Table of contents for March 2021 in Harper's Bazaar India

I HAVEALWAYS BELIEVED that it is the connections we forge and nurture that make life worthwhile. The bonds we form with friends and family, the books that shape us, our relationship with nature… these are, in many ways, poetry for the soul, and a gateway to greater happiness. And how can we truly connect if we also don’t collaborate—through ideas and conversations, creatively and in spirit? To quote German poet and novelist Moethe, “The world is so empty if one thinks only of mountains, rivers and cities; but to know someone who thinks and feels with us, and who, though distant, is close to us in spirit, this makes the earth for us an inhabited garden.” This issue of Bazaar—the 12th Anniversary Issue—is an ode to the magical alchemy that…

KEEP • Mirrored sunglasses• Fancy sneakers• Bag charms RECYCLE • Vintage earrings• Midi dress• Cage heels 1 Two for joy 2 Small world 3 Time for change 4 Make it count 5 Happy note 6 Golden hour 7 For kicks 8 Circle back…

Sunil Sethi, Chairman, FDCI Harper’s Bazaar: Tell us about the decision to showcase a combined fashion week this season. Sunil Sethi: The FDCI and Lakmé Fashion Week (LFW) have a relationship that goes back many years. We have always been institutions that believe in the potential of the Indian design fraternity, and have relentlessly worked towards nurturing and strengthening talent. Joining forces is an acknowledgment of the fact that over the past year, the design community has dealt with an unforeseeable impact on business. It was, therefore, imperative that we unite, for the greater good. HB: Do you plan to continue this alliance in the future as well? SS: This collaboration is a historic event, and we are evaluating the impact our partnership has had. One vision, however, remains—we will…

Suzanne Koller, the influential Paris-based stylist, waited two years to get it. The current fashion director of M Le Magazine du Monde, who has also served as Fashion Director of Vogue Paris and co-founded the biannual cult magazine Self Service, surely has access to designer bags as soon as they exit the runway. But for an Hermès Birkin bag, she waited. “I always wanted one,” Koller says. But it wasn’t until her late 20s that she “finally felt grown-up enough” for a Birkin, which can cost upwards of ₹10,00,000. “I had never bought anything that expensive before,” she explains, admitting that she was nervous about the price but figured she could save for it while waiting the two years it would take to fulfill her custom order: dark navy leather…

When Kamala Harris recently addressed America as the US’ first female Vice President-elect, style-watchers noted with approval that she accessorised her ensemble with oversized pearl earrings. Pearls have been part of Kamala’s signature look for more than three decades now. While at Howard University, she was a member of a sorority whose founders were known as the ‘Twenty Pearls’, and she wore a classic pearl choker and matching earrings for her 1986 graduation photo. Kamala’s love of the gems links her to a long line of other powerful women, including Gayatri Devi, Michelle Obama, and Queen Elizabeth II. According to designer Prabal Gurung, who creates lustrous pearl confections for the Japanese jeweller, Tasaki, pearls have “a unique refinement, sensuality, and strength, that resonates deeply with the idea of matriarchal power”.…

Nandini Bhalla: What was it like writing your book, did it bring up any deep memories or emotions? Priyanka Chopra Jonas: The idea was always to write, I just didn’t know what it would be about. I have written several op-ed pieces for The Hindustan Times and New York Post, but I was always hesitant about writing a novel or a book. When I met the team at Penguin Random House, and discussed the idea of a book, my editor suggested a memoir. I had completed 20 years in the business, and we wanted to commemorate that. how I was I realised, when I looked back, that I didn’t have many memories. I had been running so fast and for so long that I just needed time to stay still…

An important and previously unseen oil-on-canvas by artist Amrita Sher-Gil has recently emerged from a private collection in France, of her close friend and French art critic Denyse Proutaux. This striking painting was made by Sher-Gil—whose works are officially considered a National Treasure in India—when she was all of 18-years-old, and completed in three days to include in a competition. While little was known about the masterpiece until now, the team at Christie’s researched the letters Denyse exchanged with her partner Philippe Dyvorne, as well as the Sher-Gil sisters. In one of them, Denyse describes Sher-Gil, stating: “She has an intelligence and a personality like I had never met in a woman before, and also a very great talent, very powerful and robust, all her works seem to be made…

