Krishna Somani

This girl-next-door face; Krishna walks down the ramp with loadsa panache. Keen on making friends within the fraternity and retaining a sense of fun, here’s your chance to know Krishna Somani a little more…

Vital stats : 35-26-36

Campaigns / endorsements : Reebok, Jordano, Vogue

Fitness regime : I don’t workout everyday, but I definitely am careful about my eating habits. And whenever I overindulge in eating, then I do everything like cardio, aerobics etc altogether. Otherwise for a fit body, I do go for a walk 4 days a week.

Diet plan : The three main meals – my breakfast, lunch and dinner are a must and then I keep munching something or the other throughout the day. I feel you just need to know what healthy food is all about and this includes junk food also, which we Indians just can’t seem to resist. No matter how much junk food you eat, at the end of each day, it’s rice, daal and roti at home that makes you feel full and satisfied.

Beauty tips : One thing I follow religiously before I go to sleep is to clean my face, no matter how tired I am. I never skip my cleansing, toning and moisturising routine. And then to keep my skin healthy, I drink lots of fluids, water and fresh fruits, as it makes my skin radiant and maintains the acidic level too.

Style statement : It’s very basic. I like wearing things, which are really comfortable, and yet stylish. For a party, I love classy evening dresses, but otherwise I am comfortable in skirts, casual dresses, trousers and t-shirts. And finally to accessorise the look, I carry a nice bag.

Success mantra : You really need to have everything together to be a good model. It’s all about your confidence, posture and the way you present yourself – so it’s a complete package you need to have to be successful.

T-shirt cutter’ Adam Saaks designs for Hasleen

Internationally renowned ‘T-shirt cutter’ Adam Saaks, PFMI Earth 2011 Hasleen Kaur’s guest in Delhi, makes a hot little shirt for her out of a men’s ‘M’ size T-shirt

American ‘T-shirt cutter’ Adam Saaks, PFMI Earth 2011 Hasleen Kaur’s guest in Delhi for a few days as part of her new e-venture, started this exclusive photoshoot with a basic ‘M’ size men’s T-shirt. His hands constantly in motion, he transformed the loose shirt into a tightly fitted garment within 10 minutes – using only a pair of scissors and the shirt. All of it is done using only one standard pair of scissors, which Adam possesses “about 80 pairs of, in different colours.” He never takes any measurements either, preferring to “just grab their waist and feel the curve and the thickness, and I can tell how far to go in and where to take the piece.”

Adam’s demonstrations are even more exciting than the clothes, with the cutter commanding the whole stage and orchestrating a heady performance, right down to the music to which he cuts. He’s famous for his blitzkrieg cutting and styling, and has worked with celebrities like Rihanna, Eva Longoria, Alicia Keys, Keira Knightley, Pink, Jessica Simpson, Carmen Electra, Mariah Carey, Jessica Alba, Hilary and Haley Duff, Paris and Nicky Hilton, Nicole Ritchie, Britney and Lynn Spears, Heather Graham, Lenny Kravitz, Eminem, Justin Timberlake, Lindsay Lohan and Katy Perry. Excerpts from a chat:

When did you start? It started over 10 years ago, because I loved it when I did my first shirt. I kinda got addicted to it. It was at a trade show, and I’d done 189 shirts in 4 days straight before I knew it. I just got really good at it, learnt a bunch of new techniques, and couldn’t wait to do it again.

What were you doing before that? I was a wardrobe stylist before that for about 10 years. Then the work kinda slowed down and I got tired of doing it anyway. Someone asked me if I’d design a few T-shirts for their company, a little T-shirt company out of San Fransisco. I did, and we took it to Magic, a trade show in Vegas. There, we were giving the shirts out to girls walking by, and one girl stopped and said this is a nice shirt, but would you mind cutting it like the one on the rack? So I said no problem, found some scissors, started trimming it like this, looked up – and there were 50 people watching it. I felt the sound get muffled around me, in that huge convention centre, and I looked up and the faces were going like, ‘what is this guy doing?’

Do you do that to all of your own clothes too? Nah. Actually, this is a bad example, because yes, I did do this to my shirt (laughs as he looks down at the grey shirt he’s wearing, which is slashed from the sides). Now I just buy clothes and wear them… cutting everybody else’s!

Why? There’s a saying in America – ‘a plumber’s sink always leaks’.

You’d assume anyone who has to wear your designs has to be slim, very sexy… If they want the extravagant cuts, the more dramatic pieces, then… But it’s gotta be wearable. I keep it real, I have all kinds of body types and personalities that want shirts cut by me, and I do them according to their personality, esteem level, situation – it’s kinda like puzzle-solving for me, and pretty quickly too. At what point did the music, drama and spectacle become a part of it?

