Youtube Must Watch List 2013

There was a time when there was just Doordarshan for entertainment, books for knowledge and Femina for fashion. Then came cable TV and there was a channel for each of these things. As a child, it was a big change, from subtle images of a bee stinging a flower that got the mind in conflict and the imagination in full swing to the very direct scandalous American  TV shows like The Bold And The Beautiful..

It was a lot to understand, accept and get used to...it changed a lot of things..most of all fashion and beauty. From Chandini's white salwaar kameez and Sridevi's plain saris to the 90210 teens in jeans and bikinis, cable TV exposed us to a world of contrasts.

Then the internet, once I got accustomed to maneuvering the mouse ( I am a little lacking in coordination :) I dont think I even took the doctor's prescription without googling it first.
And now youtube..what would I do without youtube. I dont believe celebrities talking about a product anymore. Imagine Karishma Kapoor making Mccain aloo tikki at home or Juhi Chawla eating kurkure or Salman Khan knowing which detergent would be gentle on clothes and hands (Active Wheel)..
Id rather believe opinions of normal non celebs..which is why I practically youtube everything..from makeup tutorials to product reviews to DIY's..

Its fascinating what youtube has done for normal people like us - turned some into rockstars, some into stylists, some into beauty gurus who went on to launch their own line of make up...
Its even got the big luxury brands to reach out to us and make their products aspirational ..

Here are some of the most watched youtube videos of 2013..the ones I love..
This J'adore film is so beautifully shot, it transforms me into the luxurious world where everything is beautiful and clean..
Ah! I want a J'adore now :)

Have you seen this makeup video...they makeup can transform people, this video is proof. For me watching it was fascinating in bits and scary at times..Oh my god what a transformation. this video has been one of the most watched and understandably so..It turned Cassandra into a celeb and a makeup guru..

If you are a DIY lover and the kind of girl who looks at most things and thinks.."I could make this at home" then this is the channel for you..
Recently I am on a major home beautifying project and this DIY is on my to do list for the week..doing it for my room for sure..watch it..cutest DIY for fashion lovers

And if you want to train like a celeb..all in the comfort of your home..go here and kill it with a sweaty workout..
anything for a killer bod and six pack abs!!

I hope you enjoyed the post..some of my favs of 2013!!

Do share your favourite youtube videos with me..xoxo

Delhi Shopping : Sarojini Nagar

Delhi Shopping : Sarojini Nagar

A little while back I had to make a quick day trip to Delhi, for important work that had been pending for long. The trip was planned in such a manner that there was no scope for absolutely any detours, namely shopping and eating Delhi style.

You can imagine my frustration, visiting Delhi and not indulging in some aloo tikki, dahi bhalla and Sarojini nagar, ufff, it required weeks of self therapy to get myself to accept that I was going on a mission and there was no room for anything else.

So I land in Delhi get into the car and within a few minutes a big board and a bigger arrow pointing towards Sarojini Nagar, "why dont you just kill me God" is what I was thinking.

But you know what? have you ever heard of "good things happen to good people" or "if you want it bad enough, all the universe conspires to help you acheive it"

I must have done some good deeds sometime, because on my way to the airport I received an sms about my flight being delayed. I dont think any sms has excited me so much let along an sms about a flight delay.

I quickly took a U turn for Sarojini Nagar, some awesome bargain buys, aloo tikki and dahi bhalla later I think my Delhi trip could be stamped extremely successful.

This blue dress, is my favourite bargain find from Delhi and Sarojini shopping trip, just Rs 250.

Hey, if you are from Delhi, do share your favourite shopping and eating spots, so next time I can try and do more :)

