MFA.

I’m fortunate enough to have male friends who let me play dress up with them. I have gone shopping with more of them than I have with my girl friends.

And what I’ve noticed is that very few of them know:

1.       What is on trend

2.       What actually looks good

3.       What looks like s***

4.       90s revival isn’t an excuse to be wearing what you wore when you were 14 because you can’t be bothered to shop

And many, many more.

So I decided to make a list. As usual.

And boys seriously, take note. This will change your life. And you won’t have to drag your mom shopping (she DOESN’T enjoy it.)

1.       Shirts have different fits – slim, extra slim, medium, regular, traditional . So telling me your size is 38 doesn’t really mean much. You need to look into what kind of fit suits you.

2.       Perfume is mandatory. I do not need another rant.

3.       Graphic tees are acceptable. But stay away from low quality rubber print options that peel off like nail varnish after one wash.

4.       Don’t be afraid to wear colors other than blue or black. Pastels are a good alternative for wardrobe expansion if you’re looking at formal/semi formal shirts.

5.       Pink is manly. It’s the new white.

6.       Stop buying stone washed jeans.

7.       Please.

8.       Your jeans should fit one leg properly, not have room for another.

9.       If the hem is ripped, throw it away.

10.   Invest in pieces like a waffle knit sweater or a v-neck to layer up looks

11.   Stop running to your dad for every tie, cufflink or formal shoe need. It’s time you built your own collection

12.   Stop saying you don’t care. It isn’t cool. People will not take you seriously as you get older. Effortless style takes skill and effortless does not mean LACK OF IT.

13.   Buy a grown up boy belt. That one with the car print? NO. Get one formal and one informal.

14.   Chappals cannot be worn with everything.

15.   Invest in a blazer from Zara or a similar brand if you don’t want to buy a suit. Make sure it fits you well. You can throw it on during interviews and look like you know your shit.

16. If you Reddit, go on MFA. Or Lookbook.nu for some styling options.

17. Don't be scared to take a few risks. 

Godspeed.

12 essentials for your grown-up wardrobe

This post is dedicated to my cousin who gave me the idea.

I claim no credit. :P

Okay. So I moved out of home…yesterday? And when I was packing, I realised that I have some semblance of a big girl wardrobe. It is by no means done, but there are a lot of staples I feel will really fit into my post-22-working-girl set of clothes. They’re a lot of basics, which multitask and can be used with a wide variety of looks, no matter what your style spirit animal is.

If any of you are making the transition from college to work, I think this list will help you.

1.       A Blazer

I’m an extremely small person, so most blazers drown me – especially with the shoulderpads. I found this gem in Delhi on the streets. It’s cropped, and it fits like a dream. I throw it on whenever I want to fool people into thinking I have my life together. Works every time.

2.       A well fitting black tank

A MUST HAVE. It goes under tops, sheer shirts, blazers, cardigans and with skirts, jeans, trousers…it’s endless. Invest in a couple.

3.       A silk or silk imitation non-iron blouse

This is a lifesaver for when you’ve got an impromptu meeting and nothing to wear. Very low maintenance, looks extremely chic.

4.       A transition blouse or top

On those days where you know you’re going to be going out after work, this top does the job. Still fits in with the semi-formal work restrictions and can be styled up with some jewellery and darker makeup for the evening.

5.       Black pants

Goes with everything. Be it work or play. Get something stretchy so you can show off them legs.

6.       A printed skirt

An alternative to a dress for an evening/night out. Not exactly work appropriate (mine isn’t, purely because of the length) but can be worn with a multitude of tops and you can dress it up or down as per your liking.

7.       Bandeau bra

This is a lifesaver for those sheer/low armhole tops when you don’t want to wear a slip, but you still want to cover up your chest business.

8.       Kurti

The best option for those days where you want to look like you made an effort but you really didn’t. A nice kurti can do wonders when you’re over the whole formal wear situation and want something a little different.  Slap on some kohl, put on some nice dangly earrings and you’re good to go.

9.       A nice statement necklace

Always have a couple handy to add some drama to your outfit. Keep a couple in your bag/workplace to throw on when you need to go out.

10.   Nice perfume

It’s just right of passage to have your own ‘smell’ when you get older. Invest in a nice perfume that becomes your signature scent.

11.   Grown up watch

I know. We all have cellphones that tell us the time. But a watch is irreplaceable. There’s something really nice about wearing a watch on your wrist. I tend to look at that more than my phone these days.

12.   Pair of black heels

Invest in a pair of nice heels that you can wear to work (yes, work) and still wear with LBDS/LSDS/LRDS. Makes you feel like a million bucks.

The deal with deos

I am going to try and keep this post as rant-free and emotionless as possible, but this is something that I feel so strongly about, that I don't think that'll happen.
Apologies in advance.

