A Society Girl’s Guide To Summering In Style

Interview with Namrata Shroff

Former model, Namrata Shroff is a force to be reckoned with. A multi-hyphenate in the truest sense – she’s an architect, an entrepreneur and she’s on the board of numerous organisations such as Bypure and Art Be A Part to name a few. All this in addition to being a mother of two. She specializes in designing childhood spaces. And most importantly she lives to travel. It is her raison d’etre. So, as we launched Villa Isharya – The Travel Edit, we sat down with her and got her to spill the tea on everything from her favourite packing hacks and travel destinations to summer hosting essentials and treasured cocktail recipes. Read on…

What's your signature design aesthetic like?

As an architect and an interior designer, I don't conform to any particular style. Having said that, the styles that I really enjoy are contemporary modern. I love Art Deco. It's my favourite art movement. Art Deco resonates with Isharya too. I find a lot of Isharya’s pieces speak that language. That's also one of the reasons why I'm drawn to Isharya.

You shuttle a lot between Bombay and Dubai. How do you dress differently for Bombay V/S Dubai?

I am an avid traveller. I take about twenty flights a month. And I live between Bombay and Dubai. But I travel to several cities around the globe for work.

In Bombay, I dress super casual because Bombay is a lot of work for me. And in Dubai, there's too much on my social calendar. Exploring restaurants, catching up with friends and so on. So, when in Dubai, I naturally tend to dress up a bit more on the glam side.

Also, as an architect, I'm very inspired by spaces. So, the destination and the design of the destination decide my outfit.

Where do you usually summer? And what do you pack for it?

For the summer, typically, the one common theme in all our holidays every year is that we go sailing. You’ll generally find me in the South of France during most summers - from Saint-Tropez to Cannes to Monaco. And also in lesser-visited places like Sardinia, Porto Cervo et al. In terms of dressing, I lean towards resort chic and sail-savvy clothing.

Think flowy, comfortable clothing, but with an edge. I tend to pack a lot of structured linens. And flowy dresses, which will not crumple. That's very important when I'm travelling. I try to keep my life a little low maintenance while on the go. My mantra is that I should be able to quickly pick something out of my bag, throw it on and be ready to go out. I also tend to pack in solid colours and not too many prints. So that my outfits are repeatable and I can wear them in different contexts. Additionally, I also pack a lot of coordinated layers based on the weather or based on where I'm at. So, I can easily oscillate between looks.

What are your favourite things to do in South Of France?

Because we're sailing, we tend to do a lot of water-related activities. We go scuba diving. We get in a lot of beach time. And we always, always gym, no matter where we are. Gym and exercising for me is equal to brushing my teeth. There can't be a day without it.

Are there any favourite joints you love to eat over there?

In St. Tropez, there's a lovely restaurant called L'Opera. I never miss a chance to go there.

And then there's a gorgeous hotel called Château de La Messardière where the restaurants are unmissable.

Can you share some of your trusty packing hacks?

When I start packing, I use a lot of packing cubes and zip pouches. That helps organise. And it also quantifies how much I should be carrying. It helps me streamline the quantity of clothes that I will pack. I start by packing my gym clothes. There will always be two sets of gym clothes.

Additionally, I also use this set of packing cubes which just opens up like a shelf when you remove it from the bag. You just pack all your belongings in these cubes and then hang them in the hanger space of your wardrobe. It's almost like a ready-to-go wardrobe. And it just folds up and fits into your suitcase. It’s a collapsible shelving solution that you can put directly into your cupboard.

Another non-negotiable packing hack for me is that all my cubes and pouches have to be transparent. Because I don't have the time to open each and everything and try to figure what is where. I want to, without opening it, know exactly what's in it. So, I only use transparent pouches. And that reduces my getting ready time substantially.

How has travel influenced your home décor?

Travelling is my life force, that's my energy. The second I get on a plane, all the molecules and atoms in my body start dancing. I love to travel!

As an architect and as a creative individual, the only way you learn is when you experience things. And the only way to learn through experiences is to travel. You have to have experienced all these visuals. You have to actually see the cities through your own eyes. You have to experience other cultures to enrich your design knowledge. So, for me, travel is education.

And, of course, it has a lot of influence on my house, on my design, the way I see spaces, the way I visualize because I have so much more data.

What are some of your sweet summer memories?

Every summer when I was little, I would go to Assam. My father was from Assam and my mother is from Gujarat. So, I'm half Assamese and half Gujarati. Every summer of mine as a child was spent in Assam. We'd go to Guwahati, we'd go to Dibrugarh. And I have amazing memories of my grandmother's house where we'd climb up on the roof and try to collect these starfruits. And then we’d also spend many languid evenings along the Brahmaputra with my family.

What are some summer hosting essentials according to you?

While I don't like to wear prints, I love to have prints on my table. I love printed placemats in unexpected colours and shapes with cutwork and structure. Additionally, minimal floral arrangements according to me are quintessentially summer. For example, a glass tube with just one rose in it followed by a whole series of it as opposed to a bouquet. A few days back, I hosted a high tea. And the theme was Fabulous Forever Friends. And while it was a high tea, the whole palette was black and red instead of the regular pastels. So, for me, unexpected colours, prints and shapes is a vibe for summer hosting.

If you were to invite anyone living or dead to one of your summer parties, who would it be and why?

I would invite Simon Sinek, who I'm a big fan of. I would make all the health juices and all the health essentials for this summer party. I just love him and the way his brain works. I would love to have an incredible, meaningful conversation with him.

Your favourite quick and easy summer cocktail recipe?

I love Bellinis for summer. It’s a simple Italian concoction of Prosecco and peach purée. While I’m no master of culinary arts, this is how I like my Bellinis made:

1. Slice the peaches in half, and remove the pits. Place the halved peaches in a blender or food processor, and blend until it forms a smooth purée. This is best served chilled, so place it in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes to cool.
2. When you’re ready to serve, pour 1/4^th cup of chilled peach purée into a Champagne flute. Pour in some chilled Prosecco and stir it with a spoon to combine.
3. Top off the drink with another splash of Prosecco and garnish with a peach slice.

Hidden gems in India you would recommend our readers to travel to?

Kaziranga is in Assam is a must-see. They have the Kaziranga Safari which is outstanding. It’s the one place in India where there are rhinos. You don't get to see rhinos anywhere else. Another place I highly recommend is the Tirthan Valley in Himachal. It’s a great option for outdoorsy individuals who love trekking.

What’s your current obsession?

Currently, I find myself drawn to personalised jewelry. Anything with Roman numerals of important dates or anything with my initials.

Where would you wear Villa Isharya?

I’d wear it in St. Tropez, Cannes, Madrid and also in Dubai!