Fashion | Beauty | Body Positivity | Lifestyle

It is that time of the year where you’re constantly running around from one party to next. Between office parties, birthdays and family get-togethers, you have literally exhausted your wardrobe to its maximum capacity. No matter how many clothes, accessories and shoes you have, you will eventually find yourself standing in front of your closet and moaning in misery, “I have nothing to wear!”

Thanks to the socially demanding festive season, even the staunchest of wardrobe recycler and outfit repeater will be left with no options besides indulging in some much needed retail therapy.

While most of us do not need a reason to shop, the current festive season, paired with Great Online Shopping Festival, #GOSF (10th- 12th December), this is the perfect time, plus opportunity, to treat yourself (and your loved ones) with those coveted pieces you have been lusting after forever.

In my constant search for discovering new and fashionably flexible pieces to shop, FabAlley’s latest range caught my attention.

From on-trend to classic pieces, they always have a wide variety of products to choose.
However, what I have always liked about FabAlley, and one of the major reasons I keep going back to it, is, their reasonable price points.

With a few of my fave FabAlley pieces I and created four #MyFabWishlist looks.

Ever since Beyonce sang to the world, “I woke up like this”, I have been hunting for any merchandise that has these empowering words on them.
My hunt ended when I found this I Woke Up Like This Tee on FabAlley.

I Woke Up Like This Tee/ True Tartan Boyfriend Shirt/ Fold Up High Waist Pants/ Gold Glint Black Ankle Boots/ Gold Glitz Shopper Bag/ Glossy Gold Anchor Chain Necklace/ Twisted Gold Black Stud Earrings/ Cat Call Sunglasses

For a polished, neat and classy everyday look, pair the tee with a pair of well-fitted pants. Since winter and tartan go hand-in-hand, layer it with a tartan shirt. Thrown on pair of ankle boots, metallic tote and statement sunnies and you are good-to-go. From meeting to lunch dates, this look is ideal for just about any day of the week.

I Woke Up Like This Tee/ Modern Muse Scuba Blazer/ Grid This Pants/ Game On Hi-Top Sneakers/ Gilded Envelope Clutch/ Blue Stone Studded Choker/ Intertwined Snakes Cuff/ Crystal Hand Harness/ Cool Cat Sunglasses

In a mood for a statement-making, fashion forward look? Try pairing the tee with wide grid print pants, bright colour blazer and hi-top sneakers. Up the style quotient by adding a few eye-catching baubles and be ready to be stalked by all your favourite street style photographers.

I am big on repeating my outfits. Hey, when Kate Middleton sees no shame in doing it, why not all of us. Right?

With just a few add-on and changes, you can easily create two different looks from the very same outfit.

First Base Tee/ Glam Girl Silk Midi Skirt/ Propah Lady Ballet Flats/ Monochrome Quilted Tote/ Pale Stones Crystal Earrings/ Greys And Blues Stole/ Intertwined Snakes Cuff/ Crystal Hand Harness/ Cool Aqua Oversized Sunglasses

A basic top and midi skirt is prefect for pretty much anything. Add a scarf, a classic tote, crystal earrings and ballet flats and you are all set for a hectic day of running errands all day or a laid back afternoon catching up with the girls.

First Base Tee/ Glam Girl Silk Midi Skirt/ Modern Muse Scuba Blazer/ Gold Glint Black Ankle Boots/ Sequined Zipper Clutch/ Glossy Gold Anchor Chain Necklace/ Gold Gem Spike Necklace/ Chunky Chain Necklace/ Bold Purple Stone Ring

For a Christmas/NYE party or date night all you need to do is, up your glam quotient by adding a contrasting colour blazer and a few chunky necklaces and you are all set for a stylish night out.

Now that you know what is on #MyFabWishlist, do share with me what all FabAlley beauties would you like to fill up your closets with. With festive season in full swing, this seems about the right time to treat yourself to your dream closet.

Till then, tra-la,
Amena!!
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They say God works in mysterious ways. Just when the festive and wedding season was about to reach its crescendo and I was about to run out of gifting ideas, very luckily, I was introduced to Shazé by my dear friend Aanam of What When Wear.

In celebration of What When Wear completing 3 years of blogging, Aanam had hosted a brunch soiree for us at Shazé. Along with nibbling on hors d'oeuvre and catching up on the latest gossip, I got a chance to admire as well as try out some of the beauties Shazé has to offer.

As introductions go, Shazé is a premium lifestyle and gifting brand. With stores pan India as well as online, Shazé offers a variety of luxury products to choose from.

Everything from jewellery, perfume, candle, scarves, watches, home décor and silverware can be found under one roof- making Shazé your ideal shopping destination.

One of the things I loved about Shazé is, it offers a vast variety of ready-to-wear jewellery pieces to select from. These pieces can easily be worn for a festive occasion as well as on day-to-day basis.

The event also saw the launch of Shazé’s ‘Un Occasion’ campaign. The main aim of the campaign is, to break the classic myth that jewellery shopping is occasion and festive centric only. Through the ‘Un Occasion’ campaign, Shazé wants to convey the message that you don’t need a special occasion to shop for these beauties. You can buy them year round, anytime you want.

Staying true to my trademark style of layering necklaces, for the first time ever, I experimented with pearls. Being a bling lover, pearls are a little muted for my taste. However, after my initial hesitation, I realised, if styled well, pearls can be as glamorous as stone embellished piece.

Along with the items showcased in the above images, here are a few more of my favourite pieces from Shazé’s latest collection.

What sets Shazé apart from others is, each creation is handpicked with a keen eye on subtlety, finesse and craftsmanship. This is why you should make Shazé your go to shopping and gifting destination year round.

More on Shazé here: Website, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram

Till then, tra-la,
Amena!!
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2015 has just begun and like every new year it brings with itself a promise of a brighter future and hope that it will ‘THE’ year you have been waiting for.

For me, 2015 is many things- most importantly, it the year for me to make some serious, much needed changes.

While I have never been a believer or follower of New Year resolutions (don’t have the will power or patience to follow it through), for me, it is more about bring gradual rather than drastic changes.

One such change is to do more beauty post. I also plan to add a few more new segments to the blog as well.

In the spirit of new beginning, I decided to start my 2015 blogging journey with a beauty (makeup, really) theme post.

December being my birthday month, I treated myself to all things MAC. Honestly, I always want to buy out the entire store, but with a heavy heart and Herculean resisting powers, these 5 beauties made it to my final list.

Here’s why I decided to go with these five?

Since I already have quite a few of the classics, I wanted to try the new festive collections.

All products I choose are very versatile, can be worn during the day and night, and multi-occasion friendly.

I picked pieces from MAC’s three new collection: Heirloom Mix, The Simpsons and A Novel Romance.

