Vogue IN 12.2021

PAST
FORWARD

Louis Vuitton makes a
convincing argument
for reimagining retro

silhouettes, such as
gently flared jeans
and a decorated tunic.

Wool minidress with
Swarovski crystal

embroidery and jeans,
Louis Vuitton. Leather
sandals embellished with

crystals, Gina

NIGHT ON
THE TOWN

When the Noughties
dress code of jeans
and a top goes all out.

Jersey top embellished
with paillettes, cargo
trousers; both Burberry.
Leather and neoprene
boots, Jimmy Choo

152

MODERN
TOUCH

Ripped jeans and a
blazer will never go
out of style. It’s the

cut-out bodysuit
that makes it now.

Wool blazer, wool
bodysuit, and jeans,

Celine by Hedi
Slimane. Vintage
earrings, www.merola.co.uk

DRESS CODE

Swoons of delight
don’t necessarily
follow workday
denim—until Off
White had other
ideas.

Jacket, Polo Ralph
Lauren. Crystal mesh top
and crystal mesh jeans,
Off-White. Crystal clutch,
Black & Brown. Crystal
earrings, Butler & Wilson

154

IT’S A WRAP

A belted full-length
coat offers a classic

response to frayed
patchwork denim.

Coat, and slingback
shoes embellished with
crystals, Diesel. Crystal
earrings, Saint Laurent

Hair: Cyndia Harvey
Makeup: Petros Petrohilos

Nails: Laura Grieco
Production: MAI
Productions

Digital artwork: Output
Models: Vittoria Ceretti;

Mika Schneider; Fran
Summers;

Mona Tougaard
With thanks to: Hotel

Locarno and Donna
Camilla Savelli, Rome

LIGHT WORK
The 18th-century
house that Galliano
shares with his
partner Alexis Roche
sits in Gerberoy, a
quaint village some
80km northwest of
Paris. “It’s like
you stopped time,”
says Roche.
Sittings editor:
Hamish Bowles

Let the
sunshine in

In Northern France, John Galliano has created
a home befitting the idiosyncratic beauty of

his tenure at Maison Margiela. Hamish Bowles
pays a call to the treasure-filled hideaway

Photographed by FRANÇOIS HALARD

156

157

DREAM CATCHER
Galliano, seen with
his Brussels Griffon

terriers Coco and
Gypsy, worked with
the landscape designer

Camille Muller on
the house’s English-

inspired garden,
which is punctuated
by a small lily pond

Ican’t miss a market or a brocante,” says Maison Margiela’s
creative director, John Galliano. “I’m very curious; I love
hunting, and then the find—the excitement of the unknown,
that one key in a door that opens the door and another door
and another door.”

“You have to pull him back,” admits Alexis Roche, Galliano’s partner
and collaborator. “Otherwise, he doesn’t stop!”

Galliano, however, cherishes “things that I’ve found in a flea market,
or travelling geographically, or historically—they come imbued with
a story, an energy,” he explains, “and they start deep emotions. And
when those emotions start, I’m able to create.”

Many of those treasures are showcased in Galliano and Roche’s
Paris apartment in the Marais, and in their modest stone farm-
house in the Auvergne, one of the most unspoiled but remote parts
of la France profonde, where Roche’s grandmother was born. That
house proved to be the perfect refuge at a moment when Galliano’s
professional life was unraveling a decade ago, but as he conquered
his demons through rigorous recovery programmes and brought his
creative genius to reshape Maison Margiela—which he has helmed
since late 2014—the couple began to yearn for a country retreat that
would be more accessible to Paris.

An antique-dealer friend suggested they look at a house in the
almost absurdly picturesque Gerberoy, in Picardy, a village of cobbled
lanes and half-timbered houses framed by roses and hollyhocks in
Northern France.

“It’s like you stopped time,” says Roche. “We felt there was a
soul to the village.” (The proximity to the fabled antique shops of
nearby Rouen was an additional incentive.) Gerberoy is famed for the
gardens created at the turn of the century by the post-impressionist
artist Henri Le Sidaner in the ramparts of a ruined country house,
which served as endless subjects for his shimmering, evocative paint-
ings. He even painted the very house that Messrs Galliano and Roche
had gone to see: an 18th-century gentleman’s residence that might,
as Galliano suggests, have been a setting for Flaubert’s Madame
Bovary. The couple were smitten by both the house and the town’s
beauty and storied history, and could not resist.

The house, though, was in a parlous state, and Galliano embarked
on an ambitious restoration plan that would preserve its romantic
patina. The roof tiles were each carefully numbered and removed
and, once the structure was stabilised, replaced to rise and dip as
they always had. The reconfiguration of the rooms, meanwhile, was
largely determined by the light and the views. The main bathroom,
for example—crowded with antique perfume bottles, etched Venetian
mirrors and Baron von Gloeden’s photographs of winsome Sicilian
youths—serves as an anteroom to the bedroom. Now, sitting in the
antique tub or standing at the sink, Galliano and Roche have the best
vantage points from which to admire the landscape below the window.

While staying at Claridge’s in London, Galliano always took
time to admire the antiques and the iconic chintzes at the deco-
rating firm of Colefax & Fowler, then seductively arranged in >

158



HIDDEN GEMS
Left: Roche walks the stone garden

path. Above: Delft tiles designed
by artist Eloïse d’Argent cover the

fireplace wall in the Salon Jaune

an 18th-century town house that once belonged to the legendary with rosettes scrunched from the same fabric, all based on examples
Nancy Lancaster and was famed for the high-ceilinged drawing in 18th-century upholsterers’ manuals—along with those in Pauline
room that she painted “buttah-yellah”. Galliano clearly admired de Rothschild’s fabled London apartment, which was designed with
that room, as well as the exacting haute couture standards of the John Fowler himself. The yellow drawing-room windows, meanwhile,
firm’s custom work—“finding craftspeople,” as Galliano notes, “is are hung with a silver and buff African-inspired glazed cotton that
like gold”—and collaborated with the decorators on the curtains for Galliano worked on with Fortuny, and the main bedroom is hung
his Paris apartment. In Gerberoy he worked with Daniel Slowik, and curtained with a chintz from Antoinette Poisson that evokes the
formerly at Colefax & Fowler. “It was a very collaborative process,” blue-and-white azulejos tiles that Galliano admired in Portuguese
Slowik recalls, “and it was fun to work with a fashion designer who gardens and houses. (He was so obsessed with them, in fact, that
understands the feel and idea of couture. He’s always going for the he commissioned the trompe l’oeil artist Eloïse d’Argent to create a
most exciting options.” narrative sequence of Delft tiles that now spins its tale on the Salon
Jaune’s fireplace wall and brings even more light into the room when
Ancient kilim carpets, for instance, were carefully reassembled the fireplace is roaring.)
into a patchwork runner for the staircase, which is adorned with racy
drawings and photographs, while antique Moroccan wedding cover- The property is protected by a 1779 gatehouse—now crowned
lets, their purple silk floss embroidery long faded to raspberry pink, with a banner, crafted by the Margiela atelier, depicting two roosters
were hung unlined in the upstairs pink drawing room to filter the (galli in Spanish, for Galliano)—that once served as monks’ quarters.
daylight. “He’s so interested in where the light falls and catches,” says Galliano created a brace of guest rooms and a soaring atelier in the
Slowik, who drew colour inspiration from paintings and objects in space, complete with a library of his favourite reference books. (His
Galliano’s collection. (Galliano also put amber glass panes in the door beloved first-edition Dickens novels, with the illustrations that so
to the kitchen so that at teatime the dining room is bathed in light.) inspired him as a child and as a fashion student, are kept closer to
his bedside table.)
The dining room, with wide, tapestry-seated Louis Quinze chairs
drawn up to the circular table and portraits of toucans and parrots After the atelier’s terracotta tomette tiles underfoot were carefully
(and earnest early-19th-century children) on the cool blue walls, has restored and laid with antique Turkish rugs, Galliano had small
taffeta curtains in an antique pale yellow and blue stripe tied back squares of the different colours that he was considering painted

160

The 18th-century gentleman’s
residence is a place that might,

as Galliano suggests, have
been a setting for Flaubert’s

Madame Bovary

FRAMES OF REFERENCE
Left: Also in the Salon Jaune, a Louis XV chair is
surrounded by Indian miniature paintings. Above: In the
guest bedroom, a Directoire bed sits below artworks
including, at top centre, a fashion study by Howard
Tangye, Galliano’s tutor at Central Saint Martins

around the room to determine the changing effect of the light. “The
ultimate test with me is always candles,” says Galliano. “The glow, and
how the colour reacts. That’s when the colour really sings. I spend a lot
of time in candlelight.” He settled on a rich terracotta, a colour that he
describes as “almost like a deep breath in the evening”. That singing
pink is painted eight layers deep, ceiling and all. “I wanted this kind
of cocooning effect—the idea was that the light would reverberate
and bounce off each wall and the roof,” he continues. “And it works,
it’s super relaxing in here. I come to pull out my favourite Vionnet
book and dream.”

