The Magic Brush (Guest Post by ITIKA SOOD)

I distinctly remember promising you beautiful people an equally beautiful guest post, recently. Well, here I am. I am good at dressing up, myself, other people, dolls, the babies of the family…. Yea okay, you know what I mean. The point is, I personally think I am good. But Make up is not my strong point. I can manage enough for myself when I need to dress up for parties or weddings, but an elaborate REAL thing, is a hard task for me to establish.

I believe there are more women like me and hence, THIS is my idea for the guest post. Please welcome Itika Sood from Rouge. Itika has worked on shoots for various online shopping portals and for some Punjabi stars. She is new on the scene and definitely Here to stay with the magic she possesses in her hands! Hence, Over to this Uber- Talented young woman!

Prescribed In-Vogue looks by Itika Sood

To, all the beautiful ladies reading this post, I'm Itika Sood, a makeup artist from Chandigarh, India. I am here with some of my favourite looks that are bound to give you the glory of a Real Diva. I'll be giving you some easy tips on how to make yourself look more attractive, prettier (than you already are) and most of all ‘the best’!

                                                                      

SHIMMERY BROWN SHADOW

Blended along the lids and under the lower lashes, this spicy shade adds just enough color to enhance eyes, without screaming "I'm wearing makeup." Stick with warm shades—think anything in the toffee, caramel, or tobacco families. For night, brush the color over the lids and up above the creases of the eyes.

CONTOURED CHEEKS

If you weren't born with sculpted cheeks, you can paint them on. First, sweep a matte powder blush under your cheekbones. (Suck in your cheeks to find the spot we're talking about.) If you're fair, use a soft beige blush; for medium skin, try a bronze shade; on dark skin, go with a brown one. Then, blend a powder highlighter along your cheekbones—pick one that nearly matches your natural skin tone.

WINGED LINER

Flicking liner just past the corners of your eyes creates a flirty effect. For the least theatrical take on the look, extend the line just a quarter inch past the corners and give it a soft curve upward.

SMOKY EYES

Give eye makeup a bedroom-y kind of sex appeal by working in layers and smudging it along the way. First up, creamy black pencil—wedged into the upper and lower lashes and softened by gently rubbing with your finger or cotton swab. Trace over that with black shadow and smudge with the swab. Then sweep shimmery gray shadow over the upper lids and blend it up beyond the crease (the more tangled it is with the black, the better).

GLOSSY NUDE LIPS

There's no simpler way to get a sex-kittenish pout. Choose a nude that's slightly pink or flecked with shimmer (they're the most flattering), and concentrate the gloss on the center of the lips (that's the most fattening).

The post is property of Miss Itika Sood from Rouge in Chandigarh. You can connect with her for services and apparently, even for lessons. I tried using her tips and they have worked like magic. I'll post then on the lookbook sooner rather than later (hopefully). To get in contact with Itika, you can follow her Facebook Page at the link given below:
https://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/ROUGE-By-Itika-Sood/636792923069759

Find our facebook page here and follow the blog for more updates on posts and looks and contests and giveaways!
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Lace-Brocade/572878432791987?ref=hl

*photos from other online sources

Victoria's Real Secret

Do you get that urge to shop every other day? Does a well stocked site make life worth living on some days? Well, join the brigade of awesome shoppers. India, with all its taboos and conservationists, has a certain issue with lingerie. I hate the whole concept of you can use it but not talk it. Have you ever been to the Victoria's Secret website? Well, if you haven't, I am gonna tell you why you should. 

One would think that the Amazing brand, home to all the gorgeous models like Adriana Lima, Miranda Kerr, Doutzen Kroes and Alessandra Ambrosio, has nothing more to bring to the Universe than lingerie. Well, you're wrong. These people have so much more to offer than petty (but expensive enough to burn a hole in your pocket) lingerie. You can visit and explore www.victoriassecret.com if you want to. But don't blame me if you come out a changed woman. The reason for this, is simple. You will have to force yourself into denial to come out of it without buying anything. They have clothing, shoes, accessories, jewellery, cosmetics and what not. If you are a woman, there is no way in hell you will find it a waste of time. You will not regret visiting the website.

I am gonna share some of my dirty secrets from the page here. I am a shoe lover so I am gonna start with shoes. I share 4 links with you here. rest of them you will find on the website too. These are the ones that I love the most and it leaves me feeling guilty that I can't share the others (you'll have to be here all day)

1. http://www.victoriassecret.com/shoes/new-arrivals/double-buckle-bootie-vs-collection?ProductID=164977&CatalogueType=OLS

2. http://www.victoriassecret.com/shoes/new-arrivals/pointed-cap-toe-pump-vs-collection?ProductID=164974&CatalogueType=OLS

3. http://www.victoriassecret.com/shoes/new-arrivals/pointed-toe-pump-vs-collection?ProductID=169288&CatalogueType=OLS

4. http://www.victoriassecret.com/shoes/new-arrivals/v-front-sandal-vs-collection?ProductID=169020&CatalogueType=OLS

Roy Raymond has given us something to treasure, people, don't insult him by considering it all lingerie.

The 14th of February is almost here and all you men must wanna treat your special ladies to something worth cherishing. But what does a man buy his woman. Well, you don't have to worry about if she'll like the design or will the colour be among her favourites. Just visit a VS showroom or the website and buy a gorgeous dress from their store. Here are some of my personal favourites.

