Purchases: Smooth Sale-ing



So I recently went to Express Avenue to go to The Body Shop to pick up a couple of things with the vouchers I had. And somehow, two other items ended up in my bag. I have no idea how that happened. But come on, sales suck you in. Those red stickers/markers which just boast of 20, 30, 50, 70% off the original price. Think of all the money you'll actually be saving! What if you need something similar in the future but it's full price? You'll regret it then.

And so on.

1. The Body Shop Seaweed Purifying Facial Cleanser - NOT ON SALE
    It was a toss up between this and the Tea Tree face wash, but as I recently purchased something very       similar to the latter (I honestly think it works just as well), I went for the cleanser. Now I'm one of those people that strongly believes that foamy face washes or cleansers are the only ones that actually work. It's some weird placebo that makes my face feel cleaner. It's the same with shampoos and body washes (am I alone here?) But this cleanser (I've been using it for about a week now) is amazing. I use it twice a day and it leaves my skin feeling absolutely velvety soft. I have been caught many a time poking at and stroking my cheeks because I simply cannot believe how a tiny blob of cleanser can make such a difference. I have mild combination skin (the t-zone is dry most of the year but during the summer it gets oily) and I find that this just evens everything out and makes it super super supple. A definite repurchase.






































2. The Body Shop Born Lippy Sticks in Plum
    I was pleasantly surprised with this one. I've wanted a chapstick that gives a TINY bit of color
without looking like a tint and this really does the job. And I'm allergic to 9/10 of them. As someone who absolutely despises the little potted ones (they get sticky, stuff gets inside, and they burn your lips off more often than not) I really like the stick versions. The only downside is that they don't taste as good as they smell. They don't taste like anything, actually which I find sad because they smell really, really fruity. It was around INR 200 (originally priced at INR 395). Pricey for a glorified chapstick, but I think this works for those days where I want a LITTLE bit of color on my lips.



















3. Head Over Heels - Black sandals
    Oh my god. If you're going to EA anytime soon, go to Westside and see if you can find these in your size. I absolutely love them. They go with both day AND night time outfits without looking too casual or too dressy, whatever the case may be. And I love the zipper detailing on the back. Perfect, perfect, perfect. The original price was around INR 1200 but on sale, it was around INR 699 which is a really good deal. I love Head Over Heels sandals and flats purely cause they last a long time. I used to travel by train and bus with them all year round and they don't come apart easily AT all. Trust me, with people stepping on your feet all the time on public transport, you need a pair of hardy shoes to do the job.







4. NUON Lace Dress

   When I saw this dress, my world stood still. It's like nothing even existed anymore. As long as I could have it, the universe would be alright, I'd get a job, be successful and win at life.

It wasn't the gorgeous black lace at the front.
It wasn't the sexy bandage back.
It wasn't even the cost (INR899, people.)
It was an XXS.
Being petite and skinny isn't fun. Finding a well-fitting dress that doesn't gape or isn't too long is almost impossible. When it's my birthday, or New Years, or Christmas, or an event which requires me to find a nice dress, I don't get excited at all. Because I'm sure that no matter where I go, nothing will fit. And if it does, there'll always be something wrong with it. Color-wise, fabric-wise, trim-wise, price-wise.
BUT THIS. THIS WAS PERFECTION. It fit like a dream.

(I will take a picture of this dress when I find someone to take a picture of me in it :P)

Have a nice week!
    

IMHO: Top fashion/style websites

When I'm spending (wasting) time on the laptop, there are a few tabs that will constantly be opened the second my Chrome fires up. Apart from the usual social media, these six sites are what give me my input of fashion and style information from all corners of the globe, apart from the ten million blogs that I read.

I've met quite a few people who are not in fashion but love it and would like information that doesn't come in the conventional form of Vogue/Elle which, awesome as they are, they are only monthly magazines. These sites update themselves daily, providing the reader with an absolute trove of information that gets you oohing and aahing over the latest styles on the street, the runway or from the past.

I recommend quite a few of these sites, if not all, for those of you who are into this sort of thing. Especially fashion students - it is essential to stay updated and be aware of what's going on. I swear they should start putting these sites into course curriculum in schools for kids who want to do design or fashion instead of making them balance ledgers and code programs when that's clearly not what they're into. </end rant>


1. Who What Wear


A great one for runway bytes, street style, beauty and celebrity fashion. It has those buzzfeed-esque list compilations which make for happy scrolling time and inspiration. They do a really good job in making runway fashion and stories understandable, highlighting key ideas, trends, make up looks and where to find knock offs.

