GSFS Journal

Vol. 5 April 2011
La Femme..
reaching for the stars
Contents
Editorial
3
Indifferent in Fashion... This native New Yorker proves she definitely has an
eye for style. Lady Gaga is different and does not care about the world.
4
Dare to be Different... Our lives are what we make out of it and what we
achieve is what we have set ourselves for. The only element that makes us
different is how different we are in our thoughts, in our approach, in our understanding and in our actions.
5
Kick your way through... how kick boxing helps you to get your way through!
7
F.S Saga-our journey unfolds..!!!
8
Feng Shui... Enhance your love life through Feng Shui!
9
Trouble shooting
10
From the poet’s pen
11
Climb every mountain... Ride through the Niligiris
13
A punch to his nose worked...Learn through “Hard Kaur’s “way!
14
Just for laughs
16
Secret about spices... Know about the wonders of spices!
17
What modern women want…? Be the Techno-savvy women!
20
Life of traditional Arab women...
23
Fashion forecast 2011…Be fashionable always!!!
25
Creative corner...Making Rolled candles and dressing up the windows was
never so much fun!!
27
Women are homemakers too
28
Can u define her?
29
The Valedictorians Bid Adieu…..
30
Flamboyance… A Tryst with Style
31
3
The Editorial...
The birth of a new magazine is always such a wow moment. What you are holding in your hands has been through
all the stages creative conceptions, tricky trimesters, proofreading pangs and a beautiful birth! We editors are the
proud parents of an amazing issue that we can’t wait to share with you. We feel privileged to be carrying on the
baton of the magazine ‘La femme’ from our super seniors.
We are women; we are smart and savvy, striving to live up to our potential. We are curious about the world we live
in, and we want to make a difference. We cherish the gift of womanhood and most particularly, the ability to look
within, push the boundaries of what we know, and enlarge our hearts and minds with the world. Lets celebrate our
fabulous womanhood!
We are going to quickly walk you through what you are about to experience and then we leave you to enjoy the
issue. What we have, to offer you, through this edition is the cover story which throws light on the advances that
women are making in different fields, like biking where we focus on our theme “Dare to be Different”. Also featured
in our magazine are matters related to women becoming techno-savvy. Lady Gaga sets the ground for daring to be
different in fashion. The fun quotient is brought in through our very pompous article the FS saga! Plus, there are
feature stories and poems that form the core of all that we are about!
We take this opportunity to thank our Dean Mrs. Tulsi Bhatia for her constant support and lastly this issue could
not have been presented without the joint efforts of our girls. We are thrilled to welcome you to enjoy this issue of
“La Femme” 2010 – 2011.
Shruthi Saklecha, Surbhi Desarda and Sofia Ahmed
4
INDIFFERENT IN FASHION
‘’When I am writing music... I am thinking about the clothes I want to wear on
stage’’ - LADY GAGA
Daring to be different is the mantra of today’s youth. And the fashion arena is the
biggest platform to portray this. Wowing both the fashionists and fashion police
alike since she first stepped into the scene...is none other than Stefani Jonn’e
Angelina Germanotta, more popularly known by the name, Lady Gaga.
This American crooner started by performing in the rock music scene of New York
City in 2003. Recognition came much later when she worked as a song writer for
the label artists, during which she managed to draw the attention of the famous
singer ‘Akon’. He is the one who recognized her vocal abilities and signed her to
his own label ‘ Kon Label Distribution.’ Her role models are the Rock artists such
as David Bowie and Queen, also pop singers such as Madonna and Micheal Jackson.
Her love for fashion came from her mother, who she stated was ‘Always very welldressed and beautiful.’ Can you imagine she once wore the crazy Kermit coat and
elephant hairstyle to a show! Her style of dressing is a source of inspiration for her song writing and performances.
She is a major fashion influence and has added a feather to her cap by owning a creative production team named
‘Haus of Gaga.’ Whatever she wears during the show including the stage props, hair-dos, back-drops, etc. are created by her team.
Gaga was once spotted in a scary bird-man outfit which was a feather covered get-up, complete with a golden face
mask. She is known for her outlandish and micro-spic attire. People are inspired by her fashion and say ‘we know
Lady Gaga as an individual style and we praise her for brave fashion tastes.’
This native New Yorker proves she definitely has an eye for style. Lady Gaga is different and does not care about the
world.
If you think about it again, it does not take anything more than your individuality to stand out in the crowd.
Shalini C
..
Useless fact.
grows around
The finger nail
er than the
four times fast
erage human
toe nail in an av
body.
5
Dare to be Different
Life has always been and would always remain monotonous as there are only a select few who dare to be different.
We live in a society where what we do in our life has always been more predictable than ever. We wake up every
morning to live and do things that are no different from what we did yesterday. It is a rat race and we are one of its
participants who have to live and enjoy life within a specific set of boundaries. But do the things end here? Definitely
not! We all have our own share of moments which are somehow different from how we live our life everyday. We
grow up, go to school, then onto college, graduate and get a job, get a promotion, get married, have kids etc. and
have plenty of things that make us happy and give a little twist to our monotonous lives. Beyond that things are
static and much in line with the rules of the rat race of our lives.
Each one of us has little dreams stored deep inside our hearts. We are so absorbed in our everyday tasks that these
dreams lose their meaning over time. I have always believed that responsibilities are as important as our dreams
but not at the cost of them. Our life is what we make out of it and what we achieve is what we have set ourselves
as goals. The only element that makes us different is how different we are in our thoughts, in our approach, in our
understanding and in our actions.
There are many women in the past who have dared to be different and hence, made a difference that has affected
the world:
• Susan B. Anthony (1820 – 1906) The American icon of women’s suffrage and active abolitionist was the first
woman honored by being depicted on U.S. currency.
• Dain Fossey (1932 – 1985) The American primatologist was killed while being engaged in well-publicised economic
and political battles to preserve the mountain gorilla in Rwanda. She is a hero to wildlife preservationists and
environmentalists worldwide.
• Mary Wollstonecraft (1759 – 1797) The English feminist author wrote what history has since acclaimed as the
Bible of the women’s rights movement – A Vindication of the Rights of Women (1792). With its liberating view
of women, this pioneering work has influenced generations of feminists.
The list of famous people who dared to be different is endless but it’s needless to say that one does not need to be
famous to make a difference to the world or within one’s own life.
An example of one lady who finally followed her dream is Sue
O’Grady. The 62 year old grandmother from Sprotbrough,
Doncaster who is a former beautician decided one day out of
the blue that enough is enough, and let her family know she is
selling her house along with other assets to follow her dream of
travelling around the world for a 10 year long trip on her Harley
Davidson.
