closestbuddies

[closestbuddies]

By : Juhi Bansal

Ojas Rajani is a well known make up stylist and her clientele includes the likes of Aishwarya Rai, Sonam Kapoor et al. She visited Ahmedabad a few weeks back to do a makeup workshop for INGLOT Cosmetics. A regular visitor at the INGLOT outlet (there’s no other major makeup brand in Ahmedabad), during my last visit I was invited to attend the workshop by the illustrious Ms. Rajani.

Now I have attended enough make up trainings in the last few years to understand and in turn use the oft repeated basic skin prepping and priming etc but a quick Google search told me she specialized in dramatic eye make up and that got me interested. For all those who know me well, know I am not much of a makeup person. On an average day, you would mostly find me wearing my trusted tinted sun screen, little eye liner/kajal and a dab of lip balm but I do like to dress up at times and definitely love writing about my make up experiments as much as anything else.

She worked on 3 looks for us:

A smokey eyes evening look, peaches and cream day look and a traditional bridal/wedding look.

My favorite out of these was the peaches and cream, day look. It was so effortless and low maintenance. The only requirement-you must have a gorgeous skin since she hardly used any preppers on the skin! The main products she used to get the desired look:

Illuminating cheek serum- this one got me really interested. It’s perfect for a dewy look. I have not tried it personally so will not recommend it yet.

Peach and pink lip stain with plumper- I am not a big fan of lip stains but seeing how she used it both on the lips and cheeks, it is on my shopping list now.

The second look was the Smokey eye look. I’ve tried it here before.

I normally use a combination of black and grey shadows, kajal and eye-liner to get the desired smokey eye look.

Ojas used a mix of black and brown shadows which gave a totally different effect and a lovely one at that! She also suggested contouring the top arch of the eye socket with peach shadow before working on the smokey look to give a more defined look. I have to agree completely!

The third look was the wedding/bridal look.

She’s used highlighter below the eye brows and the cheeks to grab light on those points. She’s also used Extra Shimmer Powder by INGLOT to dust the face in the end for the extra glowy look.

I will do my own version of these 3 looks later, but here, let me just sum up some important tips by her that are worth keeping in mind.

She suggests using an angled brush instead of using fingers or a sponge to apply foundation. I swear by my foundation sponge but this tip seems worth trying.

No make up is complete without mascara! I have to agree with her on this.

If you have deep set eyes do not close the liner at the tear ducts. This will make your eyes appear bigger.

While sticking false eye lashes always start with the inner corner of the eye lid and slowly move outward by stretching the lid.

Mix and match two or more lipstick colors to get your own unique shades.

Use translucent powder instead of compact on your foundation/base.

Gel liners are better than pencil or liquid ones. They stay longer and are more versatile.

Blend-blend-blend. Use a blending brush and keep blending after each step-primer, foundation, loose powder, bronzer, blush, translucent powder.

She was extremely approachable and patient with the crowd. However, there were certain things I didn’t quite agree with.

She talks about using lip colors that go with ones complexion-dark skinned girls should try lighter shades and vice versa. I have always believed in experimenting rather than following the so-called “rules”. After all, dusky is the new fair so flaunt it!

She mostly uses cream based blushes and eye shadows which considering the weather may not be the best idea.

She talked about the magical eye brow pencil by INGLOT and I bought it immediately. Sadly, there are no short cuts when it comes to the perfect eye brow. Comb-fill-press-set is the mantra. The brow pencil is wax based and leaves your brow hair clumpy. I will not recommend it.

All in all, I had a fun evening. Do let me know if you have any specific questions.

Stay Gorgeous xx

[closestbuddies]

By : Juhi Bansal

Ojas Rajani is a well known make up stylist and her clientele includes the likes of Aishwarya Rai, Sonam Kapoor et al. She visited Ahmedabad a few weeks back to do a makeup workshop for INGLOT Cosmetics. A regular visitor at the INGLOT outlet (there’s no other major makeup brand in Ahmedabad), during my last visit I was invited to attend the workshop by the illustrious Ms. Rajani.

Now I have attended enough make up trainings in the last few years to understand and in turn use the oft repeated basic skin prepping and priming etc but a quick Google search told me she specialized in dramatic eye make up and that got me interested. For all those who know me well, know I am not much of a makeup person. On an average day, you would mostly find me wearing my trusted tinted sun screen, little eye liner/kajal and a dab of lip balm but I do like to dress up at times and definitely love writing about my make up experiments as much as anything else.

She worked on 3 looks for us:

A smokey eyes evening look, peaches and cream day look and a traditional bridal/wedding look.

My favorite out of these was the peaches and cream, day look. It was so effortless and low maintenance. The only requirement-you must have a gorgeous skin since she hardly used any preppers on the skin! The main products she used to get the desired look:

Illuminating cheek serum- this one got me really interested. It’s perfect for a dewy look. I have not tried it personally so will not recommend it yet.

Peach and pink lip stain with plumper- I am not a big fan of lip stains but seeing how she used it both on the lips and cheeks, it is on my shopping list now.

The second look was the Smokey eye look. I’ve tried it here before.

I normally use a combination of black and grey shadows, kajal and eye-liner to get the desired smokey eye look.

Ojas used a mix of black and brown shadows which gave a totally different effect and a lovely one at that! She also suggested contouring the top arch of the eye socket with peach shadow before working on the smokey look to give a more defined look. I have to agree completely!

The third look was the wedding/bridal look.

She’s used highlighter below the eye brows and the cheeks to grab light on those points. She’s also used Extra Shimmer Powder by INGLOT to dust the face in the end for the extra glowy look.

