10 Things You Didn’t Know About Simone Arora

10 Saturday Jan 2015

Posted by sitanshi talati-parikh in Interviews (All), Interviews: Lifestyle, Publication: Verve Magazine

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Farah Khan Ali, Simone Arora, Sussanne Khan, Verve Magazine

Vervemagazine.in January 2015. Photograph by Rohan Shrestha

DAY “I am the earliest riser in the family. I wake up at 6:30 am. I like my swim in the morning – it gives me time to think. I enjoy breakfast after a massage (3-4 times a week), following which is a full day at work.

NIGHT “I sleep the earliest too! I’m not a night person. I like to party once in a while, but I like my early morning sun.”

CHILDREN “My boys are in the US. One is in college and the other in prep school; my daughter is here in school. My children grew up while I worked. They are used to me travelling.”

MOTHERHOOD “I’ve never had too much quantity time with them. But spent a lot of quality time. I cuddle them a lot, I kiss them a lot, but I find it hard to spend too much time with them. I feel guilty about that.”

WORK “I go in everyday to my store, Simone; Monday is off, but I plan to go in at least four times a week in the future. I’m passionate about my work, I can sleep in my workplace.”

SIBLING LOVE “Farah and I grew up together but we were poles apart. She became by best friend after I got married.”

GROWING UP “We were all raised to be strong as people. There is too much to be thankful about. With the opportunity and platform that we have, we can’t complain. We’ve always taken responsibility for our decisions and to not play the blame game.”

ENTERTAINING “I like smaller gatherings of 10-15 people. I like to meet over dinner, at friends’ homes, or with family. Basically, laughing and joking, with good food and music.”

D’DECOR “We attended five international home furnishings fairs annually for 15 years. I travelled nearly once a month.”

DESIGN “Simone’s strong forte is colour and combinations. How to mix the solids with the patterns. Her style is also universal and subtle. It has a character that appeals to everyone.” – Sussanne

Brand Builder

08 Thursday Jan 2015

Posted by sitanshi talati-parikh in Interviews (All), Interviews: Business, Publication: Verve Magazine

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The Rose Code, Verve Magazine

Published Verve Magazine, December 2014
Photography by Manpreet Singh

She can race cars, ride horses, skydive and speak the language of luxury with equal aplomb. A born entrepreneur, Pushpanjali Chawla makes her presence felt on The Rose Code

I strongly believe that if you do something, do it to the best of your ability, or don’t do it at all.”

Thirty-seven-year-old entrepreneur Pushpanjali Chawla née Baidyanath (from the family owning Shree Baidyanath Ayurved Ltd) took a chance when she left Pepsi (USA) and moved back to India. She found a niche in the burgeoning, but hitherto unorganised, luxury market. The Stanford University and University of Richmond alumna kick-started her erstwhile venture Blueprint Retail Pvt. Ltd. with Burberry as her first client, followed by Exclusive Motors (Bentley and Lamborghini). She’s a consultant that companies may partner with to achieve their brand goals; she also provides outsourced solutions for retail operations and management and is currently involved in the ventures Luxuryworks, Piivotul Consulting Services and Luxuryworks Gifting Service.

Self-motivation, Pushpanjali feels, is the one key trait that keeps her going through the victories and the downs, not to mention managing via rigorous prioritising and delegation. “I surround myself with good people who I can rely on, both at work and at home. My husband (Rohtash Chawla, owner and director of Signet Garments) and my 10-month-old son are my absolute priority. Being organised and managing your time well are critical to being a master juggler.”

Enjoying the aspect of her work that allows her to avoid regular work days, she can “travel often, research constantly, work across industries and categories and meet a wide range of people. It’s dynamic and ever evolving.” Always one to live in the moment, Pushpanjali is into adventure sports, is a certified skydiver and has raced on the Nascar amateur circuit in the US. “When you are jumping off a plane or approaching a sharp corner on the race track, your mind, body and soul are all in the grip of that one moment. It’s pure, exhilarating and completely free from the yesterday and the tomorrow.”

The published poet and former US State beauty pageant winner is a power dresser who believes in timeless elegance – the sophisticated classic with a feminine touch. Turning out for an occasion means wearing something elegant in monochromatic colours, fine jewellery and statement heels. She treasures her engagement ring, wedding band and a jhoomar worn by her grandmother on her own wedding day. “My engagement ring and wedding band were both designed by my husband. His engineer’s mind got the proportions and ratios on the rings just right…they are magnificent!”

