RAIN FOREST

- STYLE 101 -

Model- Charlene | Photographed by Suresh Natarajan

These pictures have been a monsoon inspiration for me ever since the issue of Vogue India April 2011 was published. And what better time can it be to write this post while it’s raining at 2:00 in the morning. These pictures are the first that come to my mind during the monsoons, the reason being the color palette. The marriage of colors in this story and the tropical mood of this editorial inspire me in every way to try these color combinations. Not just in terms of make-up but also gives me ideas of how these tints can be blended with each other to create a beautiful monsoon look. I feel that inspiration can come to you in any form. One can draw inspiration from a runway model or a village girl who knows nothing about fashion but wears a green kurta with a blue flared skirt which if one wears on the runway sets a huge trend for the next one or two years. Inspiration lies even in the non-living things like a green door of an old rundown building, the algae on the grey rocky walls or even a red-blue combination of a fire extinguisher. Here I loved how yellow has been used with pink, red with green and different shades of blue with pink. Each picture has details written on it to give an idea of how you can get the look along with the color of the outfit you can wear it with to make the makeup standout. 

 Such pictures take me into an imaginary world where everything is colorful, placid and serene with so much flora and fauna around, where butterflies talk to flowers, where mulberry insects sit on the leaves as if they are aware of how incredibly beautiful they look standing out as red polka dotted lovelies against a green background. Isn’t the nature so beautiful! One only needs to look around, appreciate and get inspired.

I DRESS FOR THE APPLAUSE

BLUE FLOWER

- LOOKBOOK -

Featuring

INDIACIRCUS

                  Floral Fantastic Jhola Bag | The Mysterious Flower Spectacle Case

Shirt- Faballey | Saree – Local Store | Trousers- Old | Collar Necklace- Thrift (Old) | Shoes- Koovs.com 

 Eyes-  Maybelline Colossal Liner | L'oreal Paris Kajal Magique |  L'oreal Paris Volume Million Lash Mascara | Lips- Colorbar Take Me As I Am Lipstick | Nails- Maybelline Color Show Orange Fix

 Over the years I have realized that my style has never been constant and it changes very frequently, usually unknowingly. I've been wearing bright tints and bling as much as I've worn certain specific colors I love, taking inspiration from the vintage and punk era. Yet, I like to tone down everything I wear in my own way.  From bohemian to classic, tomboy to traditional, everything excites me. This fashion story portrays a woman who is a fusion-wear lover and likes to experiment with her looks. Someone who’s confident enough to walk the streets wearing a sari draped over formal pants and a nautical shirt as a blouse. Someone who doesn’t feel the necessity of wearing heels with a sari. Someone who dresses only for herself and expresses her personality through her clothes.

Recently India Circus had sent me some of their products to be featured on I Dress for the Applause. The moment I unwrapped the parcel to see this Blue Floral Jhola bag, a picture of a woman wearing something like this flashed in my mind and it barely took time to put this look together to go well with this blue beauty. The unique color contrast on it with coral rosettes and an old-world window against a midnight blue background brings about a feel of carrying a beautiful li'l garden on your shoulder. Bright color on the nails and a gold neckpiece completed the look. Also came with the bag a vibrant hued spectacle pouch which has an imperial print on it and is a good option if you want to replace your old boring spectacle case with something fun and interesting. India Circus (like the name suggests) is a contemporary take on Indian designs made to suit today’s urban lifestyle. Bright colors and quirky prints with wide range of products ranging from home décor to fashion apparel, wall art to accessories, the label has something for everyone. Do check out their website here to explore an eclectic mix of Indian designs and modernity. It is sure to leave you intrigued. 

Naznin

LAVENDER DREAMS

- REVIEW -

Featuring

CHHAPA

Model- Halina Khan | Photography- Vinit Bhatt

Few days ago I was approached by the sweet people at Chhapa to review their collection. In today’s fast paced world where textiles are printed using high-end machines, this team’s ideology is to rejuvenate and encourage the art of block printing which looks endangered in the present-day fashion scenario. This step towards being socially responsible by producing eco-friendly clothing and reviving an old art form is commendable. I was surprised to know that the creative team at Chhapa does not come from a designing background as such, yet they have such great finesse in what they do. While their designs are modern, casual and contemporary, the block print adds an organic feel to their products bringing about the quirkiness.This editorial portrays a young successful fashionista and an art lover who likes to own quirky clothes but is conscious about the eco-friendly factor. I personally loved the maxi dresses and jumpsuits in this editorial (You know I'm a sucker for maxi dresses). This is something I would love to wear on a hot busy day or even to a fashion week, layering it with a summer jacket or a vest and a pair of cool sunglasses. Styling ideas are already popping up you see!

If you liked the collection, do visit their Facebook and Instagram here and here to get in touch with them. And if you are in Hyderabad, you might want to check out Chhapa at Anonym (Road No.92, Jubilee Hills.) 

P.S: I’m loving their new shoe collection. Do inbox them to lay your hands on their shoes before they run out of stock.

And yes! Don't forget to like I Dress for the Applause on Facebook and Instagram. Exciting stuff coming up here! Stay tuned!

