I had previously mentioned dupatta saris. So I thought I would share. This is Rani Mukherjee in the film Baabul. During her wedding she dons this incredible sari…

The sari and the hijab…two good things on their own but HIDEOUS when paired together. Yes, I said hideous. The sari is beautiful, graceful, traditional, and fashionable. The hijab is a part of religion and more than just a headscarf. It is also interpreted differently by various individuals. I’m not going to get into that though. Some people wear a hijab or headscarf with a sari. It’s very unfashionable, untraditional, and just plain ugly. I have nothing against hijab but it just doesn’t go with a sari! I mean, just look how stupid it looks:

For the more conservative woman who thinks a sari won’t cover her head, she’s wrong! In fact, our mothers and especially grandmothers were more conservative than us and they managed to cover their heads while wearing a sari. That’s exactly what the pallu is for! It’s purpose is not to be thrown over the soldier Bollywood style. The pallu was always meant to cover ones head when necessary or required and does a perfect job of doing so. There is no need for a separate headpiece. Especially one that doesn’t belong. In fact, if you wanted to go a step further, you could even cover your face with the pallu if you wanted. It’s all quite possible when you have six to nine yards of fabric…the possibilities are endless.

Now if you don’t like this look or you feel the pallu is not long enough, I suggest a Dupatta Sari. Many saris come with a matching dupatta. If draped appropriately they do a quite fine job of covering the head and looking elegant as well.

Many saris, not just bridal saris, come with matching dupattas. They are elegant and beautiful. If your sari doesn’t come with one you can always find a matching one. Don’t follow the model though. This may not be the look you’re trying to achieve. Saris usually come with long, free flowing, and large enough sized dupattas to cover your head and drape elegantly over your shoulders.

The dupatta goes with many sari drapes and does a great job of changing up and enhancing any look.

The dupatta sari is not just for brides. Try one today and see what you think.

I think that pink and its variations are the forgotten colors this season. What I haven’t seen much of is pink. Light pink is for the spring. Hot pink is for summer and magenta carries through summer and fall easily. In fact, it is fashionable at weddings all year long. Though I must say I did come across magenta at one point.

With summer ending soon try hot pink or magenta one of these days for a nice change from the other dull looks and if you haven’t yet definitely invest in orange!

It’s been one busy summer with all the weddings. Some so lavish and some not so great. Overall, orange has been very hot amongst the guests. Anarkalis retained their popularity. Saris flooded the room and lenghas shined in bright, hot colors. Ghararas have slowly been making a popular comeback as well. One thing is certain. There have been a lot of blue brides! No, they’re not blue themselves but there is definitely a blue trend. It has made me wonder if brides are wearing blue because they really do love it or just to be trend followers? The modern bride is a rebel. She does not follow traditions!

Red remains the bridal color and always will but does it retain its popularity? That depends. Many brides will wear red on their wedding day while making exceptions for other wedding rituals and events. Some will portray only glimpses of red. Many other colors are starting to take over and lead the way.

I’ll admit that red did get a bit boring. Especially brides who thought that if they wore red there was no need to make any effort. Especially, some of the plain, non-bridal lenghas that became the rage. Probably the worst part of the red rage is that even those brides who don’t traditionally wear red began to do so. Contrary to the popular belief, not all Indian brides wear red. Gujarati brides wear the red and white panetar. Which is loosing its place. Gujarati as well as many other brides are dressing less traditionally and wearing red or blue or gold. Instead of saris they are wearing lenghas. Though lenghas are regal saris are not any less elegant.

June and July were the busiest for weddings. However, summer has not yet ended and wedding seasons continues through Fall. I hope I don’t see anymore blue. In addition, those who wear black to weddings should be banned! Brides should learn to look like one and guests should take Fashion 101. Many traditions are slowly disappearing and will sadly become extinct as new ones take over.

The narrow pallu is nothing new. Though not often seen it has been around for a while. Think Shilpa Shetty. So why isn’t it exactly popular. Well, who has the perfect figure to pull it off! I found some saris with narrow, butterfly pallus in net fabric and in a lengha style pre-stiched style as well. Wow, that’s a lot!

The narrow pallu sari is for the daring young lady and not a choice for those who dress more conservatively. It’s quite revealing and appealing and very Bollywood.

This sari is similar to traditional Indonesian clothes.

Though definitely a sari, the drape and blouse style give it a different look. To achieve the look fold the pallu to make it narrow. A longer length, long-sleeve blouse completes the look. Check out the similarities:

A new trend in wedding history is the blue trend. It sure is awful. Since when did blue become a wedding color? Ok, so red and white are the obvious and gold we all know. There was a gold trend for a while, few years back. Green is the color of Marathi brides and some brides even wear the red and green combo. Some South Indian brides wear yellow saris and pink is understandable. But where in all this does blue come in? Blue is not a bridal color! It is not even considered an auspicious color in our culture. Vibrant orange, on the other hand, would fit in better. But blue…someone please explain!

I am a huge fan of new and interesting choli styles. The traditional ones tend to be my favorites but some of the newer trendier styles are quite lovely and fascinating as well. However, when I saw this I was quite stunned. It is hideous! I don’t know who would wear this but it sure is UGLY! I mean what is it supposed to be anyway? Is she wearing her clothes backwards? Whatever it is, it’s in no way appealing.

