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by Prarthana Rohatgi Legendary Female Icons Who Made Fashion Statements In The 20th Century 18 February 2023 FASHION Advertisement Advertisement "Fashion is an art and you are the canvas" ~ Savio Fonseca Fashion is the art of styling oneself, and a form of self-expression. Fashion is often used by people to build up their unique identity in the outside world, an exclusive part of them that represents who they're as a person and their creative identity. Women have always played a significant role in evolving distinctive fashion styles and often became major trendsetters. Like any other part of the world India also carries its unique fashion statements and many Lady Icons who were acknowledged for their exceptional styles and fits, not only by their mother nation but also by many other global magazines. Here are listed 4 women who became prominent characters of the fashion industry and influenced it massively and limitlessly even in the 20th century, the era when there were many limits to the rights of women. 1. Maharani Indira Devi of Cooch, Behar (1892-1968) Born on 19 February 1892 and initially known as Princess Indira Raje, Maharani Indira Devi was the only daughter of Sayajirao Gaekwad III of Baroda and his second wife Maharani Chimnabai. She grew up at the opulent Lakshmi Vilas Palace in Baroda and was one of the first Indian princesses to be given a western education after the abolishment of the purdah system. She fell in love with Prince Jitendra Narayan of Cooch Behar, a junior Princely State, and scandalously got married to him. The couple later became the Maharaja and Maharani of Cooch, Behar. Indira Devi was the mother of 5 children and became a widow almost a decade after her marriage and ended up becoming the Regent of Cooch, Behar due to the minority of her eldest son, prince Jagaddipendra Narayan. Growing up in the palatial halls of Laxmi Vilas Palace in Baroda, Maharani Indira Devi was an avid enthusiast of chiffon sarees embellished with delicate zardozi, gota, pearl, and gold embroidery. She made the trend of wearing silk chiffon saris, a royal statement. Which till today is followed in full glory. Maharani Indira Devi’s unparalleled elegance and unique fashion flair are a source of inspiration for numerous fashion brands, even today. She was known very well known for her keen eyes for fashion, beauty, and glamour all over the globe. She even became a leading figure in Anglo-Indian society. Salvatore Ferragamo is known to be her favorite designer. 2. Rani Sita Devi Of Kapurthala (1915-2002) Known as Princess Karam and the Pearl of India, Rani Sita Devi was the daughter of Raja Uday Raj Singh of Kashipur, Uttarakhand, and wife of Karamjit Singh, a younger son of Maharaja Jagatjit Singh of the princely state of Kapurthala in Punjab, British India. She was awarded the Kaisar-i-Hind Medal In 1944, for her work in raising funds for Indian soldiers in the Second World War. She was widely regarded as one of the most beautiful princesses of her country, and a glamorous woman of her day. When she was just 19 years of age, Vogue magazine called her a “secular goddess” and at the age of 22, Look magazine named her one of the five best ladies on the planet. She soon became the inspiration and muse of many top photographers and fashion designers of the world. Sita Devi's preferred couture was Mainbocher who was more famously known for designing the wedding dress of Wallis Simpson when she married the Duke of Windsor. Mainbocher was commissioned by the Queen to design chiffon saris and fur coats. In early 1939, at Lady Mendl's tea in honor of the Hollywood dietitian, Gayelord Hauser, Sita Devi was listed among the twelve most glamorous women in the world. Elsa Schiaparelli created her 1935 collection of evening gowns based on Maharani’s saris. She still firmly is known as a legendary fashion icon in India and she'll always be. 3. Maharani Gayatri Devi (1919-2009) Born in 1919 to Indira Devi of Cooch, Behar, and Maharaja Jitendra Narayana, Gayatri Devi was a global icon celebrated for her fashion statements and beauty. She became a successful politician in the Swatantra Party, after India's independence and the abolition of the princely states. Gayatri Devi was a particularly avid equestrienne. She was an excellent rider and an able Polo player. She was a good shooter and enjoyed many days out on 'Shikars'. Gayatri was fond of cars and is credited with importing the first Mercedes-Benz W126, a 500 SEL to India which was later shipped to Malaysia. She also owned several Rolls-Royces and an aircraft. Being the daughter of Indira Devi of Cooch, she inherited her mother's grace, style, and avid enthusiasm for chiffon. Her jewelry was heavily influenced by western contemporary designs and a string of pearls was her favorite which eventually became her trademark. She made her way into Vogue Magazine's "Top 10 most beautiful women in the world" collection as well. Besides being greatly prosperous, she was also a source of inspiration to many fashionistas across the country and also globally. 