Five Indian wedding outfits for grooms

Wedding day is a big day for both the bride and the groom but it is considered extra special for the bride. It is the bride who gets on a shopping spree for clothes and accessories and undergoes various beauty treatments to look her best on the D-day. Lot of discussion and planning is done before buying the wedding dress for the bride. However, not much importance was given to the wedding outfit of the groom until recently due to the paucity of options or the 'Kuch bhi chalta hai' attitude of the guy. However, with the changing lifestyle and urbanisation, guys are getting equally conscious about their looks and appearance. The western influence is certainly evident with most of the guys suited up for their wedding day but there are still those who like to do it the traditional way and with the current Indo-western trend in the fashion scene, there are many more Men's ethnic wear options to choose from for the D-day. So dear grooms, if your wedding day is close and you have not yet decided what to wear, here are five traditional wedding outfits for you - The Royal Sherwani Most of the Indian grooms prefer sherwanis for their wedding day. The most common color for the wedding sherwanis was off-white till recently. But now, with designer sherwanis coming in, you can get sherwanis in different colors like maroon, black, dark blue etc. The sherwani you choose for your wedding must fit you well and reach till your knees. You can choose sherwanis with heavy embroidery or those with light works on them. It is usually worn with matching silk or cotton dhoti or churidar along with contrast-colored stoles, pagadi and mojaris. This will definitely give you a royal look. The Sophisticated Achkan Unlike sherwani, the fabric used for making achkan is finer and lighter, such as chikan, jamwar or ... http://www.shimply.com/articles/five-indian-wedding-outfits-for-grooms/

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Hand Block Printing – A textile tradition that has never been too old

Have you seen rows of flowers, leaves, elephants and patterns on a saree or a bed sheet? They look very beautiful and each print looks exactly the same. This is because they are not designed individually. Instead they are printed using wooden blocks. That's the beauty of hand block printing. The technique of hand block printing was introduced as early as 3000 BC. Historical evidence suggests that it was in practice during the Mesopotamian Civilization. The coins of that time have patterns engraved on them, which prove the existence of block printing in those times. This technique seems to have been in use even during the Indus valley civilisation. This practice of printing patterns on textiles using wooden blocks was well established in China before it reached India. It was somewhere around 12th century that hand block printing started gaining popularity in India. Many states in India today are engaged in hand block printing, among which Gujarat and Rajasthan are most prominent. Different techniques are used in this style of printing, namely direct block printing, discharge printing and resist printing. While the first style involves printing directly on the cotton or silk fabric using carved wooden blocks after it has been dyed, the second involves dyeing the fabric first and then removing the dye from those parts where designs are to be printed in a different color. The third is slightly more complicated as it involves covering the portion of the fabric which is not to be dyed using a paste of clay and resin, then dyeing it in a way that the color seeps in through the cracks of the covering and finally using this fabric for block printing. Apart from the techniques, the background on which the printing is done and the motifs used make all the difference in the hand block printing style used in ... http://www.shimply.com/articles/hand-block-printing-a-textile-tradition-that-has-never-been-too-old/

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6 interesting products that are useful in daily life