Shashi Tharoor Member of Parliament & Author “When I was a child, my mother used to read out Noddy books to me… she says she was such a terrible narrator that I snatched the book from her and began reading it myself by the time I was three-years-old. I think reading is absolutely indispensable. I grew up in an India where there were no televisions, no computers or Playstations, and the mobile phone hadn’t been dreamt of. If you needed a distraction—and, in my case, it was more than just a distraction because I was an asthmatic child, frequently confined to bed and unable to go out and play with his friends—reading was my education, entertainment, and escape. Books opened all sorts of possibilities of ideas and imagination…really everything that,…

Model: Sanmati at Anima. Hair and Makeup: Kaajee Babu Rai, Kiran Chhetri, and Karan Rai. Styling Consultant: Amit Hansraj. Assistants: Divjyot Singh, Sunaina Bhakhri, Arun Sharma and Smiti Bhatia.…

PANKAJ & NIDHI “The most valuable learning we have had from our karigars is of patience: from observing their immense diligence in creating our pieces, some of which take around 300 to 400 hours of painstaking crafstmanship. They have dedicated their life to perfecting their craft, mastered over many years of practice, and they take great pride in their work. Our karigars are creative artists, just like we are, and we are equally in pursuit of perfecting our craft. Many of them have been a part of our team since the label’s inception, and we have forged a wonderful collaboration. The relationship we share with each other is one of bonhomie, mutual love, and respect. They have a great desire to contribute, to be a part of the creative process.…

BRIGHT VISION Vivid liners and mascaras are not only the season’s favourite way to brighten up the eyes, but these pops of colour also signify hope for a better tomorrow. A fresh, dewy complexion makes for a great base for this striking look; consider a bright shade of eyeliner—fucshia, aqua, mauve, or red—and draw on a straight line or wings. If you are feeling more daring, coat your lashes with a contrasting shade of mascara for an au courant take on colour-blocking. NUDE, NOT N A K E D Perhaps no other shade has evolved quicker over the last few years than nude: a shade that warrants its iconinc status and the cult following it enjoys. Taupe, caramel, sand, terracotta, toasted, mauve, flesh…the hue goes by many names and each…

There’s no water in the pool where the American actress Ava Gardner once swam—instead, it has been replaced by dead leaves and dappled sunlight that dances its way across the pale blue tiles as elegantly, I imagine, as Gardner did during her dips. Nearby, a 12-metre-long wooden fishing boat named Pilar sits moored on dry land, another relic at the writer Ernest Hemingway’s Cuban home, Finca Vigía, not far from Havana. Gardner provided Hemingway with company and a drinking companion, but it was the fishing expeditions taken aboard this vessel that inspired his last major work of fiction, the Pulitzer Prizewinning novel The Old Man and the Sea. Set mostly on the Gulf Stream and in a small village near Havana, the story tells the tale of an ageing fisherman…

Against the backdrop of the post-war era, after 1945, the covers ofHarper’s Bazaar began to reflect the spirit of the new American woman:independent and feminine. Fashion had moved away from the austere designs ofthe past, and a new look emerged that celebrated a fresh beginning.In this photograph, by the renowned photographer Louise Dahl-Wolfe,we see the emergence of a modern sense of style that is clean, sleek, andsophisticated. Today, we channel that spirit of calm and collected joy byembracing the hope for a brighter, more colourful year ahead.…

All prices are upon request. Model: Chloe Oh. Hair: Hyunjin Kang. Make-up: Shino Choi. Asssistant: Jieun Lee.…

Get a handle on the skills that will help you succeed. A touch of bronze for the winning glow Time to let your dreams take flight…

