Wednesday 27 November 2013

Curly Fry's Shopping Therapy! Mirror Boxes

This is something I bought recently from a lovely store called Gift & Favours selling crafts, ornaments and pretty trinkets. I saw these mirror-and-bead embellished boxes and fell in love with the bright colours and sparkly mirrors, and decided I wanted them (there was also a box in electric blue which I wanted to complete the set, but unfortunately the shop-owner couldn't find the lid so I had to go home without buying that one).

I'm always on look out for pretty storage boxes which are a decent size (I like the pretty dinky small ones that you can get, but they don't usually fit much more than a few buttons!) and these were perfect, big enough to store all of my rings in without being too chunky, and also pretty air-tight.

I know this style of design is not new - I've had plenty of notebooks, pens, compact mirrors and pill-boxes with this same design since I was a child, but there was something very appealing about these boxes which reminded me of the presents I used to get from family in Pakistan or friends who have been on holidays.

I'm still waiting for the shop-owner to find the blue lid for the blue box, but chances are it's probably lost!





Monday 25 November 2013

FEROZA POST: Sparkly Oceanic Bracelets

Introducing our new bracelets at my sisters' and my online store Feroza, which are in beautiful, rich shades of greens and blue. I love the oceanic feel to these bracelets, they feel nice and heavy to wear (not too heavy don't worry!) and they are very, very sparkly. Here's a look at them here:


We have these bracelets in a royal blue, spring green and pretty tela colour, which would look great on their own or matched up together - and best of all, they go with both Asian outfits and a western wardrobe (and also match some of our pretty scarves too!)


We've been getting some good feedback so far, but are always looking for more ideas of what YOU would like to see at Feroza - do let us know!

Tuesday 19 November 2013

GLAMOROUS ACCESSORIES: Pretty Mirror Rings

I'm a big fan of rings, and I especially like pretty rings like these ones below, ones with mirrors in the middle, which come in various designs and shapes.


I've been looking at getting some rings with mirrors in the middle, as I don't have any like these, and I think they would make beautiful signature pieces. I've often seen them worn by brides, perhaps on their mehndi nights, and I think they add a pretty touch of simple sparkle without going too overboard.



I've not been able to find any in London so far, so am also looking at ordering some from Pakistan (or India!) for some pretty designs, I've seen a few so far and am torn between several rings which have caught my eye. I'll post any that I do buy, but in the mean time, have you bought any recently? What do you think of mirror rings?


All images do not belong to me and are from Facebook Wedding Photography pages

Sunday 17 November 2013

HIGH STREET DESIGNS: RDC's Ombre Gown

I saw this lovely outfit by RDC London, which which really caught my eye, and which I loved because of the pretty, vibrant ombre colours. I think this would look great for a reception, or even a heavy registry outfit, it's a really pretty, fresh look and the velvet piece at the bottom sets it off particularly.

What do you think of this dress?

Friday 15 November 2013

MAKE-UP REVIEW: The Top 6 High Street Liquid Eye Liner Pens

I use a lot of different types of make-up (depending on my mood), and out of all of the different make-up tools I use and test out, my staple in make-up is eyeliner, which I use practically every day. The easiest (and quickest) type for me to use are liquid eye-liner pens, which are quick, easy to use and dries quickly. I've decided to look at the top 6 high street/drugstore brands which have liquid eyeliners, and review the ones which work best for me.

Here's a quick look at the various eyeliner pens I have - the brands are Bourjois, Max Factor, L'Oreal, Revlon, Rimmel and Maybelline. These are the main brands which most people will find in any drugstore, they should be easy to find and are pretty affordable.


1. L'Oreal Super Liner Perfect Slim
 
Pros: Very light and easy to hold, the thin-ness of the pen makes it easy to apply and the liquid dries pretty quickly.
Cons: This didn't feel black enough to me, and it also felt slightly watery.
Pen tip: Quite thin and precise, which makes it easy to play with thin and thick lines and easy to create curves. I also like the fact that it doesn't run out quickly like some of the other eyeliners I have used.
Transfer: Probably the worst in all the eyeliner pens I used, I have fairly oily eyelids so the liquid eyeliner always rubs off on my eye lids every time I wear this. It may be different for those with less oily skin, or it may also work well with a base underneath to prevent transfer.
Overall: I like how easy it is to use this pen, and I don't really mind the shade of black because it's still fairly black, but the real downside for me is the transfer.