In an interview with the Yorkshire Post, she stated “I love my
home, I’ve lived there a long time as well as it is everything I ever
wanted, but I probably love my Harley a lot more, so the house
has got to go.”
Her family thinks she is absolutely crazy but as she said “But
you only live once, and I’m going to make the best of it while
I’ve got the chance. I can travel a long way and see a lot of the
world with the proceeds from the sale, and if I can stretch the
money out and make it last for 8 or 10 years then so much the
better.” With her motto of live, laugh and love, Sue has started
her adventure of a lifetime.
6
Another example is of 69 year old Ruth Flowers from Britain.
She never really knew what her calling was in life (or in life
was) but at a disco birthday party for her grandson, she was
inspired by the DJ.
From that moment, she knew she wanted to spend her
evenings behind the decks. She quickly set about learning
how to DJ and even started performing sets where she mixes
techno with the likes of Queen and the Rolling Stones.
Amazingly she has become famous under the name of
Mamy Rock in France, where she performs at nightclubs
from Cannes to Paris. She is well known for her trademark
big sunglasses and her leopard-skin shrug. Speaking of her
new found career, Ruth said “I would rather sign a contract
with a record company than to sign up for the nursing
home.” And up to this day she would rather pick up a pair of
DJ headphones over a hearing aid.
Like these two normal but extraordinary women, you can
also be different. You can Dare to be Different in your
everyday lives just by doing things differently than the way
they normally are.
DARE TO BE DIFFERENT.
DARE TO BE THE REAL YOU.
Nira Shah
..
Useless fact.
research,
According to a
uctive day
the most prod
the least
is Tuesday and
is Friday.
productive day
7
KICK YOUR WAY THROUGH
Female fighting has been slow to start and finding our place amongst the male warriors has sometimes been a
struggle. Women have only recently started to get into Kick-Boxing, and this martial art has largely been seen as a
male dominated arena.
Kick-Boxing is originally a Thai martial art that is commonly known as MUAI-THAI. It has been practised in Thailand
for many generations and they are known as the masters of the art. It consists of basic kicks and punches, counter
attacks and defensive strategies. Once you learn how to do it, you will be able to gain a lot from the effort and time
you have invested in the lessons.
Women are considered to be easy targets by criminals in society, but with the emergence of various self
defense methods, you are more empowered and you get to protect yourself even if others think you are not able
to do so. Learning the art of Kick-Boxing provides a lot of benefits to a woman. It covers the safety, physical,
psychological and social aspects of every person.
The main benefits of Kick-Boxing are:
Fitness and Stamina
Increased strength
Increased confidence through knowing self defense and
working with people
Toned arms, firm legs and butt muscles
Faster weight loss
Explosive power
Better balance.
Lastly, you benefit from it socially. You get to meet and mingle with people. There are a lot of kick- boxing clubs
formed especially by and for women to share experiences, and help each other in all ways possible. A few all-woman
colleges also encourage such classes to be conducted. All in all, it’s a great way to learn self defense.
So, if you have been thinking about going to a kick-boxing class, but were not sure if it was all just hype, it isn’t. Next
time instead of relying on a pepper spray or a tazer, try to kick some one in the right place, to get things straight!
Mint Nisarat
..
Useless fact.
n
re effective tha
Apples are mo
le
ping peop
caffeine in kee
orning.
awake in the m
8
FS SAGA…
The journey unfolds...
By-Shruthi Saklecha, Sofia Ahmed and Surbhi Desarda.
‘Rarely in history has one witnessed so many contrasting and fun- loving personalities come together to seek
a common goal. The result is a compilation of tales, cheery and not-so cheery, snow- balled into a nine month
long roller coaster ride’
It started as it always does, with the induction addressed by our respected principal Mr. and Mrs.
P.C. Thomas and our very own Dean Mrs. Tulsi Bhatia accompanied by the rest of faculty members. There we
were with one thought in our minds, “school is finally over”…Or was it?
Although we wouldn’t like to admit it, there was another thought going through each of our minds.. The terrifying realization that this time (a first for most) we would be facing an unpampered life. Will we make friends?
Are my shoes looking dorky? I think that guy looks kind of cute...Oops!! A teacher!
To explain the chemistry shared by the batch is like teaching relativity to a bunch of 10 year olds (no offense
there). The best way to do it, we suppose is to recount the tales and hope that by the end of it we might actually
decipher the true nature of the batch. Getting ourselves out of the sacks and then out of the villa each morning
for yoga classes has till date been assigned by our girls, as the most tedious task. You could hear the random
tit bits of their conversations while walking or running if you were late for class. It might sound a little hard to
believe, but the best part of the school was the classes. We did anything and everything to torment the teachers
and, in all modesty, we did succeed.
There can be no denying that the batch has stood very united (that is of course, only after we got through the
massive cat fights) but nevertheless came a great bonding moment for us during our various group competitions especially the Food Fest. The whole batch got together at these times to put in their best and so that they
could outshine the rest.
From the Swiss Dinner organized for us by the Hotel Management students to the dance mania we had with
Shaimak and the “Just Dance” troupe and not to forget the ‘Golmaal’ that we did just to watch the movie ‘Golmaal’ and a lot of such stories are in the making.
The induction of the batch would obviously be incomplete without the introduction of the personalities it
housed. We have the politicians, the actors, the musicians, the artists, the troublemakers, the trouble shooters,
the techno-kids, the brainy, the not-so-brainy, the philosophers, and the wannabes. Besides the love hate
relationships we had with teachers, we also shared a great rapport with our dear chechis and annas. Our Dean
thought, that as women of tomorrow, we have to be ready for anything and with this in mind, we rolled up our
sleeves and got to work in becoming certified (both literally and figuratively) (Disaster Recovery Representatives).
All in all a very lively innocent (hahaaa) and carefree batch.
At the expense of being corny I will write a no more epitaph.
No more Rose Villa and Aster Maria reaching first for Yoga classes every morning to disturb the Aster Villa. No
more coffee in Marigold Villa. No more running for the phones and laptops to Geranium. No more long waits for
Gladiola to get in to the bus. No more of gyming in Carnation!!!
There were times when we were at each other’s throats. There were times when we asked ourselves “Are we
there yet? “. But somehow we didn’t think it would end. Like with Death, we thought it can touch everyone else
but us. Let’s face the fact, it simply couldn’t end. This time it’s about realizing that the most memorable nine
months of our lives have come to an end.
