Category Archives: Fashion

Shimla trip in style with Dhatu as a fashion accessory

The Shimla town, constructed by Britishers on mountainscapes, seems like colorful dots during the day and glittering “diyas” during the night to me. In fact, the ethereal beauty of whole Himachal attracts me with its new colors and culture. I have done Shimla trip many times and every time its picturesque landscapes and culture introduced me to something new and this time it was a Himachali head scarf Dhatu also known as Rahide. In winters amid cold breeze and bright sunshine, the local people are seen dressed up in colorful clothes with dhatu which makes the whole town colorful.

Shimla Trip in style with Dhatu as a fashion accessory

The colorful Dhatu/ Rahide during Shimla Trip

The Dhatu is a 1-meter long colorful head scarf worn by Himachali women.  It protects the head from cold breeze and is a part of traditional attire at places. I bought myself one as a fashion accessory. The dhatu is mostly handcrafted and it comes in different fabrics, colors and patterns. The traditional one comes in crimson color with the golden fringes.

Fabric – The preferable fabric used for Dhatu is wool and there are further varieties of wool in it like Angora, pashmina, yak, sheep etc. The other types of fabrics used in Dhatu making are chiffon, cotton, silk, jacquard, georgette, velvet etc.

Shimla Trip in style with Dhatu as a fashion accessory

Designs & Patterns – The Dhatus come with colorful designs and prints, which depict the rich flora and fauna of the Himachal state. The most common were mythological images, floral patterns, fruits and random designs.

History of Dhatu

It is centuries old accessory; handcrafted by women. In upper Himachal women wear it as a part of culture especially when they visit their ancestral places. Some wear it to protect themselves from cold. Also heard a myth that it is also worn to protect men from seeing women’s hair as men get crazy seeing them.

How Dhatu is worn

It is extremely simple to wear Dhatu, just like a Bandana. The scarf is worn around the forehead and is knotted behind at the head. Else, you can also carry it as neck scarves. Their awesome prints and patterns can make any of your dress look bright.

Shimla Trip in style with dhatu as a fashion accessory

Maintenance of Dhatu

Dhatu in silk and georgette fabric should be dry cleaned whereas those of wool and cotton can be washed with the mild detergents. Don’t soak it for longer periods as they might lose some colors.

Price range

The price for this head accessory varies from 150- 1000 Rs. It completely depends upon the material and design. I bought this beautiful red colored woolen accessory in just 250 Rs. (Remember to bargain, if you can).

So, I added a one more bright colorful accessory to my collection during this Shimla trip and I wish to keep on traveling and adding more such amazing things each time.

Pre-Christmas Celebration Sale by Samant Chauhan, Shahpur Jat Delhi

Located between the narrow lanes and unpaved roads where the vehicles don’t enter and everything fancy and designer can be shopped on foot, this place is no other than Shahpur Jat Village. Oh! I said village. Don’t go by the name, it has the essence of more than a village and less than the city. Here at Shahpur Jat; the top most designers like Monika & Nidhi, Samant Chauhan, Pratik & Priyanka have set up their boutiques and manufacturing units because of the space availability and low price tag of real estate as compared to other markets. This holy place for shoppers is a blessing who want everything fancy and designer.

Shahpur jat delhi
Source – www.utsavpedia.com

I have been to Shahpur Jat several times before but this time the things were special. I was invited for “Biggest Samant Chauhan Pre-Christmas Celebration Sale” on 22nd December.  The location for the same was 417, Gora Street, Near Jungi House Lane at Shahpur Jat, New Delhi. This was exciting and thrilling as it was my first event as a Blogger.

The Samant Chauhan boutique is spread over three floors. The entrance has a nice cool Christmas decoration in white with the wood all around.

Samant Chauhan Shahpur Jat Delhi

Throughout all the floors, I could feel the shopping spree. Be it on apparels, accessories like leather pouches, jackets, belts, bags, shoes, jewelry etc.  (There were good discounts from 30% – 70 %)

Leather Belts & wooden wine bottle box at Samant Chauhan Shahpur Jat Delhi

Everything was so creative. Check these bags with the bird’s embroidery in leather. Aren’t they adorable? I simply fell for one of them. And my luck, there was no discount on it.

