Men of all ages and sizes took to the streets to strut their stuff in bright red stilettos in support of a good cause.
The Sexual Assault Support Services for Women (SASS) of S,D&G and Akwesasne invited men to "Walk a Mile in Her Shoes" to raise funds and raise awareness of sexual assault, rape and violence towards women.
"We wanted to do something a little more inclusive to men," said Lisa Montroy, special events co-ordinator with SASS.
The event is the first of its kind in Cornwall but has been done in cities across the United States and Canada.
Previously, an event was held called "Take Back the Night" where women would march against rape and violence against women.
Montroy explained that the "Take Back the Night" event involved mostly women so they wanted to do something which involved more participation from men.
About 40 men showed up in groups or alone with their money which was raised and walked down Water Street from Pitt Street down to Augustus Street and back.
"We had a good turn out considering the weather especially," said Montroy.
Prizes were handed out for the most flamboyant walk strut, coolest catwalk, best strut as well as a trophy for the team that raised the most money and the person who raised the most money.
"We're really quite pleased with all the participation today," said Montroy.
2011年5月15日星期日
2011年5月11日星期三
Walking shoes
About thirty years ago, in a huge gymnasium at UCSB, I was afforded the opportunity to hear the Dalai Lama.
I confess, being in my unenlightened mid-twenties, I saw His Holiness as a celebrity rather than a spiritual leader and exiled leader of Tibet. I never claimed to be the sharpest knife in the drawer, you understand.
So I neglected to bring a pad of paper to take notes.
He spoke no English to us, so it was a slow and gentle evening of quiet words, translated methodically for us California-college types.
Having no record of the evening, one memorable wisdom story stood out I'd like to paraphrase for you. It's a great piece of advice from a startling source.
My perception of the Dalai Lama was that his was a life of learning compassion through suffering. Like Jesus, who I consider my teacher, but another who also taught things that didn't really sound anything like, “Heartily welcome martyrdom.”
Both preach joy and love and life. And there are certainly consequences to living a life devoted to peace and justice. Check out Mohandas Gandhi. Or Dr. King.
But here's the parable I've remembered that illustrates the wisdom often found in great spirituality:
“On the road of life there are many sticks, stones, and bits of glass. And we all have a choice. We can go through our lives, stopping to notice and remove every impediment to our journey. We can pick up every stick, stone, or piece of glass. Yes, we can do that. Or we can wear shoes.”
The gym burst into laughter and applause. I learned more about the Dalai Lama's spirit in that one simple story than all the good books I've read by Pema Chodron combined.
Three decades later, I'm still working on applying that one wonderful piece of advice.
So what's the best wisdom you ever heard? Have you passed it on?
Shalom!
I confess, being in my unenlightened mid-twenties, I saw His Holiness as a celebrity rather than a spiritual leader and exiled leader of Tibet. I never claimed to be the sharpest knife in the drawer, you understand.
So I neglected to bring a pad of paper to take notes.
He spoke no English to us, so it was a slow and gentle evening of quiet words, translated methodically for us California-college types.
Having no record of the evening, one memorable wisdom story stood out I'd like to paraphrase for you. It's a great piece of advice from a startling source.
My perception of the Dalai Lama was that his was a life of learning compassion through suffering. Like Jesus, who I consider my teacher, but another who also taught things that didn't really sound anything like, “Heartily welcome martyrdom.”
Both preach joy and love and life. And there are certainly consequences to living a life devoted to peace and justice. Check out Mohandas Gandhi. Or Dr. King.
But here's the parable I've remembered that illustrates the wisdom often found in great spirituality:
“On the road of life there are many sticks, stones, and bits of glass. And we all have a choice. We can go through our lives, stopping to notice and remove every impediment to our journey. We can pick up every stick, stone, or piece of glass. Yes, we can do that. Or we can wear shoes.”
The gym burst into laughter and applause. I learned more about the Dalai Lama's spirit in that one simple story than all the good books I've read by Pema Chodron combined.
Three decades later, I'm still working on applying that one wonderful piece of advice.
So what's the best wisdom you ever heard? Have you passed it on?
Shalom!
2011年5月9日星期一
Soldier from Minot delivers thanks
Minot's generosity might be too much of a good thing for the Army, but it's a source of pride for Army Maj. Gary Kramlich.
