The view from Dracula’s Castle in Bran, Transylvania.Romania was under the iron hand of communist leader Nicolae Ceausescu, who ruled the country from 1965 until he was finally overthrown and killed in a revolution in 1989. In Bucharest, we dined at the 125-year-old Neo classical restaurant Cera Cu Bere. Mind you, the local cuisine is rather bland for the Indian palate.* The average temperature is 5 degrees on most days and even goes down to -7 degrees, so travellers are advised to plan an extensive winter wardrobe and layer themselves well. We opted for a five-star property in Bucharest, and unlike the rest of Europe, accommodation will not cost you more than 120-150 Euros per night, at a star hotel.Bucharest deserves the title of capital city with its old world charm, wide roads paved with imposing trees that are deprived of leaves in harsh winter.   But getting back to their attitude, the Romanians pretty much don’t care that despite being one of the poorest European countries, they’re still fitness equipment not open to tourism. The closely-knit, colourful in bright hues (you do find such houses in Goa’s bylanes) houses are eye-catching as is the modernised clock tower, which doubles up as a museum and is the prime attraction for visitors. Maybe it could have something to do with the Dracula effect, because on a shivering *-7 degree afternoon, most restaurants — ironically even our local Udupis are bigger — were shut, save for one, which despite having tables, had an extremely cantankerous receptionist, insisting that there was no room available.Even the rooftops in smaller towns are peppered with snow, making the landscape stand out like a fairy tale land.Be forewarned: the Romanians are not exactly the friendliest lot, waiting to welcome visitors with open arms. Europeans take their holiday season very seriously, so many restaurants are short staffed, and there it is not uncommon for guests to wait up to an hour for a meal. Arcul De Triumf, Bucharest in Romania. Most cafes and eateries face the main shopping area, and going by the high-end brands available, this tiny town is also a shopper’s paradise.  

She was instantly given a lecture on the importance of opening doors to outsiders, thereby earning revenue, by a rather miffed group member.Exploring the relatively virgin destination of Romania, with its colourful landscapes and Gothic influences. So, hire a guide to make life easy. And communication can be an issue, unless you are staying in a luxury hotel. According to one legend, it got its name when people, who stood on this bridge and lied, found it moving and making noises. Under his dictatorship, the average Romanian had not stepped out of his city, and that hangover from the colonial past still exists. Be that as it may, Sighisoara is apt for a day visit as it is just a 1. Besides the constant curious glances coming your way, one even got asked, “Where are you guys from?”Early morning view of Brasov City in Romania.. While eastern European countries like Croatia have become a huge draw for Indian tourists, Romania,  located in Southeastern Europe, is relatively a virgin destination for Indians.In the somewhat remote medieval town of Sighisoara, the birthplace of Dracula, people are not open to new faces. It also houses some of their trendiest restaurants like the Trip Advisor-recommended Kullinarium and Strada. While it would be easy — and somewhat pessimistic — to dismiss this as racism and hostility, one has to understand the country’s background before passing judgment. That is why they are extremely wary of tourists.  

The iconic Palatul Parlamentului or Palace of the Parliament with its 1,100 rooms occupies the pride of place in the city.5 hour drive. This is why, unlike the rest of Europe, where you will inevitably bump into a desi face at every nook and corner, that doesn’t happen in Romania.Our next halt was the city of Brasov, which is a three-hour drive from Bucharest. The whole vibe is chilled out and feels like you are dining at a friend’s home. Their national dish Michi (grilled minced meat rolls), and sarmale (cabbage rolls) are flavourful, but the diet here comprises a lot of red meat (more pork than beef), potatoes and diary products. The food is a mix of European cuisines at most of these places, but the wait can be endless. Dining out is very affordable, and you can get a good meal for fewer than 30 Euros per head. You can spend hours gazing at the stunning architecture here.  Austrian architect Siegfrid Kofczinsky designed this gothic revival building in 1899.

Visitors driving in from the airport will pass the Dimitrie Gusti National Village Museum, which showcases authentic village life, with reconstructs of farmlands and homes from the hinterland. Cobblestone Pathways in SibuiAs you savour your meal, music fills the air, a group of young men and women perform a modern dance for guests. Brasov, located in central Romania, is the perfect location from which you can head to other smaller towns like Sighisoara. The Bridge of Lies in Sibui                                                    If you have a soft spot for snow-clad mountains, freezing temperatures, and visualise yourself spending your winters in a picturesque environment, then Romania is the perfect country for you.Sibiu has a very Florence-like vibe, with cobblestone pathways that lead to the Bridge of Lies, which is one of Romania’s oldest cast iron bridges. An oversized, brightly lit Christmas tree occupies that pride of place, and is the prime landmark for visitors who lose their way. It is surrounded by the Carpathian Mountains, and is popular for its Black Church and the Council Square, locally known as Piata Sfatului.The meal turned out to be sumptuous. The prettiest town has got to be Sibiu, which is a four-hour drive from the capital city Bucharest, and offers you a stunning panorama of the Transylvanian topography, which appears to be straight out of a nature magazine. This is where the famous Christmas market is set up every year, where little shops are huddled together, and you get everything from fur coats and piping hot chocolate to mulled wine.

