India Fashion Week: May 2010

Style Diary

We had a long weekend here in the USA and I was out of action for a couple of days. Let's see what the Bollywood babes have been up to in my absence:-)

Who: Sushmita Sen
Where: In "I am She"event

Sushmita in a black gown. Again. At first I thought she had feathers on her sleeve but looks like a polka-dot ruffle sleeve.A very ho-hum dress. I said dress, not her:-) She looks really tall..

Who: Vidya Balan
Where: Inauguration of Fertility seminar

Vidya doing a plain Jane in a simple but eye catching sari. Never realized she is so pretty. I wish she had worn her sari in a different way (Gujarati style) because it looks like the sari has a gorgeous paisley design ( u can see it in the first pic, at the tail end of the sari) which is completely hidden this way..

Interesting how a little red and beige can brighten up a plain black look..

Who: Lara Dutta
Where: Opening of first 'Zara' store

Yay!! some bright colors!! The origami pattern at the waist takes this outfit from an ordinary ruffle dress to a drool worthy level. Of course, it does help that Lara is wearing it. Totally dig the pink envelope clutch.

Who: Nida Mahmood
Where: Raul Chandra's Experiment in arts, fashion and Music

This is one designer whose collection I would love to check out just based on her styling!! How gorgeous are her layered necklaces, embroidered belt and her dhoti pants. A casual yet elegant look.

photo credits: filmicafe.com, bollywoodhungama.com, desimartini.com

Gee ... pee?

While mom was here visiting, we drove past the paddle boats near the Old Fort (Purana Qila). Tony mentioned to everyone in the car that he hadn't yet gotten to ride on the paddle boats, to which mom replied "let's do it while I'm here!"

We paid our modest Rs 50 for the four of us to ride for thirty minutes and climbed on.

As is most often the case, our presence on the dingy and green lake made for more excitement than a normal afternoon paddle ...

These little guys were having a great time splashing around. I was hot, sweaty and just plain crabby. Mom was video taping (you didn't get me yelling at the kids on tape, did you?). Mia was getting rather annoyed that I didn't have cold water. Tony was simply squirming in his seat.

Tony is STILL squirming in his seat at this point.

Tony realizing there is a solution for the squirm.

Not that he's the first kid to do this, but ... Gee .... Pee?

This little guy (one of the three that was swimming earlier) had been kicked out of the lake and entry area for the paddle boats ... and was just standing near our pickup point - waiting to get the all clear from his friends to be able to get back in the lake.

I can no longer remember the littles' specific reaction to seeing this dude standing there in the buff, but Mia normally says "Mama, why did his/her mom forget to put clothes on him/her this morning?"

There are always heartstrings being tugged here ... I'd like to spend some time this summer figuring out just what it is this family can do for another family (ies) while we're here in India. It may not be much, but it will be something.

Stay tuned.

Corn, Measuring Tape & Summer Plans

We wanted to get the boys (and Husb) a Nehru Suit made. Normal pants, but the jacket and shirt have a chinese collar as opposed to a standard lapel.

On Saturday, I took Terran and Tony to a nearby market and shopped for some fabric (BOY, what an experience that was with three very very unhappy shoppers and a pushy sales guy). We headed around the corner to the tailor, and he started the measurements.

Almost done, almost done, almost done - I kept reminding myself. Just as the tailor started to roll up his measuring tape ...

... Mia promptly dumped Pepsi all over the freshly purchased fabric. I have so little patience these days, it's pretty pathetic. I was sweating profusely, aimlessly swatting away flies from their perch on my forehead, neck and backs of my knees. Struggling to keep my composure and just get the task at hand completed, I decided to skip the jacket portion of the project and just work on the PANTS for now.

Fast forward to Sunday ... I buzzed a tailor who had done some work for us in the past and he confirmed he was available to come to the house in 30 minutes. Sure enough, he buzzed the door and within one hour's time (in the comfort of our home and with only ONE fly buzzing wildly around my head), he had measured Husb and the boys, shown us samples of fabric and was out the door.

Happiness is sometimes convenience!

Happiness for me is sometimes simply getting corn ready for dinner. Adding in sugar and milk to the boiling water, listening to my music and be-bopping with a cold beer.

Then there's the happiness of seeing the two boys ... hanging together

Precious.

* * *

Now that school is out, I have all sorts of great plans for our summer. Things we'll do and see. Family time together. I'm such a nerd that I actually have 'things' for each day of the week ... bowling (Tuesdays for example), swimming, the kids planning out a meal, group playdates on Thursdays, etc.

The reality though is likely to be quite different. It will end up being too many video games, fighting, complaints of being bored, not enough exercise/music/smiles and a house that is constantly messy.

I asked the kids to put together their "Summer Wish List" like Meg does, but they all just looked at me and said "Why?"

Sigh.