I loved how the Heirloom Mix collection had managed to cast the classic collectible in a contemporary, glittering light.
Like me, if you love to make a statement with your makeup, this collection has your name written all over it.

The pop culture junkie I am, wild horse could not keep me from buying something, if not the entire collection, from my all time fave TV show, The Simpsons collection. Especially when the collection was in honour of its 25th anniversary!

The entire collection can be descried in Mr. Burns fave word- ‘Excellent!’

While I was pretty much sold on the name itself, A Novel Romance, a colour collection offering luscious shades that makes one feel so overwhelmed with desire that you will be seduce into buying a few pieces for sure.

Instead of going with a run-of-the-mill product review and swatches, I decided to show how you can create three distinctly different looks using products from MAC's latest collections.

Since I could not buy everything I wanted, these five are on my MAC wish list:

1. Gentrified brown with bronze pearl Fluidline from Heirloom Mix collection, INR 1,450

2. Matchmaster Concealer (from casual look), INR 1,900

3. Modest blush, light baby salmon pink Mineralize Blush from Heirloom Mix

Collection(from flirty look), INR 2,450
4. Prunella, dark prune Eye Kohl from Heirloom Mix collection (from casual look), INR 1,450

5. Cool mauve with red frost lipglass from Viva Glam Rihanna II collection, INR 1,450

Thanks to these MAC products, I have started my New Year on a bright and glitter note.
Here's wishing you all a wonder 2015. Hope it is everything you want it to be and more.

Till then, tra-la,
Amena!!
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It is a truth universally acknowledged that red lipstick is the ultimate picker-upper.
When it comes to makeup, nothing beats the power of red lips. A rouge pout can elevate your outfit, up your glam quotient, and make a statement all in one swipe!

If there is something I love as much as Mindy Kaling, pop culture and chocolates, it is, red lipstick.
It was nothing short of euphoric joy when L'Oréal Paris launched the Color Riche Pure Reds Collection. The range includes 7 exquisite shades belonging to the red colour palette and represented by L’Oréal Paris ambassadors.

Along with true red, this curated collection includes orange and purple/berry (red based secondary colours) pink and fuchsia (tint of red) and brick and maroon (shades of red).
The Pure Reds collection has beautifully incorporated different tints, tones and shades of red. The vibrant red colour palette has been used in an interestingly innovative way to create 7 gorgeous colour variations to flatter every Indian skin tone.

Along with complementing all types of Indian skin tones, these shades are perfect for every social occasion and mood.

A collection this beautiful requires something creatively different. Instead of doing the run-of-the-mill swatches and product review, I decided to create looks inspired by the shades of Pure Reds collection.

[Information on the above pieces here] [Information on the above pieces here][Information on the above pieces here]

[Information on the above pieces here]

I got to try out the entire Pure Reds collection at L'Oréal Paris Red Party. After first hand trying out these beautiful shades, I strongly recommend every lipstick lover and junkie to go and try them. You are bound to buy a few of them for sure.

One of the reasons why I avoided swatches in this post is, since the shades tend to look different on different skin tones as well as the final look of the colour depends entirely on an individual’s natural lip colour, pigmentation and texture, swatches would not do justice to this vibrant collection.

Along with trying out the shades, I also got my make-up and hair styled by the phenomenally talented, Ms. Namrata Soni.
To complement my skin tone, Ms. Soni decided to use Pure Scarleto. I instantly fell in love with this shade and since then it has become my signature shade of the season.

[Hair & Make-Up Expert: Namrata Soni Photographer: Rema Chaudhary]

Not only are the shades stunning, but the entire package is done in a very polished and sleek manner.
The lipsticks are smooth at application and have a rich creamy matte finish to it. From first had experience I can say, the lipstick easily lasts a good 6-8 hours without drying the lips. Nor does it require any touch ups; even after eating and drinking. The lipsticks have amazing hydration because of which it does not flake at all. The beauty of the entire collection is, there is a red there for every Indian skin tone, personality and age group.

Ladies, you search for the perfect red lipstick ends here! Pure Reds range of lipsticks by L'Oréal Paris is a one-stop place to find the perfect shade of red.

Till then, tra-la,
Amena!!
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It is that time of the year where love is not just in the air, but practically everywhere. From Twitter contest to radio ads to random hoardings; everyone’s in the mood to celebrate the big day of love, Valentine’s Day.

I, on the other hand, am trying as hard as possible to treat Valentine’s Day as just another day. No biggie!

The truth is, my current dating life is like Bipasha Basu’s career- stuck in a rut and going absolutely nowhere!

After witnessing my current situation of being trapped between nothing and not worth dating, my friends decided to take matters into their own hands and finally managed to convince me to give online dating a try.

The skeptic I am, I avoided it for the longest time. However, after months of deliberation and persuasion, I gave into the temptation and decided to join the online dating bandwagon.

After trying out a few famous dating apps, I choose to get myself registered on Vee.

Thanks to Vee, I have had a chance to meet a few good men. And just like that, my dating life looks promising again.

If you think finding a good date is a challenge, wait for the bigger dilemma that follows- what should I wear for my first date!

Everywoman at some point or another has wondered, “what is the perfect first date outfit?” Questions like, should I dress up or dress down, go casual or bring my glam on, have tormented us all at some point.

After hits and misses, I have found the answer to, “what should I wear on a first date.” When styling a first date outfit, keep these three key points in mind:

Location of the date: Whether the date is in a coffee shop or a restaurant? Are you going for a movie or an art exhibit? Is it outdoor or indoor? Knowing your location helps you decided the basic overall look for the date.

Time of the date: Are you meeting for brunch or are you meeting for pre dinner drinks. The location plus the timing helps you decide the apt outfit for the date. Is it an LBD kind of a date or is a pair of jeans and tunic more apt for it.

Mood of the date: Have you decided to keep it cool and casual or are you both big on romantic gesture and going for an old school style romantic first date?
Based on the mood of your date you can then decide the tone of the outfit. Should you be all dolled up or is casual chic the way to go.

While there are no hard and fast rules of first date dressing, here are few styling guidelines and looks that will help you make a great first impression.

After I joined Vee a friend asked me why did I opt for it over other dating apps?

For starters, compared to all the dating apps, Vee is more female friendly. It is built keeping in mind several stringent safety features to keep your information and interactions safe and secure. Users privacy, safety and security is paramount for them. This is a major win.

Like most dating apps, connections are formed only after there's a mutual like. However, women have the option to go ‘Invisible’, which means only those who they like can see them, while others can't.

Other safety features are, it has the option of making all of your chat history with a person disappear from both phones. Women can chose to hide all their info, and nothing will be visible except for first name. It's screenshot safe, on Android devices, no one can take screenshots of your pictures. Every profile is curated, from the marital status, to the age (persons beyond a certain age are not allowed), to the number of friends he/she has on Facebook.

