Memories Of An Uneventful Afternoon

Some days you try to get along with the world, and pat yourself on the back for making an effort. On others, you try and end up judging yourself for becoming everything you ever hated. You feel like you will explode by simply being nice, by simply trying to get along, by simply trying to avoid conflict and confrontation. You breathe in, you breathe out. You make poetry with every heart beat that was a bit too loud, a bit too hollow, a bit too rebellious. You survive. One more day; for it to begin again the next.

Dress - H&M

Boots - Street Style Store

Cardigan - Street Shop

Photos c/o - @stootea

Living In A Trance

We live in terror that if we ever show our true self, even to the one who has breathed into our skin and left traces in our bloodstream, we would automatically be deemed unloveable. This quote by Marilyn Monroe is so famous- "...if you can't handle me at my worst, then you sure as hell don't deserve me at my best."

Sure we would love to practice it for real. But, in truth we refuse to ask for what we think we deserve because we are so terrified of being left all alone. Most days you pretend you are good with it all, your brain dictates you to be more pragmatic. But, certain days when you are already feeling low, you just turn into mush and slowly dissolve into the nothingness deep inside of your hollow heart. Every bit of defensive behaviour is just a way to protect our hearts from being broken again and again. You say things to break off ties, before they can. Decades long friendships come to end, lovers leave, parents die, cousins get too busy- you stood alone to look at the moon even when they were around anyway. You never saw the same things and felt the same things about them anyway.

Tend your bruises in silence, tend them alone. No one else has a magical salve to soothe your burns. We are not faces, we are not bodies; we are just trembling fingers and toes trying to make sense of everything. We are all living inside our own heads, where we are the perpetual victims. Do we ever come out of that trance?

of fires that burn through you

of deliberately unclean shoes

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Coming Up Roses

Delhi has derailed me. Even now I find very little time for leisure. There is an overabundance of kulcha, chhole bhature, rajma, chhole and chawal everywhere. But everyday we (me and my other Bong-Delhi mates) try to make something for dinner, something that reeks of our home, even if it is the humble muger daal or dim kosha or mangsher jhol. We save just enough energy every night to taste home, once a day.

I feel extremely bad that I took such a long time to finally make this post. Amydus has been kind enough to be patient with me though. They sent this gorgeous lace peplum top as a preview of their then upcoming collection. I was delighted to see how well it fit me. I was told "wow haven't seen you in things like this before." I somehow never tried out peplum before. And I am kinda saving this one, to debut it during Durga Puja. I am growing restless now, to go back home. But, I don't know how strange it would feel to live at home again, right when I have found a rhythm here. We will see. Till then, read about the amazing size range offered by Amydus *here*. Ciao.

You can get the top here - Black Peplum Top (not an affiliate link)

Black Peplum Top - Amydus

Pink Round Glasses - New Market, Calcutta

Belt, Shoes - B.K. Market, Calcutta

Purple Pants - Stolen from sister

Follow on facebook for more - Project Curve

Accessories To Lust Over

A good piece of accessory is something I can lust over. A piece of clothing may look great on someone I adore, but make me look like a potato. Accessories are definitely more versatile, one-size-fits-all bundles of joy. A single piece of accessory can show off your personality and distinguish between two people wearing the same dress. I have made a lust list for your pleasure. Ogle, enjoy and buy them if you love. They are all from this extremely affordable website called Dresslink. They have a whole range of things from women's wear, kid's wear, bags, shoes as well as DIY decoration items like studs and rivets. I found a Harry Potter themed bracelet and necklace there. That's a definite win in my book.

1. Steampunk Pocket Watch Pendant 2. Statement Layered Necklace 3. Deathly Hallows/Snitch Bracelet 4. Lolita Inspired Heart Shaped Sunglasses (you love, right?) 5. Snitch Shaped Pocket Watch Necklace 6. Floral Snapback

We are moving to a new address. This will effectively be the last post on this blog address. I have spent a good 5 years right here. It's time to move on now. Wish me luck with the transition. And see you on the other side.

Keep track of the blog on the facebook page :)

Project Curve

Sunny Love

All remnants of any sort of chilliness is gone from the wind. It is officially spring. But, you can feel the buzz of summer right beneath the windowsills. Soon the temperatures will start soaring sky high and we will all end up complaining mercilessly about the sun. All I can do right now, is dream of another city, of a certain warmth that spreads from within and tingles the toes. Why? Because every single day life changes forever, never to return to what it was yesterday. And I feel like I need to rush ahead with it. But, I am someone who is always a pace behind.

