My glittering glimmering ensemble for the festive season

I am yet to come across a person who does not like the festivals and all the festivities, celebrations and joy associated with them. Though I am the kind of a person who also takes fun in dressing up for the festivities, too. And why should I not, it is not everyday that I get a chance to get dressed up in a peculiar way for the festivals.

My dressing style for the round of festivities keeps changing as per the festivals and rituals associated with it. But for most of the times, my theme of dressing stays the same. When I came across the Shoppers Stop contest on http://www.indiblogger.in/, I could not help myself not thinking of a virtual make-over with the huge bounty of options at their online site, that could even give a match-stick a chance to get dressed up with some elegance. So, obviously I had a way lot of permutations and combinations at my disposal.

So, here I go with my ensemble, that I put across with the numerous options and sub-options available with them.

1. BASIC DRESSED KURTI

http://www.shoppersstop.com/cat-Women-Womens-Apparel-Kurtas-Haute-Curry-Mix-and-Match-Kurta-262-317302-8281062.html

I loved this ethnic kurti the moment I saw it. I love the playful of colors in it; and the style of its choli and patterns at the bottom are just what made me go for it.


2. PLAIN GREEN PATIALA

http://www.shoppersstop.com/cat-Women-Womens-Apparel-Churidars,Salwar-and-Dupatta-Stop-Mix-N-Match-Plain-Patiala-262-325242-7973802.html

I decided to match the playful-colourful kurti with this plain sheer coloured Patiala. It will compliment the kurti well, as it is "dark green" in colour. This colour is not that prominent in the kurti. So, this patiala sets a perfect match for the selected kurti.

3. STOLE

http://www.shoppersstop.com/cat-Women-Womens-Apparel-Scarves--Stoles-Shingora-Stole-262-339942-8015262.html

I loved this Shingora styled stole; and the very fact that it looks like a part of the kurti that I selected, is a major reason to pick up this one. Also, not to forget that it has fringed ends, that look very stylish....

4. SHOES

http://www.shoppersstop.com/cat-Women-Womens-Shoes-Sandals-and-Slipons-Haute-Curry---Ladies-Footwear-262.html

I felt so lucky the moment I glanced upon these ballerina-cum-Mojrie shoes by Haute Curry. They have the front look of a traditional mojrie, which go very well with patiala and kurti duo. But the interesting stuff is its ballerina ends with a buckle. They ensure comfort and look chic, and of course the golden trinkets are just divine. I could not have asked for anything more for these festivities.

5. NOSE PIN

http://www.shoppersstop.com/cat-Women-Womens-Accessories-Fine-Jewellery-Nose-pin-Nirvana-Nose-Pin-NR-85059-262.html

Now after the main ensemble, I move on to the jewellery. I loved the simplicity of this nose pin. Just so simple and elegant.

6. EAR RING

http://www.shoppersstop.com/cat-Women-Womens-Accessories-Fashion-Jewellery--Accessories-Earrings-AYESHA---Papyrus-Bud-Gold-Drop-Earrings-262.html

These antique feel crystal drop shimmering ear danglers seem to go perfect with my choice of attire.

7. NECKLACE

http://www.shoppersstop.com/cat-Women-Womens-Accessories-Fashion-Jewellery--Accessories-Chains--Necklaces-AYESHA---Cluster-of-Topaz-beads-262.html

Going further with my theme of keeping the jewels to a bare minimum with just a little touch of shimmer, I found this necklace that merges well with my ear rings with a drop of crystals and a dull gold hue.

8. BRACELET

http://www.shoppersstop.com/cat-Women-Womens-Accessories-Fashion-Jewellery--Accessories-Bracelets-AYESHA---Dull-Gold-Crystal-Bracelet-262.html

Oh I just love it, love it and love it. This bracelet has this vintage feel to it, and I love the middle rhinestone embedding. With its dull chained hoops, nothing else could have come close to my overall cast of jewelery for this festive look.

9. RING

http://www.shoppersstop.com/cat-Women-Womens-Accessories-Fine-Jewellery-Rings-Nakshatra-18KT-Gold-Ring-with-0.15cts-diamonds-262.html

This ring by Nakshatra not only goes perfect as being beautiful in itself, but it also goes super-duper as a pal with my nose pin, since both are in 18k gold.

10. HAIR PINS

http://www.shoppersstop.com/cat-Women-Womens-Accessories-Fashion-Jewellery--Accessories-Hair-Accessories-AYESHA---Sparkling-Gold-Bow-Hair-Sliders-262.html

Just when I thought I was done with my jewellery, I came across these beautiful hair pins. Just look at them, who will not want to include them in the festivities attire..well I might even keep on wearing them even after the celebrations are over. A big muah to them.