It seems like yesterday that we were at the tailors getting our uniforms and getting our shiny new badges. True,
the uniforms have faded and the badges kept aside, but they are still there, right? So why are we not? Because
we were never meant to be stuck to one place, no matter how good it was. The things we have learnt have to be
taught to others. A generation has truly passed. Now we move ahead with our signature style of being innocent
yet devilish, sober with an infectious sense of humor. We are definitely not the types to leave anything behind
us when we leave. But now when they look back, they realize that “the girls have certainly evolved into ladies”.
9
Who wants to live a long life without health, money and fame? Everyone wants to live a healthier, happier life
and Feng-Shui, the practise of object arrangement helps you to achieve, healthy and happy life. Today, Feng-Shui
absorbs the interest of millions of people all over the world. And many chose Feng-Shui as a belief system. Feng
Shui lucky charms can attract love and marriage, improve relationships, and bring romance into life.
So, here are a few ways to enhance your love life using Feng-Shui:
• Fresh flowers are not good for master bedrooms, they might bring problems.
• Ban computers and TVs in the bedroom.
• For a good marriage, a girl can place a picture of the moon in her bedroom.
• Light some candles in the south west area of the room.
• Having too many doors to a bedroom can cause disharmony and arguments in a relationship.
• Place some red or yellow floating candles in a bowl once a week to boost opportunities for romance.
• A vase with thin neck and bulging bottom such as gourd shape is said to maintain good wealth.
•
Avoid a mirror facing the front of your bed.
• Mandarin ducks, showpieces or wall hangings can be decorated for boosting the love energy.
TU
ITI
UD
re as hard as
Human teeth a
es
man thigh bon
rocks while hu
an concrete!
are stronger th
LS
YA
N
Useless fact
10
TROUBLE SHOOTING
…WITH NEHA RAMNANI
I love Italian and French food. The catch is, I am rarely able to pronounce the names of the dishes. I am ordinary.
This gets quite embarrassing when I am dining out with friends or colleagues. Please suggest a solution.
Answer: There is nothing to be embarrassed about. Neither Italian nor French, is our spoken language and you are
not expected to be fluent with either while speaking. I am fairly certain that they would have equal trouble reading
a menu in English. What you can do, however, is to point out what you want, to the person taking your order, and
attempt to read as much of it as you can. In all likelihood, he will finish saying it for you. What you should never do, is
just ask for a dish by its number, like saying, I will have number four. Now that should be considered rude. Etiquette
simply demands that you make a good effort to read as much of it as you possibly can.
Q2. I had planned a sit-out party for my boss and colleagues, as well as for some of my clients. However, one of
my most important clients was over an hour late. I waited for what seemed like an eternity, and finally served my
other guests, to find him walking into the party just then. I was quite embarrassed. How could I have best handled
the situation, and what’s your advice about how long to wait for a guest before you serve the others?
Answer: Let me just start out by saying that it was your client who was rude to walk in an hour late. The maximum
one can get away with is about 15 to 20 minutes past the mentioned time, especially at a sit-down dinner. It’s unfair
to make other people wait endlessly.
I think the best way to mend the situation would be to say something funny like, ‘Oh how lovely, you are just in time
for dinner’. Invite him in, apologise for having started without him (he is,after all, a guest). And just proceed with
the dinner. Courtesy demands that your guest should call and inform you about being late. You can then, as a host,
decide whether you want to wait or carry on without him. If a guest is late, you can also call and find out how much
longer he will take to arrive and politely suggest that you may have to start serving dinner, since the other guests
are waiting.
Useless fact
the only bird
The Penguin is
, but not fly
which can swim
ers just fly and
while most oth
don’t swim!
11
From the poet’s pen…
Strength of a woman
Holding our tiny little finger, she taught us to walk,
Using our little tongue, she taught us to talk,
She runs towards us whenever we fall down,
She makes us wear a princess crown.
She left her parents for her in-laws,
She fulfils all their wishes by forgetting all her thoughts,
She sacrifices at every step,
To prove herself, every time she has to give a test!
She holds her family with love and care,
She stays strong and her sorrows are never shared!
The boiling pot
With as much pain as a human endures to
become a woman,
That much pain makes a woman a poet.
When a woman becomes a poet she is totally a
woman.
She is mature enough, to give birth to words
from the womb of suffering.
Words which are born without any pain, are
fragile,
They break when touched.
So is the life of a woman, who is on a constant
search for happiness.
She spreads happiness by being a beautiful daughter,
She spreads wisdom by being a beautiful mother.
When compared to men, she stays strong,
She is loved by everyone, even if she is wrong!!
PRAGYA GOENKA
Kirti Lunawat
12
A DAUGHTER TO HER MOM
HOPE
Mom, without you, there would be no me,
Hope is all feathers,
Your love, your attention, your guidance, made me
who I am.
It gives you wings to fly into the whether.
Without you, I would be lost,
Wandering aimlessly,
Without direction or purpose
You showed me the way to serve, to accomplish, to
persevere,
Makes you soar so high,
Which will lead you beyond the sky.
With this very hope; days could just go by..
But when the time has to arrive,
To get you deprived, of all your dreams,
Without you, there would be an empty space,
Which could be of various extremes.
I could never fill, no matter how I tried.
It will eventually cut you loose;
Instead, because of you
Then you will have to choose.
I have joy, contentment, satisfaction and peace.
Between the dream, for which you have already
made a scheme.
Thank you mom,
I have always loved you and will always do…
And the barren truth of life, which again cuts like
a knife.
Then what are you going to be left with?
Only the hope? Which will be then left with no
scope!!!
Alka Kandhari
Shruthi Saklecha
13
CLIMB EVERY MOUNTAIN
The annual tour of the Nilgiris is slowly but surely acquiring a cult following
IT’S THE BIGGEST cycling event in India and every year, it just seems to get
that little bit larger. All the better, because it means it’s an ever- rising number
that gets to appreciate the beauty of India’s hilly southeast in a way that no
other tour can really match by bicycle. The 2010 edition of the tour of the
Nilgiris- everyone associated with it calls it TfN-saw a hundred riders cycling
a little under a thousand kilometers in seven days of riding(December 16-23)
For many of us long rides have become almost routine, yet this tour remains
special. It’s the first of its kind, and the largest , but it also gets together
members of the cycling community.
The route starts from Bangalore to Kollegal, just east of Mysore, then to Bandipur National Park before a climb to
Ooty in the first three days. It’s an intense riding workout, but one that is hugely leavened by the fact that it passes
through some of the loveliest states in India-the forests of southern Karnataka, where elephants and other large
game still roam, and the high hills of Nilgiris. Its hard to beat for breathtaking beauty, but the tour goes on after a
rest day in Ooty to more forests and hills, first through Wayanad in northern Kerala and then in the lush estates and
rolling hills of Coorg in south western Karnataka, before ending at at the Heritage city in Mysore. Much of the route
has been carefully selected to avoid the busiest roads and highlight places that are off the beaten path, while still
proving great surface to ride on. The 2010 edition of the tour was the third time it was held. The tour was organized
by the RideACycle Foundation, a non-profit bicycle advocacy body. What it wants to do with the tour is to establish
a cycling event that draws in a variety of cyclists of varying expertise; they will not compete, but will certainly be
challenged by the ride. The first three editions of the tour have thrown in a mix that has spanned homemakers,
school children, coporate CEOs and professional athletes.
