"You want to be a writer, but you don't know how or when. Find a quiet place; use a humble pen." -Paul Simon
I love a good pen. I mean, really love a good pen. In fact, I frequently have to stop myself from turning Pink Rickshawinto a website exclusively about pens (I'm really not going to do that; in case you were planning on unsubscribing). So, warning: if you're okay with writing with a hotel ballpoint pen (no judgement), this is probably not the best post for you (I'll give you a second to instead read this, this or this). But, if you are like me (and I know you're out there) and are always on the hunt for a good pen, this, my friend and fellow pen aficionado, is dedicated to you. These are my some of favorite, inexpensive pens (Note: These are not your fancy heirloom type pens, specialty pens (fountain pens, etc) or international pens (those are the best!) but more your disposable, everyday use, mainstream pens that retail for about $2-8 each)
"If I have seen further than others, it is by standing upon the shoulder of giants."-Issac Newton
I am in New York this weekend and being in the fashion capital of the world, fresh off of Fashion Week, is energizing. The inventive street styles and the fresh spring lines at all the shops and boutiques provide lots of sartorial inspiration. I will tell you, what is not inspiring: how bone chilling cold it has been. It definitely makes me miss the warm temperatures back home which are perfect for one of spring's hottest trends: the off-the-shoulder top. I'm seeing variations of these shoulder baring styles pop up everywhere. The silhouette is an updated take on the 90's version and the off-the-shoulder blouse is a great transition piece that shows just the right amount of skin. Here are few from around the web (pictured clockwise):
“We live in a box of space and time. Movies are windows in its walls. They allow us to enter other minds, not simply in the sense of identifying with the characters, although that is an important part of it, but by seeing the world as another person sees it.”-Roger Ebert
Tonight kicks off the second annual Dallas Fort Worth South Asian Film Festival and there is an impressive line-up of films. The festival opens today at the Perot Museum with a screening of Miss India America directed by Ravi Kapoor and starring Tiya Sircar (read a past interview with Pink Rickshawhere) and Hannah Simone (Hey, Cece from New Girl!). The 2014 film which has been getting some buzz at Asian film festivals in the U.S. is a coming-of-age comedy about an academically over-achieving high school student, Lily (played by Sircar). She enters the Miss India Golden State pageant in hopes of wooing back her ex-boyfriend who has left Lily for a reigning beauty queen. If you have ever heard about or experienced an Indian pageant in the U.S., you can see why it would make an interesting backdrop for a film. TheHollywood Reporter's review praised the film saying the "screenplay quickly establishes an authentic tone that pays respect to Indian cultural norms, while poking gentle fun at the often-divergent interpretations that these traditions receive in overseas communities. Kapoor’s television directing experience translates smoothly between formats as he competently navigates Lily into increasingly conflicted situations, while maintaining a comically light touch throughout."
Other films in the festival that caught my eye are the Bollywood film Aligarh (which closes the festival on Sunday) starring Manoj Bajpai and Rajkummar Rao in a biographical drama about a professor who was suspended from his job because of his sexual orientation. Umrika is a 2015 Indian dramedy starring Suraj Sharma (Life of Pi) and Prateik Babbar (Dhobi Ghaat, Jaane Tu Ya Jaane Na) where Babbar's character sets off for the United States to find a better life but things are not exactly as they appear. The festival is also rounded out with a number of short films (my favorites) and documentaries including the art documentary, Blue Like Me, featuring the work of artist Siona Benjamin. Benjamin is a Jewish women raised in India and her paintings span themes of feminism, race and identity.
The DFW SAFF runs this weekend from February 19-21 at the Perot Museum (opening night) and Angelika Film Center in Plano. Festival passes and individual tickets can be purchased on the festival website or at the box office. Update: Looks like all the films are sold out but there may be tickets for purchase at the box office for the Saturday and Sunday shows.
