Luxury is the key word – be it cafes, home, travel, clothes or accessories

Weekly updates on lifestyle trends in India

After designer watches and bags, its about luxury homes, elite cafes and private aircrafts. An important aspect of fashion is learning to accessorize and impeccable grooming.

Chillibreeze Business Research Team

In buzztown, there’s room for all

Stand-alone mobile phones continue to be in high demand despite stiff competition from hand-held gadgets with state-of-the-art features invading shelf-space and catching consumer fancy. Mobile phone makers are ensuring that Markets for both the segments remain, and thrive.

There are phones that have multiple features like mega pixel cameras, e-mail facility, downloading, MP3 players, high-storage capacity, conference call facility, blue tooth and synchronisers and plenty of others for the corporate executives. And then there are phones with just the basic facility — they ensure you can make calls at affordable rates.

April 5, 2008
Source: The Financial Express

Shear pleasure

It is said hair is vanity's proving ground — a tangle of mysterious prejudices! Though people still want to stick to the length, invariably there are cuts and styles that complement the season as well. Steps are always in. Fringes/bangs are popular for a wispy look on short/long hair.

Men in India need to start experimenting. If you're sporting a trendy haircut, you need sideburns or spikes. Men with receding hairlines in particular, need to start playing with flicks. Though lot of men like spiking, they should play around with colouring as well.
April 4, 2008
Source: LiveMint.com

Designer watches challenge handbags as the must-have fashion accessory

In the realm of luxury fashion, there are many contenders to the throne but only one king. For almost a decade, the designer handbag has worn the luxury crown. But now a battle royal is under way to determine the next sovereign. The handbag's dauphin is the luxury watch, whether for women or men.

Like handbags, watches can cross any border; they do not clash with traditional dress or religious beliefs. In emerging luxury markets, like India, China and Russia, timepieces have come to be perceived as ultimate status symbols.
April 4, 2008
Source: International Herald Tribune

The updated style commandments

Black and white are eternal, grey is solid and navy is elegant. Flashes of colour make formal shirts more interesting—red and white checks and stripes in red and green with white; trousers are in saturated red, yellow and green. On the formal front, bright colours such as pinks, yellows, lemons and blues are the order of the day.

Carry a bag. Own at least three suits. Rethink pleated trousers. Buy a pair of designer jeans. Learn to layer. Know when to update your gadgets. Learn to accessorize. Be a groomer. Know how much is too much.
April 4, 2008
Source: LiveMint.com

Home, cafes, pvt aviation to be next luxury frontier

While watches and other fashion accessories like handbags have been driving the luxury market; relatively new segments like home, cafes, private aviation are taking off.

Italy-based Illycafe, which produces and sells a premium single blend of coffee worldwide, has piping hot plans for India. Luxury linen retailer Frette, whose table was on board the Titanic and can still be found on the Orient Express, is in the process of shortlisting a suitable Indian partner. Private aviation is also expected to take off. Luxury travel has so far catered primarily to the foreign tourist, and experts are now recognizing the need to cater to 400 million domestic tourists.
April 1, 2008
Source: MoneyControl.com

Suspend all inhibitions

Today, more and more males are ready to suspend inhibitions. The fashion-conscious male, in fact, loves to splurge on fine fashion accessories to spruce up his image. The availability of a greater number of luxury brands in the country only means that there is more to choose from.

Accessories — whether Indian or western, for men or for women — have to complement your clothes. Shop for suspenders based on your purpose. If you are going to use them as fashion statement then choose the ones that blend well with your shirt as well as your pants. If they’ll be hidden under a jacket, then a colour or style may not be important. So just go ahead and brace up for a new look.
March 30, 2008
Source: Economic Times