APARNA THOMAS

Aparna Thomas looks stylish and contemporary in her House of Vandy black and white ensemble.

AMITHA JOBIN

Influencer Amitha looked radiant and majestic in Design Me Cochin’s golden  lehenga

ARATHI PODI

Arathi’s designs always incorporate her personality into her clothes. Her blue velvet gown is stunning, and the jewellery completes the whole ensemble.

AHAANA KRISHNA

Ahaana Krishna’s vacation ensemble is as vibrant as summer, proving that style is really about expressing oneself. In Singapore, looking stylish in her orange minidress

MAMITHA BAIJU

Jobina Vincent dressed Mamitha Baiju in an embroidery organza jacket, crushed satin fabric by T and M Signature, and a pearl-encrusted crop top

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Celebrities and Gen Z influencers have been copying this look in recent times. From Sonam Kapoor’s Dior SS24 red carpet appearance to Deepika Padukone’s pantsuit moment, Kylie’s stunning red dress for the Jacquemeus SS24 show really set the trend.

What is the “aesthetic of the mob wife”?

The simplest variation entails wearing an all-black ensemble with a fur coat—real or imitation. But supporters of the look contend that the appearance is meaningless without the corresponding attitude. A high-volume hairstyle, crimson lipstick and nails and sunglasses large enough to serve as a kind of windscreen are all added by meticulous students of the mafia wife repertoire.

From where is this coming?

Speaking of “The Sopranos,” a few of users on the app think that HBO started the trend in order to tie it in with its massive promotion for the 25th anniversary of the show’s premiere. HBO spokesman Jason Mulderig described the trend as “a testament to ‘The Sopranos’ and its enduring impact on culture” in a statement, but he denied any responsibility for starting it.

Whether intentional or not, explainers, guides, and glossy articles on social media and other platforms soon popularized the mob wife look.

Why has this become a viral phenomenon is the question. Ultimately, the trend is only embracing a hyperbolic rendition of styles that are not only mainstream but, in certain instances, even hailed as the height of haute couture. 

The Crucial Elements Of A Mob Wife

The style of the mob wife is an amazing fusion of opulence and boldness. Big blowouts, faux fur, and a white man’s self-assurance are essential components. In contrast to the modest “clean girl” appearance or the subtle “stealth wealth,” the mob wife style exudes luxury in an ostentatious and unapologetic way. To pull off this style, go large with accessories that pop, designs that are striking, and an air of opulent glamour.

Pay attention to the Italian Americans’ preferred silhouettes and textiles when it comes to fashion. Consider fake fur coats, leather leggings and power shoulder blazers. Moreover, stockings in vibrant hues like green, crimson, or burgundy and leopard designs can liven up your appearance.

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Revving with a certain vibrato, the engine warmed up. She got into the car which made its way under the watch of the glum coal sky. She peered outside the roads that lend a view to the vast sea. Riding along its endlessness, she spotted a few buildings in Willingdon Island, speckled with the early morning routine lights. With a few turns and steering, they made it on time.

After much ado, the sun beautifully rose and she landed at the jhankar. In contrast to the drive, the day was illustrious; the sun shone its few rays. She stood on the barge in rapt attention. Among the scrum, she listened to the multitude of sounds, a cacophony of the morning routine rituals. But for a moment, time froze. Fishermen forgot their nets, children turned away from their lessons, passersby stopped to stare. The silence that prevailed, had all gazes upon her. It was the first photograph of the day, and that was just this start.

There is a first time for everything, from her auditions to wearing ‘lipnotising’ blue lipstick. Aparna Balamurali made her first breakthrough with her performance as Jincy, in the recent movie ‘Maheshinte Prathikaram.’
Hailing from a family of arts in Thrissur, Aparna has had lived in a creative air all her life. Her father, Bala Murali is a music director and her mother is an advocate, and a singer. So stumbling into the world of movies was not surprising. Although she’s known for her flair for music and dance, she has been rather coy about them. However, she has always been inquisitive about the art form of acting, and the rest is history. Although, when she is not acting, she pursues a Bachelor’s Degree in Architecture from the Global Institute in Palakkad. Aparna Balamurali believes she is a novice, but speaks confidently and maturely abouther current profession. “A director and an actor should share a great rapport. Accept what the directors say, they have a vision for a character on how he or she has to be. The thing an actor must look into is emoting in various ways and giving choices so the director can choose what’s best for him or her. In this movie, I studied the interaction between director Dileesh Pothan and the lead actor Fahadh Faasil and how they interchanged comments. I learned this from my father, especially seeing him while at
work. Many singers have approached him, wanting to sing in a manner they chose. But my father would draw out a plan on how he wanted them to sing. I believe with his guidance helped them adapt to the song the way my father
weaved the notes.”

