Bloody Finale
In life, Phoolan Devi combined the brutal underbelly of India with political fame and glamour. Gunned down in Delhi, her death could become the occasion for a new round of caste conflict in Uttar Pradesh. Phoolan
is being reinvented posthumously.
A report.

Rule Of Outlaw
Dons and politicians enjoy a symbiotic relationship in Uttar Pradesh.

Back To The Trenches
Determined not to let up on its Kashmir-centric agenda, Pakistan has stepped up violence in the Valley. Indian security forces gear up to deal with the situation.

Revenge Of Badla People who lent money to stockbrokers for financing speculators through the badla system find themselves at the receiving end of yet another scam. And with little evidence to nail the accused, chances of recovery are dim.

The Peacenik
S.B. Deuba's rapport with the Maoists helped him become prime minister. Now he has to deal with their radical demands about the monarchy and secularism.

SOCIETY AND TRENDS: SPECTACLES

Frame Of Mind

Far from being utilitarian necessities, glasses are now trendy accessories. And like with all fashion, it is only the label-not the price tag-that matters.

By Natasha Israni

DOLCE & GABBANA Rs 5,500-7,500

One would think being in the style business guaranteed a certain immunity from being surprised by fashion quirks. Poonam Soni, a Mumbai-based jewellery designer of 10 years, begs to differ as she amusedly points to a cosmopolitan trend. "I've seen youngsters with 6/6 vision wearing spectacles because they think it makes them look trendier," she laughs. "Girls especially see frames as accessories to highlight their looks."

Donning plain glass frames only for style may seem an overstretch but even those who have prescription glasses will agree that spectacles are no longer just about being able to tell your boss' face from your girlfriend's. In the megalopolis culture that worships individual style, spectacles are the new fashion tool. The shape, size and material of the frames, not to mention the lenses, say as much about how "with it" you are as your clothes or shoes.

SAKURA Rs 1,800-2,500

The bespectacled Mr and Ms Chashmuddin of yesterday are today's Mr and Ms Trendy. Even if it means having to part with around Rs 5,000 for a frame-or Rs 30,000 if it's a Cartier.

Says Sanjay Tyagi, manager of Delhi's Bon-Ton Opticians, which has four showrooms in the capital: "The Indian optical industry has so far been projected as a mix of health and fashion. But it's moving more towards fashion now." So while women aped Madhuri Dixit's purple choli after Hum Aapke Hai Koun, it's Hrithik's rimless spectacles in Kaho Naa ... Pyaar Hai which are the rage now. The days of black-framed, jumbo-round glasses are over. In demand are unobtrusive small frames, preferably squarish and angular. Similarly, glass lenses are out. Rapidly gaining fashion acceptability is "optical plastic", which is not only 30-40 per cent lighter, but is also impact- and shatter- resistance and can be made anti-reflective.

EXTE Rs 4,000-5,000

The optical plastic that has caught on in India is Columbia Resin 39, which is three times costlier than normal glass. Polycarbonate optical lens, which is more expensive, is another alternative. The new material apart, these plastics come in an array of hues, adding that much more colour and excitement. While the modern palette for frames is quite enthusiastic, there is a cornucopia of natural tones too. The inspiration seems to come from urban environment-warm earth shades like olive green and sage, cooler winter neutrals, ice blue, fresh mauve, pale grey and matte finishes on silver, bronze and metallic colours. And for the bolder, there's a line that would send grandmas into a sulk.

EMPORIO ARMAN Rs 4,000-7,000

The much-hyped traditional Indian favourite, gilt, is on the wane. "Gold has given way to fashionable metals like titanium, stainless steel, and memory metals that combine special titanium and nickel alloy," confirms Shail Ranawat of Colaba Opticians, Mumbai. "Also aluminium, beryllium, cobalt and monel metal. These metallic trends can usually be traced to films, music videos and channels like MTV."

DANIEL SWAROVSKI Rs 5,000-11,000

Which brings us to the moving force behind the domestic spectacle industry-the style in the West. Says Narendra Kumar Ahmed, a Mumbai fashion designer: "Thanks to the liberalisation policies of the 1990s, western trends in eyewear have overwhelmed Indian in the past two years, especially the dotcom generation. Then there are the visiting NRIs, bringing with them even more international style concepts, attractive eyewear and fashion magazines."

Largely driving the onslaught of fashion notions is the presence of the original inspirations themselves. Cartier apart, international designer brands like Giordano, Boss, Gucci, Vogue and Valentino need no longer be brought from distant shores. They now crowd the neighbourhood optician outlets in India. Mumbai's 25-year-old Gangar Opticians, for instance, is equipped with computerised frame selection to prevent customer frustration during the formidable exercise of choosing from the 65 seductive international brands it offers. Anu Ahuja, model and TV presenter, talks of the impact of these readily available global names on the Page Three people. "With bigger brands coming in and more variety of eyewear, specs are now a fashion statement just like watches."

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