I do not know what it is about some men and women in India. Without the fear of sounding like I'm pulling statistics out of my ass, I can safely say I am talking about a good 60-70% of the population.

When. When did it become alright, in a country as humid and sticky as ours (especially the southern states) to NOT WEAR ANTIPERSPIRANT? WHEN?

Yes, I am going to go ahead and add a disclaimer here and say that I am aware some people are allergic to roll-ons and I obviously cannot aim this at you guys.

I have gone to both school and college in Chennai, and I have had my fair share of bad body odor experiences. Girls AND boys, I'm talking about here. Socially aware and educated. The need to wear antiperspirant is equivalent to the need to brush your teeth with toothpaste. Imagine if we all rinsed our mouths with mouthwash every morning and didn't brush. That kinda thing.

Let me blow your mind.
Most companies/websites sell you the picture that Deo sprays are antiperspirants. No. They're not.
IT'S A TRAP.
Spraying Axe or KS or Wild Stone or any other weird sexually innuendo-ed sprays do not stop you from sweating, hence the that is what ANTIPERSPIRANTS do.
So spraying yourself with that isn't going to do shit for you once you head outside and get your sweat on.

Dousing yourself in perfume is NOT the way to start your day, idiots. Your 5K Cool Water isn't fooling anyone.

I know that aerosol deos are deemed as harmful and all that jazz. I don't use it anymore, myself. But there are roll ons.
And god, the number of times I've gently tried to hint at it, asking people to wear deo, I get 'Oh, I don't sweat that much.'

That doesn't mean you don't smell like day old garbage under your pits. It's offensive and unfair.

It isn't fair that certain people think that B.O isn't even a problem and that they can subject the person sitting or working around them to it.

Your underarms pack in a tremendous amount of heat and ferment the bacteria that hang around there or some really gross shit and hence, let off stink waves. #sciencereference #credibility

People please. Wake up. This isn't something I can go around telling individuals and I'm sure a lot of people have been in the same boat as me.

Share this post on your wall, maybe and people will take a hint :P

EDIT :
For men : Highly recommended from well, man sources. Old Spice and Nivea
For women : I love Nivea Whitening and Sure (couldn't find a link but it's available any old where!)

Why every girl needs bold lipstick

I was someone who didn't for the life of me know how to lipstick on till I turned...19?
They scared the living shit out of me. And the whole lipliner deal. And bold lips? Forget it.

I think it changed because I thought I was ready to buy some 'big girl' make up so I went to MAC at Express Avenue and bought (of ALL the colors) Russian Red. :P

After that, the lipstick buying started. I wore lipstick if I was going out at night ONLY cause I didn't have the guts to pull off a bold lip during the day :P
Then I was like, to hell with it. If I want hooker lips at 1pm, so be it.

But to the girls who want to buy a bold lipstick but really don't want a red - I suggest this.
A wine/berry shade. It's SO flattering. It's dark, yes, but I find it so sophisticated.
I steal my mum's lip liner if I'm really going all out, but I usually apply it without anything (I know, I know, that's not the best). But I'll get there :P

I recommend a matte lipstick over glossy/creamy because it's a lot less INYOURFACE and you can stain it out if you chicken out (I've done this MANY times :P)


I'm wearing L'oreal Moist Matte Lipstick in Arabian Nights (bit of a discount here :here)
Perfect for holiday lips :D

Happy Diwali!

Bombay Shopping Diaries - The highlights

Street shopping for me is a source of delight. If I come across one of those shops with export rejects (yes, there's a difference between the fake ones that claim to be 'H&M' or 'Zara' and the actual export rejects).
Thankfully, 4 years in fashion design school taught me what to look for, which ones to ditch and how to drive a really hard bargain.

I did buy a considerable amount in Bombay this time but SURPRISE SURPRISE, 50% of the stuff wasn't for me :P. In fact, I think the presents outweighed the haul I got for myself. That's okay.
There's always a next time :P

I am not including the stuff I got at malls, cause I went basics shopping, and I don't want to bore you guys with the Extremely Exciting Black Pants That Fit Perfectly (being a 26 really f&^#s with your options) or the White Top That Can Make Even Me Fake A Figure (trust me, Nicki Minaj can go around hating on us 'skinny bitches' all she likes, but finding a well-fitting top is almost impossible)

Here are a few pieces that I thought were pretty different from the stuff that I'd usually pick up when I go street shopping. I'd definitely consider these the highlights.

A huge thank you to my best friend for taking these pictures. And for waking up.

I am pretty camera shy when it comes to the whole 'posing' deal. Excuse the lack of face.
I will hopefully get better with the next post :P

Look! Detailing!

