milgayi style diary

Wedding Belle – Shilpa Shetty – Style Icon for Dec 2009

From flower child to femme fatale, Shilpa Shetty has rocked every look under the Bollywood sun.  Whether she’s pitching an endorsement for her IPL Rajasthan Royals team or winning the UK based Big Brother celebrity show, the star embellishes it all with a winning smile and attitude. “She loves to keep people guessing and loathes user friendly individuals”.  Last week, the Bollywood bombshell, got hitched to London based businessman and partner Raj Kundra in star-studded ceremony in Khandala.  We congratulate the bridal couple for a long joyful married life and honor her as our Style Icon for the month of December.

Shilpa made her Bollywood debut in Baazigar in 1993, as Kajol's ill-fated sister opposite Shah Rukh Khan.  Her notable films included Phir Milenge, Dhadkan and Life in a Metro.  Recently she shot to international fame as the winner of the British reality TV show Celebrity Big Brother, after being subjected to allegedly racial comments from late fellow contestant Jade Goody.  She went on to host Big Boss – the Indian version of Big Brother and there has been no looking back for the leggy lass.  The actress turned entrepreneur has her plate full with a number of business ventures including a yoga video, the S2 perfume and a series of health spas named Iosis.

 

Known to have the “best body in bollywood” Shilpa knows exactly how to accentuate her best features whether it’s her never ending legs, her tiny waist or her sexy back.  Always dressed to the occasion, Shilpa adds the glam factor to any attire, whether it’s this season’s ripped denims or a flowing Tarun Tahiliani gown or a chiffon saree by Manish Malhotra.  Her all time favorite designer is master couturier Tarun Tahiliani who made her bridal trousseau.  Congrats Mrs. Shilpa Shetty Kundra. For more pictures on her wedding, click here.

 

Queen of the Derby – Natasha Poonawalla – Style Icon for November 09

Stylish, Young and Moneyed. Meet the newest darling of Mumbai’s swish Page 3 crowd - Natasha Poonawalla.   This 27 year old Pune native is a burst of fresh air in the otherwise snobbish social circle of South Mumbai.  Married into the illustrious Poonawalla family, whose racing pursuits are famous, Natasha is soon becoming one of the most sought after women of the social circuit. Infact she has been credited to restore the authentic fashion sense that’s goes with international derbies and horse racing.   She is our Style Icon for the month of November.  

Call her the newest muse of the paparazzi, or just a glittering socialista who is seen at all the right places at the right time, she adds luster to the occasions she graces, creating a flutter with her branded persona. Her personal style is feminine and adventurous. She is passionate about her international travels and always keep experimenting with new looks. A regular at the international fashion weeks, she loves accessorizing with big bags, hats and bold jewelry. Having said that, she is mostly in classic styles whether it is a white suit for the day or a LBD for the night.   

Always dressed in designer labels such as Prada, Versace, Balmain, Alexander McQueen, Birkin – you name it, this lass knows how to add that extra zing to any outfit and make it her own – that’s a diva in the making!   Way to go Natasha and congratulations on being our Style Icon of the Month!

 

Courageously Beautiful – Lisa Ray – Style Icon for October 2009

Eclectic, exotic and electrifying – that’s the only way to describe Canadian-born Bollywood actress Lisa Ray.  Born to a Bengali father, a Polish mother, and blessed with stunning looks, this stylista is not just about outward appearances. “Looks come and go, it’s what’s on the inside that counts and I know what I’m”, she says. Apart from her successful stint in Bollywood and the international film arena, Lisa has been a beacon of courage and hope to many generations. Earlier this year, she was diagnosed with Multiple Myeloma – a rare form of bone marrow cancer.  Since then, Lisa has been blogging regularly on her Yellow Diaries blogspot and using her celebrity status to raise public awareness on Multiple Myeloma and the medical advances towards treatment. Milgayi is proud to honor this global head turner as our Style Icon for the month of October for her courageous beauty inside and out.

Lisa Ray began her modeling career at the tender age of sixteen after she was discovered by Maureen Wadia.  She first came into the public attention when she appeared in a high profile Bombay Dyeing commercial wearing a black swimsuit. Her claim to fame happened when she graced the cover of Glad Rags magazine wearing a sizzling red bathing suit. That cover created hysteria in the advertising world and marked her industry arrival.  She seduced us for a decade appearing on numerous magazine covers and setting the small screen on fire through her music videos such as Afreen Afreen. Bollywood beckoned and she eventually did a couple of commercial movies. The 37-year old supermodel-turned-actress catapulted to international recognition through Deepa Mehta's Oscar-nominated film Water.

Style wise, her mantra is comfort rules – she is more of a trend setter than a fashion follower.  To her, confidence and simplicity are key in carrying off any ensemble – be it a white chiffon sari or a glamorously draped gown.  No wonder she is the brand ambassador for Rado watches in India!

Despite the challenges ahead, Lisa continues to ‘Live Strong’, champion her cause, and does it in style.  We admire her for her strength and positivity.

To find more about Lisa’s cause, please visit here.

