Sula sold Sauvignon Blanc, its first bottle in 2000 and since then, it has placed India on the global wine map. Celebrating 15 years of operations, Sula recently released its limited edition festive season bottle at Asilo, Mumbai.

Brut Tropicale, a limited edition Blanc de Noirs, is a methode champenoise sparkler made from premium black grapes including Pinot Noir. This beautiful bottle is covered in paisley symbolising life and eternity, and has been interpreted and adopted as a quintessential part of the various cultures of India, spanning Kashmir to Kanyakumari. Today, the motif prevails in special occasions, ranging from henna patterns, ethnic fabrics, jewelry and such, emphasizing that most celebrations begin and end with paisley.

To mark the occasion, Sula Vineyards founder and CEO Rajeev Samant said, We wanted to do something exceptional to celebrate Sula 15 fabulous years. The result of two years of hard work is this beautiful Blanc de Noirs, a special wine. The limited edition Brut Tropicale is classy yet fun perfect for celebrations and gifting this festive season.

In the last 15 years, Sula Vineyards has also been a pioneer in India wine tourism opening the country first winery Tasting Room in 2005 and first vineyard resort, Beyond by Sula, in 2007. With 200,000 visitors in 2014, Sula is a poplar winery. Sula award-winning wines are available nationwide at the finest hotels and restaurants, and are also exported worldwide. The company is also a wine and spirits importer, with a portfolio of brands like Remy Cointreau, Cono Sur, Hardys, Ruffino and Asahi.

Firmly committed to remaining at the forefront of Indian wines, Sula continues to experiment with new varietals, engage in sustainable agriculture and support the local rural economy. The launch of the bottles is a commemoration of Sula success and its progress in global wine market.

Designer Amy Billimoria celebrates her 40th birthday over a charity fundraiser. The designer, in collaboration with Nargis Dutt Memorial Charitable Trust (NDMCT) hosted a fund-raiser at her store in Juhu, Mumbai, where some of the illustrious names from the film industry walked to support the cause.

Power women from the movie industry took to the ramp with little girls in much style and aplomb ? Dia Mirza, Mini Mathur, Maria Goretti, Madhoo, Rhea Pillai, Queenie Singh, Urvashi Sharma, Akanksha Agarwal, Reshma Merchant and actor Zayed Khan came together to support this great cause.

On this occasion Amy Billimoria says, ?To me the idea of celebration is doing something that triggers real happiness within, and what better way to mark a milestone in your life, than seeing little children light up their faces with a smile. To me my 40th birthday will reinstate my endeavour to always strive to make a difference. With this charity event, my dearest friend Jyoti Mukherjee and I will be empowering women and children in a village in Palghar and we are eagerly looking forward to a great show?.

Focusing on both tradition and change, Amy Billimoria has interpreted ornate hand embroidery on varied silhouettes from indo-western drapes, bridal lehengas and her ever green saris for the show. The colour palette for this collection ranges from ferns, peaches and champagne gold to different shades of blue.

For the fund-raiser, Amy Billimoria?s dear friend, designer Jyoti Mukherjee has designed outfits for the little girls who walked side by side with the influencers. The collection is a modern twist to vintage styles and silhouettes, and complements the outfits of the ladies who the little girls walked with.

Jyoti Mukherji says, ?I am thrilled to be a part of this great cause, where Amy and myself will get to do out bit to empower women and children of Palghar.?

Priya Dutt, Trustee NDMCT in her support says, ?On behalf of our NGO, Nargis Dutt Memorial Charitable Trust, I hereby would like to express my gratitude for your initiative, The Walk of Pride to support our effort with this fundraiser. The proceeds from this initiative will go towards women and child empowerment of Sonave Village, Palghar, Maharashtra.?

Actor Dia Mirza comments, ?I am proud of Amy Billimoria and Jyoti Mukherjee for putting together this wonderful show this festive season. I am happy and very pleased that people from civil society are taking such decision and contributing towards the society?.