Yellow Cardigan - c/o Vero Moda

Backpack - c/o Romwe

Lennon Sunglasses - c/o Firmoo

Anchor Print Palazzo Pants - B.K. Market

Platform Sandals - Street Shop

FlySongbird

My DressIn Wish List

I love a website that offers a range of items that has a little something for everyone. Dressin offers something for the graphic tee lovers as well as the floral lovers. They offer some lovely dresses, tops, bottoms, outerwear and even lingerie at pretty inexpensive prices. And on top of that, they have a super sale going on right now. I recently received a package from them and I can assure you of speedy delivery (ordered with DHL) and decent quality products. Here are some items I really love from their collection. Check out to see if you love something for yourself here. I am sure you will find a great slogan tee or a fabulous party top from here.

1. Sequin Stripe Top 2. Chiffon Gown 3. Long Sleeve Maxi Dress 4. Slogan Pullover Top 5. Floral 2 Piece Dress 6. Floral Skull Top

Don't forget to follow me on Facebook. There is more there, I promise.

FlySongbird

The Ultimate Make-Up Tip For The Non-Enthusiasts

A lot of people have a lot of opinions about make-up. I personally believe it is up to a particular girl or guy if they want to put on minimal or tonnes of make-up on their faces at any given time of any particular day. Yes, I said guys. Teach yourself about gender roles and patriarchy before you think there is something inherently wrong or funny about guys wearing make-up. Your favourite macho hero from that blockbuster film does it all the time, and no he doesn't do it only for the screen. Human beings have been known to paint their faces to express certain emotions for centuries, so it is not a modern social construct. Anyway I digress, email me for a lengthier chat about such issues if you wish and we shall talk.

So, the ultimate tip from me might seem like something a non-enthusiast would never imagine doing. But, hear me out. Own a few make-up brushes. Not more than, but could be less than 5. This is definitely not for those who hate make-up and do not ever wear it ever. This is for those who like to wear it, maybe occasionally or everyday, but do not consider themselves a pro or a junkie. When you do put on make-up you would like not to look like Joker. But, who am I kidding? Even for that you would need a brush. Knowing how to swipe a make-up brush across your face would change the way you do make-up forever. I do not believe in owning a lot of products unless you are a make-up artist who needs to work on different kind of skin tones and such. I love using each product in more than 1 way so that I can keep my kit fuss free and as downsized as possible.

1. Concealer Brush - This is the one investment you will never regret. You will get hours worthy flawless coverage if you use a brush to apply your concealer rather than using your fingers. I do the tapping with the fingers thing to apply my concealer on most days. But, when you use your fingers the skin secretes natural oils and make the concealer thinner in consistency and you do not get a long lasting coverage. 
2. Stippling Brush - These type of brushes are made with bristles that consist 2 types of fibres. They are excellent for applying liquid foundations. You will get a perfect airbrushed look if you use this instead of using a make-up sponge. You just need to take a tiny bit of the product and then apply using this brush in tiny circular motions till everything is blended in perfectly.
3. Flat/Fluffy Eye Shadow Brush -  If you want the perfectly blended eye shadow look then you have to use a brush. You cannot rely on those things that are included in the eye shadow packages, at the most you can use those for applying highlighting shadow underneath the brows and at the inner eye corners.
4. Smudge Brush - Answer honestly-how many times have you dabbed eye shadow on and said, "Oops, too much,"? After you have blended the eye shadow with a fluffy brush you can remove excess shadow with the smudge brush. These are perfect for creating a smokey eye effect as well. I even used mine the other day to apply a deeply pigmented blush to create a blended and soft eye shadow look the other day because I had no pink eye shadows. I have 2 types of black shadow though. Does that surprise anyone?
5. Blush Brush - These are smaller than the bigger brushes used to apply loose powder. I use mine for both the purposes of applying blush and loose powder. I do have a big ass powder applicator brush but it feels just too big for my face. This one is just the right size to apply loose powder and lock in the make-up after I am done with everything.

Let me know if you have any opinions or queries in the comments below. I am no pro. But, I believe in the power of expression through make-up.

FlySongbird

Niine by Niine-Styled by Me

I featured Niine by Niine in my previous post(click to read) and here I am, back with a post where I have styled a few items from their fabulous collection. Go and read all about what the store offers for both men and women in my last post(link provided above).

