Black Beauty

THE DUO

Whoever said, 'Black is beautiful' was so right. The color, Black, means different things in different contexts. But, in fashion, it's a color that's always fashionable. 'The Little Black Dress' is a life-saver when you're wardrobe fails on you and you have a last-minute party to attend. At Urban Pari, we don't get tired of Black. Here are some of our cool Black sarees that we'd like to reflect upon, from the past one year.

THE TRIO

For work, these cotton sarees are comfortable, cool and mean both business and play. The Duo (Rs.2495) is Chanderi Cotton with Black and Red Cotton borders.

The Cool Black (Rs.2495) is Chanderi cotton with Printed Cotton Borders.

COOL BLACK

The Trio (Rs.2995) is also Chanderi Cotton with Red, Black and Printed White Cotton borders.

BLACK KAREENA 1.0

The Black Kareena 1.0 (Rs.2495) is also Chanderi Cotton with Chanderi brocade palla. It's a simple saree but a head-turner, for sure.

BLACK KAREENA 2.0

For festive occasions, the Black will do great with some matching ethnic jewelry.

The Black Kareena 2.0 (Rs.2995) is Chanderi Cotton with Organza palla.

BLACK CHILLIE

The Black Chilli (Rs.3450) is Banaras silk net.

BLACK ROSE

And for the party, your 'Little Black Dress' could be substituted by the Black Rose. Black Rose is pure Georgette and Satin with Grey lace.

Last but not the least, the Black Cleopatra is Crepe and Banaras Georgette and exquisitely beautiful. Sadly, we made just one and one lucky lady owns this saree somewhere in Tamil Nadu.

if you'd like to order any of these sarees or get one custom-made for you, write to us at team@urbanpari.com. See ya!

The Khun Clutches

What makes working with fabrics so interesting is that they have so many uses and they could be completely transformed when you find a new application for it. Take, for example, the Khun. This is a traditional brocade originating from Maharashtra and worn by its older generation. You may look at it and move on to something else. It may not be your fabric of choice, say, for a blouse. But, when this is used on a cool, modern object such as a clutch or a tote bag, it is completely transformed. Tuck in a smart phone and some cash and you're ready to look casual and hip.

Picture this. White T-shirt, jeans and the Khun clutch. Or picture this. Plain kurti, printed salwar, stole and a matching Khun clutch. What else can you picture? Write to us at team@urbanpari.com and tell us.

To order one of these Khun Clutches, write to us at the same address.

Read more about the Khun here.

Every girl loves bling - The rings are here

Without further ado, the Swarovski is here! Check out our collection of SWAROVSKI ELEMENTS rings designed for the Urban Pari, you. Browse through the album, SWAROVSKI ELEMENTS RINGS, on our Facebook page to understand the pieces. If anything interests you and you have more questions, write to us at team@urbanpari.com.

THE WHEEL OF FORTUNE

THE SUNFLOWER - WHITE

PINK ROSE

THE SUNFLOWER - PINK 

BLACK ROSE 

WHITE BOUQUET 

PINK BOUQUET 

THE THREE-LAYER BAND 

BUYING AND SHIPPING

Purchasing information will be available in the product description along with the product image. Prices will be listed on the e-commerce page. You can buy from our Facebook store by clicking on the SHOP NOW tab or by visiting http://www.exprestore.in/urbanpari. Other purchasing options, if any, will be listed along with the product description. Shipping within India is FREE. For jewelry, we offer 2-day, tamper-proof delivery via DTDC. International shipping is also available with 3-day delivery service via DHL at approximately Rs.1000 (will vary slightly from country to country).

SIZES

Your ring size is easy to determine. Just take your ring that fits you and bring a scale out. Measure the inner diameter of the ring in millimeters and compare it with the size information provided by us. If you have other size requirements, write to team@urbanpari.com. We will get you your size subject to availability.

All the rings are designed and hand-made with the finest quality materials. Look for the SWAROVSKI ELEMENTS tag in your box. It serves as the certificate of authenticity.

Every girl loves bling!

It's true when we say, 'every girl loves bling'. Ofcourse, there are some who prefer less glitter. But, secretly, she'll admire it (on someone else) and think, 'Can I wear that?'. At Urban Pari, we love bling and jewelry is a natural addition to our product line. Enter Swarovski. Would you agree that there's no other brand best known for its pure and fashionable crystal? We've partnered with a designer who creates stunning jewelry pieces using Swarovski Elements. And with that, we make our entry into designer jewelry.

A little bit about Swarovski...
Swarovski is an Austrian brand created by a man, Daniel Swartz, who learned all about glass cutting from his father. Since then, the company has patented many techniques in the art of cutting crystals and refracting light perfectly to create the radiance similar to that of a diamond and other gem stones. They are now a billion dollar company. Swarovski Elements is the brand for high quality crystal elements by Swarovski. Designers from all over the world embellish their products with Swarovski Elements. The 'Made With Swarovski Elements' label on the product serves as a sign of authenticity and the highest standards of crystal design. The distinctive trapezoid-shaped tag assures consumers that the designer pieces are made from genuine Swarovski Elements.