2. Bourjois Liner Feutre (Ultra Black)
 

Pros: Dries very quickly and doesn't need much more than a few swipes to draw a line. Also comes out very black in colour and is probably the easiest to remove out of all of these eyeliners.
Cons: Has a tendency to dry up after usage, and needs to be left for a few days before the tip fills with ink again and it can be used. Also, the tip softens slightly after a lot usage, so it may make the lines less clean.
Pen tip: This pen probably has the thick tip out of all of the eyliners, which made it harder to draw thin lines. On the other hand,
Transfer: There's not much transfer, but I have had incidents of it smudging a little after wearing it the whole day. I've also found that it can wear off after a few hours, particularly if my skin is a little oily.
Overall: I've reviewed this eyeliner pen before, and my opinion of it hasn't really changed much. I've used the waterproof ultrablack version and the normal black version, and they're both about the same, except the waterproof one lasts a little longer.

3. Maybelline Master Precise Liquid Eyeliner
 

Pros: Applies very easily, creates some very precise lines and feels fairly black in colour.
Cons: The tip may go slightly soft after it has been used for some time,which may make it dry out a little as well, but by this point the pen is probably in need of replacement anyway. I also find that this may not always work well over layers of eyeshadow, as it may not be black enough, but I do like to use this before I use my gel eyeliner when I go for a heavier look.
Pen tip: I love the tip of this pen, it's exactly what it says it is, precise, thin and allows you to be creative. It's great for subtle eyeliner looks or for building up on for a more dramatic look, and is great for eyeliner flicks.
Transfer: There may be slight transfer, again, depending on your skin type. I've worn this over eyeshadow and base and have not had any transfer issues, although there has been some when I wear it alone.
Overall: This is my current go-to eyeliner, it is easy and quick to use, and always gives me a precise look. I've used a lot of eye-liners and this is one of the ones I've always recommended to others, particularly if they don't want thick lines and messy eyes.

4. Rimmel Scandal Eyes Precision Micro Liner
 

Pros: This is another eyeliner which is quite precise, which dries quickly and is fairly black in colour.This is also pretty good for thinner lines which means the lines are quite neat, and also reaches into corners easily too.
Cons: The version I got is a waterproof version, but I haven't seen a non-waterproof version, which means this is more effort to remove. I also am undecided about the length of the pen tip, which is shorter than other liquid eyeliner pens, so it has to be held different to get the best advantage of it.
Pen tip: I like the fact that the tip of this pen is a bit harder than the others, which means it won't go soft easily, and will apply evenly.
Transfer: I don't think I have had any transfer from this pen, which is probably due to the fact that it is waterproof. I tend to wear my eyeliners all day for work, and this one hasn't smudged much either.
Overall:  I haven't been using this pen as long as the others, but it has given pretty good results. I am a bit surprised about this as I don't tend to go for Rimmel products, but this eyeliner shows that some of their stuff has improved since my teen years!

5. Revlon Colorstay Liquid Eye Pen
 

Pros: This is fairly easy to use and is quite fuss-free, so it's quite ideal as an everyday eyeliner. It's
Cons: I found that the liquid for this pen didn't flow as easily as the other pens, which meant I had to go over the lines to make it blacker.
Pen tip: I found this pen tip a bit thicker than the other pens, but it's quite sturdy and gives even lines.
Transfer: I haven't noticed much transfer when I have used this pen, and it doesn't really seem to smudge either.
Overall: I like Revlon products, but I wasn't too impressed with this pen, it doesn't feel as precise as some of the other pens, and it feels pretty average. Having said that, it does the job and seems to last all day, so it's not something to complain about either.

6. Max Factor Glide and Define Liquid Eyeliner
 
Pros: The blackness of this pen is quite excellent, I love how dark the colour comes out and it isn't messy at all. I also like the fact that the lid screws on, which feels a bit more air-tight for me and reduces the chances of the pen drying out.
Cons: I really didn't like the size of this pen, it's meant to be a travel sized/handbag size pen, but I found it a bit hard to hold because it's quite short. I think this is just a case of adapting the way you hold the pen to get best results.
Pen tip: I quite like the pen tip of this pen, although I prefer pen tips to be a bit longer, this one is still quite precise and thin, and handles easily.
Transfer: I haven't noticed any transfer with this eyeliner, and I suspect this would work well over heavy eye make-up too although I haven't tried this yet.
Overall: I tried to find a full-length liquid liner from Max Factor, but this is the only one I found, and I was surprised that there wasn't a bigger range (although there may be some more and I just didn't see them in other shops). I like how well this eyeliner works, but I think the size lets it down - I know it's meant to be travel-sized but I find normal pens quite easy to travel with and put in a handbag, so I think this isn't really that necessary.

There's pros and cons about all of these eyeliner pens, and while some are better than others, these all pretty much work well as liquid liners. These days I tend to reach for the Maybelline pen for a quick and easy flick as my everyday eyeliner, but I do like to vary as well so that I can try different techniques and lines. I'm not overly creative with my eyeliner, but I think it's important to have a decent eyeliner pen which works well, although having said that, what works for me may be different for others!

Which eyeliner do you prefer? What do you normally use?