The idea of the tour began innocently with a thought: how might it be to ride a long tour of the hills of Karnataka
and Tamil Nadu, a ride that would take in the beautiful countryside of Coorg and the mountains of the Nilgiris? This
was clearly an idea that had wings because, within a few days Rajesh Nair, an experienced rider then based in the US
and one of the motivating forces behind the tour, and Ravi Ranjan, RideACycle’s managing trustee, had half a dozen
interested riders. By the time they had anything like a plan many more were looking to get in on the ride. Even more
importantly, they also had ( and continue to have) a remarkable team of enthusiastic and efficient volunteers who
have made every tour a smooth success.
Within months, the idea became a reality for 60 riders and a dozen support crew in the form of the 2008 Tour of the
Nilgiris. The 2009 edition had even more people applying for a place on the tour, and by the time the 2010 Tour was
announced, demand had soared to a point where the positions for the riding spot were filled within minutes of the
online application process opening.
There’s truly nothing like it- a long road trip by bicycle through some surpassingly lovely States.
Sneha Agarwal
14
“A punch to his nose worked “
Inside every man, there are two men, says Sheetal
Bohra. One man wants to play the role assigned
by the society, the other wants to rebel. One man
listens to the voice of the system. The other wants
to listen to the voice of his heart. One man holds
back his tears. The other wants to cry. One man
wants to live behind his masks. The other wants to
tear them away. One man wants to dominate the
woman. The other wants to befriend her…! There
are two side to every coin…the good and the bad!
This spunky rapper Hard Kaur is witness to her
mother’s brutal domestic abuse when she was a
child, a victim of molestation when she was a teen
and a long standing target of sexist remarks through
her adulthood. She has dealt with creeps of all
hues! People have only now started acknowledging
her talent. She has been facing sexist attitudes all
her life. Once she had a male performer come up
to her backstage and boo her down saying “you are
in the wrong place. You are better off standing in
your kitchen making hot rotis! “But a tight punch
in that fool’s nose straightened him out! As for the
others, ultimately they had to eat the humble pie
because her albums became huge hits!
Do’ and don’ts
If you are a victim of domestic abuse:
•
•
•
Jot down as many details as you can- what
and when the injuries were inflicted, if there
is a pattern in the abuse inflicted.
Learn basic self-defense moves, some spots
to hit- groin, shin, solar plexus, etc.
Stash away your important documents,
jewellery, some cash and hospital reports
(if you were ever hospitalized on account of
abuse).
If someone you love is molested:
•Believe her. Don’t go into denial mode.
•Ask her gently about what happened- get
out all details before drawing conclusions
and taking any action.
• Help her take firm, decisive action against
the molester. In case of a child abuse, it is
important for their mental and physical
well-being that they feel safe.
15
The varied forms of discrimination that women, specifically in India are subjected to, are far from positive. Yes,
there are a lot of laws provided by our Constitution but the mere existence of laws cannot automatically bring
about a revolutionary change in the society. We are in a country where women have no control over their lives
and do not even have the decision-making power in their own household. Gender disparity is found all over India
therefore, they remain largely marginalized, poor and socially isolated. Domestic abuse and child molestation cut
across economic backgrounds, social strata and even gender. Talking about it, there are certain steps that could be
taken to bring about a change.
1.
Share the problem
A woman who suffers domestic violence whether actual or threatened, physical, sexual, verbal, emotional
or economic abuse should firstly recognize that this is happening to her. She should ideally confide in
someone- talking is very therapeutic. The emphasis should be on being assertive, regaining lost confidence
and channelising energy toward bettering your life, rather than getting revenge.
2.
Make a complaint
Call the police helpline number for women in distress. A police van will reach you within half an hour. It’s
advisable to file a DIR (direct incident report) with the police station. The report can be filed on the phone
itself. Women can approach the magistrate’s court to file the DIR or ask an NGO to file it on behalf of women.
It’s necessary to keep a copy of the DIR till the final judgment is passed.
3. Ensure the child is safe
A lot of cases. Where a man marries a widowed / divorced woman with an eye on her minor daughter occur. In
such cases, child molestation occurs hand-in-hand with domestic abuse to cow down the women, who finds it
difficult to leave the perpetrator fearing social stigma and being dependent. It’s necessary to get the child out
of this situation, make sure she is safe from harm and has the confidence to talk about the problems.
4.
Counsel if there has been abuse
Children are almost always molested by those close to them- relatives, friends, etc. The issue is delicate and
needs legal recourse at an appropriate time. But, it’s of utmost importance to counsel the child. That’s because
molestation can lead to several emotional complexities in the child- she may become too introverted or too
rebellious, she may become non- communicative, she may develop psychological complexes and low selfworth by feeling guilty about what happened or in extreme cases, may herself turn abusive!
Life is not just roses- it has its share of thorns and it is important to take both in one’s stride. It’s necessary to learn
what the world is like and what life is like- so face it, fight, befriend it, live it!
Sheetal Bohra
16
17
SECRETS ABOUT SPICES
Spices have long held a mysterious allure, being used for centuries by many cultures to enrich the taste and
appearance of food and for health benefits, some of which are now beginning to be confirmed by scientists as cures
for diseases, says Kishleen Kaur and Pragya Nahar.
CHILLI
It certainly livens up a meal, but beware. It can also bring tears to the eye.
Did you know?
In a recent study at the University of Taiwan, capsaicin was shown to cause fat cells to self destruct. The chilli is
thought to speed up metabolism, aiding weight loss. In animal studies, capsaicin seems to help to cut the bad cholestrol in the body.
You could try mincing some chilli peppers and folding them into plain yoghurt for a spicy condiment.
CINNAMON
It is one of the oldest known spices, fragrant, sweet and warm and is the perfect ingredient for a winter dessert.
Did you know?
There is emerging scientific evidence that small amounts of cinnamon taken daily may be able to lower blood sugar
levels in people suffering from diabetes. Researchers have found that about quarter of a teaspoon of cinnamon per
day taken over a period of 40 days was enough to lower blood sugar levels by 20% in 2 types of diabetes.
You could try the Cinnamon Toast!!
