Ditch the DM for a different kind of message this summer with bpb's quick round up of the prettiest postcards from around the city. Remember, these belong in the post box and not on your office soft board. Write to us!

Play Your (P)Art

If you can’t afford an original Atul Dodiya, invest in a 7.5 X 5 inch postcard that showcases his art. Sold to the gentleman in the Hawaiian print shirt!

Available at Delhi Art Gallery, 11 HKV, call 46005300, set of 24 postcards, 7.5 X 5 inches for Rs 500.

Stamp Your Feet

Earlier this year, design house Sixofusdesign (www.sixofusdesign.com), gave out 300 sets of postcards – with stamps – to friends and family under the ‘Project Connect’ initiative. Each of the nine postcards, in orange white and black, bears a retro design and different message such as, “Long Time No Hear”, “Peace” and “Thank You”. The idea was to get people to write to each other and rekindle personal relationships, says founder Janki Shah.

Email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it to order yours.

Ladies, if you walked through HKV last weekend and didn't trek up to Bodice, you might feel like the Village idiot after reading this. The fashion store is hosting one of its rare sales, where all the yummy stuff - not just the rejects or pile that no one wanted anyway - is available for up to 65% off. The sale is on until Sunday, May 5, so you can still go and browse the buttery silk colour blocked shirts, printed dresses and playsuits. Yes, the ultra chic Ruchika of Bodice is full prize.

bpb's Sale Picks

Orange and maroon silk dress with cotton polka dot sleeves (marked down from approximately Rs 8250 to Rs 4,100)

Black and grey dress with fierce shoulder detailing (marked down from approximately Rs 8,700 to Rs 6,000)

Black and grey chequered bow tie (marked down from approximately Rs 1,500 to Rs 1,000)

Long net moustache skirt (marked down from approximately Rs 10,250 to Rs 5,500)

Printed pocket dress (marked down from approximately Rs 12,650 to Rs 6,055)

Getting there: 22 Hauz Khas Village, 2nd floor, below Gunpowder, markdown of 30% to 65%.

Sumer is icumin in says the old English folk song, and while you might not sing ‘cuckoo’ as the song urges you to, it’s time to rethink that bathing suit.  Shivan and Narresh’s newly launched online store has all the designers’ line for e-retail.

Candy stripes merge with swimming pool blues to create maillots, two piece bikinis, bandeaus and more. There are also super pretty but pricey hand painted linen dresses and cover-ups.  PS: If you’re looking for a cheaper, but still designer option, Shivan and Narresh has also done a line for e-commerce store Freecultr, more limited than their own store, but still with their trademark geometric prints.

May Day! May Day!

Getting there: Visit at http://buy.shivanandnarresh.com, Rs 7,000 for a bikini.

What: Pop up Sari shop at Cafe CMYK ,15, Meherchand Market, call 24641881.

Why: As summer approaches, we think back to our childhood made up of ice lollies and nimbu paani and our mother’s cotton Jaipur saris. This season, as if on cue, CMYK is showcasing a pop-up sari exhibition by Jaipur based designers Benu and Shaan. With traditional Rajasthani motifs leading the way, the collection will feature block printed angarakhas and anarkalis as well. The Shrinathji temple in Rajasthan and its imagery was a muse, said Shaan, and the inspiration for a line of paintings which will also be available. Getting incensed?

When: For pleating memories on April 26 and 27 from 11am to 9pm.

What: Briefcase bag pack from Nappa Dori, available at the Nappa Dori stores in Hauz Khas Village and Meherchand Market, call 09810400778 or visit http://www.nappadori.com, Rs 10,500.

Why: Death of a Salesman would have been far more romantic with this pretty biscuit coloured mini glossy trunk- like briefcase featuring beautiful leather detailing. Half belonging to a doctor and half to a salesman, the cool thing about this Nappa Dori trunk is that it turns into a bag pack, is small enough for daily, non-travel use, and comes with a key. It’s available in a range of colours including bright yellow, forest green and sky blue, but we much prefer the muted cream and black.

When:  You want to be part of the Carry On series.

Who doesn’t love a chair with not just a backrest but also a backstory? Creaky, creepy old Bombay fornicators that try and catch your eyes at parties, love seats that blush when you ask how long they’ve been together, couches that cuddle, poufs that don’t have a choice in the way they were born. If you know what we’re talking about, Christophe is your guy – a furniture afficianado, him along with his girlfriend and business partner Ranu Sinha form Blue Oak Atelier, a bespoke furniture service. 