Through the centuries, artisans—tile makers, glass-blowers and, of
course, the tapestry workshops of nearby Beauvais—have flourished
in this region of France. In homage to their work, Galliano began
sleuthing the artworks originally created to serve as templates for
those weavers at the local antique fairs. “I kind of live, breathe my
work,” Galliano avers, “so, being at Maison Margiela, this idea >

161

just came very naturally to find these wonderful cartoons and recycle Holiday’s plaintive voice on the day I visited, for instance—and the
them, upcycle them.” He cut them up into a collage of imaginary heady, richly layered fragrances that Galliano loves, including church
landscapes that now cover one wall. “I love the trompe l’oeil effect incense, Diptyque’s musk, Santa Maria Novella’s pomegranate, and
of real trees swaying and refracting in their light,” Galliano explains. Indian joss sticks that waft through the rooms.
“I was playing with the idea of the outside in and the inside out. I’ve
saved some,” he adds, “and when the fancy takes me, I’ll do another The main house is also one room deep and flooded with light
little collage.” from both sides. That upstairs pink sitting room is filled with
devotional church figures in their antique robes of shattering silk (“I turn
The atelier’s mystery is further enhanced by the window shades. everything into shrines,” Galliano confesses), and the drawing room
“They’re from a Japanese monastery,” Galliano says, and were below is painted another 18th-century colour that was known, as
assembled by Lilou Marquand, a friend and collaborator of Gabrielle Galliano notes with delight, as pipi de vache, as it was inspired by
‘Coco’ Chanel. Galliano, who describes the nonagenarian Marquand the urine of cattle fed a mango diet. “Once again,” he explains, “it’s
as “an artist, a poet,” was bidden for tea at her Parisian home to see if he an amazing colour that works in a mysterious way in sunlight and
passed muster as a client. “You could feel the energy zooming around sunset, and glows in candlelight.”
her,” Galliano says. He was enraptured by her atelier, “an Aladdin’s
cave of wonderment, of Japanese fabrics, Indian sari fabrics from The fruits of Galliano’s sleuthing with Roche are abundantly
the ’30s, pom-poms, trims, tassels—I was gagging on the Chanel evident. His suave juxtapositions in the Salon Jaune, for instance—
ribbons!” At one point during the visit, Madame Marquand “trod including splay-legged 1950s Gio Ponti armchairs upholstered in a
on something—I don’t know whether it had fallen out of her very chintz design of plump pomegranates and peonies, a rosy needlepoint
elegant trouser suit, or if it was already on the floor,” Galliano recalls. rug, a 1940s marmalade red velvet sofa, a Louis XV chair in sunflower
“She picked it up, and it was like this little elephant: a pincushion, silk velvet, and an 18th-century painted Italian commode—bring
with really sharp pins on it,” fashioned from pink silk velvet that had the room seductively into the 21st century and illustrate the couple’s
rubbed bald through years of use and love. “I’d never seen anything passions.
so gorgeous,” Galliano says. “I’d like you to have this,” Marquand told
him. “It belonged to Coco.” Galliano thinks nothing of hanging a Sex Pistols poster or Ron
Raffaelli’s portrait of Jimi Hendrix to jostle 19th-century salon
With Marquand’s blinds at the window, the room, notes the art, Brassaï and Penn photographs, and homoerotic Jean Cocteau
designer—in true Galliano-speak—“is a little bit of Marlene-on- drawings. Madame Bijou, Brassaï’s 1932 portrait of a dishevelled
the-train.” He is referring to Marlene Dietrich in director Josef von woman sitting at a table in a bar, an original print of which now
Sternberg’s 1932 Shanghai Express, veiled and shaded in feathery hangs in Galliano’s guest bathroom, “has inspired many a collection,”
glamour by the legendary costume designer Travis Banton. “It’s a the designer confides. “The volume of the coat, the hat, the wig, the
place of mystery,” says Galliano. jewels, the fallen stockings, the tap-dancing shoes—I mean, it’s just
an endless dialogue with Madame Bijou!”
The atmosphere of the house is enhanced by the soundtrack—Billie
The house is also a palimpsest of the places Galliano and Roche >

162

RURAL SPRAWL
Galliano’s robust reference library (and

some very impressive flower
arrangements) presides

over the atelier, painted a cozy terracotta.
Opposite page: The upstairs sitting room

have travelled, particularly on the epic inspiration trips that Galliano
once took with his teams for his eponymous brand and for Christian
Dior, the house that he redefined as artistic director from 1996 to
2011. These travels took them to Japan, China and India, among
other exciting locales. One end of the Salon Jaune, for instance, is
hung with a collection of exquisite 17th- and 18th-century Indian
miniatures found in Rajasthan on that India reconnaissance mission.
“There’s always been a magical relationship with India,” Galliano says.

Outside, Galliano worked with Camille Muller to create a roman-
tic, English-inspired garden, although it is an ancient beech tree that
perhaps excites his imagination the most. (In the last quarter of the
18th century, a complaint was brought against the house’s dissolute
owner, and Galliano is convinced that the scars in the stately plane
tree’s trunk are a flagellant’s stigmata.)

Soon after they arrived, Galliano and Roche befriended the
village’s colourful cast of neighbours, who now provide
gardening and psychic advice, gossip, and delicious produce and
local culinary delicacies. Dressed like a Bloomsbury Group eccentric
on an afternoon that I visited—in a Margiela prototype sweater
knitted from strips of blue and lilac gingham, a Margiela trench,
Wellington boots, and a woven-straw cloche hat pulled down low
on his brow—Galliano set off with Roche to pay his calls with the
couple’s Brussels Griffons, Gypsy and Coco, gambolling at their feet.

He seemed very much at home. n

THE LONG HAUL
Above: In the entrance hall of the main house, handsome
terracotta tiles and Turkish rugs lie underfoot while an eclectic
mix of drawings and photography hangs on the staircase walls.
Right: Trailed by Coco, Roche and Galliano head off into town

164



THREE CHEERS

Since its launch in 2018, the JCB Prize for Literature has expanded the reach
of regional Indian writing beyond the dominant English-language books. And
among India’s varied and multifaceted literary voices, Malayalam writing is