I found this sari and the blouse style is quite interesting. Puffy long sleeves accentuate this subtle green sari. Notice how only one sleeve is puffy while the other doesn’t exist. This is necessary if the sari will be draped in this manner. Want both sleeves this way? Then be sure to pull up the pallu in a drape that shows both sleeves.

You’ve seen the jacket sari, now check out the sari jacket. Sari jackets come in varying lengths from long to short. This has been seen a lot lately on the runway. Once considered tacky, pairing a jacket with a sari has now become a fashionable trend. Be sure to match your jacket with your sari though!

No, I’m not referring to getting married! In fact, I’m talking about tying the knot on the choli or sari blouse. The most popular blouse style right now is with the dori, or string. These tye-back blouses are attractive and beautiful. How low you choose to keep your back neckline is really up to you but be sure to have your tailor add one of these little strings for you. It’s a special touch that will really complete any look!

Perhaps a little taken aback by the new orange rage? Maybe you wear never even daring enough to wear red, forget orange! If you just cant get yourself to wear orange then don’t. Perhaps you think it’s ugly or it may not even suit our skin tone. Orange is not for everyone. So mellow it out with peach. Now when I say peach I don’t mean beige or champagne. I mean peach. The lighter version of orange. Oh, and here’s a tip, if it doesn’t look good on you, then please don’t wear it!

Red, commonly worn by brides and considered auspicious in our culture, may have been replaced. Orange is definitely the new red this summer! Normally, at a wedding you may or may not see the bride wearing red. However, at least a dozen guests appear in their finest red saris. I can relate because this happened at my own wedding. However, this was a few years ago. This summer, every wedding I’ve attended has been bombarded by orange. Even I was wearing orange. Orange is really hot this year. Bright orange will get you through the summer and burnt orange is perfect for the fall months. Want to look the best at the next big wedding or event? Then get yourself an orange sari or lengha and make a statement!

This question I struggle to answer constantly. I love anarkalis. They’re nothing new of course. An ancient invention that has suddenly hit the runways with great splendor. However, they’re so overpriced! For $200 you get a quite simple anarkali. The anarkali carries with it elegance and grace but what you get for such a huge price tag doesn’t come close enough to the type of lavish outfit you need for a wedding. On the other hand, if you were to buy a sari with the same amount of money you could easily get a very fancy sari quite appropriate to wear to a wedding! A wedding appropriate anarkali would run you atleast $400! Perhaps they are overpriced because they are so popular and they know that we will buy them anyway. Or maybe, because of the amount of fabric used? No, I thought that was it but it isn’t. The sari contains a lot more fabric! However, the anarkali actually has to be sewn together whereas the sari requires very minimal sewing…except maybe the blouse. It upsets me that they are so expensive but then again I still buy them.

Although the long winter months have finally come to an end I’m still reminded of that horrid cold and attending weddings and parties in sheer saris. My friends and I would promenade to these events in our lovely saris sadly freezing. None of us dare wear a jacket on top! That would just look hideous. Not anymore. Satya Paul’s jacket sari takes it to the next level! Makes you wanna rethink…do it, if you dare!

I do love to go shopping but only for Indian clothes. The Western counterparts are rather dull and boring. It’s all about labels, whereas in sari land it doesn’t matter as long as it looks great…for the most part at least. Something I just realized, though there are endless styles and colors it really all comes down to the basics. This never happened before but today I somehow didn’t know what I wanted or what to get. There’s just not enough colors to choose from! All other shades are variations of the major colors. What do you do when you run out of blue, green, orange, yellow, red, white, black, pink, purple, and their similar counterparts?

Another sad part of the shopping experience was that there was so much black! Black anarkalis were pouring off the racks and various lengths and shapes. All this made my day one of the major shopping spree a bit depressing. I hope what the weekend ahead brings is much more colorful and exciting!

I went shopping today. It’s been a while. It was my usual search for anarkalis and saris. Saris I find quite easily because I know where to look and frankly because they are a one-size-fit-all. Anarkalis, on the other hand, are quite the opposite. First you have to find your size. Then it may or may not fit! If you’re short, you’re very less likely to find an anarkali because they are way too long for you. I encounter the same problem. To make it all worse I saw some of the most hideous and ugliest anarkalis on the planet! They were anarkali kurtas, which are supposed to come with churidars, but instead came with pants! Are you kidding me?? Since when did pants come back. They are long gone and I hope they never return. When they were popular I once attended a wedding where the bride wore pants! That was just depressing. Anarkalis are being reinvented. You still see some of the traditional styles but more of the uglier, newer ones. So not trendy!

There are some questions that always puzzle and intrigue me. The answers, when I learn them, will fascinate me even more. I am very interested in knowing more about the Indian garment. I wonder if in Bollywood films, do they really pleat the actresses’ saris or do they merely just don an automatic “sari.” I know that in Devdas, the famous blue sari worn by Aishwarya Rai, took several hours to drape. I truly admire the beauty and grace of the nine yard Bengali beauty. The Bengali sari is so elegant and unique. It was upsetting that she didn’t wear that sari for very long in the movie. So much trouble for just a few seconds. What a waste.