2. Lookbook
By far, my favorite street fashion compilation site. Users from all over the world post OOTD photos and share them for inspiration and viewing pleasure. If you're stuck on styling a particular piece in your wardrobe, chances are, someone here has done something similar.
Some of these users have links to their own blogs, which  I always find an interesting read. And if I like them, I'll proceed to stalk them on Bloglovin' and Instagram. And Twitter.

3. The Cutting Class


This one caters a little more to students of fashion and design. It has posts on details, patterns, drapes and stitches that designers have displayed on the runway along with a really nice analysis and the occasional how-to. Really pays attention to detail and the pictures are absolutely brilliant. Lovely minimal layout too, I must say.

4. Style.com


Another all-rounder in terms of content, this one really gives you all the runway news as SOON as the shows come out. When the world was watching the World Cup, glued to their televisions, I was sitting up on my laptop, waiting for the pictures of the Fall/Winter couture shows to surface. They cover almost EVERY designer's fashion show, with pictures of every single look. A real designer's encyclopedia. 

I find this similar to Who What Wear, actually. But I still go on it. You can never have enough of these sites in your life!

Somewhere deep inside me, is a Gothic Lolita begging for release. I wear far too much black, lace, black lace, have an obsession with 19th century literature, fashion and life and absolutely adore the Lolita style. Sigh.
But aside from that, I adore Japanese fashion. More specifically, street fashion. The streets are teeming with youngsters who redefine fashion and change conventional aesthetics every single day. The tiny little micro trends that they start in the east on the streets of Shibuya are often scouted by some trendspotter for H&M or Forever21 and then copied and reproduced on a mass scale. The streets are rich with inspiration and theatrics. This site is a street photography compilation of just that. Maybe you won't dress EXACTLY like them, but I'm sure you can find some crazy trends that you can incorporate in your own way. I know I have!

My most FAQ





This post is an ode to the most Frequently Asked Question I get.
It comes to me via Facebook, SMS, email, Whatsapp, over the phone, in person. You name it, I have been asked this question and its variants through all forms of communication.

And I love answering it. Because I get this kick out of being able to explain something that for once, I fully understand :P

What is the question?

'Hey, you're in NIFT, right? Can you tell me about it?'

Yes, I'm aware that's technically two, but you get the point.
And I was in NIFT. I graduated this May.

So I have decided to make a blog post outlining the most FAQ's that are associated with this FAQ. This goes out to people who want to make fashion design a career and are looking at my college as an option. It also tells freshers who are joining and their parents what to expect.

Disclaimer : I am no expert in career/course counselling by ANY means, nor do I claim to be. This is not a post forcing you to pick Fashion Design in NIFT as your chosen path. Also, I just graduated so I do not know much about the post-degree career experiences as I have only freelanced and done an internship. Although I have a pretty decent picture, I'd rather not include that in this post because I myself am still figuring it out. No false information or promises, see?

This post is also for parents who want to know more about the course before they send you there.

Also, I will be talking mostly about the Fashion Design course, because I obviously know most about that one, being the degree that I hold. For more details on all the other courses please go to nift.ac.in :)

Without further ado, here we go.

1. Why did you choose NIFT? And why Chennai?


Simple. It is the premier institute for Fashion Design in the country (my parents didn't want me to leave the country for UG). I also wanted a degree, not a diploma.

Chennai because again, parents wanted me home for UG. They thought I'd cause too much trouble and fail all my courses if I was elsewhere (KIDDING MOM/DAD.) Although I wouldn't have minded Mumbai or Bangalore for FD, I probably would have failed miserably at taking care of myself as I sometimes go a bit overboard with the work. Sometimes.

2. Why did you choose Fashion Design?


Because the course sounded awesome. I had two people that were both my seniors in the same course, so I bombarded them with questions before my entrances. (sorry guys :P) I wanted to learn how to not only design, but execute them as well. Also, FD is the only course which requires you to stitch all your final collection garments by yourself in the fourth year. For an amazing fashion show. Which I thought was amazing. Plus, it touched upon a lot of other subjects that I really liked the sound of.


3. Wait, you said sew. Do I have to learn how to sew before I come?


Yes. A lot of my classmates had no idea we actually had intensive classes on knowing how to stitch. If I didn't have wise seniors, I wouldn't have known either. And not at all. You will learn it all from scratch in college, from the most basic operation, to the most complex.

