When in doubt just raid your crafts closet. On one such raid, I randomly cut up pieces of threads and started braiding them and braided those braids. By the end of it I almost had a necklace in my hands. A chain and a couple of jump rings later, I had just that- a brand new necklace ! 

This is how I went about it. Click here for step by step tutorial with pictures

Love,
Indian Girl

Three hours back Miley Cyrus went ahead and got her blond locks chopped off by celebrity hairstylist Chris McMillan.

Debuting her hairstyle on twitter, Cyrus said "Never felt more me in my whole life ❤." We know what a new hair cut does to our confidence and Cyrus seems to have had her own personal high from this super edgy cut. Its not everyday you see someone going from a perpetual top knot to platinum blond, sharp pixie so yay for Cyrus giving us hair fanatics something to gush over. It is to be seen if this pixie goes on to become as big as the Rachel did for Jennifer Aniston; also courtesy of Chris McMillan


Needless to say, I love the cut. What do you think of the brand new change in this pop star's look ?

(images via twitter @mileycyrus, @ChrisMcMillan)

The Indian flag ends up inspiring an unlikely prospect- a cheesecake.

Chefs at the coffee place, Mocha have turned to what they do best to show their love for our country. They created this tricolor cheesecake(Rs. 150). Creative stuff, no doubt. However will it make you wait in line to stuff yourself with this Indian flag inspired sweet treat, is to be seen. 

Personally I would have loved a navy blue coloured chakra made with white chocolate on top, to make it more Indian. The saffron (orange), white and green can easily be used to mark Ireland or Ivory Coast who share the colours with India. How's that for today's lesson in history.

If any of you living in Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata or Raipur indulge in this, do let me know how good it tastes.

Love,

Indian Girl

Dia Mirza debuted her new hair-do, brow-skimming bangs at the 2012 Vogue Beauty Awards, held last night in Mumbai. Mirza, who's natural hair is fine and straight couldn't go wrong with these mega bangs. I love the look!

What do you think of these new set of bangs in Bollywood ? Here's looking forward to seeing how she continues to style it.

 

Finally I am back.

Back to my home. Back to my blog where I belong.

Last Friday was my last day with Vogue India. The one year and four months in Mumbai, working with the world's favourite fashion magazine's digital team was a dream. I made great friends and had the best time working there. However, it was hardly work given that I was doing what I love. This made showing up at work, one of my favourite things to wake up in the morning for.

However, with my wedding in December and several other things on my mind, I decided to move on from there. I will now be available full-time to continue pursuing what I love in my own backyard.

Before I left for Vogue, I was in the process of developing our blog into a website and had done all the ground work for it. However, the great opportunity came along and I put our project on hold temporarily. It is now time to bring it back to life and get it up and running.

So, that I where I have been.

Well, that and trying out a new smoothie every morning for breakfast.

And adding new yoga pose to my existing yoga routine before I down the jug of smoothie. Today I tried the wide leg forward bend.

(via theyogaposes.com)

And finding a cozy corner to doze away at all night long Indian weddings.

Love,
Indian Girl

This is perhaps the most theatrical face massage, ever.

I love the showmanship of this barber. He makes facial massage seem like something you'd love to stand around and watch. From warding away of evil, toxic energies to fanning and misting you, this is one ritual that's better documented than experienced.

Will you be willing to put your face in his hands? I am.

Love,
Indian Girl

Weeks go by without anything rattling the beauty community. We can all agree that M.A.C launching another pink lipglass is really not news worthy, let alone interesting news. However, new faces, new lines and remembering a master hairstylist is what these past two weeks have been about. Needless to say, everybody is talking beauty.

Read on to find out if you missed on any of the action

Brad Pitt for Chanel No.5

The utterly charming if a little grandmotherly, Chanel No.5 gets a new face- that of man. Brad Pitt nonetheless ! With the endorsement he joins some very feminine faces Audrey Tautou, Catherine Deneuve and Nicole Kidman who have previous lent their support to the 91 year old fragrance. 

Like million others we are extremely curious to see how Chanel decides to use this rugged, bearded, handsome face to sell one of its classics.

Zooey Deschanel is Pantene's New Girl

We were ecstatic about this collaboration. Looks like its a great couple of years for the new girl. An ad with Apple for Siri, a new sitcom, a new Broadway show, deals with Rimmel, Cotton and now Pantene. Way to go !