I chose similar looking earrings in different colours because I loved how easily I could team them with a retro outfit as well as an Indo-Western fusion outfit. They were about INR550. I am not a big fan of bows but, I chose this dress because of the polka dots and the awesome layered bell sleeves. Have I mentioned ever that I am a huge fan of good bell sleeves? It's a love affair that started when I was a tiny tot. This sequin jacket is perfection. Agree? I just slipped into it and it fit perfectly. It is only INR2200 and you can have it custom made in your size if needed. I bought these round sunglasses the very day of the event from a street shop. These were technically gifted, not bought. I finally have a round pair with silver rims and faded pink glasses and I love them.

Earrings, Polka Dotted Dress, Sequinned Jacket - Niine by Niine

Teal Mary Jane Wedges - B.K. Market

Pink Round Teashades - Gifted

Blue Ethnic Printed Stole, Black Cardigan - my own

FlySongbird

Howrah Bridge by Anupriya DG!

I have wanted a floor length kurta dress for almost 3 years. When I spotted a woman wearing an Ethiopian style cotton gown in a mall a couple of months back I decided to take things in my own hands. Or rather seek out more expert designer hands to accomplish the task soon. So, I reached out to my friend Anupriya DG who is not only one of the pioneer Calcutta fashion bloggers, but also the owner of a fashionable designer label Howrah Bridge. I have featured her earlier on this blog several times, go here and here to refresh your memory again. Check out her designs and tell me how much you love them. And if you want then get a custom made designer piece for yourself!

I had asked her to design the dress in a way she thinks would look best on me; all I told her was that I don't want it to make me look like a sack of potatoes. The compliments that came my way were proof that I do not resemble anything potato-ey in this gorgeous dress. I am wearing it here with leggings because it was kinda pretty cold that day. And I don't know why I haven't featured this backpack on the blog yet. I have been carrying it around everywhere with me for the past year. It goes with everything!

Cobalt Blue Kurta Dress - Howrah Bridge by ADG

Silver Hollowed Out Cuff - Avon
PU Leather Backpack - Romwe (click to buy)
Hamsa necklace - Accessorize

Platform Shoes - B.K. Market

FlySongbird

A Hint Of A Shimmer

This simple outfit needed a bit of shimmer. I got this jacket from Vero Moda a couple of years back. It was on sale and it was the very last piece. So, I grabbed it even though it was a size too big for me. Some days I hate how it makes my shoulders all droopy and hangs in such a bulky way. But, most days I am just glad for the tiny bit of sparkle that it adds to my most basic outfits.

 Black Shimmery Cardigan - Vero Moda
Floral Cuff - flea market
Skull & Spikes Necklace - Kazo

FlySongbird

Leather, Lace & Roses

No, we didn't have Santa hats on,
No, we didn't have bottles of whiskey or mulled wine,
We had our cakes in our separate homes,
We only had our fingers and smiles warming us through the night,

Underneath a blanket of blue.

We will probably say hello again in the New Year.

Usher in 2015 with a bang

See you on the other side

FlySongbird

Flash

Christmas is almost here. Then the year will end in the blink of an eye! 2015 I ain't ready for you yet!

Chiffon Floral Dress - (click to buy) Romwe

FlySongbird

I Will Hold On Hope

I love the sound of Mumford & Sons. If you haven't heard of them, then please do. Especially check out this song that I linked to. Even the video is just so charming. I have been listening to them for so long. But, only saw this delightful video after someone shared it with me a few days back. It is just the right dose of kooky that I love so much.

♫The Cave♫

Coming to the outfit, I should mention this is my first true outfit photoshoot that has been shot outdoors. I was so bored of photographing in my room (even though it serves as a lovely backdrop). Unlike other times I did not feel awkward posing for my photographer in such a public place. Is it age or comfort? I don't know. I am getting old, that much is for sure. I get back pains way too often. Then again my perennial craving for all things chocolate has increased even more. I refuse to believe that is a sign of ageing.  At 5'2" I console myself, saying I am average height. But, one thing I realised after looking at these photos is that I am painfully short. Given how dreamy and bohemian I feel just looking at the outfit, I think the photos go perfectly with that theme.

About the clothes - I love this crochet cardigan to death. I think it is the prettiest and most delicate thing I own. The polka dotted pants are from Romwe. At first they were quite a disappointment, because even though it was mentioned they are harem pants, they looked way more fitted on the website. But, I have come to love it. These are now my stylish pyjamas. I wore these to work this week and felt so effing cool thinking "Yay I am so cool, I wear pyajamas and sneakers to office!"
I had also done a pop art-ish eyeliner look with this which unfortunately was ruined by the time we got around to the shoot. I am planning on doing a tutorial sort of on that look soon.