The fascination with Elizabeth II, the reigning queen of England, continues to hold sway, not just because the female monarch has ruled consistently for nearly seven decades (with access to some of the most gorgeous jewellery), but also because of widely popular series on the family. If you, too, catch yourself dreaming about the royal life, Her Majesty. A Photographic History 1926–Today [Taschen] is the ideal book for evenings at home. This coffee table book is a photographic collection of her personal and public life, with images by the likes of Cecil Beaton, Annie Leibovitz, David Bailey, the Earl of Lichfield, and more…a royal treat, if one may say so. ‘Her Majesty…’ is available through special order with the publisher…

Named after the Greek word for rainbow, the iris flower and its many beautiful shades make for a delightful addition to the home. But along with its exotic beauty, the plant can work wonders in soothing irritated skin. Gently rubbing iris extracts can help fade out acne marks and even achieve softer, plumper skin. And for the hair, the pretty blossom will take care of an irritated scalp as it destroys bacteria and controls pain, while also helping counter split ends. This blossom, however, should not be consumed orally, as it contains poisonous chemicals. Revel, instead, in its many vanity-based benefits.…

TAURUS APRIL 21-MAY 21 Those urging you to propel yourself into a challenging arena know your true worth. Remember that preparedness is everything. Once you make a start, you will be too busy to let negative thoughts dominate. LUCKY DAY 4th—suddenly, a whole new world is waiting to be explored. GEMINI MAY 22-JUNE 21 Several individuals might want to squabble about money, but keep your upsets to a minimum. Soon, an opportunity may arise when you will need to prove that you can be trusted to get your priorities right. LUCKY DAY 23rd—your strength and stamina empower you to outwit rivals. CANCER JUNE 22-JULY 23 One minute you’ll be focused on your future and the next, you’ll be fire-fighting unexpected developments in your private life. Don’t feel defeated. Stay physically…

“My love for the planet keeps me going. I remind myself of the young people who are doing so much for the cause. They give me strength.”—Dia Mirza Dr Krithi Karanth: What are your earliest and happiest memories of being in wildlife and in nature? Dia Mirza: I grew up in Hyderabad when our homes were surrounded by big trees and streams and rocks, and we would take walks or explore lakes and butterflies and birds. During the monsoon, red beetles would come out in the garden, and it was fascinating to discover them. I also went to a beautiful school in Hyderabad called Vidyaranya High School, where classes were held under big banyan and peepal trees, and we would go birdwatching on the hill within the premises. There was…

SMASHBOX The non-greasy primer + moisturiser instantly prepares the skin for the application of make-up. Meanwhile, the lightweight, water-like, fluid foundation offers medium-to-full coverage that promises to last 24 hours. GIVENCHY Givenchy’s illustrious formula is packed with radiance-correcting powders that camouflage imperfections instantly and leave a silky finish. Use this special, hearts-haped brush to achieve precise and uniform application from any angle. CHARLOTTE TILBURY Even though the Airbrush Flawless Foundation is enough to achieve a radiant complexion, applying the Hollywood Flawless Filter before the foundation will boost your glow and make your skin appear almost as if you have a filter on. GUER LAIN More skincare than make-up, this foundation is made from 97 percent naturally-derived ingredients. A few drops is all you need for a natural, glowing finish that…

The BOILER SUIT Blossom from head to toe in a comfortable boiler suit with flowers appliquéd across it. Dress it up with a pair of high heels for an evening out, or with open sandals for an evening stroll. The TRENCH Signal Spring with a printed trenchcoat that doubles up as a dress when cinched in at the waist. The BUCKET HAT Add a feather, or rather, some flowers to your hat for a bohemian flair to a day in the sun. The BAG Make your arm candy bold and bright and all things nice with maximalist prints and beadwork for extra impact. The JACKET Wrap yourself in a bouquet of kaleidoscopic joy with prints in bright, bold hues. The HEADGEAR You don’t need the Ascot to announce your interest…

GENTLE APPROACH Light pastels paint the perfect picture of Spring, with soft-hued florals and light coloured accessories adding a feminine touch to any look.…

