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Pairing your makeup and jewellery

Post author By The Metrognome
Post date January 14, 2014
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How do you know which accessory best matches with your make-up? Our tips will help you put your look together.

by Ankita Pathak

Accessories are the perfect way to further your form of expression and can really make an outfit come alive. And jewellery is an amazing source of inspiration for your makeup and can be paired together the same way you’d match a red shoe with a red bag or clash a lace top with spiked earrings. Here are some handy tips.

Bright earrings

Match your bright statement earrings with your lip colour. Keep in mind that if its bright, it’ll work! Balance your neon pink earrings with bright matte hot pink lipstick and a soft gold shadow.

Big rings

Sure, the colours of your ring are bright, but the feel is hippie and boho, so don’t match the colours but clash it instead by understating your makeup. Keep everything light and airy by swapping foundation with a tinted moisturiser and add a sweep of bronzer for a bronze goddess look!

Chunky necklace

Accessorise your chunky neckpieces with filled-in bold brows or a sweep of cat-eye liner for a strong yet perfect look.

Arm candy

The obvious choice would be to pull out the gold and silver from your collection and match it with your eyeshadow. But something about that feels a little too contrived…so leave the lids bare and highlight your lashes instead by using a mascara wand for a full and soft look. Then add a peachy glow directly along your cheekbones to keep everything earthy yet ethereal.

Matching your jewellery and makeup will guarantee to give you a pulled together look. Once your outfit and trendy accessories are chosen, make sure to pair the right make up to your look so it doesn’t turn into a disaster.

(Featured image courtesy make-up.womenxone.com)

Tags ankita pathak, fashion, pair your makeup and jewelry

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Of polish and pumps

Wondering how to pair the colours of your shoes with those of your nail polish? We tell you exactly how.

by Ankita Pathak

Brace yourselves—we’re about to delve into the wonderful world of colour theory. This holiday season we are completely obsessed with the perfect shoe to match our nail polish. Clashing colours can ruin anybody’s would-be favourite look, so it’s important to make sure you’re matched perfectly from head to toe nail.

Let’s start simple, with complementary colours. When two colours opposite each other on the wheel are mixed to create a neutral, they are deemed complementary. This means that they pair well together, and provide the perfect high contrast look. Just be careful that the combo isn’t too loud—trust your judgment on pairings.

The colours that sit directly next to each other in groups of three along the colour wheel make for just the right combinations. Many times, mixing warm colours with warms and cool tones with cool colors will help you achieve a neutral look that will always be easy on the eyes.

If you want to try innovative looks and techniques, try splitting complementary colours. Go ahead and mix and match these three to your heart’s content. To avoid resembling a piñata, try and go with colours that won’t fight each other too much. Pale nails are still hot for winter, especially soft milky shades that work well with most outfits.

In the mood to make a bit more of a statement? Trade pale polish for something darker — another must-try nail trend for cold weather. Look for navy blue with gray undertones or ultra deep purples that look almost black. Oxblood is fall’s go-to hue but this rich shade of red can also be a stunner if you opt for something with lighter undertones. It’s fun, it’s fresh and it’s sure to add a stylish twist to whatever you’re wearing.

Wait for a longer time after applying your polish in winters as it takes time to dry off and set. You want to wait longer with heeled boots because the pressure on your toes is much greater. The incline can cause the polish to ‘slide’ or ‘push’. This trend manages to really bring the shoe to life and is almost like giving you a whole new pair of heels with each different polish pairing!

Tags ankita pathak, colour coordinate your shoes and nail polish, fashion

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This is how you nail it

The party season is here, and when the rest of you is all styled up, why leave your nails undone?

by Ankita Pathak

If you want an easy and affordable way to jazz up your outfit this winter, look no further than a bottle of nail polish. Need some ideas? You’re in luck! Because we give you one of the biggest accessories on the runways of late…your fingertips!

V-shaped: Take your French manicure to the next level: angle your brush to create a ‘V’ shape (see pic on left) and use complimentary pastel shades for fall/winter. Rock the winter with some chevron design!