Delhi Shopping : Sarojini Nagar

Fashion Week Street Style 2014

There are 4 basic seasons we learn about in school, namely, Summer, Spring, Monsoon and Winter season. And then there is a 5th season that we learn about from experience and from the media.
This new season is usually characterized with sightings of the most gigantic heels, sounds of camera clicks, blinding flashes, a frenzy of activity, a riot of colours. It is the time of the year when fashionistas descent upon Earth, revealing painfully built abs in the trendy crop top, the 'It' accessory of the season either rented from luxury renting services or acquired through a bank loan, EMI's of which will be paid long after the trend dies its sudden death.
Ladies and gentlemen, I am talking about the phenomenon called the "Fashion Week Season"
It has existed for as long as women and their love affair with beautiful clothes has, but its changed, in shape and form..it has grown gigantic and has transformed into a force to be reckoned with.
Fashion shows used to at one point be exclusive personal showings for elite customers and fashion lovers. Kristie Clements, ex editor of Vogue Australia says "we watched the show, as opposed to trying to be the show." True isn't it?
Today, when I get an invite to a fashion week, the first thing that I think of is "what will I wear?" does it matter? I don't really know..but it does matter to me..its my chance to stand out and shine..amongst thousands of others who come there to stand out and shine..
But fashion weeks and bloggers seem to love each other intensely and I am not complaining..it has made fashion more accessible to all of us, suddenly I feel like I can want a Sabyasachi and own it as much as Aishwarya Rai..
She gets a new one every few hours and I might have to save for 2 years to get one, but thats not the point...we are all aware now..we are all empowered now..we know what we want..and we can get it..bank loan or not..
I also absolutely adore, the 'street style' phenomena, the fashion that happens during fashion weeks but off the runway..remember, we all want to stand out..we all want to be remembered..
This does lead to such fabulous fashion, there is so much personality and creativity all around and it reflects so beautifully through individual styles and outfits..
Each street style picture captures a personality and a story....I love trying to decode these stories and read between the layers of clothes and creativity...
See for yourself..

source : ellecanada.com

source : ellecanada.com

source : ellecanada.com

source : ellecanada.com

source : ellecanada.com

source : ellecanada.com

source: popxo.com

source: popxo.com

More Fashion Week Posts on Lookinggoodfeelingfab.com
Inside Lakme Fashion Week
What I wore to Lakme Fashion Week 
More Fashion Week And Me
Fashion Week Madness

Experiments With Meditation & A Westside Kurta

There are some things that we know are inherently good for us, like exercise, reading, meditation and so on. We are aware of the benefits that a consistent practice of any of these things can bring into our lives, their enriching effects have been spoken about for centuries - and yet we never get down to doing them.
Sometimes its laziness, sometimes lack of time, at times its the easier thing to do and yet there are times when our life is just not ready for the new introduction.
Take meditation for example, I have known about it for as long as I can remember, my Grandfather practiced it everyday, without fail, till the day he passed away. Often he would try and initiate me into the practice, I just could not get it and would look for the nearest escape route.
When I grew up, I often heard about meditation and its benefits from some very notable people who had achieved a lot in life. I still could not understand it, how sitting in a room eyes closed, could bring such profound changes in a person and his life.
Moreover I could not keep my eyes shut for even a minute.

Recently again, everything I read and every thing I researched, led me to meditation, every time. I thought I must try it this time - no excuses, no running away. Surprisingly, I understood it this time around, I understood how this seemingly simple ritual (but really very complex ritual) could help the brain do amazing things. I understood it, yes, but putting it into practice proved to be a whole different challenge.

I first time, I sat in an erect position, closed my eyes and tried to calm my mind, within a few minutes I was lying down and 5 minutes later I was fast asleep. Yes I fell asleep, me and my meditation experiments became the butt of ridicule and the favourite family joke.

But the second time was better, I did not fall off to sleep and I felt elevated at the end of it. Its been getting better and better ever since. I do have a long long way to go, there are so many different kinds of meditations, I am a little lost about where to start. I am on a quest now, I have a little taste of meditation ecstasy and I am thirsty for more.

If you meditate and have experimented with the various forms of meditation as a part of your spiritual journey, I would love to know more, maybe you could share your experience with me and help me accelerate towards my goals.
Please Note : The site might be down for a couple of days over the weekend (some changes in the pipeline :)

Kurta : Westside (details here)

Gold Heels : Guess

Belt : Roadside

Ear Rings : Blur Accessories

Ring  : Sisters

Appeasing The Rain Gods : Grey Kurta Dress

The only thing I like about the monsoons is the first shower, which is fantastic and beautiful. From the second shower on I am pretty much waiting for the whole thing to end. But this time of the year, the transition from summer to monsoons is just stunning, my heart sings, my hips sway, the skies are grey, the branches sway, the wind gets cooler, fragrant and sweet, there is newness and anticipation in everything...there is a miracle in every corner..a gift for the senses where ever you go.
I wish it could stay this way, but I know the rains need to come soon else we will all be in trouble..
So this is my way of appeasing the rain Gods, I am wearing colours of the monsoons, grey, white and just a hint of colour.
I dont know if you have noticed but this summer I have enjoyed wearing a lot of Westside kurtas as dresses.
There was this kurta and turban, then this bright quirky one and now this grey one specially for the rain Gods :)

Kurta : Westside

Watch : Bebe

Heels : Zara (Details here)

Vintage Pink Day Dress

They say your dreams say a lot about you..I wonder what mine say about me. Coz mine are usually made up of pretty dresses and gorgeous shoes..hehe
So when I saw this dress on shopnineteen, I jumped off my chair, my dream came true right before my eyes. This dress in shades of pink and a flattering form was just so perfect that I could not believe it, to add it has a hint of vintage which is something I love.
So I obviously got it, it arrived quickly and when it did I could not wait to try it on and show you guys..
The pictures are not perfect but believe me the dress is :)

What are your dreams made of??