Who wore Swarovski
Even men love Swarovski. Michael Jackson wore Swarovski-studded socks, shoes, jackets and belts. He performed on them and the crystals only illuminated him even more as it reflected the light from the stage and the camera flash of a thousand people. His music, his persona and his style still shine bright.

Anne Hathway is a brilliant actress and she wore gowns and shoes blazing with Swarovski for the Golden Globes, Oscars, etc. Look at those pumps!

Angelina Jolie has a face you don't forget and her Swarovski dresses are unforgettable too.

Even the royals such as Catherine, Duchess of Cornwall, are fitted in gowns engineered with Swarovski and they glitter just as well as the Diamonds.

The list is endless. Our very own, Frieda Pinto, always manages to be internationally glamorous and knows just what to wear. She's studded in Swarovski too.

So, you get the point?

Coming soon...

Our first collection of Swarovski Elements jewelry will include a limited set of rings for the woman who loves to show off her delicate fingers. Fingers are a beautiful part of a woman's body. We run our fingers through our hair when we are shy and expectant. We use them to cup the beautiful faces of our children. We bite them when we are deep in thought. We twirl strands of hair with them as we absent-mindedly gaze into nothing. And, there are many more poetic ways to describe what we do with our fingers. For the woman who thinks less is more, a finger is the best place to add jewelry.

So, watch our Facebook page for more updates on fashionable, pure jewelry. How are we going to stand out among all the jewelry retailers? We're partnering with a unique designer and bringing fresh designs to our customers at prices that beat even the international market. We have pieces that are unique and only offer elements that are pure, finely cut and set.

It is worthy of being called jewelry. 
It is not an imitation of anything.

Tattoo Transformation

"The tattoo makes me 
Something that I am or
Something that I am not or
Something at all"

These are words quoted by no famous person but the bearer of a tattoo who recently got one :)

The Scorpion on Harsha

D for Divya

The makers of Urban Pari got INKED! Yes, Harsha and I (Divya) got tattooed because its been our dream for a long time. A transformation of a kind that is beautiful, personal and oddly, powerful. Harsha bears a deadly, black Scorpion on his forearm and I couldn't resist getting two for my first time. A "D" on my forearm and a Celtic Dolphin at the base of my neck, behind. Why Scorpion? Harsha loves reptiles and the scorpion. It holds a special meaning. His wife (Gayathri), a Scorpio, stings like one. :) They'll probably be more such impressions on him since tattooing can be quite addictive. And why not, it looks sexy, right? Why "D" and the Dolphin? I loved the "D" tattoo that Shah Rukh Khan got in "Don 2" and decided that I would get one, right then and there. I personalized it with the simple art work around the D. As for the Dolphin, I am a Piscean who is very much one.

The Falcon on Manasa

Tattoo bearers are considered rebellious but we just wanted to fulfill a long-time dream. It is cool and it sets us apart. We are not afraid to experiment or bear a little pain for something beautiful. Why didn't we get it earlier? It is only when you come of a certain age, that you cross certain barriers that you have put for yourself. So, we finally crossed one.

D, Dolphin, Divya

This is how we really ended up getting a tattoo. And this is how you should get one too. Quickly!


A few Fridays ago, one of Urban Pari's models, Manasa, called me up and said,
"I'm back from Mumbai and I got inked!"
I said, "Oh my god, what? I want to get one too". I admired the falcon that she had got and my energy levels kept rising while I talked to her. After that, I posted on Facebook (you have to, right?) and declared, "I want to get a tattoo. Who wants to get one with me?" I knew who'd be the first caller and Harsha did call. We made plans.
I said, "This weekend, I am busy on Saturday. The tattoo parlor is closed on Sunday."
Harsha said, "I am busy the whole of next week. So, it'll have to be next Saturday"
I said, "O.K. Saturday sounds fine. Let's not tell anyone. We'll keep it a secret". Harsha said, "O.K."


But, if we had left it at that, next Saturday would have been no different from any other Saturday. My wall post on Facebook (made our intentions no secret) started rolling quickly with comments from a few hard-working friends. They gave us ideas on what the tattoos should be. And we egged them to join us and get marked too. One of our friends flunked an online test she was taking at her workplace because the conversation was more fun. Obviously! One of them was not paying any attention to work but his fingers furiously worked the keyboards. The comments came faster than we could respond to one another. Harsha's co-workers stared at him while he joyfully typed into the computer. And in the middle of this conversation, the girl who flunked the test said, "Don't wait. Let's go today". That was all the push that I needed. I called up Russell, the tattoo artist and booked an appointment two-hours away. Harsha setup meetings for Monday, informed his VP and flew out of the office. One got stuck in a meeting and couldn't make it to the parlor with us. Wuss, we called him :) The girl who flunked the test, slipped out of her house, leaving her unsuspecting husband behind. Another friend, said he'll join us and be a part of our transformation. I cancelled a doctor's appointment, abandoned my computer and left my husband without telling him what I was upto. He would find out about this from my Facebook wall, right? Two hours later, we were at the parlor. Russell, a skillful artist, created these beautiful symbols and creatures on our bodies and we had burned a small hole in our wallets.

