Packing Style

In keeping with the summer theme - and how glad are you that it’s the hols? - I decided to give you my top tips on packing. Not how to pack, but what to pack. Going on vacation is so amazing, aside from seeing new places & meeting new people, you get to share all the exciting moments with friends back home thanks to social media. It also makes things slightly problematic. You wanna look your best in the photos, but there’s no way you can carry your entire wardrobe with you. The length of your holiday can also cause trouble. Going away for two months is lovely; the restricted amounts of baggage allowance airlines give you are most definitely not!

Here’s how to pack to make sure that you don’t repeat your outfits, and to get the most out of your fifteen to thirty kilos.

Always Choose Separates. 

Dresses & jumpsuits just scream summer. They look elegant and casual. However, they are not very versatile when it comes to looking different every time. You may dress up your outfit with heels, then dress it down with sneakers. But it’s still the same outfit and your Instagram feed will reflect that. Blouses, tees, jeans, trousers and skirts allow you to mix and match, creating new looks each time. You’ll look that much more stylish, and have to pack that much less. (More space for holiday shopping, peeps!)

Make Sure Everything Matches.

So you just got this awesome red skirt. But there’s this really cute green top you wanna carry. And what about your navy trousers that you just can’t like without? Stop right there, and ask yourself if these things go together. There’s no point in carrying separates, if you need to carry a different top for each item. Take a good look at your wardrobe. Are most of your blouses in bright colours? Then pack neutral bottoms, and vice versa. 

Favour Solids Over Prints.

What vacation would be complete without one Hawaiian print shirt. And when the stores are so full of dreamy butterflies, bright florals and gypsy-style embroidery, it gets difficult to say no. Prints, though, are not too versatile. They tend to require certain shoes, certain bags, and can often be tough to dress up - or in some cases, down. If you must choose prints, make sure they’re in neutral colours. You’ll get many more outfits out of them.

It’s All About Shoes.

In a new city, or country, there’s a lot to do: sight-seeing, trying out the local cuisine, some shopping and maybe taking in a glimpse of the nightlife. Should you pack sneakers, heels, flats and wedges? Shoes are one of the heaviest items of luggage - unless, like me you pack a month’s worth of books - and they take up the most space as well. It’s best to look at your itinerary and select shoes that will do double duty. Planning on chilling at town centres, museums, malls and restaurants? Pretty flats will serve the purpose. Do you have a lot of walking to do? Perhaps ballet flats or slides are for you. If it’s all fancy events, do take a strappy pair of wedges. They will cover all formal events, plus do double duty should you need to do a little bit of walking.

Bag It.

Really, you don’t need to pack more than one bag. Your carry-on tote should be your go-to when you need something large. Like in the daytime, when you’ll want to carry water, your camera, sunglasses, a hat, maybe a map, and all your other necessities. The only other bag you need is a sling with a detachable strap. If there’s someplace posh you have to go to, simply lose the strap, and there you have a clutch for the night. 

Silver Or Gold.

It’s best to choose one metal and stick to it. Make sure that whichever you choose goes with your shoes, bags and clothes. There’s a wide choice of metals out there these days. If silver or gold doesn’t cut it for you, you can select copper, rose gold, antique gold or bronze. Heck, there’s even jewellery made from black-coated metals, for those who can’t stand colours. In short, there’s a wide variety of choices. You just need to choose the one that suits you.

And now that you’re packed, and you saved all that space in your suitcase, you just need to mark down the shops in the places you’re visiting. After all, the less stuff you’re packing, the more place you have for souvenirs, clothes, bags and shoes! Happy shopping!

Till next time,

MumbaiGirl.

Airport Style? Aced!

Airport style is officially a thing. It all started with Victoria Beckham and the Kardashians who paraded through the airports of the world looking like they’d walked off a magazine cover. It caught on with celebs and models alike strutting through terminals in designer duds, and now it’s filtered down to us mere mortals. With summer and the hols here, we not only have to figure out what to pack, we must also decide what to wear to travel in. As a relatively seasoned traveller - heaven knows I’ve travelled enough! - I know how difficult it is to find the right balance of comfort and style. Here are my suggestions and tips on how to ace airport style.