Another question that puzzles me on a daily basis is that how, in the movies and on Indian television, do they make their pallu or dupatta firmly adhere to their head?? I know brides do it all the time. However, bobby pins are used many times. I’ve even heard of the use of safety pins…Ouch!! Another technique is to sew little hooks into the dupatta and then slide bobby pins through them, securing them through the head. Sure this is a great idea but I don’t have the time to do this to all my clothes! I wonder if they really do this on Indian television?? Any answers to my puzzling questions will be appreciated.

Going back to Bengali saris I just want to say that it saddens me to see them dissappearing. Everyone is draping the sari in the usual modern manner. Not that I have anything against that and it is perfectly fine but many drapes and styles are very sadly becoming obsolete…which I will discuss more upon later.

…that depends how you define a sari. A sari, as most of us know, is pleated with a pallu usually thrown over on of the shoulders. Now with the lengha sari and two-piece sari it makes one wonder what a sari really is. After much thought and consideration I’ve come to my own conclusion of what makes up a sari. Six to nine yards of free flowing fabric. Pleats. An attached pallu. This means that the “two-piece” sari is out of the question. I’m not sure I have yet understood its concept anyway. You mind as well say chaniya choli, lengha, ghagra choli. However, the lengha sari is a different story. It does have an attached pallu, several yards of free flowing fabric, yet no pleats. So I supposed it’s a halfway cross between a lengha and sari, hence the name. A real sari consists of pleats. So now comes a question, to be answered another day, how do we define the automatic sari?

Look what I just found. A two-piece sari. My first thought was if the pallu, as is in this case, is “detached” or seperate then wouldn’t that make it a dupatta and wouldn’t the outfit then be just a ghagra choli? Is it really a “sari”? Whatever it is or whatever you want to call it, it’s worth giving a try for only $69!

It’s definitely a style statement. Nothing “new” though. Just a new name with a contemporary twist perhaps.

…my desi girl, my desi girl. Dostana sure was a stupid movie. Who would have thought a culture once so conservative and full of traditional values would even bring up such a topic, let alone consider it acceptable. The more liberal we become…it means we are losing all our traditional values. In the desi girl song Priyanka wears a halter style choli with a back knot. The following sari was inspired by the one she wore in the movie and can be found in the RAIR Spring/Summer 2009 collection…

This Bollywood style sari can be found at HomeIndia.com for $272. The original sari itself sells for around $365 at Dmi-India.com

Just a couple of years ago butterfly pallus were all the rage right after they were introduced a few years back. Trends come and go and the butterfly sari was replaced by the lengha sari not too long ago. Now, personally, I think it would be nice to combine the two. Although a completely new creation, it’s very trendy and flattering. Not long after we said goodbye to butterfly pallu saris, it seems they’ve come back. Though some styles I’ve seen being called butterfly are really just saris with “shorter” pallus, meaning they’re not so wide. Let’s determine if the “original” butterfly pallu has returned or not.

The new butterfly pallu is a slight variation from its previous counterpart.

Is it worth giving the butterfly sari another try? All these lovely saris featured are from RAIR.

I really think the lengha-sari has come to the rescue for all of you out there who still tend to think that saris are impractical or difficult. Personally, I strongly believe that the beauty of a sari is in its pleats. The perfect pleats lend to a perfect sari. I know there are many people out there who act like they “pleat” their saris themselves but in fact, they wear pre-pleated “automatic saris.” If there is one thing every single Indian woman SHOULD know how to do is wear a sari. Now by that I don’t mean put on an automatic or lengha sari! I mean pleat it. It’s really not that hard. Takes just a few minutes. Nonetheless, the lengha sari is a perfect alternative. It will be gone out of style in a few years. Enjoy it while you can. It’s really come to the rescue for those who can’t seem to get on a real sari and it’s a much better alternative to an automatic sari! At least you’re not fooling anyone. With the automatic sari…you’re really just fooling yourself. Doesn’t mean I discourage it. People have their reasons but if there’s nothing wrong with you then why wouldn’t you want to learn an art that has been around for ages. If non-Indians can do it, surely Indians can!

I’m sitting here wondering why people tend to think that saris are impractical and that they won’t be worn like let’s say for instance salwar kameez. Now this is so not trure. Millions of women in India wear saris every single day and have been doing so for ages. There is nothing more practical and comfortable than a sari. It’s so unique and free flowing. Very versatile in its drapes and styles. Practically available in everything from cotton to silk and everything in between. Then why is it that people say saris are “hard” to wear. Or, that they are uncomfortable. The worst one I hear, is that they’re “reserved” for special occasions. I don’t think so.

Just take pants, for example. The come in many shapes and forms. Just as jeans are for everyday wear and nice slacks for more formal occasions. The same goes for saris. There are formal saris made from pure silk and covered in embroidery and then there are plain cottons. Lately, the sari has really made a comeback. There was a time, some decades ago, when women “ditched” the sari for a more “comfortable” salwar kameez, especially for those women who went to work outside the home. Then of course, came the business suits, even for women in India. Things have changed once again and many women…even in the West, are wearing saris to work! Surprised? Don’t be. Who says saris are immpractical? If you don’t want to wear them that’s one thing but that doesn’t make the outfit itself unsensible!