"Our admiration of the antique is not admiration of the old, but of the natural."-Ralph Waldo Emerson
I attended Create & Cultivate last month (which I highly recommend to any woman who is in the digital space whether you are a blogger, entrepreneur, photographer, or even just thinking about starting something) and met so many cool, creative and enterprising businesswomen (#ladyboss). One of them was Michelle Qazi, who specializes in selling vintage home decor pieces. Michelle is the epitome of California cool and her chic, personal aesthetic is reflected in her beautifully curated Etsy shop: 6th and Detroit. Personally (like many of you), I am constantly redecorating and have been trying to incorporate in more vintage items, but shopping for the right pieces can be a little intimidating. So, I turned to Michelle for some advice. Michelle launched her Etsy shop in April 2015. The shop is named after her first apartment on (you guessed it) 6th and Detroit in Los Angeles. As a recent college graduate on a Top Ramen budget, she furnished that apartment with vintage treasures from Goodwill and Salvation Army. Over the years her love for vintage shopping grew into her business today. In a very crowded marketplace, Michelle makes her shop stand out by styling her items in creative diverse looks, providing high quality products and presenting stunning photography. Here are some of her tips for buying and decorating with vintage pieces...
PR: What are some of the trends in home design in 2016 that can be accomplished with vintage pieces?
MQ: Mid Century design continues to hold a strong presence in 2016 by mixing in sleeker newer pieces and adding warm textural textiles. For smalls, copper and brass are still an accent favorite, but the updated version is now a more mixed metals vibe and marble.
PR: What are your tips for incorporating vintage pieces into a modern or contemporary room?
MQ: The key to incorporating vintage is to make it work in a modern setting. Making vintage “new” again. If you are new to the game, start with something small like bookends, a vase, etc. that would work with your current setting and grow from there. If there is a larger vintage item that is the main focal point in the room, like a couch, then pair it with one or two lighter armchairs with clean smooth lines. I am all about mixing vintage styles and eras with the new to keep it from looking too literal.
Looking for a little inspiration for a last-minute Valentine's Day dinner at home? A classic Indian meal with a few Valentine's inspired touches may add just the right amount of spice*to your night. *If you can get past my lame pun, I promise these are a few must-try recipes of Indian favorites from some great sources. Happy Valentine's Day!
"People come up to me all the time and say 'you should be a model,' or 'you look just like a model,' or 'maybe you should try to be a man who models.' And I always have to laugh because I'm so good looking. Of course I'm a model."-Derek Zoolander
Happy Fashion Friday! New York Fashion Week is in full swing this week. It runs thorough Feb 18, so we're only a few shows deep, but here are some of the looks that have caught my eye so far.
Top (from left to right): 1. Marissa Webb 2. Sachin and Babi 3. Sonia by Sonia Rykiel
Bottom row (from left to right): 4. Creatures of the Wind 5. Tadashi Shoji 6. Yeezy Season 3 (Note: This line is a bit of a head scratcher for me but it is of course, the much hyped Kanye West show and was the release of his new album, "The Life of Pablo". I'm pretty sure there is much more discussion to come on both topics. )
If you need more for your fashion fix, here are some fresh images from today's shows including Jason Wu and CG.
"You can't blame gravity for falling in love."-Albert Einstein
Valentine's Day is less than a week away, so it's time to find that perfect card whether its for your bae or your girlfriends. (There are so many cute Galentine's cards here and some of these classroom cards for kids would also be great for your gal pals. This Leslie Knope one has got to be by favorite.). With the growing number of independent artists on Etsy and small stationary shops available online, there is such a great selection of simple yet beautifully designed, cute cards. Here are a few of my favorites:
For being the shortest month of the year, February is jam packed with a lot to get excited about (birthdays, Valentine's Day, Super Bowl Sunday). It is also a fashion-filled month. Fashion Week in New York starts next week, awards season is in full swing with red carpet fashion to ogle at and all the spring lines are hitting retail stores. So it only seemed fitting to be sure to feature a few fashion happenings weekly. Since most of the month will be focused on Western fashion with upcoming Fashion Week and the Oscars, I wanted to start off the series with some whimsical, fantasy fashion from India.
Fashion Flashback--Sabyasachi does shoes: India is gearing up for their own fashion weeks later in spring, so to get excited I was looking back at some of my favorite looks from last year. At the top of the list has to be the insane Sabyasachi Mukherjee and Christian Louboutin collaboration used for Sabyasachi's Autumn/Winter '15 Couture show. Eighty pairs were made for the "Bater" collection in August and Sabyasachi described the collaboration in interviews as “extremely Parisian footwear with an Indian baroque sensibility.” The line featured Christian Louboutin’s Devibroda and Victoria styles, with Sabyasachi’s "signature acid-dyed burned-sequin embroidery and tea-dyed cotton threads" on the heels. I'm personally feeling the tasseled pair. Unattainable eye candy in its sweetest form.
