Psychologists have observed that office d?cor and design affects work culture and overall productivity of a company. Therefore it becomes important to ensure your company has the right and functionally efficient interior d?cor. Keeping the modern office needs in mind, Gloob D?cor has come up with a new range of office space solutions titles Elestro.  What makes these interior plans unique is how its stresses on employee comfort and satisfaction.

Gloob D?cor, a startup led by IITians has pioneered in wall coverings sector since its inception in 2011 and successfully taps 180 plus cities of the country.

Gloob D?cor co-founder and managing director Ankur Muchhal elaborates that the idea of Elestro was conceived from a need for concept-based furniture in office space for better productivity and employee engagement.

Gloob D?cor founder and director Kunal Sharma said, ?The market for office furniture is vast, with our new range of office furniture we have tried to cater corporate needs of perfect work environment.?

In this concept, the workplace is divided as per spaces in an office for example ?All Space? (open space), ?My Space? (personal space), ?Co Space? (interactive space), ?Save Space? (compact space), ?Play Space? (canvas) and ?User Space? (Activity based working), thus successfully catering to a wider demography of workers and different functionalities. ?We are already into turnkey solutions and by introducing EleStro we have taken a plunge into designing and manufacturing of unique workspace. EleStro has the potential to become a change-catalyst in the office space industry,? said International Sales and Strategic Alliances partner and director Mrinal Sharma. With recent foray into the designer furniture and accessories segment, Gloob is also fast changing the rules of the home improvement market in India and Asia Pacific.

By Papri Das

New age fashionistas have overhauled the stereotypical definitions in the fashion world.  What used to be ?it? and chic yesterday, no longer holds your eyes and casual wear isn?t to be taken casually, anymore. Forget getting a dress for an important dinner party, choosing clothes for a weekend get together with friends also asks for your special attention now. Just grabbing whatever from the wardrobe and matching it with some accessories won?t do any longer; there?s no room for slacking when it comes to your casual wear as well. So how does one keep innovating with their look?

Bollywood?s favourite designer Rocky Star answers this with his brand RS, which he launched exclusively with Shoppers Stop recently. ?I believe one can look glamorous everyday and by glamour I don?t mean expensive. My brand is all about bringing glamour to the consumer at an affordable rate. It?s about change and innovation and moving on to the next thing quickly. RS won't just have clothes for men and women, but a whole range of lifestyle accessories like deodorants, handbags and more,? says the excited fashion designer who recently showcased his collection at the IIFA awards in Malaysia.

?This year the stars played it safe on the green carpet in IIFA Malaysia,? Rocky adds as a side note. ?While they all looked gorgeous, they showed up in their comfort zones. I expected some daring and high end fashion at IIFA this year,? he adds.
A short glimpse of the collection on the ramp showed a very modern selection which were more inclined towards simple monochrome dresses that can be easily styled into different looks for a variety of casual occasions- from late afternoon movie dates to evening hangouts with pals. A few striped black and whites stood out amongst the dresses that gave away a smart and sexy appearance, further enhanced by the stylish hand bags also from RS.

?Rocky has done a very good job of bringing his Bollywood sensibilities to the modern buyer with affordability,? says Bollywood actress and RS brand ambassador Bipasha Basu, looking gorgeous in a bright red dress with frills around the deep V neck. ?He is a dear friend and it?s good to see how he has grown as a designer over the years. His experience and understanding of both worlds - the glamour of Bollywood and the functionality of the everyday life --- is reflected in his brand,? she adds.
The hotness meter reached alarming levels at the show when male models walked in flaunting the brand new RS men?s brief collection -- a first by any Indian designer. ?It is good to know that an Indian designer has come up with a men?s underwear collection and I feel obliged to be the first one to be associated with this first in Indian fashion world,? says Karan Singh Grover, brand ambassador for RS, who sported a funky T-shirt with embossed prints and a fitted jeans at the launch. The collection will be exclusively available in all Shopper Stop stores as well as their online shopping portals. So log on and shop away!

The film industry has been instrumental in building a very romantic idea about the monsoons. There are countless examples of romantic song sequences where the actors look picture perfect in the pouring rain. But anyone who goes out often knows for a fact how far moved from reality this idealism is. In reality, monsoon brings with itself a long list of skin and hair problems.

Lucky for our readers, Exec Lifestyle got in touch with beauty expert Blossom Kochhar and asked her for some tips to avoid common hair and skin problems faced during the rainy season.