Dress : shopnineteen.com (Rs 999)

Heels : Platform, Bandra Mumbai (Details here)

Clutch : Accessorize

Interview With The Fab Nilu Of Big Hair Loud Mouth

For me one of the biggest perks of blogging is getting to know some of the most stylish, inspiring and intelligent women around (they mostly happen to be bloggers :)
A while ago I came across Nilu's wonderful blog Big Hair Loud Mouth and I have been smitten since. She has this unique interesting way of putting things together and making it all look wonderfully cohesive. I have spent many enjoyable hours lost in her colourful world and I always emerge inspired and excited to try some new things myself.
Whenever I come across a new blog, I go to their very first post, just to see the evolution and how far they have come, Nilu has come such a long way and her entire journey is beautiful, bright and wonderful.
Nilu was kind enough to answer some of my questions and I wanted to share them with you...so here goes..

1. Tell us a little about Nilu, what have you studied, where? What industry do you work in? What are your passions other than fashion?

Nilu is the dreamer of Big Hair Loud mouth, a blog dedicated to exhibiting Streetstyle fashion in India, incorporating both the Western and the Eastern trends. I was educated in Kalimpong, Darjeeling and later I got my BE degree in Electronics and Electricals from VTU Universtity in Bangalore. I currently work in Yahoo!Bangalore and my passion other than fashion would be singing, dancing and trying DIY projects (which I fail at miserably).

2. How did the blog come about? What was the inspiration?

I used to see a couple of my school friends post on Facebook, that they had blogged and it made me curious. When I checked their content I thought "this is so interesting" and I wanted to try it. There was no inspiration to be really honest, I'm a shopaholic and I thought why let a good look go waste when I can document it in a blog post! The thought made me feel good and so Big hair Loud mouth was born.

3. You started out as a very sweet and simple looking girl with big hair, in a maxi skirt..cut to today and the transformation in you is hard to believe. You look chic, stylish, glamorous and sexy. A lot has changed, other than your hair..tell us about the transformation, the journey.

Thats true! When I look back at the old posts, I do feel the same and all I can say is that nothing would have been possible if I didnt have my Team BHLM, which comprises of my closest friends, to Push me and Drag me to do what we do! Every post we make, is a reflection of our passion and dedication to things we love doing the most. And when common ideas converge, its the birth of something new and intriguing.

4. The most striking change has been your hair style, its short and hot..do you ever miss your long hair? 

I used to miss my long hair often before. Had I answered your questions a couple of weeks before, the answer would have been Yes. But lately, the answer would be No. Since my latest haircut two weeks ago, I realised this is what I love more than my long hair! BIG hair doesnt necessarily mean a voluminous long hair, Infact it has no relation to the literal meaning at all. The hair part in my Blog title simply means, I love chaging hairstyles and hairstyle constitutes one of the basic foundation to good styling.

5. You are someone who has experimented and played around a lot with your hair. What have been your best hair decisions and which have been your worst. What hair advise will you give us?

My best hair decision would be using the Moroccan Oil Products for hair treatment. The worst decision I ever made was bleaching my hair to follow the Ombre trend. The Ombre dye literally killed my hair and I finally understood what it meant to have a lifeless hair. There is no shine, no bounce, just a limpless mass. Hence I decided to go short and try a chic look, keeping in mind I'll never repeat the mistake of washing off my original hair color.

6. What is your everyday morning beauty and makeup routine?

I use Vichy and Shiseido products for the day.I dont apply makeup everyday. However, when I apply makeup, I use a foundation from Revlon, Blush and Brozer from NYX, eyeshadow from Naked palette and a Lakme Eyeliner with my usual red lipstick. I make it a point to use my Clarisonic Mia before sleeping every night and I use Jojoba face oil every night before I go to sleep.

7. You wear statement red lips, which is this fab red?

I keep changing them :) But my favorites are the Mac Ruby woo and Russian Red and the Estee Lauder Stay Scarlet.

8. What is your night time beauty routine?

Jojoba face oil.

9. What beauty brands and products do you swear by?

I'd say this is a pretty tricky question. I can use anything but currently I'm using products from Mac, maybelline, Estee Lauder, NYX, Shiseido, Vichy, Colorbar and Inglot to name a few.

