Get #Instaxicated

Selfies, Groupies, duck faces, pouts...all words suddenly dominating our day-to-day conversations in the past couple of years. We are now a generation of instant things – instant food, instant relationships, instant social media reactions and most importantly instant photos. We just are not ready to wait for anything.

Unveiling of the new collection

So when I came to know that FujiFilm is launching a new range of cameras, I was not sure whether to applaud them for being gutsy or wonder about the ingenuity of such an idea. But after attending the launch of this new series and some really cool products, along with an enlightening session conducted by the Fuji India team, I must admit that I am completely sold!Firstly, no one can deny the cutting edge stuff that Fuji has introduced over the last few decades in photography. Secondly, most of us would probably still remember the cameras which needed roll. There used to be a whole excitement around seeing the roll being developed and awaiting the photographer to hand over the developed pictures to us!
Like I said before, none of us have the patience anymore to wait for this anymore. But let me ask you one thing – what is the favourite past time during family get togethers, even today? In ours, it definitely is reminiscing over old photographs and getting nostalgic. So even with all the digital advancements, we still do like the feeling of a physical photograph, right?That’s where Fuji is here to help us.

They have come up with a fabulous range of “Instax” Cameras, which not only give us instant photographs, but the camera range is absolutely delightful & quirky – the Hello Kitty one being the most innovative and fun! It comes in various colours like purple, yellow white and black.

The buttons and features are fairly basic; 'up front' is a button to extend the collapsible lens and turn on the camera. Around the lens is the brightness adjustment dial you can twist to choose the different exposure levels. On the hand grip is the camera trigger with the viewfinder above and the always on flash just beside it. Around the back is where you’ll find compartments for film and the battery on the hand grip. Yes it takes batteries, two AA ones to be precise.
To take photos you simply need twist the dial to the appropriate exposure level, peer through the viewfinder and take your shot. It's as simple as that.

To top it, one of the best things I loved is the variety of borders available to the film, so we have a chance to get really creative with the photographs and can personalize them to our liking! Also, the photographs apparently last about fifty odd years!

The Mini 8 bundle packs and the Party box also includes bunting cards, stickers and such other really fun stuff, which can be used for scrapbooks, wall decoration etc.

 

So guys, what are you waiting for...GRAB you INSTAX TODAY!!

-Gauri Patwardhan 

For So-Saree

Vanquish your Body Insecurities with BTL Vanquish

I have been a “plump” (obese at one time – but I prefer the word plump) girl all my life. So even though currently I am on a slightly lighter side of the weighing scale, I am perennially on a daily routine of diets and work-outs. But even at my lowest weight I never managed to cut down on some pain areas – like arm fat. I am sure all of you have these body peeves; the fat just refuses to budge...am I right?

But girls (and boys actually!)...do not worry anymore! BTL Aesthetics, a Prague based company, has come up with a pioneer fat blasting machine – BTL Vanquish, which targets specific areas on the body which are prone to fat accumulation, resulting in pouches or bags.

Display on the Vanquish

Electrodes on the Vanquish

BTL Vanquish is the world’s first selective treatment which eliminates fat without body invasions, discomfort, significant side-effects or even any direct bodily contact! It uses a new radio frequency technology, which is absorbed by fat with no affect on the skin or muscles.

It is US FDA approved and claims to be painless with fast and effective results. In India, doctors generally recommend 6-8 weekly sessions – each session lasting approximately 45 minutes. Results could be visible within 2-3 sessions, but the maximum results can be seen about 2 weeks post the last session. It is not gender or age specific, and so anyone can try this out. 

Let me try and break this down in simple language. The BTL Vanquish emits radio frequency which is targeted at the subcutaneous fat storage (which is about 80% of the body fat) without actually touching the skin. It heats up the internal temperature of the body to ~44-46°C and starts the process of breaking down the fat cells. According to past studies, it has been proven that to activate the breakdown of fat cells, the heat needs to be uniform for about 40-45 minutes. Thus each session of BTL Vanquish lasts about 45 minutes. So at the end of the prescribed sessions, the fat layers are dead and thrown out of the body through the lymphatic system. Post this, clients generally only require 1-2 sessions once a year for maintenance; since unlike other surgical procedures, there is generally no recurrence of the fat deposits, if you lead a healthy lifestyle.

Applicator for small body parts

With the help of its smaller individual applicators, we can also use this on thighs, arms, saddlebacks, back bulges and butts.

The BTL team convinced me that Vanquish was one of a kind SAFE and PAINLESS technological advancement, which is the new word in wellness that is definitely worth trying. It is not a substitute to your healthy daily routine, but an aid towards a fat-free existence!

For any more queries, please log onto their website www.btlaesthetics.com

-Gauri Patwardhan
For So-Saree

AMMA - Reverance to the Saree-Clad Iron Lady of India

Whenever I see a European (or any fair-skinned – hoping to not sound racist!) lady draped in a saree, I always get amused by the paradigm shift of the cultural worlds from west to east. I see more and more Indian ladies reaching out to the ZARA's and CALVIN KLEIN's of the world; while many westerners are busy learning to drape sarees. 