I will do my own version of these 3 looks later, but here, let me just sum up some important tips by her that are worth keeping in mind.

She suggests using an angled brush instead of using fingers or a sponge to apply foundation. I swear by my foundation sponge but this tip seems worth trying.

No make up is complete without mascara! I have to agree with her on this.

If you have deep set eyes do not close the liner at the tear ducts. This will make your eyes appear bigger.

While sticking false eye lashes always start with the inner corner of the eye lid and slowly move outward by stretching the lid.

Mix and match two or more lipstick colors to get your own unique shades.

Use translucent powder instead of compact on your foundation/base.

Gel liners are better than pencil or liquid ones. They stay longer and are more versatile.

Blend-blend-blend. Use a blending brush and keep blending after each step-primer, foundation, loose powder, bronzer, blush, translucent powder.

She was extremely approachable and patient with the crowd. However, there were certain things I didn’t quite agree with.

She talks about using lip colors that go with ones complexion-dark skinned girls should try lighter shades and vice versa. I have always believed in experimenting rather than following the so-called “rules”. After all, dusky is the new fair so flaunt it!

She mostly uses cream based blushes and eye shadows which considering the weather may not be the best idea.

She talked about the magical eye brow pencil by INGLOT and I bought it immediately. Sadly, there are no short cuts when it comes to the perfect eye brow. Comb-fill-press-set is the mantra. The brow pencil is wax based and leaves your brow hair clumpy. I will not recommend it.

All in all, I had a fun evening. Do let me know if you have any specific questions.

Stay Gorgeous xx

[closestbuddies]

By : Juhi Bansal

I was recently invited by RJ Megha on her Summer Special programme-Cool ho ja Sim Sim on Radio Mirchi. For all those who couldn’t tune into the frequency, here is a lowdown of the chit-chat:

Rule #1- Never ever ever step out of the house without applying sunscreen. Even if it a short walk to your car! The sun screen not only saves you from unwanted tanning (I love my summer tan) but also protects you from the harmful UV rays which can cause various skin problems. You can use BB creams with SPF for better coverage and a slight glow on the face.

Rule #2- Black liners are so passe! Try colored eye pencils this summer (avoid liquid eye-liners) and a bold lip color in matte. For more info check out my article on some easy and affordable summer makeup.

Rule#3- Wear flowy fabrics-cottons, linens in some soothing pastel colors like pink, violet, white, yellow etc. especially in the day. For an evening out-let your imagination run wild! Summer is the season to experiment!! Don’t forget to dress up the attire with some cool, funky accessories.

Rule#4- Peak summers is not a time  to ignore personal hygiene.  Get regular mani-pedis and waxing done. You may do it yourself if you can’t step out. After all, now is the time when you show off your legs in style. Don’t shy away from wearing perfumes and deodorants. Carry one with you and keep reapplying every 3 hours.

Rule #5- Wash your hair every 2-3 days using a mild shampoo and conditioner. Use dry shampoo if you are pressed for time.

Rule #6- Do not ignore skin care. Cleansing, Toning and Moisturizing before going to bed is non-negotiable. Use your favorite cleanser, dry, tone your face and then moisturize it with an oil free moisturizer.

Last but definitely not the least, stay hydrated! Carry your own water bottle (preferably non-plastic) while stepping out.

And SMILE

Stay Gorgeous xx

JB with RJ Megha

[closestbuddies]

By Juhi Bansal

There is so much on my mind that I want to talk about, I am bursting at the seams (not literally ) but I will keep it short this week. I am sure the heat is killing you- I am definitely having a bad time this summer. But, like I said, I’ll postpone all cribbing and ranting to next week and just share some outfit pics. Hope you like them!

Colours and a dress with pocket- my two favourite things!

Credits:

Dress: Jaypore (new)

Necklace: Jaipur (6 years old)

Shoes: Tresmode (K’s gift to me on my 35th birthday!)

Clutch: Fab India (5 years old)

Pics: Bhavya Rathore

[closestbuddies]

By Juhi Bansal

Since last week, things seem to be taking a turn for the worse. My days are getting more demanding (or I am just too disorganized) so I just couldn’t find the time to rant and the least I talk about the weather, the better!

I promise to write something soon. Here are pics from my not-so-fun day out last weekend.

Credits:

Outfit: Vero Moda (4 years old)

Sunglasses: gift (6 months old)

Footwear: Charles & Keith (3 years old)

Earrings: Amrapali Jaipur (7 years old)

Pics: Bhavya Rathore

[closestbuddies]

By Juhi Bansal

CB community met up for a summer themed hi-tea at the new Dipali Shah boutique. All of us dressed up in the latest summer collection by Dipali Shah, ate some scrumptious goodies for tea, chatted about our views on the trends this summer and clicked a lot of photos.

Dipali’s collection is all about comfort and style. Flowy fabrics, lots of drama (by way of ruffles and tassels) and earthy colours. If you’re looking to stock up for your upcoming vacation including “airport style” look no further!

Wearing here my favourite from Dipali Shah’ss summer collection.

Credits:

Outfit: c/o Dipali Shah

Earrings: c/o Simran Chhabra (1 year old)

Rosette Double Ring: c/o Simran Chhabra (1 year old)

Clutch: c/o LovetoBag (1 year old)

Pics: Tejaswi Ghagada

[closestbuddies]

By Juhi Bansal

A couple of months ago I was invited by a local travel club to speak about my travel experiences.