Time - 10 mins
Serves - 2 people
Ingredients: ¼ cup brown sugar, 1 tsp ground cinnamon butter for 8 slices of bread
Method: In a small bowl mix the sugar with the cinnamon
Toast bread, butter it and sprinkle generously with the cinnamon and sugar.
You could also try this warm, winter breakfast. Dazzle linseed oil on whole grain toast and sprinkle
cinnamon and honey or warm your hands around a cup of hot milk simmered with honey and
cinnamon sticks.
18
BLACK PEPPER
It’s known as one of the healthiest and tastiest spices around. It stimulates the taste buds
and prompts the stomach to increase secretion of hydrochloric acid.
Did You Know?
The term “pepper corn rent” dates back to the middle ages when many landlords demanded that their tenants pay
their rent in expensive pepper corns. In those days, it meant the opposite of a cheap lease.
You could try the peppercorn dip.
Ingredients: 1tbsp peppercorns
3tbsp cheese spread
3tsp skim milk powder
1tbsp lemon juice
1cup-hung yogurt
1tsp garlic paste
Method
Crush the peppercorns and combine with other ingredients, mix well and refrigerate. Serve with raw
slices of cucumber, radish or crackers.
NUTMEG
Of all the sweetest spices in sure nutmeg tastes the strongest. A nutty spice often used in
milk drinks. It’s the dry seed of the nutmeg tree.
You could try adding a little nutmeg to mixed vegetable dishes, spinach or sauces for pasta. Try adding it in soups
made from vegetables like pumpkin, carrot, spinach etc.
GINGER
Ginger was used in China as long as 2500 years ago. Tangy and aromatic ginger is classified
as a spice rather than an herb because of its underground stem.
It can be yellow, white or even red in colour.
Did you know?
Ginger is widely reputed to help settle the stomach in cases of nausea, motion sickness and morning sickness. It can
also help in vomiting during pregnancy by taking small doses of ginger (1gram per day) everyday. But consult your
doctor before taking it.
19
You should try this.
A ginger relief for nausea. Steep two thin slices of fresh ginger in a cup of hot water.
CLOVES
Resembling an untidy jumble of small nails, whole cloves are the dried unopened pink
flower buds famous for their antibacterial effects.
Did you know?
The name is derived from Latin word cloves, which means nail.
TURMERIC
You probably would be wearing the spice now. The vibrant yellow/orange colour of turmeric has long been used as a textile dye.
Did you know?
Laboratory and animal research have come to know that turmeric is an anti-cancer spice.
Useless fact
s
times, Iron wa
During ancient
re
and in fact mo
more precious
gold even
expensive than
Pragya Nahar
Kishleen Kaur
20
What Modern Women Want
Pen Drive
Model: Heartbeat USB, Philips Swarovski
Philips Swarovski Heartbeat USB is a USB device with Swarovski crystals that forms a beautiful pendant, keeping style and functionality in mind. The USB drive that has Silver Shade
crystals set in Crealun on polished stainless steel offers a high-speed transfer rate and can
hold 1 GB of data. It comes with specialised software to safeguard valuable data with
password protection.
Toaster
Model: Paris Toaster, Pylones@Taabir
Far from being cheesy, the Paris Toaster from Pylones brings a dash of colour to plain
brown toasting. The toaster comes with auto-control for toasting and browning level,
convenient reset switch to stop toasting anytime and an easy-to-clean detachable crumb
tray. A perfect breakfast accompaniment to brighten up the day!
Laptop
Model: P Series Vaio, Sony
These pocket-tops are the world’s smallest full-fledged laptops with a sufficiently wide
8” screen. The laptops are high on style, too, with various colours including red, green,
white, black and gold. It runs on Windows Vista Home Premium, Intel Atom 1.6 GHz processor, 2 GB RAM, 64 GB SSD hard disk and card reader. It also includes Wi-Fi, 2 USB ports,
a webcam and noise-cancelling headphones. The little wonder weighs under 600gm and
has a healthy battery life of up to 3 hours. This beauty doesn’t come with a DVD drive.
Camera
Model: TX1 Cybershot, Sony
If you are one of those who are crazy about digital camera, you’ll love the super slim and
stylish TX Cybershot series from Sony. At 1.65cm, it still packs in a 10.2MP sensor, Carl
Zeiss vario-Tessar lens, 4x telescopic zoom and a large 3” touchscreen LCD. For capturing
action stills, the TX1 offers flexibility in capturing six distinct images in less than a second
and records videos in MPEG4 format.
Safety alarm
Model: Personal Anti-theft Defence, Zicom
Zicom’s Personal Anti-theft Device is an innovative way to protect yourself from thieves.
IT’s small enough for you to wear it around the neck whenever you are in a public place,
shopping, etc. The device is attached at one end to the purse which, when given a sharp
tug, pulls the pin from the socket located at the base of the alarm unit and instantly sets
off the alarm that calls attention to the thief.
21
Weighing Scale
Model: Nutrition Scale
The EastSmart Nutrition Scale is perfect for the fitness-conscious family. The scale measures your food in pounds, ounces down to grams. In addition to that, it also analyzes your
food and tells you its nutritional value breakdown. The EatSmart Nutrition Scale helps you
make the right choice about what food you ought to be eating.
Date tab
Model: Digital Counter, DaysAgo
Is your fridge packed to the brim with food bought a while ago? Not sure if you should eat
the weird looking pizza slice lying there? You are a perfect candidate for DaysAgo Digital
counter. The counter attaches itself in a variety of ways, through a magnet, suction or
band attachment. The gadget can count up to 99 days to keep tabs on your leftovers. It
has a push button to toggle between days stored or hours stored. It’s, without doubt, a
must-have for today’s fast food age.
Shoe rack
Model: Shoe wheel, Rakku Designs
The Shoe Wheel is an ingeniously designed mobile storage unit with twenty expandable
pockets that can hold up to 30 pairs of shoes. The shoes are smartly positioned so that
one pair will not soil and crush another. It also comes with locking shells and tension control to adjust the wheel’s rotational speed. The see-through vinyl pockets are adjustable
so you can add hoes of any style.
Retractable earphones
Model: chicBuds
chicBuds are probably the most stylish earphones to be produced by women for women.
The earphones are adorned with Swarovski crystals on a wide range of colours. Not only
are chicBuds yummy looking, they also have a convenient retractable cord that expands
and retracts to 5 stopping points at various lengths. The clip stops the cords from bouncing around in a tangled mess. The standard 3.5mm jack can be attached to any device
such as an iPod, a CD player, portable video devices or a home theatre system.