5 interesting products that are useful in daily life

1) Electric Dhoop Dani 

2) Olifair Fairness Night Cream

3) Plastic Facuet Water Filter

4) Olifar Skin Whitening Soap

5) Salient Cream White Regular Bra

6) Al Nuaim Chocolate Musk

10 Things You Must Buy On A Trip To Jaipur

Have you ever been to the pink city? Being the capital city of Rajasthan. Jaipur truly represents the rich culture and tradition of this state.  Many people visit Jaipur to get a glimpse of the royal palaces, forts and beautiful havelis. But if you are a shopaholic, Jaipur is going to be a paradise for you:) The exquisite handicrafts and jewellery there will leave you in complete awe and you will still be craving for more. Once you are in Jaipur, here are 10 things that you must buy - Tie & dye fabrics (bandhani work) Don't miss out on the very popular tie & dye textile work of Rajasthan which involves tying a fabric with thread at several points and then dyeing it using different colors, thus creating a range of unique patterns. From beautiful bandhani sarees, suits, dupattas to long skirts and lehenga cholis, you can get absolutely anything here. Block print fabrics Sanganer and Bagru towns in the vicinity of Jaipur are the hub of traditional hand block printing on textile using natural colors and this is how Bagru prints and Sanganer prints derived their name. These blocks are made of wood and once the desired design is engraved on them, these blocks are used for replicating the design in the preferred color on the fabric. Extremely popular all over India, block print jaipuri kurtas, salwar kameez, bedsheets etc are a must buy once you are in Jaipur. Jaipuri quilts Jaipuri quilts or Jaipuri Razai are made with export quality cotton and are very cozy and warm. They are made with time consuming and slow method of block printing and come in exquisite designs and colors as well as different sizes. These are a must buy for winters. Kundan jewellery Jaipur is the ultimate destination for Kundan jewellery so be sure to check it out. Here you get beautiful bangles, ... http://www.shimply.com/articles/10-things-you-must-buy-on-a-trip-to-jaipur-2/

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10 bollywood inspired iconic fashion trends which became a huge hit

Bollywood has always inspired fashion. From the traditional look of the 60s to the retro look of the 90s, to the glam look of the current era, bollywood has redefined fashion for people in a big way. Fans have religiously followed the dressing style of their favourite star time and again and irrespective of the era, this craze has never been a thing of the past. Same was the case with these iconic fashion trends that truly inspired a generation of men and women. Sadhana's figure hugging churidars Sadhana can rightly be said one of the first iconic Divas who made a strong fashion statement for girls. With her figure hugging sleeveless churidar suits that she wore in her film Waqt in 1965 and the very popular fringe cut that came to be known as 'Sadhana Cut', she started a major fashion trend and women just went crazy after that. She gave an interesting twist to the desi dressing with the body-hugging short kurtis and sleek dupattas that she paired with her churidars.  Women with slim and curvaceous body looked very beautiful in this outfit. Even other actresses of that time chose to follow this trend. Mumtaz saree Who can forget the very famous Mumtaz saree? The way Mumtaz draped her saree in the film Brahmachari in 'Aaj kal tere mere pyar ke charche' in the 1960s became a massive hit with women and later on came to be known as Mumtaz saree. She turned the regular saree into a fashion statement and it became a huge sensation overnight. Retro style bell-bottoms Zeenat Aman's retro look with bell-bottoms and oversized sunglasses became a rage in the 1970s. The way she sported the look in the movie 'Hare Rama Hare Krishna' became an instant hit with a lot of youngsters. Even Amitabh Bachchan made these bell bottoms popular by sporting them in most movies of ... http://www.shimply.com/articles/10-bollywood-inspired-iconic-fashion-trends-which-became-a-huge-hit/

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5 natural products to get rid of dark circles

If you do not take care of your eyes properly, you may suffer from various eye problems. Dark circles are one of the major eye problems that many of us suffer from. Usually they appear as we get older. But in today’s lifestyle, with people spending hours in front of the computer and sleeping late at night, even young people are confronted with this problem. Here are some natural products that can help you get rid of dark circles: Eyes relax This is an eye gel and you get it in a tube. Applying this near your eyes helps in preventing dark circles and puffiness under the eyes. You can use it at night before you sleep and also after you wake up in the morning or before you put on the makeup. Other than reducing dark circles and puffiness, it also keeps the skin under your eyes well moisturized and firm. It is rich with vegetable and fruit extracts. Eye care Eye care is a formulation with aroma oils and potato extracts. Applying this regularly under your eyes helps in removing eye bags and under eye dark circles. The skin around your eyes is kept firm and its elasticity is maintained with this cream. It is also good for slowing down the appearance of crow’s feet near your eyes, and provides radiance to the skin under the eyes. K Veda Triwash This is an eye serum and is great for cleansing your eyes and to provide a cooling effect to your eyes. Applying this under your eyes is beneficial for reducing puffiness of the eyes. It also restores the elasticity of the skin around your eyes. With its cooling effect, this eye serum reduces the under eye dark circles and makes your eyes look younger and healthier. It also reduces fine lines and wrinkles around your eyes. Under eye ... http://www.shimply.com/articles/5-natural-products-to-get-rid-of-dark-circles/

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Bollywood actress gracing the Kashmiri look

