Spotlight

Glamour accessories

There used to be a time when the ladies would tire out from the weight of the jewellery they displayed on themselves. These were tough women carrying loads of metal and smiling happily. There ghosts of that era still show up at some weddings where women bravely brave the condescending weights. But the times have changed and so have women's association with the metal gear.

When once gold and silver were the primary metals to adorn womankind, different stones and gems are taking precedence now. These days a glitzy event like adding still draws out all gold laden women but for other events they make do with various fashionable cosmetic and imitation jewellery. Gold has a classical touch that goes with just about everything. It's difficult to overlook its allure.

Next in desirability comes silver. It serves as the choice accessory material for women from all classes of life. It goes well around the ankle or waist, as rings, key chain or hair clips. Of course, just as there has been a change in the clothes industry, the fashion for jewellery has seen many changes. At one time you see a craze for gold and the next moment that affinity shifts towards stones. In the last few years that trend has moved towards silver. Pure silver is used to accessorise with the locally woven cloth as well as jamdani silk. The light coloured metal is seen at all kinds of event specially those of Pohela Baishakh and other seasonal activities. Then there are |he personal events like gaye holud and weddings. One of the recent trends is t sell gold plated silver jewellery that looks fantastic. The different colours on silver using gold and copper bring out a new face to the jewellery. According to the design pearls, stones and other materials are added to create an eye-catching ensemble. This is known as kundon where the prevalent motifs include sun, flowers and geometzic shapes. These are available with any amount of variation in colour and material according to the buyer's choice. Kundon jewellery particularly highlights big lockets and similarly large earrings that come in circle, square or triangular shape.

Kundon came about because gold is very expensive. Silver plated with gold become s more affordable. Also it is not very safe to go out just about anywhere adorned with gold items. Kundon jewellery is available at most cosmetic shops as well as the large shopping centres. There are several shops in Chadni Chawk and Gausia that are the creators and sellers of such items. Mohammed Abul Kalam, the owner of Raihan Jewellers and Alpana Jewellers on the first floor of Gausia, informed that the craftsmen of Bhakurta in Savar specialise in creating these works of art. These are sold to different shops according to the demand or customer orders. Also the recent import of foreign jewellery has caused the local craftsmen to sit idly because on lack of work. Abul Kalam has all his work done by the artisans in Savar.

Kundon sets are priced according to the weight and the range falls between 1200 and 3600 take. Single ear pieces, necklaces or wri{t items cost between 300 to 800 takas. Of course, the prices differ if you order you particular designs. Nowadays brides are seen decked out from head to toe in gold plated ornaments.

A woman'{ attire is incomplete without jewellery. But the present situations leave a lot wanting in terms of affordability. This new trend of gold plated silver jewellery is helping the women to accessorise at a relatively low cost. Using the different metals and stones add value to the silver. Such work does wonders for the artisans of our country.

By Sultana Yasmin
Translated by Ehsanur Raza Ronny

Check it out

Bamboo Shoot opens to public

If you're a fan of Oriental cuisine, you've got a new reason to rush towards the RM Centre at Gulshan Avenue, popularly known as the 'Agora Building'. The first floor now boasts of "Bamboo Shoot", an exclusive restaurant offering Thai and Chinese cuisine. The restaurant was inaugurated on Thursday, August 19, at a ceremony, where the Honorable Minister for Energy & Mineral Resources, Mr. AKM Mosharraf Hossain was the chief guest.

The interior, which has a seating capacity for 160-200 persons, is divided into three sections. At the centre is the formal dining area, for that fancy night out or that special occasion. From the entrance, to the right is a partitioned area with benches and tables for a more casual eating out experience. To the left are three private rooms, named "Lily", "Rose" and "Orchid", in case you're not in the mood for sharing your dining experience with a whole lot of strangers. These rooms can be booked for private parties, and offer cable TV and karaoke facilities.

The décor is done in shades of tan, mocha, and off-white, perfectly complemented by the furniture. The rectangular block-beams, set in a rack format across the false ceiling, the screens, the artificial bamboo shoots adorning the partitions, and the paper lanterns all work together to recreate a scene right out of Chinatown, which is bound to add to the dining experience.

Coming to the most important part, the food, Bamboo Shoot has a team of Oriental chefs three from China, and one fzom Thailand, to bring you a mou|h-watering medley of authentic Nar Eastern dishes. From the soup to the exotic desserts, they offer real Thai and Chinese food. The spicy prawn dishes, and the duck in particular, are definitely not to be missed. Starting fzom August 28, Bamboo Shoot will also be offering buffet lunches at the unbeatable offer of Tk 225 per head.

Bamboo Shoot is located on the 1st floor of RM Centre, at 101 Gulshan Avenue, Dhaka.

By Sabrina F Ahmad

Tied up in ties

Some feel that a tie is like a noose while others feel that it's the finishing touch to their ensemble. Its one of those clothing items that serves absolutely no purpose unless you feel completely depressed with life and the ceiling fan starts to look interesting. But it does make one look good and with the right choice it makes one feel good.