having its moment in the spotlight, finds Sana Goyal

166

O n the evening of November 13, readers, writers, trans- Jasmine Days and Moustache by S. Hareesh. Evidently, there’s a
lators, and editors of Indian literature had their eyes boom in Malayalam translations, and undoubtedly, there is a new
glued to their screens in anticipation of the winner wave of translations from Kerala emerging from within the per-
announcement of this year’s JCB Prize for Literature. spective of the JCB Prize lists in recent years—in part perpetuated
The question on everyone’s lips? Will a work in translation from by the celebrity and visibility afforded by the award. Jayasree Kal-
Malayalam take home the prestigious prize for the third time? athil, translator and co-winner of the 2020 Prize for Moustache,
says, “It is no doubt an absolutely thrilling time for contemporary
Now in its fourth year, the 25-lakh JCB Prize for Literature, Malayalam literature, which is exciting, refreshing and challeng-
also called the ‘Indian Booker Prize’, is awarded annually to a ing with a range of writers, each with their own unique voice.” For
‘distinguished work of fiction by an Indian writer’. Among the her, winning the JCB Prize has definitely helped with opening
constellation of literary prizes for Indian writers—such as the DSC doors to publishers, where previously she had struggled, “often do-
Prize for South Asian Literature, the Tata Literature Live! Awards, ing the (unpaid and unacknowledged) work of a literary agent.”
and the Atta Galatta-Bangalore Literature Festival Book Prize, to The prize has also “helped with the public perception of literary
name but a few—the relatively nascent JCB Prize has, in little to translations as creative works in themselves”.
no time, made a name for itself on the literary landscape.
And yet, Kalathil is not sure if there is a sudden shift in terms of
FOUND IN TRANSLATION something magical happening with Malayalam literature. “I think
it is to do more with the increasing visibility and acceptability of
In awarding the inaugural 2018 prize to Benyamin’s Jasmine literary translations in general—and literary translations from
Days (Juggernaut Books), the JCB Prize remained true to its com- Malayalam in particular. I think Malayalam literature has always
mitment to champion work in translation and books published by had a strong presence within literary translation, with veteran
the independent press. And in a seemingly small move, it sought translators like Gita Krishnankutty, Vasanthi Sankaranarayanan
to expand the hitherto narrow conception of Indian writing be- and Prema Jayakumar to Fathima E.V., J Devika, Priya Nair and
yond the dominant English-language-original books. many others taking it to a global audience. The Crossword Book
Award for Indian-language translation went to Malayalam litera-
It is refreshing in a country as diverse and diffuse as India. Mita ture nine out of 20 times between 1999 and 2019. But that was a
Kapur, literary director of the JCB Prize, shares the inclusive pros- prize for translation. What the JCB Prize has done is to make
pect of the awards when she says, “India’s vibrant literary land- translated literature, and through it the amazing and varied
scape, encompassing geographies, languages and histories, is the regional literatures of India, an integral part of Indian literature in
keystone of the JCB Prize for Literature. Each year, the diversity English,” she added.
symbolised by varied voices gets reflected in the prize’s lists and
are a reflection of the energy and vitality that the prize brings to Shahnaz Habib, the winning translator for Jasmine Days and
the country’s literary environment.” Speaking specifically to trans- this year’s judge, echoes these thoughts, highlighting that the JCB
lations, she adds that the prize “believes wholeheartedly in transla- Prize is playing its part in celebrating and consecrating age-old
tions and that they are as integral a part of our storytelling reper- literary cultures: “I believe the success that contemporary Malay-
toire.” Indeed, this diversity and variety is reflected in the quantity alam literature in translation is having these last few years in the
and quality of submissions each year. Submissions to the JCB JCB prizes goes back to its long history of literary culture. There’s
Prize have consistently come from over a dozen states across India a strong and foundational culture of reading and criticism and
each year—the 2021 longlist was chosen from submissions by publishing in Malayalam, and in the last few decades, it has gath-
writers from across 16 states writing in multiple languages. ered momentum and visibility. I hope that prizes like JCB will
encourage more of this kind of regional literary culture.”
SOUTHERN COMFORT
M. Mukundan, with his co-translators Fathima E.V. & Nanda-
And while previous years have seen the range of submissions kumar K., would go on to win the 2021 JCB Prize for Delhi: A
feature translations from seven or eight languages, this year, the Soliloquy. He has previously been a recipient of multiple awards,
JCB Prize received submissions in just four languages. Among the including the Ezhuthachan Puraskaram, the highest literary hon-
longlist of 10 novels were three works in translation, all from Ma- our given by the Government of Kerala, and the Crossword Book
layalam. These were Delhi: A Soliloquy by M. Mukundan, trans- Award, twice. The jury described the novel as “a rambling, inti-
lated by Fathima E.V. and Nandakumar K. (Westland), Anti-Clock mate epic”, one which “captures what it means to be a small per-
by V.J. James, translated by Ministhy S. (Penguin Random House son in a big capital… Clairvoyant in its human empathy, this ex-
India) and The Man Who Learnt To Fly But Could Not Land by traordinary book is the distillation of a lifetime of experience.”
Thachom P Rajeevan, translated by P.J. Mathew (Hachette India).
What makes these novels stand apart—and perhaps the emerging In his moving winning speech, Mukundan said that the JCB
canon of contemporary literature in translation from Kerala so ap- Prize is an award of “great magnitude” because “it gives the certain
pealing—is a lively cast of characters and the zooming-in on the book and its author an immense visibility, deleting all the borders
otherwise inconsequential aspects of a plot or place. The mundane of culture and languages”. The award will help him reach more
is no longer mundane, but something magical and memorable. readers, non-Malayali ones in particular, across English speaking
countries, and even beyond that, if the book is translated into
That all three translated titles contending this year were in other languages, he added—and for that he is grateful. If books
Malayalam would seem like coincidence, or sheer luck, were it not can delete and break through borders, surely that’s the greatest
for the history of the JCB Prize, which has had two previous win- prize of all. n
ners writing in Malayalam in the span of three years: Benyamin’s

167



SCENT AND
THE CITY
A picture may speak a thousand words, but to perfumer Ben Gorham, a smell is
invaluable for recollecting memories. With Byredo’s latest blend, he takes notes of
a visceral journey and his deep connection with Mumbai, finds Kirstie Clements

Photographed by ASHISH SHAH

169

H ow does one possibly capture a country as enor- MESSAGE IN A BOTTLE
mous, diverse and dynamic as India, in a perfume?
If you are Ben Gorham, founder and creative direc- By Ashish he is referring to the Delhi-based creative Ashish Shah,
tor of the brand Byredo, the very idea is simply too
who photographed the campaign for Mumbai Noise over a

period of months, enlisting a diverse cast of local dancers, archi-

vast. But for this master perfumer, it’s personal. “I realised early tect-turned-models, drag performers and artists, producing a

that when creating fragrances, it seemed pointless to generalise,” luminous portfolio of images and a short film intended to reflect

says Gorham, Zooming from his home in Stockholm to talk about modern India. “I knew Ashish from his previous work for Vogue

the launch of his latest scent, Mumbai Noise. “There is potential India. I found that beyond being young and talented, he is a

for injustice. It has to come from a subjective angle—these are my photographer who has his own language. There is a zest, a curios-

memories of the city.” ity and an exploration of diversity, which I love,” says Gorham.

EAU DE BOMBAY While the collaboration with Shah was focused on showing
actual people, it was also about avoiding clichés. “Because India

Born in Sweden, Gorham and his sister were raised by their single has such a strong visual culture, it’s very easy to get caught up in

Indian mother from Chembur, Mumbai. When he was 11, the stereotypes—I know from living in different places in the world

family moved to Toronto and, as a young child, Gorham would that they exist. Even though my memories were the touchpoints,

return to India to visit his grandmother. “Many of my fragmented the backdrop, the importance of Ashish to this project was

memories are of travelling there as a child and as a teenager.” immense. He played a role in creating a contemporary portrait of

Given there is a relatively large Indian community in Toronto, the city and its people.”

Gorham felt as though he were living in a Diversity is a philosophy that has been

version—albeit, a more westernised ver- at the core of Byredo since the company’s

sion—of India. “It has always been part of “[Mumbai Noise] inception in 2006. “I understood that an
my life in some form,” he says. But on re- is an evocative authentic approach was something that
turning to Mumbai as an adult, his con- was going to resonate with people,” says
nection to the country grew deeper. “Be- Gorham. “Given that I was biracial,
cause of the British involvement in multicultural and curious, the existing

India’s history, its people had become riff on Mumbai’s beauty industry didn’t really make sense
good at assimilating culturally. I saw that to me. It was dictating a notion—that

in my family. But then I began to see this ceaseless, should be completely democratic—about
incredible Indian identity and how much what is beautiful, what is self and what is

it had changed. The younger generation churning activity” self-expression, and equality. India
(primarily) had become very proud of its suffered colonialism and oppression, and

culture, its music. It was almost like a it was also part of my living experience in

renaissance. It changed my perception of Europe as a ‘Brown’ person. If I was to

what being Indian was about.” have a brand, it was very important that I

Perfume brand Byredo is renowned for did it my way.” It appears the world has

producing luxurious, left-of-centre fragrances, and Mumbai finally come around to this way of thinking in the last few

Noise follows this maverick tradition of imagination and explora- years—a long overdue shift in attitudes that Gorham acknowl-

tion. “I’m less rational when I create fragrance,” Gorham con- edges. “These things have become topics, talking points and ini-

firms. “It’s truly emotional. I create these briefs that are some- tiatives because people are fed up. Social media enabled more

what abstract and then I work with the perfumer [Jerome voices and I’m grateful for that.”