Vee is very strict with reporting and blocking of profiles.
As dating apps go, Vee has done everything possible to make online dating safe and secure, especially for its women users.

Ladies and gentlemen, this Valentine's Day it is time to #GetVee and say goodbye to that horrid dating dry spell. Who knows, your soulmate may just be a Vee bit away!

Till then, tra-la,
Amena!!
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Nothing says warm days are upon us quite like the arrival of March. Summer season in India is known for being excruciatingly hot, almost cruel at times. Honestly, besides ranting on social media there is very little one can do about the soaring temperatures.

With mercury on the rise, this seems like the perfect time to update your beauty, makeup and grooming stash with these new summer friendly essentials.

1. What is it: Lakmé Lip Love Lip Balm- Strawberry; INR 200/-

Why do I love it: I am a sucker for lip balms and use it year round. As someone who is blessed with healthy, hydrated lips, this product was ideal for me. For starters, I loved the fruity fragrance and the delicate reddish-pink tint and shine. Containing SPF 15 makes it a major added bonus. The texture is smooth and creamy on application. After application, the lip balm feels light on the lips and does not have a sticky after effect or oily residue. Just like it is stated on the package, “luxurious creamy core that moisturizes your lips”, Lakmé Lip Love lip balm delivers on all these promises.

If you are looking for a tinted, fruity lip balm, Lakmé Lip Love is just the thing you need.

Along with Strawberry, it is also available in Vanilla, Peach and Cherry.

2. What is it: LUX Magical Spell Body Wash- Black Orchids and Juniper Oil; INR 150/-

Why do I love it: The thing I loved most about Lux Magical Spell Body Wash is its fragrance. It has a very sensuous, exotic scent. Along with black orchids there is a hint of jasmine, wood and vanilla. On initial use one may find the scent a tab big strong, however, the fragrance is not at all overpowering and lingers for a few hours after use.

I am not very picky about body wash and love trying out new ones. As long as I like the fragrance, I am good with it. Since I don’t have very dry skin, Lux Magical Spell Body Wash suited my skin perfectly well.

3. What is it:Scholl Velvet Smooth Express Pedi; INR 2,850/- and Foot and Nail Cream; INR 200/-

Why do I love it: For someone who prefers open-toe shoes and sandals to closed one, keeping my feet clean and smooth at all times in an overly polluted city can be quite a challenge.

Lucky for me, I discovered Scholl Velvet Smooth Express Pedi. It is an electronic foot file that effectively removes tough, dead skin and calluses by exfoliating the feet. What I really liked about it is, it does not have sharp blades, this makes it very safe to use. It also manages to remove all the dead skin and leaves the feet smooth.

The overall experience and result is excellent. To make sure your feet stay clean and dead skin free for long, moisturise it daily with the foot and nail cream.

Keep in mind, this is an express pedicure and one cannot expect the same results as traditional, salon pedicure.

Whether or not you lead an hectic life, this is one grooming product every woman (and man) should invest in.

4. What is it:Livon Moroccan Silk Serum; INR 259/-

Why do I love it: Ever since I discovered the secret ingredient to healthy hair, I have become an avid user and believer of all things Moroccan Argan Oil.

Since I have wavy hair that tends to get frizzy on hot, humid days, I am very picky about my hair serum. However, after my mom tried Livon Moroccan Silk Serum and swore by it, I decided to give it a try.

What I loved most about it is, after application it leaves your hair feeling weightless, free flowing and gives it a shine and healthy glow. Also, it does not make your hair feel weighed down or leave a sticky residue. To add to this, it has a lovely fragrance to it.

Enriched with Vitamin E and infused with UV filters, unlike most available variants of Moroccan Argan Oil that are on the expensive side, Livon Moroccan Silk Serum is very pocket friendly and ideal for most Indian hair type.

5. What is it:Za True White Two Way Foundation; INR 550/-

Why do I love it: If you spent half your life dealing with oily skin woes, foundation is one product that will be on top of your ‘to avoid’ list. For that matter, any cream base makeup product.

It was nothing short of sheer joy, when I discovered Za’s two way foundation. The beauty of the product is, it can be used wet or dry depending on your requirement. Since it is powder based, it gives a smooth matte, even toned complexion without clogging the pores, making the foundation oily skin friendly.

The foundation is infused with SPF 20 PA++ that provides the skin with much needed UVF protection. Available in 4 shades to complement every Indian skin tone, this foundation offers the best of both-powder and liquid, making it suitable for all skin types.

Please Note: Before using/ buying any of these products please make sure they are right match and compatible with your your skin and hair type.

Till then, tra-la,
Amena!!
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With the temperature soaring with each passing day, it is time to finally put away all things winter attire and bring out the summer essentials. Time to bid adieu to chunky layers and make way for soft, free-flowing pieces; replace bejewelled heavy necklaces with light, delicate ones and swap poly and wool blends with cotton, linen and organic based fabrics.

While most of these pieces are already a part of our everyday wardrobe, it is time to put them to good use beat the heat in style!
The summer wardrobe essentials list has been prepared keeping in mind the hot and humid weather experienced across India.

1. White Top: Be it long or short, a traditional tunic or a classic white shirt, no summer wardrobe is complete without a white top. Ideal to beat the head and easy to style, a white top is an absolute must-have.

2. Cotton Pants: Whether you like them printed or plain, in bold shades or delicate pastels, fitted or flared, cotton fabric pants are a perfect summer alternative to the poly-blend trousers and leggings.

3. Dainty Jewellery: No matter how much you love those statement, chunky jewellery, summer is all about dainty pieces. Delicate necklaces, elegant cuff and simple rings are just the perfect accessory for this hot weather.

4. Summer Dress: Maxi, mini or midi, printed or embellished, flared or A-line, summer dress is the prefect blend of comfy and trendy. They can easily be dressed-up or down depending on the time of the day, occasion and location.

5. Denim Shirt: Layer with a tee, use it as a wrap over a bikini or simply pair it with coloured jeans, the denim shirt can effortlessly be styled in a number of ways. No matter how you wish to style it, opt for soft denim or a chambray instead of classic thick denim.

6. Oversized Tote: Carry it to office, beach or to a date, oversized tote bags functions as a home away from home, where your day-to-day stuff can easily be stocked away.

7. Flat Sandals: Not only are they super comfortable, but they pair pretty well with all kinds of summer clothes and can easily be worn to most occasions.

8. Shorts: Whether you like Daisy Duke kind of shorts or the trendy skorts or prefer the high-waist, culottes style, shorts are ideal for surviving the hot, humid days. In case shorts are not your style, mini/midi skirts work just as well for this season.

