Shop special

Dolly's Design

The tiny boutique comprises of a single small room, tucked away on the first floor of a home in Tejgaon (Location: 'Ferdous' House, 723 West Nakhalpara, Ellenberry row). It is a place where you just may find that perfect block print on cotton saree to add to your summer wardrobe. Dolly's Design is a few years old, though Dolly Siddiq, designer and owner has been in the business of block printing since 1987, and providing her workmanship to big names such as Aarong, Kumudini, Banglar Mela and Shetuli. She had opened up her own showroom since then, and mentions how much she enjoys the creative process of designing her own collection.

Dolly's Design offers only sarees, though Siddiq does plan to venture into shalwaar kameezes sometime in the future. For now, the showroom offers mainly block print on cotton sarees. The cottons are bought exclusively from Tangail, ordered as Siddiq says, from the best artisans there. Other materials include silks and half silks from Rajshahi, and Muslin sarees from Tangail. The kinds of work one may find done on these sarees are block on cottons, screen-print on Muslin, Nakshi Katha print, and a few tie-dyes. In addition to that, some have hazaar buti, sequins, dollar sequins (akin to glasswork), and / or applique work done on them. Kota sarees are a favourite of many, and there are some plain block prints on Kota on display that is indeed eye-catching. There are handfuls of plain Tangail taat sarees with zari borders that the showroom has kept on demand as well.

Collections at Dolly's Design are in keeping with the changing seasons, and occasions such as Eid. For Boishakh, there were beige / off-white and white with red combinations; some of the small print designs on these combinations in particular are fragile, intricate and quite tastefully done. Right now, the showroom has a large collection of summer wear in cool, subdued combinations of melon, peach, mustard, powder blue, lime green and orange. Those in darker, more vibrant hues of greens, maroons and blues are also available, though these may be more in abundance during winter. Siddiq's Eid collections are kept rich in colour, and are bright and festive.

The designer emphasizes how her main focus is on quality and design rather than quantity, which is why, she adds, the showroom hasn't necessarily expanded into a larger one. Prices at Dolly's are quite reasonable with plain cottons ranging from Tk600-785, cotton with work for Tk 850-950, silk for Tk 1650-2500, and Muslin at Tk2850.

If you are a lover of sarees, especially cottons and kotas, this boutique certainly deserves to be on your 'browse-worthy' list.

By Rubaiyat Khan

Ice Cream Cake
With the arrival of Boishakh, it seems that the temperature has risen considerably. The increase in temperature has made life almost a living hell. It is times like these that a slice of an ice cream cake can seem like a godsend, as it'll help you to cool down and also give your taste buds something to savour. Ice cream cakes are widely available at nearly all supermarkets. Polar and Igloo are the brands most sought after, and they cost about Tk 170.

Juice
In this hot and humid weather, nearly everyone is getting dehydrated very quickly. The best way to make up for your loss of body fluids is to drink plenty of water or juice. Nowadays there are many brands of juice available in the market and they taste quite good too. Various flavours like Mango, Apple, Pineapple etc. are available and so you'll be somewhat spoilt for choice. Brands like Aarong and Pran are sold for a reasonable Tk 12.

Deodorant
If you're a man who doesn't want to smell unpleasant, then it's perhaps time to invest in a deodorant. That's because the increase in temperature will almost invariably make you sweat more and eventually lead to an unpleasant odour. You can beat the stench by simply using a decent brand of deodorant. Popular brands in our country include Axe, Denim etc. Prices of these deodorants usually start from Tk 150 onwards, and they are available at most supermarkets and department stores.

Hair Removal Cream
If you're a woman who's finding the present heat wave sweeping across the country unbearable, then you might want to start wearing sleeveless dresses and other summer clothes. By doing so, you'll at least be able to get a bit of respite from the heat. Before wearing your summer clothes though, you might want to remove your unwanted body hair, and it is for this reason that hair removal cream comes into the equation. Brands of hair removal cream like Veet and Nair are available at quality supermarkets, and they can be bought for about Tk 170.

Katarivogh Rice
You have probably tried Pakistan's famous Basmati rice, but have you ever tried Bangladesh's very own Katarivogh rice? If not, then you have missed out on a true delicacy. Katarivogh rice is so good that it is being exported for quite some time now. The next time you go on your shopping errand, make a point to purchase this variety of rice. We assure you that you will be pleasantly surprised. At the branches of PQS a 5-kg bag of Katarivogh rice is sold for Tk 170.

Toilet Cleaner
If toilets are not cleaned on a regular basis, they both look and smell awful. A visit to any of Dhaka City Corporation's public toilets will surely prove this point. In order to ensure that your toilet does not give you an unpleasant feeling, clean it regularly with a good toilet cleaner. Harpic and Vanish are two widely available toilet cleaners and they cost about Tk 45.

By Sayeed Mahmud Nizam

Essential

Refreshing refills
In this unusually harsh heat spell, we lose a lot of water through sweat. Your daily water intake should increase to compensate for the loss of fluids. Dehydration can lead to various complications like seasonal fever, urine infection, and jaundice.

Hot and cold
With the large temperature differential between the boiling weather outside, and the fan and/or a/c-cooled interior of your house, it isn't very hard to come down with sniffles and fever. If your child just came in from the heat outside, keep icy chilled food and drinks out of his/her reach. Especially avoid ice cream, icy curds, custard, yogurt and cold drinks. A tall glass of juice at room temperature would work far better.

Stormy strategies
In this stormy day when strongly wind blown do not stand under any trees. Because it can not safety for you. Suddenly weak branches are broken down on your head. Then it will be an accident. Also be careful of slippery roads.

Wear light and spray light
Light, bright fluorescents and neutrals like white, beige, gray, and khaki should be the colors dominating your daytime wardrobe. Also, since the humidity makes sweating an inescapable reality, ignore the heavy perfumes and reach for light deodorant and antiperspirant sprays instead.

Prickly heat solutions
Heat rashes are another unpleasant outcome of this weather. They itch more than measles, and make life miserable. Keep them at bay with prickly heat powder. Sprinkle on after bath, or before going to bed. Calamine lotion also works wonders for heat-irritate skin.

By Sultana Yasmin

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