Read on to get up close and personal with three of Delhi's uber glamorous group of friends as they decode their party essentials!
Nriti Shah Maker Fashion Blogger
An introverted extrovert, Nriti Shah Maker enjoys going out as much as she loves staying in.
“I am all about my family and close friends. Fashion is a huge passion of mine, which is why it was but natural for me to enter into the world of fashion blogging. I recently launched my blog, Balsamic Finegear, a style and fashion blog that has collaborated with Jimmy Choo, Michael Kors, Dior and Begani Jewels in a very short period of time. A lot more exciting collaborations are coming soon and I’m thoroughly enjoying turning my passion for fashion and writing into a career I love and enjoy,” says the clotheshorse and style maven.
Q. Happiness is…
A. “Happiness is contentment and selfassurance– working out, alone time and tons of online shopping that keeps me
happy.”
Q. Favourite hangouts in the city?
A. “I love going to Qla, The Kila for great food and a relaxing atmosphere. The Leela Hotel for other worldly charm and opulence and Wasabi for great food and conversation with friends.”
Q. Top party destination in the world?
A. “Mykonos.”
Q. Your party look this season?
A. “Tons of metallic hues. Anything with fringe, tassels or feathers and plenty of leather.”
Q. Favourite designers?
A. “Amongst Indian designers I like Tarun Tahiliani, Gaurav Gupta, Pankaj & Nidhi and internationally, I like Isabel Marant, Marissa Webb, Alexander Wang, Helmut Lang and Joseph.”
Q. Hot favourites in your make-up kit?
A. “Kiehl’s BB cream, MAC velvet teddy lipstick, Bobby Brown blush and Lancôme mascara.”
Q. Season’s top colours?
A. “Gold, maroon and red.”
Q. Best friends you hangout with?
A“My friends from back home are my life lines.”
Q. Style icon?
A. “Olivia Palermo and Kendal Jenner.”
Q. A fashion rule you never break?
A. “Less is more.”
Q. Guilty pleasures?
A. “Chocolate, red wine and French fries.”
Q. Your daily beauty and fitness regimen?
A. “Three litres of water a day, moisturising and ice packs. Also, a combination of cardio and strength training every day.”
Q. How do you unwind?
A. “Plenty of me time with my dog.”
Q. Favourite shopping haunts?
A. “In Delhi I like going to Emporio. And as cities, London and Paris are great for shopping.”
Q. Book/music on your bedside table?
A. “I haven’t picked up a book lately but have been reading tons of fashion blogs. As far as music goes, I like Justin Bieber’s new album and anything from Empire.”
Amrita Kak: Designer/ musician
Amrita Kak is all set to launch her own private label, Baby J by AKJ, a high end ethnic wear brand for boys between the ages two and eight. An Indian classical musician by training, Amrita has indulged in playback singing for Hindi films and is now busy playing mother to her three-year old son.
“I love spending time with my family and close friends – be it going out for fun dinners or even just hanging out. Singing is my passion and hobby,” she says about her diverse interests.
Q. Happiness is…
A. “Is a big fat piece of chocolate cake. I try find happiness in the simplest of things-I love listening to music and hanging out with friends."
Q. Favourite hangouts in the city?
A. “Threesixty at The Oberoi, Artusi Ristorante E Bar in Greater Kailash and Cha Shi at Emporio.”
Q. Top party destination in the world?
A. “I like Dubai and London… I am not a big party person as such and prefer good dinners and conversation with people I love.”
Q. Your party look this season?
A. “Pants with understated shirts and blingy jackets or throws. I love leather jackets and don’t like to add too much colour to my outfits. I love black and off – white and understated colours with the right amount of gold and silver. And of course, I love my jeans.”
Q. Favourite designers?
A. “I love Cue by Rohit Gandhi and Rahul Khanna. While travelling, it’s mostly Zadig & Voltaire and for jeans – it’s J Brand, Frame Denim and Diesel. For Indian wear, I like Meera and Muzaffar Ali’s sensibility.”
Q. Hot favourites in your make-up kit?
A. “I always keep my MAC studio fix, Benetint by Benefit, kohl pencil and sexy lipper by MAC.” Season’s top colours?
“I love my black, off-whites, gold, silver and pastels.”
Q. Best friends you hang out with?
A.“My best friends from school are in Mumbai –Sagarika Ghatge and Ritika Shahabadi Prasad. With them, it just feels like we are back in school. We could have a blast by just hanging out in our pyjamas at home and chit-chatting…we don’t feel the need to say anything to each other and know what the other is thinking.”