Kramlich, the son of Gary and Glory Kramlich of Minot, told the Minot Kiwanis Club recently that his pride in Minot was worth the dust-up with Army officials after the area's shoe donations overwhelmed the military's postal service. Thousands of people in Afghanistan didn't go barefoot last winter because of Minot.
"I was very grateful and very proud to be a part of that," Kramlich said. "Minot made a impact on people who may never know - certainly may never visit - Minot, but certainly benefited, and are grateful to them for the outpouring of warmth and heartfelt sentiment."
Kramlich learned of the need for shoes for the people of Afghanistan during a site survey there. Children were walking around in snow without shoes. Kramlich saw humanitarian groups delivering international donations so he asked his mother, Glory Kramlich, in Minot to see if the parents at the daycare where she worked would be willing to donate shoes that their children no longer needed.
Several months later, in August 2009, his mother sent him a Web link to a Minot Daily News article that showed his parents standing by a moving truck with the sign, "Afghan shoe donations."
"I thought, ‘Oh, here we go. This isn't going to be a couple of boxes of shoes.' This ended up being a couple shipping containers worth of shoes. That gave me enough time to start energizing the system on my end. And it was overwhelming," Kramlich said.
High points of the campaign included the involvement of Jim Hill Middle School students in collecting shoes and raising $351. Quilters at Our Redeemer's Lutheran Church gave 100 quilts. Thomas Hinzpeter at Mayflower Transit Co. lent a warehouse and a truck that was loaded and unloaded six times.
At the height of Christmas shipments, the Army asked Kramlich to turn off the flow of shoes and blankets because the number of overall packages was more than its system could handle. Kramlich didn't notify his mother right away, and more packages came, causing Army officials to take Kramlich to task.
"They (shoes) got sent back and I wasn't happy about that. There was a lot of drama," he said. "The postmaster at the Minot Post Office didn't get the word. He thought, obviously, they wouldn't send the shoes back that it was a mistake. So he sent them again."
When the shoes returned, exasperated Army officials called Kramlich on the carpet again.
"It did create a dust-up," he said. However, this time the shoes stayed.
Operation Care had coordinated the shoe and blanket deliveries through various aid groups. The Army itself gave away shoes and other donations when its civil affairs unit met with community leaders in Afghanistan.
The end of the campaign still left a garage full of shoes at his parents' home. The senior Gary Kramlich said the response was difficult to cut off and shoes kept coming. That's when the Kramlichs connected with Soles4Souls, a St. Louis, Mo., based charity that was providing shoes to Haiti at the time.
"That became a way to get them to people in need that met the intent of everyone involved," the younger Kramlich said.
Mile One Running Shop in Minot later established a drop-off point for donations to Soles4Souls.
Kramlich ended his deployment to Afghanistan last June and has been stationed at Fort Bragg, N.C., with his wife and three daughters.
He returns to Afghanistan this fall but said he's not ready to commit to another shoe campaign just yet.
"I have to get there first and see what the system can handle before I say anything official. But it certainly was overwhelming. I was very proud to represent the community of Minot there. I did get to hand out some shoes to kids who were obviously in need," he said. "I look forward to having that impact again."
Kramlich, the son of Gary and Glory Kramlich of Minot, told the Minot Kiwanis Club recently that his pride in Minot was worth the dust-up with Army officials after the area's shoe donations overwhelmed the military's postal service. Thousands of people in Afghanistan didn't go barefoot last winter because of Minot.
"I was very grateful and very proud to be a part of that," Kramlich said. "Minot made a impact on people who may never know - certainly may never visit - Minot, but certainly benefited, and are grateful to them for the outpouring of warmth and heartfelt sentiment."
Kramlich learned of the need for shoes for the people of Afghanistan during a site survey there. Children were walking around in snow without shoes. Kramlich saw humanitarian groups delivering international donations so he asked his mother, Glory Kramlich, in Minot to see if the parents at the daycare where she worked would be willing to donate shoes that their children no longer needed.
Several months later, in August 2009, his mother sent him a Web link to a Minot Daily News article that showed his parents standing by a moving truck with the sign, "Afghan shoe donations."
"I thought, ‘Oh, here we go. This isn't going to be a couple of boxes of shoes.' This ended up being a couple shipping containers worth of shoes. That gave me enough time to start energizing the system on my end. And it was overwhelming," Kramlich said.
