Grabbing eyeballs

SHARON STONE

Claim to fame: The actress who got everyone talking about Basic Instincts

The March issue of Shape magazine has Sharon Stone on the cover. Looking honest-to-God AWESOME. At 56, Stone can give any toned 16-year-old a severe complex. Yoga and a low-carb/low-sugar diet have helped her cope with ageing. A long shot from “a point in my forties when I went into the bathroom… locked the door, and said, ‘I’m not coming out until I can totally accept the way that I look right now.’” She’s also said she doesn’t want want to be an ‘ageless beauty.’ “I want to be a woman who is the best I can be at my age.” Right said!

LOVING NEIL

Neil Diamond’s Hot August Night was one of my first brushes with music. I was about 7 or 8. My uncle, a shippie, had brought me the LP from the US. Now I have most of Neil’s music on my iPod, but for the sake of nostalgia, I bought the CD last week. The 1972 live recording at the Greek Theatre in Los Angeles, where Neil — looking rough-edged — performed to a sold-out audience (there were people on trees too, and Neil asked God to bless them). Done Too Soon, Solitary Man, Cherry Cherry, Brother’s Love: Travelling Salvation Show, Sweet Caroline...

NIGHT BLOOMS

There’s a new fragrance in town, and it promises — like Cinderella’s Ball — to make midnight a watershed. Forever Midnight by Bath & Body Works integrates ‘nocturnal’ floral smells of plum nectar, midnight jasmine and vanilla orchid with a hint of spice… and, wait for this, caramel! Very, very heady cocktail, and I’m loving the smell that will now be a delicately-sprayed fixture when I go to the ball. Or have a ball.

GOLDEN HIGH

Ever since the time one of my wedges’ straps snapped at Dubai Mall, and I had to chuck the pair into a bin before rushing into a Steve Madden store, barefoot, to buy new shoes, I’m a Steve Madden fan. I always seem to get what I want — as I did when I was barefoot. The new Spring-Summer Collection has dollops of gold, and these high heels are calling out for me.

CARROT & STICK

I love most cakes, baulk at the idea of nibbling on carrots, but I manically adore the Starbucks’ carrot cake. Just need an excuse — any excuse — to pop by a Starbucks outlet and get a piece “to go”. Last week, I went to Oasis Centre thrice to purchase a slice of heaven. Devoured it alongside dainty sippings of Darjeeling tea. Felt well-heeled.

NEW YORK, IN A SARI

Had been toying with the idea of settling in the DVD of English Vinglish into my player and watching it — after soooo many recommendations — for a long time. Finally, switched on the film. Loved it. Despite its loopholes, there’s such a sense of old-fashioned joie de vivre and an absolutely brilliant cast fronted by Sridevi. Never been a big fan of hers but, in this, she is verisimilitude personified. And Mehdi Nebbou is just super… and super hot. Felt a bit sad that nothing came out of Shashi and Laurent’s brief yet protracted encounter.