First, a note: Don’t aspire to look like your fave actress as she exits from the airport, unless you also possess her bank balance. I’m not referring to the designer labels she’s sporting, but the fact that she looks well rested and her clothes are crease-free. The advantages of flying first or business are many. There are the complimentary toiletries, should you forget to lug your own. The fact that you can lie down and sleep. Four toilets shared among twenty-odd passengers means no waiting in lines, and you can take your time with your face routines. But the biggest one is that you can hand your clothes over to your friendly air hostess while you change into your pjs (either airline provided or your own), and she will hang them up to ensure that they remain pristine until it’s time to change back into them just before you begin the descent. It’s small wonder why I refuse to fly long-haul unless it’s business or first.

In Economy however, you have to be practical. (And yes, I do fly Economy too) For a shorter flight, I advise either skinny jeans or tracks that are made of a thinner material with a tank top or two layered and a long coat or jacket should you feel the chill of the air conditioning. I’d just come off a flight to Singapore in this pic. My top is from Promod. The tracks are from Matalan - which is a UK brand - but you can find very similar ones in Forever 21 and Indian stores like Shopper’s Stop and Pantaloons. My shoes are from Zara. I always advocate a good slip-on for flights. You want your feet covered up from all the gunk on the floor, but you also want to be able to remove them easily to feel comfortable. If you’re curious about the bag, it’s from Furla. It’s my in-flight bag, and it was worth every penny. That said, you can get great totes from Rs 1500 onwards in any mall.

If the flight is a long one, or you’re arriving into weather cooler than our own, swap the jeans for thicker tracks, and the tank for a sweater. I really like the more formal track pants that store like Forever New and Zara are coming out with - this is Zara. Pair them with a cute cropped sweater - available everywhere from the streets to the biggest brands - and you’re ready to step into colder climes. 

Maybe the place that you’re headed to isn’t on the airport list, and you’re looking at a train or bus journey. The rules remain more or less the same, with slight adjustments. I’d recommend leggings for a train journey and a cloth bag to hold your essentials. Our trains are not the cleanest in the world, and you really don’t want to have to rinse the hems of your jeans if they trail along the toilet floor. Likewise a bag that is easily cleaned and washed is a necessity. Once again I’d suggest a tank top and a longish coat for a cover up. For my very first train journey to Delhi, the leggings I’m wearing are from Forever 21. The coat is from Forever New. The top was bought on Hill Road, and the bag at one of those charity sales. 

For this bus journey in Jordan, I opted to wear lightweight skinny jeans in a bright red. (They were bought in 2013 at H&M in the UK) The blouse was tailored. I love it cos it’s one of those fabrics that rarely crease and don’t show when they do. My bag is from Nine West, and the shoes are slip-ons from Bata. The hat is from Acessorize - I buy pretty much all my hats from there - and I can’t remember where I picked up the sunglasses. 

If you’re travelling by car, pretty much anything goes. You could choose overalls like this H&M pair. (The top and shoes are H&M too) 

You could also layer tank tops. These two - black inside and green outside - were from Globus. 

The one thing I would never advise anyone to wear is anything with a hemline that drags along the floor, or trousers that are baggy. You should make sure that your jeans are skinny and that your tracks end with an elasticated cuff. Sadly one can never count on the cleanliness of public toilets. Should you have to use one (and of course you will while travelling to your destination) you want to make sure that no piece of your clothing has the chance to trail along such floors.

My vacation is going to be a return to Mumbai - as I’ve been travelling all this while. I wish you happy summer hols, with amazing experiences.

Till next time,

MumbaiGirl.

IG: @maryannecp

Summer Lovin'

Summer is here. It’s time for holidays, fun and maybe the odd summer romance. As the song goes, “Oh, for those summer nights!”

Only, they’re hot as fricking Hades leaving you with the problem of dressing to impress when all you wanna do is wear a long, loose tunic. I’ve put together four simple Summer Date Outfits, complete with makeup and accessories. No need to stress, he’s definitely going to be impressed.

Outfit One: This is an uber casual one. It’s made for those lazy brunches after a night out; for chilling over coffee; or exploring a new city together. The top is a basic black tee from Zara. The shorts are from H&M. If you’re not a fan of pink, they have them in a variety of other colours. The duster is from Vero Moda. It’s really lightweight, so perfect for summers. You’d want to be covered up a little to insure that you don;t get burnt. But of course, no one really wants to go the whole jeans and a shirt hog in our temps! The shoes are from Aldo. And yes, they do have them in both black - if you don’t wanna spend all your time cleaning your shoes - and white - if you have a maid who does. The choker is something I picked up last year from Hill Road. 

