The Sin City !!

Recently a friend of mine was leaving for the US and obviously was most excited about her first ever trip to the city of lights - the fabulous Las Vegas. She called me before leaving and a palpable wave of excitement could be felt through the phone as she gushed with energy about her itinerary. Now c'mon who wouldn't be excited about it. I certainly shared my pearls of wisdom on things that should / shouldn't be done while in the Sin City and what to look forward to. First and foremost getting around Vegas is very easy like Double Decker mass transit, Cabs, MonoRails.

Image source : vegas maxi course

Vegas is such a fun place and there are a whole lot of things to do besides playing poker like going to the Hoover Dam, Grand Canyon, Movie Nights, and the world famous Vegas Shows.
She was particularly excited about various shows she had booked for herself on the net and was a bit confused about what could be worn to these shows. Since I was this friend who happens "to be it all , know it all"  fashion enthusiast & who also happens to blog about trends in fashion, my friend decided to turn to me for advise.

It actually got me thinking for a while cos I have attended a couple of shows and have never been able to figure out a dress code in particular. I have seen people wearing very casual to dressy attire leading me to believe there is no formal code for dressing to these shows.  Having said that the ones who turn up extremely casual look a bit out of place. So how do we figure out what is appropriate for the occasion if there is no dress code mentioned.

Image source : showvision dancers 

I am a girl who likes to be well turned out when I am out so why wouldn’t I dress up for a nice evening out with my husband. Vegas shows are all about being grand and larger than life. They are indeed a spectacle in themselves so for me it’s like going into a make believe world. The least I can do is look good & feel like a part of it. Ok I am not saying get a ball gown for the occasion but at the same time for heaven’s sake don’t go in your flip flops. I fail to understand people who try to show this cool air of nonchalance about their dressing. So totally not happening.

My  simple tips for those who can't decipher what to wear. Follow the guidelines to glide through such indecisive moments like dressing for a Vegas Show without looking too over or under dressed :

1. An LBD can never be a wrong choice.

LBD goes a long way to save you from committing a blunder. It is that magic elixir that is ur solution to all problems. When in doubt just turn to an LBD

Image source : blogs.dots

Image source:Indian masala

Wear them with sexy pair of heels

Throw in a jacket if you feel like. Jackets increase your style quotient and  also help you stay warm incase the aircon is high.

image source: style.lifegoesstrong

2. Leave the Boyfriend but not the Blazer

A blazer can be your savior in a lot of situations. If you aren’t able to put a lot of thought just throw a blazer over a casual floral dress or wear it with those ripped jeans or cropped trousers or even with shorts. They can immediately make you look a little dressed.

Image source ; Look

3. Short is cute

Off shoulder or one shoulder dresses work like a charm and if they are shorter then even cuter. Wear them with your sexy heels and you are good to go.

4. Heels are a must

I can never emphasise on the power of heels. They can make the drabbest of outfit look the coolest. That’s my mantra of looking great, Just wear a sexy pair of heels . They will make you look and feel like Cinderella. If you are going from one show to some place else for dinner just take a cab but Never compromise on heels.

Image source : runwithkate.com

5. Carry a clutch

I know we all love our over sized bags but chuck them even if they are a Vuitton or a Dior. There is a reason a clutch is known as an evening clutch. For such occasions always keep fabulous one handy. 

source : aazures.com

6. Accessorize

Even if you are wearing something as simple as a jeans and a T shirt. Wearing a beautiful neck piece (or a statement piece) will make you look like dressed for the occasion but don’t go overboard. Just one piece.

7. Look fresh

I know when in Vegas, it’s difficult to be confined to a room but girls catch forty winks  before you step out in the evening cos its going to be a long night with the show and the dinner and the clubbing. This cat nap will help you looking fresh and alert through the night. And last but not the least wear loads of Attitude and Have fun

I gave the same advise to my friend and she was happy to follow it. Hoping it will help many of you too. 

X

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Get Festive - Twirl it away.

Hi everyone, hope you are able to make some sense out of the Indian Wear segment (Get Festive series) that I am currently writing  on the blog & I am certainly hoping that it's helping you all to figure out different trends that are being seen in the market. 

Like I said before I am not much into Indian wear but one garment that I surely can't resist are the Anarkali Suits. Oh God just to twirl that beautiful fabric around makes me feel like a Royalty.