High points of the campaign included the involvement of Jim Hill Middle School students in collecting shoes and raising $351. Quilters at Our Redeemer's Lutheran Church gave 100 quilts. Thomas Hinzpeter at Mayflower Transit Co. lent a warehouse and a truck that was loaded and unloaded six times.
At the height of Christmas shipments, the Army asked Kramlich to turn off the flow of shoes and blankets because the number of overall packages was more than its system could handle. Kramlich didn't notify his mother right away, and more packages came, causing Army officials to take Kramlich to task.
"They (shoes) got sent back and I wasn't happy about that. There was a lot of drama," he said. "The postmaster at the Minot Post Office didn't get the word. He thought, obviously, they wouldn't send the shoes back that it was a mistake. So he sent them again."
When the shoes returned, exasperated Army officials called Kramlich on the carpet again.
"It did create a dust-up," he said. However, this time the shoes stayed.
Operation Care had coordinated the shoe and blanket deliveries through various aid groups. The Army itself gave away shoes and other donations when its civil affairs unit met with community leaders in Afghanistan.
The end of the campaign still left a garage full of shoes at his parents' home. The senior Gary Kramlich said the response was difficult to cut off and shoes kept coming. That's when the Kramlichs connected with Soles4Souls, a St. Louis, Mo., based charity that was providing shoes to Haiti at the time.
"That became a way to get them to people in need that met the intent of everyone involved," the younger Kramlich said.
Mile One Running Shop in Minot later established a drop-off point for donations to Soles4Souls.
Kramlich ended his deployment to Afghanistan last June and has been stationed at Fort Bragg, N.C., with his wife and three daughters.
He returns to Afghanistan this fall but said he's not ready to commit to another shoe campaign just yet.
"I have to get there first and see what the system can handle before I say anything official. But it certainly was overwhelming. I was very proud to represent the community of Minot there. I did get to hand out some shoes to kids who were obviously in need," he said. "I look forward to having that impact again."
2011年5月5日星期四
BREAKING: THANKS TO HEAL "DRESSING THE MAN!
You get out of a story that you broke your heart? You think that love is definitely not for you and that all men are cads, remaining polite? Stop! To change your ideas, test your seduction potential and / or make your ex jealous, take a look at this new site, titled "Man dressing." During registration (free for girls), you indicate you are looking for an emergency bandage, a dressing of revenge, or outright support of a dressing to meet! The men on the site want to show they are not all garbage. They share with you their availability and indicate whether they are starters for a walk, a drink or dinner. Whether you dream of an ear or a crazy game of legs in the air, you do (almost) to make your choice! Man dressing chic version of human tissue?
Cara Delevigne
Simple and easy, but once again full of appeal: the outfit of the young model, former spokesperson of the campaign Spring Summer 2011 of Burberry Prorsum (Shot by Mario Testino) and younger sister Poppy Delevigne style icon.
To reproduce the look with which Cara was photographed last February during London Fashion weeek we start from the black tank top in lightweight silk, Alberta Ferretti, or the white model, with ruffles and polka dots tone on tone, Aglini. Alternative discrete but intriguing: the body of Max Mara. Voted elegant solution: the two-tone blouse, silk Gianfranco Ferre.
Above: instead of the jacket with zip, you can opt for the collarless, in quilted leather, D & G. Be matched with a pair of jeans, for example, 7 for All Mankind Heavy or Project. Another possibility: the five pockets, denim delavè brought by Replay.
Among the accessories that complete and give personality to the whole: the irony of golden necklace Elie Saab. Or: the fine chain, gold locket with, Delfina Fendi Delettrez. A redesigned classic: the proposal in silver, with a cross, Youth Raspini.
At the foot: a choice, and provocative women's shoes by Givenchy lace-ups, amphibians vintage leather, with studs of Ash. For bikers: the boots, studded with micro skulls, John Richmond.
To reproduce the look with which Cara was photographed last February during London Fashion weeek we start from the black tank top in lightweight silk, Alberta Ferretti, or the white model, with ruffles and polka dots tone on tone, Aglini. Alternative discrete but intriguing: the body of Max Mara. Voted elegant solution: the two-tone blouse, silk Gianfranco Ferre.
Above: instead of the jacket with zip, you can opt for the collarless, in quilted leather, D & G. Be matched with a pair of jeans, for example, 7 for All Mankind Heavy or Project. Another possibility: the five pockets, denim delavè brought by Replay.