Can’t wait for the Arzoo shopping spree next week. We’re going to visit every little nook and crevice of Little India to find the best trends, bargains, deals, and favorable finds. Here’s a little glimpse of what we plan to bring you…

First we would like to check on the status of the anarkali. It seems to still be in but is all that fabric reasonable for summer! Sure, it is if you find the right type. Breezy cotton casuals and sheer chiffons are the best picks. Be sure to look for those on your shopping trip as well.

Of course, we can’t forget how much we love saris! That’s because nothing screams India more than saris. That brings us to a questions we’ve been addressed…why are we shopping in Little India and not India? Well, the answer is quite simple. Arzoo Mag is published right here in the United States. Not everyone can afford the time and money to take a trip to India. We always resort to Little India when in need for a bit of culture. This, however, can be limiting. If you’re city’s Little India is big and abundant then you’re lucky, if it’s small you become even more limited, and if you don’t have one…well then don’t worry there is always the world wide web.

Because Little India can be limiting and small we plan to bring the best of it for you. Where to search, and how to find good deals will be included. It doesn’t matter what city you’re in. The basic guidelines will always remain the same. For example, let’s end with a little tip for those of you going shopping soon…stay away from boutiques…it will save you a lot of money and their variety is very limited. Head straight to the big shops FIRST. They have a lot more variety and choice and lower prices. If you don’t find anything there then the boutiques will come to your rescue. There are two types of boutiques…the really high end expensive ones and the more laid back cheaper ones. I’ve often visited the huge sari stores over pouring with saris, shalwars, and chaniya cholis but to my dismay found nothing I like or in my size. Sometimes the boutique really does come to the rescue. So let it come to your rescue by saving it for last!

This month and next are busy with weddings and all about weddings here at Arzoo Mag. Wedding season hasn’t yet begun and there is already so much to think about and even more to do. Our wedding section is updated regularly to keep up with current tips and trends. We’ve added tons of new articles and features. Anything and everything you need to plan your dream shaadi can be found here. In addition, it’s not all about the bride! Or…is it? Well, it’s about everyone who is part of a wedding. Whether you’re getting married or attending as a guest, it’s in your best interest to prepare now. Next week the Arzoo Team will be going on our annual summer and wedding shopping spree. This means we will hunt down all the latest trends and styles and bring them straight to you. As we begin this journey later next week and continue it through the week after we will be keeping you posted and updated right here through our daily BLOG! In the meantime, we would like to know how YOU are preparing for wedding season…or, if you’re even going to prepare at all!

We’ve all seen that Corelle commercial, at least I have, where they “grease” the run way so that the model falls along with the plate which doesn’t break, showing us how Corelle can stand up to anything! Almost everyone’s got Corelle laying around somewhere or another. They’re cheap, economical, and unbreakable. No, I’m not advertising here but I found some Indian-inspired designs I thought of sharing. Whenever I see paisley it reminds me of mehndi.

Though a little to “busy” for me they’re worth considering if you’re traditional. But, nothing reminds one more of mehndi then this “Henna” design! Its Indian vibe and cultural beauty are in line with today’s ethnically inspired trends.

Look around…and you’ll see so much that has been inspired by India and it’s culture. Then share it with us! If your pick is chosen it will be featured in our next issue!

I love to look at Indian clothes online. My favorites are saris, of course! as well as anarkalis and sometimes even lenghas. Though the latter are not very practical for me since I don’t don them often. There are some really beautiful saris available online. The prices can be more or less than you would pay in person and really vary according to site and popularity. However, anarkalis are the hardest. Now if you were looking for a simple salwar kameez or churidar kurta you would require very little effort as there are millions of types and combinations available which can easily be purchased online for a minimal price tag. Anarkalis on the other hand are terribly hard to find. Some are just hideous. Most over priced. If you happen to see or come across any nice anarkalis please let us know!

Most people are under the impression that anarkalis are formal and not intended for everyday wear. Though they can be, due to their elegance, anarkalis are definitely suited for every day of the year. There are a wide range of anarkalis to choose from, whether formal or casual. As far as anarkalis go, I think you best bet will be to purchase them in person. They are almost always difficult to locate online (at least the good ones). You will get even more variety in person. The down side is they tend to run quite a bit long. They are intended this way but it makes it very difficult for short people. If it comes mid-calf on the model, or an average heigh woman, it will probably come down to the ankles on a short person and that’s not how it’s meant to be. My best advice, if you’re short like me, is to buy a shorter anarkali. These are made in the typical style but come only to the knees on most people and will fit perfectly to the mid-calf on anyone who is petite. Therefore, anarkalis are best bought in person where you can try them on, experiment with them, and hopefully get a wide range of choices to pick from!

Saris on the other hand, go either way. Sometimes they’re cheaper online, sometimes in person. Personally, I like to hand pick my saris. I like to feel the texture and try them on. It’s more practical that way because one can’t go by how it will look on the model. Everything looks good on them. If it doesn’t look good on you, accept it and move on to something that does. I hate to see people wearing unsuitable clothes. It just gives off a bad vibe and a terrible impression. If you can, buy your saris in person. Don’t limit yourself. Some really lavish yet inexpensive saris are available online as well. Especially, if you live in an area where there is not any or very limited choice then utilize the help of the internet to get you through all those events.