The husband and I are not really travel bloggers . We’ve only covered a small fraction of the world averaging at about 3 countries a year in the last 9 years, with full time jobs!- far from enough I know- but it is the classic conundrum, you need jobs to pay for your travel but if you quit your jobs to travel more how will you fund it? However, we do know something about travelling on a budget and travelling with a baby. The little one has accompanied us in ALL our travels in the last 3 years and is quite the pro herself.

I see more and more people taking to travelling. I see new couples writing about their travel experiences, single girls talking up solo travel and parents exploring the world on their own after retirement. It is heartening to see travel become the topic of discussion on all forums. As for K, I and the little one- if we are not travelling, we are jonesing for one or planning one . So, I thought why not share some common travel myths and try and bust them during my talk. The talk was quite well received (to my surprise) so sharing them here as well.

Travelling with babies and kids is very inconvenient.

Iy was 3 months old when she took her first domestic flight and overnight train. She was only 10 months old when we spent 4 weeks in Europe travelling through every medium of transport from buses to trains to short & long haul flights to ships and ferries. She eats what we eat and never fusses about the amount of time outdoor. Kids are more resilient than we make them out to be. Here are some tips on how you can make your life easier while travelling with kids.

Also read: http://www.closetbuddies.in/travelling-with-grown-up-parents-how-to/

http://www.closetbuddies.in/travelling-with-a-two-year-old-how-to-make-your-life-easy/

http://www.closetbuddies.in/travelling-with-a-toddler-how-to-part-2/

http://www.closetbuddies.in/travelling-with-a-toddler-how-to-part-1/

Kids are kids, aren’t they? Even Iy has her moments but so far we have never had to think twice before planning a trip just because a toddler is also travelling with us.

Travelling is an expensive hobby.

Well this is as true as saying “shopping is an expensive hobby” or for that matter anything else. When you have a given amount of money to spend you need to think twice before planning the expense and mindful saving goes a long way towards this. I would love to own a designer bag or yet another pair of sunglasses but being able to afford a holiday is more important. Also, while you are travelling, making small changes like booking tickets way in advance, giving up an all-inclusive luxury stay for a self- catered apartment, eating street food or cooking atleast one meal yourself, using public transport rather than cabs (especially in Europe) help cut down unnecessary expenses. I remember sharing a room with 3 other people in Aguas Calientes, Peru for a night because we couldn’t find a separate accommodation which was affordable.

Over the last few years, everything has become more accessible and comparable and thus cheaper. I remember getting lost in the lanes of Venice years ago because we did not have GPS on our phones to locate our B&B or carryig our luggage 4 flights up in Copenhagen because we did not know the apartment building had no elevator!

It isn’t easy to find food especially vegetarian food abroad.

K and I are largely vegetarians. We’ve had never had a problem finding food in any part of the world. We recently went to China and even with the language problems and “sea food” everywhere situation we managed to find lots and lots of vegetarian food. Even if you prefer Indian food you can find it in almost all corners of the world. We’ve had the most delicious biryani ever in Florence at a Pakistani restaurant. Ofcourse, when you are travelling, you may have to keep a few reservations aside like “I only eat at fine dine restaurants”, or “the restaurant shouldn’t also serve non-vegetarian” or “there is no garam- masala in the dal!”. If you are this finicky, you should probably carry your own food. In Beijing, in a community lunch, K & I had to manually remove pieces of lamb from the salad so we could eat the vegetables. There are a few other stories but all of these become anecdotes we remember fondly later. We also cook extensively when we are travelling (mostly K actually). It is quite fun to try the local produce, talk to the local grocers.

You can only be one kind of traveller- luxury/shoe-string/adventure/relaxed/spa/beach/snow.

If only I could tell you how untrue that is! Each of our trips is so different from the last one. Infact, even in the same trip we end up being different kinds of travellers depending on the place we are visiting and our budget at that point of time. In Seychelles, for the first 2 days we enjoyed a luxurious 5 star resort with a private beach and then moved to a self- catering villa for the rest of our stay. When we travelled to Capri, we spent all our money on the ferry. We were left with just enough to share a pizza for lunch and a quick nap on the beach. We were much younger then; all of this frugality sounded romantic and also saved us some much needed Euros. Of course, if we were to go back today, we would do the same holiday with much more frivolity as far as finances are concerned.

Treat each trip differently. Enjoy being various kinds of travellers. Every one of these is fun!

It is not safe or convenient to stay in apartments.

For the last 4 years we have been extensively staying in airbnbs and self- catering apartments. Apart from being really really convenient- you can treat the whole place as yours- even if it means feeling like eating maggi at 2.00 AM in the night or doing your laundry after weeks of travel. You can cook if you want, order in or just step out to the nearest restaurant. An apartment in the middle of the city is much cheaper as compared to a 4 or 5 star hotel room in the same area. And truth be told, we very rarely use the hotel amenities when we are on the move so what’s the point of paying for them. I remember staying with the kindest hosts in Prague. They weren’t physically in the city but always just a message away. Our hostess in Shanghai stocked her apartment with extra milk and eggs to make sure Iy was comfortable and our hosts in Johannesburg cooked us some local delicacies on our last night in their apartment. I have several other stories like this and in most cases we never got to physically meet the hosts but my point is- apartments are way better than staying in a hotel.

Do not wait for a better time to travel. There isn’t! Do not wait to save up more- you don’t need to. Don’t wait for the perfect plan- it doesn’t have to be. Don’t! Just get up and go (and yeah thank me later ).