Wooden shutters are great for winter nights because they help to retain heat and insulate against the cold and most importantly as the winter approaches check your windows and doors for any leaks. A few new wooden cabinets, a stylish new dining table, or even a simple coffee table in natural wood should do the trick. Choose the colour and character that suits your style and colour of home.But if you can’t get the fireplace ready in time for the winter , Just use a few candles to usher in a charming warm glow! Flickering candlelight can turn the dreary and freezing winter night into a magical and intimate setting. A delightful winter smell such as cinnamon, pine or orange can help to lift your spirits when you walk into your living room.Make your windows reflective in the winter: Try to intensify the maximum daylight inside your home as sunlight is must for our well being by keeping obstructions away from your window.The article has been penned by Shabnam Alam, The Founder and Head Designer of Design Studio, a brand, emerged eminently in the sphere of Interior Designing as a perfect combination of simplicity and elegance.

As we head into the cooler winter months, most of us will be spending more time inside

The bubblegum pink, blinding orange, reds, blues and greens seemed to hit every hue on the planet. He was first struck by the painting in 1965 when he saw it hanging in Paris& Hand grip factory Orangery Museum.The kimono was the starting point and it was evoked from head to toe.S.Takada channeled painter Rousseau's jungle aesthetic with striped heavy knitted skirts and tops in eye-popping colors. Dramatic top knots led down to thick multicolored scarves tied like Obi belts around the neck.The artistic musing infused the clothes. At one point, some guests were shocked when a naked woman appeared covered in body paint in reference to the 1910 painting's subject.For each reproduction he made, Takada would paint someone he knew in place of the reclining woman, and each canvas would be hung in a different Kenzo boutique. The vivid street style of Japan's Harajuku Girls was evoked in one blue-and-yellow look that grabbed attention. In a historic mirrored salon, set across long tables, tasty cheeses, exotic fruits, wines and nuts spilled out onto foliage.A romantic Victorian spirit infused many of the fluid dresses and silk shirts shown Thursday at Chloe.  

The low-key designer worked romance into the houses signature boho look for a collection that was decorative and mixed up a "kaleidoscope of identities. Gold chains, jewelry and low slung belts added movement to already kinetic silhouettes in which skirts were cut on the bias or floppily pleated.Silken kimono looks with oversize sleeves were fastened with tight belted waists and buried by multiple layers of thick fabric. In a stripe-heavy aesthetic, knitted skirts and tops were delivered in eye-popping colors such as Cerulean blue, bright red and yellow, evoking the hues of the jungle.KENZO'S BANQUET SHOWGuests arriving in the ornate Paris Mint venue could hardly believe their eyes.  

Vivid color, romance and artistic obsessions are inspiring the myriad styles at Paris Fashion Week's fall-winter 2018 shows.Here are some of Thursday's highlights:CHLOE PILES ON THE ROMANCE IN PARISFrench actress Isabelle Huppert and model Alexa Chung were among notables at Natacha Ramsay-Levi's sophomore effort for Chloe.A heavy diagonal ruffle down a skirt gave it a vibrant dynamic. Kenzo had prepared a jungle-themed Bacchic banquet. Models wear creations for Manish Arora's ready-to-wear fall/winter 2018/2019 fashion collection presented in Paris, Thursday, March 1, 2018. And then there were the colors.  

But the strongest feature of the collection was its wild fur trims that showed off the skill Ramsay-Levi acquired at Louis Vuitton.As the show began, ushers with white aprons carried large replicas of canvas reproductions of Rousseau's.KENZO'S HOMAGE TO HENRI ROUSSEAUAlthough his day job is fashion designer, Kenzo Takada is an amateur artist of some talent who has painted several reproductions of "The Dream," the Henri Rousseau masterpiece. Ahead of their show, designers Humberto Leon and Carol Lim met with the Henri Rousseau Foundation to secure the rights to use the painting as a touchstone for the presentation. High collars met long bell sleeves and lashings of lace. And myriad colored scarves were piled up on top of one other.Designer Kenzo Takada channeled painter Henri Rousseau's jungle aesthetic with striped heavy knitted skirts and tops in eye-popping colors such as Cerulean blue, bright red and yellow.Model of the moment Kaia Jordan Gerber, the 16-year-old daughter of Cindy Crawford, strutted out with a gold chain adorning a beautiful eggshell-colored 70's skin coat. Faces were sometimes painted like a Geisha with big red lips.

"A Victorian spirit infused many of the fluid dresses and silk shirts.MANISH ARORA PRODUCES AN EASTERN CORNOCOPIAAt his Paris Fashion Week show, New Delhi-based Manish Arora fused the vibrant color of the Indian subcontinent with traditional and contemporary styles of Japan. Elsewhere, Rousseau was more explicitly referenced through "tapestry jacquards" in tops, dresses and pants as well as in shearling coats. New Delhi-based Manish Arora mixed the vibrant colors of the Indian subcontinent with traditional and contemporary styles in Japan.  

"I fell in love," Takada said. A dark vanilla shirt dress had a silken fur fringe that cascaded out of horizontal paneling, even causing icy-cool U. The result was explosive. Vogue Chief Anna Wintour to turn her head.The original two-by-three meter oil painting, which today hangs in MOMA, depicts a naked woman reclining on a chaise longue amid a jungle scene.