Read on for some common skin problems faced during the monsoon and their solutions:

? Detoxification of the skin is very essential during monsoons as it prevents allergies, puffiness and skin diseases. Rather than using harsh soaps that have a drying effect, make your own special skin powder. Mix equal amounts of green gram powder and Bengal gram powder and half the quantity of fenugreek seeds. Prepare a paste by mixing all these in rosewater and apply this paste generously on the entire body. This method deeply cleanses and refreshes the body.

? During the downpour, when there is profuse sweating and the body is not exposed to air, red itching pustules appear on the body, especially on the chest, back, abdomen and forehead. A paste of multani mitti (Fuller?s Earth) and water helps attend to this issue. Apply the paste over affected areas and have a cold bath after it dries. Following this regime twice a week effectively controls this issue.

? Mash a banana and beat in a teaspoon of vegetable oil. Brush it on the face and leave it on for 15-20 minutes till it dries. Then rinse it off with plain water. This recipe is best suited for dry to normal skin.

? Mix together multani mitti (Fuller?s Earth), gram flour and sandalwood powder in equal quantities. Store in an airtight container. For applying mix one tablespoon of the powder in water to make a paste. Apply evenly on face and leave it to dry then rinse with cold water. This homemade face mask will help remove flakes and dust. This face mask can be used by people with oily skin.

How to keep your hair healthy and silky during monsoon:

? Sweating along the scalp line during humid days makes you shampoo your hair everyday as a part of the cleaning regime. However, we recommend do not resort to regular shampooing of your hair. Instead of using harsh shampoos try using a protein conditioner regularly. Beat one tablespoon of castor oil, a mild herbal shampoo and glycerin along with a teaspoon of cider vinegar and yoghurt. Leave this mixture on scalp for 20 minutes before you rinse it with clear water. Use this at least thrice a week.

? Dealing with the frizz: Prepare a mask by mixing two tablespoons of honey in one cup of pumpkin puree. Once you have applied this mask on your scalp thoroughly, wrap your hair in a shower cap and leave it on for 15 minutes. Honey is a natural humectant and repairs the damage caused by dryness to give you bright and smooth hair.

? Avoid excessive use of blow dryers, flat irons, chemical based products and alcohol based hair sprays. With consistent implementation of these tips you can easily win the battle against frizz to get beautiful, shiny and smooth hair.

By Papri Das

It?s already the last quarter of summer this year and as much as we are rejoicing in anticipation of the fading out heat, we can?t say the same about the sun burn and the tan that summer has left us with - a predicament we go through every year. And not just Summer alone. Those who have an out and about job that requires them to be outdoors for long periods of time, constantly suffer from a sun tan. That being the case, frequent visits to the salon can?t be the solution to this long term problem. Even if you can afford it, frequent use of chemical bleaches and whitening agents can leave a lasting affect on your skin.

Therefore skin experts and beauticians suggest homemade de-tanning remedies, which can be easily cooked up from a list of very common natural ingredients that are easily available in your kitchen.

Exec Lifestyle lists a few of them here:

1. Lemon Juice

This is perhaps the most widely accepted and effective anti-tanning natural agent out there, thanks to its natural bleaching properties. Apart from producing miraculous results from direct application, it is also used with other substances to optimize their effect.

You can simply apply some fresh lemon juice on the affected skin area and allow it to dry before washing the area with water. You can also add some sugar to lemon juice and rub it gently on the skin in circles until the sugar melts. This acts as an exfoliating scrub that peels off the dead skin bringing out its softness, while the lemon helps cure the tan.

2. Yogurt

Sun tan gets worse if you have dry skin, leaving patches of burnt dark spots on exposed parts of the body, like face and hands. Yogurt, which is a natural moisturizing agent, acts like a charm for them when it comes to reducing sunburn. It not only cools the skin and reduces the redness but also tightens the pores.

It works best when taken with other bleaching agents like tomato and cucumber. Take a cup of plain yogurt and add the juice of one cucumber and one tomato. And often adding some besan (Bengali Gram flour) to it, can make it into a wholesome pack. All you need to do is apply it on the affected areas and rinse after keeping it for 30 minutes.

For those who have no time to spare, just add lemon juice to some fresh yogurt and massage your face with it for few minutes before taking a shower. Regular use gives best result.