Lenghas…I strongly suggest purchasing in person. Especially, if it’s for a special occasion. Once again, you can go either way and the choice is totally yours. There are set backs to buying online. If the investment is a pricey one then you’re safer off trying it on first. Some shops have really gorgeous chaniya cholis so if you can get to them then you really should.

Online or Offline? What do you prefer?

Brides! The wait is over! There’s been a long debate; brides have been debating and still do between wearing a lengha or a sari on their wedding day. Both are traditional and elegant. Lenghas tend to be the winner among most brides. Perhaps because they’re flowing and the wide ghagra is perfect for pictures but saris are elegant in themselves. With the popularity of the lengha sari it is the perfect choice for brides. The beauty and grace of a sari combined with the elegance and popularity of the lengha come together for an ideal bridal wear. What more could you want. Personally, it wouldn’t be my wedding day choice because it’s too trendy but it’s not overly trendy and is perfect for many of those confused brides out there. Would you wear one on your wedding day?

Speaking of green, Earth Day is April 22nd and I think it will be a bigger event this year than in the past. Everyone is becoming greener and greener and finally recycling is more important than ever. In honor of Earth Day, Uncommon Goods is featuring about 17 earth-friendly products from across the globe and number 15 on the list is Indian! Yes, why else would I mention them unless they had something related to India? The Cassette Cosmetic Pouch is made in India and sells for a mere 15 bucks. They’re handmade from recycled cassette tapes and plastic. It’s made under Fair Trade regulations in a school that teaches vocational skills to children with disabilities. Income from these products is used to create sustainable development for rural artisans and their community. Not bad.

In addition I also like the Patchwork Guest Book from Nepal.

The Organic Cotton Fruit Basket from Egypt is perfect for children.

I saved the best for last! This Elephant Poo Paper Journal from Thailand is made from actual elephant poop!!

[photo credits: uncommongoods.com]

Everyone’s going green these days, in America at least. It’s about time. It’s not that the rest of the world isn’t “going” green. They already were “green” or “greener.” Poorer countries have found smarter and more innovative ways to use and reuse things better than here. In this sense, America is quite far behind. It’s like at first everything was natural in the first place…then the shift to chemicals…and now?…back to basics! India has always been a leader in reusing and recycling. Stainless steel has been preferred over plastic. Old saris are turned into rugs, sold for much more than their worth in the West. Jute bags are reused and made into pillow cases. How green are you?

First of all, why am I talking about brownies on Arzoo Mag? Well, there’s a craze for brownies lately and Tarla Dalal has featured several brownies on her website so I figured that makes it appropriate enough to talk about here. Check out the front page of her website for the recipes that include: sizzling brownies, frozen brownies, cream and brownie in a glass, brownie parfait, and fudge brownie sundae. Speaking of Tarla Dalal, I think she’s so much better than let’s say Sanjeev Kapoor. I just don’t understand how is show Khana Khazana has been airing so successfully for so long! I want a Tarla Dalal show.

Anyway, the craze started probably around Valentine’s. Appropriate because brownies go well with the occasion but it seems like they’re still pretty popular. At Michael’s I noticed an entire section dedicated to just brownies! They’re really “in” this year. This is not just limited to regular brownies but embellished ones and even brownie pops. So I’m beginning to wonder, is their anyway to make them Indian by adding a “desi” touch? Well, sizzling brownies seem to fit into that category.

Ok, so cakes are not Indians but they’re practically international these days. Who doesn’t have cake on their birthday, wedding, or any other important occasion. A nice eclectic mix of the Western cake and Indian designs and paisley prints is sure to create a beautiful Indian cake.

This Garden Greenery 3-tiered cake uses the Wilton Paisley Pan Set.

Although the three piece paisley pan set is a whopping $47.99 it’s totally versatile and worth it? Well, that depends on how you see it but I do wish that they sold one paisley pan by itself. I may decorate cakes but I just don’t see myself using all three at once more than probably once.

Paisley definitely spells Indian but what else can make a cake have a desi touch? It’s become popular to match your wedding cake with your clothes. So perhaps red with gold embroidery would transform well into icing if done properly.

So let’s start to put a pricetag on paisleys. This cake is beautiful and can be matched to your event but be prepared to pay $200.

And this paisley cake by Verusca is a sure hit for an Indian wedding.

Slumdog Millionaire star Freida Pinto has landed a six figure sum to become the face of cosmetics giant Estee Lauder. She has been approached to front the company’s future advertising campaigns. She will become the brand’s first Asian spokeswoman. She is currently in negotiations for over $280,000. Freida will follow in the footsteps of Liz Hurley and Gwyneth Paltrow, former Estee Lauder campaign girls. 

In my opinion, Freida Pinto is getting way too much attention as is Slumdog Millionaire. If Danny Boyle hadn’t made the film and perhaps some Indian had…then it would have never become so popular and Freida wouldn’t have gained all that popularity. Neither is Freida pretty and nor does she have some special talent. The attention she gets is all thanks to Danny Boyle casting her in his film and her slutty look in general.

