Showing posts with label Fashion. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Fashion. Show all posts

Saturday, 18 May 2013

Makeup and outfit to an Indian wedding (slightly AISHWARYA RAI inspired)

Posted by Unknown at 22:50 2 comments

My fiance and I went for an Indian Muslim wedding last night and I was extremely excited about it. It was the first Indian wedding I have ever attended, and I wanted to do a makeup that was sort of Bollywood glam. The person I thought of was Aishwarya Rai.



Of course Aishwarya Rai and I have entirely different facial structure, hers being nicely chiseled and mine being extremely flat. There is no way I can recreate her entire look, so what I focused on instead was to creaste a sultry look thatmimic her very lovely almond shaped eyes and the high cheek bone

Then end result was this:

Before                                                                         After
(Please excuse the weird shadow on the after picture, somehow the sun started setting when I was half way through the makeup, and I didn't realize the window grills were casting a shadow on my face until this morning.)

What I used for this makeup:


What I did:


I filled my brows in with a mix of dark brown and black eyeshadow because Rai had dark brows, and I also created a slight arch with the brows instead of using doing my usual straight brows. 

For eyeshadow, I used a L'oreal color infallible shadow in 004 Forever pink as a base, and then set the cream shadow with a plummy pink shadow from YSL 4 ombres a Paupieres palette 6. To create a subtle crease shape (see from the pictures, all of Rai's crease colors are very subtle, but it could be because she already has very definite eye socket), I used a matt brown shadow Tease from Urban Decay. Finally, I highlighted my brow bone with a beige shimmer color, Bootycall from Urban Decay.  


Eyeliner wise, I did a cat eye because it will elongate my eyes and emphasize more on the almond shape of my eyes in order to create an illusion that they are as beautiful as Rai's eyes. I drew the upper line with Heroine make's smooth liquid eyeliner. For a more natural cat eye look, the flick should be in line with the upward turn of your lower eyelid (shown by the line in the picture). I then lined my water line with Makeup forever aqua eye waterproof eyeliner pencil in 0L. I only lined half of my waterline so that it will look a little more natural, but if you prefer a fiercer look, line your entire waterline. Finally I set my liner with a black eye shadow, Carbon from M.A.C

For the lashes, I only used Maybelline's falsies mascara, because I had unfortunate accident with a recent eyelash extension and did not want to traumatize my lashes further with eyelash glue. But for a better effect, please apply some false lashes. 


Cheeks wise, 


I chose to use a bronzer and a highlighter to sculpt out my cheekbones and did not use any blush. I applied  taupe brown Rock and Republic eyeshadow in SPY as a bronzer to the hollows of my cheeks (the line). And to highlight my cheekbones (triangle area), I used Dior's Shimmer powder in 002 Amber Diamond. All these created an illusion of higher cheekbones.

Finally, to finish off,


I used Relvon's lip butter in Sugar plum to add a subtle plum color  that matches my dress. And for something extra, I added a stick on nose stud from Chameleon.  

As for outfit, 



I wore a dark magenta dress with indian inspired silver and crystal beadings on the collar, paired with a pair of white strappy heels. I piled on a ton of silver tone jewellery for accessories, and carried my vintage Dior clutch. 

All in all, it was a fun time doing the makeup and putting the look together. It might not be the best imitation of Aishwarya Rai's look, but I think it was a decent effort. What do you guys think? 

Thanks for reading! 

xoxo, 

Nicole. 

Monday, 29 April 2013

Carrie K.

Posted by Unknown at 23:05 0 comments
Two weekends ago, I decided to visit Carrie K. Atelier, in my search for the ever elusive wishbone necklace I was so crazy about in my previous blog entry about jewelry (if you miss it, you can read about it here: http://foreveerr29.blogspot.sg/2013/04/jewelry.html)

Her workshop is located on Upper Bukit Timah Road, and is tucked away in a small row of shophouses which houses many quirky shops. 

As we stepped in, a nice and cool backyard garden with a pretty frangipani tree welcomed us, and instantly we were transported to an artsy shop where you might spot in Australia, along the beach maybe. 

 As we walked into the shop itself, we were welcomed by not one, two but three lovely dogs who were super friendly and adorable! We found ourselves surrounded by mannequins sporting fabulous and exquisite pieces of jewelry, and even a sign-in book with cute lollipops on a stack of books.

And we had the honor of meeting Carrie K herself, and she was super friendly and shared with us her journey in the jewelry making business to date. 

Her story of how she became a silversmith was straight out of a hollywood movie. She was originally in advertising, and decided to take a one year sabbatical in Florence, to figure out what she wanted to do in life. She started going for jewelry making classes at a silversmith shop outside of Florence, and when she finally made her first ring (this was apparently under a windowpane that shone sunlight upon her ring as she raised it to admire it in the light), she decided that she wanted to be a silversmith.

