Stitch it tonight a Bucket Bag: Sew up the perfect tote for all your essentials

This brightly coloured bag by Corinne Bradd is just the thing for packing up all your must- haves for the festive holiday. Easy to stitch and with a drawstring to close, it will look stylish and come in handy. It could even double up as a sack filled with presents under the tree! 

Essentials

•  Striped fabric, 120cm
•  2oz quilt wadding, 50cm
•  6mm wide cord, 200cm
•  4cm wide webbing, 100cm (optional)

Dimensions

• 40cm x 41cm 

Stitch a Bag

1. Cut a 85cm square from striped fabric and crease in half across the stripes. Trim a 42cm x 85cm piece of wadding and lay on one half of the wrong side of the fabric so one edge lies along the crease. Cut a 90cm length of cord and place along the crease. 
2. Fold the other half of the fabric over the crease line, to cover the cord and wadding. Pin the layers together under the ridge made by the cord before pinning the layers together at regular intervals. 
3. Use a zipper foot to sew directly along the side of the cord to make a piped top edge. Quilt the rest of the fabric along the stripes every 5cm to 7cm to hold the layers together and provide structure. Trim the edges of the fabric square if necessary and zig zag stitch along them. 
4. Cut eight 5cm x 8cm rectangles from striped fabric. Fold each one in half lengthways, right sides together, and sew along the long edge to make a tube. Turn each one out and press so the seam sits in the centre. Fold in 5mm on each raw edge and topstitch 2mm from the fold. 
5. Pin the flattened tubes to the bag, 3cm down from the piped top edge in a landscape position, at regular intervals, leaving a 1cm back seam allowance at either end of the quilted fabric. Topstitch them to the bag, on the long edge of each, to make cord channels. 
6. Fold the quilted fabric in half widthways, right sides together, and sew up the back seam with a 1cm seam allowance. Trim the ends of the piping and cover with a short length of bias binding or scrap of fabric slip stitched over the raw ends. 
7. Cut two 23cm squares from striped fabric for the bottom. Lay one piece face down followed by a piece of wadding the same size, with the second fabric square on top, right side up. Pin them together and zig zag stitch around all four edges. 
8. Find the centre of two opposite sides of the square and mark them with a pin. Match one mark to the back seam of the bag and sew the edge of the square to the bottom, stopping 1cm from either end. Find the centre of the front and stitch the opposite side of the square to this in the same way. The two remaining sides of the square can now be sewn to the rest of the quilted panel. 
9. Cut a 10cm x 100cm strip of striped print. Fold in 1cm on the short edges and tack. Fold in 1cm on each long edge and crease. Bring the long folded edges together and pin to make a 4cm wide strap. Iron fusible webbing inside the folded fabric to strengthen it, if required. Topstitch along both long sides, 2mm from the edge. 
10. Pin to either side of the bag, 4cm below the cord channels. Topstitch the bottom 4cm square of strap end to the bag, closing up the tacked ends as you go and reinforcing with a cross shape in the centre. Remove the tacking stitches. 
11. Create two small tabs from 5cm x 10cm rectangles, folded in half, right sides together and stitched down each side. Turn them out, fold in 5mm along the top edge and slip the ends of the remaining cord into each one. Topstitch them closed over the cord. Thread the cord through the channels at the top to finish. 

Stitch a pretty pinny with feminine frills by a fashion designer

You’re sure to look the picture of domesticity in the kitchen this Christmas with this fancy apron made by Stuart Hillard. It’s stitched in a cheerful floral repeat designed by Kaffe Fassett, and features lovely pleated details and a useful front pocket. The contrast waistband is long enough to tie in a bow at the front to ensure it doesn’t slip off during crucial oven to table manoeuvring! 

Essentials

• Floral print fabric, 50cm x width
• Plain cotton, light pink, dark pink, grey, 50cm of each
Dimensions
48cm x 98cm (excluding ties) 

make an apron

1 Fold 50cm x width of printed cotton in half, selvedge to selvedge, and press lightly. Tie
a length of string to a pencil, then pin at the top of the folded fabric, with the fold on the left. Position the pencil at the bottom fold and mark a quarter circle. Cut on the line and open out to make a semi-circle. Do the same with light pink lining fabric.