Stop! Hammertime!

From France, Christophe moved to India a few years ago, intending to bring his decade-long experience with furniture to a country he’s long wanted to live in. With the help of Ranu’s business background, the two of them decided to start off Blue Oak, named after Christophe’s favourite kind of wood. 

We learnt about their services when a friend raved about a new dining table she just had made. We spoke to Ranu a little bit about the process—Christophe began by making a few 3D models for our friend to look at based on her brief—“rustic”. When she zeroed in on one, they went to shop for wood together, and she watched the whole birth.

You can choose to be as involved as you like, says Ranu, which is the beauty of this experience. But if you like, you can also not be involved at all and just leave it in Christophe’s capable hands—he makes all pieces himself, with the help of some very sophisticated tools from Europe. In the works are ideas for training local carpenters, but at the moment, it’s a one-man job.

Wood You Go To Bed With Me?

Ranu’s favourite piece is the Zapata chair, a crazy zig-zag that rocks and works best with a small table that fits it like a jigsaw. These are on sale at the moment, as opposed to most Blue Oak furniture, which can only be ordered on commission. As for us, we’re thinking of our perfect couch—white leather with an actual swimming pool in the middle and an island bar. It would say, “Hey baby” and beckon you in. 

Getting there: Email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or call 9650902600, view the Facebook page here, approximately Rs 25,000 for a Zapat chair.

Here’s some comic relief for your beauty battles: M.A.C’s new collection based on Archie comics, consisting of cutely packaged lip, eye and nail products with names such as Betty Bright, Heiress Lodge, Boyfriend Stealer and a bunch blush tones that fall under Ms Cooper's purview.

We liked the lip colours the most, and went home with Daddy's Little Girl, a fuschia lipstick with strong blue undertones and satin finish. A bit bolder than our standard M.A.C Impassioned, wear this to unleash your inner Ronnie and go to dinner with your girlfriends. We're sure Ms Grundy will approve.

Getting There: Available at M.A.C Select City Walk, Saket. Rs 1,050 onwards.

This Scouter has been collecting En Inde necklaces for years now, hoarding thick ropes of cobalt blue and pendants shaped like fish bones, wearing a thin chain with a wicked steel scabbard almost every single day this month. It is a surprise then, that we walked out of the new En Inde store in Meharchand Market with not jewelry but a black silk dress, severe in front with army of ruffles sewed onto the back.

Red Earrings

We could be accused of skirting the issue, but the truth is that while newbies will find plenty of En Inde pieces to take home, the collection doesn’t offer much innovation for shoppers familiar with the brand. We found more of those above mentioned scabbards for instance, dipped in a lovely matt gold this time and dangling on black string; thick strands of flattened, pearly beads that looked like a thunderstorm around our necks, but which we remembered from Le Mill in Mumbai; and brief steel tubes identical to those on our cobalt necklace, bought almost two years ago. We did spot some pretty new bracelets, thin strands of shimmery gold leavened with tiny cylinders; and a wide steel band that we want to wear to our next kickboxing lesson.

Earnest Hemmingways

Yet, there was plenty of new game at the sprawling, windowed first floor space, all thanks to the clothes. These have been curated from a nice mix of established and flourishing labels, including Rajesh Pratap Singh, Tilla, Pero (of course) and White Champa, and represent as aesthetic echoed in En Inde’s jewelry: geometric and severe, but leavened by a sense of play. We cooed over a white dress with fat, three dimensional straps; the explosion of ruffles on a little black dress; and a blue Pero shirt that managed to seem airy and saturated all at the same time – although if it’s Pero you want, you should check out the current collection at Ogaan in Hauz Khas Village. If you leave with your bank account intact, your will power is stronger than ours.

A Mixed Bag

But back to the En Inde store – we recommend that you visit, but keep your eyes and mind open. Like us, you might go in search of the next necklace you won’t take off and walk out instead with a black dress you might wear only on occasion, but one that makes you giggle as soon as you put it on. Some might argue that Rs 6,500 is too high a price for that; we beg to disagree.

