Girly girl!

Until a couple of years ago, I had no clue about make up or eyeshadows or any of the paraphernalia that is available in the market, and most definitely would not know what an eyelash curler is....reminds me of the girls making fun of Anne Hathaway in The Devil wears Prada! Of course, I did use the occasional foundation/eyeliner/lipstick on occasions...nothing more than that!

Anyway, after we moved to Paris, I couldn't help but notice all the beautiful colors around me and especially, when you see all the lovely cosmetics laid out beautifully in every store - the girl in me has to stop and look, evince interest and finally BUY! ;). 

So many women wear the right makeup here and it enhances their gorgeous faces and I changed my mind. I am slowly building up my collection from MAC (gasp!) and I must admit, I just love getting ready for work and can't wait to put on all the colors in the palette!!!!! :D

Though many people tend to pooh-pooh make up, I truly believe its an art! Its akin to a painting, except its your face or personality.  You can wear a different persona every other day! I just have fun with it, the key is not to take it too seriously. 

Of course, I am definitely not one of those people who refuses to go out sans make up. I do believe, I am naturally beautiful, both outside and from within...but then life would be boring, if it was all plain and vanilla?...make up adds that colour and makes your features 'pop'!

I tried a smoky eye and after much deliberation decided to put it up here, just for kicks! :) It needs a lot of practice to get a finished look, I know... I will get there....soon!

 Edited to add:

Stylish and Chic! ( In my personal opinion and stuff I have learnt over the years...)

•  Do not pluck your eyebrows into a thin line, it makes you look worn out and older - You do NOT want that, I am sure! 
• Refrain from wearing clothes with rhinestones and stay away from plastic earrings or any other accessory - they are really tacky!
• Puff sleeves and jackets or blazers with paddings are a big no-no, unless you are really tiny and petite! They are not flattering in any sense, even if the fashion magazines make it out to be a major trend!
• Waist coats are a very classy way to brighten up a dull top or sweater - my personal favorite and style (if you have noticed!). They are very fashionable and practical too!
• I fill up an empty spraying bottle with rose water to clean my face - it is a great cleansing medium, keeps you feeling fresh and moisturizes as well!
• The Holy grail -  Moisturize, Moisturize and MOISTURIZE!
  

Little things do matter...

I have always wanted to wear heels, but I am pretty tall already and I am not very comfortable in them, so I don't wear them often! ...BUT I still went ahead and bought these incredibly gorgeous, comfortable and feminine lace heels that are specially designed for big,wide feet like mine, online! ...


When I got the shoes, I jumped up with excitement and joy, like a 10-year old! I was relating to S about something that happened when I was about the same age...and I decided to relate it here as well...


When I was a little girl, and am a girl's girl, I couldn't wait to wear duppattas, have long nails, wear heels, lipstick....I was in awe of my cousin U, a very pretty cousin, maybe at least a decade older than me....and she would have these lovely long nails with pretty nail polishes and would wear these really glamorous big heels. I remember eagerly waiting to get my nails painted, when I visited her and never folding my hands, thinking the color would fade away! :P. I would bug Amma for a dash of lipstick when we would go for weddings and simply refuse to eat, fearing it would wear off....my poor mother!!

Once, she had got rid of her heels - white stilettos, and I brought it along home, just for the heck of it. It was at least 5 times bigger than my feet...but I would walk around in them, dreaming of owning my own pair someday! :) I also had a suitcase full of shells collected over a period of time from all our beach trips...and this was all my "treasure" I would never part with, (so don't mess with me or I'll make you go crazy with my whining and crying kinda treasure!)

We moved houses, actually a major milestone for us coz we were moving from our rented apartment to a lovely apartment in Besant nagar, near the beach...and it was going to be our own home! I remember I was so thrilled looking at the new chandelier(...I thought they were real diamonds and we were super rich now!) at our new home and I also remember asking Amma "Inga daily thanni varumaa? (Will we get water here everyday?)"....coz we used to live in an area where there was a lot of water scarcity and Appa and Amma had to work hard to collect water. Anyway, I digress.

My parents had shifted to our new home and left us kids with our cousins while they unpacked and settled down. Of course, the minute I landed, I looked for my "treasure" box and to my utter horror, my dad threw away all my "trash", including my cousin's stilettos that I had safely stashed away. I was completely heartbroken and I had a mental image running in my head, of pouncing on my Dad for doing this to me! Oh, but I simply did what I did best - cried, cried and cried like there was no tomorrow...I was very very upset with him for throwing away my most treasured possessions.