1. http://www.victoriassecret.com/clothing/dresses/the-supermodel-sweatshirt-dress?ProductID=167507&CatalogueType=OLS

2. http://www.victoriassecret.com/clothing/dresses/the-supermodel-sweatshirt-dress?ProductID=166969&CatalogueType=OLS

3. http://www.victoriassecret.com/clothing/dresses/reversible-lace-dress?ProductID=132124&CatalogueType=OLS

4. http://www.victoriassecret.com/clothing/dresses/reversible-lace-dress?ProductID=125909&CatalogueType=OLS

5. http://www.victoriassecret.com/clothing/dresses/open-back-lace-dress?ProductID=65376&CatalogueType=OLS

The links 1 and 2 will be your best friends if you want to play it safe. The last thing you want to do over the Lovers' day is buy your favourite woman a dress size that is too tight (making her feel fat) or one that is too lose (making her think that you think she is that fat). In such a situation, you can/should buy her something that is supposed to stay lose. Although you will still need a vague idea of her size (which you can know from any dress hanging in her closet), you don't wanna risk it, Body types are trickier than Calculus. 3, 4 and 5 are, however, the most amazing articles for a woman with a balanced body. Lace is a lovely fabric (my personal favourite) and a treat in sync with the day you're targeting.

If you're one of those Amazing, Hopeless Romantics and are whisking her away to a beach dream come true  V-Day (and she is open enough for it) buy her some awesome trinkets. A beach needs beachwear and there is a probability that she is not prepared in terms of a wardrobe (I hope you're smart enough for it to be a surprise). You can buy her whatever you want but she will love you for a cover-up, not all women are comfortable in a bikini and guess what? A cover-up is sexier than the bikini.

1. http://www.victoriassecret.com/swimwear/cover-ups/tie-waist-cover-up?ProductID=168339&CatalogueType=OLS

2. http://www.victoriassecret.com/swimwear/cover-ups/ruched-maxi-dress?ProductID=108684&CatalogueType=OLS

3. http://www.victoriassecret.com/swimwear/cover-ups/hooded-tank?ProductID=160056&CatalogueType=OLS

4. http://www.victoriassecret.com/swimwear/cover-ups/the-romper-sunwashed-terry?ProductID=165015&CatalogueType=OLS

5. http://www.victoriassecret.com/swimwear/cover-ups/deep-v-cover-up?ProductID=159904&CatalogueType=OLS

VS also as a connected line called PINK. PINK has lingerie, apparel and accessories for 15-22 year old. The collection is highly teen-ish and is quirky and impressive. There is more on the website you can browse through and indulge yourself in. PINK has backpacks, bracelets and shoes too. UGGs, sneakers and flip-flops are also available with PINK as with the VS mainland.

I will take your leave for now and work towards bringing you some more info on stuff you can buy tomorrow! Shop smart and drop me an email if you need any help.

{PS, there is a gift on shopping worth $75. Check the website out}

Online shopping vs Online shopping

Oh no, I am not going to try and get your heart off online shopping at all. Personally, I am exceptionally fond of it. All it takes is an internet connection and something for it to work on. I shop online and when I don't have the time, I ask my friend to shop for  me, online again. The greatest upside is that you do not have to go anywhere or sometimes the stuff is not even available in your locality. I don't live in a Jungle but most of the clothes I love are not available anywhere in Himachal except Shimla, Dharamshala and Manali. So rather than travelling 9, 1 or 7 hours respectively, I go online on  my ipod touch and buy to by heart's content (or my wallet's capacity, whichever comes first; normally its the wallet thing). However, there are certain things that are still not possible in this way. Like when my sister was getting married in November, 2013, I could not just buy anything online. I'll tell you why.

Online shopping has a wide range of products and sites to choose from. Online Clothing brands are so many now that you'll lose count before you find that one piece you just fall in love with. For instance, Last night I spent 3 hours online to find a pretty enough peplum dress for my friend and I had been to I don't know how many sites before I found that one thing that I just had to have. That's how I roll. Choosing clothes online is easy. There are dimensions mentioned next to the outfit and some sites even mention the dimensions and the height of their models so the buyer can relate to it and buy something as per the comparison. You can choose colors too. It's just nirvana on a screen for anyone and everyone who loves to own the prettiest stuff. However, if you're in a hurry, buy only the stuff you can be sure you won't have to get altered or exchanged.

Buying jewelery on the internet is the easiest, best and the most risk-free option. There isn't much to do. Just browse through some choices and buy what you think will suit you or whatever you want to own. The only catch is the delicacy of the product or defect upon delivery. Well, in that case, you can exchange the product on almost every available site now. However, there are some sites which do not have a customer friendly exchange policy and some that don't have any such policy at all. It is always better to read the policies of the brand before you buy anything. I know its  tedious but that's where buyers come in. They have to spend time reading such stuff and you don't have to waste time. Buyers are also a good option for men in particular since they get confused over buying clothes, jewelery, shoes or make-up for their friends or partners. 

The only fine print on buying stuff online is in the shoes' section. I have shopped for shoes thrice and they have not been a perfect fit each time. If you think that it just needs a shoe size then you're mistaken. Every girl who has ever worn high-heeled shoes would know how hard it is to tolerate a wrong size. You cannot rely on a shoe size completely. Apart from the fact that shoe sizes vary with the brand, the shape of the foot is also an important information. You have to try a shoe on before you own it. Avoid buying shoes online, particularly the high-heeled ones. 

Make-up and lifestyle products like curtains, oils, candles etc are also easy to buy products since they are just brand based articles. However, yet again, buy make-up products only from the trust-worthy sites or the so-called 'big names' of online shopping. There are countless duplicate products in the market and its better to not risk using those on your face, skin or hair.

Follow the blog for more on everything that Matters. ;)

This dress is a product available online and is the love of my life for now. My shopper friend now owns and rocks it!