Tuesday 12 November 2013

KAPRAY SHAPRAY: Mint Green Gown by Phulkari

I do like Phulkari's range of dresses, both bridal and formal, and this dreamy mint green gown is a perfect example of why - it's elegant, it's not too heavy and the cut is just lovely. I'm not sure who teh exact designer of this piece is (let me know if you do!), but I've seen similar designs in Phulkari's store in East London in nudes and mink browns in different various that I've loved, and this is just as beautiful.

I also like the fact that while the model's hair and accessories are very simple, she also has some pretty red lips to go with the dress, which I think works wonderfully. Something to wear to a wedding reception or a registry, perhaps.

Image from Phulkari London Facebook page

Monday 11 November 2013

BOLLYWOOD ISHTYLE: Deepika's Glamorous Saris in 'Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewaani'

I watched this film recently, and was struck by the colourful, bright saris worn by Deepika in 'Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani' (mainly in the second half of the film, the first half is casual western slacks, shorts and funky dresses). I liked the vibe of this film, but to be honest, it wasn't original and it reminded me of a few other films like 'Love, Breakups Zindagi' and 'Tanu Weds Manu' and a few others I can't remember the names of right now. Having said that, most of these films are a fun watch if you're not looking for anything too heavy.

The main thing I noticed about Deepika's outfit is that although her character is meant to be shy and quiet, she still looks fabulous (it also helps that she has an amazing figure too!). Apart from the glasses (it had to be put in there, didn't it?), Deepika doesn't look very mousy, she looks chic, stylish and she certainly knows how to wear a sari - but I think this is deliberate, and on the whole it works pretty well. The main designers for the costumes in this film are Manish Malhotra, and Samidha Wangnoo - I don't know Wangnoo's style very well, but several lenghas and saris in this film are iconic Manish Malhotra and fit his signature style.

The first outfit I liked it this sari in a beautiful shade of cobalt blue, with a black sequined blouse - simple yet colourful, and looks great on Deepika. I also love Deepika's wavy curls here, loose but glamorous, finished off with pinky-nude lips and some eye-make up that I'm already wondering how to copy. I'm not a fan on the small, bikini-style blouses, but Deepika pulls it off, particularly with the way that the sari is draped. I also love the fact that this sari (designed by Manish Malhotra) is available to buy here, along with another design from the film (although you may have to wait a while seeing as they're currently sold out, otherwise you could make your own version like this lovely blogger).


Another outfit worn by Deepika is a red sharara, with a cropped top, although I wasn't so keen on this because it felt a little outdated (it kept reminding me of Kareena's outfit in Bole Chudiyan). Although the outfit itself wasn't to my taste, I loved the dupatta with its accent of blue, and the beautiful mehndi on Deepika's hands - it's my opinion that they don't have enough detailed mehndi in Bollywood films!



Kalki Koechlin plays the bride-to-be in this film wearing a pretty red wedding dress which I assume is by Manish Malhotra again. I couldn't get a proper full length picture of the dress, but I like the work on the dress (in one of the pics below, particularly the embroidered flowers) and the dupatta - it's been a while since I've seen mirrors on clothes in Bollywood films! I also thought the scene where the bride is led out under a dupatta is sweet, and I really loved the touch of having LED lights under the dupatta to add a sparkly touch (something to try at the next family wedding, I think!)
Again, I loved the detailed mehndi on the bride, although I think Kalki looked better with her hair loose rather than tied up.




Deepika's outfit at the wedding is also quite pretty, I couldn't find a full length picture of the outfit, but it seems to be an orange lengha suit with a pretty red sequined scarf. I really like the way her hair is styled with a red rose too, it doesn't look cheesy and looks quite elegant with the outfit since her make-up and jewellery are quite simple.


All pics belong to creators of Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani

I think the outfits in this film are pretty because of the bold use of colour, and the fact that Deepika's overall look is elegant and simple, so that each look is feminine and not too blingy (not to mention easy to copy!) Although this film reminded me of several other films, it's still a fun watch and of course, it's nice to see some beautiful mehndi!

Friday 8 November 2013

Gul's Style Sharara & Rainbows

I love this Gul's Style outfit that my sister wore a couple of weeks ago to our Eid Party, which was a pretty red sharara with Gul's Style's signature flowered-and-sequin embroidery along the kameez and on the dupatta. She accessorised this with some sparkly rainbow bangles that looked really pretty with the outfit (although I did tell her to wear red lipstick as well but she didn't!)

I thought this was great inspiration for a mehndi event, particularly for a bride looking for a more colourful look with focus on jewellery and bangles.

Regardless, my sister got plenty of compliments when she wore this beautiful outfit (not to mention babies crawling all over her to  get the sparkles!)

Tuesday 5 November 2013

Bollywood Fancy Dress...Ideas!