Here are some pics from the talk and what I wore to the event:

Credits:

Outfit: c/o Mayori Jaipur

[closestbuddies]

By Juhi Bansal

Such a great way to celebrate International Women’s Day. Along with Iconic Brands, closetbuddies celebrated the  #CBxIconic  

#sheforher campaign. My gang of fashionistas styled walk in customers. They did an extremely good job of keeping the customer’s personal choices in mind while creating ensembles for them. It was quite heartening to see so many smiles by the end of the event.

Just a quick word of wisdom for all you ladies and the few others I met yesterday:

Fashion can be empowering so don’t let someone make you feel bad about you wanting to look good for yourself.

While it is always fun to experiment and get out of your own comfort zone, it is ok to also stay inside it. Don’t let anyone pressurize you to change into someone you don’t identify with.

The event was aptly named #she4her. Afterall, what is a woman if she cannot be another one’s strength. Lets not bicker, criticize or be envious- lets empower each other/ after all, thats how the entire tribe grows!

My husband makes breakfast and I drive him to work. This is no special occasion like our anniversary or Mother’s Day. We do this every single day and as much as I would like to call it gender reversal- both these things come very naturally to us (and thats why we flourish in them) as some of our other roles. Left to me, I would feed K & Iy omlettes and bread every single day for breakfast and that’s why even though I may panic when we run out of eggs, the husband whips up a storm, all in time for school/office, without breaking a sweat or making an SOS run to the grocers! Am I lucky- no doubt about it- but you must remember that unless you stand up and demand it- you will be handed out what others think you deserve. Even if it means gender stereotypes.

Do we need a Women’s Day? I don’t think I am equipped to answer that question. Things have changed and the future only looks better but I think it is a very very long road to equality.  I would like to be known as a person rather than a woman and I wish all you lovely persons a very happy women’s day. May you garner the strength to raise your voice and fight for your rightful place.

Credits:

Event Partner: Iconic Brands

My outfit: c/o Sheekha

Shoes: Charles & Keith

Neck Tattoo lace: thrifted

Thumb ring: Anokhi

[closestbuddies]

By Sakshi Saxena (Guest Blogger)

Shoes? Collaborations? And we don’t talk about ShAdidas? Well that wouldn’t be a good idea at all. This wedding season Diva’ni x Adidas trainers are the most prominent trainers to look for. Be it Ranveer Singh wearing it his with his gold Sherwani or Vaani Kapoor with her sexy lehenga, this is the crazy collaboration going viral soon. ShAdidas, anyhow is a term coined by Ranveer as he’s the current face of Adidas and is loving the glittery look of his trainers, which are Adidas wearable at the Shaadis. The handcrafted golden patches are something to really look out for. Floral, geometric and what not, the collaboration has grabbed the eyes of all.

Picture Courtesy: Filmibeat

Picture Courtesy- Diva’ni

How can collaborations without including Sabyasachi? Sabyasachi has always proved his delicate elegancy in each artpiece of his and this time Christian Louboutin is all here to embrace this title along with him. Collaborations are one thing which should bring betterment to both of the brands but when collaborations like these occur, a consumer should really feel lucky on being experiencing two great artworks rather than just a footwear. The sexy stunning heels with the delicately dramatic embellishments are definitely the ones which are gonna leave you in dilemma among which one to choose.

Picture Courtesy- www.instagram.com/Sabyasachiofficial

Picture Courtesy- birdsofprey

Picture Courtesy- Elle

Picture Courtesy- Elle

Trainers, Cone heels? You still have some overwhelming shoe collaborations to look out for.

‘I’m not afraid of heights, have you seen my shoes?’ is just one of Carrie Bradshaw’s best shoe quotes. Sarah Jessica Parker is living Carrie’s shoe dreams IRL through a dreamy and unthought collaboration with Net-a-Porter. It’s a sixteen piece collection of beautifully designed chunky satin heels and flats with detailed embellishments. The colors are feminine and even metallic and the collection is an easy to wear for an evening date or a reception. Satin bows make it a part of the luxurious line and adds an elite tag to it. Strong, surprising and timeless is all what this collection could be called. So why stick to your trainers when you are wearing your favorite ripped jeans? Grab these pumps and flaunt your cashmere knit and ripped denim along!

Picture Courtesy: www.marieclaire.co.uk

ADIDAS CELEBRATES ORIGINALITY WITH STAN SMITH!

The original Stan Smith was a kind of daily bite with no twist while Adidas tossed out interesting self characteristics with a signature model of it. Be it a leather embossed cover for a modern dinosaur or the textured scales, they crease shoe’s polished white upper, and the traditional turf-green heel tab which is made up in camo.

The recent collaboration called ‘Croc’ is yet to hit the market and will be there around early 2k17. Gore-tex, sliced leather, Burgundy or Navy, choose your way!

www.vortexoptimus.com

Picture Courtesy- adidas.in

Recently, Péro upcycled Adidas Stan Smith shoes, with their hand-knit crochet flowers with beadwork on Adidas shoes for women; the result has gone viral online. Also, this has given rise to some crazy DIYs.

Picture Courtesy: www.freepressjournal.in

Picture Courtesy: Adidas

Can your decade-old jeans be re-worked into an eye-catching contemporary fashion statement? Definitely this collaboration is worth turning heads for!

[closestbuddies]

By Juhi Bansal

Read Part 1 here

Beijing

We were in Beijing for less than 2 days and our whole purpose of making the trip to the city was because of the Great Wall. We travelled to the Badaling side of the Great Wall since it is more popular and better maintained. Also, the connectivity is greater. However, it was so so crowded that I would suggest anyone else travelling with the expectation of a better Great Wall experience to may be try a less crowded side like Mutiyanu.