Outfit Two: This is a dressier one. It’s something you could wear to a dinner, a late night movie, or even to a family gathering. The trousers are from Zara, as are the shoes. If you’re not a fan of the contrasting white strap on the shoes, they have tan ones, without any contrasting colours. The top is from Massimo Dutti. Although any white, sleeveless top will work for this. The bracelets I’m wearing are very old ones from Swarovski. They don’t stock this style anymore, but again, any simple bracelets with a little bling will do.

Outfit Three: This is right in line with the trends. Gingham, a dress, a messy topknot or high ponytail, hoops, and flats. I really like these Zara flats, I feel they lend a cute, yet formal vibe to dresses. If you’re in your teens, you could absolutely wear trainers with this. Some white Vans will really set it off. The dress is from H&M. If you’re not feeling the gingham but love the cut, they have this in a variety of other prints and even some solid colours. The hoops are part of a set from Forever New. They are old as well. I think they’re from last fall. But they do have individual hoops in this size at Forever New now. They cost approx Rs 500.

Outfit Four: I’ve kept the most formal one for last. This is something you could wear to a daytime party, a family lunch, or if you have to meet his parents. You can also dress it way up with heels and jewellery and take it to a dinner party. The skirt is an old fave I bought in London. However this style is in stores now. I’ve seen slightly shorter versions in Forever 21, longer ones in Zara, and a floral one more or less the same length (although made from a stiffer fabric) in Forever New. The blouse is from Cover Story. It's bang on trend with stripes, red, and the tie around. Once again I’ve pulled out my Zara flats, but like I said, you can work this with a heel, or a proper ballet flat. The silver heart necklace was a gift. Similar ones both fake and real are available in pretty much any store that sells jewellery. 

What has been your best date, or your worst? Have you had any spectacular nights or complete disasters? Do let me know in the comments.

Till next time,

MumbaiGirl.

My Summer Staples

(Apologies in advance for the messy fonts. I'm rubbish at HTML, and can't seem to figure out how to handle the sizing today!)

There was a popular song that began..."The temperature is rising"

And that's perfectly appropriate for our weather right now. Wherever in India you live, we're feeling the scorch of the heatwave we call summer. If you live in the interiors of the country, you're probably swiching between feeling overheated as the temps rise to 40+ in the day, and wondering if you need a blanket when they drop to 20-something at night. If you live near the sea - oh, aren't we Mumbaikars lucky? - you're changing your clothes every time you bathe. Which, btw, is a minimum of three times a day. Is it any wonder why we always have a water shortage during the summer in Mumbai? The minute you step out of the house, you're dripping with sweat! What on earth does one wear on those days when, frankly, you wish clothes were optional?

I don't have all the answers. But I'll show you the items of clothing that are staples in my summer wardrobe. I think that if you have a decent collection of these pieces, you'll survive until the monsoon breaks.

Trousers: These are always a great summer alternative to jeans. What usually happens however, is that the stores make them in super-thin fabrics. Thus rendering them essentially unwearable - unless flashing your underwear is something you like to do. I would also suggest avoiding the regulation white ones like the plague. Unless they're made with extremely thick fabric (and who wants to wear thick fabrics in summer?) you'll be that girl everyone turns to look at cos they can see your knickers. In my opinion, very tacky. 

A darker fabric, like these I've raved about earlier, from Zara, means you can wear shorter tops without any concerns. Don't forget to make sure that they're wide-legged. A palazzo or flare-leg is perfect for keeping your cool no matter the temps outside.

Dresses: I love a good dress for the summer. As long as you steer clear of bodycons, almost anything goes. I'm currently loving this off-the-shoulder dress from Forever 21.

It's got the perfect boho vibe that this season is all about. If you don't mind untying oodles of laces, gladiator sandals, a top-knot and large hoops will make this your dress of the season. Fortunately for us lazier souls, it looks just as good with slides! It is quite translucent. So I would suggest that you wear cycling shorts or Spanx underneath.

Should you prefer something more formal, you can choose a 50's style. The full skirt is ver appropriate for our weather, and the contrast with its more fitted top is very flattering on curvier figures. If you're in your teens, just make sure that the skirt is on the shorter side. Boom, you're immediately in skater dress territory.

I also love babydoll dresses. But I wouldn't advise them if you're self-conscious about your body. Cut wrongly , they can make a size zero supermodel look pregnant. Imagine what they can do to us mere mortals! Never buy one of these without trying them on.