Pushpanjali Chawla remains inspired by “the goodness in life and beauty in nature. I meet amazing, wonderful human beings every day.” She believes it’s important to be non-judgemental because “no one can walk in another’s shoes” and that allows her to appreciate and celebrate diversity in thought and action. And success is being able to say, “I did it my way….”

Fast and Glorious: Jaguar XJ

18 Thursday Dec 2014

Posted by sitanshi talati-parikh in Brand Watch, Publication: Verve Magazine

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Interviews: Luxury Brands, Verve Magazine

Published Verve Magazine, November 2014

An agile machine that can pamper you on the go. What’s not to love?

When the team at work started talking about ‘automated luxury’ my thoughts ran to my fond-of-the-good-life cousin’s latest acquisition. The Jaguar XJ, a sleek beauty of a car, purrs and moves like a panther. It is a vehicle for people who don’t pride themselves on the obvious, and one that is as much the driver’s as it is the passenger’s. Much like the first class cabin of a premium airline, it is docked with all the features you can think of and some you may not. Four-zone climate control, individual television screens, soundproof against the noise on the street, desks to work on in the back, in-seat massage facility for each passenger, footrest and winged headrests, front and back touchscreen control panel to ‘manage’ your experience…the list of goodies that would be on any ambitious car owner’s bucket list is easily check-boxed here, as I discover while taking a casual turn in it.

While we speak of the current state of the country vis-a-vis places abroad, we turn on the television, which with some telepathic sense (really, this car can read minds and tune into conversations now!) starts up a live feed of Narendra Modi’s charismatic speech at Madison Square Garden. As the driver and the front-seat passenger share a TV panel (first world pain!) the car is tuned in to protect the security of its passengers while providing them a world of comfort. So, while the car is idle – read waiting at every corner either for a signal or for traffic – the driver is able to watch the screen. The moment the car springs to life to move on, the screen will perpetuate an automatic invisible block for the driver, so that he may be able to listen, but he cannot watch any more, while the passenger, of course may continue boob-tubing.

And while I watch, I set up the touchscreen to experience my individual massage that can be controlled for intensity and heat. And, of course, because we are in a tropical climate, it can also shoot out cool air to soothe our fragile skin that must have been tempered like fine chocolate in the few seconds that it took to hop from one perfectly air-conditioned space to another. Not to mention the cooling or warming of the steering wheel to adjust to the outside temperature.

In ensuring that all senses are engaged, it is wise to point out that this fabulous machine has all of 20 speakers and 1000+ watts of surround sound blasting power. You read that right, no less than 20 speakers. My dear cousin has found 16 and is still trying to track the remaining four down. The mysterious pursuits the car provides as a bonus are indeed remarkable. Every passenger may watch their own individual television screen while not disturbing the other, via wireless headphones. I’m quite diverted by the fact that the plush headphones are lovingly closeted in a soft cloth pouch much like you would your Bottega Veneta Knot.

I am still trying to think about where the remaining elusive speakers could be while I am being informed about cylinders and horsepower, which is just Greek to me. But I can say that it did a pretty smooth 200+ on Mumbai’s sea link, which you must admit is a feat. And that isn’t even while engaging the sports gear, which is just a stomach-clenching head rush. Even if our city roads provide a challenging environment for the wishful driver, this little vehicle makes it a ride so smooth, it could be an ad for Silk. All I’m left with is the sense of wonderment – in much the manner of people’s response to Apple products – if this one is this good, what’s the USP of the next version? In-built shower cubicles…or the ability to go on land, water and air?

Home Truths: Sussanne, Farah, Simone

16 Tuesday Dec 2014

Posted by sitanshi talati-parikh in Interviews (All), Interviews: Lifestyle, Publication: Verve Magazine

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Bollywood, Designers, Farah Khan Ali, Interview, Simone Arora, Sussanne Khan, Verve Magazine

Vervemagazine.in December 2014
Photograph by Rohan Shrestha

What do the doyennes of design, Sussanne Khan, Farah Khan Ali and Simone Arora, have in their homes?

On Your Table
Farah “Sunday lunch with my family.”
Simone “Happy times on the table.”
Sussanne “Books and food.”

In Your Closet
Farah “Lots of shoes and bags.”
Simone “Clothing, evening-wear, business-office wear, shoes, accessories, jewellery.”
Farah “Simone’s closet is as big as a bedroom.”
Sussanne “Diaries.”

In Your Teapot
Farah and Simone “Green tea.”
Sussanne “Black coffee.”