4. Madhubala (1933-1969) Mumtaz Jehan Begum Dehlavi or known by the name Madhubala was an Indian actress and producer who worked in Hindi- Cinema. She's said to appear in over 60 films in her active career of a decade. Editor Baburao Patel called her the "queen of charity" as s he performed actively in charity. Madhubala has been said to be a philanthropist and she kept her charity work guarded and donated anonymously. She was a timeless Indian beauty who not only ruled Hindi cinema but also the hearts of people. In Bollywood, Madhubala was known for her appealing sense of fashion, beauty, and charm. She was also titled 'Marilyn Monroe of Bollywood'. The credit for the Anarkali suit becoming a trend and fashion statement goes to Madhubala, which she flaunted gracefully in the song 'jab pyaar kiya to darna kya' from the movie Mughl-e-azam. She also brought in many fashion trends such as off-shoulder, midi dresses, and plain chiffon sarees as well. 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by Anushka Sharma The Best Of Both Worlds With Deepti Sadhwani 6 May 2023 COVER STORIES Advertisement Advertisement There is a lot that meets the eye when it comes to Deepti Sadhwani. From being an investment banker in London to finally realising a niche that she has always been interested in, it wasn’t until long that Deepti Sadhwani opened her own production company and got into the realm of music albums, TV, and a lot more. When asked about whether she’d prefer singing or acting, she couldn’t help but find it hard to choose! “Being good at both will always give one an edge above the rest of the competitors. Hence, I’d love to be great at both.” We asked Deepti about who inspires her the most in the realm of music, to which she replied, “Lata Ji has always been a favourite. She has contributed so much into the realm of music, and is synonymous with the Gods of music. Sonu Ji has always been a dear friend and an inspiration to me. In live singing, one can’t ever imagine him miss a beat.” Well, we couldn’t agree more! Speaking of where she sees her career to be headed in the next five years, Deepti tells us that she seeks to ace the events on a global platform and get international recognition. There isn’t much Deepti wishes to change much, considering how both the industries are so dynamic, I just feel that there should be ample chances given to newcomers. They should be welcomed with more openness. When asked about a memory that’s etched in her memory, she fondly recalls how she was crowed as Ms. North India amidst her family, which also helped her get a glimpse into the world of glamour. We didn’t want to wind the interview without something spicy. When asked to pick between Bad Boy Shah and Diljit Dosanjh, Deepti was quick to not be partial! She tells us, “I’ve already been a part of a project with Baadshah, and he’s a dear friend. I’d now love to collaborate with Diljit!” We love how versatile Deepti is. From being dynamic in the genres she is into to being open to a host of new projects in the future, it’s empowering to see her live and thrive through her passion. SEARCH Karishma Kotak Playing Her Innings In Fashion, Sports And Fitness COVER STORIES Musings With Maryam Zolghadr COVER STORIES Madhura Naik talks about the Life of an Actress COVER STORIES Kavya Thapar And Her Versatile Acting Career That Cuts Across Regional Lines COVER STORIES Ahsaas Channa Talks About Her Mother Being The Inspiration Behind Her Career COVER STORIES POPULAR POSTS Advertisement By Anushka Sharma Dialogues That Never Disappoint With Actor Saqib Ayub 4 April 2024 COVER STORIES by Anjali Educate, Empower, Excel: Priyanka Chahar Choudhary's Inspirational Overture 15 November 2023 COVER STORIES by Akshra Khandelwal Purab Kohli’s Cinematic Expedition Through Films, Travel And Self-Expression 22 September 2023 COVER STORIES by Aparajita Jaiswal Exploring The Path Of Aspiring Actors And Producers: Insights From Anil Singh Chandel 6 September 2023 COVER STORIES RELATED POSTS Advertisement