Other things of interest are Ming Tombs, Forbidden City, Tiananmen Square etc. Since we had very limited time in Beijing we had taken a guided tour to most of these places. The tour included a trip to the Jade factory which was exorbitantly expensive and a waste of time. I did however enjoy the traditional Chinese tea ceremony. The tour also included a community Chinese lunch.

Ofcourse, the best part about the trip to Beijing was the journey from Shanghai to Beijing in a bullet train.

Shopping: Shopping in Shanghai or Beijing is like any other big city. Almost every well known label and designer wear is readily available. I also managed to visit the underground AP Plaza market famous for its first copies and a huge collection of other shoppable stuff. There are other such markets as well but this one seems to be the most popular with tourists since almost all shopkeepers speak English. I did pick up a few things but the quality is quite questionable. Iy loved to chit chat with shop owners and they loved indulging her with smiles and conversations (probably the only people I met in my entire trip who spoke decent English- apart from hotel reception staff and tourist information desk people). We also loved the little cafes and eateries in the market. You can find options from both Chinese and European fare.

Other things to know:

Kids under five do not have to buy tickets anywhere be it the metro, trains, zoo etc. Chinese love kids! Iy was smothered with hugs and smiles and cute faces whenever she boarded a metro or walked inside a mall. Yes, they are very expressive of their affection and do not understand personal space and boundaries (not that I am complaining). There were times when older women would ask me (through actions since we did not speak each others language) why I had only one kid. Yes, it sometimes borders on embarrassing but mostly the conversations are fun J.

The public toilets can be best described as hole in the ground. While K and I have seen a lot of them while growing up in India, Iy was in for a complete surprise. Thankfully, she loved the “Indian toilet” format!

People in China are extremely warm. But, like I said, they sometimes forget personal space. I also admired the fact that they take care of public property like their own.

Connectivity: Internet is extremely high speed at most places. We bought a local sim with 4G connection when we landed and it served us quite well. It cost us about 5000 INR for 2 sims for a week’s worth of internet and calling. Sites and apps like fb, insta, whatsapp, google etc are blocked and you will have to download a VPN to access them.

Curency: 1 CNY is about 10 INR. You can manage to eat for about 150-250 CNY at a decent place. Alcoholic drinks extra. Travel in the metro is very cheap at about only 3 to 12 CNY depending on how far you are travelling. Cabs are slightly higher at 25 to 100 CNY. Travel from the Pudong airport to the centre of the city is about 200-250 CNY.

Some must try food includes their traditional crepes called Jianbing, the amazing variety of buns and dumplings, fried sticks, walnut mooncakes and the huge selection of crisps. Check out my insta post on food and etiquette in China here.

While we did not stay in China long enough to form opinions, we know for sure that we would like to visit the country again one day!

[closestbuddies]

By Juhi Bansal

A terribly busy week is my favourite kind. But, that also means that I did not have enough time to write an article. So, this week I’ll keep it short and limit to pictures of an outfit I wore to the convocation at NID. I got so many compliments I was overwhelmed! But, then, this outfit is by one of my favourite designers and she never fails to wow me with her collection. Here are some pics. Tell me how you like it.

Psst: I chose the outfit because it was perfect keeping the formal vibes of the event in mind. To bring some quirkiness into the outfit I knotted it on the side. Apart from changing the look from traditional to contemporary, the knot gives the outfit a very flattering fall don’t you think?

Credits:

Outfit: c/o  Sugandh

(8 months old)

Necklace: Forever 21 (3 years old)

Juttis: c/o Kaseedaa

(6 months old)

Pics: Bhavya Rathore

[closestbuddies]

By Juhi Bansal

We travelled to China late last year and it was one of the best impromptu trips we have ever done. We had about 8 days to ourselves so we decided to limit our trip to Shanghai and Beijing only. Shanghai is like any other metropolitan city across the world- fast, clean, “drop your hat” high skyscrapers, cosmopolitan crowd and food. But, it also has an old world charm- be it the floating tea houses or the charming French Concession or the uber cool Xintiandi. Here are my two bits on planning a short trip to China.

Where to Stay

It is always better to stay close to public transport whatever location you decide on. We were in Shanghai for 5 days out of which we stayed 2 nights in an Airbnb in People’s Square. It is centrally located with access to all points of interest and has two metro lines close by. For the second half of our stay, we moved to a hotel in the financial district which was also close to a metro station so getting around was much easier.

Must Do

Shanghai Circus World: The ‘ERA Intersection of Time’ show at Shanghai Circus World is a cultural extravaganza. Traditional Chinese martial arts and acrobatics together with a spectacular combination of visuals, live music, special effects,  elaborate costumes- it is totally worth the money. Iy enjoyed it as much as we did.

Xintiandi: One place we kept going back to. Has some of the best eateries or if you’re looking to spend a night about town- it is Europe in Shanghai!

French Concession: Whether it is Huaihui, Tianzifang or Xujiahui, each section has its own charm. From fashionable pedestrians to cool cafes to roadside shopping, every corner is mesmerizing.  

Hu Xin Ting Floating Tea House: It’s a beautiful 18th century tea house floating in the middle of a lake. Do try the tea here.

Yuyuan Bazaar: Quaint little traditional bazaar. Find some fun baubles, street food and lots and lots of other stuff.

Bund: It is the Riverside Promenade. Do take a walk around especially in the night when it’s all lit up. We saw atleast 30 pre-wedding shoots happening at the Bund on one single evening! It was so pretty! You may also want to eat at one of the fancy restaurants that overlook the Bund. Such an amazing view!