On Your Breakfast Table
Farah “Lots of eggs, protein, dry fruits, brown bread. Eat healthy in the morning after a workout.”
Simone “My favourite and largest meal is breakfast, soon after a 7 am swim. Dry fruit, fresh fruit, cereal, eggs, mixed vegetable juice.”
Sussanne “Cheese, honey, yogurt…cold foods.”

In Your Bar
Farah “Not much of a drinker. So champagne, Moet or Dom Perignon.”
Simone “I don’t drink. Occasionally, wine. I do enjoy keeping a bar with exquisite glasses bought over the years from different parts of the world.”
Sussanne “French red wine.”

In Your Fridge
Farah “Chocolates, fresh fruit, fresh salad, lot of fish, milk.”
Simone “Cheeses, dessert, sauces and things for the children.”
Sussanne “Chocolates, food, things to snack on – as if it is games night.”

On The Wall
Farah “A lot of my designs, in my cabin. Post-its. Books, awards, creative things.”
Simone “Family pictures and abstract international artists. Workplace: books on interiors, design, catalogues, references.”
Sussanne “All my art, my photo art, antiques, my cheap-and-cheerful art that I get from flea markets, collectibles, moments.”

In Your Library
Farah “Books and films. Not fiction; rather philosophy, spirituality, business.”
Simone “International movies. Recordings from The National Geographic and Discovery channels.”
Sussanne “Illustrated books on the history of art and architecture, thoughts. How To Steal Like An Artist, Pantone books, children’s books like those by Julia Donaldson, Roald Dahl, Dr Seuss.”

On Speedial
Farah “I memorise all the numbers, I prefer dialing them.”
Simone “Kids, family, workplace.”
Sussanne “My son, Hrehaan, my store, store manager and my ‘gladiators’ at the store and my home, nicknamed, ‘Nest’.”

On Your Guestlist (apart from family)
Farah “My friend Bonnie, Anna or Monica. Whoever I remember that day.”
Simone “Close group of friends.”
Sussanne “Haven’t invited anyone over for a long time, but probably my closest friend Salpi and Vishal.”

In Your Browser History
Farah “Instagram. I’m very into social media.”
Simone “Nothing at all.”
Sussanne “Look up on world trends, blogs; whatever comes up on Google alert for my name. It’s nice to be aware, and it’s occasionally amusing. I like understanding the perception of people. And recipes.”

In Your Recipe Book
Farah “Mom’s recipe book. I like experimenting and cooking Continental food.”
Simone “We refer to our mom’s recipe book all the time when we instruct our cooks.”
Sussanne “All kinds of recipe books. My mom’s book of treasures with all different cuisines (soon to be published). The Nutella cookbook.”

Coming soon: The cover story with the Khan siblings talking about love, relationships, career choices, their childhood and family. Watch the behind-the-scenes video of the cover shoot here.

A Pop-Up Star

13 Saturday Dec 2014

Posted by sitanshi talati-parikh in Fashion & Style, Interviews (All), Interviews: Lifestyle, Publication: Verve Magazine

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Designers, Interview, Pernia Qureshi, The Rose Code, Verve Magazine

Published Verve Magazine, November 2014
Photograph by Ryan Martis.

She is assertive and doesn’t believe in wasting time. Founder and owner of perniaspopupshop.com, top stylist, Pernia Qureshi, who has made it to the cover of Verve’s best dressed list, sits pretty on The Rose Code list of achievers

“My online store is my baby and means a lot to me. I have never worked as hard as I did to put this store together. It was a huge challenge but worth it!”

She majored in criminal justice and English literature, and minored in dance from George Washington University, USA. She had ambitions to become a lawyer while growing up, but Pernia Qureshi ended up being a top stylist and fashion entrepreneur. Working in the fashion industry as a stylist in New York, she found her footing and brought that back to India. “New York was a great learning experience for me. It laid the base on which I built my career.” Upon returning to Delhi though, it wasn’t easy at first. “I found it hard to relate to disorganisation, unpunctuality, and unprofessionalism in some cases.”

Pernia worked independently with top Indian designers on their campaigns, look books and fashion shows. She also began styling for Indian cinema with movies like Aisha (2010) and Thank You (2011). Simultaneously, she poured her energies into building possibly India’s first curated fashion shopping portal, perniaspopupshop.com (PPUS), which has been a resounding success. While she works for her online store 24/7, she remains interested in styling for cinema, awaiting the kind of projects that would spark her interest.

