My personal style is Classic and minimal on a daily basis (usually a dress or a kurta set), but I love dramatic and avant-garde creations for major events.
My personal style icon: I don’t have one style icon per se; I like to draw style inspiration from many different sources, from art and architecture to old movies, natural beauty, and of course fashion weeks. Personal style keeps evolving and the people/places we draw inspiration from also keep changing as a result.
An item in my wardrobe that means a lot to me: My wedding lehenga, which Manish Malhotra designed for me. I absolutely love everything about it; it made me feel like a princess on the most special day of my life.
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Wedding lehenga designed by Manish Malhotra
My favourite souvenir from my travels is: a Buddhist bracelet I was given by my Shifu at the Shaolin Temple in China, where I recently went to learn kungfu. It serves as a daily reminder of the importance of simplicity, discipline and gratitude that I learned there.
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Buddhist bracelet gifted by Parekh's Shifu at the Shaolin Temple in China
The best gift I have received: Truffle, my Shih Tzu was gifted to me on my birthday 5 years ago by my husband Saharsh. He was just 20 days old at the time and fit on my palm – he is my first baby and a constant source of joy.
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Pet dog Truffle
The best gift I have given: The best gift I hope I am giving my children is respect, acceptance, and unconditional love for who they truly are – I would hope this inculcates a sense of self-confidence, self-worth, and freedom to move in the direction of their dreams.
The last thing I bought: A book at the airport – I absolutely love physical books and am constantly buying (and reading) them. My last purchase was Meditations by Marcus Aurelius.
The last book I read: The Almanack of Naval Ravikant. It’s full of thoughtful leadership and life insights from an entrepreneur and investor.
Last read book
The last film I loved: A Gentleman in Moscow – it’s actually a TV mini-series, adapted from one of my favourite books, but just beautifully made and very heart-warming.
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Last watched film
My Spotify list would include these songs: My Spotify is full of podcasts! I love The Mindvalley Show with Vishen, where he interviews different thought leaders in each episode.
My beauty/ wellness routine is: I go for a walk as soon as I wake up, followed by meditation. I practice yoga regularly. I believe beauty comes from the inside out and try to maintain a natural, healthy routine where I eat everything in balance. My 92 year old nani is my role model for natural beauty!
My favourite holiday destination: Paris. It’s such a beautiful city, full of history, breathtaking art, great fashion and yummy food! I just roam the streets and museums endlessly and find that I learn something new every time.
I love to collect: cards made by my children, friends and family. I love handwritten notes and have a drawer where I keep all the cute cards and notes I’m blessed to have received.
My fridge always has: green chillies. I don’t have a sweet tooth at all, but I can eat green chillies with everything!
Minimalism or maximalism: Both; it just depends on the occasion! I usually gravitate towards minimal when it comes to most things, but I love larger-than-life couture with dramatic structural elements or gigantic sleeves/ruffles etc.
My home looks like: I’m obsessed with white and everything neutral. My go-to aesthetic for home décor is modern Parisian. I love Indian artists (just as I love Indian designers!)
My favourite mix of traditional and contemporary is: Indian fashion! Traditional craftsmanship and techniques used in contemporary cuts and innovative designs make for the most interesting pieces. Our Indian designers do this so well.
My best ideas come when: I’m alone early in the morning writing down ideas and thoughts brainstorming or reading. I love thinking and working in complete silence, while everyone else is asleep. Also on flights, where there is no network and one is completely cut off.
The best way to spend Rs 20,000 is: on a shared experience, building memories with family (or close friends). Everything in life can be replaced except time, and the only regret we’ll have is not spending enough of it with the people we love.
My idea of happiness is: sitting on the floor of the playroom, laughing with my kids, husband, and dog Truffle! It is very loud, usually a big mess, and lots of fun.