22
Mini-speakers
Model: speakers
Here are mini-speakers that sport colourful and funky designs to jazz up your music listening. You can choose from colours like pink multi-dottie, coco stripe and Berkley. Alternatively, you could go for bolder colours such as olive and navy. These speakers are
compatible with any device due to the 3.5mm jack such as a laptop, portable devices, etc.
Sports Kit
Model: iPod Sports Kit, Nike
The iPod Sport Kit from Nike helps you keep tab on your fitness levels. The kit includes
Nike running shoes, a pedometer sensor and an iPod Nano with a special receiver. Attach
the transmitter to the shoes while the receiver attached to the Nano wirelessly receives
information. The screen displays all the details about the speed, distance and calories lost.
Cleaner
Model: Roomba 530, iRobot
The cute and round iRobot Roomba is intelligent enough to clean floors by navigating
rooms, edges and corners all on its own. IT has Anti-Tangle Technology and can easily
transition from carpets to hard flooring without a hitch. The Roomba can brush, grab dirt
and pet hair, and detect dirtier areas without breaking a sweat for up to three rooms on a
single battery charge.
Aastha Jain
Useless fact
w, red and
The colors yello
d in fast food
orange are use
cause those are
restaurants be
stimulate
the colors that
an appetite.
23
THE LIFE OF A TRADITIONAL ARAB WOMAN
Covered from head to toe in dark robes all enveloping, she moves through life with thousands of chains
fettering her feet. Life of a traditional Arab woman is far from easy, says Munira Walaji.
Throughout history, women in the Arab world have been subjected to restrictions on their freedom and
rights. Some of these restrictions have been justified by religion, but most of them have been as a result of
abuse of religion and more of cultural and traditional practices.
For centuries the role of a traditional Arab woman has been to take care of the house and the children.
Women were hardly given the opportunity to study and if allowed, they would just attend primary school.
However in recent years, education has probably been the most important change in the lives of Arab
women. Some women have been given the opportunity to study further and even attend universities.
Although men still dominate in the economic role, as they are believed to be the provider and women to
be the care givers, Arab women have begun to penetrate the work force. Many of them work as nurses,
teachers, social workers and some have even become doctors. Unfortunately as a result of low education,
female workers are challenged by a more professional male labour force.
Similarly in politics, women are not given an opportunity to show their potential. The role of women in
politics in the Arab societies is largely determined by the will of these countries and their culture attitudes
towards women participation in politics. No woman has ever been the head of state in Arab speaking
countries! However there have been women such as Jillian Al Sadat, who have influenced the men in their
dealing in matters of state.
The women have also had to face personal restrictions such as not being permitted to travel alone. Some
Arab nations prohibit women from travelling alone and those then who are allowed usually face a greater
risk of sexual harassment or assault than they would in western countries.
24
In Saudi Arabia, women are forbidden to
drive. Although the
traditional dress for
women is the Abaaya(a
full length black cloak)
and hijab(head scarfs),
Saudi Arabia has made
it compulsory for the
women to wear the
traditional dress along
with the veil. Such restrictions make the
lives of these women
a very hard life to live.
They always have difficult situations thrust on
them such as the issues
of marriage.
Many of the Arab
women are married off early because their parents want to get rid of the responsibility. After marriage,
their role is that of a wife and a mother and no more. They are exploited and hardly given a say in family
matters or in the lives of their children.
Traditional wedding arrangements are made between the fathers of the bride and the groom. Whether
the girl’s consent is legally required for marriage or not varies with the laws of each country. This is still
practised to some extent among the uneducated or extremely conservative families. After marriage, a
woman is not allowed to interact with any man other than her husband, and members of her immediate
family.
Thankfully, these days prospective partners are at least given some information about each other and
allowed the right to accept or refuse the proposal in some cases.
Although times are changing and along with that some traditional practices, women in the Arab world
are still not given the full opportunity to reach their goals and to break free from all cultural and societal
restrictions. The life of a typical traditional Arab woman is a very hard life to live.
Munira Waliji
Useless fact
for us to
It ’s impossible
allow
breathe and sw
e!
at the same tim
25
Though 2011 will see us move still further from the economic woes of recent history, don’t expect a massive change
in the tangent of fashion: the major excesses of the last decade are gone, and 2011 will see us, rightfully, continue
with a drive of subtle consumption mixed with obvious quality. 2011 fashion trends will accommodate the fact that
we’ll be buying less but spending more. That means less bland, and more quality. Fewer indulgences, but better
statement pieces, says Eshpreet Kaur.
HAIR TREND 2011
2011 long hairstyles
Double hair knot: There’s been a fixation of late for hair trends for long hair to have an
effortless appeal to them: the double hair knot 2011 hair trend builds on that appeal. As
simple as it sounds, this is a hair trend that can be worn in 2011’s autumn (fall) / winter
seasons along with the year’s spring / summer seasons.
Braided topknot : With 2011’s hair trends dominated by hairstyles as opposed to particular cuts, it should come as no surprise to see that braids remain on trend. In 2011, however, they begin to fuse with other popular hairstyles, in this case the topknot..
2011 short hairstyles
Waved bob : You’ll see in the 2011 haircut trends section below that the bob is back for 2011, though specifically
with a fringe. For those who want or already have a bob haircut the question becomes how to style it in 2011. Taking
the lead from the waved hair trends of 2010, the waved bob hairstyle is one of the on-trend ways to style a longer
bob (again the trend length) in 2011.
When it comes to picking your haircut for 2011 there’s one thing you need to know: the
year’s fashion is all about revivals. Revivals of the 60s, revivals of the 70s, and revivals of
more recent looks. And as it is for fashion, so too is it for 2011s haircuts. In 2011 the most
on trend haircuts take their influences from the 20th century, with short haircuts influences by the 1960s and mid-length haircuts influenced by the 1970s.
Fringe / Bangs : Hair trends tend to come and go, but not so for this 2011 women’s hair
cut trend, which is experiencing a major resurgence. Last a major trend in 2007 / 2008 this
hair cut detail had died off by 2010, which was a year in which hair trends were dominated
by hairstyles as opposed to haircuts. But in 2011 its back as an overarching hair cut trend,
one that can be worn with nearly all of the year’s hair color and hair style trends.
26
2011 medium length haircuts
Bob with fringe / bangs
The bob is back, reinterpreted and is re-imagined. Yes, it lasted with us only a few short
years ago, but as for 2011, haircuts that are longer and sports a fringe / bangs are in trend.
As a 2011 hairstyle, the bob is softer and more retro-inspired, having been infused with a
60’s backcombing and a 70s soft, rounded shape.
ACCESSORIES 2011
Cat eye sunglasses
Bring back the vintage style of the timeless cat eye sunglasses! The ultra-feminine cat’seye design is nothing new to the fashion world as it lends a retro ’60s look. It all started
from Prada fall 2010 runway where Miuccia put colorful cat eye sunglasses on model’s
noses.
