There could not have been a better opening of the Fall/Winter 2009 Lakme Fashion Week (LFW) than the spectacular "Barbie All Doll'd Up" show that rocked the ramp.

It was a perfect combination of style and glamour as 50 years of Barbie was celebrated along with Lakme Fashion Week, the pioneers of the fashion weeks in India having completed a decade.

Dress the Barbie contest attracted 75 entries from top designers in the country from which the 20 short listed creations were showcased on the ramp at the dazzling show.

It was the winning dress by Nishka Lulla that Bollywood's glamorous star Katrina Kaif modeled as the show stopper of the day. Katrina Kaif will be the Indian celebrity on whose likeness a Barbie doll will be created by Mattel Toys India Pvt. Ltd.

The Ballroom of the Grand Hyatt Hotel, Mumbai with the extra long ramp was dressed in hundreds of metres of the characteristic Barbie pink silk with the famed Barbie logo all around. The venue almost resembled Barbie's pretty house and it was a place where a girl of any age would have loved to be.

Pretty, frothy party dresses and gowns that were a delightful blend of the east and west turned into great fusion wear as they floated down the ramp. Top ramp models were dressed in brilliant creations that could have made Barbie's wardrobe the most envied in the world.

Starting with the Barbie song for the "Plastic and Fantastic Barbie" the accompanying audio visual gave a flash back of Barbie through the five decades and Barbie dolls around the world.

Designer Vikram Phadnis's creation opened the show with a white tulle layered gown with a crystal bodice, followed by Wendell Rodricks who showed a gown with a silver bodysuit that could move effortlessly from Red Carpet to Disco. More dazzling gowns floated down the ramp by designers Vivek Kumar, Neeta Lulla, Atit Bhatt, Anand Bhushan, Tanvi Kedia, Abdul Haldar, Ruchi Mehta, Niak, Jyoti Sharma (a stunning shell pleated will- power shaded mini) Sonam Mehta, Prashant/Sudha and Shantanu/Nikhil. The Shirt Company that markets the Barbie Clothing Line in India had tiny tot, Chanel Robinson in a lovely red net gown.

Barbie Ballerina Doll Brunette

Wedding Fantasy Barbie Doll

Barbie My House Kitchen & Doll

Finally the beauteous Katrina Kaif radiantly glided down the ramp in Nishka Lulla’s award winning red shaded tiered mini with a brocade bodice clasped with a giant gold bow at the back.

It was a show that was full of glitz, glamour, style and elegance and there couldn’t have been a better way to start the Fall/Winter 2009 season at Lakme Fashion Week then with "Barbie all Doll'd Up"!

Source: Infibeam.com News

Best Selling Books on Barbie:
Barbie
Barbie as the Island Princess
Barbie: Cinderella

The fun loving, trend-seeking young guys and girls of India have another reason to identify with their favorite apparel brand, Levi Strauss Signature! Shahid Kapoor, India's youth icon, style setter and dancer extraordinaire, now takes to the floor with the jeanswear brand that matches his style and personality. Yes, it's Shahid Kapoor for every youngster, as he signs on as Brand Ambassador of India's iconic youth brand Levi Strauss Signature.

It's a known fact that Shahid Kapoor is particular about his dress sense. The perfect style statement he makes in his films and shows is driving droves of his young fans to be just like him. This aspiration to emulate him is set to grow even larger as his young fans will now see him, sporting the range of Levi Strauss Signature jeans, T-shirts, woven shirts, jackets and accessories.

Says Shahid Kapoor, Brand Ambassador, Levi Strauss Signature, "I have always been a great admirer of the Levi Strauss Signature brand. Its relaxed and on-trend styles reflect my personal style, and the sentiment of the youth whom I identify with so closely. It's great to be associated with such an iconic brand."

