Brooch Brooch hota hai!

Finally, my dear friend Sabina Gulati made me statement brooches and rings that I always wanted. They feature my mother's photographs and have now become my prized possessions. The star-shaped brooch says 'Ishq' in Urdu is a chunky piece that I intend to wear on a nehru jacket or a solid-coloured sherwani or a casual blazer.

An old photograph of my mother's that was captured in a ring.

An old photograph of my mother that was captured in a ring and a brooch.

This brooch says 'Ishq' in Urdu and combines Islamic and Hindu elements to make a fabulous, modern, statement piece.

This brooch has a detachable arrangement to make it possible to pin to another piece.

Ring 01

Ring 02

The final look!

Paint me Pink!

Gulabi Mela or Q-Fete 2014, in its second year was bigger, bolder and bustling with revellers and fun activity. It was an instant hit from the word 'go'. Firstly the venue, Bhalla House, located at the fag end of Hill Road, was just perfect. The spacious courtyard easily  accommodated all the goodies and food stalls, thus giving it the apt 'mela' look-n-feel. Another very important aspect to note was the dance area that was separate from the stalls, avoiding discomfort to shoppers or those participating in games and fun activities.

Organized by the group 'Yaariyan', with a special mention to Sibi Mathen and Shruta Neytra, the event took off on time and attracted many regular shoppers, besides of course people from the community, which were almost 400 in number.

The event's main objective was to raise funds for Queer Azaadi March or The Mumbai Pride and is one of the many happenings of the 'pride' month!

It was truly no less than a 'mela' with brands like Item Number (with their quirky, kitschy and colourful India & Bollywood-inspired designs on bags, cushion covers, mugs and more), Queer Ink (Publisher and Retailer of resources on Gender and Sexual Diversities in India), Awasme89 (a brand selling fetish undies) and others that were selling handmade accessories. Activity stalls included photography basics, games (Plug The Shit was my favourite one), tattoo art, tarot card reading and others. But a special mention for India's first LGBTQ-themed shop/store, Azaad Bazaar. And going by the crowd-pulling stuff at their stall that shoppers went crazy buying, it was proof enough that these 'AzBaz' girls were being missed terribly by members of the community. (A big thank you for being there ladies). And to complete the experience we also had some food stalls selling finger-licking good food (yummy yummy) and a dance floor with a DJ that also hosted a Zumba choreographer, Tabi.

A small corner at the venue was dedicated to poster painting where anyone and everyone was provided free art material to bring out the artist in them. The posters would then be used at the Queer Azaadi March in February 2014.

Enterance

Queer Ink's corner

Poster Painting

Azaad Bazaar Stall

Sab and Sim

AzBaz Badges

Fetish Undies

Creative Displays

Quirky Accessories

Item Number's Stall

Tattoo for a cause

Pink Baloons

Catching up

At the Dance Floor

The Crowd

Shobna of Queer Ink

Hotness Shloka with Inderjit Nagi

Friends

Peace

Beard one!

Once upon a time there was probably no option but to had a beard, then slowly the trend took a U turn and everyone started to sport just the moustache and then the phenomena happened, everyone wanted to go clean shaven! So you either had a beard or you didn't, and anything in between could suggest not a man of style but a man in strife.

Today it's a complete different scene altogether. Yes, the beard is back and how. For some it's a religious necessity, think Sikh and Muslims and some Sadhu's, but for many its sortta fashionable right now. From actors to models, politicians to common man, from designers to artist, everyone is suddenly sporting the trendiest beards and moustache to be in vogue.

The wearers are not assumed lazy or bankrupt - looking like you are channelling Ned Kelly is a fashion statement for the modern man.

It might now, but with a twist: the growth would be groomed to perfection, and the Coolabah cask replaced with an espresso martini.

Right now we live in the age of the designer beard - stubble reigns supreme, and even full beards decorate catwalks, red carpets and football fields.

But it is a trend that is clipping the shaving industry's profits.

Bring it on the craziest one and you may select the one you like to sport this season!

Select your option!

Make Up artist Elton Fernandez from Mumbai

Way back in the 15th century!

That's spooky

Ah! the Maharajas

Interesting!

Love the colour

Fashionista!

Ranveer Singh, before, during and after Ramleela

Phew!