28 July,2009 10:01 AM IST | | Shweta Shiware
In the interest of saving international pop star Kylie Minogue's Meticulous make-up, friend and designer Jean Paul Gaultier touched her finger tips and blew kiss faces. the mwah-mwah ritual might be on its way out in paris, but back home, the Indian fashion frat prefer a tight squeeze, peck and gale milna Designer purse hangers are a hit among women who carry them to hook their handbags on to a dining table, rather than dumping them on the floor
Stubble on a gaunt jaw looks fetching, but hardly feels as good when you lean forward for the ceremonious air kiss. And let's not even venture into the particulars of a sentiment when make-up you've toiled over grazes against cacti-like fuzz. The act of greeting (or sometimes saying ta-ta) by blowing a kiss into thin air, cheeks brushing, or nearly missing, often accompanied by a noisy "mwah", is called air kissing.
It isn't a bummer though. Most designers hold hygiene in high esteem, want their facials to last long, and smell divine. I lost my air kissing virginity to Tarun Tahiliani, while I was a rookie a decade ago. What I didn't know until then was that air kissing is a conversation starter, and fashion's famous don't indulge in it unless you are special or important.
(Clockwise from left)
>>Narendra Kumar gives model Mugdha Godse
a tight kiss while taking a bow at the end of his show at Lakme Fashion Week.
>>Rohit Bal and event manager Devika Bhojwani go mwah-mwah.
>>Rahul Khanna and model Joey Mathews are stitched at the cheek.
>>Manish Malhotrau00a0 who finds air kissing shallow, lets actress Celina Jaitley
give him a python hug.
pics/ Rane Ashish, Shadab Khan, Rajeev Tyagi, Pradeep Dhivar, Subhash Barolia,
Bipin Kokate
Mumbai designer James Ferreira, who celebrated his 53rd birthday this Saturday, is a passionate man. So, when he grabs you to greet you, it's heartfelt, often accompanied by loud giggles (from you and him). Delhi duo Rohit Gandhi and Rahul Khanna's diva-ish aura crumbles when they catch a glimpse of someone they like. A bear hug is in order, and you don't mind it since they both have great taste in cologne.
Raghavendra Rathore's royal lineage doesn't let him slip away from the commandment of perfect manners, gently holding a lady by her shoulder to say a warm hello. Ditto with Ashish N Soni.u00a0
When Kolkata boy Sabyasachi Mukherjee holds your hand, swinging it like friends getting into a school bus on a day trip do, you know he likes your writing, or whatever else it is that you do. Boisterous Bollywood actress Kajol taught Manish Malhotra, the introvert, how to hug. "I am not comfortable with displaying affection. And if it's air kissing, I withdraw. I think it's shallow, stupid," he had once confessed.
Gaurav Gupta will spot you, and run a mile to give you a kiss, and won't let go of your hand while he chats. The unpredictable Arjun Saluja will talk, smile, kiss, even hug depending on whether he feels like "being social". It helps if you are wearing his design when you meet the reticent Saviojon. Suneet Varma, the boy-at-heart, is a delight to bump into if you are in the mood for a flamboyant embrace.
Hot Accessory
Out for dinner? Hook purse to dining table
Entrepreneur Maithili Shah wouldn't have hit an accessory jackpot, if it wasn't for the "necessity is the mother of all invention" rule. A gift from a friend, a purse hanger, made Maithili wonder why something like it wasn't available in India. One month of trial-and-error was enough time to put together Polka-Purse Hangers, a stylish hook that allows you to hang your purse on your dinner table while you tuck into a plate of Spinach and Ricotta Ravioli. It works on virtually any table or shelf surface, and comes in various designs and lengths, so it doesn't look out of place. "From businesswomen to housewives and teenagers, women have been picking them to match each of their handbags. I think it makes a perfect giftu00a0 too," says Maithili, who co-owns Rubberband, a Mumbai-based company that designs smart stationary products.
The purse hangers are made from metal, American diamonds and acrylic are used to create designs ranging from botanical to Pop art. Its compact size (between 55 mm and 100 mm), with a dial facing upwards, makes it easy to fold up and slip into your handbag.
Price: Rs 300 and Rs 650
To place order, log onto https://www.polka.co.in/