At the recently-concluded FDCI x Lakme Fashion Week, held both digitally and on-ground in Mumbai, designers presented a renewed sense of hope for the coming season. Inspiration was varied, often spotlighting the urgent need for a more conscious approach to fashion: while Bloni introduced marine plastic-waste textile through his garments, other labels like Cocccon focused on zero-waste techniques and biodegradable materials. And while label Chola worked with postconsumer waste cotton from Tirupur, PETA presented an entire vegan fashion lookbook. The colour palette, meanwhile, was fresh and light, from pastel blues to gentle pinks, ivory tones, shades of grey, and a pop of yellow. And breezy fabrics on comfortable silhouettes ruled the imagination, encouraging us to finally step out of the pyjama sets that we have come to call our home.…

Do you know, according to the Sixth Economic Census by the National Sample Survey Organisation, there were 58.5 million businesses in India in 2016—ranging from corner shops to venture-funded startups—and of these, only 8.05 million were run by women entrepreneurs? That’s just about 14 percent. There’s more, and this is, perhaps, cause for worry: about 79 percent of these enterprises that were run by women were self-financed. The cold truth is that not much has changed since, and this discreet-but-definite inequity regarding financing women’s businesses or startups continues to exist. Anisha Singh, the Founding Partner of SheCapital—anearly-stage fund that invests in womenled businesses—shares another interesting insight with Bazaar. “According to research, even in the most gender-progressive countries, there is a bias against women entrepreneurs, when it comes to investing in…

“My family moved to the United States when I was very young, but my parents didn’t leave tradition behind. It was present in the food, in the remedies, and in everyday life. It was all connected, one and the same… From the herbal concoctions my mother would make me drink when I had a cold to sitting down for homemade dinner together. My late father would have tea ready for my mother when she returned home from teaching. It was an act of love and care. Guests would be served tea upon arrival, a small but meaningful gesture of Indian hospitality. My personal discovery of tea would happen much later. It would start in India, of course, with my travels for jewellery production in Jaipur. When I went to meet…

“Creativity is the highest celebration of life,” declares the 88-year-old sculptor Himmat Shah, across the phone from his home in Jaipur. “It is an expression of freshness, of freedom, and joy is its by-product.” The award-winning, veteran artist speaks of this all-important quality with reverence, as we discuss his works that are featured in a new book titled Himmat In London [Aleph Book Company]. He emphasises the importance of technique and individuality in one’s work—a detail he has spent his life trying to perfect. “Even when I was younger, if I felt that my art resembled somebody else’s, I would break it,” he says. “I am always searching for a higher form of my craft. The artist’s mood is very important, because it gets expressed in his work.” The latest…

“I have held onto my inner child because of my inherent curiosity and enthusiasm. I do not let cynicism sink in; I truly believe people can change. If everyone thought like that, the world would be a better place.” It is a time to celebrate at Harper’s Bazaar India, as we put together the 12th anniversary issue. The incredibly stylish—and independent minded—Sonam Kapoor Ahuja has just wrapped up the covershoot for this edition, photographed at an exquisite 17th-century mansion in South London. A few hours later, the images are in our inboxes, and the Bazaar team and I congregate over a call to review them, the unanimous agreement is that Sonam looks, well, simply stunning. The next day, I log onto our scheduled Zoom meeting from Delhi and am greeted…

Models: Nayaab Sheikh at Anima, Nitin Baranwal at A Little Fly, Aishwarya J and Naisha at Inega, Diva Soni. Creative Assistant: Disha Patil. Hair & Make-up: Aashna Shah. Interns: Ananya Mohan and Apurvaa Mohan.…

REPPING INDIA WITH PRIDE Nidhi Sunil has become the first Indian model to be signed on as the international spokesperson for L'Oréal Paris. An influential voice when it comes to fighting colourism and gendercide, and campaigning for girls to be valued as much as boys, Nidhi’s consistent efforts struck a chord with the brand, whose message at the heart is: 'Every woman is worth it'. Speaking about her association, Nidhi said, "I am so happy to join L'Oréal Paris—to speak out for the self-worth we must all believe in to succeed, especially when others try to tell us different. To me, beauty lies in the full power of your own voice and your belonging in the world. Each one of our stories is worth hearing. Our worth is our birth…