Christian Louboutin Enters Beauty 

The red sole shoe genius has a new passion- beauty. Though we read and re-read the press release several times, it does not give away any clue on what exactly in the beauty category will Louboutin make. All it says is, the company is called- Christian Louboutin Beauté and they will make 'luxury beauty products'.

Speaking of the new venture, Mr Louboutin told WWD this “Very constructed, quite different and unexpected," 

An army of red lipsticks? A soul stirring fragrance? What could it be. 

Maybelline Loves P'trique of $hit Girls Say And...

Charlotte Free. This is how they showed their love for the pink haired model and YouTube's favourite star.

Boss Girl Gywneth 

Iron Man's girl, Gwyneth Paltrow (no offense Mr.Martin) is the new face of Hugo Boss's Boss Nuit Pour Femme Fragrance. Given that the fragrance was inspired by the sensuous little black dress, its safe to assume what the actress will be wearing in the advertisements. 

Vidal Sassoon 

We lost him on May 9 to Leukemia. However, his influence will extend onto several generations of hair dressers world wide.  

Picture credit: Style.com, Net-a-Porter

Love,

Indian Girl

I've been growing my hair out for my wedding and that has me trying a variety of things with my new long hair. This is a side French braid I did a few days back. A couple of strands have gone wonky but overall it turned out well for a braid put together one minute flat.


How To:

1. Make a deep side part and divide your hair into two sections going all the way to the nape of your neck.

2. Pulling sections from the outer corners of your hairline start weaving a french braid on one side.

3. Once you have pulled the hair along your neck into a french braid, take the rest of your hair and make regular braid which eventually rests on one shoulder.

Love,
Indian Girl

On March 4th, 2012 to the boy who turns my knees to jello.

In South India, an engagement is a ceremony that involves the families exchanging gifts and agreeing to have the two kids in love, married soon. Its all about the families coming together. Once all the ceremonial agreeing is done, we exchange rings !

I am still soaking it all in. It was every thing I wished for and more. I now have a full year to plan my wedding. And I'm booking you to help me with it all the way !


I did my own makeup. It was a day time ceremony so I kept it simple with a underlying peach/pink-orange/gold theme. Can you spot the products ?


My sister did this for us. Its a part of our love story.




The girl puts the ring on the boy first. He surprised me and the rest of the family by going down on one knee. I was just too excited to react.

And, the ring is worn on the right hand.

Lots of love,
Indian Girl

Boy don't mind. I now belong to Adam Levine.
And it goes like this. Take me by the tongue and I'll know you. Bad ass.




Love,
Indian Girl

Mornin Ladies !

How have you been ?

I've been good. Work is great but can also get very stressful. We had Vogue.in's first anniversary party on Thursday and it was a blast. So not stuck-uppy. Everybody loosened up and got on the floor. Boss, big boss - everybody.

And now its that time after a party when the pictures come back and you you find all those embarrassing drunk pics. Good Lord. Lets not go there.

Here is a pic of mine from the party. I know, its first time sharing a full face pic. Cant say I am not nervous but Mumbai making me slightly more brave.

poof...

Makeup Used:

1. Smashbox Photo finish Primer
2. Revlon Photo ready concealer
3. Milani Brow Kit
4. Sleek Palette - Dirty bronze color on lid.
5. Lancome Artliner - black
6. Carmindy for Sally Hansen Blush - Cherub
7. Three Custom Colors Lipstick - Majorca
8. Julie Hewett Lipstick - Belle Noir

Lessons learned:

1. If you are having a fairly good skin day - skip the foundation.
2. If its a dim lit setting, go for a bright lipstick . It pops well in pictures especially when you are wearing something as boring as black.
3. Revlon Photoready concealer is the bomb. It really is perfect for pictures.
4. Blotting sheets are a must in your bag.
5. A blow dry before a big party is totally worth it.
6. So is a pedicure / manicure. I went with a soft almost wedding-y color - O.P.I - Kiss on the cheek.
7. Go ahead , have fun even if its a work thing. No body is going to remember a thing the next day. Not even you will.

Umm...If you like this. I'll have up more makeup break downs now on.

Love,
Indian Girl

I had a chance to chat up three very popular and gorgeous Indian models - Lakshmi Rana, Pia Trivedi and Alesia Raut. Just wanted to peep back in and tell you guys about it. I am always surprised when I talk to famous peeps and they are all so so so very sweet and give a whole new wonderful meaning to the words - down to earth.