bye bye birdies

Crochet Cardigan - c/o Sheinside

Polka Harem Pants - Romwe
Turquoise Necklace - Accessorize
Son of Man Ring - Quirky-me etsy store
Mary Jane Wedge Pumps - B.K. Market
Lip Colour - California Orange from Street Wear
Nail Colours - Apple Martini and White(doesn't have any name on the bottle) from Colorbar

 FlySongbird

How To Survive: December

The year is about to end and the fashion world is in a tizzy, declaring the upcoming trends and already looking back on the best fashion moments of 2014. Let me give you a quick fashion guide on how to survive this December like the fashionable creatures like we are.
The Burberry colour block blanket poncho has been declared the it jacket this fall. But, not everyone can get their hands on a $1395 worth of jacket just to keep warm in style. So, like a good angel I have compiled a list of chic wool ponchos that will help you sail through December feeling like a style goddess. If the very Brit brand's style is not up your alley then take inspiration from Valentino's embroidered boho blanket ponchos that came out on the Paris catwalk last season. And a bit of this and that you need to style up a storm on a daily basis.
Psst - If your Indian mother sees your blanket poncho and starts using it as her shawl don't be very shocked.

Asos ($106), Free People ($168), AX Paris ($53.20), Topshop ($68), Myntra (INR1079), Asos ($135), Forever21 ($32.80).

Team your stylish blanket ponchos with plaid loafers, pointy-toe boots or these to-die-for Stella McCartney platform brogues(look at ebay for cheaper options). Boho is in style for the chilly season as well, so, indulge in a fringed bag. A metallic clutch is must-have for all your parties and a classic bag is essential for all your business looks(this one is the Kate Spade Cedar Street Maise one. Isn't it stunning?). I am digging pom-pom beanies this season and I will be sporting them a lot this month. Invest in an infinity scarf and knee high socks, they are so much fun to style! You can pair these socks with shorts or skirts and flash just a tiny amount of skin while you stay all warm and fuzzy. And you just need a body moisturiser - need I say why? You cannot just moisturise your face, you body needs it too to avoid flaky, dry skin.

I had so much fun researching and writing this post! Hope you found something fun and interesting here to prepare for and survive this December.

FlySongbird

Green Trends Salon Review - Forever Blue Hair

I was invited to review the upcoming Durga Puja hairstyle and beauty trends at Green Trends Salon, Salt Lake branch. But, me being me, I got my hair coloured blue and decided to take my time and review it properly after the colour had properly faded and washed off. So, here I am to rave about Green Trends Salon for doing such a great job. I also should mention right away that here I got one of the best pedicures of my life ever. Just go in and ask for Zainab. It would be an understatement to say that I have horrible feet. And she worked magic by scrubbing and massaging all the right spots. I felt truly pampered.

Green Trends is a family chain salon originally from Chennai, but now they have around 200 branches all over India. They have 3 branches in Kolkata - Salt Lake, Golpark and Bangur Avenue.

"Green trends is a contemporary hair & style salon that offers cool looks for a new you– all at practical prices."

We had a chat session with head trainer, Saddique Alam. He suggested colour chunks and curl enhancing treatments as Bong beauties have a natural tendency towards curls. He personally oversaw every step of my colouring method. It was decided that my already honey blonde ombre hair had to be lightened further for the blue to show up. After the single bleach session, they put in the Majirel mix blue colourant in my hair and kept it in for no longer than 10-15 minutes. This ensured the colour did not turn too dark. There were 3 people working at my hair and that was a very funny feeling. The other bloggers opted for red hair highlights, curl enhancing haircuts and treatments, nail art and facial treatments. The end results for everyone was pretty amazing.

Pre-bleach and colour

Waiting for the bleach to lighten my hair further

The Majirel Mix Creme Blue looked like this after being mixed with a 20 vol developer

The process begins. Soon he will be joined by 2 others and Mr. Alam

The awesome pedicure where Anupriya and I got pampered. Pic c/o Poorna Banerjee

Saddique Alam brushing my hair personally before the money shot. Felt like a celeb in a photoshoot. Pic c/o Anupriya Dg

The money shot Pic c/o Anupriya Dg

Wish I had magical powers so that I could change my hair to all sorts of amazing colours like this whenever I wanted. My hair was as blue as my studded Peter Pan collared sheer top from Vero Moda. I washed my hair once or twice(maximum) a week. It took a full month for it to completely go away. It faded to green. After waiting for 1 & 1/2 months I decided to use the soap capping method(details here) to remove the colour completely.

Green Trends already has very reasonable rates for their wide range of services, but if you get a membership card worth Rs.100(valid for 2 years!) you get further discounts. Now, I have given you every reason to try out their services for yourself. Go get pampered!

FlySongbird