9. Florals: This is a cliché, but no summer is complete without its share of blooming flower prints. The style may change; the designs may evolve, but floral will forever remain summer quintessential.

10. Sunglasses: Sunglasses are a year round staple. However, in summer they become an absolute must have. Along with protecting your eyes from the scorching sun, sunglasses also help you make a chic style statement.

Using all the pieces from the summer wardrobe essentials list, here are a few styling ideas.

Till then, tra-la,
Amena!!
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The humble denim has come a long way since its inception days. From a blue-collar staple to a fashion must-have, it is one of the few classic fabric (weave) that has managed to easily evolve with times and styles. One instance it is simple and casual, next, it is all statement making and chic.

Since its inception, denim has practically been moulded in every possible silhouette and structure. Besides the classic jeans, the one interpretation I am particularly fond of is, the denim shirt.

For most of us, a denim shirt is a wardrobe staple. It is one of those seasonless pieces that can be worn year round.
Being inherently casual, it can be quite tricky trying to come up with different ways to wear a denim shirt.

To help you make the most of your denim shirt, here are three different outfits that illustrate how to style your denim shirt.

More information about these pieces here/ Images via Google and Pinterest

Layer With It: When layering with a denim shirt, keep in mind, the denim shirt functions as add on, as an enhancing piece rather than a main piece of the ensemble. Since denim is neutral in nature, you can add a denim shirt to either tone down a look or spice up a rather somber one.

Pair It With A Skirt or Pants: Denim shirt is a great alternative to the regular shirt. For a polished look, pair it with a skirt or pair of pants. To make the most of this look, opt for statement prints, shiny sequins or bold colours bottoms to pair with the denim shirt. No matter how loud or dramatic the pant/skirt is, the neutral characteristic of the denim shirt will balance the look out.

Double Denim: You really can't go wrong with this refined denim-on-denim formula. The styling potentials are endless. Glam up and go all out with statement, colourful accessories or opt for polished metallic or monochrome pieces. Either way, both looks work just as well.

A complete denim ensemble allows you to experiment to your heart's contentment.

I recently discovered the joy of layering and a denim shirt was an ideal piece to start experimenting with. A denim shirt layered as a jacket is no new invention. However, with what you pair the shirt is the real game changer.

In my initial experimenting stages I kept it simple and wore the denim shirt with a top and jeans. However, I decided to up my personal styling game for Lakmé Fashion Week and go for an Indo-Western, boho inspired look.

Denim Shirt: c/o GAS Jenas | Trench Kurta and Skirt: Westside | Tote Bag: India Circus | Wedges: INC5 | Necklace: From Kashmir | Bangles: Thrifted | Watch: DKNY
Make up | c/o Lakmé, Lipstick: Red Flames, Lakmé, The Sculpt Collection | Hair: Foxy Curls c/o Tigi Bed Head

Pairing my fave GAS Jeans denim shirt (it’s a men’s shirt) with a trench style kurta, crushed printed cotton skirt, tribal stone necklace and arty print tote.

Along with being a new look it was also very flattering to my body type. The layering added colour and structure break that was very form flattering and stylish at the same time.

Being plus size I have shied away from wearing a denim shirt for a long time. The myth that denim shirt adds bulk was my biggest deterrent.
However, while I still haven't found the confidence to wear it as a shirt or try a double denim look, layering with it has opened up new personal styling avenues for me.

Till then, tra-la,
Amena!!
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With temperatures soaring off the roof it only means one thing-summer has officially arrived. While there is not much one can do about the oppressive heat and stifling humidity, what you can do is, enjoy Mother Nature and fashion’s bounty that the season has to offer.

Talking about fashion’s bounty, sometime back I was invited to attended Max Fashion's Summer 2015 preview fashion show, Max Fashion Play.

From summer favourites, florals, to flavour of the season, tropical prints, and from tribal motifs to boho inspirations, the collection is summer season’s poster child. In a nutshell- the collection is right on trend.

Known for its affordable price point, what I also love and appreciate about Max Fashion is, the pieces are very flexible and versatile. They are hassle free, easy to use garments that can effortlessly be styled in multiple ways for different occasion.
Since the theme of the preview was Fashion Play, I decided to play mix and match and style some of my fave Max Fashion's Summer 2015 collection pieces in four different genres.

Print Mix: Mixing prints and patterns has been a fashion favourite for quite a few years. Max Fashion’s Summer 2015 collection offers a plethora of prints to choose from. Flowers, fruits, birds, Aztec, digital, and geometrical design, there is something of each kind.

Indo Western: Indo Western attire is one of the most popular styling preference across the country. Along with dress, pants, skirts and shorts, the collection offers a vast variety of kurtas, tunics, salwars and churidars, making the collection very fusion wear friendly.

Silhouette Mix: While most times we like to mix prints and colours, it is fun to once in a while mix shapes and structure. Keeping the season in mind a large percentage of the collection is free flowing silhouettes while a few are fitted and structured. From boxy capes to fitted churidar to A-Line kurtas and airy maxis, there is a wide variety of silhouettes to select from.

Colour Block: Summer is incomplete without its share of fresh, bright colours. Max Fashion Summer 2015 collection offers everything from bold jewel tones to earthy neutrals to soft pastels.

At the Max Fashion Play event I had an opportunity to style a look from Max Fashion’s Summer 2015 collection.

I went with a classic summer theme look pairing a colour block dress with an aztec design backpack and lace and fringe shrug.

Max Fashion Summer 2015 collection is now available across the country.

Till then, tra-la,
Amena!!
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Along with the crazy heat, the summer season all brings with it loads of preview invitations. Brands after brands will invite you and then seduce you with the season's best offering.
In my case, no brands has so much seduction powers over me quite like Accessorize!

Recently, I was invited for Accessorize India’s Spring Summer 2014 collection preview.
Like any preview, this one too was filled with the season’s latest offerings, delicious treats, a fun game conceptualised by Accessorize India team and an enviable goodie bag to take home.

Like always, I could not stop drooling after delicious baubles and steal worthy bags.
However, just about when I was done, something caught my attention.
In celebration of their 30th anniversary, the entire store was decorated with Accessorize’s Spring-Summer 2014’s campaign featuring Danish model, Nina Agdal.
Aesthetically shot around the globe, Nina beautifully showcases Accessorize's latest collection in a fresh and colourful manner.

Keeping the current trends and season in mind and inspired by Accessorize's Spring-Summer 2014 campaign here are a few looks styled with Accessorize Spring-Summer 2014 collection.

[Bag, Necklace, Sunglasses, Bracelet, Rings and Sunglass case: Accessorize; Dress: Richard Nicoll Stella; Wedges: Dsquared2 ]

[Bag, Necklace, Mobile Pouch, Bracelet: Accessorize; Top: A.L.C.; Skrit: Stella McCartney; Sandals: Christian Louboutin]

After ages I have created fashion collages. What do you think of the above collages featuring Accessorize Spring Summer 2014 campaign? Share your views with me in the comment section.