'If there is a heaven on earth, it’s here, it’s here, it’s here.’ This is what Amir Khusro said when he saw Kashmir. Kashmir is known for its natural beauty. This is the reason why so many bollywood films have been shot in this beautiful valley. Dressed as a Kashmiri, some of the bollywood heroines have looked so graceful and charming that they have left a strong impression in many hearts. Sharmila Tagore Sharmila Tagore looks extremely pretty and innocent in the film ‘kashmir ki kali.’ Wearing the traditional Kashmiri outfit called pheran, a head dress and matching jewellery, she looks like a typical Kashmiri girl. In the song ‘yeh chand sa roshan chehra’, she looks beautiful in red full sleeved pheran with embroidery works on the chest, back and the sleeves. She also wears a transparent white dupatta that covers her head. The matching jewellery adds to her beauty. Preity Zinta Preity Zinta looks simple yet elegant in the film 'Mission Kashmir' wearing Kashmiri costumes. She wears simple Kashmiri salwar kameez and kashmiri kaftans in this film. In the song ‘bhoomroo’ she is spotted in a cream-colored costume with gold embroidery which is very eye catching. She is also spotted in the Kashmiri look in the movie 'Hero.' Nargis Fakhri Have you seen the movie ‘Rockstar’? You must have noticed how beautiful the lead actress, Nargis Fakhri, looks in this film wearing Kashmiri clothes. She looks absolutely fabulous dressed up as a Kashmiri bride. She wears an orange colored lehenga that is beautifully embroidered and full of glitz. She also wears a kalpush, which is a headgear. This coupled with matching accessories, makes her look breathtaking. Alia Bhatt Wearing the pheran and the pathani salwar, Alia rocks the Kashmiri look in style in the movie 'Highway.' Even without the make-up and the glamour quotient, she manages to grab eyeballs with her simplistic look in the film. Shraddha ... http://www.shimply.com/articles/bollywood-actress-gracing-the-kashmiri-look/

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5 Bollywood Divas Who Nailed The Period Look In Historical Films

Indian history is rich with romance, heroism, hatred, sacrifice and lots more. Some of the women in our history have left a deep imprint in the minds of people as princesses, queens, dancers and courtesans. Bollywood movies have well explored these different dimensions of Indian history and have created many historical films. Our Bollywood Divas have done full justice to these characters with their superb acting and gorgeous looks. Some roles were so well portrayed that we remember them even years after these films were made. The Gorgeous Madhubala as Anarkali Madhubala was a versatile actress and all roles played by her are loved by the audience. But the role she played in the film Mughal-E-Azam of the courtesan Anarkali will be remembered forever. Madhubala lived the character of Anarkali in this film and looked so beautiful and lovely that anyone who sees this film will remember her. The way she danced in the song ‘Pyar kiya to darna kya’ and the emotions that reflected on her face as she danced make this film immortal. The gorgeous red and blue embellished dress that she wore in this song is popular even today as Anarkali suit. The Dreamgirl Hema Malini as Razia Sultan Another historical film that remains evergreen in the minds of Indian audience is Razia Sultan. Hema Malini plays the role of the queen Razia, who is valiant and brave and very beautiful. She falls in love with a slave in her kingdom whose role is played by Dharmendra. She has no other option than to sacrifice her love for her kingdom. The struggles that she go through, in making the decision, are very well portrayed by this dreamgirl. The royal costumes that she wears in the movie and the royal cap makes her look like a brave and fearless princess. The Sensuous Kareena ... http://www.shimply.com/articles/5-bollywood-divas-who-nailed-the-period-look-in-historical-films/

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Lungi wearing superheroes of Indian cinema