Among the accessories that complete and give personality to the whole: the irony of golden necklace Elie Saab. Or: the fine chain, gold locket with, Delfina Fendi Delettrez. A redesigned classic: the proposal in silver, with a cross, Youth Raspini.
At the foot: a choice, and provocative women's shoes by Givenchy lace-ups, amphibians vintage leather, with studs of Ash. For bikers: the boots, studded with micro skulls, John Richmond.
2011年5月3日星期二
Clicking their heels
Consumers are quick to buy electronics, books, and games online. But when it comes to fashion or luxury items, they often think twice.
When you go shopping, you wear the shirt to see whether it fits you. You try on the shoes to see if you are comfortable walking in them. And you put on the shades to see whether or not they suit your face. This touch-and-feel aspect of shopping is absent in the online process, and discrepancies in sizing can become an issue. But fashion brands are being sold online, and there are people – in the region and abroad – buying them.
Narain Jashanmal, general manager of Jashanmal Bookstores says, “If you look at how luxury has been successful online elsewhere in the world, the ready-to-wear stuff has been difficult unless there is huge price event, like an online shopping club. In the States, you’ve got Gilt Groupe, and here you have got Sukar.com. They’ve done very well. But then again, it is a lot about facilitating private sales, rather than pure e-commerce.”
While accessories sell better than garments online, it takes a big price discount to push clothes shoppers over the hurdle presented by the variability of sizing and style.
Sukar.com is an “invitation-only” online shopping club that offers members a chance to buy fashion brands online. It was formed by the Jabbar Internet Group, which owns a number of e-commerce websites in the region including Souq.com, CashU, Tahadi, Ikoo and Cobone.
Sukar hosts two- to three-day online sales events where members can get discounts of up to 90 percent on top brands in fashion and lifestyle products, says Saygin Yalcin, Sukar’s CEO. New members are invited to join by existing ones or advertising partners*. Some of the brands on sale include D&G, Ferrari, Georgio Armani and Gucci.
The short duration of the sales allows Sukar to shift a high volume of discounted stock in a short timeframe.
And online sales don’t take customers out of stores, says Yalkin. “We have seen that people do not replace their shopping behavior by shopping at shopping clubs,” he says. “On the contrary, we have seen that brands featured on shopping clubs have enjoyed an increase of up to 15 percent offline.”
Yalcin says the Sukar model works because members can purchase top brands at large discounts, and brands feel comfortable offering the discounts because of the exclusivity of the club’s invitation-only policy. “We can sell their stock to an exclusive, controlled circle of friends. That is very important, especially if you are dealing with top brands. They value that you do not put their stock somewhere in an outlet so everyone sees it with big signs saying ‘70 to 90 percent off,’” he says. “They don’t want that.”
When it comes to moving sales online, “We can definitely say that luxury and the affluent world has been very much slower than the contemporary and mass-market brands,” adds Yalcin.
At the moment, Sukar is one of the few websites in the region selling fashion brands online. However, more are bound to follow. The company behind local retail website Nahel.com is preparing to launch VanityIs.com, where consumers can buy apparel, handbags, perfumes, shoes and accessories. (Nahel declined to elaborate on the project at this stage.)
Retailers are still trying on different styles of site, to see what will suit them and the region. Online shopping might mean risking the wrong size from time to time, but that squeeze could be worth the risk if it lets consumers stretch their budgets enough.
The Cult of Perfection
“Can you see those awful stretch marks on Malaika's stomach? What's the point of looking so good in a dress if your skin looks like that under it," a bottle blonde stranger in a leopard print jumpsuit whispered conspiratorially to me.
I was at a party in Mumbai, with a mad amalgam of artists,
designers, bankers, filmmakers, businessmen and fashionistas in attendance. With Judith Leibers clutched tightly against Hervé Léger bandage dresses and Louboutin-clad feet being crossed, what was making the evening a little surreal was the free flowing Bollinger, the heady mix of cocktails and the tiny white pills that promised happiness.
It was then that I was accosted by what seemed like a big cat on the prowl who had decided to air her views on an unsuspecting guest's body. This was typical at these parties where people you barely knew think it is acceptable to sidle up to you and comment on how you and others look. They even manage to slip in a tone of concern. If, God forbid, your brow gets furrowed, they will touch your forehead and click their tongues vexedly (which, thanks to Botox, is now the only means they have to show disapproval) and say, “why don't you get rid of these lines darling, I know a fabulous guy."