Till then, tra-la,
Amena!!

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Very often we associate fashion with glamour. But before a garment reaches it glamorous destination it starts its journey as a single yarn. The yarns that make up the fabric of the garment plays the most important and crucial role.

Like everything else in the fashion world, the world of textiles has been evolving in its efforts to offer us new age fabrics.
As much as I love discovering new designers and trends, it brings me immense joy when I learn about a new fabric.

When I was invited for Liva's official unveiling I was mighty thrilled. To be honest, I have know about Liva for a while now, however, I got to see the fabric’s full potential up-close at an event that took place a few days back.

To start with, what is Liva?

Liva is a new age, high quality fabric made from natural (wood pulp) cellulosic fibres. The fabric is the brain child of Birla Cellulose, a part of the Aditya Birla Group.

The key feature of Liva is, its fluidity. Due to its soft, free flowing characteristic, the fabric is ideal for a number of silhouettes and drapes.

Along with fluidity, Liva has a natural sheen to it. Since the fabric is made from natural fibres and renewable resource, it has a great breathability and absorption ability that allows the skin to breathe easilys and provide comfort even in the harshest weather.

In a nutshell, Liva is a fluid, lustrous, skin-friendly fabric, that is set to change to face of the fashion world.

The graceful fluidity of LIVA was bought to life through a fashion show title ‘Panchtatva’.

The show was divided into 5 collections inspired by 5 elements of nature. Each designer’s collection was inspired by one of nature's element to highlighted the fluid quality of the fabric.

Air was the theme for James Ferreira’s all white, cowl drape and sequin embellished collection.

Puja Nayyar took inspiration for the vast expanse of Mother Earth for her neutral palette with neon pop collection.

The shapes and shades of sky played muse for Soham Dave’s collection.

Narendra Kumar decide to showcase the fluid nature of water through ripple effect inspired prints, sharp tailoring and structured silhouettes .

The warm colours and voluminous skirts were the highlight of Anita Dongre’s fire theme collection .

The highlight of the fashion show was show stopper Kangana Ranaut, who is the official face and brand ambassador for Liva.

When asked about her experience with Liva, Kangana said: “I think it’s the kind of fabric that can go well with any clothing and occasion. Moreover, I personally feel that Liva is going to play a very important role in the world of fashion.”

Brands like Global Desi, AND, Allen Solly, Van Heusen, Pantaloon and Chemistry are already using Liva for their collection.

With an aim to make Liva the preferred choice of fabric with all designers and fashion brands, Liva is all set to revolutionise Indian (and global) fashion industry.

If LIVA has you intrigued then please do get in touch with Media Moments (www.mediamoments.in) for further details!

Till then, tra-la,
Amena!!
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Every season of Lakmé Fashion Week I try and do something different. While a trend post (coming soon) is a constant every season, I try and change things around so that the readers have an interesting and new perspective every season.

For Summer/Resort 2015, I decided to do a post featuring my favourite 5 collections of the season. Since I have never done this before now seemed like the perfect time to do one.
While a number of collections left an impact, these five ones were my absolute favourites.

[Ka][Sha] by Karishma Shahani Khan

I have always been a fan of Karishma Shahani Khan’s aesthetics. From her innovative layering to her trademark tie-dye techniques, Karishma always manages to impress me with her collection.

For her Summer/Resort 2015 collection, Karishma decided to pay homage to the classic shade Neel (indigo). Working with a primarily colour palette, beside neel, the collection also had elements of red, mustard and white.

Traditional weaves and colours along with arrow print motif, ikat, dip dye hemlines and statement red bow showcased in a variety of interesting silhouettes and layers made this one of the most remarkable collections of the season.

Payal Singhal

Payal Singhal is one of the few designers who has managed to comfortably merge high fashion with commercial viability. She creates pieces that are both, artistic and wearable.

Finding inspiration in Amer Fort's Sheesh Mahal, Payal Singhal’s Lakmé Fashion Week Summer/Resort 2015 collection was a shimmery affair.

Working with separates and a pastel palette of coral, blush, ecru and grey, the collection featured a fine blend of Indo-Western silhouettes. From Long pleated length skirts to tiny body-con cholis to elegant palazzos, summer friendly silhouettes were in abundance.

The highlight of the collection was the intricate patterns and fine detailed mirror mosaic embroidery inspired from the walls of the palace.
Payal managed to beautifully balance out modern fusion silhouettes with traditional mirror and zardozi work.

Omtex Presents Pankaj and Nidhi

Never have I seen a Pankaj and Nidhi show and not fallen in love with it. Their Lakmé Fashion Week Summer/Resort 2015 collection was exactly what I expected it to be-vibrant, experimental and absolutely stunning.

Inspired by Iznik pottery designs and Op-Art patterns, the multi-coloured prints, laser cut detailing and intricate appliqués were the key highlights of the collection.

Known for their graphic designs and patterns, the collection offered a variety of those in a multi-colour palette and sharp silhouettes.

The clever use of prints, solids and laser cut detailing gave the collection an extra edge. The beauty of this collection is, along with being high on the aesthetic quotient, the collection is also very practical and wearable.

Urvashi Joneja

Urvashi Joneja is one of those designers whose concepts always seems to impress me. She finds inspiration in the mundane and interprets it with her vision in the most beautiful way.

For her Lakmé Fashion Week Summer/Resort 2015 collection, Urvashi found inspiration from a phase of life that everyone is familiar with- ageing.

She based her designs on the process of ageing, an inevitable phenomenon in our lives. The tree rings motif (which also resembles human wrinkles) was used to highlight the theme of the collection. From prints to laser cuts, the tree rings motif appeared in a variety of techniques throughout the collection.

Elegant in construction and beautiful in theory, ‘Retold’ by Urvashi Joneja sent a strong and stylish message.

Bazaar Inspires ‘Mulmul’

The humble mulmul played muse to eight Indian designers in Bazaar Inspires collection. The globally renowned fashion magazine, Harper’s Bazaar, presented eight designers’ collections using Mulmul as the focal point during Indian Handlooms and Textile Day at Lakmé Fashion Week Summer/Resort 2015.

From Anand Bhushan’s all white sleek collection to Hemant and Nandita’s Kashmir inspired collection that turned the simple Mulmul into a fashion fabric with surface ornamentation to Rabani and Rakha, who transformed the soft Mulmul into glamorous silhouettes, the collection showcased creative interpretations of this classic fabric.

The beauty of the collection was, while all eight designers used the same base fabric, they each created collections so drastically different that one is literally spoilt for choice. Safe to safe, after this, I will never see mulmul as just a plain piece of fabric every again.

