The gold rush!!!!

 A mask of gold hides all deformities. 

-Thomas Dekker 

Thomas Dekker stated the power of  gold beautifully; however, am a firm believer in the fact that gold gives as much as it takes away from us, so here's to a leap of faith. This glittering one shoulder gold sequin gown was a risky affair, given the H2T gold look can go either way (Not that am suggesting it went my way. .I'll let you decide that). It is one of my DIY creations for an event. The gown fits me like a dream accentuating my tiny waist. I accessorized it with my studded black ankle strap pumps, a big chunky ring, an ear cuff and a matching box clutch. Finished the look with a winged tip eye liner, a Red lippie and matching nails.

  

 

 

Create a brand new wardrobe from old favorites

First comes thought; then organization of that thought, into ideas and plans; then transformation of those plans into reality. The beginning, as you will observe, is in your imagination.
-Napoleon Hill

I am very bad at parting with my things, irrespective of their value or worth. Maybe that's why I've always loved the idea of makeover/restoration/transformation of beloved belongings. It not only helps rescue your old favorites but also turns them into something new and more us.

I have a system of my own where I scan through my closet once every month to find things that can't be worn anymore, at least not in the same style. They then get added to my makeover list and stacked together in a section dedicated to them in my closet. I take them out whenever I start a new DIY (Do-it-yourself) project.

This Chanderi silk hena green saree was gifted to me by a very close friend on one of my birthday's. I love the exquisite color and fabric but it just never worked on me.The fabric doesn't sit well on my body when wrapped around as a saree as it's always puffy making me look bulkier and shorter. However, the cons became pros when I thought of getting a maxi dress made out of it. It is very festively even as a maxi. Now it only takes half a minute for me to put it on where it took me half a day trying to wrap it around my body as a saree.

If you too come across things in your closet that you cant wear anymore for a number of reasons however, not ready to part with it yet ( given the never ending list of excuses like memories attached, favorite color or fabric), then don't. Fly with your imagination and breathe new life into them by giving a makeover or transforming them completely to hold your memories in a different design, just more you and more wearable.

Muuaahhh..muuahhh ....till  I find another saree to be sacrificed for fashion. 

 

Colors vs Prints

 
We all have favorite pieces in loud colors/loud prints that we really want to style but, they just wouldn't work with anything in your closet. Doesn't matter how much you try, they just wont let you have it your way.

Loud colors/loud prints both are very stubborn and biggest attention seekers. They always love to be casted as the hero of the look.  It's not a good idea to have multiple leads in your movie, it would only lead to a disaster. So, try not put too many of them together as you'll end up creating multiple distraction points in your look.  Let one piece or at max two pieces to be the center of attention and rest to only act as the supporting cast.

If the piece in question is printed, try and keep rest of the accessories plain, and vice-versa. However, if you fancy print on print or color on color trend, ensure they are not clashing with each other . They both should lead and yet be in love for a  more put together look. There are thousands of ideas to incorporate colors/prints to your looks (like through nail art, shrug or a shirt/ jacket, scarf, shades, bags, shoes and funky jewellery like ear cuffs, studs, midi rings).


 Look 1:  
I styled a loud colored one-piece dress with a printed (monochrome stripes) bag. Aqua colored ring and Blue bracelet complement the Magenta on the dress. Black gladiator sandal  offer style as much as comfort for a day of shopping.

Dress: Forever21 (www.forever21.com)
Monochrome striped bag: Forever21 (www.forever21.com)
Gladiator shoes: Forever21 (www.forever21.com)
Ear-cuff: Forever21 (www.forever21.com)
Ring: Forever21 (www.forever21.com)
Bracelet:Forever21 (www.forever21.com)

 Look 2 :  
I styled a pencil lace skirt with a monochrome flower print crop top.  Monochrome bag is subtle enough to let me add pop of colors through Red pumps and 3rings in different colors. This look is just perfect for you to play a tease on your date.

Pencil lace skirt: Forever21 (www.forever21.com)
Crop top:Forever21 (www.forever21.com)
Red pumps: Forever21 (www.forever21.com)
Rings: Forever21 (www.forever21.com)
Cat-eyed shades:Forever21 (www.forever21.com) 
Monochrome Bag: Zara (www.Zara.com/in)

 My Look  :  
I paired a high waisted Red pallazzo pants with a monochrome stripes crop top for a fun weekend look. They both lead and yet in love.More is less when it comes to stripes in my books, so more magic was added through my monochrome stripes bracelet that matches my top. My crave for glitter was fulfilled by a leather bracelet with gold detailing and  a gold plaited chained Guitar. Nude heels added to the height without taking the attention away from my two leads.

