MAKE-UP REVIEW: Deep Red Lipstick Shades

How scrumptious does this red lipstick look? Unfortunately red is one of those shades which can easily go wrong, particularly on brown skin tones, although when it is done well, it does look pretty gorgeous. I've always loved the dramatic red lipstick look (Dita von Teese, for example, does it beautifully well) but it's always been one of those things which needs to be matched properly in order to suit your skin (so you don't look like a scary drag queen). I rarely wear vibrant lipsticks as I'm more of an eye make-up person, and tend to keep my lip-wear relatively simple. But the thing about having great, bold lipstick is how dramatic, sultry or feminine it can instantly transform your face into (depending on the shade!), and it's always worth a try to see how you look! Red lipstick has always been and always will be in vogue, it's just up to us to be brave enough to wear it :)

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HIGH STREET DESIGNS: Phulkari London in Vanity Magazine

Phulkari is shop near to where I live, which sells primarily designer clothes and bespoke pieces. I mainly like some of the Indian designers such as Shyamal & Bhumika, who have an elegant, rich style which really appeals to me, with some of their funky and their traditional pieces. Some of the designs which the shop has is displayed below, taken from Vanity Magazin.

I will be posting more about this store at a later point, until then, enjoy the outfits :)

 Images taken from Vanity Magazine

BOLLYWOOD ISHTYLE: Katrina's Mughal Look and Sequin Glamour in Mere Brother Ki Dulhan

Mere Brother Ki Dulhan is a quirky, fun film set against the beautiful backdrop of the Taj Mahal and millions of fairy lights, and of course there are bound to be some lovely outfits. One such outfit from this film which I liked the most is this red Mughal-style dress and head-wear worn by Katrina. This outfit really stands out because of the amount of detail which went into it to complement Imran Khan's outfit, right down to the little feather in her hat. I am generally a fan of the Mughal period and I think the outfit is done well here, especially as the deisgners opted for a long anarkali style dress rather than mixing the style with a lengha or sari. I also like how Katrina's hair and make is kept quite simple rather than overdone, leaving the emphasis on the jewellery and the outfit.

Another outfit worth noticing in this film is this red sari, which is a lovely red colour (I was especially glad they gave Katrina a half-decent blouse instead of something resembling a bra!). One thing I noted with these kind of is how they prominently use sequins to create a shimmering effect, so that while the outfit has little other work, it still looks glamorous without being heavy. I liked this red sari because it was such a lovely crimson red colour and was a nice fit on Katrina.

  

Similarly, this white outfit is also resplendent with sequins, although I think it could have been toned down a little by reducing some of the sequins used. I did like the mix of colours in off-white with hot pink though, giving it a very feminine look.

And lastly is the wedding dress of the 'dulhan' of this film herself, which is a champagney-gold and cream affair, and again, not too overdone. I also like how they use multi-coloured, cheap bangles to accessorise (to symbolise the character's earlier, rock-chick days) which is a nice touch.

All images are owned by respective producers/directors/Yash Raj company

Some pretty outfits to suit Katrina's colouring, although my favourite is definitely still the Mughal piece she wears :)

MEHNDI NIGHTS: Mehndi Stages - Organza & Fairy Lights

This is a mehndi stage for a close friend's Mehndi night I went to recently, which was held in her (surprisingly large) back garden. The use of draped organza fabric and pretty flowers and fairy light strands resulted in a lovely stage. I really liked the multi-coloured strands of material draped across the marquee to give a very girly, pretty look, against the pale colour of the rest of the marquee. A lovely stage and a great night had by all :)

MAKE-UP REVIEW: Nude Lipsticks - L'Oreal Linda Evangelista #716

One of my FAVOURITE nude lipsticks is this surprising find by L'Oreal, from their Star Secrets series. This is one that I use most, and is in the Linda Evangelista range, number 716. This is a really natural pink colour that would suit most brown skin tones, and what I love about it is that it gives you a great nude lips look which is perfect for smokey eyes, without looking too pale or a shocking contrast. The end result is a lovely, creamy colour, a lipstick that is easy to apply and looks beautiful when on.