Would you dare to dress like a model? Pull off sari drape never seen before? Out do the bride at her own wedding!? Or even be “overdressed.” There are not many daring women out there but there are a few. Thanks to these trendsetters who give us new styles and set highly fashionable trends. Being daring creates a huge impact on society. Would you rather be a leader or a follower? We want to know, how daring are you? Are you a trendsetter? A fashionista? Or, do you prefer to stay in the background? Share your thoughts.

WOULD YOU WEAR THIS??

If you’ve been following my blog you’ll know that I was debating as to what to wear last night. What would be most appropriate for the occasion…my new, stylish, and trendy lengha-sari with eye-catching colors and sparkling designs or my eggplant, traditional party-wear in pure crepe silk embellished with kundan embroidery. Now, though I love both, I wanted to wear the lengha-sari. It’s so new and “in” right now plus for many it’s something they’ve never seen or heard of before. Now the dilemma was that I felt I would be a bit overdressed for the occasion. At least some would think so. Finally, I decided why should I care. It’s important to be confident in oneself. It’s important to do what makes YOU happy and who cares what the world thinks. The world is full of jealous and ignorant people who know nothing except hatred and criticizing. Sometimes we tend to fall into their traps and not appear in public the way we really want to. I must say, though, I’m quite proud of myself for overcoming this. I’ve done it once so now I can do it again and much more confidently!

And yes, if you’re wondering I may have been overdressed in the eyes of some people but in my eyes they were the ones under-dressed! After all, these types of things are merely just nothing but opinions. However, the best part of the evening was being the best dressed and to me that feels great. Sometimes getting too much “attention” can be annoying or uncomfortable but in the end it can also be pleasant and rewarding. You see, suddenly everyone wanted to talk to me and be my friend. Random people who never noticed me before in the same crowd started walking up to me and introducing themselves. They all wanted to know who I am and comment on my sari. Now I hate to brag but I didn’t mind that bit of extra attention. So the moral of my story isn’t really anything to do with the lengha-sari but more so about being confident in who you are and appearing in front of others as yourself. You may think it will have a negative affect but you never know…you could make new friends and it really doesn’t hurt to get notice. If you respect yourself and your culture then others will also respect you!

If you have any interesting or similar story, please feel free to share!

Sure, I admit it. The Arzoo Blog! has been a bit out of touch lately. It tends to happen when writers suffer from “writer’s blocks” but the best part is that when the writer’s block is cleared we writers come up with even better ideas and more appealing material. Arzoo Mag readers should be happy to know that we’re back in touch now and with much, much going on as we quickly approach the wedding season. If you’re not already familiar, wedding season unofficially begins on the Saturday of Memorial Day weekend and continues through September with June being the most popular of months. With the starting of the season we will be launching our wedding season survival guide and an issue catered to weddings and weddings alones. Wedding planning, attending weddings, weddings in our culture, fashionable updates, menu planning and wedding food, and so on. It may seem far away but we’re already quickly sailing through March and before you know it April and then May! That’s when the fun begins. School’s are out, the sun is warm, and weddings are in full swing. Don’t miss great articles like “How to Survive Wedding Season” and many more. Sure, the March issue is a bit behind but we’ll be catching up soon. Happy Reading

As wedding season comes closer, I begin to wonder. What will I wear? It’s not a matter of not having enough clothes but more so of what to wear when and matching jewelry and accessories. The usual dilemma of course. The biggest problem I encounter is whether I will be overdressed. In my opinion, of course not! There is no such thing to as being overdressed for a wedding. I will obviously be appropriately dressed. Then what’s the bigger problem? Well, even though I will be appropriately dressed for the occasion, everyone else will be underdressed! That poses a huge problem and threat because if everyone else is underdressed then that does make me overdressed. Doesn’t it? Ok, so I’m obviously feeling a bit threatened here. Now is it my fault that people are cheap and don’t want to go buy nice things for themselves? Or, is it my fault that they don’t own anything decent? Or that they have bad taste! What’s wrong with people I say. Is it just not “in” anymore to deck out. Or maybe people are too overoccupied with matching jewelry and shoes and makeup that they no longer actually pay attention to the fabric they are wrapping themselves in. Only time will tell what will become of our culture.

Give it a thought! In the meantime, I must go decide what to wear to tonight’s big event I’m thinking of my new lengha sari. The colors are bright and the embroidery sparkles. I may even settle for a classic partywear in eggplant with kundan work and a pricetag worth even more. What do you suggest?

I just came across this “Bollywood Pillow” at CB2. This black and white pillow is reminiscent of yesteryears.

Made from the 100% cotton, this “bombay blockbuster” portrays a few scenes from some Bollywood classics such as the original Umrao Jaan starring Rekha.

Originally going for $19.95 it’s now on sale for just $10.95 and is the perfect compliment to any decor!

The Feb/Mar issue of Food Network Magazine did an entire two page spread on popcorn. Included in the sections for popcorns with an ethnic twist is a recipe for popcorn with an Indian twist. It uses ground cumin, curry powder, and fine salt. Check out the Food section to learn how to make your own Indian popcorn.