Pallazzo pants: High street
Monochrome crop top : Forever21
Stripes Bracelet : Accesssorize
Love leather bracelet: Forever21
Gold plated guitar neck piece : My DIY creation
Satchel Bag: Zara
Nude heels: Venus steps

 

How to dress up lazy weekends ?

 
A lesson well learnt : A day that starts lazy, ends lazy. If you are so damn tired today to even look in the mirror, dressing up is outta window. 

How can I dress lazy and still look a diva? What is my go to dress for a lazy day? A Maxiiiiiiii, my saving grace !!!!  A Maxi dress is fun, flirty, comfy and super-stylish all at once and thats why just apt for a day when you don't wanna do much but not ready to give up on style either.

Its not too late to pick up your bag, put on your heels , oh sorry.. its a lazy day so put on your flats and hit the nearest Shopping mall to buy yours right away if you haven't invested in one yet.Not saying that it'll turn you into Nicole Kidman, however it'll make you a star whenever and wherever you decide to wear it, take my word for it(cross my heart and  I hope to die).

 Stripes and I have an ultimate fling and from the looks of it, its not dying down any sooner,  so you better make peace with it. Lets not get carried away again and stay on the look. Horizontal stripes are not only eye catchy but they also add much needed width and weight to my almost invisible frame. I wont recommend horizontal stripes to everyone, especially wider ones like what am wearing in the pics, given it can go either way and it's unpredictability works against you most of the times. However, if you fancy horizontal stripes as much as I do, invest in thinner, narrower stripes in darker colors. I added a military green waist coat to cover up my bare shoulders from the scorching sun.

Its very important to strike a balance while accessorizing your Maxi dress and lets try not to go overboard with it. Good for me that I was lazy, so din't have any energy to dig any deeper in my closet. Just picked up whatever crawled out first and stopped the moment I saw Red. Rest of the accessories only played supporting cast(huh..like any other color could stand the competition) I wore pink and green wristbands, a silver finish watch and a big black chunky ring (Heavy lifting needed in that deptt, it keeps me grounded in case of emergencies like storms and windy days). Need I say I wore flats? High heels need energy..tons of energy you blondie!!! I don't own many flats (ggrrrr...coz I always end up putting all my money in high heels) however, I have stocked enough of them in basic colors and they go well with almost everything. Am I the only one guilty of a step motherly attitude towards my flat shoes and an overtly tender heart for my high heels?
  
Couple of hours and thousands of hair styles later, I was still mirror arrested scratching my head in full disagreement with my hair(don't know who was more tired , mirror or me ?) Finally!!!! I gave up and let my hair hang loose on my shoulder like always (hair trials were only a waste of time), thickened the mascara,  put on a waist coat, displayed my white frame shades, checked time on my watch ,wore white bandage style flats and dragged my lazy ass out. Shopping being my only workout, I always make it a long one (though my husband would do anything to cut it short coz longer the walk, bigger the bill) 

If you still aren't warmed up enough to give Maxi a try, then don't. Just funk up whatever you feel comfortable in, be it a simple Denim-Tee look. Accessories always do the trick. A dab of a vibrant lipstick and few strokes of mascara woudn't hurt either. 

Muuahh muah..till I am declared the brand ambassador of stripes and get a big fat paycheck in return;) 

 My look :  

Maxi dress : Instinct
Military green waist coat : Ana
White bandage Flats : High street
Sling Red Flap bag : Zara
Watch : Breitling
White frame shades : Accessorize
Ring: Highstreet
Wristbands : my own creations

 

MADME about 60s Fashion and MADMEN

My MADMEN fever isn't dying down and one episode a week isn't helping much.Gotta do something to keep myself entertained till I get to see it's new episode. Are you a crazy fan of MADMEN too? What is it about this show that keeps us hooked, booked and cooked? Is it the girl crush (guys included) we all have on the hunk Jon Hamm, 'The Don Draper' or is it the prim and proper 60s fashion that we cant get enough of?Whatever is your excuse for watching this insecure, mean men ruled show, just keep on with it and be a witness to the perfect dresses, makeup and hair from the best fashion era world has ever seen. Did I just see your head nodd in disagreement? I may not have the power to ban you just yet but you get my point.