And the rest was history. Currently, she is expanding her business internationally, making plans to export them to Korea, Australia and several other countries.

This is the collection she showed at the recent Paris Fashion Week, and to those who knows fashion, Paris Fashion Week is uh, kinda a big deal. :P

I especially love this collection, where the shiny element of silver is showcased in these delicate and exquisite folds of jewelry. Love it.

And this is her workstation, where she crafts every piece lovingly.

This is one of her signature bangles, where she treats leather in a variety of colors and offers different colors per season (about 5). She had a customer who has more than 10 of these in different colors! If you hold it in real life, you know that it is very beautifully crafted, and feels solid and definitely feels expensive.
 I like her earrings which she fashioned from safety pins as well. The folds of the pins just showcases the precious metal nicely.
I love this cuff because it has an interesting shape which is really elegant to me. And the fact that you can wear it anywhere, paired with the right clothes.

Carrie K's new collection showcases these "mettle" pieces which looks like heavy metal but are in fact leather which is treated to look like metal. She stresses that she wants her jewelry to be light and wearable, and I think this idea of treated leather is super interesting!

Finally, a shot with the artist. We had a whooping great time, and I would love to have a piece of every of her jewelry!

You can find her at http://www.carriekrocks.com/CarrieK/Default.aspx

xoxo,
Keira

Tuesday, 16 April 2013

Jewelry!

Posted by Unknown at 23:44 0 comments
I wanted to start the day by writing about jewelry. I LOVE accessories, but I am very picky about some and not so much for some. I feel that every girl should have two types of accessories.

Type 1: Interesting and bold pieces that compliment your outfit.
Type 2: Simple but beautiful pieces you wear on a day-to-day basis

I'm going to give some recommendations for both, and talk about some upcoming trends!

TYPE 1

So for Type 1, you want something that is interesting but it doesn't have to be expensive nor well made. Of course it's better well made, but sometimes art exist in cheap pieces of jewelry too!

I just realized that Nordstrom now offers a variety of really cute and quirky pieces for under $50 USD. And they ship internationally too, if I'm not mistaken.

They even have categories like "shop under $50" so you don't have to waste your time if you have a limited budget.

I just recently got $60 in nordstrom cash (I have a credit card with them, and you get gift vouchers from them from time to time), so I was looking for something to buy.

I saw soooo many cute things I wanted! But first, I wanted to highlight some trends that caught my eye:

1) Leather and chain accessories
Remember the rage a couple of years ago about feather earrings. It is SO last year. Move over feather earrings, because here comes the better version...
 Leather and chain earrings! Not only does the material give it a punk rock vibe, it is extremely versatile. Unlike feather earrings which can almost always be paired with just hippy like outfits or sundresses, these earrings can be worn with everything! Pair it with a sundress to get that indie vibe. Pair it with a clubbing dress to show your sassy side. Love it!

2) Moustache accessories
 I'm not sure how this trend started, but I first started noticing it on Top Chef where a lot of the chefs are sporting indie moustaches in the show! It translates nicely into accessories though, just looks super quirky and fun!

3) Ring-bracelets
 I'm not really sure how I feel about this upcoming trend, but I don't hate it. All I can say is that it has the potential to be cool...

 Like this is pretty cool.

4) Multiple bangles
 I guess this has always been popular, but I love the new assortment at Nordstrom. You have to be the kind of cute, playful girl to carry it off though.

5) Sideways cross
One of my favorite new trends. It just looks so effortlessly classy. Now, if only Tiffany's will come up with a nice version...

Anyways, you can peruse the collection Nordstrom has to offer at shop.nordstrom.com

I love some of these items coming up next, wish I can buy them all! I love them because they are the best kind of Type 1 jewelry. They SCREAM for your attention, and for a girl with a lot of simple dresses, they totally re-invent an outfit!

 Gorgeous for nights out, nice dinners. Great with jeans and a loose top for a classy chic look, or play it up with a nice black or white dress to really showcase your neck.
 A variant of the popular collar necklace. This is made entirely out of beads, and just one of those which is just enough to grab your attention but not scream for it.

I love this piece by Cara. Cara has a lot of collections which are inexpensive but super beautiful.

I bought these pair of earrings from Cara! I just love her stuff, although I have to say they are not the most durable items ever, but hey, they aren't expensive!

I also love Swarovski for those big chunky crystal accessories! Like this.

You can visit their online shop at the link below:

http://www.swarovski.com/Web_US/en/online_shop

OR look forward to my next post showcasing the swarovski earrings carried by Good goods in Millenia Walk. I LOVE their accessories.