   

  

 

 

Queen of Style - Queenie Dhody – Milgayi Style Icon for September 2009

Sorry for being MIA from the blogging scene for a while, but the last couple of weeks have been super-hectic. Anyways, it’s time to introduce our Style icon for September!  Meet Queenie Dhody – Mumbai’s most famous page three personality, a former Miss India, India’s premier makeover consultant, jewelry designer, celebrity columnist, socialite – the list goes on and on. There’s no stopping for this glamazon! Though she’s known as a renowned jewelry designer, she is more famous for her jaw dropping appearances on the red carpet, fashion shows and glittering page three events but there’s much more to Queenie Dhody than her glamorous self.

Queenie has always been synonymous with style and her foray into haute joaillerie happened during her modeling days when she would devote all her earnings and time in designing jewelry. She turned her passion into a full-fledged career by starting her own jewelry company – Jewels by Queenie. Like her, her jewelry line is bold, always makes a statement and is stunning. Be it a bracelet set in 18K gold with turquoise and kundan or a chic gold and diamond bracelet, each of her designs are exceptional.  To her, jewelry should be minimalist. “If too much of it is worn, it mars the significance of what you’re wearing”.

Seen in the latest haute couture collections from Dior, Jean Paul Gaultier, Anna Sui and Cavalli, Queenie always manages to review designers by the collection they showcase for that particular season. Her all-time favorite designer is Hervé Léger. Being a hip fashionista, she has handpicked accessories from all over the world. Her closet is filled with exotic baubles, bags and shoes. Style comes naturally to her and it shows. Her mantra is “Style that’s inherent is far more noticed than what you have picked up. So be comfortable in your skin”. She definitely carries a queen in her name and she is indeed India’s regal socialite.

 

   

Farewell to a timeless Style Icon - Maharani Gayatri Devi

The Milgayi Style Diary pays homage to one of the most memorable style icons of our times.  Yes, we are talking of none other than the legendary Her Highness Maharani Gayatri Devi who passed away this Wednesday. Once voted by Vogue Magazine as one of the most beautiful women in the world, the former Princess of Cooch Behar and Queen of Jaipur, was the epitome of grace, style and undeniable charm.

Close friend and renowned fashion designer, Ritu Kumar recalls her as being “a lady ahead of her times; a true fashion icon and a personality known for her impeccable taste in jewelry and attire.”

Her sense of sophistication was adored and imitated by millions.  Be it her coiffed brown hair, her soft pastel chiffons or her timeless Basra pearls, her stunning presence commanded attention wherever she went.  This grace transcended beyond Gayatri Devi to her grandmother Chimnabai; who, in her own time, was known as a style icon, once claimed to Gayatri to “never wear emeralds with a green sari as she had, because they look so much better with pink.” 

She was adored by millions of Indians who lovingly addressed her as their “Rajmata” (Queen Mother).  To celebrate her panache, Milgayi would like to honor HRH with the recognition of our August 2009 Style Icon of the Month.  You will always be remembered as India's most stylish and most modern Maharani. We will miss you Rajmata...

       

 

Destiny’s Child – Freida Pinto is our Style Icon for July 2009

From Slumdog to riches, no starlet in recent times has scaled a rise as dizzying as Freida Pinto. From being the girl next door in Mumbai to Hollywood’s latest “it” girl, Freida is definitely on a roll, racking up plum job assignments with top-notch directors from Woody Allen  to Julian Schnabel. Best known for her work as "Latika" in the Oscar award winning film, Slumdog Millionaire, this power newbie describes her acting style as ‘raw and instinctive’. Suddenly she seems to be everywhere all at once. On talk shows, film festivals, award shows, fashion weeks, you name it. The sexy siren sealed her ascent into the superstar league by signing up as one of the new faces of L’Oreal Paris joining the likes of Eva Longoria, Beyonce and Evangeline Lilly.

Topping Style.com’s10 Best Dressed list, Freida is soon becoming the toast of the international fashion scene and a new red-carpet darling.  She also happens to be our Style Icon for the month of July. Style wise, comfort matters – she doesn’t believe in following fashion trends. The sultry actress opts for items she is comfortable in and always looks for the “wow” factor in a dress.  Not giving into the Hollywood pressures on how she should look, Freida knows she can pull off almost anything from skinny jeans to red carpet gowns thanks to her striking face, a winning smile and a killer body.

We salute this global head turner as she sets to make her mark in mainstream Hollywood.  You go girl!!

 

   

 

 

Pretty as Porcelain - Riddhima Kapoor is our Style Icon for June 2009

Riddhima Kapoor is another gorgeous girl from the Kapoor family. This stylista plays many roles; she is the daughter of yesteryear heartthrob couple Rishi and Neetu Kapoor, wife to college sweetheart Bharat Sahni, sister of current Bollywood hot property Ranbir Kapoor, an upcoming fashion designer, and to top it off, Brand Ambassador of Kaya Skin Care.  To celebrate her accomplishments, Milgayi is proud to showcase her as our Style Icon for the month of June.  Wow, the lady does seem to have her hands full! 

