A haute brand, unsurpassed glamour, plush ambience, all sprinkled with desi magic will coalesce together in a city that exudes an air of sophistication. Here's a little inside information to tweak your curiosity even more. Where would you find Urmila Matondkar and Uma Thurman clinking champagne glasses? In Paris, of course, the melting pot of fashion and glamour, all courtesy Verve!

Well, we don’t wish to blow are own trumpet, but Verve, a mag that appeals to all those of discerning taste is going to revel Paris with a taste of India…Verve Style. The Indian lifestyle glossy with widespread international appeal, will ride the wave of the current global preoccupation with India and host an evening replete with elegance and Parisian bonhomie.

When Yves Carcelle, president of the LVMH group, visited India last year, he was bestowed a warm welcome when Verve's editor and publisher, Anuradha Mahindra threw a luncheon in his honour. In true Parisian spirit, the gesture was reciprocated this year when Mr. Carcelle invited Anuradha Mahindra and Verve's brand development director, Nupur Mahajan Sinh, to the fashion capital. The occasion? The opening of a new store in the fashion capital, touted to be the largest fashion boutique in the world.

Asked to be special invitee at this grand international do, Verve promises to cast an Indian spell over the two-day festivities! And what better way to spread some Indi glam than with a Bollywood presence that bedazzles the 3000 global celebrities gathered for the momentous occasion?? And so we zeroed in on screen smashers, Urmila Matondkar and Ameesha Patel to be the Verve contingent and then also went a step ahead and planned a special pre party on the 8th night! Both the Bollywood beauties riding high on current success will provide the sophisticated soirée at Laurent, a three star Michelin restaurant, with some Bollywood glitter straight up. Laxmi Mittal, Jean Marc Loubier, Olivier Maison, Lord Swraj Paul, Yves Carcelle, Liz Hurley and Arun Nayar are all set to raise a toast to Verve's first do heralding our ten years as a premier magazine. 

Says Nupur Mahajan Sinh; "The LV celebration in Paris isn't an award ceremony of a certain film industry where India features a sub group within the foreign category. To be invited for what is truly a global affair and boasts of the who's who from the world over is representative of the fact that India has finally pegged a hole on the Western marquee! And for Verve to spearhead this sentiment is heart warming. Post the 8th night revelry the Verve contingent will grace the red carpet for the Opening Night at Champs Elysees on 9th where stars from film industries spanning the globe -- Hollywood, Japanese, French -- are expected to descend on Paris for the designer jamboree, togged out in their glamorous best. Confirmed names that sparkle on the list of RSVPs are: SHARON STONE, UMA THURMAN, SALMA HAYAK, LAXMI MITTAL, ARUN NAYAR AND LIZ HURLEY, to name a few".

WHOS' WEARING WHAT

Urmila, fresh from the success of Maine Gandhi Ko Nahin Maara and Ameesha after an applause-worthy cameo in the internationally acclaimed Mangal Pandey -- The Rising were obvious choices.
With the store opening on October 9 and Verve's pre event dinner on the 8th, Urmila and Ameesha, as was befitting the grand occasion had both carefully planned their wardrobe.

Playing favourites

While Urmila stuck with her fav and made an SOS call to designer Manish Malhotra, busy in New York on Karan Johar’s film, for one of the events. She also decided to depart from the norm with outfits designed by Falguni and Shane Peacock and Shaina NC. A wine-coloured Falguni and Shane Peacock creation specially designed for her, a Manish Malhotra outfit for the Louis Vuitton lunch the day after and a sequinned black Shaina NC sari for the dinner, comprise. Meanwhile, Ameesha Patel will play muse to designer, Neeta Lulla.

DESIGNING SUCCESS

Yves Carcelle, president LVMH, seems like a regal monarch as he surveys the vast empire that he heads. Louis Vuitton, the grand maestros of fashion who have reinvented style for the beau monde and enjoying a patronage of superstars from all over, bedazzled Paris with the launch of their latest fashion house that is of massive proportions, large enough to suit the august name itself. A melange of the crème de la crème of international society, arrived in the city to partake celebration on October 9, as did the varied faces of Louis Vuitton as Paris wore a festive look. Uma Thurman, Sharon Stone, Salma Hayek and Liz Hurley and Takachi Moragami who, incidentally designed the Louis Vuitton cherry, will be there to soak in the quiet sophistication of the new store.