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Goodgoodscomsg/194738657261327

Also, if you are on a tight budget, Foreveerr29 and H&M has some nice accessories from time to time for cheap. Recommended as well, if you are in Orchard.

TYPE 2

I have another list of jewellers for Type 2. And no, Swarovski is not one of them. Simply because I love crystal in their pure chunky form, not in the pretend-to-be-diamonds form. It looks cheap by comparison.

Like this.



 And they are not cheap! So I'd rather spend the money on a piece of Tiffany's necklace which looks much classier.

1) Carrie K

I just found out about this local designer from my friends who sported this beautiful and whimsical wishbone necklace (thanks to Gerry and Tsin Zhen for their good taste). 

It comes in three colors: gold, rose gold, and silver. The silver is top grade, similar to that in Tiffany's silver (more about that later), which means it doesn't tarnish easily, and it's brighter. I love the simplicity of this chain, and the fact that you can wear it everyday and it adds a little sparkle to your outfits!

She has a lot of cool stuff on her blog. Nowadays, everyone is coming up with necklaces with words on it again. And some of her stuff is edgy and I love it!


2) Tiffany & Co

There is a reason why T&Co remains so popular over the years. Ever since I got my first bean necklace from them at age 16, I fell in love with their collections. 
 Like this ring, which is part of their new collection. I am constantly impressed at how they could create simple, yet elegant and eye-catching pieces of jewelry!

Even their namesake necklaces look classier, in my biased opinion.
 If my mum is into jewelry, I would buy this for her in a heartbeat...

I love their silver because they really do not tarnish easily, and they are whiter and brighter than most silver pieces I see. Not to mention that you could always get it repaired at their store, or have them clean it.

Over the years, I have accrued many pieces of their silver, and as I am moving into my soon-to-be old age, I am fixated on their diamonds and titanium collections.

Their diamonds are conflict-free and way more sparkly than one of the same grade. It has something to do with the cut, but I am sold!

 And I never regretted getting this chain. Well, I did regret not buying a bigger size one but oh well.

And I am still saving money and waiting to be rich so I can buy the matching ring. Every time I try it on at the store, my heart weeps a bit. No joke.

Anyway, my point is that every girl should invest in a good piece of jewelry that they cherish and wear everyday, just to add a little bit of sparkle into their lives.

Browse their collections at http://www.tiffany.com/

Every girl deserves that, so guys, buck up and buy something nice for your spouses!

xoxo,
Keira





Monday, 8 April 2013

Outfit of the week!

Posted by Unknown at 02:46 0 comments

This week, we are shifting the limelight to our friends to showcase their dressing style! We thought it would be a good idea given that people come in all sizes and shapes but you can complement any shape with good dressing!


Introducing W., our petite friend!
W. has a very petite frame, and slim, but not skinny like some of the too-skinny Singaporeans we see on the trains everyday. She just came from a day of leisure, and I love her outfit! It's bohemian chic with a touch of femininity love the clip in her hair that sets off the romantic floral print of the dress. Que bien!

Dress: Express
Shoes: Coach
Bag: Kate spade


 A. is tall and slender with a curvy hip, so she can carry off the oversized shirt look better than most. She is dressed for a short getaway, but who says you have to compromise style for comfort? She is clothed in a very comfortable outfit, with a denim top, cute floral shorts and adorable comfy ballet flats. I like the breezy style of it, with a large oversized bag to boot.

Top: Some high street store in Istanbul
Shorts: Zara
Shoes: Tangs Studio
Bag: Louis Vuitton 


L. is on the tall side (~1.65m) and has an athletic build. She is very fair as well, so dark colors or red work to bring out her skin color. This is a typical work outfit for her if she has dinner plans. Deliberately, this  is a very flexible outfit since you can wear this straight to dinner as well. The dress is flattering but not tight to be uncomfortable at work. If it's a nice dinner, she can just pair with heels instead of flats for an edgier look.

(Sorry for the short-ish post, just got back from Malacca yesterday and am currently suffering from a bad bout of Monday blues. Shoe shopping in Malacca is like paradise, I bought 6 pairs in 2 days! Woohoo!)

xoxo,
Keira

Thursday, 21 March 2013

Flavor of the week... Keira

Posted by Unknown at 00:00 0 comments
We wanted to start a series of blog entries titled "Flavor of the week"! This was inspired by our fashion-savvy friends who I would like to showcase.

The idea is to visit the closet of a different friend each time, and showcase their fashion sense and their 5 favorite looks. We hope that in this way, we could bring more ideas to you guys on how to break out of the mold and dress in different styles. Also, different women (and men) have different body types, and let's face it, we all have our favorite cut of dresses based on what looks flattering on our body type. Hopefully, you can gain some inspiration and well, inject more style and color in your lives!