The extent of Commenting unfavourably on people's appearances has now become de rigueur. It has reached the point that the social expectation is that even lay people have to always be well turned out and perfectly coiffured. Their nails have to be buffed till they shine and not an extra inch of fat should be on display. Botox and fillers should banish age and no cowardice should be exhibited at the idea of underarm surgery so the sweat ring daren't appear on that couture dress.
The pressure to look good constantly has gotten so bad that many celebrities and socialites will just not step out of their homes without makeup, a blow dry and a designer outfit on, even if they are just running errands.
India is still a far cry from Hollywood where publications like The National Enquirer or The Star pay photographers $2 million to catch a celebrity wearing sweat pants, with a tyre of fat or a zit on display. In fact, international A-listers are so paranoid about being caught off-guard that Victoria Beckham apparently once said that she wakes up three hours before she takes her children to school to do her hair, makeup, clothes and accessories. Just so she can look the part for the paparazzi when she drops the kids off at the school gate.
But between Facebook, Twitter, blogging and even the mobile phone camera, the chance of catching an Indian celebrity unawares is high. It doesn't help that Indian websites and blogs like High Heel Confidential and Miss Malini can be relentless in their criticism and fashion policing.
Delhi-based Kalyani Saha, vice president, marketing and communications, Christian Dior, says she feels the heat too. “I have been on best dressed and most stylish lists for so many years now that you begin to feel like you have to live up to it 24-7," she says.
This new cult of perfection didn't exist until five years ago. Medi-spas offering all kinds of nips and tucks, non-surgical facelifts and spot fat reduction have proliferated all over the country. Celebrity image consultants, stylists and personal trainers now make far more money than bankers, accountants and lawyers. It is a sign of our times that dieticians now drive the 7-series BMWs and are better known than many of our politicians.
Says Geeta Rao, beauty director of Vogue magazine, “The Indian concept of beauty and body image has undergone a complete change. We are buying into a thinner, taller, less buxom silhouette. Western images of models and actresses have influenced our perception of what is beautiful. Earlier, people were far more accepting of their natural flaws. Now, if someone has an issue with a particular feature or a body part, they are willing to fix it via cosmetic or surgical intervention. Everyone wants to look good."
But fashion photographer Colston Julian thinks it's about time that celebrities understood how to dress well. “You cannot wear Zara and H&M to red carpet events. Those are high street brands. Even mid-level wannabe models and actresses have understood this and are dressing in Armani, Dior and D&G. I see a lot of fakes though and it's so embarrassing because you can tell. Celebs will carry a fake LV bag or Omega watch. Fake shoes are also a big trend. The peer pressure to wear brands is ridiculous," he says.
Consequently, many celebrities dress very carefully when they know photographers will be present. Saha is known for her immaculate dress sense, but even she has on occasion borne the brunt of blogger sarcasm. “I love High Heel Confidential. They know their job and their fashion but what is hilarious and very insightful are the comments from people who follow this site. I am criticised for some hat I am wearing or a clutch I am carrying. When I know I'm going to be photographed, I dress for these websites these days. And if I make a faux pas now I just make it into a trend," she laughs.
What Saha calls innocent banter is actually ruthless commentary. Blogs like Miss Malini and fashion magazines have also been criticised for putting pressure on celebrities to not repeat clothes, handbags and shoes. “If some Page 3 type wears the same sandals to two events, the poor girl is made out to be a fashion catastrophe," says fashion and advertising photographer Atul Kasbekar.
TV and media personality Pooja Bedi says, “A lot of people feel stressed about not wearing the same outfit to multiple events or lending clothes to siblings because the websites publish images saying, ‘look who wore her sister's clothes'. It's ridiculous to buy something for one-time utility. Letting these blogs get to you is a huge cost to your personal, financial and emotional well being."
What is really ironic is that even the usually self-assured give in to attacks of self-doubt because of the pressure. Anaita Shroff Adajania is the fashion director of Vogue India, as well as a stylist to stars like Hrithik Roshan, Bipasha Basu, Saif Ali Khan, Kareena Kapoor, Shah Rukh Khan, Deepika Padukone and Abhishek and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan. Yet, when she first accepted the job at Vogue, she found herself feeling the pressure to look a certain way. “Vogue is an institution and I struggled a bit to play and look the part, especially when I went to fashion shows abroad and everyone was carrying the right bag and was in labels from head to toe," she says.