Lungi is the traditional attire of men in India and is popular all over the country. But wearing lungi is more in practice in South India just like wearing Kurta pyjama is in North. If you have seen south Indian films, you must have witnessed the hero folding his lungi and fighting with tens and twenties of gundas and defeating them in the end. Even Bollywood stars have worn lungis in some of their films. Rajesh Khanna, the first superstar of Indian film industry, is said to have a passion for wearing silk lungis and kurtas. During the 70s, even women started wearing colorful lungis that were folded like a skirt. Meena Kumari, Sharmila Tagore, Jaya Bhaduri and Waheeda Rahman wore lungis in some of their films and looked gorgeous in this traditional attire. Let's check out some of our Lungi wearing superheroes... Mehmood Who can forget the all time favourite Lungi man and his moves....the way he danced to the tunes of 'Hum kaale hain to kya hua dilwale hain' in the 1965 film Gumnaam is still so popular with the young and old. He can be rightly called the quintessential Lungi man of Hindi cinema. Amitabh Bachchan The Big B of Indian Cinema has made the lungi popular on several occasions - be it the trademark blue lungi in the 1970s Saudagar or the Kishore Kumar hit Yeh hai Bambai nagariya from Don where his dance moves in a lungi took everybody by surprise. Even the way he impersonated Mehmood in the song Taane din tandana to woo Hema Malini did not go unnoticed and made the song a huge hit. Mithun Chakraborty Who can forget the character of Krishnan Iyer M.A. from 1990s Agneepath where Mithunda plays the role of a tamilian so effortlessly, bringing the lungi to the dance floor with ‘Hum Lungi Uthati, Tumko Disco Dikhati’ or when he ... http://www.shimply.com/articles/lungi-wearing-superheroes-of-indian-cinema/

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Evergreen Anarkalis

Anarkali suit has been in existence from the era of the Mughal rulers and it is still a fashion statement in India, even though it has come a long way from the Mughal period. Do you know how Anarkali suit got its name? One of the popular stories behind it is that Anarkali was a slave girl who danced in the court of Emperor Akbar. Because of her relationship with Akbar’s son, Jahangir, she was buried alive. These court dancers wore mujra dress, which later came to be known as Anarkali in her remembrance.

Many of the Bollywood actresses have worn Anarkali suits and made it a style statement. This trend seems to have started with the 1960 Hindi film Mughal-e-Azam, where the versatile actress Madhubala plays the role of Anarkali. The light blue and red embellished anarkali that she wears in the song ‘Jab pyar kiya toh darna kya’ made this dress very popular with the women folk.

Later on, in the 70s to 90s, many actresses like Rekha, Parveen Babi, Sridevi and Jayaprada looked gorgeous in the Anarkali suits. The film Umrao Jaan, which released in 1981, had Rekha in a golden and white pearl hued brocade anarkali suit, which still remains in the heart of the Indian audience. This dress has remained unparalleled even today.

The stunning Madhuri Dixit has been spotted wearing gorgeous anarkalis on several occasions. Her Anarkali suits, sarees and lehenga cholis that she wore during Jhalak Dikhlaa Jaa were such a big hit.

This outfit is a popular choice of even the later generation actors like Aishwarya Rai, Bipasha, Kareena and Vidya Balan who have also looked simply smashing wearing it. Indian as well as global audience have been so influenced by them that you can see women across the world in awe of this outfit. These anarkali suits are a beautiful mix of traditional and contemporary and can be worn with equal ease by anyone.

New generation actresses like Sonakshi Sinha, Alia Bhatt, Deepika Padukone and Parineeti Chopra also look ravishing in designer anarkali dresses. See how beautiful Deepika looks in this blue high neck anarkali suit with golden work on it.

These anarkali suits have always been in fashion and it doesn’t seem that this trend will ever grow old. If you love fashion and style, having an anarkali is certainly a must in your wardrobe.

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Hollywood Divas in desi avatar

You must have seen Hollywood Divas look ravishing and sexy in their western outfits. But have you ever thought how they would look draped in a saree or a pair of salwar kameez? There are many top international celebrities who have looked stunning in desi style. They have amazed their millions of fans in desi outfits and looked all the more pretty in them.

Hollywood Divas who looked fabulous in Traditional avatar

Selena Gomez

Selena Gomez, who is a craze among the youngsters with her singing and acting skills, is always seen in western outfits. But during her visit to Nepal on a charity mission as UNICEF ambassador, she stunned everyone by appearing in an orange silk saree. She even put on a bindi on her forehead. She wore a saree on another occasion also, at Coachella Festival, in her hit song ‘Come and get it’.

Lady Gaga

Lady Gaga, the heartthrob of viewers all over the world, wore a saree for her Indian Grand Prix performance. It was designed by the local designer Tarun Tahiliani. It consisted of a cream colored body suit with sexy side panel cutouts. These were embellished with gold and swarvoski chains. This was overlain with a stylized and shimmery chiffon saree.