Shumone Chatterjee, Country Manager, Levi Strauss & Co, India Pvt. Ltd., says, "Youth Icon & iconic youth apparel brand – it's fitting that they both zip together! Shahid is a quintessential blend of youth and style, which is what the Levi Strauss Signature brand stands for. India is a strong growth market for the Levi Strauss Signature brand and signing on Shahid as it’s face will help us create a closer connection with our young audience."

It's going to be a fun summer as Shahid and the Levi Strauss Signature brand have great plans up ahead. There's an exciting media campaign coming up, consumer activities with Shahid and more!

Established in 1994, Levi Strauss (India) Pvt. Ltd. brought authentic original American jeanswear to India, by launching the iconic Levi's brand. It has since built a strong retail and distribution network for this brand.

Popular Men's Wear:

Pure Cotton Full Sleeves Shirt

Slogan T-Shirts

Artistic White shervani

Levi Strauss Signature, it's newest jeanswear brand in India, is targeted at the college- going youth and offers true quality at value for money prices. Today, the LSS retail network spans more than 115 exclusive outlets in 57 cities, and several thousand MBO doors.

Source: Infibeam.com News

Books on Levis Strauss:
Levi Strauss
Levi Strauss and Blue Jeans
Levi Strauss: The Man Behind Blue Jeans

As the world moves towards advanced tactile technology, Tissot, the innovative Swiss watchmaker keeps pace and today launches the T-Touch Expert; a watch that does much more than just showing time for those who like to carry their world around. The watch was launched by the charismatic Deepika Padukone, Brand Ambassador, Tissot, at a spectacular event held in Mumbai this afternoon.

Highlighting the tactile facet of the watch, was the world class performance by 'Laser Man' Thomas Barentin, whose fascinating skills at bending a single ray of light left the audience awestruck and wanting more. But what left the guests absolutely gasping was the revelation of the ravishing beauty, Deepika Padukone, who stylishly flaunted the Tissot T Touch Expert.

Launching the watch, Mr Francois Thiebaud, Global President, Tissot said, "The T-Touch Expert is a tactile sports watch that is perfectly equipped for the adventurous traveler, one who wants to be, and travail in time. With the Tissot T-Touch Expert the wearer has a high-precision instrument offering the ideal combination of high-tech functionality and ease of use. It is a great honor to launch this unique timepiece in the great city of Mumbai, the city which never sleeps."

Talking about the watch on her wrist, Brand Ambassador, Deepika Padukone said, "The Tissot T Touch Expert is not only a watch, it's a gizmo which every ambitious traveler will wish to posses. It makes the simple act of wearing a watch or seeing time a thrilling experience with its extraordinary functions. I would step out of my house for an expedition with my Tissot T Touch Expert."

The Tissot T-Touch Expert is a tactile sports watch that is perfectly equipped for adventures in the great outdoors. This robust XL-size watch, with water resistance to 100 meters, comes with eight new functions, making it the ideal partner for professional mountaineers and extreme skiers. More than just a watch, it offers 15 separate functions like absolute & relative pressure with weather forecast, altimeter (in feet and meters), altitude difference meter, chronograph (split and cumulative time), timer, azimuth (heading), compass, two alarms, thermometer (in ºC and ºF), date and time (measured on the 12-hour or 24-hour scale), perpetual calendar, two time zones and backlight, activated by pressing on the crown and then on the touch-sensitive screen.

Best selling Tissot Watches:

Tissot T-Touch Stainless Steel

Tissot Bag Watch

Tissot T-Navigator 3000

Priced at Rs 37, 000 onwards, the Tissot T Touch Expert comes in different model variations with carbon or white dials and either a leather or rubber strap, or titanium bracelet. A particularly eye-catching version has a white dial and a white rubber strap.

Source: Infibeam.com News

Books on Watches:
The Watch
Watches
The Watch

According to a research conducted by an independent firm GFK in markets spread across India, China, Saudi Arabia, Italy, Turkey and the USA it has been concluded that women feel the only reason to gift gold is because it is everlasting.