Hope you know I don't share any tips or secrets till I am bribed good. Why don't you dust off your collection of oldies and browse through some heart warming songs to set my mood. I am less meaner when I am happy. You can also play oldies from your go to bands/artists from the 60s but just so you know, I love Beatles, Rolling stones and Eric Clapton. 

Lets get the enviable 60s makeover started for people who agreed to me? And did I not warn you already that I am not an expert at 60s style, however,  am best at cutting it close ;) Hmmmm....how about starting with an inspiration? Who is your fashion icon from 60s? Choose your favourite to be your guide on your 60s fashion journey? For me its Audrey Hepburn.

1. Choose an outfit that suits your body type the best from the 60s. You can try from a number of options like classic fit and flare dresses, Shirt-waist dresses, turtle necks, pencil skirts, blouses in pastel colors, colorful floral dresses, polo dresses, odd prints inspired by "Flower Power", polka, tweed and psychedelic prints.

 2. Shoe choice is very obvious, one shoe that we have lusted after for decades and forever will, Pumps. Every gal owns a classy pair of pumps and its an investment that has big returns, you know it , I know it, even Men know it but can't wear it yet. Women wore classic pumps in nudes, pastels and deep colors in 60's and mostly matched their purses with their heels so lets just do that . You can also try pumps with block heels or ballet flats in plain colors if comfort is high on your list.
 

3. Jewellery is an easy fix. Its time to unleash the shining armour you once earned from your mum but kept it hidden from the whole world for the longest time, yes I know about the vintage pearl set buried in your closet? Pearls were and are a girl's best friend as much as Diamonds are, or may be more for their classy victorian feel. You can try timeless jewellery in pearls, diamonds and gold  like  pearl earrings, pearl necklaces, pearl bracelets or simple diamond earrings.

 4. Makeup was a serious business then and girls were too invested in the art of it. Skin powder was used to set  a dreamy, pale translucent look. Be up and about for some heavy lifting on your eye-lashes as makeup involved heavy mascara with too many brush strokes  finished with a curler and a cat-eyed liner.You may wanna invest in good quality false eye-lashes for an easy fix. Stop complaining about thinner eye-brows? That's what eye pencils were invented for, use them to get bushier and more defined look. And whoever said that Red is the only choice for your lips is wrong coz from what I know, even in 60s women wore nude,light pinks, peaches and coral colors. Its recommended to match nails with your shoes as women loved matching nails with their shoes and bags in the 60s.

5. Hair is the trickiest deal. Bouffants, beehives, pixies and bobs were very popular during 60s. Don't ask  me how to get them right, am not there yet myself !! Women spent hours doing their hair then but that's one thing we are always running out of now. You can give wigs a try  like women did in 60s to get different looks, saves you ample of time and efforts for a quick smoke then and facebooking now but if you wanna try the real deal, be my guest !!! You need a good quality volumiser, curlors to get big curls and a hair spray to set them at the end.

6. Nothing screams 60s more than Gloves , Scarves, Pillbox hats and Sunnies, they are a must have for gals to achieve the 60s. You can choose  a sunny that suits your face the most from options like thick rimmed horn glasses, Retro style half rimmed glasses, vintage thick or thin rimmed round glasses, vintage cat eyed or tortoiseshell sunnies. 

Remember, all this effort to posh up is not for a worthless selfie, you gotta do something meaner (oops I meant bigger but meaner works too). So lets not waste your smart phone's very dumb battery on your selfies and use it to do what phones are meant to do, call up all your exes and gal friends and lure them for a treat at a nice place. Believe me you, its totally worth it. Don't tell them about your look yet, just pout and trot now. Your exes and  gal-friends will get their share of well deserved heart attacks and you will get your share of green (you have already painted the town green with envy...wink wink****)

Blahh blahh blahh  xo xo...untill I move out of 60s and find inspiration in some other era to talk your ears off ;)

PS: Check out my pics below to see what all went into the making of MADME.  How much would you score me on my own MadMEN (MADME) makeover? 

Disclaimer: I don't smoke, neither do I support or promote it, its just a prop to get into the DON DRAPER attitude.  

My  MADME  look:

Dress : My own DIY design inspired by vintage 60s.
Shoes :Forever21
Bag: Highstreet
Pearls: Forever New
White frame shades: Accessorize
Diamond rings and studs : New U