Some Place Else

For the next shot, we moved to a boutique hotel situated at Mattencherry, Fragrant Nature. Aparna commented how she loved the energyof the city with its varying sleepiness  and the rustic details that is nestled among handsome buildings. She was in awe of the yellow baroque façade of the hotel, and its prominent Cuban touch with the interior colours and marbled floors.

Sitting on a yellow armchair and looking up towards the open sky, she mused: “ Architecture has something about everything.” Although poles apart, she finds a strong connection between acting and architecture. “I believe everything in art is interconnected. It is not a burden to pursue two of my greatest passions. I can see architecture in films and films in architecture; for all I know they go hand in hand.” Her next change, was a transatlantic transfer from sultry Cuba to the sun-dappled cobbled streets of Stockholm, in the hotel.

A View Through the Lens

Her tryst with the camera is in its infancy but she was a natural in front of the lens. She exhibited no air of nervousness. While ‘Maheshinte Prathikaram’ was her first movie in a leading role, she has appeared in the 2015 comedy-thriller ‘Oru Second Class Yatra’ which also featured singer and actor Vineeth Srinivasan and a short film ‘Innalaye Thedi.’ A shower of auditions followed her first assignments.

Aparna the architect student, and Jimcy, her character in ‘Maheshinte Prathikaram’. “It was funny to have some associations, but my character made me realise there are so many other roles to pursue.” Coincidently, in the movie, Jimcy walks into a photostudio to have her photograph taken so she could come on the cover of a leading magazine. And here she is, gracing our cover this issue! We asked her what she felt was the most memorable moment of this photoshoot, and her answer was quick, “The unsusal lipstick was the highlight of the day.” While she allures focus and maturity while taking a shot, there are occasions when she lightens up and breaks into a giggle. Yet another similarity with Jimcy, who gets snapped without her knowledge by photographer Mahesh.

In the souk background she looked fearless with a French braid, parted on both sides and jungle green eye shadow… as if lost in a map. The reel moment almost seemed real. Aparna’s performance has been well-received by both audience and experts in the industry. Experts have noted that her acting appeared ‘effortless’. She has accepted these praises and compliments gracefully, while remaining grounded. “I had no tensions portraying this role. I never expected the movie to be such a huge hit, though. Going ahead, I plan to continue being conscious about the roles and scripts I choose.”

Looking Ahead

Not very swayed towards the glamorous side of filmdom, shementioned that actors were different  on screen, from what they are in person. “Earlier I watched so many movies passively but now I started watching them again, and have started to analyse them.” Actors like Manju Warrier and Rima Kallingal have inspired her with their choice of roles and the confidence to emote powerful characters. “I also loved Paravathy’s transformation, it made me realise acting is something you learn intensely and is not always just an innate skill.”

On that note, it is a pack-up. Aparna Balamurali gears up to face the industry headstrong, and not take it up as just another glossy extra curricular activity. “There are so many people who want to act and now I have a chance, so I should not deny it. I feel it’s great I get to pursue multiple disciplines – from architecture to acting. I am in a state to learn and explore more and more.” So saying, she took one last sip of her watermelon juice, and went off for her next shot with zest. Watch out for this little firefly.