They may not think they are insulting and they may not think that they are causing any offense but they are. I love Food Network but they cannot cook Indian food! Before they show Indian recipes they should really learn how to prepare them properly. They should also learn to pronounce the names right. It’s not buzmati rice; it’s basmati. It’s not sam bosas; it’s sambosas. So that’s the first thing they need to work on is their pronounciation. Next they need to start preparing dishes the authentic Indian way if they are going to call them Indian. Sandra Lee’s semi-homemade naan is not naan! Putting curry powder in something doesn’t make it Indian. Curry powder isn’t even Indian in the first place. Bobby Flay made some garam masala hens but then topped them with a maple glaze. HUH?? Since when did maple syrup become Indian. And by the way, it’s garam masala not gerum masala. So there you go…I’ve presented a few examples but nonetheless I still love Food Network and will continue to watch it. I just believe that they should stop putting forth false Indian food and seriously make it more authentic and traditional like it should be! Now on the other hand if they want to present fusion style cooking then it should clearly be labeled FUSION.

So the other day I mentioned that as I was watching Food Network I heard that Indian food is the hot new cuisine of the year. It makes sense as I’ve been seeing a lot of episodes featuring Indian cuisine. Although I must say they don’t do a very good job! They can’t even pronounce the names right and most of the time the dishes they make are not really authentic Indian. Anyway, I’ll save that discussion for next time.

Coming back to the topic. I picked up a copy of the Feb/Mar issue of Food Network Magazine and sat down to peruse through it. Now I had not been very pleased with their previous and first issue but this seemed a bit more promising and I must commend them for it because indeed it was! I found some great general ideas but the best part is they had a couple of Indian inspired dishes that seemed to have some potential. One was popcorn with an Indian twist which I will share with you a little later but the most appealing to me was BOLLYWOOD FRIES!

Ok, so they have nothing to do with Bollywood but they are fries made with some traditional Indian spices and I must commend Food Network on the catchy name! Don’t forget to check out our Bollywood section to find out how to make them

I set out to find some new websites for Indian clothes. Sure I came across several. Some are just horrible. They have manequins wearing the clothes. Very few are nice but most are quite repetitive. There are numerous websites selling the EXACT same outfits. Now this is very frustrating because I am in search of new and exciting sites with some of the latest and newest styles. Sadly enough there are not enough good shopping sites out there. There’s a need for something really incredible to fill this gap. Do you know of any good websites?

We see Indian influences everywhere nowadays. Whether it’s your Chai “Tea” Latte at Starbucks or a kajal eyeliner at Sephora, the craze for everything Indian has taken over. The other day I even heard on Food Network that the “hot” new cuisine of the year is Indian food! Check out a few of my favorite finds:

Terracotta Loose Powder Kohl Liner by Guerlain

This ultra fine, loose powder can be applied as an eyeliner using a wand applicator or as an eyeshadow using the brush. Thousands of years old kohl gets transformed.

Sephora, Laura Mercier, Makeup Forever, and many others have kohl liners as well. Stila even has a kajal eyeliner and Givenchy has a kajal eye pencil as well. Remember when everyone left kajal behind for the modern eyeliners? It seems like some of these big cosmetic companies are now taking something of ours and turning it into their own! I would check the ingredients before using any of these though.

Starbucks’ Chai is a big loser for it’s fake ingredients such as a “chai” syrup but their Black Tea Latte is worth trying with some modifications! Try ordering it like this next time: (your size) Unsweetened Black Tea Latte with less water and more milk! Add the amount of sugar to your taste and it comes pretty close to the chais made in most Indian homes! Why order it unsweetened though? The sweetener they use is their “Classic” sugar and water concoction that gives it an artificial taste.

Nature’s Gate’s Henna Shine Enhancing Shampoo and Conditioners are worth a try! Once again the mehndi plays an important role in the west. This formula is perfect for dull and lifeless hair. The henna helps impart shine to hair.

Not to worry because the henna used in this formula is of the non-coloring type and won’t dye your hair!

Not so popular Zee TV serial Waaris has just ended in the States. I watched the final episode as it aired last night and I must say that like most other last episodes on Zee this one was also dissapointing. So we see that Ganga shoots Rudra Pratap and the next thing you know Yashoda is standing in front of his garlanded picture in her white sari when Shankar comes to say he and the others are leaving. I just don’t understand why the endings have to be so abrupt? They love to spend a lot of time, or should I say waste a lot of time on stretching out scences, especially with special effects but the endings are rather sudden.

Remember Meri Doli Tere Angana? It was ok until Simran and Rohan get shot and the next thing we know that story takes a complete turn. We never see Simran, Sandhiya Chachi, or any of the others again. Not even at the end. The story ends with Rohan’s father informing everyone that Simran was in fact dead and Rohan does regain his memory. Personally, the show was ok until they changed the entire story. It became so dull and boring.

Looking through my TV Guide I’m also very happy that Teen Bahuraaniyaan is ending! They have just stretched this serial for way too long. It should have ended long ago. I don’t even understand the point of the story anymore. So just a couple more weeks and it will be gone as well. Teen Bahuraaniyaan will end along with January.

As January 2009 approached I realized that the release of Chandni Chowk to China was just a few days away. Now, I love Indian movies but I don’t watch them so often anymore because they are quite lacking in the qualities they once possessed. Anyhow, after seeing the trailer of Chandni Chowk to China I had decided that this was one of the few movies I wanted to see. Just as I began looking forward to its release I realized that there were still past releases I hadn’t seen which were definitely worth watching but I just hadn’t gotten around to it. How unfortunate. I still needed to see Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi, Ghajini, and Slumdog Millionaire.