2 Create a pocket in the same way as for the apron, using 20cm x 40cm each of floral print fabric and grey cotton for the lining. From

grey cotton, also cut three 10cm x width of fabric strips. Join two of them together for the apron frill and set aside.

3 Make the pocket frill by folding the remaining strip in half, wrong sides together, and press. With the right side of the pocket in front of you and starting at one edge, create 5cm pleats in the strip and pin

to the lower curved pocket edge, right sides facing. Trim of any excess length and tack the frill in place. Pin the outer pocket and lining right sides together, with the frill inside. Sew the curved lower edge using a 9mm seam allowance. Turn out and press. 

4 Cut a 5cm strip of bright pink cotton and use it to bind the pocket top. Sew with right sides facing to the lining side, then turn the

strip to the front and topstitch neatly in place, tucking the raw edges in at each end. Pin the pocket to the apron front, 8cm down from the top raw edge. Stitch in place by sewing 5mm either side of the frill and the pocket.

5 Fold the longer frill strip in half, wrong sides together, and press. Create pleats as before, 8cm apart. Pin, then tack to the

lower curved edge of the apron, right sides facing. Pin the apron front and lining right sides together with the frill inside. Sew the curved edge of the apron using a 9mm seam allowance. Leave the straight top edge open. Turn out and press. Topstitch the seam 9mm from the curved edge.

6 To make the waist tie, cut three 16cm x width of fabric strips from bright pink cotton. Join them together to make one

continuous piece. Press the seam allowances open. Fold the strip in half lengthways, right sides together, and sew down the long edge. Turn the strip out and centre the seam along the back. Press.

7 Turn the short raw edges of the strip in and press. Fold over the top raw edge of the apron by 2cm and press. Tack in place. Centre the waist tie onto the apron top edge, wrong side to right side. Make sure that the tacked top edge of the apron is 5mm down from the top of the waist tie. Pin then sew the waist band in place along the top edge. Remove the tacking, then topstitch all the way around the waist tie. 

An expert fashion designer explaining how to stitch a winter wrap shawl easily

Sew a stylish accessory to vamp up your wardrobe 

Made from a length of fashionable checked wool, minimal stitching is needed to make Cheryl Owen’s shawl wrap. With a hint of vintage, it’s just the thing to take a roll neck and skirt to whole new levels. Pair with leather driving gloves for old-school glamour at its best! 

Essentials

• Wool fabric, 2m 
• Medium weight fusible interfacing, 20cm x 25cm 

Dimensions 

• 70cm x 195cm 

 stitch a shawl 

1. Cut a 10cm wide strip from one short edge of tweed fabric to leave a 75cm x 2m rectangle for the shawl. Set the strip aside. To hem, press under 1cm then 1.5cm on the short edges and stitch. Repeat on the long sides. 
2. Cut two 8cm x 20cm rectangles fromthe fabric set aside and medium weight interfacing. Press the interfacing to the reverse. Pin and stitch the pieces together around the outer edges, right sides facing, using a 1cm seam allowance and leaving a gap. Turn out and press. Slipstitch the gap closed. 
3. Slip the shawl over your shoulders with the short edges level, right side facing out. Fold back the inner long edge at the centre back 8cm to form a collar, pin in place. Remove the wrap and secure with a few stitches. 
4. Referring to the diagram, pin the strap to the left-hand end of the shawl. Stitch in place close to the short edges then again, 6mm in. To wear, slip the right-hand end of the shawl through the strap, folding the fabric to lay in pleats. 