Shanghai Zoo: We made the trip especially for the giant pandas! They are so cute- definitely my spirit animal!

Other places of interest: People’s Square, Yu Garden, Nanjing Road, Oriental Pearl TV Tower, Disneyworld.

Getting Around

Cabs in China are quite cheap. (compared to Europe and US). There is no Uber but they have something similar called Didi which is quite good and fast. Mostly cabs will reach almost where you are standing in wait but sometimes they can’t spot you and the driver will call. Most of them do not speak any English. In fact, almost all of them can’t understand a word of English so there is no way you can explain to them where you are. We did use cabs in China but mostly when we were at a prominent spot and there was no need to communicate with the driver.

I quite like the metro system in Shanghai. It is quite wide spread (you can club it with taxis and almost everything becomes accessible), clean, frequent and most importantly- instructions are in English. It is so convenient; you would need no help whatsoever.

Eating Out

There are two things you should know before you look for Vegetarian Chinese food in Shanghai.

1. The Chinese are ardent meat and sea food lovers. Most places don’t even have one vegetarian dish on the menu.

2. A very high percentage of Chinese people don’t speak any English at all. So you can’t even make them understand what you’re looking for. While #GoogleTranslate is a big help there is always a small chance your food will still end up having a little bit of meat in the form of broth because you couldn’t communicate properly. While finding non Chinese vegetarian food is very easy- Tripadvisor is a big help in that regard, we wanted to taste the local food and flavours. I also asked a couple of friends for suggestions plus our hosts at our Airbnb in Shanghai spoke English.

We really wanted to try the local cuisine and although we struggled in the beginning, managed to find lots of veg options eventually. You can check out my detailed post on Chinese food and etiquette here.

(I shall soon bring part 2 of the article which will have some important must-knows about China and how to make the best of your short trip to Beijing).

Stay Gorgeous xx

[closestbuddies]

By Juhi Bansal

I am a pleasant person. Ask anyone who knows me. I’ll smile through the day even when it’s been really bad and generally always look at the half full side of the glass. I find hope on the bleakest days and look for inspiration in the dullest of things. But, there are moments when I’ve had too much and I want to speak out. I have the BEST family, friends, well wishers and readers. They do nothing but inspire me- every second of every minute. But, there are a few who (you can’t please everyone can you?) have a lot of time on their hands and just spread misery. Internet calls them “haters”. I like to call them “naysayers”. These are people who generally like to take the moral highground on a few things and judge others from that pedestal. Only if they knew there is no grey in righteousness. It is either black or white and most often all of us fall in the dark bracket. One of the things they like talking about these days is how blogging is a sham, or that bloggers feel entitled to ask for goodies or that they mislead readers or wrongfully call themselves “influencers” when they can’t influence. You see the irony in that btw, don’t you? (How am I misleading when I can’t influence?).

Let me set the record straight, because for the last few days I am being forwarded conversations, screenshots, snarky comments etc and I’ve had enough. I CHARGE for features. Lets face it- there are no free lunches in the world. I pay my photographer, my website and social media managers, my interns, assistant and I have running costs. While I can get work out of most of these people in the name of exposure, I don’t. I don’t want anyone to do anything for me for free or “barter” because I don’t do it myself anymore. You will mostly see #sponsored or #ad or #partner on my posts. That means I was paid for the post. Or you will see me “thanking” a particular brand for sending a goodie bag. On my blog you will clearly see a c/o if an item was sent to me by the brand (I did not pay for it) to style it as I deem fit. I promote events- because I either like the line up of designers or I believe in the curation of the organizer- but I am not doing it for free.

However, you will never see me talk about a product if I haven’t used it myself. You will never see me review food outlets because I don’t think I have the expertise to do it. I either like the food or I don’t. I don’t know how “authentic” the cuisine is. I will never have you believe the service of a place was excellent if it wasn’t. But, if I have checked in at a restaurant I may not have paid for my food there.

Even with my blogger community, I never ask them to falsify information or lie about their experiences. So many times I let brands and collaborations go because of this.

Am I misleading you? Why don’t you tell me? What happens when you like something I am wearing? Chances are you will visit the estore or actual store check out the prices, sizes etc and if it works for you, you will buy it. The maximum I may do is add a particular brand to your consideration or choice set. I am not forcing you to buy it. I’ll give you my own example. I love Sonam Kapoor’s style. Infact, whenever I see her sporting something new from Rheson I immediately visit the site and check the item out. I have NEVER ended up buying anything. Because it is either expensive or I think it won’t work for me. I definitely don’t have more influence than Sonam Kapoor that people will buy an item just because I wore it.

As for me feeling entitled, have you ever spoken to a brand that wants to get featured? They think they are the best thing to happen to all of eternity. They feign surprise when you tell them your charges- “but I thought this was your passion”! Really? You will give me THAT spiel- you a creative person who’s heard this all your professional life!  They accuse me of being arrogant when I am not ok with their terms and refuse to go ahead. If you are in the business to make money why would you want anyone else to work for free? Talk about entitlement!

Then there are brands that understand the effort which goes into all of this. They start on the right note and keep coming back to you even if your charges may seem higher than other bloggers who do it for free or barter. I would choose them every single time. I am not looking for a lot of work. I do this because it is my “passion”, and only on weekends, but I have bills to pay. I have to constantly choose between working on a collaboration or spending time on something else. Getting paid helps me justify the time I devote to it. It also helps me stay true to my work and I treat it very professionally. Do I work with anyone and everyone who pays? A big NO! I choose my partners very carefully and I urge my readers to be wary of anything anyone feeds them. Use your own judgement, make your own calls. Whether it is fashion, food or lifestyle- choices are subjective and what works for me may not work for you.