10. You shop online a lot..Which are your favourite online stores that are trendy and value for money?

ASOS! My ultimate favorite!

Have you read our interviews with 
Natural Beauty Guru Nisha Rajpal
Ex New Yorker And Fashion Designer Anaka
Forest Essentials Tanushree Saxena

Book Club : Bina Ramani Bird In A Banyan Tree

I read 'Bird In A Banyan Tree' by Bina Ramani a month ago and it left me so overwhelmed that I am writing this review only now, a month later. The book also left me with a few questions that I would have loved to ask Bina Ramani, I was hoping to be able to do that but since it hasnt happened yet, I thought I should go ahead and write this post anyway.
So let me start right from the start. I was browsing through books at a bookstore, when I noticed this one calling out to me, I picked it up admired the gorgeous cover and thought to myself "who wants to read the story of a party girl?", I put it back and left. A few weeks later, at another book store this book caught my attention from under atleast 50 other books, I pulled it out, read a page, and decided I needed to read this.
I came home and started reading and believe me I could not put it down. I think I read this book in record time.

The book is beautifully written, moves at a fast pace and every chapter in the book could work as a full fledged superhit Bollywood movie.
A party girl who got into some trouble is all I knew and thought about Bina Ramani, but reading this book changed all that completely. It is a book about grit, determination, passion, courage, persistence, hope belief and so much more.

As a young girl Bina Ramani, sacrifices her passion and her love for the sake of family, she even enters a loveless marriage for family. She endures years of heartbreak hoping and praying that things would change and the marriage would turn into a marriage that all Indian girls are taught to epitomize.
It is also a story of a mother and her fierce love for her children. That intensity of love can move mountains and drive one to be able to o things otherwise thought impossible and irrational.
Bina Ramani's life fills me with hope and belief that when there is passion for something inside you nothing can stop you from achieving it. Bina Ramani, could boast of no real education and fancy degrees but that did not stop her from becoming a household name and single handedly changing the fashion scene in Delhi and the country.

Even the way she handled her life through the high profile Jessica Lal murder case and proceedings is unfathomable - immense pressure, threats, negative media and even jail.
Bina Ramani has endured so much in life and has emerged more elegant and beautiful from each challenge that life has thrown at her. I really do not think I could have done what she has, even just reading some segments of the book left me with such intense pain in my heart that I thought "I don't think I could have endured that."
All in all it left me in awe of Bina Ramani, her courage and grit. It made me so grateful for the tiny little issues in my life because they are nothing in comparison with the storms she has weathered.
This book is an absolute must read for every Indian girl. Every mother should gift this to her daughter.
I would love to ask Bina Ramani a few questions and understand her life better, so if any of you know how to get in touch with her please do let me know - an email address, number anything would be greatly appreciated.
Bina Ramani, Bird In A Banyan Tree.

Wearing Peplum And Doing What You Suck At Most!

Its amazing what the mind can do and I am just starting to understand the immense potential hidden deep inside each one of us. For all my life, I told myself ' I don't need friends, I am so bad at this networking and friendship thing, such a waste of time.' And my mind and the universe followed my instructions, I had no real friends and my life lacked and secretly craved stimulating social interactions.
Its only recently that I decided to change that, it led to a few interactions which surprisingly, I immensely enjoyed. The more I told myself, "I love this, I am good at this, I want to do more of this" the better my interactions got.
The last one month has been all about new friendships, satisfying interactions and a lot of learning from each interaction.
So here is some homework for us....think about the one thing that you keep telling yourself you suck at. Now start telling yourself just the opposite and make a conscious effort to believe that and break out of your comfort zone...watch magic happen..you will surprise yourself.
"I am just so bad at........" to
"I am great at...I love doing....its so much fun..."  + take action that feels difficult to do
MAGIC...growth...

Back to the fun fashion stuff..I challenged myself to combine my eternal love for the pencil silhouette, with something I am not that comfortable with - stripes and peplum.
I think this is the very first time I am wearing anything peplum and I think I am liking the look of this, what do you think?
Its a very polished classic look and a little glam too, makes me wonder where I would wear it - you tell me, help me..
Would this do better for a day event or a night event? Would it be wayyyy tooo formal for day?
Tell me tell me..
Yay!! to more peplums and finally figuring out how to wear a peplum.