This day was great! We love the tattoos! You should get one if you want it. No pain. No gain.

Apple Crumble

For a change, let's talk about food. And, I have a feeling that I'm going to over-do it :)
I love food and so do many of you. But, for the sake of health and (more importantly) figure consciousness, I have to show some restraint. It's tough!
I'm not a great cook, let-alone a cook! But, if something is easy to mix up in the kitchen, I might just give it a twist. Here's a recipe that I learnt from my mom. It's easy-breazy, Apple Crumble. If a chef's reading this and you go, "Hey, that's not Apple Crumble!", go easy on me, will you? This is my Apple Crumble.










What you need

• Apples
• Strawberries
• Banana
• Milk Maid
• Sweet Bread
• Milk
• Almond
• Raisins
• Cardamom

Try with 4 apples and 1 can of Milk Maid. Add other ingredients as you wish.

How to make this

• In a heated pan, add two spoons of butter. 
• Add crushed almonds, raisins, cardamom and stir it till they brown a little. 
• Make piece of bread and add them to the pan. Let it brown a little.
• Add the apples and strawberries which must have been washed and cut. I like to take the peal off the apple. Toss it around and put the lid on it for a minute or two. 
• Add the banana slices and mix around. 
• Open the delicious can of Milk Maid and pour it in. I usually stop when the can is half empty. You can do less or more depending on how many calories you want to accumulate. 
• Add a little boiled milk to bring the mixture to a consistency that suits you. 
• Keep stirring it and mix it all together. 
• After a few more minutes, turn the heat off.

Serving it hot is appreciated more. Save it in the fridge for one more day and microwave it. Children will love it and many easy-to-please adults will love it too. I add no sugar to this because Milk Maid and the fruits have enough of that.
If you've tried it, leave a comment here on the blog or on Facebook and tell us if it was a disaster or a clean sweep. :)

An interview with the Beauty department

"What is beauty? What do we consider beautiful (in a woman)?" That was the question on the minds and lips of two gentlemen who interviewed me a few days ago. The gentlemen were scientists from the R&D department of a leading Indian brand. They wanted to understand why women wanted to look beautiful and what, in their definition, is beauty. Is it a fair skin? Is it shiny, long hair? Is it a clear complexion? And how far would you go to look beautiful? My answer was beauty is not defined only by a beautiful, symmetrical face or a slender, curvaceous body. It could be a gentle voice, a kind heart, generosity, hospitality or strength that a woman possesses and that is displayed, even for a fleeting moment. Yet, women do long to look beautiful, on the outside. We, admire other women even more than men admire them. An attractive woman who passes by is scanned from head to toe, not only by male eyes but by other females, as well. Women scrutinize her hair, her eyes, her makeup, her outfit, shoes and accessories. "Is she perfect? Is there a flaw there somewhere? Can I look like that?"

They asked me several questions and I answered as honestly as I could, digging into my psyche to find out what I really thought about each question. Did I think much about fair skin? No, I like a clear complexion better. But, yes, I do want my daughter to be fair rather than dark. And yes, I hate it when my skin fades a few tones darker after exposure to the sun. I run to my mirror and wistfully say, "Mirror, mirror, on the wall, I'm surely not the fairest of them all!".

Did I think creams and lotions can alter me? Yes, for a few hours. No, the natural elements like the sun and the wind cannot be forced to ignore you if you expose yourself to it often. No, consuming good food and water should have a lasting effect than rubbing promising creams on my skin. They do feel nice though. No, you cannot prevent aging and as you see yourself growing older, gradually, acceptance will come easily.

Can I be prompted to change my daily skin-care regime by a revolutionary product, an interesting ad and a captivating celebrity? Not really. I can't suppress my mother's voice that always tells me to apply the home-made face-pack, drink water, eat fruits and vegetables and do some exercise. And all this, without spending extra money.
Somewhere, during this interview, I started to feel like one of the women in the old Dove soap advertisement. I was talking about keeping my skin clean, clear and oil-free. It's in all of us, to want to look beautiful and to turn a few heads while we also know that beauty is not only skin-deep. Physical beauty must always be accompanied by a sound mind and gentle heart for completeness. These are a little difficult to achieve and hold on to. So, while we try to be better ourselves on the inside, why not start looking better from the outside, right?