By Jigar Ganatra

This year?s much awaited film Shaandaar has caught many eyeballs already, especially due to the amazing outfits worn by the lead star cast ? Shahid Kapoor and Alia Bhatt. 

Indiantelevision.com?s Exec Life got in touch with Archana Walavalkar, Co-founder and Creative Director at StyleCracker and Shahid and Alia's stylist from the film, to get a lowdown on the wardrobe trends from the film.

Read on:

Shahid Kapoor

Look 1:

                                                                                      
You see Shahid in cool, urban staples throughout the film. Expect basic tees, neutral coloured shirts and blazers and worn-in denims. His first exudes an understated sexy vibe as he enters in a rugged leather jacket, with wind-swept hair, on a bike. 

Invest in a pre-washed linen shirt to get Shahid?s style. Breathable, easy to work with and super suave ? it?s a wardrobe investment that will take you a long way. 

Look 2: 

                                                                                         
In the film, Shahid is a complete charmer when it comes to work. Classic blazers, tartan ties, well fitted trousers, and boarding school-like sweatshirts ? we went for separates that are standout pieces by themselves but also complemented each other perfectly when put together. 

You may not need a jacket for daily use but a well-tailored blazer is a must-have. To start off, go for navy. Throw it over cuffed chinos for a day brunch or pair it with tweed/patterned trousers for an evening out.

Look 3: 

                                                                                         
For his formal look in the song ?Nazdikiyan,? we went for a vanilla tuxedo by Kunal Rawal. It is colour play that makes the look a winner - the black satin lapel complements off-white well. Keeping the front clean, we went for a concealed placket shirt (instead of a pleated one).

Don?t shy away from experimenting with pantones. If washed colours are not your thing, go for deeper tones like aubergine and charcoal when choosing your tuxedo.

Alia Bhatt

Look 1:

Alia plays a free spirit in the film and so throughout you see her in laid-back separates. In this shot, she is wearing a sheer cape handcrafted by Nachiket Barve. Embroidered dragonflies have been stitched onto net fabric. 

It is a very wearable look. Go for a simple tank top over cut-off denims for a casual outing. Swap the boots for practical sneakers and finish the outfit with lightweight summer-friendly layering. 

Look 2: 

                                                                                        
In the ?Gulabo? song, her look is inspired by menswear. Seen in a Glenchecks suit and a vintage waistcoat, this is one of the most tailored outfits Alia wears in the film. Though the garment is custom-made, we sourced the accessories from various boutiques in East London. An inside story: We went through over 100 moustaches for her in this sequence!

Borrow from the boys to add an element of edge to your formal wardrobe. It could be structured co-ords in masculine prints (houndstooth, windowpane checks et al), brogues, or even accessories like a standout bow tie. 

Look 3:

                                                                                          
In the song ?Nazdikiyan,? we went for a Shehla Khan dress. The cloud print is essential in the song and so the fabric had to be dyed, printed and tailored to suit very specific requirements. Staying true to Alia?s quirky character, we finished the look with risqu? lace-up heels (as opposed to strappy stilettos).

Less is more always. For Alia?s effortless elegance, pick a unique silhouette and let it be the focal point of your outfit. Finish the look with basic make-up and a simple hair-do. Beach waves or a messy braid are your go-to styles. Keep the jewellery minimal and go for shimmer shoes instead. Hardware detailing, crystals, studded brooches ? the bolder the embellishments, the better! 

Here is a treat for your taste-buds. Why not try something "Lebanese" this weekend?

Ingredients:

  . Chicken Thigh (Boneless) - 500gms

  . Yogurt - 250 gms

  . Potatoes - 250 gms 

  . Lettuce - 1 Bunch

  . Garlic Cloves - 10 to 12

  . Black Pepper - 2 Tablespoons

  . Olive Oil - 1 Tablespoon

  . Vinegar - 1 Tablespoon

  . Cardamom powder - ? Teaspoon

  . Lebanese White Bread - 4 nos.

