My personal style is: Experimental, vacation-ready, eclectic, comfy, mix and match, a little bohemian. When I’m not in athletic gear, I am partial to color, soft fabrications, ones that tell a story for a day-into-evening affair. I like textured and hand beaded separates for the evening, sometimes paired with a cool jacket. I love accessories, vintage and heirloom pieces and am partial to the saree and Indian textiles for a classic evening or wedding season. I started collecting sarees at 16 and have a very special collection of heirloom sarees from weavers across the country and love playing mix and match with absolutely everything in my wardrobe.
My personal style icon: My South Indian grandmother, Susheela Iyengar. She was the chicest woman I ever knew and had a huge influence on the way I thought about fashion, expression and originality. Born in 1914, she had travelled the world by her 30s with my grandfather, HVR Iyengar; the then governor and first Home Secretary of India. She wore a beautiful silk saree every day, fitness meant everything to her, a host par excellence and she had her shoes made by a Chinese shoemaker. She was excellently groomed, hair in a beautiful updo, sunglasses, beautiful coats and designed her bags with everyone from zardozi artisans in Agra to Italian and French petit-point. She grew her own coffee, planted her own roses till we lost her when I was 19. Ammama had the ability to wear a 300-rupee simple Kanjeevaram cotton saree and make it look so chic.
An item in my wardrobe that means a lot to me: I’m going to say two. A coat handed down from my grandmother which I wear till today - she bought it at Bergdorf Goodman and now I retail there so that is very special. The second is an antique heart-shaped polki pendant with emeralds and rubies from Nadiad, in Gujarat, my paternal hometown that my mother strung up on pearls and gifted me for my 40th birthday. I wear it with everything and it reminds me of how special she is to me.
My favourite souvenir from my travels is: A 400-year-old antique Anatolian pile rug I bought from a family in Istanbul, with the Tree of Life done in pomegranate juice. Anyone who knows me knows how much I love collecting souvenirs when I travel. Our home is a reflection of that.
The best gift I have received: A Lhasa Apso dog, Tashi, when I was five which was to be shared with my sister Gayatri on her sixth birthday. Needless to say, I’ve been obsessed with dogs and animals most of my life.
The best gift I have given: A shihtzu dog, Mowgli, to my parents in Bombay when I lived in New York, a mate, Samui, from Koh Samui for Mowgli and that was a whole other story. I also got a very cool antique Thai sword that same trip for my husband to match on the wall with my grandfather’s civil service sword. How I got back into the country that trip was one for the books.
The last thing I bought: A functional camel Miu Miu bag, Warby Parker glasses on repeat, A pair of Levi’s 501s, matcha, a pair of Comme De Garcon Converse high-tops and some amazing vintage kimonos from Japan.
The last book I read: I always carry a book wherever I go. ‘Originals’ by Adam Grant and ‘Focus on What Matters’ by Darius Foroux.
The last film I loved: I watch no more than four-five films a year, and I am trying to better that number. But Kiran Rao’s ‘Laapataa Ladies’ was absolutely outstanding. Ajay Devgn’s ‘Maidaan’ was also great and I liked the ‘Chevalier’, composer Joseph Bologne’s biopic. I’m partial to sports, spy and historical movies and watch a good indie film on recommendation.
My Spotify list would include these songs: In no particular order, ‘Easy’ by Troy Sivan, ‘Perfect World’ by the Lastlings, ‘Billie Jean’ by Micheal Jackson, ‘Hablando’ by B Tribe, ‘Freeze’ by Kygo, ‘Feels Like I’m Falling in Love’ by Coldplay, ‘Shallow water’ by Elder Brook, ‘Subconsciously’ by Black Coffee, ‘The One’ by U2, ‘Save your tears’ by The Weeknd, ‘C’est la vie’ by Khaled, ‘Aisha’ by Khalid, ‘Apocalypse’ by Cigarettes after Sex, ‘Superhero’ by Lauv, ‘Summer High’ by AP Dhillon.
My beauty/ wellness routine is: I don’t go to a dermatologist and I only like using natural oils on my skin. I've been blessed with decent skin especially for the amount of time I’m in the sun for sport if not work. I tend to have a simple routine that I’m fairly disciplined about: I make sure I wash, cleanse and hydrate my skin. My secret weapons are oils, I have one for everything. I use Keihl’s Midnight Recovery oil to clean my face, use Pixie’s toner once a week, Iris activating essence or Suhlawasoo’s essence, followed with a couple of drops of argan/ sandalwood oil. I use a jade roller or a guasha followed by Kiehl's ultra moisturising lotion and a mineral sunscreen. For make-up base I swear by Bobbi Browns’ Face Visage. Shower oils are from Forest Essentials or simply Pears soap. For the body I use a virgin coconut oil from Good Earth.Recently I’ve started using depuffing eye patches when I travel but no amount of that helps my dark circles except a really good concealer!
My favourite holiday destination: Goa and Alibag. Wherever in the world I go, nothing is as relaxing, more close to home and as special as Goa and Alibag. They're homes away from home. I like to hide, swim in the ocean, get lost in a book, and love cooking or practising a bunker shot on the beach.
I love to collect: Books and textiles.
My fridge always has: Exotic spices and travel magnets.
Minimalism or maximalism: Maximalism
My home looks like: An eclectic mix of art, plants, colorful textiles, books, collectibles, antiques and souvenirs over the years.
My favourite mix of traditional and contemporary is: A Gujarati thali with a glass of tequila
My best ideas come when: I’m alone working late into the night in my studio or when I’m on my couch.
The best way to spend Rs 20,000 is: A ferry ride to Alibag, enjoy the beach, go for long walks or a trek have a picnic, buy some local fish from the market, a coffee at Ten94 cafe or potter around at the jetty for knick-knacks and a beer on the way back on the boat. You’ll still have money left over so buy something for a kid on the street at Gateway of India.
My idea of happiness is: Family and close friends around the dinner table. Being on a golf course. Hiding in a forest on safari or swimming in the ocean.