Epinette]. For this project, it was about identifying certain When asked to describe Mumbai Noise, Gorham mentions the

things—woods, incenses, spices, fruits—that are part of my mem- word ‘vibrant’. “Mumbai has a huge subculture; it is a melting pot

ory bank in connection to Mumbai.” The scent is a delicious con- of people from all over India and they contribute to the city and its

struct that includes notes of warm wood, amber, davana, coffee, soul. For me, it’s a world, a universe. In terms of the cultural diver-

tonka beans and dusky sandalwood. The name is an evocative riff sity that exists within India, I feel like I’ve seen less than one per

on Mumbai’s ceaseless, churning activity. “The idea of ‘noise’ is cent. The idea of exploration is really important to me. Ashish sent

my take on it. It’s more conceptual (and less definitive) than sim- me a beautiful film and part of his objective was to make me miss

ply calling it Mumbai,” explains Gorham. “We are not saying this India, to feel like I’d come home. It does feel like home now, very

is the official smell of the city—this is a facet of the city, by Ben much in an odd way since I’ve never lived there. It speaks a lot about

and Ashish.” lineage, this ancestral connection that somehow grows stronger.” >

170





FOLLOW YOUR NOSE full circle,” he says reflectively. He pauses to relate a lovely story
about nostalgia, memories, and time passing—all key elements in
Even though the Byredo collection contains a multitude of cult the mystery of a great perfume. A portion of the campaign was
fragrances such as Gypsy Water and Bal d’Afrique, Gorham actually shot outside his grandmother’s house in Chembur. “The
famously does not wear fragrance himself. “Well, I wear them area has changed over the years but the humble bungalow is still
during the creation process,” he admits, claiming he does not there, dwarfed by the tall buildings that have sprung up along-
have favourites. ”I love them all individually, for different reasons. side. My mother lived there and had a childhood sweetheart, but
I have unique relationships with them, but Mumbai Noise is they broke up when she moved away. When I was 11, they were
quite dear to my heart. It represents more of a tangible part of reunited and subsequently married. The photo of the young new-
myself, whereas some of the others are projections or from other ly-weds in the Mumbai Noise campaign represents the marriage
experiences. This is truly connected to myself and my family. that never happened when they were younger. Ashish captured
Maybe this is the one.” these conversations—memories that didn’t happen but that
should have.” And which now have a fragrance to mark them. n
A Byredo boutique is slated to open in Mumbai this month,
something of a homecoming for Gorham. “It’s amazing, a kind of

173

R E A D E R S’ T R AV E L AWA R D S WINNERS INSIDE

THE LAST WORD IN TRAVEL
NOV-DEC-JAN 2021-22 | 200

100

AMAZING PEOPLE
ON WHY THEIR
HOME COUNTRY
SHOULD BE
YOUR NEXT
DESTINATION

Bengaluru-based
poet and writer
Joshua Muyiwa
at the Malleswaram
flower market

REIMAGINING IBIZA + GOA BUT DIFFERENT + SKIING IN FRANCE + NEW IN THE MALDIVES

R E A D E R S’ T R AV E L AWA R D S WINNERS INSIDE

THE LAST WORD N TRAVEL
NOV DEC JAN 2021 22 | 200

100

AMAZING PEOPLE
ON WHY THEIR
HOME COUNTRY
SHOULD BE
YOUR NEXT
DESTINATION

R E A D E R S’ T R AV E L AWA R D S WINNERS INSIDE

REIMAGINING IBIZA + GOA BUT DIFFERENT + SKI NG IN FRANCE + NEW IN THE MALDIVES

100

GETTY IMAGES LIVI

TRAVEL

Maximal city

Far from the dazzle of the Burj Khalifa and the
magnetic pull of the city’s malls, 10 creatives from

the cosmopolitan emirate of Dubai share their
local favourites with Megha Mahindru

www.vogue.in VOGUE INDIA DECEMBER 2021 175

TRAVEL < < Must-read:
<
Go-to Temporary
stationery: < People by Deepak
Useful and
beautiful, I have a Unnikrishnan. He
pile of notebooks grew up in the UAE
and journals from and writes about
the experiences of
Montroi. I also migrant workers in the
country. I also like the
love its incense
magazine Sorbet.

It’s a mix of fashion,
art and culture with a
take that’s irreverent

and fun

My Dubai

BY AVNI DOSHI

The Booker nominee and mother of two
shares her cultural hotspots, perfect for

children and adults alike

at hLetuirlsestst,luiIdsltioo:v,MeOikttharae. FMMorousdeexHrq’souuivssaiteseeSsht,auandvdiaomilaabdlee > Best souvenir:
Favourite
weekend Candles by From
the Arabs, a
getaway: The
wonderful Emirati
charming Chedi company that does
Al Bait in
limited-edition
Sharjah is the scents set in earthy
perfect place
to stay while terracotta pots
visiting the many that you can keep
exhibitions at
the Sharjah Art forever
Foundation
NaahbOloanuAtmln-yTeawrbabadaratair.s:tAAsnrlditkiesAtAr-ftloiDaoudAbhlaiiis(attoobrolieavaenr)n KIDS’ STOP COURTESY GALERIE PETER SILLEM; SHARON HARIDAS; GETTY IMAGES
176 VOGUE INDIA DECEMBER 2021 www.vogue.in
Culture fix: The Ishara Art oTOuChBaklGoAtifelheiOtcaBsdarrdhlislhoJgenlsoliasiKetodeaaca,donstan-iahsmnawrhsaFnfanhaseiacmearascdi—ezsJptrnictpelzeafmiailiotafvanaeaanareortad,ryngitnitd,rrtnmuAoc,wfOylaStPtclefyewrtosirrhaahwnassae.gmseifriv.gpnmlEa,caapkdTiyaouah.msnsarahPaorIsitrteitcozeeenicea:runraiefrsuDrnad.noes,kmetgiudr’t:o,serbossai
Foundation and also the team at the beach
Alserkal Avenue which organises

reading groups with writers and artists

Favourite dinnerware:< Kitchen
< equipment I
Lausanne is my top cutlery
cannot live
brand. It looks elegant and has a without: My
balanced weight and shape so that
it feels comfortable in your hands Josper oven.

The charcoal grill
intensifies the

flavours of every
dish and brings
me so much joy
<
<My Dubai

< BY CHEF IZU ANI

Prolific and poised, Dubai’s culinary darling,
with an ever-growing restaurant empire, picks

his favourite food attractions

< Best coffee Meal with the best view: Carine
opens to rolling green hills and a scenery
shop: Boon SeIRataeslosiantnasufJeruaemln—etirptaoehrr.feeIctstehrfaovsrea:fnrSieacnaudltihsneiananttdictfh,acemlaFisolysuicr that’ll transport you to the countryside
Coffee, a
Latest food discovery:
specialty coffee Badia Farms, the GCC’s first
shop and urban vertical farm that grows
roastery that < A Dubai secret: NYX is a discreet gourmet greens
serves delicious
coffee lounge, hidden behind a souvenir shop
Most innovative at Gaia. It is rich and flamboyant, with
red-gold furnishings. It also has the SOUND
cocktails: Shanghai incredible DJ Marios Tsiaprazis, who CLOUD
Me has an imaginative plays enigmatic deep-house music

cocktail list inspired My go-to playlist:
by the animals of the • ‘Only you’ by 112
Chinese Zodiac calendar (feat. The Notorious
Favourite Dubai activity: One of
my favourite ways to start the day is BIG & Mase)
• ‘Let’s get it on’ by
by cycling through the Al Qudra
desert. Riding between the sand Barry White
• ‘So fresh, so clean’
dunes feels like meditation and sets
me up for a beautiful day. Next to by Outkast
the track is a food truck which serves • ‘Table for two’
coffee and really delicious egg rolls
by Joe
• ‘Blinding lights’ by