Paris Fashion Week Dates announced 2016

Finally Paris Fashion Week dates announced

Men's Fashion Fall/Winter 2016

Paris Fashion Week (Mode à Paris)

Starts: 01/15/2016 12:00PM

Paris, Paris, France

France

Haute Couture

Paris Fashion Week (Mode à Paris)

Starts: 12/10/2015 8:00PM

Paris, Paris

France

Ready-to-Wear, Fall/Winter

Paris Fashion Week (Mode à Paris)

Starts: 12/10/2015 7:00PM

Paris, France

France

Men's Fashion, Spring/Summer 2017

Paris Fashion Week (Mode à Paris)

Starts: 06/15/2016 8:00PM

Paris, Paris

France

Ready-to-Wear Spring/Summer 2016 Collections

Paris Fashion Week (Mode à Paris)

Starts: 09/09/2016 7:00PM

Ends: 2016-10-07:00.000

Paris, Paris

France

Upcoming Paris fashion Week dates 2016

Hello Visitors, I am writing this post to clarify the scheduled Paris fashion week's date.The most awaited Paris fashion weeks dates are not announced officially. Paris is not easy than other “Big 4” to pin it down.

However the fashion experts guessing, the Paris fashion week dates will roll over in the end of February 2016 after Milan, probably because Paris missed the opportunity long ago. The event will continue till March 2016.

Then it will begin in late September and it will continue till October for Spring-summer collection).

Paris is the topmost, brightest and rich of all the fashion weeks, which organized by the French Federation of Fashion. So let the blissful fashion begin!

We apologize that we can’t you with a date you are for. However I will keep posted on the same once the date announced.

Which vintage are You?

Want to draw inspiration from the past, but don’t know where to start?Take our quiz to find out which era best suits your bridal style 

Q1: Which hairstyle will you be rocking?   

a. A sleek bob
b. Bombshell waves
c. Victory rolls
d. A chignon
e. Long and loose with a centre partingf. Farrah-style flicks 

Q2: Which of the following themes best describes your home décor?

a. Art-deco eccentric
b. Boudoir glamour
c. Thrifty homespun charm d. Candy-coloured and cute
e. Psychedelic prints

f. Fun and funky 

Q3: Which of the following best describes your dream vintage dress? 

a. Heavily embellished with a dropped waistline 

b. Bias-cut with a figure-hugging fishtail
c. Something simple with buttons and a defined waist
d. Full A-line skir t which kicks out at the calves 

e. A short shift with long sleeves

f. A white lace pantsuit – all the better for dancing! 

Q4: Which of these is a venue priority?

a. A fully-stocked cocktail bar
b. A stage with space for a 15-piece big band
c. An area for bake-off style dessert table of homemade treats

d. A jukebox and plenty of space to rock and roll

e. A chill-out area loaded with cushions

f. A multi-coloured light-up dance floor

Q5: Which of these are your favourite accessories?

a. A jewelled headband and feathers
b. Opera-length gloves and a cocktail hat 

c. A headscarf and wide belt
d. Kitten heels and an oversized bow

e. Long beads and floral hair accessories 

f. Dangling earrings and sequins 

Q6: When it comes to flowers, you’ll be requesting...

a. An over-arm shower of gypsophila, carnations and foliage
b. A classic dome of white roses
c. A loosely-tied bouquet of seasonal, British wildflowers

d. A pretty pomander worn from the wrist 

e. A glorious flower crown or circlet
f. A bright, packed multi-coloured posy 

Q7: It’s your first dance; you and your groom will be busting moves to...

a. Always by Irving Berlin
b. Cheek to Cheek by Fred Astaire
c. All or Nothing at All by Frank Sinatra 

d. Love Me Tender by Elvis
e. And I Love Her by The Beatles
f. Isn't She Lovely by Stevie Wonder 

Q8: Which of the following is your signature make-up look?

a. Pale foundation, kohl eyeliner and a defined cupid’s bow
b. Pencil-thin brows, mascara and dark lips
c. Arched brows, brown liner and a red pout d. Flawless foundation base, flicked liner and pink blush

e. Au naturel skin, nude lips and heavily defined eyes
f. Bronzed skin, smoky eyes and a pop of colour 

Q9: Your celebrity style icon is... 

a. Coco Chanel 

b. Ginger Rogers 

c. Hedy Lamarr 

d. Grace Kelly

e. Marianne Faithfull 

f. Jerry Hall 

Mostly A

Your style is: The Roaring ’20s
This era saw the rise of the ‘new woman’, recognised by her flapper style and bobbed hair. She could easily keep up with the hedonistic lifestyle, and would often be found at urban speakeasies filled with jazz and champagne.