Today, and I say this with utmost honesty, I feel good, very good - to know my "treasure" is safe and its beautiful and its not borrowed, its my own! ...safe in my home! It may be a little thing, but it goes deeper...:)

P.S - Edited to add a picture after I wore them in real life, finally! :)

...they look super hot, don't they? :D

P.S - This definitely does not mean that my parents were inconsiderate, I have the most wonderful folks, but it is just a recollection of my state of mind THEN! ....:)

Spoils from our Berlin Trip!

S's funky watch and my chunky flower ring - a match made in Heaven! ;)

My Winter Fashion!

It's cold and I am always covered in layers and layers of clothes. After the initial excitement of the snow and winter clothes, it tends to get repetitive, wearing jackets ALL the time! For our weekend trip to Annecy, I decided to try and wear something different from a jacket atleast one day! Though, it was pretty cold, I managed to stay warm!

With the sales happening in Paris ( there are major sales here only twice in a year - January and July; discounts are as much as 70% off), of course I decided to check out the stores! ( I mean, OF COURSE ;)... I found this knitted skirt for a real good bargain, and I decided to wear it with a formal blazer under layers and layers of sweater-tops! For once, I decided to skip the winter jacket!

I do like the structured look of this ensemble, the skirt is a military-green with large pockets on both sides! :)

I also carried some colorful scarves to brighten up my regular black-grey jackets...they are the simplest accessory and a total space-saver that makes S most happy! ;)

Incidentally, the jacket is also from the Sales and I bought it at 50% off and it really keeps me warm! :) I am a big "red" fan and I add a lot of red in my clothes and to my home decor! It brightens up your day, IMHO! You can find many "red accents" in my living room too!

I bought this light blazer from H&M about a year back, when I started working here. But I never got a chance to wear them...so I chose this weekend trip to Annecy to wear it! When you wear formal clothes, rather mix a bit of formal with casual, it makes you look chic!

Annecy was gorgeous and I felt like it was a combination of Venice and Amsterdam with all the bridges and canals! I am having a ball regularly posting pictures from Annecy, Check it out too! Many people are unaware of this beautiful little city near the Alps, they also happen to be one of the contenders for the Winter Olympics in 2018, so there was a lot of promotion everywhere around the town!

MIA!

...coz I am holidaying in India, to be specific in Pondicherry! For the first
time, I am embracing the sun and the heat with open arms after the numbing cold winters in Paris (I will go back to all the snow soon)...

Down South, people head to Pondy just as people head to Goa in the West! I found a really cute jumpsuit for a song here, thanks to my brother's superior bargaining skills. Knowing me, I am thoroughly enjoying the shopping, sun, beaches, love, laughter, happiness and all the shopping!!! Did I say that already? ;)

Jumpsuits are really cool, casual and are best paired with a tight-fitting top! This black jumpsuit in cotton takes the cake!!

My two cents...

I look at some old pictures and cringe at a mistake I made; could be my hair or the wrong clothes or the wrong color or bad choice of make up and often wish someone had given me tips on what suits me. Anyway, over a period of time, I have learnt some quick-fix thingies or tricks that may help other women like me and I would like to share my 'fashion wisdom' and be that 'someone'!

I am a classic dresser and don't really update my wardrobe with every change in fashion or season.I am not a manic follower but believe in looking smart & presentable or cheerful & fun, depending on the occasion! You are blessed with features that you have no control over but I think anyone can look good if they wear the right clothes/accessories that best suits them! If it does not suit me, no matter how trendy it is, I do not buy or wear it.
1. If you have a broad structure or broad shoulders like I do, refrain from horizontal stripes! They end up making you look broader than you actually are...So stick to buying horizontal stripes for the MEN in your life!

2. Avoid kajal if you have small eyes. They make your eyes appear smaller. A thin line with an eyeliner helps define your eyes. Or you can draw a line from the corner of the eye to the middle of the eye as seen in the picture! It makes your eyes look bigger...
I remember staring at my mom apply Gala eyeliner as if she was dipping a brush into a magic potion and insisting on applying it on my eyes. My mom would humour me on some days and I would keep my eyes closed for a long time lest it gets smudged! Amma and her younger sister would treasure the rare Gala eyeliners they would need to get from abroad, in those days!