Image source : Rohit Bal LIFW 2011

Anarkalis are reminiscent of the bygone Mughal era with the images of the king/ emperor and his coterie having a chill time, sipping on alcohol while watching the beautiful dancers swirl their Anarkali skirts to some classical Indian music I guess. Very Bollywood inspired... I know. But c'mon when you say Anarkali what's the 1st thought that runs through your mind. Well, I think of the very ethereal  Madhubala dancing to Pyar kiya toh darna kya. Right!! 

Thank u,  I rest my case :-)

Image source :kaprayshapray.com

Now check this one out - how truly inspiring.

image source : muzaffar

The other thought that comes to my mind are the famous Umrao Jaan mujras. How can one forget the beautiful Rekha in a role of lifetime as this beautiful courtesan.

Ofcourse some of the men could think of Malaika Arora gyrating to "Anarkali disco chali". How silly of me...hahaha

Anarkali suits made there way back into the Indian fashion circuit some 4-5 years ago and became a huge huge rage. I remember picking up one or 2 a few years ago not very sure whether the trend would last but 4 years hence and there is no sign of this one slowing down. Many a version came of this trend with shorter kurtas, Asymmetrical hemlines, lesser kalis, more gheras blah blah blah but the trend is still going strong. The latest version of this beautiful design are the floor grazing lengths. And you will see our fashion brigade wearing this trend with much aplomb.

Image source : Style me India

Image source : wonderwoman

Image source : Salwartimes

We are also seeing layered Anarkali trend as in Layering your Anarkali with another kurta or cape.

Image source : Manish Malhotra tumblr

Are churidar salwars getting replaced with parallel trousers ???

image source : greenscarf

Image source : WLIFW2012

Image source : Styleme India

Image source : Styleme India

In terms of fabric of course Net and georgette are the preferred ones but we saw Manish Malhotra using Raw silk a lot in his latest Mijwan collection. Good choice considering winters are round the corner. Velvet still continues to be a favorite for embelishing sleeves or necks or dupattas.

Image source : Manish Malhotra Tumblr

Image source : Manish Malhotra Tumblr

In terms of color sky is the limit when it comes to Indian wear. The best thing about Indian wear is that it's vibrant and colorful so there are no restrictions.

Also sometimes the expanse of the garment could be so overwhelming that tieing ur hair might just be a good idea

image source : IDIVA

My Tip : Anarkali suits tend to be slightly expensive (even if they are not from any big label ) because of the sheer quantity of fabric used and then depending on the amount of work done. It also can't be worn too often unlike the regular churidar kurtas so be very wise in selecting the piece you are buying. Ensure that the piece you pick can be worn at various occasions & not just at the wedding of your siblings or close ones. The Indian wear also tends to get blingy so learn to differentiate between bling and class.

Hope u liked my post :-)

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Busting the Make Up Myths with Smita

Hi everyone, hope you all had a great weekend with your near and dear ones. 
Recently I met a couple of people and got talking about Fashion, Make Up and stuff. I realised that a lot of people still have certain myths about Make Up. They feel it's not their cup of tea or it's not meant for them which is so so untrue. 
So I thought it would be interesting to sit with FUF's in house Make Up Artist  Smita Chadha and address each of these myths that people have in their mind. I have tried to educate you through various posts but what better than coming from an expert.

Image : Bodyandsoul

Myth 1 : Make up does not look good on everyone

Smita : Make up is not about altering your looks completely but about enhancing your natural looks and accentuating the best feature of your face, be it beautiful eyes, lips or excellent skin. Its a tool designed to boost your self esteem.Makeup can look bad on you if you are applying it incorrectly or using colors or foundation/base that are not suitable for your skin tone. It doesn't mean anything is wrong with you -- it just means you need to be more observant about your own face / features & constantly keep experimenting. In short devoting time to yourselves :-)

Myth 2 : Applying Make up regularly will make my skin age.

Image :beautifulmakeup

Smita : Makeup doesn't necessarily age skin, as long as you're taking it off religiously and taking care of the skin underneath. Whatever the case and howsoever late you might be from your party you MUST cleanse your face of all the make up.