11. WATCH

http://www.shoppersstop.com/cat-Women-Womens-Accessories-Watches-Fossil---Womens-Watch---ES2845-262.html

Since I am wearing that bracelet on my right hand, so I decided to wear this beautiful beautiful watch by Fossil on my left hand. The golden and platinum hues in this match up with my already selected jewelry to the big T.

12. HAND BAG

http://www.shoppersstop.com/cat-Women-Womens-Accessories-Handbags-Hidesign---Handbag-262-316282-8570982.html

The first time I glanced upon this handbag, my eyes were just stuck to my computer screen ogling on this masterpiece. Just how did Hidesign get to know that I needed just this kind of bag to carry with me for this festive look!!

13. CLUTCH

http://www.shoppersstop.com/cat-Women-Womens-Accessories-Wallets--Clutches-French-Connection-Ladies-Kimberly-Sparkle-Box-Clutch-262.html

Well, again it goes without saying that this clutch had to find a place in my ensemble. Together with the money in it, it will go inside my hand bag. Well, don't they both look like from the same clan??

14. PEN

http://www.shoppersstop.com/cat-Women-Womens-Accessories-Pens-Century-14Kt-Rolled-Gold-Ball-Pen-By-Cross-262.html

I know this one looks nothing related to the sort of the theme of this contest, as the theme clearly states about picking and selecting apparels and accessories from the online retail site of Shoppers Stop, but picking up this pen and adding it to the list of accessories is not going to harm anyone, rather it will add to the overall theme of glitter and sparkling accessories that I have already selected. And you never know I might just flash this one at the time of need, well people do play games like Tambola during the get together of festive season. I am sure if that happens, me and my Cross pen will dazzle for sure.

15. BELT

http://www.shoppersstop.com/cat-Women-Womens-Accessories-Belts-Haute-Curry---Womens-Fancy-Belt-262-324062-7532642.html

And when I thought I was done with my glitter accessories, I just stumbled upon this gorgeous golden belt. I am sure by now each one of you reading the post will agree to this. Just how can I say no to it. This belt will snug tightly to my kurti, and will make my profile stand out.

16. FINAL TIT-BIT
I was just wondering if I left anything out that could have made my festive look more prominent, and it struck me that I had ignored my undergarments. Well, how can one possibly leave out such an important part of one's wardrobe. So, now here I include the most important of the festive look, since this serves as the base of the entire overall outer appearance. And yes, you have guessed it correct. It is also in the glittery, shimmering tone of Gold...

http://www.shoppersstop.com/cat-Women-Womens-Apparel-Lingerie-Bras-Enamor-Padded-Strapless-Bra-262-317162-7607682.html

http://www.shoppersstop.com/cat-Women-Womens-Apparel-Lingerie-Briefs-Enamor-Low-Waist-Panty-262-317182-7606322.html

So finally I think my festive look is done with the accessories and apparels from the Shoppers Stop festive collection. Hope it turns out good when done in real.

Hope you like it....Let me know if you do not...Happy Celebrations....

HANDMADE GIFTING

I am yet to find anyone who does not like to receive “Gifts”. There is something with the gifts that make not just receiving, but also gifting them to someone beautiful. No wonder, gifting is classified as an art lately. The modern day retail outlets leave us with a lot of options for gifting. The branded merchandise out there available in the malls is put up for buying as gifts. But the catch to this comes when the occasion or the person to be gifted comes out to be really special.

Like for your grandmother’s 80^th birthday, gifting something that she would really appreciate and use becomes a challenge. Of course options that could come close could be a nice warm stole, her favorite flowers, her favorite perfume and few more. But surely if it is your grandmother’s 80^th birthday, you must have already gifted such gifts to her.

At times like these one really wishes that there could be something available somewhere that would be made especially for your grandmother. Gifts for such occasions would come in the customized category. And generally customized gifts are handmade, since it would be close to impossible for some enterprise to come up with unique and individual crafted gifts for a lot many customers of them through the mechanized route.
Ceramics with a customized hand painted art on them like the mugs, plates and other forms of cutlery are a good gifting option. Many such customized gifting options might be found in a kiosk format in a mall in your city. They can help you get a customized handmade art form uniquely designed as per the likings of the special person you wish to gift.

If you are staying away from such a customized hand painting kiosk in your place or if your grandmother stays away from you, you should fear not. Many of the today’s customized handmade gifting enterprises are on the internet. They exist as handmadeselling sites that could accept your instructions online; and then they could create the product with the art form which can then be shipped to your grandmother’s destination in no time. Such sites would array many other customized gifts leaving you with loads of options for gifting. Probably you will run out of occasions, because the customized handmade art can never run out of ideas.