Evidently, having worked on every aspect of her business, she is connected to it in a way that is different from her independent projects. “It is hard to pinpoint one aspect as the most challenging or enjoyable. I am involved in everything and I get a sense of overall satisfaction and pride from my work.” She has a busy day, but manages to involve her love for dancing in it. “These days my schedule is off. Normally I wake up, have breakfast, move on to spending two hours in my Kuchipudi class with Raja and Radha Reddy and Kaushalya Reddy, get home, shower, lunch, head to work at PPUS, and reach back home for an early dinner.”

Whether at work or at an event, she knows how to work the styling charm, while being appropriate to the occasion and respecting the dress code. “My personal style is classic, feminine and sometimes sexy.” Her most treasured piece of jewellery remains her grandmother’s earrings that the latter wore at her wedding.

She’s looking ahead, but her thoughts are simple. “I don’t feel like I have reached any milestone professionally yet. Personally I have managed to have a family and a few friends that love me and dote on me. For me, that’s a milestone enough.” As for the future – “I don’t plan so far ahead. I just hope to be financially independent and creatively satisfied. I am inspired by so many things all the time. All my senses are constantly engaged. And success to me is measured in happiness.”

Sacha’s Way

11 Thursday Dec 2014

Posted by sitanshi talati-parikh in Fashion & Style, Interviews (All), Interviews: Lifestyle, Publication: Verve Magazine

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Fashion, Goa, Verve Magazine

Vervemagazine.in December 2014
Photograph by Shovan Gandhi

From being a writer and fashion stylist for fashion publications to curating a resortwear shop in Goa, Sacha Mendes’ journey has been interesting, to say the least. As she puts it, it started with a small shop of cushion covers by her mother, two racks of clothes by her friends (SavioJon and Anuj Sharma), and a few jars of orange-peel cookies made by a friendly neighbour, all in the comfort of her father’s ancestral home. “It was never meant to be a store, just a cabinet of curiosities to amuse us.” Today, Sacha’s Shop in Panjim, Goa is an eclectic collection of style goodies that a local can rely upon and a traveller makes it a point to always check out. You would be likely to find deconstructed trousers made into a dress, leather puppets, paper birds, and cross-stitch towels.

Sacha’s Shop appears as a pop-up in Mumbai at The Vintage Garden (Patkar Bungalow, Turner Road, Bandra), December 12-14 (11am-7pm) with resortwear for men and women, furniture, jewellery, table linen, art and design books, home décor, floral arrangements and a range of collectibles.

A quick chat with Sacha Mendes:

Designers in store (Goa) SavioJon, Tilla, Small Shop, 11:11, Maku, Design By Example, Paromita Banerjee, Aish Naushad Ali, Runaway Bicycle, Aavaran, Hot Pink Cool Blue, Ninoshka, Not Like You, Ritika Sachdeva, Pretty Stoned, Lisa Jackal, Labrador

Greatest inspiration “Mostly it’s people I meet, dear friends, people whose work I look up to, people I learn from, people I fall in love with, and family.”

The idea “As I always say, it wasn’t a conscious decision. It was an experiment of filling a space with pieces that I love.”

The greatest challenge that comes with a start-up “There is no great challenge. There is just a journey, an adventure.”

The best part about being an entrepreneur “You can express yourself through your work.”

Your dream “Is to live on a farm and self educate my children!”

A change post Sacha’s Shop “My relationship with time.”

Harshest criticism “I don’t think I’ve ever received any harsh criticism. My friends and family are great for getting me on track, and keeping it real, but they always do it with love.”

Favourite fashion trend “Oversized clothes.”

A personal style quotient you swear by “To each their own. I don’t believe in dictating style tips to anyone, and I expect the same.”

Looking forward to in 2015… “New adventures.”

A Drop In The City

15 Saturday Nov 2014

Posted by sitanshi talati-parikh in Art, Literature & Culture, Publication: Verve Magazine

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Art, Verve Magazine

Vervemagazine.in November 2014

Concerned with water, a deep desire to investigate, immerse and experiment, Atul Bhalla’s show in Delhi is stark and moving

1964-born, Delhi and USA educated, Atul Bhalla is deeply interested in the environment particularly the eco-politics of water. His conceptual art creates an engagement with urban and metropolitan spaces, particularly those in his home city of New Delhi. He is also known as an environmental activist on the basis of his preoccupation with the distribution, regulation, commoditisation and pollution of water – and yet he stays on the right side of social concern. Bhalla describes his practice as an attempt to understand water, the way he perceives it, feels it, drinks it, swims in it and sinks in it. Possibly, with the world losing sight of the water crises, with the immense wastage of natural resources in movements like the Ice Bucket Challenge, it is prudent to have a speaker for the precious resource.