The music’s always been in my head or in my headphones as I’m cutting a shirt. And when the DJ asks what kind of music I want, I recommend what I like. And are you talking about playing guitar, by any chance? ‘Cos the other day I played guitar afterwards. It’s about a tempo, and it gets very boring for the people who’re watching. And to do it quickly and keep it entertaining, music helps, it keeps a pace. I can cut shirts all day long in dead silence, that’s enjoyable for me, but I don’t think it’ll be enjoyable for an audience.

Do you like to spread the craft? It’s just a personal thing for me – it just took on a life of its own. It’s due to the fact that it’s love, and love travels further than the eye can see. And when that love comes back to you through other channels, like fans, people that enjoy my craft and acknowledge me for it, people copying me, they’re all expressions of my love going further than outside of me and then coming back to me in various channels.

How did you meet Hasleen, and how did you like her? I met Hasleen through Ashok (her partner). I met him, and then her, on Skype – and she had such an angelic voice. And then I met her and she’s everything she sounded like, an angel.

How Hasleen felt “I was really excited before he started, but when he started ripping it on me, and I felt the blade on my skin, which was really cold because it’s winters, I was a little jittery. Because he has to be very sure he doesn’t cut or injure his model, he’d keep brushing my hand away. And my hand would reflexively come up – it happens when there’s a weapon against your body, and he’d keep swatting it away, saying, ‘Don’t do that’! But it’s amazing – he created a piece of art in less than half an hour. He improvises while he’s doing it. He’s talking to himself while he’s doing it – as if he talks to his scissors and the shirt, and they’re telling him where to snip from. I’m hosting Adam in Delhi as his stuff will be available on a recently launched fashion e-commerce site, in which I’m a partner.”

‘Prithibi’ rocks at Hotel Samilton

Revellers grooved to city band Prithibi’s tunes as they rocked the house at The Basement, Hotel Samilton, on a recent Thursday night.

We spotted music director Souvik at the party, having a good time.

While buddy gang Debarpito, Varsha and Vikram let their hair down, Emili, dressed head-to-toe in black, was seen enjoying the music.

Keep that hair silky, bouncy in winter

Dry scalp, dull hair, dandruff and excessive hair fall – all these problems besiege you in winter. And fretting and worrying can worsen things, say experts, claiming the problem can be controlled with the right treatment.

The importance of hair can be understood from the fact that those with a receding hairline or bald patches are queuing up outside specialised hair transplant clinics and splurging on treatments.

Rohit Batra, dermatologist at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, told us “It is a temporary phase and people shouldn’t get tense thinking about it because stress is also a reason for excessive hair fall.

“Flaky skin, frizzy, rebellious hair are common during winter, but it can be avoided and repaired.”

To keep the tresses lustrous and bouncy, Batra suggests that one should “oil hair regularly”.

“Winters usually bring fungal infections and dandruff. The fungal problems aggravate when people do not wash their hair frequently, when they do not oil their hair or let the conditioner stay for a longer duration.

“Another factor is that in winter usually people wash hair with hot water, but they forget that it is not advisable. They should wash hair with lukewarm water because hot water leaves the scalp dry,” Batra added.

If dermatologists are not available, one can consult hair stylists who are trained and can dole out good hair care tips.

“Season change always has certain side effects. Be it monsoon or winter, it is a time when everyone needs to take care of one’s skin and hair,” stylist Raj, who is associated with Prince and Princess beauty clinic, told us.

“The number of customers with such complaints increases during winter. On a normal day, a fall of 50-60 strands is considered healthy. But during this season, a person can experience hair fall of more than 200 strands,” he added.

If you can’t afford professional treatments, you can go for effective home remedies, says stylisht Gaurav Sharma.

To get rid of dandruff, “use lemon juice, camphor mixed in coconut oil. People should apply lemon juice for 15 minutes and then rinse it. This is a very effective remedy. Lemons are easily available and are also cost-effective,” he said.

“To get back the texture, wash hair with beer. It really helps bring the shine back and gives volume too,” he added.

Even celebrity hairstylist Amjad Habib emphasises the quick home remedy to fix fizzy tresses.

“Home remedies are the most effective. People who have normal but frizzy hair can apply mashed mango and mint paste. It brings back the shine and makes hair smooth,” said Habib.

“People who have very dry hair should apply a paste of three bananas and honey and leave it for 50 minutes. It takes away the dryness and makes the hair softer. Lastly, for people who have oily hair they should apply a paste of mint on the scalp and leave it for 10-15 minutes and then rinse it thoroughly,” he added.

Batra also advises a nourishing diet.

“As far as medicinal precautions are concerned people can take Vitamin H, calcium pantothenate and biotin. A lot of hair serum (like Livon) are also available in the market. It helps a lot in bringing back the shine.”

“A rich diet of protein is what we recommend. For non-vegetarians fish and chicken helps. Vegetarians should indulge in soya products,” he added.

Saturday night fun at The HHI

Revellers had a whale of a time Underground, The HHI, on a recent Saturday night as DJs Anshul and Felix played some rocking tunes on the turntable.

We spotted girl duo Sharmistha and Lili having a good time at the club.