Online Vs. Offline

When comparing a typical brick-and-mortar galley to an online art gallery, the biggest advantage is indeed of the 24 hours availability of the store. All thanks to Tim Berners Lee, that today the World Wide Web is widely used to create virtual stores for selling practically everything, any time of the year, season, week or day. Second is the reach.

Though, the real world craft fairs are hugely popular, but the reach to far fetch places is just beyond them. On the other hand, online stores could be restricted to just few geographies initially, but their success and word-of-mouth publicity propels them to become a part of each and every individual in every part of the world. Thirdly, and most importantly, it saves a lot of capital for all. Renting a display arena on the internet is much cheaper than a physical one. The capital expenditure on the retail constitutes a major portion. The ultimate retail cost of a handmade art at any physical gallery is mainly made up of the retail expenditures.

Whereas, using the website as a location saves the huge display costs involved in showcasing the products. On the other hand, the physical feel of the product is substituted by larger than life pictures of them. Also the detailed information do away with all the questions pertaining to the products that a customer might have regarding before the purchase of products. Most of the online art gallery also facilitates interactions between the buyers and sellers, leading to reducing all the barriers to trade a minimum. That allows the craftsmen to get involved with the prospective buyers in their purchasing decisions, leading to smoother transactions, thus reducing disputes after the payments and shipping.

Location does not come anywhere as a barrier to the online trade for the intricate arts and crafts. In fact with the advent of payment gateways, the estranged effect of the payment currency is also done away with. The buyers and sellers can negotiate within themselves to deal in the currency that they find feasible. In fact with the universal payment gateway products like Paypal, transactions happen within no time in practically any currency in this World. But for the entire mankind, the biggest advantage still remains the access to the cross cultural diversity on this Earth. The products from Africa like the handmade art made on an Ostrich egg can now be accessible to someone sitting in Adelaide in few days, and that too without preparing a cumbersome travel itinerary to Africa. This is the magnificence of being a part of the revolution called online art gallery.

Pop-Tart Pop Art - PittGirl - April 2011 - Pittsburgh, PA

Pop-Tart Pop Art - PittGirl - April 2011 - Pittsburgh, PA

What can one really do with BARE HANDS. To answer that, one can come up with a lot of answers in all the possible directions, but if the question is limited to artistic and creative ranges, then the options remain really few. If the question is added with few props then probably there could be few definite answers. But if the prop being a POP-TART, what really one could do with them and one's own bare hands??

Well, few could really do. There are few beings who could use their hands and creative insights to bring forth something definite that not only looks beautiful and cool, but also brings positivity to the mankind. One such person in Tyler Kozar. He created pop-tart art using wrappers and boxes out of 1 million of them!!!

The goodies inside the boxes he donated to local non-profits. Tyler happens to be a student from the Arts Institute of Pittsburgh. No wonder he won the contest of receiving 1 million of pop-tarts, which was sponsored by Kellogg's.

Probably if such creativity and exhibit of love for mankind can be brought about through pop-tarts, then indeed sky is the limit.

Check out my favourite from the Kozar's pop-tart collection

Crafty and unconvincing

Crafty and unconvincing - Indian Express

Whenever I read such news, I feel a sense of satisfaction in starting my virtual store of handmade crafts. The biggest advantage, as is evident is of 24 hours availability of the store. All thanks to Tim Berners Lee, that today the World Wide Web is widely used to create virtual stores for selling practically everything, any time of the year, season, week or day. Second comes the reach. Though, the real World craft fairs are hugely popular, but the reach to far fetch places is just beyond them.On the other hand, online stores could be restricted to few geographies initially, but their success and word-of-mouth publicity leads them to become a part of each and every individual in every part of the World. Thirdly, and most importantly, it saves a lot of capital for all. The craftsmen/sellers; the buyers as well as the organizers of the fair save on the cost of the location that eats up the major chunk of the revenue. Using the website as a location saves the huge display costs involved in showcasing the products. The displayed pictures, information as well as the sellers' details available online help in regulating the trade smoothly with minimal troughs.

Wish the IGNCA at least had invested in a web store, then probably NGOs like Dastkar and its craftsmen would have had a little hope. On the hindsight, I am proud and delighted to share that one of the craftsmen on my site is an educated man from a village in Madhya Pradesh who makes a living by creating handmade fabric with motifs and caricatures hand-printed on them. The art is locally called the "Baig art"

Each metre of fabric hardly costs 5$, and can be shipped worldwide.

The beauty of the handmade art is evident in the pictures of the collection. Please follow the link to view the same.

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150164193384550.305062.308958804549&type=3