You can read the story here

And now you will love my almond face mask a lot , I'm sure

I am now off to buy me some MAC Twinks eyeshadow.

Love,
Indian Girl

Rains have begun in Mumbai and just like folks in Mumbai promised me - its been beautiful. It will get worse from now on I hear but for now am soaking it all in.

Work has been great. I am still grateful for being able to do something I love. Lemme know if you'd like me to link my article to the blog for you to read.

Work apart, life has started to kick in. I have a bunch of friends I like. I love their company. Love hanging out with them. Though I've never had a tough time getting along with anybody and am a pretty laid back person, its been very easy and loads of fun from the start with this bunch. More things to be grateful for.

Boys. Umm.Get on twitter is all I have to say. I need you there. I need to hear from you. Be my twit fam. I love you to bits *pout*

I haven't dated in forever. Its always just been distant crushes. Its been so long that now I don't know what to do. And question every move. But as I question I tell myself to let go and just have fun. So that's what I've been trying to do. Its about embarking on the journey now, not yet about arriving at the destination.

These are some songs I've been listening to on repeat mode. Like I was telling my sister - they speak for me.

Speak for what I'm feeling. Days when everything seems filled with hope and laughter and possibilities of something nice and warm. Of days when blood is rushing to your cheeks and you wont stop smiling.



Days when you are plain stuck. Stuck in the between the middle. When uncertainty haunts you. And hope seems distant and near at the same time.



Days when you think you have loads to say but will not. cannot. Mostly coz you don't know who to say it to.



My favorite rainy day song. I just sit on my window sill, listening to this all day.



Share with me your favorite rainy day songs. I'll give you more soon. I know am holding back with my stories. But I've always been this way. My best friend and my sister have a beef with me on this too. But am trying. Am trying to share more. Trying to let it all out. I will get around this and you'll hear more soon. Hugs. Kisses.

Love,
Indian Girl

in Mumbai.

I hear its rare. Just as rare as finding cute boys. Let alone tall, cute boys with dimples and glasses. Oh how I love em.

But I am blessed with this new home I found. The terrace is what the lady lady calls - an Urban Jungle. Woke up this morning and took a few long deep breaths. Almost felt like I was cleansing my lungs out. And all this greenery just puts you in a chirpy mood for the day. I'm gonna take every chance to show this off.

Here I go.

Love the rosettes of leaves on this water plant







Like mint but not (tastes awful)



Excuse the pajamas.



And then I found this beauty



Green breakfast - Carom leaf



Now onto the real deal with Adele playing in the background. I'm really not love lorn or anything. Pretty happy save for the part about lack of eye candy in Mumbai. Might import one or two here soon but that's another story for another time.

And if you could help me move onto another song, I'll love you for it. This obsession has gone on long enough.





Now, tell me


Love,
Indian Girl

Oh My Gosh - where do I start ? I have written this letter ...

no note

umm...had this conversation ?

all of the above a million times and rewritten it a few more times but then this is the gist

I am in India ...

Mumbai actually

at Vogue India to be exact

as the beauty features writer / editorial consultant for Vogue.in

So there I go, that's where I've been and am.

Its been beyond all kinda good and exciting and stressful trying to settle down in Mumbai. I have been ridiculously draining away money on taxis. I think I found a place..haven't sealed the deal yet. Been on my bff's couch - grateful to God she is in Mumbai. Cannot bring myself to give the local trains a try. I was at Lakme Fashion Week - such a giddy feeling seeing all the celebrities and every designer there is !

Soaking Mumbai in. You know all that they say about people falling in love with Mumbai ? Well lets just say all that hasn't happened yet to me.

If you have been a regular Vogue.in reader, especially of the beauty section and you've noticed a new name appearing there, and its been appearing every single day - that's me.

Imma be regular now on. I've missed you bunches and bunches. Every evening on the way home from work I've thought of you and this feels good. Just typing and telling things out to you feels Oh So Good.

Lots of love & miss you even more
Indian Girl

Elle 18 ( Relaunched in November 2010 in India) are out with their new Lip Smoothies. These lip smoothies available in pocket-friendly tubes, are loaded with the goodness of cocoa butter to keep your lips soft.

