Quick Celebrity Pregnancy Weight Loss Distorting Our Reality??

Before I say something about celebrity moms' weight gain and weight loss, I want to clear 2 things -

1. I am a fitness enthusiast. I feel good about working out, respect people who exercise and eat right, and maintain a healthy weight (whatever that number is for their body!) So I have nothing against people who focus on keeping fit. I am all for it!

2. This post is not about regular weight loss and the reality of it, it is about new mothers losing pregnancy weight.

Now where was I? Yes, celebrity new-mom weight loss and the reality new-mom weight loss! Before I go any further - just look at these images!

Jessica Alba just months after having a baby

Kate Hudson slim again very soon!

Miranda Kerr mere months after  having her son

Heidi Klum walked the Victoria's secret Runway after only 8 weeks of giving birth!

Beyoncé just after 4 weeks of having her daughter,  Jessica Alba 4 months after having her second baby!

Now I know these women depend on looking a certain way, having to conform to industry requirements of the body image and they have the means and resources to get in shape without sacrificing much. But when we see images like these all around, somehow their weight loss timeline and style becomes the norm! (talk about pressure on sleep deprived, tired and overwhelmed new mothers who may not have personal chefs and trainers!) There are people who can lose weight easily, some have better metabolism, and some really can work out and eat right with military discipline, but in all practicality, it is almost impossible for an average new mother to look like Beyoncé or Miranda Kerr or Jessica Alba mere weeks after having a baby! It took me almost 8 months to lose those 40 extra pounds I had gained during my pregnancy! (You can read my weight loss story here) 

In India, we are not a particularly fitness obsessed society. In fact up until last decade, there was a concept of "being too thin' and curvy body meant you are happy and prosperous in life!! So when Indian media and blogosphere went beserk over the weight gain of one of India's biggest celebrities and Bollywood star, it made me really think!! Indian actress and former Miss world (whom Oprah also believed to one of the most beautiful women on Earth) gave birth in November 2011. She seems to be a non-celebrity and an everyday woman when it comes to losing baby weight and people don't seem to grasp this!!

Cut her some slack! She looks beautiful still!

Before - Movie start; After - A woman who gave birth mere 4 months ago. I say,  images are about right!

For them the incredible, almost magical time line of re-gaining the pre-baby body of most celebrities has become so normal that when they see Aishwarya unable to don a bikini after 4 weeks of birth, they are confused!! She is being commented on, even ridiculed and taunted for being 'fat' now! I want her to be fit again and may be go back to her pre-baby weight but I'd give her at least 8 months (that I took) before I offer her a subscription to Jenny Craig!

Do you think the magical weight loss of celebrity moms sometimes distorts our perception of fitness and pregnancy weight loss?

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Inspiration New York - How To Wear A Button Down Shirt This Spring

I had a chance meeting of someone from publishing world in a party long time ago. I was working in corporate world  at the time and casually mentioned my dream job of working for a fashion magazine. "If you are serious about this", he said, "and  if you have the option of living anywhere in the world and New York, always pick New York!" I had forgotten about the incident until I actually moved to New York and realized what the publishing guy meant! People here know how to dress up! (I am talking about my experiences of American cities, so please pardonne moi if you don't see European cities discussed in my post!) I see people on New York streets, dressed as if they are straight out of a fashion magazine!! I have spotted some really chic styles on the subways! (There are some exceptions of course!) New York style is so eclectic, unique, chic and fearless! The city always inspires me to dress better, put my best foot forward so to speak! One piece of clothing that I always turn to when in doubt - a button down shirt! Inspired by New York style, I created 3 looks for today's post where button down shirt takes center stage with the help of updates accessories! I imagine a chic woman strolling in the cobbled street of SoHo, exploring art galleries in East Village, and tasting a gourmet snack at Chelsea Market, dressed simply, but still turning heads!

More information about this look here

More information about this look here

More information about this look here

And here is something I always want to say to someone I see on the New York city streets with amazing pair of shoes-

Image via Pinterest

How do you describe the style of your town/neighborhood? And Do you also do the double take when you see them shoes on someone??

Connect with me here -

  

PS. I am linking this post on Fashion Friday, see you there!

First Day Of Spring 2012! (Reflections From The Past, Plans For Future)

Today marks the first day of spring for the Northern Hemisphere! Spring brings the hopes of a beautiful season, warmer days and pleasanter evenings, bright colors, beautiful flowers with sweet fragrances (and spring break in Cancun too!) Last year this time, I had just started my blog, we were living in gorgeous Evanston (a suburb of Chicago) and planning our big move to New York. The Spring in Chicago is so beautiful and I will miss seeing the gorgeous Lake Michigan and the colorful sailboats in the summer! Here are some pictures from last spring!

This year in spring, my blog is one year old and I have built some really sweet relationships, have had meaningful conversations and during the process, learned so much about myself!! Hopefully this journey will continue and next Spring I will have more sweet memories from this year to share!
Meanwhile, there are few things I am coveting, (list in another post)- among them, a perfect Maxi Dress! There is something about a floral, flowy, feminine maxi dress that makes you feel gorgeous!! Take a gander at this beauty  - it comes with the four digit price! But hey! Spring is meant to dream, isn't it!!

Giambattista Valli maxi dress

Looking forward to Summer 2012 - in this Ann Taylor maxi dress!! Isn't life beautiful??