 

Unlike other Kapoor babes, she chose not to debut or get fame in Bollywood and instead became a fashion designer.  Translating her passion into a full fledged business, she partnered with her friend and recently launched her own fashion label called “Ara” (meaning ornament in Persian).  Her line is sensual and at the same time, comfortable.  Being a fashion designer herself, she knows what looks good on her. Her style mantra is being ‘subtly elegant’.  She loves to don a pair of jeans and a T-shirt during the day and at night she likes to bling it out!   Her favorite designers are Abu Jani-Sandeep Khosla, Surily Goel, Gauri-Nainika and Tarun Tahiliani. Internationally, it would have to be Roberto Cavalli, Dolce & Gabbana and Juicy Couture amongst others.

 

She is extremely happy to be the new face of Kaya Skin Care products.   This just reassures that she is blessed with good genes, and a famous last name!  Way to go Riddhima!

 

    

 

 

 

 

 

From foodie to fashionista - Padma Lakshmi - Style Icon for May 2009

A taste of glam – that’s the only way to describe leggy model Padma Lakshmi.  So whether it’s a hot new cookbook, host of Bravo's hit cook show, Top Chef or her newly launched jewelry line at Bergdorf’s, the lady sure knows how to spice it up. In sync with her latest foray in the world of jewelry, she is befitting to be our Style Icon for the month of May.  Yes, Padma Lakshmi has an empire in the making. What’s next, a clothing line?

The Indian-born US-raised, food critic and model, is one of India's most-recognized crossover stars, and her unique sense of fashion and regal good looks make us stand up and pay attention every time she's on TV. In addition to her overwhelming natural beauty, here's a woman who is a perfect blend of beauty, brains and undeniable charm.  Mostly dressed in wrap dresses by day and slinky sequined dresses by night, Padma sure knows how to turn the heat up whether it's in the kitchen or on the red carpet.

Being of Indian heritage, Padma has had an innate connection with jewelry and has collected many desirable baubles as gifts passed down from her family.  Her namesake jewelry line, launched on May 3^rd, at Bergdorf Goodman in New York City is a 40 piece gold collection that takes inspiration from what else, food.  According to her, whether it's food or fashion, it's all about taste; about curating the best of what she has gathered from around the globe to create something beautiful for the senses.  Her jewelry line consisting of necklaces, cuffs, rings and earrings are sure to make any girl drool.  View her full collection at www.padmalakshmi.com

 

 

Face of Dior India – Kalyani Chawla is our Style Icon for April 2009

Life is good, no make that great when you’re Kalyani Chawla – Brand Ambassador and face of Christian Dior India.  A page three regular, fitness freak,  mother to nine year old Tahira and a socialite present at all the A list events on Delhi’s social circuit, Kalyani does seem to have her plate full.   She believes it was her sharp business acumen and resilient entrepreneurial skills combined with international experience in fashion and luxury brands that helped her bag the high profile position of VP Marketing and Communications Christian Dior, India.  She knows this is a serious role which involves key brand positioning and promotion strategies in order for Dior to make a mark in the Indian luxury market. She says “Of course I’m not Shahrukh Khan selling a brand. But I am the image of CD in India.”  

Kalyani, truly is a fashionista.  Her passion for fashion stems from an early age when Kalyani would beg her father to buy her international magazines during his trips abroad.  Chawla believes that clothes don’t make you, but you make the clothes, so comfort and confidence are crucial to carry off any ensemble. Rarely seen in anything but Dior, Kalyani manages to carry off any outfit, be it a Sabyasachi sari or a dress by Louis Vuitton with effortless panache.  Some perks huh!!

 

       

 

Style Icon for March 2009 - Twinkle Khanna

Twinkle Twinkle Little Star – That’s right, she is indeed a star in her own right.  Daughter of yesteryear superstar Rajesh Khanna and super sexy Dimple Kapadia, this twinkling star has style and class in her genes (pun intended). The lady is also star wife to Bollywood hot property Akshay Kumar and a renowned interior designer.  Don’t mistake her stunning looks for someone who only lives the high life.  A former actress who left films at the peak of her career to marry her co-star Akshay Kumar, she is now happily a proud owner of a designer furniture firm named ‘The White Window’.  Her clientele includes the who’s who of Bollywood from Rani Mukherjee to Kareena Kapoor and Saif Ali Khan.

 

When Twinkle Khanna says she is busy, she actually is.  Juggling time between her star husband`s hectic schedules, her son,  her boutique in Bandra,  her illustrious list of clients and her jaw dropping appearances on the social circuit, she has her plate full. Always dressed to the occasion, Twinkle has her own sense of style, knows what looks good on her and is rarely over-the-top.  Infact fashion blog High Heel Confidential, claims Twinkle to be one of the most stylishly dressed stars in today’s generation. Her personal style reflects her dressing motto ‘comfort is key’ – almost always in jeans and shift dresses during the day; accessories are her thing. She loves to pair one contemporary piece with her ensemble. One of her favorite looks are a crisp white cotton shirt, blue denims, stylish platform heels and a chunky necklace, "to add a bit of colour".