Now, I don't think I prefer Gala coz its shiny and does not have a natural matte texture to it!

3. If you are short or have short legs or simply someone who wants to look taller, wearing long garments make you look taller. The length of the garment adds length to you as well. ( By God's grace, I am blessed with good height, yet I wear clothes in such a way that it highlights my height...cheap thrills!!)

4. Adding a waist coat to a plain top adds a lot of sophisticated fun element to a garment. Don't wear chunky jewellery along with it. We want to highlight only one element in the entire ensemble! A waistcoat camouflages any flaws in the midriff area...( My signature style to work on Mondays!)

5. Chunky jewellery looks great on most people and needs to be combined with plain dark clothes. You just need to experiment and be bold and try some new things. After all, normal can be boring some times! The jewellery makes a 'statement' with plain garments. If you are wearing prints, stick to a thin chain or no jewellery at all. ( I have an interesting collection of chunky, colorful jewellery and thin dainty stuff too...in a big box! I hope to pass it on to someone later on who will value it as much as I do when I am pushing daisies someday! ) Its my biggest treasure, sort of a hobby and means a lot to me!

6. Low-waisted jeans make you look slimmer. They apparently split the midriff and create an illusion of a waist! I guess it works coz the explanation sounds kind of logical, eh?

7. Experiment with colors. Wearing dark and bright colors not only brightens your day but also highlights your vibrant personality. Of course, as we all know, black is a slimming color and I tend to look at only black when I go shopping like a horse with blinders! I am banned from buying any more black-colored clothes at home! I am trying to wear pastels and summery colors that is considered feminine ;-). I experiment quite a bit, to the extent that I have saffron colored cargo pants!! :)

8. You can add a touch of color to an otherwise bland outfit by wearing an interesting belt, chunky bracelets or interesting beads. Often, I have seen really old women wear garish makeup or over-the-top accessories that looks downright cheap. Its vital that you dress age-appropriately. Too much bling or studded belts only look good on college girls or very young girls. Definitely not MY style :)

Most importantly, I think its very important to feel comfortable with who you are and your body type. It is definitely important to stay fit and be healthy but sometimes it becomes an obsession. You often feel disappointed with yourself mostly on account of unreasonable expectations from yourself more than anything else. There are certain things that look good ONLY on petite women and vice versa! Learn to accept and enjoy who you are....If you have the confidence to carry a particular outfit/accessory or style...then just go ahead and wear it. Don't think too much about what others may say or comment...it does'nt matter!

Enjoy all the attention and your confident stride as you take on the world!! :)

Cuff Sandals!

Considering the fact that I have large feet, I have very limited options when it comes to footwear, of course, unless I am ready to bear the agony of wearing heels ( which I rarely do!)....so I scouted all over Paris looking for something interesting...and found these 'cuff sandals'....in BATA!!

I was secretly happy that Bata, an Indian brand housed some interesting option for women with large-feet like me.... to my utter dismay, I discovered that its a Czech company! :-) They really know how to cater to the locals coz lots of people assume they are an Indian company atleast in India, coz you can find a Bata around every corner and at affordable prices!

Anyway, I own a pair of interesting pair of cuff sandals that are reasonably comfortable and makes people notice! ;-) What do you think? Like it?

Beautiful and colorful wings!

I just loved it the minute I saw it...

The detailing is simply lovely....and its MINE!! :-)

Fondly remember...

As I finished reading 'The White Tiger' ( I didn't like it so much, it is a dark story and I felt a lot of negativity. Call me naive, but I like to read positive stories with happy endings!), I wistfully, looked at the light seeping in through the curtains...and the curtains caught my attention. They have moved with me everywhere for the past 6 years, and holds a lot of importance to me. It was the first expensive ( It cost me 5000 bucks which was maybe, half my salary when we bought it)....I had just got married and these silk curtains adorned my new home...my life with S....I have carefully maintained it and guarded it with my life, when we moved....from one place to another! I never trusted the packers with it! I still have it in my home in Paris now, in the living room and it looks as new as it was when we first bought it. Our first home, had brick walls for pillars on the sides...it was a nice cozy home...I have good memories of that place! :-)