I was recently approached by a skin care brand who wanted me to say 1. I bought the cream 2. It was very effective. I did not even get into the discussion of pricing because I don’t work like that. If I did not buy something, I will never say I did. And as for something being effective- I don’t think there is any magical potion. If something gave you instant results chances are it was full of chemicals. I turned natural a couple of years ago and while I do see a change in my skin, it is very very slow and I would not have you believe it any other way.

IS the blogging bubble about to burst? It is like any other business. You start small and then a lot of people see a lot of value and enter the industry. There is no entry barrier and you practically just need a computer to jump the bandwagon. 5 years ago when I started there were hardly one or two bloggers around and now I have someone or the other writing in every single day telling me they are a blogger. There is enough space for everyone to survive. And, there is always someone who will do the same work for a cheaper price. But, not everyone sustains. Mostly when the initial euphoria of goodies and attention dies they give up. I have seen as many people quit blogging as the number that joins every month. At a time when you can buy followers and engagement- content wins. Will I continue to make money- I am not sure. May be I’ll have to change the business model a little down the road or move to newer platforms or innovate. I know it is “change or die” and I am ready for it but don’t write off the whole industry just yet. Repeat brand collaborations, the sheer joy in your readers comments and the love you get proves you are genuine and here to stay.

[closestbuddies]

By Juhi Bansal

Growing up with a sister and a mother has had its benefits. Apart from developing a taste in fashion I also had access to thrice the amount of accessories (think jewelry!) (especially footwear since all three of us had the same size after a point) and also outfits in some cases. My sister is far from my size but we still exchange clothes and other items. I also borrow stuff from my mother in law and my sister in law. Infact, the whole reason for starting CB was because I thought everyone should keep their closets open to everyone- this way we will never run out of things to wear without feeling compelled to shop. We should be buddies who share closets!

I have been shameless in borrowing stuff from my friends also especially for weddings because I just cannot justify the expense (in my mind) and it is always fun to style things differently.

Keeping up with the same spirit, I borrowed this dress from my sister and wore it to the first CB event for 2018. Tell me how you like it!

[closestbuddies]

By Juhi Bansal

Looking at the social media lives of people sometimes makes us jealous but mostly makes us think twice about whether we are doing enough with our time. Take my instagram feed for example. I get so many messages from readers and friends saying how I have the perfect life or how do I do so much in a day. Let me address these one by one.

My life is NOT perfect. Far from it. I have to-do lists where the number of items only seems to grow every day. I live in a constant fear that I am not spending enough time with my daughter or my father. I can’t sleep most nights when I have a major project underway and have pangs of self-doubt every now and then. However, unless you live with me (or work with me) you will not get to know even half of it. Why? Because what’s the point of sharing with the world how messed up my life is? Whose isn’t? However, I will not shy away from sharing the small things (and definitely the big ones) that make my life amazing. Also, give me the darkest of clouds and I will find a small sliver of silver lining in it. I have a fabulous life because I truly believe I do!

Coming to the next point- How do I manage to pack so much in a day? Lets face it- all of us have the same 24 hours and as much as I would like to believe it- I am NOT a Superwoman. The trick lies in “prioritizing” tasks and then “sharing” some, “delegating” the less important ones and “deleting” the unimportant ones.

For example: I barely do any household chores at all- everything is delegated to my woman Friday. Weekdays, we do not have any help in the morning so the 3 of us divide chores- K cooks breakfast, I help Iy get ready and Iy lays the dining table.

I ask for help whenever and wherever required but I also make sure I do away with unnecessary dependence. I would rather take an Uber than have a driver and prefer to put bills on auto pay rather than spending time doing it every month or getting someone to do it for me.

I had read somewhere that out of the 6 things in life: Career, Family, Fitness, Passion, Friends, Travel as much as you try you cannot have it all. I see that in my life. I would like to believe that I have managed to balance them all but the truth is I tend to constantly pick one over the other. Sometimes travel wins and sometimes job. I think that’s the trick. Keep trying different combinations of the above and see what works for you. I shall try and share some more snippets from my life (fabulous or not) in the coming weeks.

In other news, still having a lot of fun layering for Ahmedabad winters:

Credits:

Skirt: c/o Stalk, Buy, Love (3 years old)

Top: c/o LMNO (new)

Shrug: c/o BKind (new)

Shoes: Charles & Keith (new)

Neckpiece: c/o My Envy Box (1.5 years old)

Pics: Bhavya Rathore

[closestbuddies]

By Juhi Bansal

Apologies for going missing these last few weeks. If you follow me on insta you know about all the interesting stuff that kept me busy last month.

2017 was a whirlwind of activity on all fronts whether it was CB, AU or personally. Here are a few things that stood out for me:

(You can read ver 2017, ver 2016, ver 2015 and ver 2014 here).

Amazing collaborations with super amazing partners. Urbanclap, Liva, Livon, Upasana, Nykaa and many more. My involvement at AU restricts the amount of projects I can take up in CB which forces me to pick and choose. I mostly use my judgement. Glad that the collaborations so far turned out well.

Travel to new places like Seychelles, South Africa, Auroville, China and revisiting some goldie oldies like Little Rann, Pushkar and Gir (twice last year!) made this a super happy year wanderlust goals wise.

Reinventing my projects at AU whether it was the Orientation week, project based learning or the Independent Study Period to make sure learning is as engaging as it is fruitful for students.