XX

Naznin

ALONE AND TOGETHER

- LOOKBOOK -

          WEARING

Jacket| Skirt| Shoes- Jabong.com

Ear Cuff- Gifted

Eyes-  Maybelline Colossal Liner | L'oreal Paris Kajal Magique |  L'oreal Paris Volume Million Lash Mascara | Lips- Ruby Woo by MAC & Pure Color Intense Daring Berry by Oriflame | Nails- Maybelline New York Color Show Black Out

After all the rainbow hues I donned in my last post, I’m back in my favorite colors. Just had to! The weather in Hyderabad looks pretty confused at the moment making it difficult for me to make my everyday outfit decisions. Ideally it’s supposed to be raining at this time, but I see good amount of sunlight even at 7 in the morning. Not as harsh as summers though which is a good enough reason to start layering the outfits. Yay!

  Few things I’ve been doing this season:

-Working on lots of new exciting fashion posts.

- Obsessing over yummy green smoothies.

- Watching random episodes of Full House (Uncle Jesse is the hottest uncle ever! Hehe..)

- badly needing a rejuvenating spa treatment.

- Reading the online issue of The Juice Magazine which is leading to some serious shopping addiction. Absolutely love how the magazine covers everything from fashion & beauty to food, arts and astro forecast. The links to shop the looks in their online issue is something that makes it different from any other fashion magazine. A real treat for readers!

Taking you to the outfit, I’m wearing a houndstooth skirt- the new addition to my closet along with my favorite black jacket and shoes. I accessorized the look with this very beautiful ear cuff which was gifted recently and I’m deeply madly in love with it. I completed the look with  winged eyeliner and deep red lips that I achieved by mixing up two shades. The look is flirty, feminine and edgy and I would probably wear it to a soiree or a date night. 

Hope you liked it. Leaving you with this famous quote “ Fashion is not something that exists in dresses only, fashion is in the sky, in the street, fashion has to do with ideas, the way we live, what is happening” – Coco Chanel.

I DRESS FOR THE APPLAUSE

CELEBUTANTE

- BEAUTY -

Featuring

Maybelline GoGraffiti  Unmellow Yellow Nail Polish | Maybelline New York Rebel Bouquet REBO2

Few days ago Maybelline New York India had sent me some nail colors and lipsticks to try out and I wore two of them here and here. However, I wanted to do an exclusive post for you all featuring the Go Graffiti Nail Colors and the Rebel Bouquet Collection. The beautiful assortment of black, green and grey hexes in the Unmellow Yellow Go Graffiti nail polish makes it a must-try for the monsoon season. You can wear it without a base coat or any contrasting base that will make these colors stand out. What I liked about this nail polish is that it doesn’t chip away easily and stays put for a longer period. The Go Graffiti range comes in nine exciting and playful colors which you can check out here. So all the girls who like to have fun with their nails without having to go to a nail parlor, you know where to head. Talking about the Rebel Bouquet Collection, this is a part of my everyday makeup routine; something I'm growing very fond of. This shade gives me the right pop of color making you look instantly glam. I feel all one needs is a bright pout and perfect nails to beat the the monsoon blues. Yeah? Also have a couple of tips for you all to help you get through this monsoon:

• Carry an umbrella in your bag everyday even if it looks sunny outside. You never know when the sky plans to show its’ colors.
• Invest in a cute raincoat to protect yourself from the unwanted showers while looking chic.
• Carry a pair of jelly sandals in your car or bag so your classy pair of heels doesn’t get destroyed  when you have no choice but to get out of your car and step into that puddle.
• Wear clothes that end above the knee. Stay away from anything flowy. Shorts, Skirts and dresses are your best bet this season.
• White is not a good idea in monsoons if you’re dependent on public transport. It can turn into a terrible transparent situation. Wear colorful hues of greens, blues, yellows and corals to look bright and pretty. 
• Wear colorful nail colors to kick that monsoon gloom out.
• Get pedicures done (cocoa butter and peppermint are my favorites) to make your feet looking clean and beautiful.
• Wear waterproof kohl and mascara so you don’t have black tears running down your face when it rains.
• Eat green healthy salads to keep looking fresh through the season.
• Stay away from foundations and keep your skin clear and beautiful by trying out different  facemasks. Use serums and light moisturizers to stay hydrated.
• And lastly, listen to good music. It’s the best thing to do in monsoons!

 Hope these tips helped you. If you have any, do share them with me. Would love to know. 

 Much Love,

Naznin

SPOTLIGHT

- STYLE 101 -

She is a fashion consultant, brand expert and style forecaster. Yasmin Sewell has worked with various well known brands like Chloé, Hermès, Mulberry, Zara and Asos to name a few and launched many young designers at her boutique. I've been an ardent lover of this woman's personal style. She layers like a boss experimenting with unusual color combinations and absolutely nails it every time.  Her messy hair, minimal make up and effortlessly styled looks is what makes me a huge fan of hers’. She exudes confidence and is someone who doesn't shy away from repeating her clothes, accessories and shoes. I recently came across her interview on a fashion website where she said she is not the kind of person that buys a new bag every season but someone who every few years will fall in love with something that she wants to have for the rest of her life and hand down to her children. 

 I could go on and on about this wonder woman but gotta head out now. Taking you straight to her pictures to let them do the talking. 

Isn't she just so gorgeous! Love her!

I DRESS FOR THE APPLAUSE