LOVELY HIJAB: My New Blue Hijab Pin

Bought a new hijab pin, this time a lovely royal blue one which really appealed to me because it was so sparkly. If I was a romantic the poet in me would describe the shimmering water-like jewels and tinkling beads...but as it is I'm not a massive fan of poetry so I'll just say I like the bluey-blue colour and the pretty gold bits :)

KAPRAY SHAPRAY: Umar Sayeed's Black Bridal Dress

This is a dress I have seen a few times, which stands out due to the sheer amount of work on a black dress, and what I really like is the intricate design and slightly traditional style of the work. What's also different about it is that it is a black bridal outfit, which is a stark contrast to the red, pinks and whites that we are so used to seeing. Although the amount of work on this outfit may be too much for some and not to everyone's taste, I still think that this is an outfit worth noting due to how the designer has tried to take an under-used colour like black in the asian fashion industry and try to incorporate it into a bridal design (the bubble hair style is pretty funky too).

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HIGH STREET DESIGNS: RDC Outfits in Vanity Magazine

Just a few examples of the outfits sold by retailers RDC, as seen in Vanity Magazine this season. I think the sari has a lovely green colour with the navy border which really appeals to me, although I'm not too sure how likely it would be for me to wear something like that! Which one do you like most?

BRIDE COUTURE: Rainbow Themes and Bridesmaids

I love this idea of having a rainbow themed wedding after seeing pictures from this wedding which looks quite pretty and colourful. What I also loved was how each bridesmaid accessories and flowers was matched to their colour (and that the bride wore blue shoes!)

This made me think about whether there could be an Asian version of the same idea, with something like the bridesmaids below:

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This is a really nice theme to have (I particularly liked the old style sweet bar from the first wedding) and would be a good way to be eyecatching, particularly if you have a lot of girls who want to be your bridesmaids!

GLAMOROUS ACCESSORIES: Beautiful Ear Candy from Tanu Weds Manu

Some beautiful earrings which abound in Tanu Weds Manu, and it seems that for every outfit (and situation!), there are an appropriate pair of earrings. Here are some pics of just a few examples of the beautiful pieces Kangana's character wears throughout the movie. Enjoy the ear candy :)

All images are from Tanu Weds Manu and are owned by respective producers/directors

BOLLYWOOD ISHTYLE: Kangana's Vivacious Look in Tanu Weds Manu

Kangana's role as Tanu in Tanu Weds Manu is a girl after my own heart - loud, rumbunctious and full of likeable energy. She swears like a sailor, gets drunk at her best friend's mehndi and certainly does not shy away from fighting her admirers. And of course to go with her colourful personality if her colourful wardrobe, which varies in style, colours and accessories.

First this is vibrant yellow kameez top with harlequin-coloured baggy trousers, which caught my eye. I love the ring she is wearing with this outfit, and the swinging yellow tassell is a nice touch for the trouser bottoms:

Next is the embellished pink and blue outfit she wears for her friend's wedding, which I liked. It's a pretty traditional looking salwar-kameez outfit, and I LOVE how the bangles have been matched to it:

I also really like the lovely green outfit that she wears for her best friend's mehndi night, which is a really flattering colour on her. I also like how the outfit is so beautifully accessorized with her traditional looking jewellery, adding a touch of the classic to it:

There is also this lovely baby pink and bright blue outfit, simple in its design yet another flattering colour on Kangana:

 Also similar to this outfit is Tanu's purple and teal coloured kameez suit, which also is a lovely colour combination:

 I also love how Kangana's character throws together a western style with her asian style, and creates her own funky look. The mirrored top with a shirt on top of a skirt should looks weird togther, yet here, I think it's an interesting look which works:

And of course her character is not restricted to her fitted kameezes, as she also looks lovely in saris too:

I also thought this outfit was worth a mention due to its pure funkyness, I like the whole look with the mirrored belt added :

One of my favourite outfits in this film is this beautifully bright blue outfit, with its printed style churidar, in a slightly retro style - I love the shade of blue and the fitted style of the kameez:

 And lastly comes the outfit which comes with the whole purpose of the film's title, the actual wedding dress, which veers away from the usual red and instead goes for a bright green with vivid red lipstick and dripping jewellery:

All images are from Tanu Weds Manu and are owned by respective producers/directors

All in all there are some very lovely, bright outfits here, coupled with a range of make-up styles and jewellery to acccessorise Kangana's look. This is one role which the actress has really has made her own, and has changed her own cool, aloof presentation into something a lot more lively and bubbly. Tanu is a very loveable character in this film, and it is only suitable that her outfits are as colourful as she is.