Skirts: Skirts are to summer what backpacks are to schoolkids - essential wearing requirements. There's nothing like a floaty skirt to put you in a holiday mood. For some reason those asymmetric hemlines are back this season. So I'm thankful that I didn't chuck this Zara skirt. 

It's an old one, but the print, the colour and the hemline are very current. All I need now is a boy with a library, and my summer dating scene are sorted. Lol. That said, anything short and/or made with a light, floaty fabric must be worn with either a slip or some cycling shorts underneath. All it takes is one gust of wind to reveal all to the world. And unless your name happens to be Marilyn Monroe, there's no way to pull it off.

Tops, Tees & Blouses: Thank goodness for the oversized sleeves of the summer. They've really solved the problem of covering up your arms (so they don't burn), while not dying of heat. I am absolutely in love with the Zara top I raved about a few posts ago. 

It's the perfect length, style and colour for the summer. As the weather gets hotter, I find myself reaching for it more and more.

This Only tie-back top is another one I love. It's more or less a backless tee, but in such a pretty way. Wear something like this with a black bralette underneath. You look casual and summery and altogether perfect.

This top from Massimo Dutti is going to be my white blouse this season. Nothing says summer like a white top. This one is lined, has an intricate back and is sleeveless. If you've been put off by the expensive vibe this store give off, fear not. Their prices are more or less along the lines of Zara. (Not the TRF section, but Zara woman) So it's not really out of your league if you're in your twenties or older. 

If you'd like to see how I style these - and all the other pieces I own - do follow me on Instagram. My handle is @maryannecp.

Till next time,

MumbaiGirl

Paisa Vasool

Haven't we all been there? We spot a gorgeous piece of clothing in a store. It might be a little over our budget; or it could be such a bargain that it's impossible to resist. Either which way, we tell ourselves that this is the item that we'll be wearing again and again. Three years later, we discover it in the back of our closets - with the tags still on it. 
It's always the unlikeliest pieces that we wind up using again and again. So I thought I'd show you some of my paisa vasool clothes. The ones that I've gotten the most bang out of for my buck. Most of them, as you'll see, are neutrals. They've also casual cuts with a slight bit of bling or some other formal accent, which means that they'll suit most occasions. I'm also including some new pieces that I'm loving. The ones that I've bought recently, and have worn non-stop since.

The Oldies But Goodies

The Skirt:

This skirt is an old fave of mine. I bought it way back in 2008 in London, in a little side street somewhere in the Piccadilly Circus - Oxford Street area. (Yeah, I know that’s a large part to cover, but I can’t remember the exact location of the store) It cost me a grand total of five pounds. And can I just say that it was worth every penny! I can’t count the number of times I’ve worn it since. It can be dressed up with heels and a nice formal, black top. It can be dressed down with flats and a simple T-shirt. I have never travelled without it, cos it’s so versatile. It’s the skirt I find myself constantly reaching for no matter the occasion. I’ve worn it to work meetings and parties. Just out for coffee with friends, and to casual lunch meet-ups. I’d probably reach for this skirt when it comes to meeting potential in-laws as well. The waistband is made of soft comfy elastic that holds you in without forcing you to skip lunch. It’s very forgiving. The inner lining is fitted, which means no matter how strong the breeze, your modesty is well protected. The slight flare that the actual skirt has, along with the crochet hem, gives it a lovely classy touch. It’s one of the reasons why it works beautifully for formal occasions. This sort of a silhouette is a must-have in any wardrobe. So if you happen to find a skirt along similar lines…don’t hesitate. Snap it up!

The Shoes:

These tie-ups from Forever 21 have been one of the best shoe decisions that I have ever made. They cost approx 1400, and are well worth it. The shoes come in black as well as a greenish grey, but the black ones are the ones worth buying. They lend such a classy air to any outfit. The slight heel with its gold band really sets off the black colour, and takes the shoe from a normal flat to one that can be worn anywhere. They’re great shoes for dancing the night way - sexy, but unlike killer heels, you can walk at the end of it. They work perfectly with jeans and leggings, giving you unending options as daywear. Plus you can take them to work, or even to a party.  I haven’t tried them with Indian outfits, but given that they are more or less a slip-on, they’re likely to work quite well. I bought these in Feb, and have worn them to death ever since. The only caveat is that they aren’t too comfortable when walking on uneven ground. If you’re out pounding the pavements of our cities, be warned. After about three hours, your toes will protest. That said, I haven’t has any blisters or cuts from these shoes. Just sore, slightly reddish toes. You might want to keep that in mind, if your plans include walking up and down Hill Road or the like for a very long period of time. While these were early spring shoes, they are still in a few Forever 21 stores. Which means if you haven’t already bought them - you can.