Neon shimmer love: What is better than a good dose of glitter with neon nail art? Nothing, honestly. Invest in a good glitter polish for an instant style fix and let those neons make a statement.

Finger twist: Spice up your one-colour manicure polish by painting the ring finger with a sequined color. There is nothing like a mix and match lilac and purple sparkling nail art design.

Side-by-side: No need to wait for warmer weather to embrace pastel polishes on your fingers. Go with a side-by-side manicure, with pastels, and flaunt the two fun sides of your personality!

Half-moon: If you have long nails, then you have to follow the half-moon manicure pattern. The half-moon style is glamourous and has been seen on most runways (see pic on right). Want to give it a fun twist? Reverse a usual French manicure to make that classic half-moon style.

So many dots, so little time: A collection of inspiration for cool nail designs throughout the year. For the holidays, or a red carpet event, or even a relaxed style at the beach, nothing can be ideal than polka dots. Getting those perfect little circles on your nails is a major favourite right now!

Shimmer tips: If you don’t have the time, or just like playing with nail polish, here is a simple way to have somewhat similar results to a French tip, but this one’s inexpensive, and takes half the time. Finish off those tips with a similar colour family glitter polish and let the tips do all the talking!

Chevron nails: A summer style (in pic on left) that has carried on to the winters is the boho chic look. If you love feathers and tribal prints, this is the design for you! With the winter holidays, style just gets a little more relaxed. So try tribal print nail designs for a super fun and perfect Christmas!

Studs: It’s all about studded accents, from iPhone cases to jeans shorts to high heels, so why not add some studs to your nails? Buy some microbeads from your local craft store and stick them onto your wet nail polish to add a funky and edgy touch to the girliest of outfits!

Mosaic works: Mosaic manicures are the most daunting manicures to look at…but in reality they are much easier to do. Clean lines and creative shapes will make this trend stand out in your entire outfit. Try this if you’re feeling creative or just want to do some hands-on artwork. There’s no better canvas than your nails!

Tags ankita pathak, fashion, nail art, styles for nails

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The great scent search

How do you find a fragrance that is right for you, that defines you? We guide you through the process.

by Ankita Pathak

Finding a fragrance that’s right for you can be a rather overwhelming process – especially if you walk into a store and multiple sales people start attacking you with bottles. Today we’re going to talk about how to get the most out of scent shopping.

We are always taught that smelling coffee beans between perfumes helps, but in reality it’s a really bad idea! The best way to neutralise your nose is to smell your own bare skin. Sounds silly, but it actually works. The list below will help you identify your favourite fragrance families. It’s good to know this when you walk into a store and you can find your perfect match almost instantly!

Floral If you like floral you will be typically attracted to gardenia, jasmine and pretty scents like rose, cherry blossom, chamomile, etc. Floral are fresh scents with zesty, clean, and effervescent aromas. They’re bursting with ripe fruits and exploding with crisp greens perfect for morning to evenings.

Aquatic These will mostly consist of hints of tropical fruits. These refreshing cooling scents wash over the skin and give a sense of relief on hot summer days. The notes are watery, airy, icy, dewy, light and easy-to-wear. Due to their light aroma, energizing or zesty scents are less typically feminine and are often favored by men.

Green Search for fragrances with basil, green tea, fennel, anise, or softer scents like mint and grass. Green tea leaves, green grass, fresh herbs, vines and leafy scents give these fragrances a clean, sporty attitude.

Fruity Attracted to sweet things? Look for scents with apple, plum, peach, strawberry, and raspberry. The most popular fragrance family, a fruity fragrance can either be a mixed bouquet or a single scent and are often layered with fresh, spicy and fruity notes to add more depth. Fruity scents work wonderfully with florals, creating light, optimistic scents.

Spicy The most sensual group of scents belongs to the Spicy/Oriental fragrance family. There is a warming feel to these fragrances, which have a distinct and exotic aroma. If you like a little spice, look for hints of ginger, cilantro, pink pepper, cinnamon, nutmeg, clove and be renowned for being heady and rich.

