived, it's been
alone and away from my immediate family.  I am a very "spiritual"
person but I'm very private about it.  I will go to temple on Diwali
and on my birthday but most of my interaction with religion takes
place in the privacy of my home.  So I've often found myself praying
to the little silver statue and over the years, as it followed me
everywhere, when I missed my family, felt sad or upset, prayers
started becoming discussions with the silver statue deity.  I would
ask it the questions I would ask God when praying and speak to it like
I do with close friends and my family.

One day, as I asked one of my many questions, I noticed a change in
the facial expression of the deity.  From an impassive look, I noticed
a smile.  I thought I was dreaming and assumed it was my imagination.
But I looked closely and i knew it was not imaginary, the deity
smiled.    From then on, I would pay closer attention to the deity's
facial expressions, occasionally impassive but quite frequently I
noticed a smile.    The only person I ever shared this with was my
mother.  Quite frankly, I am not sure most of my friends, religious or
not, would find it normal that I base some of my important decisions
or reassurances based on the smile of a deity.   Anyway, the miracle I
experienced happened much later.  In 2005, I was switching companies
and asked for my new employer to give me a month off between jobs.  I
took off to Mauritius on my own, rented a beach house and spent a
month, travelling around the island, reading, writing, resting ect.
I'm a very keen photographer and I always say the two most important
things when I travel are my passport and my camera.  At the time, I
had a manual Nikon SLR which I loved.   Usually before a trip or a big
decision / event, I speak to my deity.  I mentioned my trip to
Mauritius and prayed that my month on my own would go well and that I
would be safe....  The deity didn't smile back but just remained
impassive with a stern look. It was the kind of look that inspired
fear / concern.  I looked again and just couldn't see that reassuring
smile of approval that I was hoping for.   I got nervous as this was
the day before my departure.    Now I travel a lot and quite
frequently to some far fetched places but i have NEVER bought travel
insurance. Mainly because I'm a careful traveler and nothing had
happened to me and i didn't feel the need to get insurance.  However,
this time around, seeing that I wasn't getting the reassurances of my
deity, I freaked out a little and ran out to a travel agency and
bought an insurance from them just as they were about to close.   That
travel insurance turned out to be an extraordinary blessing....  I had
a boating accident in Mauritius and my camera went overboard. I was
devastated by the loss of my expensive photography gear.  As soon as I
returned to xxxx, I contacted my travel insurer and what do you
know, camera replaced within a week!

Now I know this story has a material side to it: I lost equipment but
didn't have to pay for its replacement....but I look at the greater
picture and see that my deity had warned me that something bad was
coming my way.    The above is just one illustration of my miracle
deity.  As a matter of fact, I have many examples (too long to
enumerate on email) where my deity has been a silent guide and has
given me clarity on what direction to take when at a confusing
crossroad.  I consult my deity for everything and i when it doesn't
smile, I wont' take that course of action.

To date I can honestly say, I have only had nice things happen to me
and I am in part grateful to my deity....Your story today confirmed to
me that miracles happen, we just have to believe in them.

On a last note, let me take this opportunity to tell you how much I
love reading your blog. It's insightful, witty and so well
written...please continue to find the time to share your ideas /
thoughts / miracles with us.

 I would love for you guys to share some more of your stories of miracles you might have experienced or witnessed or heard of. Please feel free to email them to me if you don't want to post them here, or write about them in the comments field below. And remember, miracles happen to those who believe in them! It's like one of my favourite writers, Paulo Coelho said, "We have to stop and be humble enough to understand that there is something called mystery."
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