by Akash Khatri 10 Must Try Classic Cocktails 7 July 2022 FOOD Advertisement Advertisement You can’t go wrong with a classic cocktail. Whether you’re craving a tried-and-true Dark N Stormy, or a posh Cosmo. Here are 10 must try Classic Cocktails. COSMOPOLITAN: The origin of the Cosmopolitan is disputed. But one popular story is that the Cosmo was created by a college student named Neal Murray. He did not get the job just because of the management’s racism. But once while they were all away for a weekend for an event, the staff snuck him in. In three days, they trained him. And by the time the management returned, his talent and skill made them accept him as the new bartender. One night he was experimenting with the cocktail, Kamikaze. He discovered that adding a splash of cranberry juice to the drink gave it a delightful pink color, and a delicious fruity punch. When someone asked him what it was, he said he didn’t know. The customer responded by calling it “very Cosmopolitan”, which is how it got the name. SCREWDRIVER: Why would one call a drink made of vodka and juice “screwdriver”? The screwdriver originated when American Oil workers in the oil fields of Turkey, started adding vodka to their orange juice, for an extra kick. And since they didn’t have any spoons handy, they stirred it with screwdrivers. That explains the name. And since they weren’t supposed to be drinking on the job, “Screwdriver” was an easy way to refer to it without ginning it away. TOM COLLINS: In 1874, there was a mass prank going around in New York in which people used to tell their friends that a man named Tom Collins had been spreading nasty rumors about him or her in a nearby bar. People would then go to the local pub and ask for Tom Collins. The bartender of the pub heard that joke too many times and got an idea. After that, the next time somebody ran into the bar demanding to see Tom Collins; the bartender gave a refreshing gin cocktail. LONG ISLAND ICED TEA: A consistent theme with classic cocktails- the Long Island Iced Tea also has multiple origin stories. Some claim the drink originated during the prohibition, when an older gentleman with an entrepreneurial spirit created a cocktail to look like iced tea as a way to drink by disguise. Not only did the iced tea look aesthetic, but also having five different alcohols definitely added to the appeal. MARTINI: Martini is a mixture of gin and dry vermouth. In the early 1860s, people used to frequently go to the Occidental Hotel in San Francisco and order bartender Jerry Thomas’s special mixture of gin and dry vermouth. And then they would take an evening ferry to the nearby town of Martinez. The bartender later named his signature cocktail ‘Martini’ in reference to the destination people headed to after consuming the drink. MOJITO: A 16th century in Cuba holds resemblance to the modern-day Mojito. This mixture of mint, rum, sugar, and lime juice was originally made with a harsh liquor called aguardiente. The lime juice and sugar used to cut the hard taste. The name of the drink comes from a Cuban spice made from limes, called mojo. BLOODY MARY: In the 1920s, Fernand Petiot, an American mixed up equal parts tomato juice and vodka. A patron in the bar suggested he call the drink “Bloody Mary.” He said it reminded him of the Bucket of Blood Club in Chicago, and a girl he knew there named Mary. When he took the recipe to New York, the people weren’t too impressed at first. They said the drink tasted a bit bland. He added black pepper, cayenne pepper, Worcestershire sauce, lemon and a splash of tabasco pepper sauce, for those who wanted it. And that’s how an American classic was born. DARK N STORMY: Made of spicy ginger beer and rich Gosling’s Black Seal dark rum, the drink allegedly got its name from an old sailor who compared the drink’s murky hue to the color of storm clouds. An old fisherman commented on how it looked, comparing it to a cloud “only a fool or dead man would sail under.” It’s an unproven legend. But the drink’s connection to the joys and dangers of seafaring is well-established. BELLINI: This delightful wine cocktail is a blend of white peach puree and Prosecco. Giuseppe Cipriani, started mixing up the fruity tipples in 1934 and the pink color of the drink reminded him of a saint’s toga from a painting by Italian Renaissance artist Giovanni Bellini. Thus, he named his cocktail ‘Bellini’ in honor of the painter and his artwork. MARGARITA: There is an old drink which is a mix of brandy, triple sec, and lemon juice; called the Daisy. A bartender in Tijuana, Mexico was making a Daisy and accidentally grabbed a bottle of tequila instead of brandy. 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