Get the look: Create a lavish reception with a black and gold palette, setting the tone with art deco-style stationery. For tablecentres, drape pearls from candelabra and display props such as vintage gramophones and ostrich feathers. Stack gold-rimmed champagne coupes into a tower, and create a cocktail menu with bespoke tipples.The pièce de résistance should be your square-tiered cake, covered in edible gold leaf.

Mostly B

Your style is: ’30s Hollywood Glamour
As technology advanced from ‘the talkies’ to full-colour films and animation, actors sky- rocketed to global stardom.This was later known as the golden age of Hollywood.
Get the look: Take beauty tips from the first screen sirens with glossy waves, long lashes
and berry lips to complement a slinky gown. Complete a red-carpet-worthy outfit with chandelier earrings and sparkling jewels.
Take inspiration from crushed-velvet theatre seats and incorporate a flash of red into a monochrome palette. For added glitz, embellish tables with scattered crystals and name each after your favourite classic films.

Mostly C

Your style is: ’40s Thrifty Chic
The first half of this decade was dominated by the Second World War, and rationing meant home-growing and DIY-ing were increasingly practised.Yet despite these measures, patriotism was high in Britain.
Get the look: This style is all about the simple things, so consider hiring a village hall venue and decorating with bunting and ribbons. Fill baskets with wildflowers, and reuse tins and jam jars as vases for seasonal blooms. Consider switching
a formal dinner for afternoon tea served in chintzy vintage cups and saucers. Arrange long trestle tables in a banqueting style, and display a Victoria sponge with fruit and a dusting of sugar.

Mostly D

Your style is: The rocking and rolling ’50s
This era saw the advent of rock and roll, and the rockabilly rebels associated with it. Interiors took on a bright aesthetic, while jukeboxes of American diners became icons of the decade. Get the look: Nail 1950s fashion in a shor t prom-style gown with a cinched-in waist and frothy petticoat. Polka dots and pastel prints will add a retro touch to big-day styling, and don’t be afraid to add a pop of colour to your bridal whites with colourful shoes, belts or petticoats. Consider adding striped paper straws to glass bottles for the drinks reception, and work vinyl records into the décor as placemats or retro- style tablenames.

Mostly E

Your style is: The hippy ’60s
In the early ’60s, mods arrived to clash with the rockers, and by the end of the decade, a hippy counterculture had taken shape, giving us flower power and the sexual revolution.
Get the look: Channel Woodstock with a festival-themed do. Hold an outdoor ceremony in a woodland setting, and choose a short shift dress with flowing sleeves or a bohemian off- the-shoulder gown, completing the look with a crown of fresh flowers. Mix eclectic coloured glassware with botanical elements, including bark, moss and foliage. Being green is the name of the game, so try to stick to seasonal produce and local suppliers where possible.

Mostly F

Your style is: The funky ’70s
Enter the age of disco, where strobe lighting and glitter balls lit the scene, from the heady Studio 54 to local night-spots, and DJs got crowds shimmying to the disco divas of the day. Girls coveted big hair, and men: big sideburns. Get the look: This era is about having fun,
so incorporate colour into the big day with bright patterns and neon highlights. Create a vibrant atmosphere with lava-lamp tablecentres, bespoke neon signs or large illuminated letters. If your venue doesn’t have a light-up dancefloor, wrap fairylights around columns or beams,
and hang a glitter ball in the centre of the dancefloorreadyforWed-dayNightFever.

Also read my previous post

2015 & 2016 Top five fashion blogs in Dubai, UAE that fashion professionals should follow

Would you get married while pregnant?