I started off pretty retarded and messy and ended up marginally better than when I started. Sometimes I wonder how on earth I even did it. (Hats off to my Garment Construction teachers)

4. What is the course like?


Okay. Now this question is very subjective and open ended, so I'm going to leave my personal experience out of it and just give you a general view.

Fashion Design is one of the most work intensive courses. You will be doing hands-on things for a majority of your classes.
You must be ready to work very, very hard in some classes/semesters. It is no cakewalk. But the rewards outweigh the struggle, trust me. Especially when you look at your first, finished garment.
You NEED to manage your time well. Slow learner, fast learner, it doesn't matter. Execution is what actually counts. There are a lot of deadlines to meet and if you don't make a timetable for yourself, assignments will pile up like an avalanche and envelope you.
You learn all sorts of things. From the history of fashion, to business, to how to properly sew on a hook or a button; it's a very extensive course. Which is great because, you can see what you liked most and really do well in that subject and go beyond the classroom. You may even make a career/brand out of something you made in a random construction class!
On a personal note:
I loved some of the courses so much that I'd really overdo the work on the assignments. Photography, History of Fashion, Research and stuff were things that I loved and the work didn't even feel like work.
Yes, I couldn't stand some of the subjects. But this is to be expected - you can't love them all. You just need to find what you're good at and excel at that.

5. Did you always know you wanted to do fashion in high school?


Yes. After the 9th grade or so (I wanted to be a journalist till then), I think I read Vogue properly for the first time and was sucked in. I used to doodle clothes a lot in class (oops). I did not, however, go for any 'coaching classes'. I think they are an unbelievable waste of time and money. I do not think you can 'learn' creativity or be 'taught' how to answer questions for the entrance.


6. Are there foreign exchange opportunities?


Absolutely. I personally went on a six month exchange to the University of Leeds in my second year. I loved it so much. It is brilliant exposure and you meet all kinds of people.

I would completely recommend these opportunities to anyone else. Each year, MOU's with different Universities are made, so keep your eyes peeled and keep checking the notice board!

7. How do I dress to college?


This is probably one of the reasons that I love my college. In Chennai, where most colleges make girls wear salwars the whole time (all-girls colleges too, what is the POINT?), it is so refreshing to have no dress code.

Because a lot of the work is physical, it is so easy to be in shorts and an oversized tee when you're on your hands and knees dyeing or cutting something. In the first year, I think we all loved dressing up every day and wearing something cute but as the years progress, I think that changes a bit. You dress for comfort and ease. But of course, in the most stylish way possible :P (I'm kidding, my mother was APPALLED at my fourth year wardrobe. I used to dress so casually people on the train would look at me pityingly). There are always those days when you wake up feeling nice and you've slept the night before and you want to look awesome for no reason. I am totally of the belief that a good outfit can make your day amazing. Especially when you've had a bad work week or something.

8. What were your biggest challenges?


Probably the top one was travel. I live in Anna Nagar and to get all the way to Taramani every day was no easy feat. I took a train in the morning and a train + bus back home in the evening. In my final year I used to ask for the car because I had to lug quite a lot of stuff each day. So my days started really early and ended late because I lost quite a lot of time in travel.


Another one was staying focused. I am someone that LOVES what I do, don't get me wrong. But sometimes the work does get a little crazy and you just give up. And want to curl up and bawl your eyes out. But trust me, it all does pass. Somehow, you push through the assignments. And you can sleep after. I promise it'll be the best sleep that you ever had.

Staying healthy was another one. Because I lost a couple hours each day in travel, this cut down my work time, which in turn cut down my sleep time. I used to get headaches and colds a lot because my immune system did not take it. And  consistent time management only kicked in for me properly in my fourth year. Learn from my mistake and have a decent sleep cycle. For this, you NEED to schedule your work. Yes, there will be a few all nighters but your body will be able to take it with no strain if you sleep all the other nights of the week.

9. One regret?


I wish I had taken better pictures of my work. With Instagram and Pixlr, you can really do wonders. Process pictures are always useful and can make your non-design friends go all OH MY GOD HOW DID YOU DO THAT. I used to take very boring, flat pictures of my work in first and second year. Don't. If you like an assignment. Put some effort into it and photograph it properly. I freaking love photography and image editing although I am NO professional at all, so taking pictures of my work now will be really fun.