3. Aloe Vera

Aloe vera is every beautician?s best friend, because it is used in almost all skin damage remedies due its high medicinal qualities. Aloe vera works very fast when it comes to tanned skin and will lighten the skin within a week, if applied daily to the affected area. It also keeps the skin fresh, cool and hydrated.

4. Potato

Potato is probably everyone?s favourite accompaniment when it comes to food. Who doesn?t love a whipped up creamy mash with their steak or some fries or wedges with their fast food? But did you know that raw potato is an excellent remedy for sun-tanned skin?  Surprisingly, it is rich in vitamin C and hence, works as natural bleach. It also helps soothe sunburn.

Peel the skin off two to three medium-sized potatoes, cut them into chunks and put them in a blender to make a paste. Apply the paste generously all over the affected skin area. Let it dry for about 30 minutes and then wash it off with cold water. For best results, you can also add some lemon juice to the potato paste before applying it.

5. Gram Flour

Gram flour, which is commonly called besan, is a common and recurring item used in home remedies. It is very useful in treating a sun-tan thanks to its dual function - the solid granules help remove dead skin cells and leaves your skin bright and young. Once it is reduces to a paste, it enters the skin?s pores and acts on the burned areas from within. You can use the gram flour powder available in market or make a paste of whole green gram, by mixing the gram flour in water and rub it all over the affected skin area.

6. Cucumber

Like Aloe Vera, +is also a cooling agent as it soothes the burnt skin. The vitamin C in cucumbers also will help keep the skin well moisturized. Here?s how to make the most of it:

Mix two tablespoons of fresh cucumber juice and one tablespoon of lime juice. Add a pinch of turmeric to it. Mix it well and apply it on the affected skin. Leave it for 30 minutes and then wash it off with water. You can also rub freshly cut slices of cucumber on your skin.

7. Papaya:

Papayas are delicious as fruits, but it also has countless merits when it comes to being used a home remedy to skin problems, especially for sun burn and skin tan. Papaya is rich in antioxidants, which helps give your skin a radiant glow and a smooth finish, and is an excellent beauty choice for de-tanning.

Mash a few pieces of papaya and apply the pulp on affected parts of skin. Wash it off after 15-20 minutes. Your skin will glow instantly after a wash. You can also use avocado instead of papaya or a mixture of both in equal quantities.

?You can judge a gentleman by his shoes? is a familiar phrase to most of us, but surely in this day and age such archaic ideas are obsolete, right? Wrong, says well-known vlogger, blogger and men?s fashion stylist Monish Panjabi from The Snazzy Man. Footwear still forms a very integral part of fashion for men. Men?s fashion is not as limitless as women?s fashion can be. Shoes are one thing, which leaves room for some versatility.

All you need to do is pay a little more attention to what you walk in. If you are one of those who never gave a flying thought about fashion, and buy whatever black shoe you pick up first that fits you, then more options may actually confuse you and you may end up making a fashion disaster. To avoid that, Exec Lifestyle has compiled a list with the help of stylist Monish Panjabi that will be your guide for fashionable footwear.

Dare to experiment:

While most men keep it simple as far as their wardrobe is concerned, they are fairly open to experimenting with footwear. A good footwear is the key to a great look and in order to look sharp at all times, it is absolutely essential that your shoe game be on point. Top executives represent the brand/company they work for, so coming across anything but well dressed and prim is not an option.

Step in the boss?s shoes:

As far as corporate footwear is concerned you have to make sure that whatever you wear is representative of the work environment and at the same time reflects your own unique personality too. Keeping in mind the dress code followed by most corporates, Oxford Brogues and Monk Strap shoes are two varieties that can be styled effectively while giving it a wee bit more character than your usual wingtip formal shoes. These shoes come in various light and dark hues that can be worn in contrast with formal wear.

This season?s favourites:

Penny Loafers are trending this season. Its versatility is what makes it such a great piece. It can be worn with casuals for an edgy look and of course with formals because of the timeless cut and design. The same goes for Captoe Brogues since they are more playful with colour, using contrast detailing for a snazzy look. Strictly for corporate wear, this season, deeper maroons and mahogany have been trending. These colours go extremely well when paired with or against a variety of colours. Panjabi suggests investing in one such statement-making colour that can spruce up your otherwise standard work look.