Available in 6 shades : Vanilla Heat, Melon Flame, Peach Afterglow, Berry Bomb, Strawberry Blast, Burnt Choco

MRP: Rs. 85/-

Love,
Indian Girl

Hair by Ouidad At Tara Subkoff for IMITATION
Inspiration : A femme fatale, “crazy socialite” to channel the seductive vibe.
Look : Ouidad’s Tress Effects Styling Gel and PlayCurl Volumizing Foam helped shape the soft, 40’s Jane Russell-like curl.

Love,
Indian Girl

Hair By Ouidad at Rebecca Minkoff's show.


Inspiration : Throwback 60’s vibe with a gypsy feel
Look : “morning after” long, loose tousled style. To get the look, Ouidad used PlayCurl Volumizing Foam and Climate Control to give models a less polished “urban gypsy” look.

Love,
Indian Girl

Pictures by Kristen Somody Whalen

Hair by Odile Gilbert for 3.1 Phillip Lim show using Kérastase products


Inspiration: The look is inspired by the Phillip Lim girl who is strong and urban, yet romantic and feminine. Odile pictured a girl riding a bicycle with romantic long flowing waves offsetting the tough slicked-back Shogun style

Look: Very long flowing Botticelli hair, wavy in the back with the top section pulled up into a Japanese shogun style bun

How-to:

* Prep hair with Ciment Thermique for heat protection Spray hair with Double Force Hair Spray in sections and create Botticelli-waves using a three-pronged iron
* Gather the top section of hair, slicking it back with Double Force Ultime Hair Spray for added control, and secure with an elastic
* Pull the the ponytail halfway through the elastic, leaving the ends out, to create a small “Shogun” bun
* Finger wave the remaining section while spraying Chroma Cristal for shine and brilliance
* Smooth Elixir Ultime through the ends to create beautiful, flowing waves and finish with Double Force Hair Spray

Products Used:

* NEW Chroma Cristal (SRP: $37) – A light shine-enhancing mist for color-treated hair
* Ciment Thermique (SRP: $37) – Leave-in heat-activated reconstructing milk for damaged/weakened hair that strengthens, protects and reinforces the hair fiber
* Double Force Hair Spray (SRP: $36) – A multi-protective finishing hairspray with a lasting, firm hold and protective UV shield
* Double Force Controle Ultime (SRP: $36) – A multi-protective finishing hairspray with a lasting, firm hold and protective UV shield
* Elixir Ultime (SRP: $50) – A versatile beautifying hair oil comprised of four precious oils (Maize, Pracaxi, Camellia & Argan), to nourish, smooth and add shine to all hair types

Love,
Indian Girl

V day is all about love.
Yeah and restaurants are all about food.
Where are we going with this?

I am by myself this V day and it still excites me to no end! You couple-y folks out there, good for ya – no points for guessing you have plans.

Boyfriend or not I am laying off pinks and reds. Its been done. Its been done to no end. Forget them fake lashes as well. Let us focus on some understated glamour. This’ll get ya noticed for all the right reasons, keeps you comfortable and there will be no awkward runs to the girls room checking for red lipstick stains on your teeth! It is going to be about a wonderful date and a memorable conversation.

Before we get to makeup lets focus on getting your skin ready. I have the perfect mask for supple, soft, look-at-me-I’m-fresh skin! Blend a couple of table spoons of oats in your blender to a powdery consistency. Mix this with a table spoon of creamy yogurt. Apply all over face and gently massage. Feel the blood circulating and then let it dry. Later, wash it off with warm water and follow with moisturizer. This winter I have been a slave to The Solution by Envision Beauty. It has kept my skin fairly worry free. Use the same mask with some sugar on your feet and hands.

With your supple soft skin you hardly need heavy duty makeup. Use a light tinted moisturizer / concealer, if need be. I am dying over MAC Prolongwear concealer – its been doing things no other concealer has. I swear I got told yesterday by this (cute – I die!) boy that he wouldn’t have guessed I had makeup on. He had no idea about them dark circles, yo! Go for soft shades of peach on your cheeks and lips. A hint of highlighter here and there, some mascara. No intimidating shades, no forced colors. Feel your best and it’ll show – I promise.

Oh and don’t do anything I wouldn’t do. And there is nothing I wouldn’t ;) We’re talking makeup. Just makeup.

Love,
Indian Girl