Choosing your tie
Standard length is 140 cm but it usually varies a bit either way. Check nor the width because the wide ones that you can use to cover your belly went out by the eighties. In most cases 7-8.5 cm looks nice. A good tie needs to have a heavy base so that it falls well over the torso. Silk ties make for the best types as these retain their shape well even after being knotted all day and that is very important. Your tie needs to be able to withstand the choking all day long. By choked I do mean the tie and not your neck.

The best are the woven silk ties as opposed to printed as these are thicker and last longer. Also important is the lining. A good lining makes the tie hang well so look for one that is relatively thick. Do relax because ties will not weigh enough to break your neck no matter how thick the lining. Decent ties start at around 300 taka with good ones going up to a breathtaking five figures. In most cases less than 1000 taka will get you ties that will last longer than you will.

Designs
It can be anything from checks, stripes, cars and geometric patterns to |he Powerpuff Girls. The tie should be able to stand out but not in the likes of a shocking pink against a black shirt. Of course, extremely pale pink can be carried off with aplomb by certain individuals. The best is to ask the opinion of people around you except those whom you owe money, your in-laws and friends you forgot to invite to your party.

Patterned shirt and tie can go together as long as the patterns are different. Checked shirt and ties are sacrilege. Ties with cartoon characters, people, motorbikes and cars do not go with anything unless you are going to a seminar of that particular motif. In Bangladesh you'd probably be going to a white corolla owners club as there are so many so you can get one of those ties (if you find one).

Solids are great for creating contrast but choose the colors wisely. At xresent many Dhaka men are into shades like maroon, deep blue and baby blue as well as dark green. If in doubt, go for a simple diagonally striped tie. It's a timeless classic. The safest choice is a pinstriped piece that coordinates with the shirt, suit and trousers.

Pointers
A few last minute pointers are to hang the tie untied from hangers to maintain the shape. While wearing, the tip should end at the bel| buckle and nowhere below it. Finally, invest in a tie clip or pin that starts from around 150 taka. It will prevent the tie from flapping about and getting caught in the fax machine just as you are about to impress the girl at the desk.

By Ehsanur Raza Ronny

Friday planner

Up and away to Savar…
With the floods subsiding and things slowly getting back to normal around the country, this week we suggest that you get out and have a trip to the outskirts of the city. Pack your bags, pack some food if you want to make it a picnic, and get onto some wheels to make this a special weekend.

Savar is truly the place to be for the weekend afternoon for both the family traveler and the adventurous one. Just a couple of hours away from the heart of the city, Savar can be a great place to get away from all that traffic and all that noise in the city. The greenery of the Smritishoudho can be the prime destination for the afternoon and it can definitely be enjoyable for all ages.

The first thing to do is to plan your transport there. If you have a car, it can be most convenient and if that doesn't ork out there are a lot of back-up plans. Transport to Savar is easy, as there are AC buses running on that route almost every half an hour from Farmgate and Asad Gate, and then again there are taxicabs for the more comfort seeking.

Once transport is sorted out, make sure you sort out the company. Going there with the family can be a choice, but for love-struck couples, we should warn you that Savar can be a romantic spot. The Smri|ishoudho can be both educational for the kids and also give them a place to run around whilst you catch up with your spouse. With hectic work schedules these days, the whole trip can be both refreshing and surprising. The Smritishoudho area is filled with greenery and one can easily go around and find a place to read a book or spend some quiet moments with loved ones. The air is fresh and the people there are not much of a hazard, as sec}rity is fairly good. Enjoy your time on the banks of the lake in the vicinity but be sure to keep an eye on the kids, i.e if you do bring them along.

A good afternoon walk in the scenic areas can be an option and it doesn't take long to cover the whole vicinity. The area is well maintained and the grass is almost regularly cut, so feel free to even lie down in the grass. If you are alone, we prescribe taking the discman or walkman and of course a good book. Although there is a Parjatan Motel opposite to the histozical site, apart from that there arent many options for food. There are street vendors selling different foods and some of which are very interesting. It is best advised to carry your own food and hence enjoy a picnic.

If you are adventurous enough you can take a rickshaw through |he 'bish mile' zoad. \ake a rickshaw from in front of Smritishoudho and make your way through to 'bish mile' to Ashulia. From there you can take another rickshaw to Little Italy and enjoy their great Italian cuisine. The ride through bish mile can be very enjoyable and it has great views on the way. The road is very quiet and can be a bit scary at times, but it is normally secure. However, to be on the safe side try to travel the route in groups and take a few rickshaws together. One can even visit the Jahangirnagar University instead of going to Ashulia, and this can also be a very enjoyable place. The campus is huge and there are many places to visit. Ask around and talk to the students about places to visit.

Getting out of the city may take a bit of planning but can definitely be an alternative way of spending your long awaited weekends. So for thi{ Friday, plan the trip, pack yo}r camera and try to make it a day to remember.

By Mishel Ali Khan