Going the brand way:

For shoes, the top trending brands are Ruosh, Knotty Derby, Steve Madden, Aldo and Clarks. These brands have superb designs, great fits and most of all top-notch quality.

Follow their footprints:

Ranveer Singh and Arjun Kapoor strut the red carpets with their eccentric sense of style in the outfits they wear. Whether it's formal, semi formal or casual, the outfits are always on point. These two have been rocking the modern brogue trend very often with their formal suits, dinner jackets and indo-fusion outfits.David Gandy and David Beckham have been flaunting the Captoe Brogues and the Penny Loafers (in various colours) quite effortlessly. These are perfect when paired with dress trousers, casual chinos and suits.

(Justin Timberlake)

For more assistance on men?s fashion and styling, one can check out Panjabi?s blog - The Snazzy Man or catch up with him on Twitter @thesnazzyman.

By Papri Das

Business cards aren?t just a piece of paper with information, it is a reflection of your professional persona and is often a powerful tool in building your network and trust base within the industry. Even with digital platforms like LinkedIn in place, several media professionals and executives prefer the old school way exchanging cards. And it doesn't stop at that. From choosing the right paper, colour and design to learning the etiquette of sharing it -- there is a science to it all.

If all this has gotten you confused, fret not as Exec Lifestyle has compiled all that you need to know in mastering the art of business cards exchanging.

From a designer?s perspective, your card?s design should convey a story and a purpose behind the company you represent.  Graphic designer Chandrashekhar Rane, who also designs business cards shares, ?Especially in a corporate setting, just like we judge people based on their shoes and watches, the design of your business card plays a huge role in how seriously your peers take you.?

While there is a range of templates to choose from, depending on one?s profession, industry and their personal approach to their work, Rane has noticed three categories on which he bases the crux of his designs. ?Based on the age demography, there are three types of business card designs -- teens to early twenties, mid twenties to professionals in their forties and finally the senior,? says Rane.

If Rane had to observe a trend in requests by his clients across the vast categories, it would definitely be minimalistic sophistication, which also includes transparent cards with the details embossed.

Rane also points out that startups and new business entrepreneurs are often seen opting for cards with pop art and catchy illustrations. ?Some even play around with the shape of the card, and choose flashy colors and contrasts to make them stand out. It?s that phase in their career when they are trying very hard to get noticed and that reflects in their cards,? he points out.

While that can work like a charm if you are in the creative field, overly designed and quirky looking cards can backfire on all your networking strategies, according to Konkana Bakshi, who runs the personality development and image enhancement platform, Savoir Faire Academie.

Bakshi couldn?t be more displeased with the range of ?creative? cards she has encountered that fail to serve its purpose. ?Cards with lots of designs and bright color codes often look overloaded, and come across as ?trying too hard.? Certainly not a professional way to go about it. A professional business card should be made out of good quality paper, ideally white or any light color with the person?s contact details printed clearly on it. Moreover, CEOs and other executives can choose not to give their personal mobile number on the cards,? says Bakshi. She admits to have come across many elegant business cards of top-notch media personalities.

Bakshi is not only critical of the types of business cards people carry but the entire culture of card pushing that one can see in professional gatherings. ?Those who come to a gathering to network are often seen giving their cards to every single person in the room, which makes no sense at all. A business card is something you share with someone after a chat or so, only if you hit a common ground and wish to get in touch with them in future. Moreover, the person giving their card must ask the person in front if it is okay for him or her to accept their card, especially if they are giving the card to a lady,? explains Bakshi.

?Needless to say, women should be more conservative when giving away their business cards in an office party. If you bring as much business cards as your clutch can hold to a gathering, and have run out of all of them by the end of the evening, you have done more than enough of networking,? she further adds.

There are certain etiquettes to be kept in mind when receiving cards as well. ?It?s impolite to take a business card and put it away in pocket or in your bag without giving it a proper glance. The ideal way is to accept the card (with both hands), go through it as if you are interested, and strike a conversation with the owner of the card for a minute or two before putting it away,? says Bakshi, adding that exchanging cards should ideally be restricted to formal and professional gathering alone as business cards in a close and personal setting gives off a cold and aloof

Now that we have powered you with the Dos and Don?ts of business card exchanging, here is a list of online sites that can help you customise creative business cards, without having to spend a fortune in hiring the pros.

1. Vista Print
2. Moo
3. Jukebox Print
4. GotPrint
5. OvernightPrints.com