Pencil Skirt : Mango

Peplum Top : Gift USA

Heels : Catwalk

Bedtime Skincare Routine

If you saw my Morning natural skincare routine video, you know that I try and stay away from harsh chemicals as much as possible. I hold the same philosophy when it comes to my night time skin care routine.
All I wish to achieve with my night skin care ritual is to rid the skin of any grime, dust and impurities that may have settled in during the coarse of the day.
I cleanse the skin and then just provide it with some nourishment and moisture through a cream. Needless to say, sleep and rest as prerequisites for healthy skin and I try to get as many hours of precious beauty sleep as possible.

Products and Tools used : 

Johnson Baby Oil (Used as make up remover)

Clarisonic Mia

Loreal Youth Code Texture Perfector

Biotique Bio Myristica

Breakfast At Tiffany's : 5 Things

Breakfast At Tiffany's is a landmark movie of sorts, it created history and made the little black dress chapter number one of that history text book. Right from school days I never understood the relevance of history and the past until very recently when I decided that even if just for the sake of sounding a little more intellectual and a little less vain, I must attempt to understand art and history even if just a little.
So yes of-course I started my history lessons with Breakfast At Tiffany's (did you really think I would start with - A History Of India, nahhhhh), I know a little too late, but I got down to seeing it finally!
The opening scene is beautiful, a gorgeous Audrey Hepburn, the most exquisite pearl choker, elegant satin gloves, a flattering black dress and the iconic Tiffany's window. The scene had me hooked and instantly set my expectations soaring....
Here are a few things I learnt from the iconic movie.
1. A simple black dress that fits and flatters is a must in every wardrobe, and I just realized that I don't have one. Audrey also proved that the Little Black Dress does not really have to be "little", she never ever really wears a mini or a teeny tiny black dress, they were all an elegant length, never embellished and never over the top.

2. There is something about pearls, they always stand out and yet they are never in your face. They are elegant and understated and yet make a classy statement always. In the movie Audrey says “Personally, I Think It Would Be Tacky To Wear Diamonds Before I’m 40.” I love pearls but I love diamonds too, hehe..

3. Gloves Sunglasses and Hats are oh so glamorous and I find myself craving for them since the movie. I do realize that those gloves could be a practical nightmare in India - imagine eating vada pav with them on while staring at a main road facing dusty store window - not so glam anymore, right?? But hats, lets promise to try wearing more of those, bring on a revolution of sorts..

4. A cat is essential in every persons life, no really, I am so serious about this. The nameless cat called 'cat' was the most sensible character in the movie. Cat manages to bring some sense into a completely senseless movie, she was one smart cat (since the cat was smart, I am assuming it was a 'she'). So if you have been feeling lost in life, maybe you should consider getting a cat and name it cat.

5. When looking for a house, make sure it has a very cute convenient fire exit stair well. These dont just help you escape fires, but also jilted lovers, needy boyfriends/ girlfriends, crazy parties and the police. They become convenient spots for midnight rendezvous and cozy corners for singing songs.

You can tell cant you?? that I was sorely disappointed with the movie though the fashion and Audrey's style far exceeded all my expectations.

I had thought that the movie would be about this sensible, smart and classy girl I had thought it would be about making Tiffany dreams coming true or something along those lines...

But a pretty movie is all it is, a pretty movie about a girl who is lost and has no idea where she wants to go in life, needless to say, the movie felt the same way.

But the dresses were gorgeous, the accessories do what they are supposed to do - transform, the heels are sensible and yet lovely, the hair is always voluminous all in all pretty is all the movie is.

When Under Stress, Just Put On A Dress

A new academic year is about to begin and I have been running helter skelter ticking off my to do and errands list. Two months have come to an end, and it seems to have gone by in a jiffy, there was so much I wanted to accomplish in these seemingly long two months and now I find myself cramming it all in the last two days. Yes, I do have a major procrastination problem.
In the midst of such chaos, dressing up is the last thing on my mind and jeans and slacks were invented for such mindless days in my life. But I think this blog has changed me in more ways than I thought possible because I decided to put in a dress for a whirlwind day of picking up uniforms, school supplies and paying bills.
And wooohaaa!! the unthinkable happened.. just putting on that dress and ditching those jeans made everything look and feel pretty, those tasks were no longer daunting they were actually fun and I even managed to take some pictures in between all the chaos. Can a dress really do all that - hell yes - just try it.
Lesson learnt : When in stress, just put on a dress..

A dress is so versatile and can be so much fun to play with..dont believe me..look here
Formal Maxi Dress
Fierce Warrior in a Dress
Day To Night Dress

Dress : shopnineteen.com

Bag : Zara

Chappals : Mahabaleshwar

Watch : Diesel

Bangles : Here and There