The Sweater: 

This sweater dates back to 2013. I bought it in Mango. It's from their formal wear range. Yes, it's super comfy. It's also very versatile, as it's quite a transparent piece. It lends itself well to summer wear with a cute bralette underneath. And in the winter offers both warmth and style when paired with a camisole. It's even thin enough that you can layer it under coats in the dead of winter - should you be lucky enough to live some place where it actually gets cold. The black and white stripes are stylish no matter what's trendy. Plus the slightly oversized look is always amazing when it comes to sweaters. The silver threads running though it add a touch of glamour, and make it something you can choose for a night out. It was quite expensive back then - two thousand, I think. But I feel that it was money well spent. While I've not seen these type of sweaters in Mango anymore, Forever New seems to come out with either a gold or silver one every season.


The New Kids On The Block

The Shoes:

Oh, what can I say about this pair of gold, backless loafers from H&M? They're super trendy. This is the style of the season. They're so, so comfy. No, really, they are. I have literally worn them everywhere since I bought them. They make a formal outfit, and dress up a casual one. All while being so soft, you simply don't want to take them off. The gold colour is perfect for summer - black would look too harsh. And the best part is, they're not even very expensive. They cost 1799, yup. Just that. If you meet me anywhere this summer, these are the shoes I'll be wearing. They're currently in H&M stores everywhere. Avoid the black ones though. They're really stiff, and will not feel comfortable after a few minutes. Also, don't buy these online. H&M has sized these a little oddly. I had to buy a size smaller than my actual shoe size, but my sister needed to buy a size larger. So I'd say, try before you buy this pair. That detail aside, they work beautifully for every summer occasion. And I - to quote McDonalds - am loving it.



The Blouse:

This was an impulse buy from Bebe. I saw it on their sales rack in early March, and thought to myself, "Why not?"
When I tried it on, I realised it was a must-have. I love the detail of the side zips - they're on both sides. The black makes it perfect to dress up - with gold jewellery - or dress down. And it's sleeveless which means that I can adapt it to all weathers. I've already worn it so often, I'm having to rethink my outfits cos I put it on and then realise that I've already worn it to this place - twice! It's fab with leggings, skirts, wide-legged trousers and jeans. The style and the colour work together to make it very classy. It would honestly be very difficult to find fault with this top, no matter where you wore it. It works very well for summer, and goes straight into winter too. All in all, it's something that I see myself wearing again and again.

Which are your fave pieces to wear? What types of clothes do you reach for every time? I'd love to know.

Till next time,
MumbaiGirl

Outfits of the Week

Style is such a personal thing. We judge people based on what they wear; instinctively like or dislike others due to their choice in clothes; and use it to express ourselves in so many different ways. Therefore I thought that there was no better way to truly introduce myself that with a sort of OOTW post. It isn't an entire week's worth of clothes, as I wasn't out all days this week. But it is a glimpse of the way I wear the clothes that I select.

Monday: 

 

This was a casual day. The top is from Bebe. The jeans are from Only. They're an old purchase. I bought them in the sales back in 2014. The slides are from Charles & Keith. They've been mentioned in an earlier post. 

Tuesday: 

Today I chose to wear the babydoll, banker striped dress I bought from Zara. Once again I've paired it with my Charles & Keith slides. I'm wearing a bralette from Aeropostale with the dress to keep it from being too revealing. Sadly in India showing off too much skin is never a good idea.

Thursday:

It's an über-casual day once again. The jeans are the same pair from Only. The inner top is from H&M. If I remember correctly, they even have it in a pale pink. The tank top is an older one I bought last year from Forever New. The hoop earrings I'm wearing - if you strain your eyes to see them - are also from Forever New (circa 2016). They are part of a set of three. One pair of silver hoops, one rose gold and one gold.

Friday: 

You might remember this top and dress from my earlier posts. The top is my denim pick from Zara, and can I just say that I absolutely love it! It's really an awesome buy. Even I didn't think that I'd like it as much as I did..lol. The dress is the gingham one from H&M. It's very nice for the price (Rs 799). But it's really just a one season piece. I think it'll probably be tossed once winter comes around. My shoes are from Forever 21. I bought these earlier in the year, and I'm loving them. They look a lot more expensive than they were - I feel they really exude class. If you're one of those people - aka all of us - who needs to dress well on a budget, these shoes ought to be a part of your wardrobe.