So I decided to start the ball rolling with me. I had Wenqi and Li'er over with the respective jobs of photographer and coolie, and we had a blast shooting at my place last Saturday.

I find it extremely trying to be the hair-stylist, make-up artist, stylist and model all at the same time! I have to admit, towards the end, I started caring less and less. Hehe.

Li'er, after arranging the props, would be surfing youtube videos on my TV screen to play upbeat music and sad korean pop.

We only shot for three hours, and I was incapacitated the whole evening after......

BUT! I was super happy we did it. It was really quite an experience. I never knew that models had it so tough! Despite W's direction, I felt like a block of wood, and everything I did was stiff and looked super awkward (and I'm not saying in the kind of high-fashion awkward way). We collapsed in laughter many many times because they were laughing at me. Oh well. I think I need to pay more attention to Tyra Banks from now onwards......

I guess it is a learning curve, and I hope to improve on the techniques as we go along, and it would be great if you would stay with us along the way! *beams*

So, my fashion sense and my 5 favorite looks.

I'm 1.65m and 50kg, so kinda on the slightly taller side and I'm happy with my body shape, except I wish my hips were smaller. I have a shorter torso and longer legs, hence, I tend to like sundresses with a high waistline and poofy skirt since it's more flattering.

I really like black dresses, so 90% of my closet are different shades of black. Hehe. I hate pants because it is too hot in Singapore and super uncomfy!

In recent years, I've been trying to branch out into colors. I've made quite a bit of progress but not as much as I like.

Generally, I like loose dresses for comfort. I didn't mind tight dresses in my younger days, but as you grow up, comfort becomes more and more important. Hence, my tight dresses are designated for clubbing. Also, mostly black.

Look #1: Casual date



This is one of my favorite sundresses (from forever 21), and I like it because it's comfy but sassy at the same time. I'm not a big fan of florals but I felt that the black neutralizes the floral print on this one. I usually like to wear this girly dress with black pumps (Scholl) and with my bangs up or bangs down with a loose braid. Red lipstick is a must with this dress because I think it gives off a bit of a retro vibe. Red lipstick with floral dresses almost always work. 

Look #2, Drinks at a bar



I like to wear this cobalt blue number from this Italian brand (Millenia Walk) when I go for dinner and drinks.  I hate wearing tight fitting dresses to dinner, because you have to 1) suck in your tummy 2) not eat too much, of which both I'm not good at. I like dresses like this which is kinda sexy and fun but not toooo tight. I usually pair it with a nice shiny bag (Chanel) and shiny heels if I'm out to impress (Pazillion).

I really like shiny accessories!

L. lugging the couch into my room and trying to use my bathrobe to give a "lush feel". Heehee.

Look #3: Work

Generally for work, it's a no-fuss event, so I like to wear simple black dresses. In order to add a little bit of spunk, I like to pair with big eye-catching necklaces so it gives a little bit of focus to an otherwise boring outfit. Also, I like to wear flats to work because I have to climb up a slope to get to my building. Sigh. But I try to wear nice ballet flats or nice sandals!



Dress: Cotton On
Necklace: Good goods (love their accessories... @ Millenia Walk)
Shoes: Tory Burch

Look #4: Nice dinner



 For a nice dinner, I like to wear a more elegant dress, which is kinda form-fitting but not body-hugging (for reasons stated earlier). For this dress, in order to show the details on the collar, I tied my hair in a bun for a more elegant look, and pair it with simple earrings (nothing dangling) and a chunky ring. I left the neck bare because I think it will compete with the dress design.

Dress: Bysi
Earrings: Chanel
Ring: Good goods
Bag: Chanel

Look #5: Church, brunch



For brunch or church, I like to wear a more conservative dress. I like this dress because it is high waist, and it looks decent and classy. I usually wear my hair in a braid and wear red lipstick to give the outfit a little more oomph and a vintage air. And finish the look with crystal studs.

Dress: Nordstrom
Heels: Pazzilion
Earrings: Nordstrom
Bag: Burberry

Look #6 Clubbing

Okay I did say 5 looks, but better more than less right? :D


Usually for clubbing, I wear the boring little black dress, but somehow, maybe because of the influence of a certain L., I fell in love with this animal print. In order to make sure I don't look like a cheap hooker, I tie my hair up in a high ponytail, did away with any accessories, and pair it with subtle pumps.

Nicole really likes the second picture because it is a candid shot of me, so I am putting it up.

Dress: Forever 21
Pumps: DSW
Earrings: Nordstrom.

And finally to wrap it all up, my dear Wenqi and Li'er gets rewarded with......


Chips and beer. Thanks so much girls, wouldn't have done it without you two. :)

xoxo,
Keira

 

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