So I started with Slumdog Millionaire. I had heard so many raves about this film and I was ready to find out what all the hype was about! Everyone was talking about it and the movie has even won many awards. At a first glance it just didn’t seem like it would be that great to me. Nonetheless, I watched the movie and I must say that I was definitely pleased about one thing! The movie was not vulgar like most of the movies they have these days. In fact, it was actually good. A bit sad but mainly happy. I did not thing it was so GREAT as everyone else thought it to be. To me it was just ok. So I still don’t understand what all the hype was about.

One down, two to go…I think my next step is Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi. I’m very excited about this one because of Shahrukh Khan, obviously. Then will be the turn of Aamir Khan’s Ghajini. So finally, I’ll be all set to see Deepika Padukone and Akshay Kumar in Chandni Chowk to China!

A walk into Starbucks recently, reveals that they are promoting tea. In fact, everyone is drinking more tea. Whether it is black, green, or herbal. However, chai is nothing new. Indians and the Chinese have been drinking it for centuries. Of course, America has discovered its benefits much more recently. It is also a fact that once Americans discover something they make a BIG deal out of it. Such as when mehndi became a popular craze during the 90s. Westerners started applying mehndi all over their body. They misused it to such an extent that today the limitations of mehndi have changed.

But coming back to tea…the word chai has been misused constantly. Chai which literally means tea is translated into America as a spiced tea. These people are too ignorant to realize that although masala chai means spiced tea, chai simply just means TEA! Starbucks and many other coffee and tea shops throughout the nation serve chai or a “chai tea latte” as a spiced, milky tea. Unfortunately, it does not come close to even compare with the chai or masala chai drank in Indian homes! It’s usually prepared with some type of syrup concentrate and is more watery and often very foamy.

To insult chai even more Starbucks is now promoting Berry Chai and Apple Chai. But is it really an insult or an honor? Is it a step ahead or simply just a step towards making money. Personally, I dislike both of these tea “infusions,” as they are known. They are not the type of taste that would suit most Indian palates or are they?

So looks like chai is really hot in 2009! It is “the” thing to drink and it’s definitely more “in” than coffee right now. Sure coffee is still the all-American drink but according to a recent study, 9 out of 10 customers are tea drinkers, whether soley tea drinkers or in addition to coffee. So, say good buy to frappuccinos and get ready for tea time!

Here are some glimpses of the projected underwater Hydropolis Hotel in Dubai:

The New Year is just days away. With 2009, it’s time for some changes. New beginnings, new articles, new fashion trends, and a NEW Arzoo Mag. Watch for the new and improved Arzoo Mag starting January 1st, which will feature more BLOGS!, better articles, new writers, tons of new fashion, and guides to get you going for the whole year. Our biggest section, WEDDING, will be equipped with great advice and planning for the wedding season. Here’s a sneak peak…

Fashion Forward for Spring and Summer. Featuring our Desert Safari Collection…right in time for the warmer months. Sophisticated cotton saris. Trendier churidars. Loads of new recipes. January’s Food Section: Endless Biryanis. Beauty Secrets of the Stars! Bollywood’s all new releases. Will Bollywood improve in 2009 to make up for it’s 2008 loss? Or, will it stay the same? What new stars will be joining the industry next year? Complete Guides on Travelling to Gujarat and Rajasthan. More galleries and pictures. A look at our culture: traditions and customs and the history of it all. Plus…don’t miss our newest additions to the LIFESTYLE section featuring an Author of the Month for every month to come plus Book Reviews. Keep reading Arzoo Mag to answer all your questions and learn more!

Want to be a part of the Arzoo Team? Just contact us to join!

We’ve already asked the questions so let’s attempt to answer it. Why are British Indian magazines better than those published in the United States and perhaps even Canada? To start off with, it is important to mention that there is a serious gap in the United States market for a decent South Asian magazine of any sort. Many have come and gone but none have ever been as successful or well-thought out as their British or Indian counterparts. Okay, so we can leave India out of this because Indian magazines are just bound to be better there but what about England. Well it all comes down to the fact that Asians have been in the U.K. much longer than they’ve been in America or Canada. Still there is no excuse. Americans are just too lazy and so are Indian Americans. Perhaps, they just don’t care about beauty and fashion. Fashion is taken much more seriously in Europe. On the other hand there have been some fashion and lifestyle magazines that have come out in the US. The problem with them, however, is that they sufficiently lack in a glossy and tempting look. If you’re going to try to sell people a thin magazine with only a few pages, articles, and not enough fashion then people won’t buy it! The market is our there and though limited it’s definitely there! Magazine companies just need to work on their covers and size! No one wants to hold a newspaper sized magazine anywhere or in any situation. People want a magazine that is colorful, informative, intrigueing, and most of all BIG in thickness but NORMAL in size! Unsuccessful magazines have disappeared for this very reason. The solution is to give the audience what they’re looking for. To market the product. And especially to stop charging an arm and a leg for a paper thin booklett because no one will pay 6 bucks for a super thin magazine when its counterparts can be bought in other parts of the world for just rupees or when American Bridal magazines, much thicker and better, come for the same price!