Sunday: 

I apologise for the picture, as for some reason, the cropping and enlarging edits don't seem to save. If you look closely, the trousers I'm wearing are from Zara. They're a cropped, black flare. They're really comfortable with the weather we're having right now. But they're thick enough to make it through a Mumbai winter as well. Zara has these in a variety of colours and patterns - there's a polka dot, a stripe, a pink and a white as well. However, to me, black is the most versatile. The top is from Bebe. I got it from their sales rack back in Feb. It's a great top for any kind of formal occasion. The gold necklaces are from Forever 21. I always feel that gold jewellery just makes black pop so very well. It sends out a very elegant vibe. The loafers - yes, backless ones, natch! - are from H&M. And they are super comfy. I'm in love with them. I only got them a few days ago, and I've been wearing them non stop since. They're pretty cheap as well (Rs1799), which makes them a great summer buy.

I hope this glimpse into my wardrobe gives you an idea of what's great - or not - for summer. With the temperatures rising, I'll give you a rundown of summer dresses and looks that don't involve jeans in the next few blog posts.

Till then,

MumbaiGirl

Travel Makeup Essentials

I love travelling, as anyone who follows me on Insta knows. Given, however, that back home in Mumbai we rarely - if ever - wear makeup, deciding what to carry with me when travelling was initially quite the problem. Either I wound up with way too much stuff, or I was missing the essentials and had to wind up buying them. Not to mention, in what form should you carry your products? Powders, liquids, pencils, chubby sticks, the list goes on and on. Over the years, I've learned what's best and what makes a mess. Consider this the starting point of your makeup kit when travelling.

Primers: Not everyone uses primers, but if they are essentials in your makeup kit I would suggest the type that you can squeeze out of a tube or pump out of a bottle. Liquid primers and spray-ons don't always love the highly pressurised airplane cabins and holds. No matter how well packed, if they don't leak into your luggage, you will get half the bottle overflowing the first time you use it in your hotel room. 

Foundation: I am a big believer in powders. First of all, they mattify your face. Always a plus on a holiday in the sun. Secondly, they can be applied in several different ways. Want good coverage? Wet your sponge. Prefer a light dusting? Use a large kabuki brush. It's easy to take a powder from day to night. You can even use it like loose powder to set your makeup. So versatile. The compacts usually come with a makeup sponge, so no need to pack extra items. And let's not forget that you can carry your powders in your carry-on luggage. So if your significant other is meeting you, a quick nip to the loo and voila! You look like a disembarking movie star.

Concealer: If you're one of the lucky few who can afford to skip this step, my jealousy knows no bounds. For those of us who do need it, my advice is those chubby sticks. They cover everything and are very blendable. An alternative is the pump kind, especially if you need to mix a shade or two to get your perfect match. 

Eyeshadows: When it comes to eyeshadows, I say either go with a palette or carry the shadow sticks. If you're particularly fond of a certain type of look, buy a palette for that and carry it. If you opt for the sticks, know that if you carry neutral colours, you can probably skip carry kajal and eyeliners. They're space savers, very blendable and come in some amazing colours.

Highlighters: While highlighter palettes might be bandied about like they're the living end, travelling requires something more concise. I suggest a simple chubby stick in a rose gold or champagne goldfish shade. The thickness means that you can use a brush to apply it should you want to. It also means you can chuck it in your in-flight bag.

Lipglosses, Lipsticks & more: The thing I love most about those super thick lip pencils is that they're so multi-tasking. You can line your lips with them. You can use them as lipstick. And they're so easy to blend, that they double as blush too. It's one of the reasons why I haven't included any suggestions for blushers. I think that a tiny swipe of a chubby lip pencil well blended out is all the blush Indian skin needs. Since most Indian skin tones (both fair & dusky) tend to have yellow undertones (not pink like Caucasian skin) an overdose of blush does scream 'circus clown'. It's better to err on the side of caution, and keep your blush light. If you feel that lip colour tends to be glossier than you'd like on your cheeks, a light dusting of powder on top will make the colour matte.


These are usually all the things that I have in my makeup bag when I travel. I also tend to skip carrying liner and use the stick shadows instead. What are your essentials when travelling? Do let me know!

Till next time,

MumbaiGirl