PS: Now we don’t encourage piracy, but our Delhi editor found an En Inde rip-off at the roadside jewelry stall in the middle lane of Khan Market. That the blue rope and steel layered neck piece bears a striking resemblance to the En Inde style is no coincidence, and it’s priced at Rs 650 post bargaining. Just saying.

Getting there: 125/126 Meherchand Market, 1st Floor, visit the Facebook page here, Rs 6,500 for black silk dress.

This advertorial has been sponsored by The Home Label

Love looks different, better, under the glow of a Parisian street light. Hardships are more delicate when seen through the patterns of a French lace doily.  Life will probably behave itself, if hit on the head with a baguette.  



Online lifestyle store The Home Label (www.thehomelabel.com) makes la vie rosier with its Dinner In Paris line, featuring a range of dining room and kitchen products - wine glasses, trays, candle holders - inspired by France. Interior designer and thehomelabel.com Creative Director Sussanne Roshan tells us how her favourite cafes and vintage stores in Paris have inspired products in the collection, and what to buy in this postcard from The City of Lights.  Also view slideshow here.

 Merci! 

Sussanne Roshan on Paris: 



Paris is, without a doubt, my favourite city in the world. Where else can you find better wine, food, art, romance and inspiration? A perfect day in Paris for me involves visiting the museums and walking to my favourite restaurants and bistros. Surrounded by bright lights, the image of a table for two at a sidewalk cafe is something straight out of a movie and this inspired the latest collection on thehomelabel.com - Dinner In Paris.  



My Favourite Cafe Inspired A Tray: What I love most about French dining is the way food and wine is laid out; it celebrates life’s simple pleasures with uninhibited delight. The 'La Joie De Vivre' Tray in this collection is inspired by a meal I had at Mini Palais. Its soaring terraces and beautiful marble had the interior decorator in me jumping for joy. What's more is that it is open from 10 am to 2 am - la joie de vivre indeed!
 


Streetlights Can Be Candles: Sidewalk cafes are easily a huge Parisian attraction, La Perle on Rue Vieille du Temple for example, and what makes them so special are the street lights. I would recommend using the Wooden Candle Holder on your dinner table to recreate this beautiful mood indoors. 



People Watching Leads to Glass Decanters: Paris affords the luxury of doing very little at all while people watching and walking around. In my little breaks during exhibitions and in the evening hours before dinner, I would stroll around and wait for something to inspire me – what real life, living and dining in Paris is. I saw lovely tall glass decanters at Le Café du Marché near the Eiffel Tower, which is a great dinner table accent and available at thehomelabel.com. 



Paper Doileys Come Out of Vintage Stores:  I also visited the St. Ouen Flea Market which is the largest vintage store in Paris. I saw some beautiful lace dresses and crocheted umbrellas and wondered how I could use this trend in home décor. Paper or lace doilies are a great way! You can get coaster size or regular size ones at thehomelabel.com and apart from using them in your kitchen or dinner table, you can also use them in craft. I often make doily chandeliers, garlands and cones at my kids’ birthday parties. Doilies can even be used as decorative detailing while gift wrapping presents! These are simple DIY tricks that aren’t time consuming...all you need is imagination and some glue. 

Girlfriends Lead to A Tray: My favourite afternoon on my last holiday in Paris was with my girlfriends. We went to the Musée Baccarat and then walked over to L'ardoise Cafe where we chatted about the art and displays of glass work we saw at the museum, over a glass of wine, and some cheese and bread. The bread was served in a tray especially made for its size. This was the inspiration behind the Baguette Tray. 



Paris holds a special place in my heart and I feel like any moment in this city can be turned into a romantic celebration. I hope this collection reflects my love for Paris and inspires you the way it continues to inspire me.  

What: Jewellery designer Suhani Pittie's new online store, visit http://www.suhanipittie.com/shop/, Rs 3,200 for gold plated bird hoop earrings.

Why: Bauble heads, stay still for a second as one of our favourite Indian  jewellery designers Suhani Pittie's  new online store opens on the screen in front of you. Go past the peacock plumes and open doors to find gold and silver plated jewellery that seems to be preoccupied with the sky. There's birds that sit in gold hoops and a starry night sky that unravels  across a cuff. Different from the multi-strand antique coin necklace that we own, buy in mint condition none the less.

When: You want to make a Pittie stop.