Image Via Ann Taylor Inc

And this spring season, I plan to -

• Enjoy the New York City in its Spring glory {whatever THAT is:-)}
• Try to ride the bike with my daughter every day
• Wear (more) color
• Write every day
• Attend at least one big fashion/style/blogging event in NYC
• Just have fun and live in the moment

I leave you with a Spring Haiku by Kobayashi Issa -

Spring breeze-

the pine on the ridge

whispers it

Have a happy Spring everyone! What are your plans this season?

  

Ellen Degeneres On "The Bachelor - The Women Tell All!"

For me there are only two comedians who are super hilarious, witty and original while  keeping their material 'clean' - Jerry Seinfeld and Ellen Degeneres. They have opinions but never become political, they are wordmiths but never swear to bring laughter, they talk about things that surround us with their acute observations and maintain the fun factor in all the things they do! Their brand of comedy is rare and so original! Exhibit A - Ellen  digitally inserts in to some really catty 'reality show' episodes!! I mean really - don't you wish Ellen were your BFF? I have never seen this show but I laughed so hard watching Ellen here!! 

Watch and laugh!

Here is Ellen on Bachelor's Women Tell All Episode!

And here she is on the Real House Wives ..

Who is your favorite comedian and why?

 

Happy Holi! (If you don't know what this means, read below!)

Yes, the pictures you see below are real people throwing colored powered at each other and no its not a riot!  It is Holi! The riot of colors. 

For those who are not familiar with Holi - It is a festival of colors celebrated in India and in the countries with a big Indian diaspora. It is a festival that commemorates good harvests and the fertile land. It is a celebration of spring's abundant colors and saying farewell to winter. It has the religious legends too, which if you are interested - you can Google, I am just keeping this blog free of religion and politics;-) 
Anyhoo, I have some really fun Holi memories from my childhood - the colors, the food, the song and dance and the all around cheer of the festival. If you like to be clean and untouched this festival is not for you!!

This is me and the hubby dear celebrating Holi with friends circa 2011. This year, we are staying indoors!

No Makeup Required! 

My American daughter does not understand what is going on! LOL!

Jeez! My man can pose!!!

Do you celebrate Holi? What is your favorite thing about this festival?

For those who didn't know about Holi, do you find it Intriguing/Fun/Messy?? 

 

This post is a part of Fashion Friday Linkup

Sh!t Fashion Bloggers Say!

And I am not talking about the popular-on-youtube "Oh Em Jeee, you look, like totally chic right now" kinda sh!t! I am talking about the useful sh!t we say! Like bias cut and jabot collar! Some of you may already know all this jargon, and some of you may find it the most useful sh!t on the fashion blogs! So without further ado, here are some of the terms we use on our blogs. The pictures illustrate what we mean!

Dolman Sleeve - A sleeve that's wide at the armhole and narrows as it moves toward the wrist. It often creates the effect of a dropped shoulder. It can be long or short both.(Growing up it in India we used to call them baggy sleeves, Dolman just sounds more posh lol!)

Sheath Dress- Dress silhouette that's long and lean with a nipped waist — and usually without a waistband.

  

Shift Dress-The shift dress is short and straight with a simple line. It hangs loose on the body from the shoulders and is usually  held together by side panels.

Image via

Bias cut- The "bias-cut" is a technique used by designers for cutting clothing to utilize the greater stretch in the bias or diagonal direction of the fabric, thereby causing it to accentuate body lines and curves and drape softly. For example, a full-skirted dress or gown cut on the bias will hang more gracefully.  Fabric is cut on approximately a 45-degree angle to create a clingy, draped effect. The bias cut emerged in the 1920s, and it's still used today.

Bateau Neck- Just a fancy word for boat neck! This neckline is named for its similarity in shape to a skimmer boat. It's a narrow opening in its width but extends almost shoulder to shoulder.

Cowl Neck- It is a loose, draped in folds neckline with a cascading effect in the front. A cowl in the back of a dress creates a very sexy look! Red carpet gown favorite!

Jabot-  Pronounced as Jaa-Bo, Jabot simply means frills or ruffles decorating the front of a shirt. It could be a detachable neck collar that hangs down the front of a shirt or blouse. Historically men wore it on dress clothes, but it is now more common to women

Nehru Collar- Popularized by Jawaharlal Nehru, (the first Prime Minister of India whose jackets had this style), this is a band like collar. Also known sometimes as Mandarin or Chinese collar.

Peplum - The peplum, (Greek origin word meaning tunic) is usually a short overskirt that is  attached to a fitted jacket . Sometimes an extra flounce is sewn onto the waistine of a pencil skirt or fitted dress to create the hourglass shape.

Epaulet - A Fabric tab that sits on the top of the shoulder; sometimes it is on the sleeves too to hold a rolled-up sleeve. It's a military uniforms inspired fashion detail seen in shirts, coats and jackets

Tulip Hemline - This hemline looks an upside-down tulip, with a waist and hemline that are similar widths, and a bell effect in the middle. It can be in a skirt, dress or even a jacket.

Ombre - Effect created by dip-dyeing fabric with various gradations where a color appears lighter in some spots and darker in others. It can be done with more than one color, but shading a single color is more common.

D'Orsay Style Shoes - Shoe style resembling pumps but with the cutout sides, exposing the arch of the foot.

Gauchos - Mid-calf length pants with wide legs fashioned after the South American cowboys who were also called gauchos. Very popular style in maternity fashion.

Ikat - Printed fabric based on a weaving technique native to Uzbekistan, in which a pattern is created from tie-dyed thread

Have you ever wondered about these terms before? Do you use it on your blog, in daily life or just don't care?