Woody This fragrance family is made up of more earthy, deep scents. These are definitely fragrances you either love or loathe. Wood and musk-based scents are intoxicating and rich, typically masculine in nature but are often softened with spices and florals. Opt for pine, sandalwood, cedar, amber, musk, birch, if you are an aficionado of these aromas.

Fragrance buying tips

– Don’t buy a fragrance because your friend wears it. Fragrances smell completely different on different people.

– Spritz your perfume into your hair and on the back of your neck for a long lasting scent, alternatively spray your favourite scarf with your signature fragrance.

– To make sure that your fragrance lasts all day, use a body lotion in the same or complementing scent.

– Always keep your perfume bottles out of direct sunlight, and avoid submitting them to extreme temperature. Reapply every three hours.

– Base notes don’t fully release until 30 minutes after application, so don’t make snap decisions on a new perfume, it may smell completely different from the first spritz.

– Don’t base a perfume judgment on how it smells on a fragrance card. Perfumes release notes as they warm on the skin, and you need to smell them on your skin in order to fully appreciate the full scent.

Tags ankita pathak, fashion, finding the right perfume, how to buy the right perfume, scent

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What your eyeliner says about you

Post author By The Metrognome
Post date October 25, 2013
No Comments on What your eyeliner says about you

Your eyeliner says a lot about you, even more than you realise. So how do your eyes do the talking?

by Ankita Pathak

Bold red lips, pastel eye shadow, bronzed skin…your makeup reveals a lot about your personality. Your eyes are the windows to your soul, letting the world know how you feel with just your eye makeup. Are you simple, sexy, bold, fearless or trendy? Find out what your eyeliner personality is:

Coloured eyeliner

If colored eyeliner is a staple in your look, you’re likely your friends’ go-to person when it comes to makeup. You’re not afraid to take risks and be brave; you’re always ready for the next challenge in your life. You love finding inspiration all around you and you’re totally in-sync with what’s trending.

Glitter or shimmer eyeliner

A safer bet: shimmer. Wearing it the right way (see featured image above) shows that you’re proud of your best features and you know how to enhance them. Keep in mind it’s an actual skill to be able to pull off a look like this. And if you do it right, it’s a hint that you ‘know your assets’; it means you’re spontaneous, and love having fun with your looks.

Smokey eyeliner

You skate on the edge of rebellion and drama. One look from you melts anyone within a 30-feet radius. The total mastery of knowing when to turn it on and off is only natural for you—it takes extreme control to blend your liner and shadow so well. You are not afraid to be bold and sassy and know that your eyes are your best feature! You’re fun, popular and experimental and like to up the glamour quotient with just your eyes!

60’s Goddess

You are the glamorous fashionista who loves to put her own twist on things. Slightly off-beat, gorgeously eye-enhancing, but not too much to take away from your outfit, a winged tip is one of the most versatile eye makeup looks. Your look is classic Audrey Hepburn, and you’re a cat-eye woman who is stylish, sophisticated and prefers a more subtle girl-next-door image! Ruling the room with a smirk, you love going by the fashion rules and being the ultimate diva.

Thick eyeliner

You are a lover of makeup and a lover of more exaggerated makeup. You’re not afraid to ramp up average eyeliner and take it up a few notches to give it the Amy Winehouse effect! You love transforming your look with colours, shapes and put a strong emphasis on your gorgeous eyes. You are the kind of person who is keen to keep a strong eye contact while chatting. You have no difficulties in refusing a down-to-earth lifestyle and instead diverge into the world of fantasy and endless possibilities!

Tags ankita pathak, coloured eyeliner, eyeliner styles, fashion, smokey eyes, thick eyeliner

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Get Navrarti ready!

Let’s get you and your man ready for the festival with some awesome tips on dressing right and looking great.

by Deepa Mistry

Navratri starts today and now’s the time to bring out the colourful chanya cholis, ethnic jewellery and accessories, apart from gorging on many tasty delicacies. But dressing right can get you all confused – but it’s not that difficult putting the ideal look together. Of course, both men and women should know the latest trends in fashion and colour to even get started.