5 Questions with the artist, Atul Bhalla
1. Artistic Motivations “It’s the deep desire to investigate, experiment, immerse, push boundaries and communicate…to say it my way.”

2. Inspirations “Jeff Wall, Francis Alys, Andrei Tarkovsky, Isaac Bashevis Singer, Wislawa Szymborska, Fyodor Dostoevsky.”

3. On the wall at home “Francis Bacon, Giacometti, Gerard Richter, Tacita Dean, Jeff Wall, Francis Alys.”

4. Concerns that find place in your art “Water!”

5. If you weren’t an artist, you would be…“Still an artist!”

Ya Ki Kuchh Aur runs until January 2, 2015 at Vadehra Art Gallery, D-53 Defence Colony, New Delhi.

The Handy Dandy Square

31 Friday Oct 2014

Posted by sitanshi talati-parikh in Humour, Publication: Verve Magazine

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Humour, Men, Verve Magazine

Published Verve Magazine, Verve Man Supplement, October 2011

The handkerchief – once a permanent resident of a gentleman’s pocket – is hardly to be seen, but this accessory still has its uses….

There’s something about a well-dressed man that has me waxing eloquent on more than one occasion. While most men today are considerate towards our eyes and have upped their grooming quotient remarkably, it does send the heart in a tizzy when you spy that devilish, impertinent, cheeky little square punching a direct access to our emotions right out of the pocket. Tissues replaced handkerchiefs with ease – really does no one care about trees anymore? And we can never have the mid-century British moment of a flutter-and-swoon with the gentleman’s hanky popping out promptly to the rescue. With the disappearance of the hanky, came the appearance of the less-than-perfect man, whatever Raymond may claim. But the gregarious pocket square may save the day: in its beautiful sateen avatar, it promises a lifetime of care.

12 fortuitous ways in which the pocket square may come to the rescue:

When there is a snivelling bride. And you are the solicitous groom with pleasant manners.
When you are the best man at your buddy’s wedding and the delectable bridesmaid is having an emotional moment. The pocket square ensures that you will have a lucky night.
Offering it to patch up the teensy-weensy sari blouse the girl next to you on the dance floor has managed to rip with an enthusiastic move.
Serenading the woman of your dreams by dashing off poetry at a moment’s notice on your pale pink square and handing it to her by going down on one knee.
After points #2 – #4 have worked, using it for some impromptu S&M.
Knowing that you both scored a 100 per cent compatibility ratio in point #5, leaving your square with your number written on it with her lipstick to plan the next date.
Using it innovatively to gain miles for your mile high club membership.
Blindfolding your date before throwing her off a plane as you surprise her with a skydiving-and-dinner plan.
Using it as loincloth, when she takes her revenge and runs away with your pants after leaving you in the Jacuzzi.
Wowing your betrothed with vows scrawled in a flourish on the initialled-square and handed to her with her favourite piece of jewellery.
When the elderly auntie right next to you is looking with quiet desperation for a tissue to quickly spit her tobacco…or paan before
she has to make a lengthy speech about an enjoyable and hitherto utterly uneventful 75 years of marriage.
You can use it as a gag for the auntie who makes it a point to nudge you repeatedly to ask you if you are next, while you play best man at your buddy’s wedding.

Tech Tycoon

28 Tuesday Oct 2014

Posted by sitanshi talati-parikh in Interviews (All), Interviews: Business, Publication: Verve Magazine

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Devita Saraf, The Rose Code, Verve Magazine

Vervemagazine.in October 2014
Photograph by Toranj Kavyon

The CEO and design head of Vu Technologies, Devita Saraf, is a trained Odissi dancer, member of the international high-IQ Mensa society and has been ranked in the top 25 most powerful women in India (2006) by leading national media. Young, smart and talented, there’s no question about Devita Saraf’s place in The Rose Code

“I believe in thinking ahead. I get very uncomfortable if things seem too unchanged.”