Till then, tra-la,
Amena!!
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Fashion and grooming often go hand in hand. While we openly discuss all aspects of fashion, we are not so vocal about all our grooming rituals.

In fact, this is one of the most important aspects of our grooming regime, and yet, we seldom talk about it openly. Time to put all qualms and inhibitions aside and freely discuss body hair.

As much as we wish and want, none of us are born hairless and we all have had our share of unwanted body hair issues. Without beating round the bush, lets get to the heart of the matter and discuss all things hair removal.

As a teen, I started my hair removal journey with shaving until someone filled my head with multiple shaving myths. I then switched to waxing and since then I have been waxing. While I have occasionally opted for shaving, by and large I have stuck to waxing.

Recently, I was invited to a bloggers panel discussion with Gillette Venus brand ambassador Kriti Sanon, renowned dermatologist Dr. Rashmi Shetty and beauty expert Namrata Soni to discuss shaving and how it’s one of the most hassle free and painless methods of female hair removal.

The panel discussion was the perfect opportunity for me to reacquaint myself with shaving and have all my shaving myths and doubts put to rest.
From busting age-old shaving myths to sharing their personal shaving experience, the event was very insightful and informative.

Here is what the three esteemed panelist had to say about shaving:

Speaking about Gillette Venus, Kriti Sanon said, “I have always followed a strict regime when it comes to taking care of my skin. Gillette Venus products have always been skin friendly owing to the unique design and distinctive features that perfectly suit a woman’s needs. The best part of shaving is that its hassle free and takes minimal time and enables one to be ready for any occasion at all times”.

Dr. Rashmi Shetty busted one of my personal shaving myths: “Majority of women have apprehensions with regards to shaving. Many of whom believe that shaving will make their skin become darker or that hair would grow faster and thicker which is why they refrain from it. However, in reality hair growth is determined by one’s genetic and hormonal makeup.”

She hopes and aims to bust such age-old myths and impart knowledge about how shaving is one of the safest, most effective methods of hair removal.

Sharing her shaving experience, ace celebrity makeup maven, Namrata Soni, states, “From time to time, rumors and myths have been discussed around shaving. The basic essential to achieve a healthy skin is to use the right kind of products in the right manner. While hair removal is a key part of everybody’s beauty regime, we need to also ensure that we use the method that best suits our skin type. Personally, I believe that shaving is one of the safest and most convenient methods and is suitable for all types of skins”.

After having a one of on chat with the panelists and having all my queries and doubts put to rest, it is safe to say I am all set to #SubscribeToSmooth and give shaving another go with Gillette Venus.

I will be busting shaving myths and sharing my shaving experience over a series of upcoming post. Watch this space for more as I get ready to Smooth Sail with Gillette Venus.

Till then, tra-la,
Amena!!
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What is summer without its share of vibrant colours, eye-catching prints and flirty silhouettes? Even though the weather is practically intolerable, the fashion offerings of the season is why summer is such a hit with fashion lovers.

I got to see summer fashion in full bloom and all its luscious glory when I was invited to review and style Reliance Trends Spring Summer 2015 collection.

As I walked into Reliance Trends store, myriad of bold prints, bright colours and classic summer staples greeted me.

The colour palette offers everything from classic neutrals to delicious jewel tones to delicate pastels. Prints run from stripes to florals to exotic tropical. Flirty and flowy silhouettes in comfy and lightweight fabrics that are ideal for the scorching summer heat were found in abundance.

As part of the Summer Runway Project, I had to create a summer look featuring the latest collections of their in-house brands, DNMX, Fig, Fusion, Intribe among a few others. Judging by the images I uploaded on my social media platforms, safe to say, I was totally spoilt for choice!

After trying out a variety of looks, finally decided to go with a look that is a fine balance of summer classics and summer 2015’s biggest fashion trends.

I decided to let my model and stylist friend, Preeti Venkatesh, play muse for my Summer Runway Project looks.

Her bohemian personality, plus, her gorgeous exotic features, were perfect for the looks I had in mind.

I opted to make these tropical print DNMX pants the hero piece of my look. What I really liked about the print is, even though tropical in motif and design, the colours were on a subtle side compare to the other tropical print pieces.

I decided to pair the pants with a must-have summer staple, a cream colour Fig top. The eyelet design on the top adds texture and ups the overall style quotient of the look.

Completed the look by layering it with a lightweight DNMX denim shirt. The denim adds an element of colour to the look that contrast as well as complements beautifully with the colours of the tropical print.

[Outfit Details: Tropical Print Pants: DNMX; Cream Top: Fig; Denim Shirt: DNMX]

The final look is not just summer friendly but ideal for most Indian body types. From petite to plus size, this look can be easily worn by a number of women.
Depending on how your mood is, you can keep the look causal or glam it up by adding some statement accessory and heels. Either way the look can be worn to a number of occasions with just few styling tweaks.

The second look is a laid back, part grunge, part boho, look. Swap the cream top and denim shit with an oversized DNMX navy tank top.

This look is more on the casual side compared to the first look.
If tanks are not your style, you can always opt for a boxy tunic or a sleeveless shirt.

[Outfit Details: Tropical Print Pants and Navy Tank: DNMX]

Other than being on trend and fashion forward, these tropical pants are quite versatile and can easily be styled in multiple ways.

As impressed as I was with the collection, the pricing of the collections was even more impressive. Not only is Reliance Trends Spring Summer collection ideal to beat the heat in style but also pocket friendly! In a nutshell, this collection is totally on trend and in budget!

Guys, here's some great news! Reliance Trends will be running contests from 13th to 17th May on their Facebook page and you stand a chance to win this very look.

What are you waiting for? Head straight to Reliance Trends Facebook and Twitter pages, and follow Fashionopolis on Facebook and Twitter for all the contest and giveaway updates!

Photos by Abhishek Arora and Saurabh Naik

Heartfelt thanks to Preeti, Saurabh and Abhishek for being a part of my Summer Runway Project. You guys are the best.

Till then, tra-la,
Amena!!
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While September is called the January of fashion, May, very well, can be called its holy month. Just when we were catching our breathe from all the Met Gala action, here comes the most awaited international event of the year- The Cannes International Film Festival.

Yes, it is that time of the year where the best of couture fashion, international films and A-List celebrities are all found under one room on the French Riviera to celebrate the best of world cinema.
Even though it is an international film festival, Festival de Cannes is very popular for its high fashion and glamorous red carpet looks.

While most of us can’t attend the event, thank to L'Oréal Paris, the festival’s official makeup partner, we get to try out some of the latest products that the stars themselves will we wearing.

Every year, L'Oréal Paris releases a special edition Cannes collection in honour of the festival.
I got to try out some of the products and have created two classic, all time favourite red carpet looks that have been spotted year after year at the Cannes red carpet.