So here’s how you can get your look together for Navratri:

Dress and jewellery:

– Neons are very much in this season! Every year we have changing trends in dresses and chanya cholis. Team up a neon-coloured ghagra (having a thick border) with a golden blouse and a net dupatta. You can opt for a neon green ghagra and a red or hot pink net dupatta or mix-n-match colours like green with yellow or purple. Orange goes well with pink. A lot of neon chanya cholis are also available (see pic on left).

– TV serial-inspired outfits are in vogue this year. A three coloured combination is the newest craze among many. Pick a red ghagra, in cotton, velvet or net which has a little embroidery or a lace, along with a yellow blouse with sleeves till your elbow and a green net dupatta. Go for stylish cholis – backless or with fancy designs. You can mix and match with your own favourite colour combos.

– Go Indo-Western. Full length cotton skirts with sequins look great when teamed with a tank top or a singlet. Wear a stole around your neck and you’re ready for the night. Add a touch of glam with oxidised bangles or chunky traditional jewellery.

– Tailored chanya cholis are the best as per your own style, but nothing beats the beauty of a traditional outfit.

– A traditional chanya choli never goes out of fashion. This year’s glamourous look is three-fourth length chanya cholis.

– Forever in trend are broad borders, rabari work, embroidery, multicolored panels, Kutchi print, traditional Leharia and Bandhani prints, beads and mirror work. Bright and beautiful colours with stones embellished will surely add elegance. Digital prints and colour blocking are very much in vogue this season.

– The trending jewellery this year is colourful wooden bangles or brass bangles, statement neck piece and simple tops. For a traditional look go for oxidized pieces of jewellery, which includes necklace, bracelets or kada, kamarband and nose rings. Kundan Navratri jewellery is also hot in this season.

– Men can opt for a traditional ‘Kedyu’, a typical Navratri outfit especially for men; they are available in a variety of colours. Or go for a nice kurta with jeans or chudidar.

Hair and accessories:

Braids are the best! While dancing, only braids will stay intact, so you could try a fishtail braid (see pic on right), top knot braids, side braids, four strand braids, rope braids etc. as they give comfort and fresh look.

– Opt for accessories which give an ethnic touch, like a maang tikka, earrings with loops to be pinned in the hair etc. But don’t overdo it, as chances are they may fall off while dancing.

– A traditional headband or Navratri cap with embroidered and mirror work goes well with the traditional chanya choli outfit. The caps are available for both men and women.

– Waist belts and arm bangles look exceptionally pretty with a typical outfit.

Footwear:

– The best footwear is flats. Avoid heels.

– Wear fancy Kolhapuris or mojris as they are available in various patterns and colours.

Grooming:

– Since cholis are mostly backless or have a low-cut back, try back polishing; it is a safe treatment also recommended by many doctors.

– For glowing skin, a lot of spas and beauty parlours offer special facials and other treatments for this season. Head and body massages are quite a rage not only among women but men also. You could book a couple package with your better half.

– Tattoos on the arm, back and ankle are the raging trend but only go for it if you are 100 per cent sure that you want it. Make sure you get it from a reputed tattoo studio. Temporary tattoos are good as well.

– Don’t go overboard with make-up. Pop tints, reds and glitter are in this season.

– This is a good time to get a manicure and pedicure. A huge variety of nail art options are also available. Go funky this year.

– Men can try funky and cool haircuts, hair highlights or full colour, hair gels etc.

– Waxing and threading, face clean-ups and facials are no longer restricted only to women. Even men are opting for these treatments to look good during the festive season.

We wish you a Happy Navratri! So put on your dancing shoes and enjoy the nine days of this colourful festival to the fullest.

Do you have a Navratri dressing up or beauty tip to share? Tell us in the comments section below.

(Pictures courtesy Manoj Sunstar, en.wikipedia.org, zeenews.india.com, www.bellasugar.com, idiva.com)

Tags beauty, deepa mistry, looking good this navratri, navrratri style, tips for navratri