Lace Up Shearling Boots
Taking command of an on-trend military tendency lace up shearling boots gets the woman’s touch keeping you both comfortable and stylish. The most appealing prototype is a
chocolate Natalia shearling boot presented in Ralph Lauren fall 2010 winter 2011 fashion
show.
Nude Bag
There have been nude pumps and nude-coloured clothes too. So today there’s no wonder why a nude handbag is becoming more and more popular. Taking into consideration
runways, the best nude bags were presented by Chloé, Derek Lam and Dolce & Gabbana
who introduced a stylish iPod case.
Hawaiian Flip Flops
Inspired with the typical Japanese sandals Hawaiian flip flops are made of the finest,
softest rubber that provides an ultra-comfortable style. That’s why celebrities including
Ashley Tisdale, Jennifer Aniston or Paris Hilton chose them to the beach and for their
everyday activities.
Kitten Heel Pumps : Kitten heels are coming back for fall 2010 to protect you from bunions, corns, grazes and first of all broken ankles. Presented by Prada, Marni and Giambattista Valli they are both practical and trendy. Oh, did you know it was Audrey Hepburn who
started the kitten heel trend?
Eshpreet Kaur
Useless fact
calories
You burn more
than
while sleeping
watching TV!
27
Window Dressing
Rolled Candles
Transform your curtains from simple to chic-in just one
afternoon – by adorning plain ready made panels, says
Manisha Shankla
Have you ever thought of all the reasons people use
candles - for celebrations, romance, and spiritual purposes, to light up your dinner table or just for relaxing?
1. Ruffle the edge:
What you need:
• 2 curtain panels
• 3 metres of fabric for ruffle
• needle and thread
• trim
• fabric glue
Give curtains a soft, feminine touch by creating a ruffle
trim from a 3 inch white piece of fabric. Add zing to
your new style by selecting a fabric that contrasts in
color with your curtain. Pinch the fabric every inch or
so, then stitch to the underside edge of the panel. Use
fabric glue to adhere a trim on top if the lead edge to
finish the look.
2. Painted stencil
What you need:
• 2 curtain panels
• 1/4th litres of paints
• paint brush
• stencils
An over scale zinnia flower print elevates these curtains to a work of art. Use a stencil to apply the paint
directly on to the curtains. Use wax papers underneath
the linen panel to catch the excess paint.
Light and fragrance are the most effective and easiest way to improve your home’s mood and ambiance.
Home interior candles allow you to provide both.
They create elegant subtle lighting and beautifully
decorate your home with texture and color. Their fragrances can be tailored to fit any mood or environment. Candles can be used as gifts for all occasions.
Keerthana R. Kumar helps you to enhance your
home décor…
Materials required:
Scissors
Wicking
Bees wax
Utility knife
Ruler
Butter knife
Procedure
To make the wax easier to work with, heat it on a radiator or with a hair dryer until it’s pliable (a minute
or two) cut a piece of wicking: it should be 3/4th inch
longer than the length of the candle. Place the wicking along one long edge of the wax. Fold the wax over
the wicking and press tightly to seal.
Carefully roll up the wax sheet with the wicking inside. Make sure the top and the bottom edges remain
even and the wicking stays securely in place.
When the candle is in the diameter you want cut of
the excess wax with a sharp utility knife. Use a ruler
as a straight edge to make sure you get a neat, clean
edge.
Smooth the cut end by pressing a warmed butter
knife (hold it under running hot water and dry it or
warm it with a hair dryer) along the seam. Don’t
press too hard as bee wax is delicate and you can easily crush the candle.
Useless fact
ld fish in
If you keep a go
will eventually
a dark room, it
ale colour.
turn white or p
28
“Women are home makers too”
‘Her house may be clean, her kids behave tolerably well, she has all her cookies in arrow, but her house is not a
home, if she is not a homemaker.’
A wife who cleverly manages a household while her husband earns the family income is known as ‘Home Maker’. In
the earlier protocol, man was the principal authority and used to be the bread winner of the family and woman was
the manager to look after her kids and manage the home.
Now, most of the women are on the hoard to pursue their careers, as they feel that they have spent 15-17 years of
study and want to make use of it for their benefit and not let it go waste. When compared to the previous generation,
the current generation is supposedly known as the generation of the fair sex. But I wonder if it has actually gained
anything in the real sense of women emancipation and freedom, with more and more women becoming part of the
workforce. Is it really enhancing the Indian family positively?
When you have your mother waiting for you all the times, it plays a vital role in the overall development. These
home-makers ensure the overall balance and act as the unifying factor. Today this place has been taken away by
housemaids. I wonder if the emotional need of their children is fulfilled in that case. Are housemaids bothered about
how much time children spend watching T.V or surfing the net? But a woman as a homemaker ensures that the child
does his or her homework on time and where required, guides him or her through teething problems. But in the other
case, a tutor is appointed for that, wherein again there is no supervision involved.
A home maker ensures that her husband, children and home are always in harmony with life. To say, that children
and the relationship between husband and wife are not affected in case of a working couple would be similar to
avoiding the reality. Every increasing divorce rates and the child’s need of psychiatric assistance are the symbol of
this symptom. Homemakers offer security blankets to their members. She takes the responsibility of child bearing and
the related upbringing factors especially during the critical years of growth. She prepares them to face challenges
and situations that life has to offer. The child grows up straight and strong with the moral values taught by the
mother. It is imperative for the child to have a stable, secure home life. People having the notion that girls and women
working outside the home are highly esteemed and justified before men or society is untrue and false. In fact it is the
working woman that is often lazy. She doesn’t want to have the responsibility and trouble of raising her kids or home
schooling them or caring for her husband properly or keeping a proper biblical home instead of a house. A working
woman works for a stipulated time in a day but for a homemaker the job never ends until and unless the family
members get into their cosy blankets.
For all that working mothers may gain by having jobs outside their homes be it money, intellectual challenges, health
coverage, a sense of fulfilment-but most people believe family life would be better if they could stay at home. For most
people prefer the peace and quiet of home instead of the rickety-yacking that goes on at work. According to a national
survey, the majority respect mothers who do stay at home more than those who do not. Being a home maker doesn’t
mean that her family exploits her and her rights as a woman are compromised. She takes rest when she wishes to rest
and has command and respect over the family that only a woman can have.
Life is BIG GRAB. Hold on and don’t let any stereotypes of what should do, limit you. Live your life as you choice
whether as a homemaker or a career woman, Spend quality time instead of quality of time with the members of the
family.