Model: Aparna Balamurali

Photographer: Jinson Abraham

Styling: Lakshmi Babu

Makeup & Hair Styling: Blessy Mary Chacko

Costumes: Lulu Fashion Store

Retouch: Jemini Ghosh

Location: Fragrant Nature, Mattancherry

Production: FWD Media

Special Thanks: Metro, Lulu Mall, Kochi

Words : Atheena Wilson

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The tiled roofs in the neighborhood form an undulating plane of red and brown, sheltering familiar volumes that make a home in Kerala. Cutting through the recognizable fabric, grey concrete fingers reach for the skies along with the mountains in the background. In stark contrast to everything around it, the residence is unapologetically modern and minimalistic. Named Nikunj, which means nest in Sanskrit, the home is a composition of volumes and planes. Known for their unique architectural language, architects Lijo and Reny from Thrissur, have gained yet another feather in their cap, with this award winning residence.

The Skewed House, as the architects refer to it, arises out of a thirteen cent skewed plot. The house remains faithful to its context in terms of climate and requirements but poles apart from the existing aesthetics. The owners of the house, a doctor couple with two children, approached the architect as they wanted something contemporary. They had scoured the web for inspiration and knew that Lijo and Reny could give them their dream home. The home is a sculptural testament to good planning, play of volumes with scale and the modern outlook of the owners.

Sense of existence

Would you conform or would you breakaway? The house asks as you approach it through narrow streets of the residential neighborhood. Music from a nearby temple creates a mystical aura that at first confuses you, then reminds you that we are in India, where disparity is at home. The east facing house breaks out in three bays, which occupies almost the entire plot. A well manicured lawn sits at its foot, which moves into bamboo alcoves perforating the façade. The aluminum grills on the entry side glisten in the morning light and heat. The building certainly makes a statement, frozen in movement against the mountains and the sky.The fenestrations are minimal, as the house shuts away the busy town to provide a calm and quiet haven inside. Strip windows move across the planes forming the concrete envelope. As majestic as the house is, the entry is subdued and informal. A humble welcome. Past the cheerful frangipani tree, are the glass doors that lead to a simple foyer in the first bay. The leather finished black granite floors feel cool under your bare feet, in contrast to the burning heat of Palakkad town.

Visual treats

You will be surprised to find that there are no windows in the house, at least in the traditional sense. The strip windows and one full glass façade in each room, bring in abundant light and a glimpse of the green outside. The transparent surface is visually cut off from the outside with clever planning. The plain white walls and the grey kota floor are accentuated by yellow elements. This theme is followed in the entire house with an element of continuity be it the fluidic vase, details on the tables or the legs of the furniture. The interiors are in the best sense of the word, minimal and they chose striking yellow pieces to energize their space and compliment the greenery which every room is visually connected to. They took two and a half years to furnish the house, and bought only what they felt connected to. The architects also designed iconic pieces inspired by the Nikunj. The box table with steel detailing, the made to order Mies sofa and Bertoia inspired steel furniture add to the contemporary interiors. The home therefore is in perfect sync.

Pragmatic planning

The house was planned out in three bays that lie east-west. One bay housed the functional spaces like kitchen, formal living and dining and another, the bedrooms. The central bay forms the core that connects the functions through a courtyard that brings in abundant light and air into the household. The double height court is protected by stainless steel grills that throw playful shadows on the tall walls. Red cheeked bulbuls fly through the green, filling the house with their chirps. The home is most beautiful during the rains says the family. A folded stainless steel staircase connects the two levels, which was designed by the architect. Its fluid lines move seamlessly, supported by a single steel member and the glass railing. Your footsteps acquire another rhythm as you move from the SS stairs to the kota laid one. The architect has gone to lengths to explore materials not just in their physical attributes but their sensory ones too. The upper floors have the guest rooms and a party area connected by a bridge overlooking the family room. The roof moves your eyes, bending, pushing and hiding the ducts and a/c components in its aluminum guarded concrete belly. Not even books are visible on the shelves, no kids toys on the table, no handles for the doors or even shampoo bottles in the bathrooms. Everything is tucked away in built in storage. No light fittings jut off the walls. Special LED light strips give ample light in the evenings when the daylight is no longer available. Space and light thus flows unhindered in Nikunj, as the sun moves across the horizon.

Architects: LIJO.RENY .architects

Plot: 13.3 cents

Area: 3750 square feet

Materials: concrete, steel, kota, quartz, Corian, granite, aluminium

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