Kudos to the former for rocking the sheer top – a trend already ruling global ramps this year.

Gang of friends and couples alike, there was not a face in the club that night that didn’t look happy!

While Hassan-Alice and Palak-Kalyani made for pretty pictures as couples, Vinit, Ankita and Navdha and Lilesh, Prabha, Darshana and Nikhil happily posed for our lensman showing off their party spirit!

Aanchal Oberoi

Aanchal is a fun-loving person and believes she is congenial by nature. She loves travelling and meeting like-minded people. Says the svelte beauty, “I believe in having a positive attitude towards life and taking each new day as it comes.”

Here’s more on her …

Vital stats : 33-24-35

Campaigns/endorsements : Wills Lifestyle India Fashion Week 2008-09, Kolkata Fashion Week 2009, Blenders Pride IPL shows 2010. I have worked with designers like Tarun Tahiliani, Satya Paul, besides endorsing brands like Nokia, Airtel, Voltas, Meena Bazaar, VOI, Unisexx.

Fitness regime : I believe in the maxim “healthy mind in a healthy body”. I go for jogs and walks in addition to doing some stretching and free hand exercises at home. Though, I visit the gym thrice a week and do a combination of cardiovascular workout and weight training.

Diet plan : I am primarily a vegetarian and believe in having a balanced and healthy diet, beginning with a hearty breakfast, a big lunch, a small evening snack, followed by a light early dinner. I also include lots of fresh fruit juices, fruits, vegetables, salads and whole-wheat in my diet. Besides, I drink a lot of water to avoid dehydration and flush out all the toxins from the body.

Beauty tips : I follow a regular routine of cleansing, toning and moisturising religiously. But I remove all make-up before retiring for the day. I do feel one should always use good quality products on the skin. I also desterilise all my make-up brushes regularly to relieve them of any dust or infection. I also frequent the spa and go for occasional massages to rejuvenate my body and skin. Drinking 10-12 glasses of water and adding lots of fresh juices, fruits and vegetables to the diet really helps. I also think positive and keep smiling at all times.

Style statement : I like to dress comfortably. I don’t believe in following trends blindly. I prefer to wear clothes that suit my body type.

Success mantra : I believe in discipline, determination and hard work. Being focused, committed and loyal towards any profession pays in the long run. It goes without saying that ambitions and self-confidence play a great part in one’s life and career.

Greenply enters Limca Book of Records

Greenply, one of India’s largest interior infrastructure companies, created a mark, with its Greenply Always Hoyenga – Largest Graffiti Wall in India, organized by Radiomirchi Activation.

In sync with its new campaign, the company emerged with another out-of-thebox consumer activation programme organized on Sunday at a city mall. It created the largest graffiti wall which made has made an attempt to enter the Limca Book of Records. Speaking on the occasion, Alex Joseph, Vice-President of Marketing and Communication, Greenply Industries Ltd, said, “It is a moment of pride for us to attempt an entry into the Limca Book of Records by creating the largest graffiti wall. I would like to thank everybody who came forward to make this possible.”

DJs Hussain and Vishal get the crowd grooving

It was time to shake a leg with DJs Hussain and Vishal getting the crowd into the groove by spinning some mindblowing house and Bolly numbers recently at Tantra, The Park.

We spotted groups of friends having fun at the party. However, our attention was fixed on a lady in blue who unleashed some killer moves on the dance floor. Rahul, a young party goer who also turned up at the do, surprised us by wearing a green Superman tee! BFFs Riya and Lopa were inseparable as they matched their moves on the dance floor. As the night wore on, the DJs sent revellers into a tizzy with their tunes.

Fashion at its glamourous best

It was fashion at its glamourous best at a recently held fashion show in the city.

Organised by a design institute, the fashion show had all the finest fashion ingredients to make it a rocking do. Beautifully embellished dresses crafted with dashing fabrics and colours made a splash as models walked the ramp. Adding to the oomph factor was the display of hats and purses the models sported. The ramp simply sizzled as models sashayed down with elan, making everyone take notice of the colours and designs. Models Dimple, Pooja, Rashmi, Sangita, Sujata, Supriya and Jimmy Nanda bowled the onlookers over as they looked stupendous on the ramp. Certainly, it was an evening fully loaded with glam quotient which brought cheers to the fashion lovers of the city.

A fun saturday night at Venom, Kolkata

Saturday night at Venom turned out to be one of fun and dance. Despite the winter chill, there were short dresses aplenty and upping the ante was the foot-tapping music by DJ duo Kunal and Parth.

The crowd made the most of the night by making the right moves and grooved along with the music. We spotted a lady in black, who defied the elements with her short black dress with er, only straps on the back. With a chilled drink in hand, she made sure that one look at her got the temperature soaring.

Although it was house music for most of the night, Bollywood numbers were thrown in for good measure and the loud cheer from the crowd proved that when it came to having a blast, desi music still rocks. Keep partying guys.