Niyanta Agarwalla
Useless fact
e folded in half
No paper can b
n times
more than seve
.
ze of thickness
no matter its si
29
CAN YOU DEFINE HER?
Is she just a young girl who dreams of making it big one day...?
Is she a daughter who grows up as their little princess acquiring love and responsibility towards her parents and
siblings, and moulds herself to be a symbol of respect to her family…
Is she a sister who shares her childhood, her first playmate at home, considers her brother a part of herself, and
stands up for him in any situation…
Is she a career woman who manages to multi-task with her razor sharp brain, at the same time manages home
with a phone call giving crisp instructions…?
Is she a wife who accepted to be his companion for life, under any given circumstance, becomes a trusted partner,
to love and to care for him, despite his faults, and is she eventually fashioned to be a rib to protect his heart…?
Is she a home maker with hardness, sensitivity and wisdom balancing all relationships…facing and dealing with
problems when everyone else has given up…without complaining…?
Is she a mother with special powers to sing lullabies to comfort her baby…protect her teenager from anxieties and
fears…teaching her grown-ups to discriminate and rationalize the world they are going to face…
Is she a great friend who’ll stand by at times of trouble and times of joy…?
Is she the one who has the shoulders strong enough to carry the weight of the world…yet have gentle arms to
provide comfort…?
Is she a responsible protector of her loved ones …?
The ancients called her Shakti, the power. She was created from the best of the trinity: the creativity of brahma,
the nurturing quality of Vishnu, and with Mahesh’s ability to destroy when necessary.
Sirisha Korrapati
30
The Valedictorians Bid Adieu…..
As Einstein once said “Insanity is the doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results” and
“insane” is the first thought people had of me when I shared my idea of going to Finishing School. Most of the
subjects provided were the same as what I’d done during my school days. They didn’t understand the reason for me
to want to relear things. They themselves were flabbergasted when I mentioned it was in India ! They wondered
why not a place in Switzerland? But my dad had always dreamt of me attending this course. He even took the
pains to come and visit the school twice. I never understood his reasons for me coming here then, but today I want
to thank him for sending me here. Living in a very closed atmosphere which is a 360 degree turn from the open
lifestyle I enjoyed back home, has challenged me in a lot more ways than I thought it ever could.
The first day is definitely one I’ll never forget. After taking a very long flight that was delayed, I was just looking
forward to crashing onto a bed, but NO, that’s not the way the Shepherdians do it! I was made to unpack and
arrange my room straight away on arrival. Alarms started going off in my head, ‘What have I gotten myself into?’
and this wasn’t the end of it. I had prepared my friends and myself for the limited amount of laptop & mobile time,
two things which normally used to be my life and soul, but little did I know of all the other rules that were very
kindly handed over to me on a long sheet of paper, rules that frightened me enough to keep me awake for days!
How would we survive without midnight snacks while watching TV? And wait, surely they can’t control the TV
timings. They shouldn’t be switching off the cable at all and even if they do, 10:30 is way too early!!!
In the past I could have very easily spent a whole day lounging around in my pyjamas but even on a Sunday now, an
internal alarm goes off at 5:45am! Oh well, without all these rules, I wouldn’t be the lady I am today.
Having studied abroad, I’m very independent and hardly ever felt homesick but that was the only thing I did feel for
quite a while after arriving here. Luckily, many of the others felt the same and the chemistry shared by the batch,
helped us all to settle in and soon there can be no denying that the batch stood very united and today there are
many who don’t want to leave, so Elsamma Ma’am, could they extend their stay? Pleeaassee!
The cultural differences were also very evident, but we’ve all learnt to adapt efficiently. Initially, I found it very hard
calling any teacher Sir or Ma’am as I’m used to addressing people as Mr or Mrs, but I feel I now know how to address
them. There were several occasions when all the ladies used to recount their memories in Hindi and I’ve never been
more lost; but over time, I’ve started joining in and now I can say ‘Mujhe thodi thodi Hindi aithi hai’. Although there
is only one thing left to decipher. The Indian headshake! I can still not understand if the answer is a yes or a no.
Being a very easy going person, it was horrible to get a tag of ‘COMPLAINER’ because of the constant complaining
of mainly getting Indian food to eat instead of Mexican, Lebanese or Japanese and so on which I’m very used to.
Previously I would have an Indian meal hardly once a week but now I can gladly have two Indian meals a day. I was
taken aback when recently I came to know that the ladies initially thought I had a negative attitude but then that
was only until they really got to know me.
In conclusion, you may think I’m all praises for the school because I’m at the podium, but in all honesty only after
you go through the nine gruelling months of polishing I went through, will you realise that you’ll be left with nothing
but the goodness the school has given to you. So in this case I disagree with Einstein. Doing the same thing over and
over again, can give different results. And although this is a very clichéd saying ‘practice makes perfect’, I feel all 24
of us are close to perfect now. So congratulations, LADIES, we did it!!!
Thank you!!!
31
Flamboyance… A Tryst with Style
Fashion and youth seem to be two terms that go with each other, come rain or shine. The students of Good
Shepherd Finishing School Ooty, were a living, breathing testament to this when they recently hosted a fashion
show that explored the mysterious, dark and subtly provocative side of glamour. The theme ‘Flamboyance’ depicted
the vibrance and the flamboyant nature of the ladies. Dressed in an array of elegant and stylish ensembles, the girls
presented a picture of poise as they walked down the ramp, oozing confidence and looking like a million bucks.
There were a series of rounds showcasing different styles. Up first was the monochrome draped round where the
ladies wore outfits that were not stitched or cut to fit, but wrapped around the body. The ‘oohs and aaahs’ from the
audience said it all! Then came the smart, casual look showing off their creative side. What was on display here was
the power of accessorising! And the art of making a difference to your wardrobe by just changing a few accessories.
Next we were treated to a selection of floral dresses designed by the ladies themselves in different genres like
the red carpet, cocktail, beach wear, Indo-western and Indian. This was the perfect way to highlight the theme
of Flamboyance where the debutante designers carried off the garments they had stitched themselves. It was
remarkable how they pulled off such difficult designs from paper to cloth.
The show stealers were undoubtedly, the garments made out of non-wearable, recycled materials. The audience
learnt that just because the material is not fabric, does not mean that it cannot be worn as an outfit. It is astonishing
to know that materials such as ropes, bubble wrap, disposable cutlery, loofahs and plastic bags could actually be
transformed into skirts and gowns! The show ended with an extravagant grand finale. From the whole show, one
thing definitely stood out; the ladies of the Good Shepherd Finishing School left all the audience mesmerised. And
to think that they did it all themselves learning to sew, designing the beautiful creations, and walking the ramp!!!