I do fully intend to get a list put together of things that each of the kids want to do, see, explore, make. I'll post it when we're done, but I wouldn't be surprised if it's the middle of July before I convince them to do it!

Event : "I am She" beauty contest

Who: Neha Dhupia

Thats one dreamy gown!! Neha is on a roll nowadays with one good look after another on the red carpet..

Who: Sushmita Sen

Sushmita has such a strong personality that it overpowers whatever she is wearing. She looks like a Diva here with the gown accentuating her height. Having said that, I didn't quite like the white scarf i.e the way it is casually placed on such a formal gown..It looks incongruous:(

photo credits: bollywoodhungama.com

I feel like a man

Who: Kalki Koechlin

Where: Launch of Esprit 2010 summer collection

The androgynous look was made popular by Diane Keaton in the 1970's movie Annie Hall. I havent seen anyone in Bollywood doing this look and pulling it off well. Kalki totally rocks it in a white ensemble with black bib and cute black flower pin. What do you guys think?

photo credits: filmicafe.com, bollywoodhungama.com

Moving on out ...

Today was a sad day at the kids' school.

I intentionally stayed away from the final assembly for both the elementary and high school - first because I assumed it would be chaotic - but also because I knew it would be full of tears. I instead positioned myself outside of the laughter-filled pool party of the youngest little.

Even though I made a point to NOT be present for an emotional end-of-year celebration, it didn't mean I missed out completely.

Some of the images of this afternoon included a nearly grown teenager ... her body rocking with her sobbing, her head firmly buried in her mother's neck. A family of four exchanging loud tears and cries with another family of four. The fathers exchanging the awkward man-pats, the mothers wiping away the tears and the sets of children trying hard to get their breaths in between the convulsions. A middle school child poring through her memory book from the past year and freely letting tears roll down her face. A precious little 1st grader slowly walking down the sidewalk repeating to herself over and over, "it's ok, it's ok, I'll see her again."

All of those kiddos ... those families ... are moving ... again.

It's hard to explain to our kids that it's normal for kids to move .... and move often. Someone said that this May, over 100 children are departing the kids' school.

I'd guess that the same number of new kiddos are coming BACK in to the school system, but that doesn't make it any easier to say goodbye.

I remember last year during the first couple days of school. As a new parent at the school, I was simply trying to find my way around campus, with a really huge fake smile plastered on my face (because fake smiles force your children to think that all is well in the world).

All around me were mothers shrieking with joy. Gasping with "O M GEE ... it is SOOOOOO good to see you!" Rapid fire questions about "how was your summer? "remind me again, where did you go?" and "did everyone have fun?"

It was so disconcerting and awkward. As a new mom, I felt completely left out and discombobulated. I squeezed Tony's hand tighter and maneuvered my way to his classroom. We swooshed past the clusters of expat moms and into his building. I raised my sunglasses on top of my head, squinted against the sudden change in available light and stood - right there in the doorway - for what felt like forever.

I felt three little squeezes in my hand (our code for "I Love You") and looked down to see a bright eyed little boy who was completely oblivious to my feeling of being completely lost. He said something to the effect of "I'm ready mom!" I hugged him, told him to have a good day, and lowered my protection against anyone seeing through me to what I was really feeling.

Armed with my sunglasses on, I started the walk back through the hoards of moms reacquainting themselves with each other after the long summer apart and thought to myself "I hope I don't do that next fall. I hope I don't knowingly (or unknowingly) isolate a new parent with my gushing and carrying on.

This past week, as people said goodbye, hugs were being passed around like candy on Halloween night. Sunglasses were used, pathetically, to try and hide the tears. Some put their heads down and pushed through the departing crowd, maybe determined not to deal with it and instead ignore.

As we walked through the turnstile - - for the last time of the school year - - Tony again squeezed my hand three times ... just as he'd done during the first week of school. We did it! We all survived our first year of living overseas. We learned how to say "hello" and start new friendships ... and how to say "goodbye"

Some of the lessons learned this year - - from the viewpoint of our three kids::

It is ok to cry
Hugs are good
Hugs are even better when you squeeze for an extra 2 minutes
Being aware of others feelings means its ok for one person to be angry about moving, when another person acts like they don't care, and when yet another person can only cry
Just because you say goodbye doesn't mean you will NEVER see them again
Some of the people who you saw at the beginning of the year and thought you wouldn't like, are now your best friends

To all of our friends that we've had the good fortune of meeting, getting to know and spending valuable time with over the last 10-11 months ... we will MISS your presence in Delhi!

To all of the new folks coming in ... WELCOME. We may still be missing the relocated pals when you land here in our adopted city ... but we welcome you with open arms!

Don't pay any attention to the clan of parents gushing at each other after the long summer away ... just jump right in and introduce yourselves! Before you know it, you'll be saying your own fair share of goodbyes ...

The earlier you say hello ... the longer you have until you have to say goodbye!