I remember, having a doll....as a kid...my mom's friend or someone, i don't remember, got it for me from abroad....she was a pretty doll with long eyelashes and beautiful eyes wearing a pinaform? I had that doll with me for a long time, even in my teen years, I had her! Then, on Holi, all of us were playing in the neighbourhood with colors, and my neighbour V had been splashed with color by yours truly(me)! He came chasing after me and I ran inside our home. He looked for me everywhere and he couldn't find me. In a fit of rage, he took the doll and scribbled on her face with a sketch pen saying 'Happy Holi'. Only kids can be that cruel. I was sooo angry first, and was really very upset later. Maa tried consoling me that we can remove the stains...with a remover or whatever! But sketch pen marks do not go easily....I lost her! I can never forgive him for doing that, to this day! ( I don't have a picture of the doll, am sure my parents threw it away later...she was totally spoilt with the clear big marks on her face, anyway!)

I must have been in III standard, my dad went on a tour to Mumbai and when he got back, he got me a beautiful frock. It was an off-white one with a chocolate brown waist coat. At that time, I had never seen something like it, and I was absolutely thrilled to bits....

On my 15th birthday, as is the ritual in our home, both Maa, Appa and my dear brother woke me up singing a cheery 'Happy Birthday to you...' and voila! I see a big pink teddy bear with a big 'I love you' badge on it. I can't explain my happiness in words. I was elated, jumping with joy...Maa got me expensive pearls... I didn't even glance at it! I still have that bear with me...comes with me wherever I go! My brother was in college then, and he was not earning or anything. So the teddy bear meant a lot to me.Even now, wherever my brother goes, he always gets something really nice for me! :-)

Is any post complete without mentioning my dear S? :-) He bought me a lovely Gili Diamond pendant as our engagement gift. I loved it and wore it for a long time with a thin golden chain my two closest friends, S and K got me for my wedding. It became loose one day and I didn't want to lose the chain/pendant somewhere. So I carefully put it inside my purse so that I can wear it after I tighten the hook. You would think I am smart? No! I lost the purse!!! I can never forgive myself for losing it. S has bought me numerous things from all over the world, everytime he travels...but that pendant was his first gift to me....and I lost it!

I am glad I have so many people in my life, who love me deeply and the gifts are an added bonus. After all, it is the thought that counts! I associate every single gift and gesture with happiness and good memories. Isn't that what life is about, good memories? I choose to ignore the bad ones!

Bella Italia!

....The trip was fantastic, hectic and an awesome experience. Very cold. Loads of WALKING. Beautiful Architecture.Beautiful and friendly people. Lovely Music. Books. Watching People. Good memories.

I will continue to share my thoughts through a series of posts or as I recollect my memories about the trip, pictures and how can I forget the little shopping I did? :-)

I always feel that travel to a different city or country exposes you to a different lifestyle and different people, that is completely different from your own 'comfort zone' - be it food, clothes, weather, people or their way of life...and I am glad I am blessed with an opportunity to explore the different facets of this world, other than my own little world. Well, at first glance, a few observations about Italy and most importantly, its people.

1. I felt thirsty ALL the time and I would drink gallons of water. Water is really sweet and I would really look forward to drink water. I didnt notice any of the Italians drink water though. Water is water, how can anything else replace it? They drink something called 'water with gas' which tastes like soda.
2. The women are very well-dressed and wear elaborate eye makeup and all kinds of glamourous boots. The Italian men are very tall and good-looking, which is a known fact, I guess.
3. I felt very sad to see lots of lonely old couples or single senior citizens everywhere. Most of them live all alone, shivering in the cold, senile and longing for company.
4. Most of them don't speak English. But you can manage to communicate with some rudimentary words and signs!
5. I was surprised to see there is hardly any vegetable in Italian cuisine. As it is, we had a hard time finding vegetarian food, even if we did it was the same tomato-cheese pizza or pasta. After some time, the lack of spice gets to you, even though I am quite fond of cheese and pastas, it gets boring over time.
   
6. As it gets dark pretty early, I felt like people are very disciplined and retire pretty early. At home, it feels very lively and people are always active throughout the day and even late at night. Around 6.30 - 7, most shops are closed and the streets are empty and you don't see too much activity.

Leaving you with a sneak peak of my little trinkets from Italy!