Leather bags, pouches, Laptop Sleeves at Samant chauhan Shahpur Jat Delhi

I could catch Mr. Samant Chauhan during drinks for a small chit chat to find out what is so exclusive about his collection. And the answer is their costumes are designed on Bhagalpuri Silk or Tussar silk and they mostly use white, cream and beige colors. White at times can be boring but not when they have a unique style and are made colorful with embroidery and other works on it. Check the few intricate designs I could capture.

White & beige couture with intricate designs by Samant chauhan at Shahpur jat Delhi

Check out the bag and trunks collection which were the part of wall decor as well as the selling products.

Hand Bags and Trunks at Samant Chauhan Shahpur Jat delhi

And here are some brand partners associated with Samant Chauhan boutique. The first one is a cute girl Meenakshi, the name behind useme. She collects all type of scrap and makes some beautiful creative art pieces out of it.

Meenakshi, Founder of Use Me at Samant Chauhan Shahpur Jat Delhi
Meenakshi, The founder of Use Me
Pouches made from kits, zips and denims at Samant Chauhan Shahpur Jat Delhi
Pouches made from kits, zips and denim scrap

The second Champ is a girl with splendid knowledge of fragrances and perfumes. She runs her own brand by the name ITC Haute Parfumerie. I was knocked down by their perfume with wood and absinth fragrance, (I don’t know much about the fragrances but she explained me certain things quite well) priced around 12,000/-. And their other fragrances range usually from 4K – 24 K.

ITC Haute Parfumerie at Samant chauhan Shahpur Jat Delhi
ITC Haute Parfumerie

And how can I forget the girl who customizes beautiful footwears? She has her own brand in the name of Flori and supplies to 24 outlets in India. I could capture own of her design and really loved her whole collection for comfort as well as designs. (I wanted to grab these green ones at a very nominal price of Rs 1200 but didn’t get my size)

Footwears by Flori at Samant chauhan Shahpur Jat delhi
Footwear by Flori

No celebration is complete without drinks. So, how can this be? Here was a toast to Samant Chauhan and his success at a small bar within his establishment.

Bar at Samant Chauhan Shahpur Jat Delhi

And at the end of the day, it was a pleasant goodbye with some Christmas goodies as a return gift.

Christmas Goodies by Samant Chauhan at Shahpur Jat Delhi

You can follow him on facebook at – https://www.facebook.com/samantchauhan

and at Instagram – http://instagram.com/samantchauhan

10 Tips for Visiting Wedding Exhibition

Ring on your hand and planning for the big day- But question is where to start shopping from? Simple solution is an upcoming wedding exhibition. Come on brides, bride maids and grooms of Delhi “Wedding Asia – 2016” is in New Delhi for 3 days from 15-17 July at The Hotel Ashok, where you will get to see everything under one roof  – be it dresses, jewellery, decor, wedding planners, cards, sweet boxes or sweets. These days will be full of glamour, dresses, designers and wedding discussions .

Here, are 10 tips for visiting wedding exhibition:

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Most Important enjoy the day, try cakes and sweets, click lots and lots of photographs with the stuff and your besties. Be yourself and explore the wedding exhibition.

Spectrum of colors – VIBGYOR

Colors are refreshing, they cheer me up.

Add charm in my life, uplift my mood and give me a different sense of being.

Even nature wears color with high spirits.

They are what is not black or white. Color make something alive or dead.

VIBGYOR or rainbow colors are known to us since childhood, and still we get happy seeing them.

Do you know they affect us psychologically? Yes! You read it right. These affect our body reactions. Our body perceives each color differently and results in various emotional responses. In the string of seven colors: Red, Orange and Yellow are considered to be warm whereas Green, Blue, Indigo and Violet are cool ones.

Spectrum of Colors - VIBGYOR
Spectrum of Colors – VIBGYOR

They make us look attractive or dull;  affect our perceptions, emotions, stress level and so our behavior. Not always but sometimes we need to be cautious while choosing our apparel color for particular occasions.

Click on the each color to read ahead.

  1. The Red 
  2. The Orange
  3. The Yellow 
  4. The Green
  5. The Blue
  6. The Indigo
  7. The Violet