Monsoon Makeup!

I just loved this! This is a guest blog from the very fabulous Indian Makeup and Beauty Blog.

Now you may not live somewhere that gets monsoons, but chances are you live somewhere that has humidity to deal with over the summer months, and as such, this post is for you!

 Monsoon Makeup

Heavy makeup tends to get smudged during the wet monsoon months. Therefore, it is essential to keep it light and balanced. Mentioned below are few tips that will help you look fresh and radiant rather than looking ruined and washed out in monsoon. Remember that the important aspects of monsoon makeup would be to keep it bright and waterproof.

Makeup Tips for the Monsoon Season:

• After cleansing your face. Rub an ice cube for about 10 to 15 minutes. This trick will lower the sweating rate so that your makeup stays on for much longer period.
• Avoid using foundations. If it is necessary, use a waterproof foundation to prevent it from smudging away. Also stay away from concealer, apply a small amount of foundation to conceal any spots.
• Use powder matte cosmetics rather than creamy and glossy ones.
• Avoid using pressed powder in monsoon as it can form patches on skin. If you must use it, use it sparingly.
• Do not opt for cream eye shadow as they can melt off the face. Use powder shadows. Go for brown, pinks and beige as they are easy to maintain in the rain. The idea is to go in for a natural look rather than creating a highly done up face.
• Excuse yourself from sparkle and creamy blushers as they are likely to form patches.
• For lipstick, soft matte is the most preferable one for the ladies. It can be a pink shade or soft brown with sheer gloss.
• Avoid kajal and use water-resistant mascaras and eyeliners.





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The Prada Outlet

One of the most fabulous things a fashionista can do while in Tuscany is find her way to the Prada Outlet in Montevarchi.

For some reason most people seem to think this is a difficult spot to find, and as such waste shoe dollars on paying for a tour or a town car to get them there.
I say save your Prada dollars, rent a car, and make a gorgeous day of it.

Afterall, Prada at 70% discount is still expensive. And driving in Italy is both fun and fast!

The Prada Outlet, although hidden and secretly named, is a jewel not to be missed. Apparently the biggest Prada store in the world, this emporium is no typical outlet experience.

Beautifully laid out and immaculate with an enormous selection (when I was there anyway),

the impeccably Prada clad staff are super helpful and engaging.

I had all kinds of fun with sales assistants who emphatically removed items from me that they decided were less than flattering, and then en masse talked me into the sexiest red Prada dress I have ever seen. Just looking at it hanging in my closet takes my breath away.

Runway videos on giant flatscreens put you in the quintessential Prada frame of mind, and the runway music throughout the store reminds you that you are in the land of the luxe.

You get a numbered ticket at the entrance, which not only regulates the number of shoppers inside at any given time, but also serves as your personal identifier. You choose your items and hand them to the sales assistant who has them ready and waiting for you at the check out counter. No messy dragging around armfuls of clothes and shoes here.

If driving from Florence you can take a swift route down the autostrada and veer off to Montevarchi. I sincerely recommend allowing yourself some extra time, and leaving the autostrada at Poggibonsi, and taking yourself on an exquisite ride through the Chianti.
The views are breathtaking, and the little towns you pass through are to die for.

My favorite? Radda in Chianti. Stop in at the Dante Alighieri Bar/Enoteca for a cappucino en route,

or even better, on the way back sit out on the patio and have Fabrizio and Carolyn bring you lovely local wines and a perfect Tuscan late lunch. Heaven.

Once in Montevarchi get yourself onto Via Levanella Becorpi (easy to find - its one of the main streets) and drive approximately 3 kms. You'll feel like you are halfway to nowhere, when on the left you'll see a huge, white, modern factory style building. Turn left at the corner and drive to the end of the building. At the last gate you will see a parking lot filled with tour buses, chauffeur driven limos and towncars. And you will have reached Utopia!

The Prada Outlet is called Space - you won't see a Prada sign from the street..

 Although it initially feels tourista-geeky, everyone takes pictures outside with their black SPACE bags

 even celebrity designer Michelle Mirkovich from Divinity Jewelry

One last piece of advice. Whatever you are planning on spending at the Prada Outlet, quadruple the amount.

The only shopper's remorse I have felt both in Italy in general, and at the Prada Outlet, is for the things I didn't buy, not for those that I did.

I'm already saving for the next round...

Go For Gold ( ...with care...)

 With the onset of warmer weather and a fresh sun kissed glow to our skin, there is no time like the present to rock your inner JLo and go for gold.

Jennifer Lopez accents her makeup with golden perfection

There are a few rules to observe if you want to pull this off with aplomb.

Choose one area, and stick to it.Gold showing up in multiple areas of the face just looks ridiculous, not fabulous. Work your Midas touch with one of the following:

Maybe a beautiful pinky champagne gold bronzer

Kim Kardashian, reigning queen of rosy gold bronzer

Gold eyeshadow, or a gold accent to your inner eye

What Would B Do?? She would worrrrk it! Beyonce in gold eye shadow

 Or try a gold lipgloss, either alone or over your favorite lipstick

Subtle golden glow at BCBG Max Azria. Beautiful

Air France Madame Magazine

Airline magazines are so hideously boring.

As a rule I would rather pull my eyelashes out one by one than sit there and try to read one at 35 000 feet.
With one extraordinarily fabulous exception.

Air France' Madame magazine.

Trust the french to get this so incredibly right. Albeit via two Brits, Lee Swillingham and Stuart Spalding of the London based Suburbia design studio.
The duo who have designed ad campaigns for luxury brands such as Dior, Longchamp, Tod's and Bottega Veneta have given Air France Madame a complete makeover and a compelling new identity.
The bilingual (french and english) bi-monthly magazine has the look and feel of Vogue, with exquisite fashion photo stories, cool editorial and a cutting edge aesthetic.

Par example: check out this story, from the Air France Madame April 2011 issue.

Rhapsodie, fluid silhouettes and colors, a very chic 70's retro...

featuring model Nicole Hofman, shot by Nikos Papadopoulos and styled by Virginie Dhello

Can you even believe its an inflight magazine??
Fab, non?
A bientot!
Wheels up Paris...