The Weeknd

www.vogue.in VOGUE INDIA DECEMBER 2021 177

TRAVEL < < > A podcast I love: Physics
< < World Weekly. I’m really
A souvenir to
< interested in quantum physics
bring back: An Oud
perfume > On-stage fashion

> A street that essential: My Allah
inspires me:
necklaces
Baniyas
Square. The Go-to sunglasses:

neighbourhood by Vintage Gucci and
the sea has special Oakleys
architecture, low-
My Dubai
key restaurants
and friendly people BY DJ KARROUHAT

The Kuwait-born, Dubai-based musician
shares his nightlife essentials

> After-dark
pursuit: Getting

Karak tea

from a cafeteria,
or a cruise in
Old Dubai

AwlFshaeervrkoeaulIrAgitvoeetnmoubue.rsoIictw’sssateonorilend:dATiehraerebFcicloiprmdSusisdhiecopon BEAT IT

< Street style CutraeketothbeeAatbraacwreaatetrivteaxbiltoockD:eIirlaike to ischaaolCnwlPedadlnsatmMahydeioeniioarngtnlIhyoirTnntihcdrluseioesiaortbrp.meaI:nuAvldosevircey
essential: I love special
thrift shops in Al Sneaker style: At the moment I’m AhnuTubAnrB:adpKyvepbuerlnlelgogesrAosKHisurooePnrtnoedetdalipnsaala:rtty
Quoz. You can find
your favourite obsessed with Clarks Originals
denims and
mFeabsaraTtv:iiaovOmkualrdruli:yitstSiui’esconmlgSaemiczuDteasXsriycBtnao,nd
camo jackets

as you walk
through the area

Karrouhat
ue with the
stics: Analog best
Room

178 VOGUE INDIA DECEMBER 2021 www.vogue.in

BOUGUESSA > Go-to local

designer: Faiza
Bouguessa has

nailed perfect, modest
tailoring and flattering
cuts. I also love wearing

Rami Al Ali’s

gowns, his embroidery
is beautiful

Style crush: > Party hotspot:
Ra a bags from
Nammos Dubai is
Loewe are my
always fun and has the
summer vibe best lineup of DJs

My Dubai < Best homeware labels: The
decorative East Gallery products
BY ROSEMIN MANJI
from Indigo Living as well as
The TV presenter and director of RR&Co Kashida (left), a homeware label
picks the finest luxury experiences from
inspired by Arabic calligraphy
the ‘Las Vegas of the Middle East’

< Most Instagrammable hotel: SAL at Insider tip: Download INDULGE
< Burj Al Arab has four pools, private cabanas
MAajhmaaB,JnDeu.usmZtbaeawyiira.aeTNhehkueaertOanSibdaIesagrldoaeiintyBadaw,etAaIacsbyhluasRn:DdAehslaobrit., and the perfect backdrop for holiday photos the Careem app to get fBCoPRBerRhlHBmsaeOFeletotNuo&ptaeshsrrcsoxiaeutcotsienekesuraMasitk,uCafB-tanbretuTiaemclySatemneep,rDhcaoBlrCsttsartleeieialfoHnotortarnaononsftaarwfcreOlelmotrsee:eot:vver,par,drsFcbaetOieppaTtatnsadooailyltnrattbinHdE:tucoossePgdbclidsMsorAkionoxIheri1otcmeFiwvanSLTpe,1noaao1coLlabf1ee,prn-a0pkeCTsrdlaFoerIadnosey,t2RoazirstasaknKdage,yunhoocvD:hiirenBunecenritOieallnchestolsstba’artdepeauoeeod:etlrmod:eny

around town
v My stress buster:
I’m a terrible sleeper,
so I’m hooked to the
Mulberry sleep masks

by Skincare by
Mai. It’s the most

comfortable fit for
my face

www.vogue.in VOGUE INDIA DECEMBER 2021 179

TRAVEL < In my beauty kit: My

Current crystal Shi a Gua Sha
perfume:
Sundazed by that feels amazing on the

Byredo. I face. Nars Climax mascara,

love the smell its red packaging is sexy and
of neroli
industrial. And Ouai detox

shampoo, its chic bottle is
designed by my friend Tony
Yumul (Case Agency)

My Dubai

BY DR LAMEES HAMDAN

From the best beauty buys to home-grown
ingredients and rituals, the founder of Shi a

Beauty shares her skincare secrets

Spa day essential: Try
the Moroccan bath at the

Talise Spa at
Jumeirah Al Qasr
<
<HBeKerasitntasgboea’sucsbotllyleeliscs:thiMoannisd(kawJbeoewvaere)allbaenlreyd’psNieAacldeNisnoeorAfteArnnoeocneAtsessataorarytiaPeHexaotrcteaolvcDkaIgAFalClne.cye, Wtoaltdroyr:f
< HOME SPUN
< GETTY IMAGES
AAcIaagauanfnASnnIfrDcrwrbodahdorBuEieOuoPnoelanimmmswehluurwaMmtagodeasebseambiuwmriiWntltearrltdpeeetbhsgahatoo:aridyikaiesttezyctMcatciiwfiiiaohelbneagnobeFm-buuyecnosirgGmaelcatoreteatoxunhmsoacoyfsaarbwtstssiotuuesatrfuaoritlihrrnoanroinoalyettnfpomaamcstugchtoCyrruytheteectler:oeldi(toreelrworiDiSwtdmoaiisnua.nnmtbfautnhaannaNaauhaemncuytitoigtssca.l:xeeetdoyereskeyessrlarnr:orr.o)e.li
Best spice market souvenir: Frankincense acne- prone skin

> DIY beauty Instant mood-lifter: A 10-minute
hack: Mix
hot bath. I blend dried sage
rosewater and
water and (maramiya in Arabic) with oatmeal
and add the powder to my bath
freeze them
in ice moulds.
When it’s hot
outside, massage

rosewater ice
cubes directly

on your face

180 VOGUE INDIA DECEMBER 2021 www.vogue.in

< Statement Go-to day dress:
jewellery to Curve-friendly

own: Bil Arabi, clothes by Dima
Ayad. She has tie-
inspired by
Arabic fonts, or dye kaftan dresses in
the glamorous jewel colours that are
perfect for the beach,
pieces by Arts &
Gems at the a brunch or just
lazing at home
Wafi Mall
Best catering service: Muskan Ohri’s

Simmer with the Stars. She

makes pan-Asian food that caters to all
diets, even keto and paleo

< A beauty item that helps
me relax: I use the Healing

Balm by Shi a when my skin

is feeling tired or dehydrated
<
Food fix: The freshly grilled
<
< kebabs at Wafi Gourmet

< with a side of hummus and extra
pickled green chilies

My Dubai

BY SUJATA ASSOMULL

The journalist and former fashion editor
shares her style guide from the flashiest

of the seven emirates

beBsepsaotbkflsetorflawocretaral ssphtpuordpoia:oFcthihntaeotBfltlaookoreimsstsra.yIvte’srya Favourite meeting spot: The private Latest fashion discovery: Qatari ready-
room at The Arts Club (above) or Roka for
to-wear label 1309 is a minimalistic Arab
its business lunch
brand that uses vegan textiles and practises
STYLE FILE Lust list: Bouguessa, for its sartorial a zero-waste policy

TAMDBwchFaPucscuaeleonhAraoeborssaidsibEcmacaochtntftedtehilhida-imilcolidoaobasetsfonanbensaeushaonlasaslgiiasosontvoseytoarffieucwadwnAe-nulRrriboaobdeeolsvepusrtclyu-nseiaelimTatcnbsdnraantYlhkekaehisitbdaeNrl-aarwneemnojfulMOstearudmoutoAtweuOlyNtoghiv-Dtcgeinuruaelqeloruleiodenzlpdnfouuetbbsfaitiu:srmeruta:a:sssye:lisl-,. detailing and architectural silhouettes
It-bag: Former Dubai girl Amanda Navaian’s

vegan leather brand, House of Marici. Now

in London, she was one of the first designers in
the region to talk about conscious consumption

www.vogue.in VOGUE INDIA DECEMBER 2021 181

TRAVEL

MRS KEEPA Go-to
homeware
<
<label: L’Objet

has a beautiful
variety of
joyous and

chic designer
collaborations

<< Boutique with the best curation:
<
THAT Concept Store o ers a fresh
<
look at local and international brands
(pictured above is a di user by Ginori 1735)

for a younger demographic
< Souvenir
to take
back: A
statement
jewellery
piece from