So when I read about the sad demise of the Iron lady of India, who reportedly owned around 10,000 sarees, I couldn’t resist reminiscing about this significant aspect of her life which distinguished her from her other counterparts.
Jayalalitha or “Amma” as she was known lovingly known was as famous for her beautiful collection of sarees as much as her oratory skills in the Parliament. She managed to carry the simplest of sarees with an amazing grace and magnificence.
Maybe it was the erstwhile actress in her or maybe just her signature fashion sense, but she always managed to grace any event, may it be meeting Bill Gates or Mother Teresa, with the same quiet dignity and “Indianness”, which is unfortunately fading away in the next generation.
So let me a quick homage to Amma, in So-Saree style. 

 

-Gauri Patwardhan
For So-Saree

P.S. We do not own images used in this post.

Beauty Post: Timeless Beauty demands Timeless Products!

The virtual world of today is inundated with beauty products – open any site and you will be assaulted with pictures and promises of flawless skin which will not age, wrinkle or blemish. Cosmetic companies are making sure that we cannot scroll an internet page without reminding us that our skin NEEDS HELP! It is almost impossible to keep your head from swimming with this information overload on what is best for our skin/ body/ hair.

Although easy to blame them, the real problem is not in the multitude of solutions piling on every other day, but our ever evolving self destructing lifestyle. Yeah.. yeah, I know you have heard this as many times as you have flipped on your laptop and hit Google. But clichéd as it might seem, that really is at the root of all our skin/hair troubles. 

With our pollution stifled commutes, junk food overdoses to compensate for a fanatical and stressed work life and then as a cherry on the icing, our ultimate sanctity in nicotine, alcohol and God knows what else.
Our skin is supposed to be the mirror to our inner self – it is a reflection of whatever is happening IN THERE! So almost every one of us is now suffering from some or the other skin problem – acne, dullness, early onset of wrinkles, fine lines, to name a few. 

So what do we DO NOW? Now- that the damage has already been initiated. Now- that your once supple and glowing skin is already showing tell-tale signs of wrinkles and ageing.

NOW is the time to start sifting through the millions of products on the television and internet and give your skin a metaphorical time travel machine.

But how would you know which ones to pick and which ones to avoid? Wish I had a cross-your-arms-and-blink-your-eyes “I Love Jeannie” kind of solution for you, but it isn’t that simple. So let’s see how to try and simplify and zero in to your beauty mantra.

I kind of have a mental check-list when I go through the skin care products in the market (and yes, like any normal girl I am ALWAYS LOOKING for new stuff)

The first and foremost important thing is to look for ORGANIC or Non-Sulphate products for my skin as well as hair. Although it is difficult to find a product with zero chemicals, why not aim for a number closest to zero! Secondly, it is important to read all the ingredients and components on the package carefully to look out for any camouflaged chemicals. I also have a habit of going through the good and bad reviews of the product, just get a sense of what others are saying about the product.

But I guess the final testament lies only after your usage. It is very important to understand that any given product may not react exactly the same way it reacts on other people, even if they have similar skin or hair types. Each girl is unique and so is our skin!

So while I was on a mission to find an anti ageing/ skin firming product, I came across two fantastic products from TimelessHA - Timeless anti-aging serums and their Ferulic acid serum.

Having an oily skin, I always prefer serums or water based products as opposed to creams. And Timeless skin care gave me exactly that! The product description says “Say goodbye to fine lines and wrinkles!” and given time, it definitely delivers on that front. It is brimming with bioactive active collagen peptides (very crucial for reducing wrinkles at an early stage), carrot seed oil, orange oil, grapefruit oil and other healthy nutrients, which keeps the skin very hydrated and a regular use helps in reversing your skin age! It is easy to use and keeps the skin non-greasy but yet soft. What else do you need from a skin serum!!
So next time you see a line on your face or just are in need of boosting your skin with some natural glow, I would highly recommend you to order the serum suitable for your skin type.

Hope this was helpful!
-Gauri Patwardhan
For So-Saree

Outfit Post Featuring Brijraj Fashion

Why do people feel the need to show off?
Is it so difficult to keep your personal lives personal?
I agree it's tough in today's social media crazy world.
But can we all not make a conscious effort to keep it real?
I mean, how tough is that?

The better you feel about yourself, the less you feel the need to show off.
So next time when we feel like flaunting your branded merchandize, fancy dinner dates, swanky cars or even exotic vacations, let's take a moment to retrospect and work on our self, our inner beauty, our intrinsic strength and deeper conscience.

Am I preaching too much???
Then let's quickly move on to the outfit pictures.

Elegance never goes out of style, and this outfit oozes nothing but elegance.

I had picked this dress from Brijraj Fashion, and it proved to be a very good decision. 
The fabric is rich, the design is classy and the dupatta is a definite show stopper.

I can't wait to flaunt this beauty in the upcoming wedding season.
If you haven't checked Brijraj Fashion yet, head over to their website now. 
You can thank me later.

 As far as accessorizing was concerned, I paired them with statement earrings and ring from Confusion Fashion Accessories.

Outfit Details:
Dress (Unstiched): Brijraj Fashion
Footwear: Some shop in Bandra
Clutch: Colaba Causeway
Earrings, Ring: Confusion Fashion FA