Hummus:

   . White Chickpeas - 250gms

   . Tahini Paste - 1 Tablespoon

   . Lemon Juice - 1 Tablespoon

   . Chickpea Water - 3 Teaspoons

   . Salt - 2 Teaspoons

   . Olive Oil - 3 Tablespoons

Yogurt Tahini Sauce:

   . Yogurt - 250gms

   . Tahini Paste - 1 Tablespoon

   . Lemon Juice - 1 Teaspoon

   . Salt - 1 Teaspoons

   . Olive Oil - 1 Tablespoon

   . Black pepper Powder - ? Teaspoon

Method:

    . Marination: In a bowl mix 250gms of yogurt, minced garlic cloves, seven spices, vinegar, black pepper, olive oil, cardamom powder. Then, add the chicken thigh boneless pieces to the yogurt mixture and let it marinate overnight so that all the flavors soak in.

    . Hummus: Soak the chickpeas overnight. Boil them the next day and save the chickpea water. In a food processor combine boiled chickpeas, tahini pasta and a garlic clove. When the machine is running slowly pour the olive oil till the mixture smoothens. Add salt, lemon juice in the end and mix again to combine all ingredients.  

   . Yogurt Tahini Sauce: In a bowl mix 250gms of yogurt, 1 tablespoon of tahini sauce, olive oil, lemon juice, black pepper powder, salt to taste and minced garlic. Mix all the ingredients and let it sit in the refrigerator for 30 minutes so that the yogurt thickens.

   . Now, grill the chicken till it is char grilled and cooked completely.

   . For assembling the Shawarma roll, cut the grilled chicken into thin strips, thinly chop the lettuce leaves, deep fry the thinly slice potatoes till golden brown. Take the Lebanese white bread spread hummus over it, spread the lettuce leaves, potato fries, chicken strips and top it with yogurt tahini sauce and serve it immediately.

Time Avenue Haute Horlogerie (TAHH),India?s first ever luxury watch exhibition was, as expected, a grand affair. For three days, time halted and the spotlight shifted to luxury of top-notch time pieces for watch lovers who rushed to St Regis, Mumbai between October 17^th and 19^th 2015, to witness the most iconic watch fare of the country.

Organised by Time Avenue, the premier super luxury watch boutique, TAHH marks the beginning of a new chapter in the Indian luxury watch industry as watch lovers thronged to touch, feel and witness some of these most sought after timepieces in the world.

The exhibition, besides being the perfect rendezvous between watch makers and watch lovers, also proved to be a defining moment for everyone associated with the fine watches fraternity and expanded their horizons through a whole new level of interactions that unfolded.

For celebrities, it was a time calling of sorts when Mr Uddhav Thackeray, Aditya Thackeray, Neil Nitin Mukesh, Aftab Shivdasani, Kumar Gaurav, Javed Akhtar, Mrs. Rajashree Birla and others were seen admiring luxury watches from their choicest brands. The occasion was just right for Mumbai-based Time Avenue to announce the opening of their second store at Bandra, called ?Time Avenue 2? close to their first flagship store. Only this time, Time Avenue has raised its own bar and the promise is to bring some more world class watch brands at its second store while continuing to house the biggest collection of luxury watches in India.

?TAHH has been a dream come true for me. The turnout of so many distinguished guests and their unanimous appreciation for the initiative has reinforced our resolve to make the next edition an even bigger one,? said Viraal Rajan, Director, Time Avenue.?TAHH is a historical moment for India?s luxury watch industry. With 18 of the world?s most prestigious brands showcasing their finest creations, the watch lovers couldn?t have asked for more. And this is just the beginning,? said Anita Khatri, advisor to TAHH.

Participating Brands were Audemars Piguet, A.Lange & Sohne, Roger Dubuis, Breguet, Blancpain, MB&F, MCT, Chopard, Bvlgari, de Grisogono, de La Cour, Corum, Breitling, Omega, Baume & Mercier, Panerai, Parmigiani and Vertu. The time pieces gleamed and glittered as bright as the starry celebrities who made it to TAHH. Watch lovers in unison had only one word for all the luxury they witnessed at the Time Avenue Haute Horlogerie ? ?timeless?.