I'm attending a Bollywood fancy dress party in a few weeks, and have been trying to think of some iconic outfits which I can copy (based on the contents of my wardrobe and what's easy to replicate!)

Here's the top 5 ideas that I've narrowed down to - I'm still deciding on the pros and cons and what I think would work best though.

1. Madhuri in Hum Aapke Hain Kaun
This is nice and easy, a plain green kameez (I'm sure I can find one somewhere), a white skirt (I already have one, although mine has a bit more lace on it!) I'm thinking I may have a harder time finding the jewellery, but anything close enough would work! Personally I'm leaning a bit towards this one because I feel like I can also make it hijab friendly, and it looks pretty simple to copy.


2. Meena Kumari in Pakeezah
This is one of my favourite iconic Bollywood looks, not to mention one of my favourite golden-olden actresses. The key to this look, in my opinion, is the jewellery, it would be fairly easy to weat a simple, plain anarkali suit and jazz it up with jewellery. The half matha-patti would be fairly easy to find as well, as they are quite popular at the moment too. I'm also quite inspired by Dia Mirza's take on this too, although I doubt I'd be able to look as great as she does! If in doubt, otherwise, I can use one of my mum's old dupattas with tinsel along the hem!


3. Madhuri in Devdas
I have a green anarkali which I've always imagined looking like this outfit, it's a similar shade of green and it has a lot of gold work on it, although I'm less keen on this look than the others. I also love the iconic white and red sari worn by the two actresses in this film for the Dola re Dola song, and it would be easy to borrow a sari in these colours, but this idea has already been taken by the fancy dress party's host! Pity, eh?


4. Anything 60's, eyeliner flicks and vintage Bollywood
...like this Asha Parekh look, sari, eyeliner flicks and all, plus some added beehive. Can I also mention that I love Hema Malini back in her heyday? The only downside to this is that there's no one identifiable iconic look, which I would love to go for. Plus side if, all I'd need it a lot of eyeliner, back combing and some tight kameezes!


5. Deepika in Om Shanti Om
I think this would be another outfit which would be easy to copy, a hot pink dress (which I have more than one of!) and some beehive hair styling and eyeliner flicks. I think I would also enjoy trying to create this look, and it does allow for some flexibility in terms of jewellery and make-up. I'm not sure how 'famous' or iconic this look is though, or whether it would be instantly recognisable, which is a bit of a drawback.



Other ideas are:
  • Something from Jodha Akbar, for a Rajasthani look, although this would involve a lot of jewellery
  • The black dress worn by Aishwariya in Taal (nice and easy!)
  •  The green lachcha worn by Kajol in Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge (although I'm not keen on the lime green, I'd love to wear a lachcha!)
  • Kareena's t-shirt and salwar look in Jab We Met (okay, not really!)
  • Madhubala's Anarkali in Mughal-E-Azam, quite possibly one of the most iconic costumes in Bollywood history, although I think this outfit would be hard to copy.
I'm still googling/asking around/brainstorming up ideas at the moment, and will most likely go to the shops for a few ideas as well.

In the meantime - what would you dress up as for an iconic Bollywood fancy dress look?

Sunday 3 November 2013

OUTFIT OF THE DAY: A Royal Blue Anarkali (with some tie-dye)

This is an outfit I wore a couple of weeks ago, which was more of a simple look that felt really flattering on - especially since I bought this outfit about 6 years ago from local store called Bombay Looks and it looked a lot better on then!

I hadn't worn this outfit for a few years because I almost forgot I had it, and also, back when I bought it long dresses and long kameezes weren't in fashion so it was more of a 'mature' outfit for me for a slightly more grown-up look. It's weird coming back to it and wearing it now, and feeling like it isn't long enough!

This is what I accessorised the outfit with, lots of nudey-pink and silvers, which I was quite happy with. The outfit came with a tie-dye dupatta and churidar pants, I wore the dupatta but couldn't bring myself to wear the tie-dye pants too, so I just switched them with plain blue bottoms instead.

 

And this is me with my non-tie-dye pants wearing the outfit, with fairly minimal jewellery and a plain matching head scarf - although I did add red lips for a pop of colour!


Outfit - Bombay Looks
Shoes - Kurt Geiger
Clutch - Accessorize
Bracelet - Accessorize
Ring - Accesorize (yes I have a lot of Accessorize stuff!)
Hijab slide - Dorothy Perkins

I'm glad I dug up this outfit, I was a bit sceptical about how well it would fit (I'm not as skinny as I was 6 years ago!) but it felt quite elegant on, and it meant I could jazz it up with some pretty, sparkly heels and jewellery. The dress is a bit more floatier than I'm used to (and the sleeves are slightly bell shaped which I haven't worn for a while!) but it felt nice on, and I did get compliments for it!

So here's to old outfits, you never know when you might want to them wear again!