Bil Arabi

My Dubai On my radar: Angeles Agrela is an haosmwAee:nlMl aaosrhtRaisomtk’esndiwaAnohdrmkReIad’mdIilbnorvHaehaietmoriz(baardbineohvge)
artist whose work I keenly follow
BY NADINE KANSO
Favourite flower shop: Goshá Outside the mall, I shop at:
From fashion to art, the uber-stylish
founder of Bil Arabi spotlights the avant- has a cool vibe and brings a sense The Odd Piece on Alserkal
of art to its bouquets Avenue and The Light House
garde o erings of the desert city
in Dubai Design District
Most covetable fashion labels:
GET SET, GO
Khalid Shafar is a product designer who
Best weekend getaway:
has been inspired by local heritage and done a The Oberoi Beach Resort
in Ajman is so zen, and
great job with it. Mrs Keepa (above) is an
has great service and
edgy fashion designer whose clothes have a lot food

of character. And Rami Al Ali makes chic Spot with the best view:
Vida Creek Harbour in Ras
made-to-measure couture with a lot of romance Al Khor. Its terrace o ers
a panoramic view of Dubai
182 VOGUE INDIA DECEMBER 2021 www.vogue.in

< Best child-friendly hotel: Jumeirah
< Zabeel Saray. It has a wonderful kids’ club
Kidswear store
I swear by: My Dubai

Ellijunior.com, BY SAIMA KHAN

an award-winning The co-founder of children’s party
online shop started destination Cheeky Monkeys and
mum of four shares a fun-filled,
by Elli Kasbi
child-friendly itinerary

BooMkwosotrbmroe,olwekvshaaicnnhtdhcaahcsitliadvrigteyrneb’asotbxseoesolekcsttioonreo:f Most child-friendly restaurant: Carnival
< by Trèsind. The food is amazing and the
< CFaanvdoyulirciiftoreuosmp.lIaacllolevoefvoehrrocwthheiitldworoerenldr’ss gifting:
Best weekend activity: Visit the sweets presentation is really unique

Museum of Illusions or try a GET OUT

helicopter tour of Dubai exApeurniieqnucee:faFmishiliyng
on a dhow
Best theme park to visit: I love Favourite
weekend getaway: toWsGuaktlm5enaoeoca2ene0TrvixFattq5AKdxjaeheaiokpu0vmpelibevneysegteineoooetimroJslior,tyaltuiieaiBivwresinero:rlbanindlengsnWihFbiiedtoaicilc&intseletcflcnceeeogJaatBhfhoophoowaltsMwopuittcleristasvaoiltheietraennerhrdhroahssralketosloigwisisckcaamltlaooaeliesrnoitennrminvibesnodtxgdedysg,l:s
Legoland. It’s so easy to navigate and www.vogue.in VOGUE INDIA DECEMBER 2021 183
Stay at The St.
o ers indoor and outdoor attractions (and a Regis Abu
water park) that cater to all age groups Dhabi and visit

the Al Seef
Village Mall

An artist<
more people
should know:

El Seed

is a street
artist whose
vibrant work
incorporates

traditional
Arabic

calligraphy, a
style that he
calls ‘calligra ti’

My Dubai

BY RICHARD FITZGERALD

Purveyor of the local pulse and the founder of
LovinDubai, a popular news and lifestyle website,

o ers his o beat city guide

< A necessary extravagance: The hammam at the
<
Talise Spa at Jumeirah Zabeel Saray
<
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A food creative to follow: Chefs

Izu Ani and Tom Arnel are
very creative with food
Most SAtBBuIhbgnneeaeFBueasrstatBeittcDvsKaashueoshwiStrtpuRaoejhsaorbveAohyBiteistpol:oreoetApAoarroBwtprcrlT,uaphiWEeAhnrbr,jleegolwaiKGkZnpOtaiehrhotobptonahbrshepcladaeiere:fh,:oari GETTY IMAGES
background
Instagrammable Most innovative cocktails:
spot to visit: RattThrerahoeBsceiuedDknsKe.udtnYibtcrdoeaeuuoiBsnwC—cenaanainnancbaghesyltxrtaButurnenvandnnlcngdirkinanu:tgrgnoi,
The new Zuma at DIFC. seaside route

Address
Beach Resort,

which has a
residents-only

infinity pool
that is simply
breathtaking

184 VOGUE INDIA DECEMBER 2021 www.vogue.in

> Local < TRAVEL
design icon:
Favourite
Khalid co ee-table book:
Shafar
My jumbo David
is a game- Hockney book
changing
furniture (Taschen). Worth
designer every cent, it costs
way less than his
My Dubai original art and is a
real statement piece
BY PALLAVI DEAN

The award-winning interior designer and
founder of Roar shares her design finds
from the city of architectural excellence

> 5 stores for
new homeowners:

Marina Home
Interiors, The
One, Urban Nest,
Four Seasons
Ramesh Gallery
and Tribe Dubai

DTERSAIIGLN bluMeofnasuOtxenrfumtroy,yadbvaeyislMaigbenldeilcuaotsmtS.leiIlsettc:itsTs7hh1oecpCmfroaoomkf ireei.cchom < daBdeswtapslaakctineildetosoufbpinupylmietyri,lgeseosn:ce4es1razemroic4s2a.rMe y

FadstAvpeIooelMsDfslBZoccueipegetuovisrurrnasntemiskTrBoitjicjgtaavhdeiweuetKanlaehusliaarAtalhnatsDcFonnraVevvtsiuadtlslMer-ieititninefwtafnqruaredtruorueuriaaicsynnaedeeeegtet:nguvtc.yoeusAderThfraomtinonhirtouvDnthorgerorisugsueyefib:nt:adi Favourite lighting store: < Best-designed hotel:
<
Huda Lighting. It even stores the The rooms at Form Hotel or Burj Al Arab

lights I made in collaboration with < Most
Artemide, which I flaunt in my dining area treasured
design piece:
One-stop shop for statement
pieces: Cities, the design store. It’s My Moroso
where I buy pieces by my favourite
designers, such as this tray (above) ‘Double Zero’
dining chairs
by the awesome Nada Debs
by David
Adjaye

www.vogue.in VOGUE INDIA DECEMBER 2021 185

TRAVEL > Go kayaking in Hatta

The road The azure waters of the Hatta Dam look spectacular
less taken against the backdrop of the barren Hajar

Keeping Dubai as your base, get mountains. Soak in the surroundings and take in the
a taste of history, architecture and glorious views as you kayak on the placid waters of
adventure in the UAE with these the dam. Canoes and paddle boats are also on o er.
experiences, says Chaitali Patel
Take along a picnic basket to savour later.
Hike up the Al Rabi trail in Stay at: Atlantis The Palm in Dubai. It also
Khorfakkan, Sharjah has a massive water park and an aquarium,

A well-marked trail starting from the Al Rabi Tower and is about two and a half hours away
takes you right to the top of the 395m Al Rabi peak.
Visit the head-turning
As you climb, enjoy scenic views of the coastline, Louvre Abu Dhabi
secluded coves and rugged mountains. Blue skies
and spectacular sunsets are a given. After the trek, Whether you are an art aficionado or not, the Louvre
head to the Khorfakkan Corniche, where you will Abu Dhabi is absolutely worth a visit. Its magnificent
encounter plenty of cafes as well as a beach and play
steel dome, covering a vast area of the museum, is
area to keep the children busy. stunning. Designed by the Pritzker Award-winning
Stay at: The Fairmont Dubai, bang in the city Jean Nouvel, the dome appears weightless but actually
centre of Sheikh Zayed Road, is just an hour weighs 7,500 tonnes. Besides showcasing works by
world-class artists like Roger Fenton and Ai Weiwei, it
and a half from the hike location also houses an equally engaging children’s museum.