It took advice from an unexpected quarter for Adajania to realise that the important thing was to be true to herself. “Tarun Tahiliani told me, ‘Don't try to be someone you're not. Be who you are.' And I find myself going back to that a lot."
Adajania refuses to let the pressure to look beautiful get to her, but she admits to not being averse to liposuction. “I love natural beauty, love natural flaws and am genuinely bored by people looking alike because they are all so Botoxed. Botox can become like a disease. So much so, that people eventually don't even look like the celebrity you fell in love with. No one admits it but many do some form of surgical or non-surgical intervention to fight age or improve their features. Personally, I wouldn't touch my face, it's too sacred, but if someone promised me washboard abs through lippo, I'd say, bring it on."
Many socialites feel the same way and most have promised themselves a little surgery to fight the onslaught of gravity. One was fairly candid about her many sojourns to surgeons who have promised her perkier breasts, slimmer arms and a flat stomach. “But my friends say, just buy the best underwear and Spanx money can buy and sub kuch apne aap khada rahega," she says optimistically.
With people willing to do whatever it takes to keep age firmly in check, even at the cost of losing the expression on their face, Botox has come in for severe criticism. Delhi-based celebrity cosmetic dermatologist Dr Chiranjiv Chhabra, however, defends the injectable protein, saying administering Botox and fillers is an art form. “Sometimes celebrities can be very stubborn about how much they want injected. I always ask them if they want their lines eradicated or softened. If we put about 25 units of Botox around the eyes, it looks very natural. The problem is, stars are so insecure about their lines showing that they want 40-50 units injected and so they end up looking expressionless." She runs the Skin Alive clinics in Delhi and says most of the top Bollywood actress and many of the actors are on her patient list.
I was at a party in Mumbai, with a mad amalgam of artists,
designers, bankers, filmmakers, businessmen and fashionistas in attendance. With Judith Leibers clutched tightly against Hervé Léger bandage dresses and Louboutin-clad feet being crossed, what was making the evening a little surreal was the free flowing Bollinger, the heady mix of cocktails and the tiny white pills that promised happiness.
It was then that I was accosted by what seemed like a big cat on the prowl who had decided to air her views on an unsuspecting guest's body. This was typical at these parties where people you barely knew think it is acceptable to sidle up to you and comment on how you and others look. They even manage to slip in a tone of concern. If, God forbid, your brow gets furrowed, they will touch your forehead and click their tongues vexedly (which, thanks to Botox, is now the only means they have to show disapproval) and say, “why don't you get rid of these lines darling, I know a fabulous guy."
The extent of Commenting unfavourably on people's appearances has now become de rigueur. It has reached the point that the social expectation is that even lay people have to always be well turned out and perfectly coiffured. Their nails have to be buffed till they shine and not an extra inch of fat should be on display. Botox and fillers should banish age and no cowardice should be exhibited at the idea of underarm surgery so the sweat ring daren't appear on that couture dress.
The pressure to look good constantly has gotten so bad that many celebrities and socialites will just not step out of their homes without makeup, a blow dry and a designer outfit on, even if they are just running errands.
India is still a far cry from Hollywood where publications like The National Enquirer or The Star pay photographers $2 million to catch a celebrity wearing sweat pants, with a tyre of fat or a zit on display. In fact, international A-listers are so paranoid about being caught off-guard that Victoria Beckham apparently once said that she wakes up three hours before she takes her children to school to do her hair, makeup, clothes and accessories. Just so she can look the part for the paparazzi when she drops the kids off at the school gate.
But between Facebook, Twitter, blogging and even the mobile phone camera, the chance of catching an Indian celebrity unawares is high. It doesn't help that Indian websites and blogs like High Heel Confidential and Miss Malini can be relentless in their criticism and fashion policing.
Delhi-based Kalyani Saha, vice president, marketing and communications, Christian Dior, says she feels the heat too. “I have been on best dressed and most stylish lists for so many years now that you begin to feel like you have to live up to it 24-7," she says.
This new cult of perfection didn't exist until five years ago. Medi-spas offering all kinds of nips and tucks, non-surgical facelifts and spot fat reduction have proliferated all over the country. Celebrity image consultants, stylists and personal trainers now make far more money than bankers, accountants and lawyers. It is a sign of our times that dieticians now drive the 7-series BMWs and are better known than many of our politicians.