Reading 30 odd books. (Catch my top 5 from 2018 here). So, well it is nothing like my feat last year when I read 50 books but I am happy I back on the reading horse.

Workout journey. This has to be the best part of my 2017 highlights. I discovered a system to my madness, to my never ending quest of losing weight and eating right. I found the right trainer and a workout plan that motivated me enough to get to the gym every week. Also, finally got around to eating a full and balanced meal rather than just trying to fit my food into a calorie goal for the day.

Watched lots and lots of Netflix. Okay I agree this doesn’t count as a productive item but I am such a TV buff and 2016 was a so-so year on that front. And, this is also the time K & I spend together, so this is really a win! Get some recos on my Insta.

Met family, spent time with family, spent quality ME time (which wasn’t just eating empty calories), tried a lot of new cuisines and food items, survived without 2 cars (that’s a story for another day), laughed, partied (non-violently, it was rather sad) and generally had lots of fun.

I am looking forward to 2018 but with no new resolutions. I hope I continue to read, travel, explore & experiment and workout right this year as well. Happy New Year 2018!

Psst: I am loving winter layering in Ahmedabad.

Credits:

Pullover: Shein

Jeans: Forever 21 ( 4 years old)

Red D’orsay Pumps: Zara ( 6 years old)

Sunglasses: c/o Danny Daze (2 years old)

Pics: Bhavya Rathore

[closestbuddies]

By : Juhi Bansal

My huge crush on Milind is no secret..so when I met him a few days ago, I was tongue tied to say the least! I don’t know how this interview happened because I was simpering through most of it…here’s an excerpt for all of you. Milind was in Ahmedabad to promote “Pinkathon Amdavad” and whether for your love for fitness or Mr. Soman himself, I would urge all you lovely ladies to register for it. Visit www.pinkathon.in for more info.

Also Read:Why running is the best workout ever

JB: (after I was done smiling, blinking, gaping!) Milind, tell us about Pinkathon and why you decided to associate with it?

MS: The Pinkathon was created on the premise that women are the key to a healthier and fitter society. In the current scenario women neglect their own health and are encouraged to stay at home, and often made to feel guilty about spending time on themselves. Shockingly, 80% of women, having been told that it may save their life, will not go for a routine medical check up even if it’s free. The reasons given, even by educated women in an urban background, are that any symptoms will disappear on their own and the body will heal itself. That the time and money required will be better spent on other necessities. The belief is that women’s issues are something to be hidden away and best not spoken about. That if a women has a problem it somehow is embarrassing for the family. The truth is, all diseases can be dealt with in a more effective way if detected in the early stages. For this, regular screenings are necessary. Perhaps even more important is a basic understanding of body function and a constant awareness of the changes taking place in the body. The best way to increase this understanding and awareness at an individual level is through sport. The biggest obstacle to this is social apathy and sometimes even a social reluctance to prioritise health and fitness. Women need to be encouraged to step out of the home, meet like minded people and adopt healthy lifestyle practises, especially regular exercise. The advantages are twofold. One is the improvement in the health of the woman and her awareness of lifestyle factors that affect the health of herself and her family, and secondly, inspiring her family, by example, to do the same. Constant and practical awareness of the health pitfalls of modern society can be achieved by experiential education. The Pinkathon is the only event in India that encourages thousands of women to come together to learn, through experience, and from each other,  the positive effects of an active lifestyle.

JB: Tell us about your workout routine. How do you manage to stay so fit? (like realllllly fit….I am not kidding!)

MS: I don’t really have a routine. The basis of my fitness is to be always active and do a little extra when I have the time. I run or swim or cycle whenever I get a chance, and do as much as I can, or feel like, every time. I don’t sit in a chair unless absolutely necessary.  I never go to the gym. I avoid refined sugar.

JB: Wow! No gym at all! Ok, so why running of all things?

MS: Endurance running or distance running, is like a form of meditation that encourages focus and mental discipline while also being a great physical exercise. I run because it feels amazing. When I am running distance, all my energies, physical, mental, emotional and spiritual, are brought together in harmony which induces the most powerful positive environment inside and around me.

JB: I have to agree! Running is my favourite part of the day too. Can women who have never run before participate in Pinkathon?

MS: Almost 85% of the participants in the Pinkathon have never run before. The Pinkathon is not just a run, it is a celebration of our health and a pledge to make the effort to remain healthy for the rest of our lives. The best way to start is to begin with walking everyday for at least 15min focussing on yourself. This is the first step to self awareness and health.

JB: Do you have any last minute advice for the participants to follow since its barely a few days before Pinkathon now?

MS: Take a decision to make health your priority and just be there to enjoy the Pinkathon Amdavad on 25th Oct – the experience of dancing and walking and running with thousands of other women who believe and value themselves is unforgettable!

JB: Ok Milind we are a fashion blog and my readers would love to know your go to fashion & style, preferred brands and favourite attire?

MS: Pinkathon tee and jeans, Zara is a brand I like, earthy elegance is the look.

JB: Running and Zara we share two loves now! Yayyy! (this was mostly silent ). Back to Earth- Milind we would love it if you could give a personal message to our readers.

MS: Get fit-you can’t imagine what you’re missing !

And I have to agree with him. If you are not running, you are definitely missing something. Register for Pinkathon Amdavad today and I will see you at Riverfront on October 25, 2015!

Stay Gorgeous xx (and healthy!)

PS: I am wearing a ZARA shirt and ONLY distressed jeans and Milind is sporting his favourite Pinkathon tee with jeans.