Sangini Diamonds

Diamond Pendant

Ruby Gemstone Ring

World Gold Council's (WGC) 2008 jewellery survey participants opine that its everlasting properties make it an ideal Valentines Day gift. 7,500 females in the age group of 15 and 65 were asked about their reasons for buying Gold and favorite occasions for receiving gold jewellery. About 76% agreed that "it is everlasting" and Valentine's Day emerging as a key date.

Philip Olden, Managing Director, World Gold Council said that the survey shows that Valentine's Day is a prominent occasion for receiving gold jewellery for women in different regions around the world. The higher gold price has added to gold jewellery's appeal despite these challenging economic times.

Interestingly even the younger segment among the participants in the survey, who are typically more interested in gadgets such as mobile phones as compared to spending money on jewellery, appreciate the romance of gold jewellery with nearly 30% stating they looked forward to receiving it for Valentine’s Day.

Source: Infibeam.com News

Books on Gold:
Gold
City Of Gold
Eldorado: The City of Gold

Holi festival is celebrated with great fanfare in India. The Holi festival is the time when people irrespective of age, sex and class come out of their routine lives and sprinkle joy with colors.

In India, the Holi festival is continued to be celebrated much before the actual Holi day. Children take special delight in spraying colors on one another with their pichkaris. Women and senior citizen form groups and move in colonies/societies - applying colors and exchanging greetings & Holi gifts. Songs, dance on the rhythm of dholak and mouthwatering Holi sweets are the other highlights of the Holi festival.

Send Holi Gifts to India:

Flowers

Sweets

Combo Gifts

But, very often some people take advantage of the Holi Festival. Young boys keen on playing pranks are seen throwing water balloons on unassuming strangers even on their way to office or some important work.

Here are tips for a safe and happy Holi:

• Use natural colors to avoid bad aftereffects on the skin.
• While playing Holi or before venturing out on this day, cover your hair with a cap or a bandana.
• To save your teeth from hard-to-remove stains from colored dyes, wear dental caps, if possible.
• Use sunglasses to protect your eyes or if caught without them, among the sprinklers, close your eyes and lips tightly.
• It is best not to venture out on streets for a drive on Holi. In case of an emergency, don't forget to keep all the doors and windows tightly shut and steer clear of mob processions.
• Wear clothes with fabric like polyester, silk etc. that are lightweight and dry fast.
  

Remember these tips and go ahead enjoy Holi Festival 2009 to the fullest!

By: Nilakshi Handique

Books on Holi:
Holi
Holiness
Holi

Holi festival is one of the most renowned festivals in India. Holi - festival of colors is widely celebrated in central and northern India. Holi festival embodies the very Indian Gulal and Pichkari. Although better known for the merriment, laughter and dance. Holi festival has a tradition backing the same too.

Send Holi Gifts to India

Feel My love

Loving Thoughts

Pick Me up

One of the most popular legends of the holi festival is about the demon King Hiranyakashyap; who demanded everybody in his kingdom to worship him. His son, Prahlad became a devotee of Lord Vishnu therefore; Hiranyakashyap wanted his son to be killed. He instructed his sister who was immune to fire to take Prahlad in her lap and jump into the fire.

The evil minded Holika who intended to kill Prahlad got burnt to ashes as the boon was valid only if she entered the fire alone and the pious Prahlad was saved by Lord Vishnu himself. The bonfire which is an integral feature during holi festival is lit to commemorate the victory of good over evil.

The day next day i.e on Holi festival, the celebrations come alive with people splashing colored water at one another. Dance, dholak and mouthwatering holi sweets are the main highlights of the day.

Send Holi Sweets to India:

Dry Fruit Mithai

Kopra Pak

Bundi Ladu

The evenings of Holi festival are relatively calmer as people meet friends and exchange sweets and holi gifts. Holi is a festival that binds people across India in a bond of love. The merriment and panache of the Holi festival makes it all the more special.

By: Amrith K.A.

Books on Colors:
Colors
Color
Colors