Says Geeta Rao, beauty director of Vogue magazine, “The Indian concept of beauty and body image has undergone a complete change. We are buying into a thinner, taller, less buxom silhouette. Western images of models and actresses have influenced our perception of what is beautiful. Earlier, people were far more accepting of their natural flaws. Now, if someone has an issue with a particular feature or a body part, they are willing to fix it via cosmetic or surgical intervention. Everyone wants to look good."
But fashion photographer Colston Julian thinks it's about time that celebrities understood how to dress well. “You cannot wear Zara and H&M to red carpet events. Those are high street brands. Even mid-level wannabe models and actresses have understood this and are dressing in Armani, Dior and D&G. I see a lot of fakes though and it's so embarrassing because you can tell. Celebs will carry a fake LV bag or Omega watch. Fake shoes are also a big trend. The peer pressure to wear brands is ridiculous," he says.
Consequently, many celebrities dress very carefully when they know photographers will be present. Saha is known for her immaculate dress sense, but even she has on occasion borne the brunt of blogger sarcasm. “I love High Heel Confidential. They know their job and their fashion but what is hilarious and very insightful are the comments from people who follow this site. I am criticised for some hat I am wearing or a clutch I am carrying. When I know I'm going to be photographed, I dress for these websites these days. And if I make a faux pas now I just make it into a trend," she laughs.
What Saha calls innocent banter is actually ruthless commentary. Blogs like Miss Malini and fashion magazines have also been criticised for putting pressure on celebrities to not repeat clothes, handbags and shoes. “If some Page 3 type wears the same sandals to two events, the poor girl is made out to be a fashion catastrophe," says fashion and advertising photographer Atul Kasbekar.
TV and media personality Pooja Bedi says, “A lot of people feel stressed about not wearing the same outfit to multiple events or lending clothes to siblings because the websites publish images saying, ‘look who wore her sister's clothes'. It's ridiculous to buy something for one-time utility. Letting these blogs get to you is a huge cost to your personal, financial and emotional well being."
What is really ironic is that even the usually self-assured give in to attacks of self-doubt because of the pressure. Anaita Shroff Adajania is the fashion director of Vogue India, as well as a stylist to stars like Hrithik Roshan, Bipasha Basu, Saif Ali Khan, Kareena Kapoor, Shah Rukh Khan, Deepika Padukone and Abhishek and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan. Yet, when she first accepted the job at Vogue, she found herself feeling the pressure to look a certain way. “Vogue is an institution and I struggled a bit to play and look the part, especially when I went to fashion shows abroad and everyone was carrying the right bag and was in labels from head to toe," she says.
It took advice from an unexpected quarter for Adajania to realise that the important thing was to be true to herself. “Tarun Tahiliani told me, ‘Don't try to be someone you're not. Be who you are.' And I find myself going back to that a lot."
Adajania refuses to let the pressure to look beautiful get to her, but she admits to not being averse to liposuction. “I love natural beauty, love natural flaws and am genuinely bored by people looking alike because they are all so Botoxed. Botox can become like a disease. So much so, that people eventually don't even look like the celebrity you fell in love with. No one admits it but many do some form of surgical or non-surgical intervention to fight age or improve their features. Personally, I wouldn't touch my face, it's too sacred, but if someone promised me washboard abs through lippo, I'd say, bring it on."
Many socialites feel the same way and most have promised themselves a little surgery to fight the onslaught of gravity. One was fairly candid about her many sojourns to surgeons who have promised her perkier breasts, slimmer arms and a flat stomach. “But my friends say, just buy the best underwear and Spanx money can buy and sub kuch apne aap khada rahega," she says optimistically.
With people willing to do whatever it takes to keep age firmly in check, even at the cost of losing the expression on their face, Botox has come in for severe criticism. Delhi-based celebrity cosmetic dermatologist Dr Chiranjiv Chhabra, however, defends the injectable protein, saying administering Botox and fillers is an art form. “Sometimes celebrities can be very stubborn about how much they want injected. I always ask them if they want their lines eradicated or softened. If we put about 25 units of Botox around the eyes, it looks very natural. The problem is, stars are so insecure about their lines showing that they want 40-50 units injected and so they end up looking expressionless." She runs the Skin Alive clinics in Delhi and says most of the top Bollywood actress and many of the actors are on her patient list.
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