Romantic Glossy Look

I chose to go with a romantic theme for my glossy look. A soft look that reminds you of fairytales and a midsummer night's dream!

The delicate pinkish red shade of L'Extraordinaire Liquid Lipstick- Rose Symphony gave the look a dewy pink pout. Staying with the theme, I opted for emerald green smokey eyes, instead of classic black, to give the look a dreamy feel.

Completed the look with a side swept soft curls reminiscent of old Hollywood glam.
Being a matte girl, this was my first time trying out L'Oréal Paris liquid lipstick. What I loved about it is, the way it beautifully fused gloss with lipstick. The final result is glossy in appearance without a sticky residue.

Dramatic Matte Look

For my matte look I choose to go dramatic. While the first look was all about fresh colours and free-flowing hair, this one is more on the darker and structured side.

The deep plum, with a hint of maroon, Arabian Nights shade from the Moist Mat Limited Edition Swarovski Lipstick range was ideal for the dramatic look. I decided to up my drama quotient and pair my dark lips with extended winged eyes and gold eye shadow, a hint of rouge on the cheeks and a sleek bun.

Since dark lips are quite a trend this season, this look is perfect to make a bold statement with just your lips.

I swear by L'Oréal Paris Moist Mat lipsticks and was really looking forward to trying the Limited Edition Swarovski range. The texture and finish is same as the Moist Mat range, however, the Swarovski embellished case is an absolute treasure.

I have been using the classic black Super Liner Gel Intenza 36H eyeliner for a few years. This was my first time trying the Diamond Black. This one has hints of silvery glitter along with it that gives a slight shimmery look on application.

This look was inspired by Sonam Kapoor’s 2013 Cannes red carpet look.

Other than being timeless red carpet looks, both these looks are very popular, especially with the L'Oréal Paris ambassadors who often spot one or both these looks at Cannes.

Now that Cannes has started I can’t wait to see what all looks my fave L'Oréal Paris brand ambassadors will be flaunting.

Till then, tra-la,
Amena!!
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They say old habits die hard. One such old habit is, blindly believing superstitions and old wives tales. The minute someone shares a new piece of information, we either totally reject it or completely believe it.
While I consider myself a practical rationalist and a freethinker, I too have been guilty of succumbing to myth believing in the past.

Among many things, I have been very skeptical about shaving for a long time. While I don’t remember any bad shaving experience, a friend filled my head with her bad shaving experience that had put me off shaving for a long time.

However, thanks to Gillette Venus’ Subscribe To Smooth challenge I have decided to give shaving another try.

I learnt a whole lot about shaving and had all of my preconceived notions and myths debunked at the Smooth Sail event.

Now that I have finally started shaving again, I can say with confidence that a whole lot of what is told/known about shaving is pure myth and hearsay.
Time to finally bust and demystify these age-old shaving myths!

These 5 classic myths along with a few more have kept women away from shaving. However, now with technologically advanced razors like Gillette Venus, the whole experience of shaving is not just time and cost effective, but also very convenient, self reliant and skin friendly.

I am finally free from all the preconceived negative notions about shaving. Now that I know the truth about shaving, I have made it an integral part of my grooming ritual.
After reading this post, I hope you do the same too.

Art work by Khalid Azeez

Till then, tra-la,
Amena!!
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Fashion mirrors the times we live in. Just like art, literature and cinema, fashion too adapts to its surrounding. The rise and fall in economy; the shifting political climate, the birth of a new ideology and the ever changing mindsets and outlook of the people, all invariably get represented in the clothes we wear and how we wear it.

With the world becoming more freethinking and ready to embrace new ideas, it is only natural we do that by wearing clothes that represent our mindset.

This post is all about embracing and exploring the new. What better way to do it than draped in Liva- The new age natural fluid fabric.

Not a stranger to this fabric, I have been wearing Liva based clothes for a year now.
To help showcase Liva’s trademark feature of fluidity I knew I had to do something a tad bit different.

To make my vision come to life, I decided to style a classic white mirror embellished, high-low hem Global Desi kurta with a floor length sleeveless jacket.

However, instead of opting for a run-of-the-mill, regular jacket, I decided to style a button-front cobalt and chartreuse printed Global Desi maxi dresses as a jacket. Not only did I get to layer these pieces together, but I also got to showcase the versatility of the pieces and the different ways in which they can be styled.

I loved the flowy silhouette of the dress and when layered as a jacket it beautifully cascades around you due to the fabric’s inherent fluidity. The bright colour lover that I am, I could not resist the vibrant colour combination of the dress.

The lightweight quality of the kurta and dress made it an easy choice to layer with, without adding bulk or feeling uncomfortable.

Since Liva is made from natural cellulosic fibers, the fabric has great breathability and absorption ability that allows the skin to breathe easily and provide comfort even on the most hot and humid days.

Honestly, I had the hardest time finalising the look for this post. The minute I walked into the Global Desi store, I was engulfed with bright colours, eye-catching prints and flowy silhouettes. I tried on quite a lot of different looks before opting for this one.

Along with pandering to my newfound love for layering, the look is quite different from my previous looks. Plus, thanks to the flowy silhouette of the kurta and dress, it lets me effortlessly show off Liva’s graceful fluidity.

After sending a few hours at the Global Desi store I was totally spoilt for choice.
Like me, if you too love colours and prints in natural fabric, then you must check out the entire Liva range at Global Desi. I promise, you are in for a major treat.

Featuring: LIVA

Photography by Mubasshir Sayed and Suraj Warrier

Till then, tra-la,

Amena!!

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Sometime, second time's the charm. What may have not worked the first time round, could, very well, be the best thing that happened to you on the second go!

My shaving experience is one such ‘second time’s a charm’ story.

I started my hair removal journey with shaving and then stopped it after having my head filled with shaving myths. Since then, I’ve switched to waxing.

My entire outlook on shaving changed a little over a month ago. Along with finally getting all the age-old shaving myths busted, I also discovered correct shaving techniques and methods thanks to Dr. Rashmi Shetty and Namrata Soni.
After hearing all the benefits and pros of shaving at Gillettte Venus Smooth Sail event, I decided to give shaving another try.

Happy to say, this was one of the best moves I’ve made. As a creature of comfort and habit I avoid change of any kind.

However, the #SubscribeToSmooth challenge gave me the perfect opportunity to adapt to this much needed and welcomed change.

Not only is shaving cost effective, less time consuming and self-reliant, it also does no damage your skin. Unlike waxing where I would sometimes get red blotches, no such thing has occurred post shaving.

Since I re-discovered shaving, I have shaved 3 times and have not found any skin damage, irritation or discolouration. In fact, I found my ingrowth problem reduced.

