Quote of the Moment - Marc Jacobs

'The way I define luxury isn't by fabric or fiber or the amount of gold bits hanging from it. That's an old definition. For me, luxury is about pleasing yourself, not dressing up for other people.'

- Marc Jacobs

Required Listening - Rammstein

Fancy German metal? Then Rammstein is the band for you. The songs that you should be listening to are Feuer Frei, Rosenrot, Mein Herz brennt and Mann gegen Mann. German sounds so cool. Addition to my to-do list - learn german.

Error - Blog Link

Thank you Jonas Fred for pointing out the mistake in the blog address. I wanted it to be http://greattimesgoodtimes.blogspot.com but because of my reckless typing it came as http://greattimesGOODIMES.blogspot.com (no CAPS lock).

We Will Miss You Jonas Fred

I loved your blog and I hate to see you stop blogging. You were an inspiration to me for both fashion, style and blogging. We will miss you Jonas Fred and your blog The Journal Of Style.

Picture - Hedi Slimane

My Love For Balenciaga

I love Balenciaga. There I said it. It is one of my favourite fashion houses. They have fantastic menswear as well as womenswear. Have a look at the 2nd jacket in the 2nd picture. Wonderful design (click on the picture to enlarge). The button arrangement is fantastic. Take a look at all the jackets they are all beautiful. My request to Nicolas Ghesquiere and Balenciaga. Come to India. Come to Cochin. Or at least start online shopping to places other than USA. Optional request- Start a Balenciaga loves India Campaign. Now that would be fantastic. (I will be more than happy to design it for you). Wait, on second thought I will. I have motivated myself to draw a few designs for Balenciaga loves India (my fantasy). They will be up as soon as I finish and considering the lazy bum I am give me a few days.

Road Safety and Style

The campaign you see above (the campaign makes me want to wear that vest. I blame advertising for this too. I envy you people) is a french road safety campaign featuring Karl Lagerfeld. It reads "It's yellow, it's ugly, it doesn't match anything, but it can save your life." Below is something I found with a slight recumbence to the safety vest we see all around us on policemen and security guards.
The photo is from Romain Kremer's Spring Summer 08 collection. Ah how the policemen and security guards would be a pleasure watching with this on. You could wear this too (that is if you can get your hands on them) when on a walk at night in this LOVELY GOD' OWN COUNTRY of ours (please forgive my sarcasm) where street lights don't work.

Oberon Mall and Reliance Time Out

Oberon mall is finally open and I visited the mall with a couple of friends yesterday. Its a big mall compared to the first mall in Cochin, Bay Pride Mall but still not as big or good as other malls across India. Only four stores have opened so far - Brandz, Reliance Trendz, Reliance Footprint and Reliance Time Out which also features a small in-store Cafe Coffee Day. Also open is a small Baskin Robbins ice cream counter. 

Out of all the stores opened I really like Reliance Time Out (the only store I liked actually). Its a great place for book lovers in Cochin. The place has a few seats to lounge and read a few exerts from the book of your choice or you could take the book over to Coffee Day and read a part of it with your cup of coffee. The only complaint I have is that there aren't many books under art, architecture and fashion. Along with books they also have stationaries, cds and lots of other junk you want but don't really need (blame the advertising). 

Beat The Heat

I can't take it anymore. Kerala is one hot place to live in (hot meaning scorching hot temperature). This led to me googling for ways to keep cool and beat the heat. Most of it was too expensive for me but I learned something interesting. I found out that eating hot and spicy food can cool you down in hot climates. I stopped wearing shoes in Cochin unless I really have to. Only sandals for me but the picture above has inspired me to start wearing shoes again (sockless like in the picture). The picture also makes me want to start wearing bright colours again (I want those shorts!). Now all this would have been easier if I could find some money lying around for first class tickets to my vacation home in Switzerland (Munnar or Ooty would be fine too).

Required Listening - Poets Of The Fall

The Poets Of The Fall are a rock band from Helsinki, Finland quickly becoming the next big thing. They have released three albums so far - Signs of Life, Carnival of Rust and Revolution Roulette. The songs that are required listening are Carnival of Rust, The Ultimate Fling, Late Goodbye and Desire.

Shorts and the beach

I love the fact that I live close to the seaside but I hate the fact that beaches here are so dirty. Would it hurt the people here to not litter? Or would it hurt the government to clean up the beaches. The beaches could be a great attraction to locals and tourists alike if kept in a good condition. That bring us to beach wear. Get inspired by the above pictures or just plain copy it. Now all I have to do is grab my trusty pair of Ralph Lauren khaki shorts, my linen summer scarf and sunscreen and have a great time at Goa (I wish) during the weekend. Have a happy diwali and a hell of a weekend.

Great Times Good Times

Welcome to my blog, but who am I? My identity cannot be revealed because the city of Cochin is suddenly the new hot spot for cyber crime (Ah the world has gone mad). I am the black sheep of my family. A family of doctors. I don't want to be a doctor. Far from it. I want to be in the creative business. I have a keen eye for menswear (no I am not gay. You can be totally straight and still be interested in fashion), music, movies, photography and an appetite for good food. The picture above is from one of my favourite photographers/designers Hedi Slimane.