Stay at: The Palazzo Versace Dubai. The GETTY IMAGES
fashionably maximalist hotel is a an hour and

a half from the iconic museum

186 VOGUE INDIA DECEMBER 2021 www.vogue.in

> Wander through Al Ain’s < Step back in time at
date palm farms Qasr Al Hosn, Abu Dhabi

Inside Al Ain’s lush date palm farms, the desert seems Dwarfed by the surrounding high rises of downtown
a distant memory. Wander through the patchwork Abu Dhabi, the watchtower part of the Qasr Al Hosn
of farms, with the sounds of rustling leaves, chirping complex was where the city began. Built of coral and
birds and trickling water for company. The ancient al palm fronds, the oldest surviving structure in Abu Dhabi

falaj irrigation system taps into underground aquifers, has witnessed the transformation of the city from
providing valuable water to the over 1,47,000 date a small fishing and pearling village to a modern-day
palms and fruit trees spread across the area. There’s metropolis. An on-site museum showcases this history
through exhibits and a number of carefully preserved
even the interactive and educational Eco-Centre on site artefacts. Don’t leave without visiting the nearby House
to help you delve deep into the area’s history.
Stay at: The Thai-style Anantara The Palm of Artisans to get a feel of local handicrafts.
Dubai Resort is a kingdom of calm, and is a Stay at: The art deco-influenced Ritz-Carlton,
two-hour drive from Al Ain in the financial heart of Dubai, is located just an

> Rewind at the Mleiha hour and a half from Qasr Al Hosn
Archaeological Centre, Sharjah
www.vogue.in VOGUE INDIA DECEMBER 2021 187
Set within the all-encompassing desert of Sharjah,
Mleiha Archaeological Centre takes visitors

way back in time to when life was first found in
the region almost a million years ago. Through
interactive displays, exhibits, carefully preserved
artefacts and guided tours, visitors can discover
the secrets of the region from Paleolithic to pre-
Islamic times. Adventure seekers can explore the
area through activities such as paragliding or dune
bashing. The pristine desert and its surrounding hills
o er many opportunities for camping and trekking.

Stay at: The pyramid-shaped Ra es Dubai
(it even has a new outpost in Palm Jumeirah

now) is located less than an hour away

TRAVEL

8AM

Begin the day with
a yoga session by

the rooftop infinity
pool which o ers
unparalleled views

of both the old and
new city, silhouetted

against Bikaner’s
brilliantly blue sky

24 HOURS AT... 10AM

Take a walk through
the city which takes
you through the many
heritage havelis,
including Rampuria
Haveli, which dates
back to the 1400s and
is made of the local
Dulmera red sandstone

7PM Narendra Bhawan

Unwind from your day e boutique hotel in Rajasthan and erstwhile residence
with a cocktail at the of the Maharaja of Bikaner is the perfect place to live out
hotel’s Drawing Room,
which draws inspiration your king-sized dream, says Arushi Sinha
from gentlemen’s
smoking rooms of yore
and exudes old-world
charm and glamour via
its wood panelling and
leather upholstery

1PM

Have a multicourse meal
at Narendra Bhawan’s
P&C restaurant, where
the menu is inspired by
classic literary novels

including Moby Dick and
To The Lighthouse

5PM 3PM

For those escaping city life, a Find your bliss at the in-
dinner in the desert under the stars house spa, where therapists
employ Bach Flower Therapy,
is just what the doctor ordered. a homoeopathic technique
Narendra Bhawan also curates a that harnesses the botanical
dinner à deux lit by candlelight and power of plants and flowers
served under white canopies for

mini-moon seekers

188 VOGUE INDIA DECEMBER 2021 www.vogue.in

ARCHITECTURAL DIGEST INDIA` 200 NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 2021

THE MOST BEAUTIFUL HOMES IN THE WORLD

FEELING
MAXIMAL

ARCHITECTURAL DIGEST INDIA` 200 NOVEMBER DECEMBER 2021

THE MOST BEAUTIFUL HOMES IN THE WORLD

FEELING
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ARCHITECTURAL DIGEST INDIA

FEELING
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TRAVEL
7AM

Kick-start the morning with a
kundalini yoga session at the
scenic Rockpool, perched atop
a cliff and open to the majestic

view of Vagator beach

9PM 24 HOURS AT... 9AM

As night sets in, the W W Goa Savour breakfast by your
revs up as if to uphold chalet pool and then sign
Goa’s reputation as the This young and audacious beachside
Ibiza of the East. The property is the perfect addition to Goa’s up for a trip with the
meditative Rockpool party precinct, says Megha Mahindru resident W Insider, who
transforms into a party
hotspot, throbbing curates a minefield of
with lights and eclectic local experiences around
music programmed for performance arts, sports
every night
and sustainable living

12PM

Catch up with the hotel’s
Detox-Retox-Repeat cycle
with a rejuvenating massage
at the Away Spa or take a
dip in the heated vitality pool

5PM 2PM

Head to Sylvia, the buzzy sunset bar which If you’re saving the Goan
offers a huge selection of gin cocktails. Its thali for a siesta day, head
outside section opens to magical sunsets to Spice Traders, the
most evenings, while a potent sound in-house Asian restaurant
system ensures gigs that attract both local where inventive, texture-
bohemians and visiting tourists bending dishes like the
crudo of prawn taco and
190 VOGUE INDIA DECEMBER 2021 www.vogue.in thermidor har gow are
among the highlights



TRAVEL

7AM 9AM

A curated breakfast spread of Time travel to the
eggs, home preserves, jams, 17th century as you
pancakes, wa es, fresh fruit walk around Bekal
and seasonal juice floating
atop your private pool? You Fort, or set out to
explore the quaint
couldn’t concoct a better visual
to wake up to, even if you tried bylanes dotted
with traditional
Kerala homes. The
hotel’s architecture
itself is inspired by
the state’s famous

houseboats

24 HOURS AT...

Taj Bekal Resort & Spa

Treat yourself to a calming weekend in Kerala
among a centuries-old fort, the winding backwaters

and enchanting coastal vistas, says Sadaf Shaikh

7PM 12PM

Wrap up your day with an Wash away your city weariness
early dinner. The sumptuous with an Ayurveda session at Jiva
four-course prix fixe Spa or sign up for their Homam
meal includes bamboo ritual with a consecrated fire—a
biryani, Koliwada chicken spring cleaning for your spirit
popcorn, kheema popsicles,
kallappam kozhi tacos, lamb 2PM
chops perattiyathu and
more—all gorgeously set up Stretch out on a
at a gazebo by the riverside daybed before you
head to the in-house
5PM restaurant Latitude
for a sadhya-style
Rent a bike and cycle lunch comprising
around the property. delicacies like
When evening cravings sambaram, inji puli,
set in, make a pit stop pineapple pachadi
for a hot cuppa and light and more served on
snacks at the Chai Kada, a plantain leaf
modelled after local tea
stalls, by the backwaters

192 VOGUE INDIA DECEMBER 2021 www.vogue.in



THE MUSE THAT Celebrate
YOU DESERVE TO BE the Shaadi Spectacle

To plan the perfect wedding is like painting a beautiful There is nothing more mesmerizing than a bride. The wedding,
picture as an Indian wedding is nothing short of living, eponymous with rituals and traditions, marks the beginning of her
breathing art. But to create the most wonderful picture, wondrous journey, complete with memories and sentiments. On her
you need the right canvas along with the right muse. wedding day- one of the most photographed days of her life- she
With pre-bridal treatments for brides and grooms such deserves to look, and feel, her most beautiful. Manish Malhotra Beauty
as Cryotherapy for face with trained professionals and Exclusively by MyGlamm brings a specially curated Bridal Vanity Kit
superlative technology, Potenza Advanced Wellness featuring his top ten bridal favourites, offering luxe makeup to artisanal
Centre strives to turn you into your best version, to skincare products, with something for every discerning bride to cherish.
bring all your wedding aspirations to fruition. Turn Manish Malhotra’s Luxe Bridal Vanity Kit celebrates brides in their
yourself into the mesmerising artwork that you aspire original spirit and emotions that emanate their individuality in entirety,
to be with Potenza’s advanced Mind, Body, and Soul proving to be the perfect addition to your bridal trousseau.
treatments, yearning to give you the stunning look that For more information, visit. Myglamm.com/
promises to stay beyond your wedding date.
For more information, visit Potenzawellness.com or
call 9310168669, 01141086333