Sale Shopping 101





Sale shopping is something that I find to be either the best or worst thing that can happen to someone's wardrobe, guy or girl.
It's when we go into malls, more often than not, with no plan as to what we actually need or want at all.

If you're one of those people who has been waiting for a particular piece to go on discount, or you have a well organised mind, then this is not for you. I commend you on your restraint and your planning.

It's the people who go in with the whole 'Oh, I'm just going to have a look around and see if I like anything.' attitude that I am a bit worried for. They end up going in with half an idea of what they may want and coming out with ten things, out of which two won't fit, three are dresses that they are probably never going to wear and the remaining are a bland selection of things that will end up at the back of their closet. Maybe one or two items will make it but why the remaining eight? That money could have gone to much better use or not been spent at all!

This flowchart will hopefully help those people when they are making those quick dashes to the mall during sale time. Keep looking at it till the thought process happens involuntarily.

An even better way to keep yourself in control is to keep a budget so you know your upper limit and when to stop shopping. Withdraw money from an ATM beforehand - Don't swipe the card. It'll help you more than you know!


Purchases: Bath and Body Works deliciousness




Anyone who knows me knows that I am a sucker for things that smell good. Be it perfume, soap, candles, lotions, men - I appreciate the subtle science and fine art that is scent-making. It bewitches the mind, ensnares the senses and all that.

When I found myself outside a Bath and Body Works during the summer sale, I went a little crazy.
I went over three different days (eep) and as things were on sale in rotation, it was just a matter of time before the scents that I wanted to buy were on knockdown.


I am no beauty expert but I know that some people do prefer The Body Shop for their lotions and potions probably because of the natural ingredients. But come onnnnn. I think the scents that Bath And Body offer are amazing. A lot of them have incredibly creative names and associations with places/seasons and feelings which I think is extremely fun. I don't think it particularly does wonders for the skin, they're nice, good quality products that do their job.

Out of all the things I bought, I think these four products were the best smelling ones.

1. Dark Kiss
    This is probably my favorite. It makes me feel like a sexy vixen because it's all night time-y. Light floral with hints of vanilla in it, it's something you should bathe in if you've had a long ass day and want to wind down. Or if you're heading out and want to smell good because the scent DOES linger (which is what I really like about these products).

2. Warm Vanilla Sugar
    Where to start. If you like smelling edible, this is the one for you. I've tried vanilla scented products from loads of brands, but I feel like they all get it wrong, because this clinical, chemical, cream smell comes through the vanilla note, completely killing it. But this product, you ONLY get this amazingly warm, vanilla scent. I swear I have spent a good ten minutes post shower just sniffing my arms.

3. Sweet Pea
    If you're one of those people that likes sweeter, floral scents, you will enjoy this. Their whole Sweet Pea line is pretty great, actually. But I picked up the lotion because one, it was one sale and two, I didn't want a perfume or a bodywash because I feel like that would be an overkill on scent.

4.  Paris Amour
     Ah, the city of love. This is one of those cleverly named scents that suck you in and make you buy it because you can fool yourself into thinking you've been transported to Paris in your shower space. This is another fruity floral scent but a rather fresh one.

I envy people who live in a city with Bath and Body. India seriously needs to get one. More importantly, Chennai. So if you've got that uncle/aunt/sister/brother/grandparent/boyfriend/girlfriend who has access to a store, especially during the sale because it's INSANE, do not pass up on the opportunity to force them to go there for you and pick up something. I've done it. I have good friends :P




Purchases: The cheapest and most Long Wearing nailpolish I own




I normally walk past nailpolish counters when I'm shopping on holiday and go straight to the face stuff. I feel like I can get decent polishes in India, so why bother?

But when you're in Wal-Mart, and you're surrounded by drugstore brands, how much can in really hurt to pick up a couple and see how they go?

So I walked up to the NYC section. Reminded me of my teenage years when some visiting relative would drop one off. I picked this one out. Wine Bar. I've been looking for a good wine colored polish for god knows how long and this was the perfect shade. 

It was around a dollar so I didn't really mind if it totally sucked.

So I got back from my trip. Tried it on. Yes, two coats (oh come on, it was a dollar). It was gorgeous.
And it stayed gorgeous, no top coat no nothing for, wait for it, 8 days! 



I was so happy. My only regret? I only bought one.
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