The 32-year-old daughter of Rajkumar Saraf (chairman and CEO of Zenith Computers) started training at the age of 16, and made sure her academic career followed suit. Post management of technology at University of California, Berkeley, business degrees from the University of Southern California and London School of Economics, Devita Saraf joined her family business at 21 becoming the director of marketing. At 24 she started Vu Technologies, and at age 29, co-founded the Pittsburgh-based Vu Telepresence Inc. “While at Zenith Computers, working closely with industry behemoths such as Intel and Microsoft, we realised the burgeoning demand for high-end technology in the emerging Indian market. I mixed my love for luxury with our background of technology and the innovation capabilities of these large companies, and started Vu Technologies.”

She looks at the entire business, “even boring bits such as accounts, logistics and operations”, while her heart remains in marketing. She exemplifies the spirit of entrepreneurship: “It begins with imagining something that doesn’t exist and making it real. Entrepreneurship is a personality trait more than a job. Like the friend in the group who always makes plans, as opposed to the ones that just go along for the ride.”

Success is sweet, as Saraf has discovered. “I was never a topper in school and barely got any certificates for academic excellence, so I guess I compensated to my parents by winning some major business awards. They make my mother proud, and that is always satisfying.” It’s not surprising then that she counts as her personal milestone being invited to her school (Queen Mary School, Mumbai) as a chief guest a few years ago. “The same teachers who punished me for being a mischievous child, were now being hospitable. But they were also very proud of me and moments like these motivate me to work hard.”

While her workday is generally a mix of meetings, emails and face-to-face interactions with team members, she leads a “normal South Mumbai life, taking long walks at Marine Drive or meeting friends at the Willingdon Club. I’m not married yet, so it gives me enough time to pursue my interests such as dance or actively participate in EO and other forums.” Saraf also has certifications in Ikebana and jewellery design. She designed her name in diamonds as a necklace for her 10th birthday and wore it for every birthday thereafter. “Honestly, it surprises me that my parents let me design with diamonds at age nine!”

The global jetsetter’s personal style can be described as “feminine sophisticate” as she favours body-con dresses, red, pink, floral prints, lace, trench coats, hats and jewellery. “Even though I am in business, my style is far from androgynous.” She is inspired by “powerful princesses” and is all about creating new milestones and reaching them. “I do aspire to have political and policy-making leadership in this country. It’s the least we can do for the future of our country.”

The Leaning Effect

26 Sunday Oct 2014

Posted by sitanshi talati-parikh in Publication: Verve Magazine, Social Chronicles

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Marriage, Musings, Verve Magazine

Vervemagazine.in October 2014
Illustration by Wyanet Vaz

Women are choosing to take their time before tying the knot, thinking fiercely about a potential loss of freedom, the pressure to start a family and career compromises in an increasingly driven world, wondering who will be on top….

Setting metaphoric innuendos aside, enough has been said about a woman having it all and playing a juggling act with everything including her own sanity. With home being the woman’s domain and the workplace being the man’s, guidelines are crisply divided – the lakshman rekha is sindoor red. What happens when those boundaries are crossed? Everything becomes grey and the girl doesn’t want any sindoor red. The man feels emaciated and the woman feels burdened with judgement.

Even when it became socially acceptable for a woman after marriage to ‘stay busy’ so that she basically wouldn’t spend the family wealth shopping, it was understood that she would do so in socially acceptable places, with timings and choices and clothes that kept her family maryada in mind at all times. Mostly, she either ran her own home business or she worked out of her father’s or husband’s office. It was considered taboo for a woman of means to work outside the family limits. It’s not like she needed the money after all!

And what about wanting to do something that is more than being the household accountant and ironing out domestic problems? An educated woman, who has worked before marriage, is likely to have a desire to build a healthy career of her own – one that may not be convenient, or secure or easy. But how does a man and his family knuckle down to it?

And then the ‘supportive family’ arrived. In an age of inflation and an era of success stories, there is a greater desire for families to accept their daughters-in-law’s careers and achievements. But that didn’t mean that a woman would stop doing what she was traditionally expected to – she still ran the house and ordered groceries and tallied salaries and cooked and managed and juggled her career alongside it all. This led to people beginning to question whether women could have it all….

So, it’s not surprising that women are pushing marriage to later in life, because while it is possible for a woman to metaphorically be on top, is it possible for her to be on top of everything without spreading herself too thin? There may be a solution, as Facebook’s CEO, Sheryl Sandberg pointed out in her book, Lean In. It talks about making your partner a real partner, moving forward to accept shared responsibility of building a life and family together. In our celebrated patriarchal society where women are relegated as dependent on men, it is empowering to think that there can be a chance for ambition and salvation in the same sentence.