One of the reasons why I am finding a huge difference in my pervious and recent shaving experience is, the change in my methods of shaving.

Previously, I used to only dry shave. That was a huge mistake. Now I make sure my skin is well lathered with a good quality shaving gel before shaving.

To pull out the small hair, I used to stretch my skin a lot. Bad move. Instead of stretching the skin, the right way to do it is by stretching the arm and leg itself. This will give a smooth finish without damaging the skin in anyway.

Shaving disasters and the subsequent nicks and burns was one of the reasons why I decided to stop shaving completely. My biggest shaving mistake was applying too much pressure on the razor. The trick is to invest in a high quality and technologically enhanced female razor like Gillette Venus, which is designed to glide with minimum effort over the skin’s surface.

I was not very particular about moisturising post shaving before. Major mistake. It is extremely important to moisturise after shaving. Applying a good moisturise or even Lacto Calamine post shaving is vital and helps keep your skin smooth and healthy.

Post usage, wash your razor thoroughly and store in a dry place in an upright position. Also, once you notice the coloured strip of your Gillette Venus razor discoloured or the blade has gone dull make sure you change the cartridge to get the optimal shave from your razor.

Thanks to #SubscribeToSmooth challenge I have had an opportunity to rethink my hair removal choices. Along with being extremely convenient, less time consuming, cost effective and self-reliant, shaving also has no side effects and is totally painless. A complete win-win situation!

After years of shying away from it, I have finally added shaving to my grooming routine and I would recommend you do the same.

Photography by Suraj Warrier and Mubasshir Sayed

Till then, tra-la,

Amena!!

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email me- a.fashionopolis@gmail.com

Every season of Lakmé Fashion Week I try and do something different. While a trend post is a constant every season, I try and change things around so that the readers have an interesting and new perspective every season.

For Summer/Resort 2015, I decided to do a post featuring my favourite 5 collections of the season. Since I have never done this before now seemed like the perfect time to do one.
While a number of collections left an impact, these ones were my absolute favourites.

[Ka][Sha] by Karishma Shahani Khan

I have always been a fan of Karishma Shahani Khan’s aesthetics. From her innovative layering to her trademark tie-dye techniques, Karishma always manages to impress me with her collection.

Payal Singhal is one of the few designers who has managed to comfortably merge high fashion with commercial viability. She creates pieces that are both, artistic and wearable.

Finding inspiration in Amer Fort's Sheesh Mahal, Payal Singhal’s Lakmé Fashion Week Summer/Resort 2015 collection was a shimmery affair.

Omtex Presents Pankaj and Nidhi

Inspired by Iznik pottery designs and Op-Art patterns, the multi-coloured prints, laser cut detailing and intricate appliqués were the key highlights of the collection.

Known for their graphic designs and patterns, the collection offered a variety of those in a multi-colour palette and sharp silhouettes.
The clever use of prints, solids and laser cut detailing gave the collection an extra edge. The beauty of this collection is, along with being high on the aesthetic quotient, the collection is also very practical and wearable.

Till then, tra-la,
Amena!!
Connect With Fashionopolis on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Bloglovin' & Subscribe
Instagram: @fashionopolis.in

email me- a.fashionopolis@gmail.com

If there is one (of the many) thing you should know about me, it is, I research everything. Literally everything!
Be it the books I want to read, the new TV shows I want to start watching or the latest phone I want to buy, I spend quality time researching everything from mundane to significant.

Often, my friends jokingly tell me, you take more time to select a phone than most people take to select a spouse.
The way I see it, if I am going to spend a good 18 hours with it, I better be sure about it!

While selecting a new phone can be a herculean task, the overall experience can be quite enlightening and rewarding.

I had my enlightening and rewarding movement last week when I got to try out the newly launched Phicomm Passion 660.

Now I am no technology maven and a new phone always manages to overwhelm me, but with a little help from the brothers, I managed to figure out the basics and from then on it was smooth sailing.

As a rule, I never judge a book by its cover, but when it comes to phones, appearance and design plays a significant role in my selection process.

While aesthetically on the simple side, Phicomm Passion 660 is a super slim and ultra light phone, that makes it easy to handle and carry around. The matte finish and sleek fit gives the phone a very classy, polished look and the 5-inch full HD display is compact enough to easily fit in your palm.

Getting into the real purpose of the phone, I got a chance to try out and use Phicomm Passion 660.

Phicomm Passion 660 operates on Android 4.4 KitKat. An Android loyalist since 2012, I was very comfortable with the operating system and was able to use the phone with ease.

The phone’s good touch sensitivity made my entire navigation process effortless.

One of the most interesting features of the phone is the gesture control. Without touching you can perform some of the basic task with just the flick of a hand.

Thanks to the phone’s 1.5GHz, Octa Core, it was hassle-free to perform multiple tasks and use different apps simultaneously without the phone hanging. There was no lag or stutter while launching and switching between apps, clicking and editing photos, browsing the web, watching videos or playing games.

Okay, now coming to one of my favourite features of the phone-The camera.

As a full-time fashion blogger, I am often required to click pictures on the go, under different conditions and lighting.

One of my main requirement form any phone is, the camera should take good pictures under all conditions.

Phicomm Passion 660 has a 13MP rear camera and a 5MP front facing camera.

Features such as auto focus, burst mode and anti-shake, makes it very convenient to click good quality pictures.

The 5 MP front cameras is a selfie lovers dream come true. It has a matte filter effect that manages to make you look good in any light.

You can keep clicking those selfies and photos to your hearts content as the phone comes with 16GB of internal storage. And if 16 GB is a tad bit less for you then you can expand the memory by adding a 64 GB microSD card.
Someone who uses her phone non-stop, my biggest grievance against smartphones, especially Androids, is its battery life.

Featuring: PHICOMM PASSION 660

The one thing that makes Phicomm Passion 660 stand out among the other Android phones currently available in the market is, its remarkable battery life.

After non-stop using a whole bunch of apps, playing games, clicking loads of pictures, and browsing the web, the battery did not die. The battery easily lasts for 9 to 10 hours.

Along with being sleek and easy to use, Phicomm Passion 660 is extremely well priced too.

Reasonably priced at INR 10,999/- Phicomm Passion 660 offers all the benefits of a smartphone without you having to break the bank.

A fine balance of power performance, attractive package and smart pricing, Phicomm Passion 660 is an ideal value for money smartphone.

For further information on Phicomm please get in touch with Media Moments (www.mediamoments.in).

Photography by Suraj Warrier and Mubasshir Sayed

Till then, tra-la,

Amena!!
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Instagram: @fashionopolis.in
email me- a.fashionopolis@gmail.com

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Lakmé Fashion Week Summer/Resort 2015: My Favourite Collections

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My New Passion