DVIoAgueRY
This December, we bring you the best in luxury and fashion

tAo nKeOepathbotdraFfiHgailifoainosahtomwtrmhttfmwetcuehaeeiaaoavdeanseonitrill“merelnitesnytsdImfekih,,rmsedsucdmrpias,rabnaeostnfoopDnearuoend-anaae”coidahrgargersilsdeiincwkeso-uipnae.nsB,itfnwtontesrytdyueioooehfogrnm,potuimffemvneueusuirltjoribt.aderrodplscaioeDenstocwsauhnuJefd.seolmieaasetIderntetmabeehlslwotBlrpinfia,eexoesssofmaeenadpretettrmynnwliedsrolhgimfeletderofoeetwmoncsrrswhvoesros’msosapeeneentpitmaltorilr,onedeoseneipetnmfiwtrrwcsnrrgdasressrsiote,eaci,pnao.otiDosavmlrnnoFio,nuboffneidtlirneericasiessiydftsnsadatseal,aBteihattctpteitn-nivesusieeitatcnxplt,csisnerrekdhpla,,iaeidtetnrkauba,nwsseggonaanldeotefgnldshsiinetnosgge, GET, SET, GLOBAL!

FFoorremveorrmeainrkfo.crommation, visit Keeping up with the latest happenings in beauty is no child’s game. But whether
you’re a skincare aficionado vying for that flawless glass-skin goal, or a beauty

savant hoping to turn heads with those glamorous K-pop looks, Nykaa never fails
to deliver. The Global Store at Nykaa is pioneering the revolution of the Indian
beauty scene by bringing world-class beauty directly to your doorstep, and its
K-shop, powered by innovative Korean discoveries, brings handpicked Korean

Beauty shipped to you directly from Korea. And the best part? The Global Store
at Nykaa hunts for the newest international trends and brands, offering only the
best-in-class curations at one single destination, completely hassle-free.
For more information, visit the Global Store on your Nykaa App

DONNING JOY AND HAPPINESS

Few things drive us the way euphoria does. There is nothing more beautiful
than the celebration of happiness and joy, and that is exactly what makes
fourth-generation diamantaire Harakh Mehta’s work so enchanting and
captivating. Staying true to his promise of creating wearable art ignited from
moments of joy in life, Mehta has managed to captivate us again with his latest
collection of jewellery. The Haveli collection pays tribute to the beauty and
splendour of the architectural marvels of a bygone era; the Cascade collection
brings to life the delight of experiencing the sights and sounds of the waterfalls
gushing down the mountains—the perfect symbol of fluidity and grace.
For more information, visit Harakh.com

194 VOGUE INDIA DECEMBER 2021 www.vogue.in

APaProtwneerrhshouipseStwrtaoBidseaaasxiotsgtwriNkoeferteaenintdaBmtht2es,lbecmAFei9hmeovhaoakNeNnlGcelbverlAlonoBeroBematpLfpssAArnteseetoeihdhno,dnaratategceogeThrtaii,erwaueinbtipnsnmtheeeWsieaiofe,nodgraostnifntrhraoorts,koh(hemniimrennvemeNpticnaanaeiirneaaoBttrn2ictrgnivvtA’ot.o0shcenaTpnm1Ne)etep5aho,arasmra.refsrnttensothnAadNiicdoitblreplimtssnoTyarsioswtaottweihhyisfloninsleilBtlpe@nothtcOa,aittetmowsolirknsf2eheffest0ciaikicotcne1nebihta6unsea_l-ewtplaW1ollyc7tiiAnlfolrafNagoesinctcsxscBsnhoispyahaoActaslmhuiatnaoeesnndtpnemidcogiauoeInlOsonptdnoh(bsofnaTaWtefnt.aimic.shtgNTishaauroeilBasslttTsm’igAbsyoimleepot)earbaaeenrnnakcdluedisesitteophhdneeeriNn BalAl A Christmas in Zurich

THE EPITOME OF LUXURY Indulge in an authentic Swiss Christmas with Hotel Noël—the
Christmas pop-up hotel that surprises with 10 individually
Discover the true meaning of opulence at UAE’s newest luxury resort—Raffles designed guest rooms in 10 different Zurich hotels. Artists
The Palm Dubai. A palatial beachfront resort on Palm Jumeirah’s West have transformed each room across the 10 hotels into
Crescent, Raffles The Palm Dubai is an upscale and eagerly awaited addition inspiring works of art that serve to be the perfect backdrop
to the city’s lifestyle, dining and hotel scene. Demonstrating the very best of to discover the Christmas city on Limmat. Explore the winter
the Raffles brand, the property is rife with a world of luxury to indulge in—from wonderland this festive season and immerse yourself in a
stunning views of the 500-metre private beach, sophisticated accommodation creative world—stay at the Marktgasse Hotel to witness gentle
in the lap of comfort, to gastronomical journeys with top-class chefs and lavish mythical figures designed by illustrator Philipp Dornbierer,
amenities like the award-winning Parisian Cinq Mondes Spa and Raffles Club or get transported back to the 1970s at the 25Hours Hotel
Lounge which offers a 360-degree view of the city’s skyline. Langstrasse—really, the choices are endless.
For more information, visit Raffles.com For more information, visit MySwitzerland.com

A Tropical Hideaway AN UNFORGETTABLE
INDULGENCE
Looking to set off on a holiday with your tribe? Anantara Lawana Koh Samui
offers luxury island getaways for private group holidays tucked away in a Standing tall as an ethereal symbol of Emirati ambition, an iconic
UAE innovation, the awe-inspiring Burj Al Arab is one of the
sprawling paradise. Leave your worries behind and indulge yourself in tropical world’s most iconic landmarks. And, if you’re planning a trip to
bliss in your own, private pool, or soak up the sun on your private deck and safely Dubai, this legendary architectural marvel offers you a one-of-

dine together in your very own exclusive poolside Thai Sala. Anantara Lawana a-kind chance to discover the iconic moments that made them
Koh Samui offers a private sanctuary for tropical hideaways with resplendent who they are. Visitors can walk through Burj Al Arab’s lobby,
pool-villa clusters around their very own palm-fringed lagoon pools. seeing the world’s tallest atrium, take a trip to the Royal Suite

For more information, visit anantara.com/en/lawana-koh-samui via a panoramic lift, view items that are part of news-worthy and
iconic moments that have taken place on the helipad or visit

the hotel’s aquariums that are home to almost 4,000 fish of 56
tropical species.

For more information, visit Insideburjalarab.com

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THE FOLLOWING STORES. SOME SHOPS MAY CARRY A SELECTION 9987958364, Delhi 011-41513255, Bengaluru 080-40982106, Chennai
ONLY. PRICES AND AVAILABILITY WERE CHECKED AT THE TIME OF 044-28464092, Hyderabad 09169165656 Pippa Small: (www.net-
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196 VOGUE INDIA DECEMBER 2021 www.vogue.in

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www.vogue.in VOGUE INDIA DECEMBER 2021 197

DESIRE

Parallel thinking

Cascading down the neck in ripples of gold and diamonds, the
‘Vanity Free’ necklace by Zoya, inspired by the sinuous lines of
the vanity chambers of Art Nouveau, features twin strings fixed
together with lustrous opals at its joints. The characteristic draping
and curves meet in a necklace that drapes and flows on the body.

— Akanksha Kamath

‘Vanity Free’
opal and

diamond two
string necklace,
Zoya, price on

request

198 VOGUE INDIA DECEMBER 2021 www.vogue.in

FIVE YEARS OF GLITZ & GLAM

W Goa Turns It Up With Five Years of Limitless Possibilites with An Endless Appetite for the Now.

Boldly Coloring Outside The Lines of Luxury and W Goa’s
Irreverent attitue and taste for excess redefine revelry for the modern jet set.

Own The Moment with W Hotels - Goa