Fashion Now--Beyonce does Bollywood: Have you seen the Coldplay/Beyonce Hymn for the Weekend video? It casually dropped last weekend and quickly stirred up the cultural appropriation versus cultural appreciation debate. Honestly, I am on the fence on how I feel about it. It's so complicated, it makes my head hurt. The video is no doubt stunning visually and seems earnest about capturing the beauty and spirit of India. But, does it play up to stereotypes? (aka fire breathing, Holi playing street children..is it always Holi in India in music videos? I'm confused. And my personal favorite, the levitating swami) Yes, it does. So, I definitely do not want to make light of the debate since it is a serious topic but I did want to briefly move away from the heavy stuff to remark on the incredible fashion in the video. Beyonce stuns in her Indian designer gear. (Note: Her looks in the video are also a significant part of the controversy but there is no denying how amazing she looks. I don't care where you stand on the issue. Bow down to QueenRani B and the team that created her gorgeous look. It should also be noted that Beyonce was dressed by some of India's finest fashion designers which in my opinion, should be appreciated for being collaborative and inclusive.) Beyonce is in a custom design from famed Indian designers Abu Jani and Sandeep Khosla. In most of her scenes, she is wearing the duo's plunging gown embellished in gold sequins and crystals and is also wearing a gorgeous floor length cape over the dress. The coat/cape according to Khosla's Instagram is hand embroidered in Gota, beads and multicoloured resham and appliqué work. Bollywood starlet Sonam Kapoor also makes a brief cameo in the video and is seen wearing Indian designer Mayyur Girotra and jewelry from Amrapali and Apala by Sumit. Beyonce and Coldplay, of course, are performing in the half time show this Super Bowl Sunday and so it is very likely we will hear the song then. However, I'm pretty sure in light of the controversy, Bey's going to leave the face chain and heavy dupatta at home.
P.S. If you read the Taxi Fabric post last summer, you'll notice in the video that Chris Martin is actually riding around Mumbai in a Taxi Fabric cab featuring the work of artist Samya Arif. Congrats to the artist and the project for the major international exposure.
"We all have our time machines. Some take us back, they're called memories. Some take us forward, they're called dreams." -Jeremy Irons
A very (belated!) happy 2016 and February to you. February is my favorite month and I am really excited about this year as well. I hope you are too. I started Pink Rickshaw back in 2008 which seems like a lifetime ago. Blogging was just taking off and like most people who start a blog, I was just looking for a creative outlet from my day job. Eight years later, blogging is a huge industry with millionaire bloggers, the expected backlash against the "perfect" world of lifestyle blogging* and such an over saturation of sites, that frankly I can't even keep up with my own blogroll. Also, like most of you, I get so much of my content from social media than from websites, that the future of blogging is a mystery. But before you think this is the all-too-common farewell letter, it's not. Call me old school, but I still love making Pink Rickshaw. And even with the overwhelming amount of content out on the web today, I still hope that Pink Rickshaw can bring an unique perspective on mainstream and South Asian topics. So, I'm really excited to give the site some much needed TLC and see how it continues to evolve this year. The quantity of posts last year was fewer than years past but I have to admit that some of them are amongst my all time favorites. In fact, the Indian inspired cheese plate post was the most read and shared post ever. (Cheese lovers unite.) So, as we start this year, I thank you for coming on this journey with me so far and am super excited to continue to share more fun stuff with you. And, speaking of posts, in case you missed them, here are some of my favorites from last year:
P.S. If you followed me on Instagram (@pinkrickshaw) last year, you may have noticed I fulfilled my not so secret desire to start a "style blog" by starting a new Instagram feed for my outfit posts @pinkrickshawfashion. Hope you will follow it (even if it is to see if I ever master the art of taking a flat outfit picture. I'm okay with that.)
(*GOMI is not for the lighthearted. It definitely gave me a new perspective on the world of blogging and how disingenuous it has gotten over the years. While some of the forum activity is very raw and honest feedback, a lot of it is quite mean. So, if you don't want to read harsh criticism and even borderline trolling, I suggest to pass on checking out the site. Here is a great article from a few years ago about the fascinating world of blogger hate.)
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