Awkward pose 1

Should've steamed this top damnit

I carry far too much shit in this bag.

Shit where's my phone

All three tops were a whopping 250 INR each (yes, I had to haggle).

Skirt was 500 INR.

Brilliant quality, all of them.

Really happy.

Happy Friday!

Eye-Conic Checklist

I know, I know the whole Eye-conic pun has been made before but meh :P

Since I turned thirteen, I don't think I've ever fallen out of love with eye make up. Started with that stick of kajal we all used to have at the bottom of our schoolbags, and as I got older, the liner came along and with it, mascara.

I swear, if I lost almost everything in my make up bag, and the only thing I had left was the kajal and maybe liner, I'd be totally okay with that.
Eye make up, when applied correctly can trick people into thinking you're awake/give a shit.
How do you think I got through college juries?

Now, at 22, I don't think anything has changed in terms of what I do to my face when I go out.
It's all about the eyes, people.

But what I would like to focus on in this post is that I think that I have found the perfect set of holy-grail products that make up my eye routine. I've probably used more brands of kajal/liner/mascara than I can even remember. But this, this set I am happy with.

And I'd like to share. So here are four steps to hooker worthy  smouldering peepers!



1. Colossal Kajal
 Everyone owns this, or has owned this at some point in life. It gets over far too fast but whatever. We still buy it. I have tried that Kajal Magique business and the Eyeconic but I found both way too...hard? This one is creamy, I can use it to smoke out eyeshadow if I want and it DOESN'T MOVE. I can cry my eyes out over The Fault in our Stars and it'll stay put.

2. Revlon Color Stay Liquid Liner in Black Beauty with Flocked Tip I Don't Even Know What That Means
Even though the name makes me reminiscent of sheep, I am really happy with this recent find. Its 'flocked tip' (I Googled, it means it's pointy) is conducive to winged eyeliner which I love. You don't get the super sharp flick that you'd get with the brush applicators, but I'm okay with that. (Sometimes. I put the Lakme Instaliner wand in this formula. So I can get a sharper wing. As you can see, I like to live on the edge.)

3. Eyelash curler
I cannot tell you. How much of a difference. This step makes. Using an eyelash curler makes your lashes look like falsies. I swear. I don't use the curler if I'm going to say, a friends house. But on a night out, definitely. I bought this one in Thailand like, three years ago. There are some really good brands on the market, I suggest you take a look.

4. Loreal Volume Million Lashes in Extra Black
I love this mascara. To death. If they ever stop making this, I'd go into mourning.
The wand is huge. And a couple of coats of this and BAM. Your lashes touch your eyebrows (I'm not joking. With this on, my lashes leave mascara flicks on my glasses). It lives up to it's name, really does give you x-factor million lashes.

So that concludes my gushing.
I'm so happy with these products that I have, they really work for me and I don't think I'd be changing them anytime soon.

Happy Sunday!

Necklace Layering - 2 ways

So as I was rummaging around in my jewelry, I realized I have far too many necklaces.
And most of them never see the light of day, but I keep buying more.

And then I felt really bad and vowed never to buy more.

Then I realized that would never happen because YOLO.

So, jumping on the layering bandwagon, I decided to style two sets of necklaces two ways. Almost a 'Good Girl gone Bad' teeehheeehee.

*clears throat*
Anyway.

This first set is a pair of statement necklaces. I think layering statement necklaces is something that you can totally get away with if you're wearing a really plain blouse, or a top. Make sure that the necklaces are related in some way (or not, if you're going for that). This can be in terms of tones, the stonework, the shape, whatever.
I wore this with a collared shirt because I think it adds that extra dimension - you can put one necklace so that it peeps under the collar, and the other one can be all out.

One necklace must hang lower/wider than the other, or they will end up sitting one on top of the other and give you this very unflattering 'aunty at a wedding' vibe that just isn't a good look at all. Fail.

 

 Behind the scenes :P. Me myself and I need to get that tripod back from my friend's house :P
Or my FRIENDS could take pictures for me (WINK WINK, HINT HINT)



This second set is a lot edgier and something I love wearing. Anyone who knows me knows I love me a little  lot Gothic Lolita, so the crosses and skulls are right up my alley. Here the key is balancing out the lengths. Make sure you've got one closer to the neck and one that sits nicely near your well, boob area, and in between can be whatever you want. I love how they get all intertwined (intertwined, not tangled) because it looks very rocker chic.

So let me know how you guys get on with this. I am not sure whether this will make you look at the millions of necklaces that I am sure you all own and encourage you to utilize them better or go the completely opposite way and will send you out on a spree to buy more pieces to layer with.

I am not responsible for the latter.

P.S If you do end up buying more, please tell me, because I will feel so much better about myself :P

Happy Tuesday!