The biggest culprit of skin aging is sun damage, so if you really want to protect your skin, wear sunscreen daily (even if you'll only be outside 15-30 minutes!). 

What also helps your skin is wearing foundation!  Most foundations come with a natural SPF, which protects your skin from the sun. Even if you are one of those who are blessed with beautiful, clear skin, I would still recommend a light powder. Trust me its better than nothing. The other factor is having Anti-oxidants in your daily diet like Vitamins A, B Complex, C, D, E.

Myth 3 : Is it true that Make up actually protects one's skin against sun damage & pollution?

Smita : Yes, cosmetics can go a long way in protecting your face against UV damage as well as against pollution present in the air. After cleansing your face in the morning, apply the moisturizer to your face, and also to your ears, neck, and upper chest. The delicate skin around your eyes needs protection as well, but most moisturizers are not recommended for use in the eye area.  Eye creams that contain an SPF are available from some manufacturers, and should be applied during the moisturizing step of your morning routine.
Your second line of skin defense can be found in your foundation.  When choosing a foundation, look for one with an SPF rating between 8 and 15.  While this may seem like overkill, the truth is that most people do not get the most out of their sunscreen because either they do not apply enough of it, or they apply it unevenly.  Two applications of cosmetics that contain a sunscreen will increase your chances of getting good protection & prevents pollutants from clogging or drying up the natural skin.

Myth 4 : Not everyone can wear a Red lipstick

Image : Instyle

Smita : Rubbish. Anyone can wear a Red lipstick. You just need to determine the right shade of Red that will suit you whether a tomato Red , burnt Red or a Maroon Red. Your skin under tones can also help you determine whether to wear a warmer or a cooler shade.

Having said that Older women look better in lighter shades so wearing a red lip tint is a more conservative option, or applying lip colour then matting it down with a tissue can soften the strong effect of red. 

Please remember to exfoliate your lips & apply lip balm / Vaseline 10 mins before you want to apply any dark lip colour. 

Myth 5 : Wear products from one brand/line only

Smita : Totally false! Your face does not know you’re mixing brands and neither does anyone else! You may have brands and/or products which you prefer, but using only one means limiting your options. This myth was most likely invented by a cosmetic company to sell more product. More important is  using brands of higher quality, as they are much more likely to avoid dangerous chemical components in their products. Be very careful as to what product you use on your skin.

Myth 6 : Always apply makeup in natural light

Smita : This is ideal, if possible. Natural light is less forgiving; therefore applying your makeup in it gives the most accurate results. If natural light is not available, use the strongest light possible, especially fluorescent lights. Ta..da.. Time to get some new lights for your dressing room :-))

Myth 7 : Only those with large eyes can wear liquid eyeliner

Smita : On the contrary, use of eyeliner on the upper lash line can make smaller eyes appear larger. If you feel confident applying and wearing liquid eyeliner, go for it! Applying along the entire lash line is fine & sweeping up at outer corners helps lifts the eyes. However the ‘cat eye’ look is NOT for everyone.

Myth 8 : You should never ‘pump’ the mascara wand in and out of the tube

Smita : True, this isn’t recommended. Doing so pushes air into the tube, hence drying out the mascara and increasing the risk of bacteria getting in. 

A more effective way of getting mascara onto the brush, is turning the wand inside the tube, and then gently pulling it out. Because mascara is a breeding ground for bacteria, it is recommended that you do not share it with anyone else. For the same reason, adding water to mascara isn’t advisable.

Myth 9 : Blush is for adding colour, not definition

Image :welovemakeup

Smita : Actually, cheek colour does both. It can be used to add warmth to your face, to shape and contour, enhancing cheekbones or to make your face appear thinner. 

Blush completes the look as well as gives the appearance of a healthy circulatory system. More neutral tones of cheek colour can also be used to contour other areas of the face, such as the jawline, temples and the sides of the nose.

Myth 10 : As you grow older, you need to apply more foundation

Smita : Infact when you get older, the make up seeps inside the lines and shows more so it's advisable to use Tinted moisturisers or sheer liquid foundations which makes your skin look younger & steer away from heavy coverage ones. 

Do write to us should you have any queries. 

for FUF 

Smita Chadha

Smita is FUF's in house make up Artist who is trained under Cory Walia and practices freelance. 

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