Q. Style icon?
A. “My style icon is Victoria Beckham. She just knows her body type and what suits her – she doesn’t experiment much with colour but I love the cuts of her outfits, be it a dress or her trousers with shirts – she gets it right each time.”
Q. A fashion rule you never break?
A. “A hint of denim in whatever I wear.”
Q. Guilty pleasures?
A. “I am a big foodie and love my butter chicken with dal makhani and have a sweet tooth! I love all sorts of desserts.”
Q. Your daily beauty and fitness regimen?
A. “I don’t follow a regime as such, but I make it a point to be regular with yoga and meditation and the days I feel I have really indulged and eaten unhealthy, I try to balance it by following Vijaya Venkat’s diet which requires me to have a lot of raw vegetable juices and only fruits before 12 pm.”
Q. How do you unwind?
A. “By spending time with my son. It’s the best time ever really, reading books to him and by watching shows on Apple TV. I love watching Pakistani TV series as well.”
Q. Favourite shopping haunts?
A. “Milan, London and Dubai.”
Q. Book/music on your bedside table?
A. “Currently, I am reading the Shiva Trilogy by Amish Tripathi but you’ll see chic lit by my bedside because I’m a big sucker for romantic chic lits. I’ve read all of Anuja Chauhan’s books. I love Sufi music by Abida Parveen and music by Dido.”
Isha Rajpal Founder and Creative Director of Roseroom Couture
Isha Rajpal is a fitness enthusiast, soul seeker, lover of life and a mother.
“I love to set high targets and be able to reach the stars and if unable to, perhaps grab some clouds on the way,” she says philosophically
Q. Happiness is…
A. “Happiness to me is a state of mind where the mind resonates with the heart. I also believe that we create our own happiness. I find immense happiness in my creativity– designing a new collection and going through the finest detailing on a exquisite couture piece. My son and my prayers are source of great joy in my life.”
Q. Favourite hangouts in the city?
A. “My favourite hangouts can be anywhere from a lounge bar to fine dining, depending on where my friends are. Though I personally love The Library Bar at the Leela Delhi, Indigo, Lodhi Spa and the garden at my farm with a book.”
Q. Top party destination in the world?
A. “Definitely London, with the old-school charm of members clubs – and Dubai. Though I also love the beaches and still waters.”
Q. Your party look this season?
A. “My party look for the season would be elegant dresses, powerful contours and beautiful detailed embellished jackets edgy but stylish and feminine.”
Q. Favourite designers?
A. “My favourites are definitely my own creation under the label Roseroomcouture, through which I express myself. I am a huge fan of Alexander McQueen, Balmain, Self-Portrait and also – who could do without Zara?”
Q. Hot favourites in your make-up kit?
A. “My make-up kit would have to be Charlotte Tilbury Wonder Glow, Dolce & Gabbana bronzer and nude MAC
lipstick, two-faced lip gloss and Coco Noir parfume.”
Q. Season’s top colours?
A. “My top favourite colours for the season are pale pink, gold, emerald green and of course black, ivory and gold.”
Q. Best friends you hang out with?
A. “I am blessed with many good friends but I have found sisters in my dearest Annabel Treon and Kanika Kapoor. Life is amazing with my Delhi girls, especially Megha Bhatia, Sangeeta Rai and Sonali Kapoor. Amrita and Nriti are also the funniest girls... as it clearly shows in the picture, we had the best time today.”
Q. Style icon?
A. “Style icons for me would be Audrey Hepburn, Queen Rania Al-Abdullah of Jordan and Grace Kelly.”
Q. A fashion rule you never break?
A. “The rule is that fashion has no rules. Just wear your attitude and smile.”
Q. Guilty pleasures?
A. “Guilty pleasures for me are chocolate cakes, Sex and the City, rom-coms and the best is playing dress up with my girlfriends.”
Q. Your daily beauty and fitness regimen?
A. “Yoga and meditation in the mornings is the way to start my day. Physical fitness is the basis of dynamic and creative intellectual activity that keeps me cruising through on a daily basis. My beauty regime is very simple – you are what you eat so I keep it very healthy with lots of green juices and salads and of course, a calm mind is priceless.”
Q. How do you unwind?
A. “I love to unwind with meditation, travel, vigorous workouts and music.”
Q. Favourite shopping haunts?
A. “Harrods, Selfridges, Khan market small boutiques in Paris and Milan.”
Q. Book/music on your bedside table?
A. “A New Earth by Eckhart Tolle, Fakir by Ruzbeh Bharucha and I love books by Doreen Virtue. I also love unwinding with lounge and country music.”