Uma Thurman

This talented american actress and model who spent part of her childhood in the Indian state of Uttarakhand and was named Uma by her father (Sanskrit scholar and a Tibetologist) looks absolutely beautiful in this pink salwar kameez that she wore for the filming of her movie Smash. She looked very much the diva that she is in this outfit.

Julia Roberts

This pretty Hollywood superstar wore a saree in the film “Eat Pray Love.” She wore a silk saree decorated with a zari border and looked ravishing in it. Since she was afraid that she may trip over it and fall down, an automatic sari was made for her, which had snaps and closures. All that is needed was to wrap it around her and snap it like a skirt. She wore payals with the sari, which made her look all the more traditional.

Elizabeth Hurley

Actress and model, Elizabeth Hurley can be spotted in this beautiful Indian outfit time and again. When Liz Hurley visited Mumbai and attended a Cancer awareness campaign, she was seen in a bright red saree with lots of embroidery work. She also wore a dazzling blue saree at the Love Ball Fundraiser, which made much news as it was quite revealing.

Halle Berry

Hollywood actress Halle Berry was seen in a bright red saree for the promotion of her movie Cloud Atlas. She looked not only graceful but very much desi in this outfit.

Debra Messing

This gorgeous american actress looked absolutely smashing in this green and gold saree which she wore during the filming of her movie Smash. She simply rocked this traditional look.

Jessica Alba

With her outfit and with her moves, she is looking no less than any bollywood diva. The way she draped this saree the hollywood way in her movie The Love Guru, she may surely have been a trendsetter for many.

Ashley Judd

This american actress and political activist has draped the saree in such a traditional way that she looks more indian than american. Graceful as ever!

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5 Eco-friendly Toys that your kid can play with

Kids love to play and toys are their best companions when they are small. Playing with toys help kids learn new things, develop mentally and improve their cognitive skills. When you select toys for your child, be sure that they are safe for them and do not have any sharp edges. The color used on them must also be safe for them. The best way to be on the safer side is to buy eco-friendly toys for your kid.

Some eco-friendly toys that your kid can play with

Channapatna toys

These are the wooden toys and dolls that are made in Channapatna town in Bangalore in the Indian state of Karnataka. They are safe for children and are very attractive with different colors and designs. All sorts of toys from simple push, pull and stacker toys to rattles and puzzles are made here. Wooden butterflies that flap their wings, doll sitting in a Formula-one car, ducks that waddle and paddle etc are made here. Natural dyes are used for coloring these channapatna toys and then they are polished to give a glossy finish.

Kondapalli toys

These toys are made in Kondapally near Vijayawada in the state of Andhra Pradesh. They are made with special light softwood that is available locally. After making the toys, they are painted with vegetable dyes and vibrant enamel colors. Most popular toys are Dasavataram, elephant, bullock cart, palanquin-bearers carrying bride and bride-groom, geethopadesham etc. Papier mache swinging doll made here is loved by kids.

Finger Puppets

Imagine putting your child to bed and reading them their favourite bed time story with these adorable set of soft and colorful finger puppets made of velvet cotton. You can also watch them telling the story with their own finger puppets, a key part of developing their creative side.  Absolutely harmless, these are great learning and educational toys for kids and make them very happy.

Tanjore dolls

Tanjore doll is a traditional Indian doll from Tanjore city of Tamil Nadu that is roly-poly or bobble-head. It is made with terracotta and is brightly colored. The centre of gravity and the total weight of the toy is concentrated at its bottom, so that it comes back to its normal sitting position after it is tilted or disturbed. Standing as well as round bottomed Tanjore toys are available. However, round bottomed dolls are unique and most popular. These toys normally show a humorous face and the head is in continuous motion with slow-damping oscillations. Traditionally they are handmade. Nowadays, you get these dolls made in plastic also.

Rag Dolls

This traditional art of making rag dolls in West Bengal has a japanese influence and these dolls are immensely popular. Rag doll is traditionally home-made by using clothes and spare scraps of materials. It is a safe toy for children as it has no sharp edges, no artificial or harmful paints and colors on them. Children love to play with cloth dolls as they are soft and flexible. It is easy to make and not very expensive as other dolls that you get in the market.

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