Two former brides share their thoughts on tying the knot before or after the arrival of a newborn 

Top five fashion blogs in Dubai, UAE that fashion professionals should follow in 2016

Here are the list of top 5 fashion industry bloggers in Dubai, UAE
1) STYLE DRIFTER – a blog/site owned by Teresa Karpinska, a  beauty & fashion stylist living in Dubai but originally from Sweden – she is also a former author for undercanyandcookie.com website, where she was posting about fashion and lifestyle articles.
Blog: http://styledrifter.com

2) Shoestova
This blog is written and owned by Natalia Shustova – she’s also a real estate lawyer and fashion specialist whose face has been familiar at all the Dubai, UAE based fashion events, who is always dedicated  to spread the hot fashion trends, beauty tricks and new travel destinations.
Blog: http://shoestova.com/

3) Aiisha 
Aisha is also an another experienced blogger who is living in Dubai. She is writing since beginning of her fashion designer career. Most of her became viral and all of her post reach tells its quality and trustiness.
Blog: http://blog.aiisha.com/

4) She9
She is a short and sweet fashion blogger in UAE.  Her blog is mainly focused on shalwar, sarees, chudi items, especially indian and Pakistani boutiques. This blog is mainly for Asians.

Blog: http://she9.blogspot.com/

5) Huda Beauty
An award winning fashion and beauty blogger based in UAE. She is a hollywood trained make up artist. She is blogging since 2010 and her blog has been reached to many fashion people within three years.
Blog: http://www.hudabeauty.com/tag/blog

THE ART OF THE BALLER BATH

At first, the pastel-hued fun furs from Shrimps might help to ease the pain. And the return of leather trousers as a viable wardrobe option doesn't exactly hurt either. But all the ankle booties in the world can't eradicate the fact that if you live on the East Coast—once Daylight Savings ends, all bets are virtually off. Sure, the promise of sunshine come Art Basel is there, but there's no denying that fall and winter can seriously wear on the soul and psyche. Let's put it this way: you're talking to the crew that goes hard for SAD lamps.

With that in mind, we'd like to introduce the one potentially life (okay, fine, morale-lifting) ritual that will see you through. Nevermind all of the benefits—yadda-yadda, ancient ritual this, muscle elasticity that—baths are, in two words, the shit. When it's bitterly, down-to-the-bone cold, the fundamental building blocks of every good bath (suds, bath oils, salts and soaks) are what will get you through. Settle in with some Spotify or your parents HBO Go login, the right hydration (no, wine doesn't count) and be prepared to thank us for tipping you off.

The Bubbles

First things first: you're going to have to lather up. We like Origins' Gloomaway Grapefruit Bubble Bath (think of it as an SSRI in fragrance form) for the most gorgeous, citrus-y scent ever and a frothy layer of foam. Tom Ford's Neroli Portofino Shower Gel, inspired by the Italian Riviera, is just that: transportive. As in, you're no longer in a dingy bathtub you have to share with your roommate and her live-in boyfriend, but instead lounging under the hot sun somewhere in Genoa. And isn't that what we could all use a little more of? Finally, there's Cowshed's Lazy Cow Soothing Bath & Shower Gel formulated with chamomile and sandalwood, for those soaks where your phone is firmly locked on Airplane Mode for the duration of your time in tub.

The Oils

You know that thing where you finally drop serious coin on a beauty product, only to be so intimidated by it's impossibly cool, super intricate packaging that you barely use it at all? Try not to recreate that with Panhaligon's Lavendula Bath Oil; although even we admittedly struggle with it from time to time with this one. Add a few (generous) drops to your bath before hopping in and revel in the rich, calming lavender scent and the silky smooth skin you're rewarded with afterwards. Should that not quite meet your baller bath requirement, give Diptyque's Precious Oils for Body & Bath a spin (or more accurately, a pour): aside from the aforementioned affects, Diptyque's also claims to "neutralize the effects of hard water, and act as a protective emollient." It also take your tub from a 2 to a 10.

The Salts and Soaks

Yes, nothing beats the OG four-pounder box of Epsom salts. You think ordering a salad and Instagramming at the same time is multi-tasking? Epsom, a naturally occurring compound of magnesium and sulfate, relaxes your muscles, relieves cramps, helps to produce serotonin and even improves irritability. But should you be in the market for a little something extra to toss in your weekly soak, let us suggest Sai Sei's Mineral Seaweed Bath Crystals, infused with actual seaweed, as well as calcium, potassium and magnesium. On a similar 'under the sea' tip is Molton Brown's Seamoss Stress Relieving Hydrosoak, with horse chestnut to hydrate, marine extracts to energize and Dead Sea salts to relax. Where do we sign up?

The Extras

Once you've got what goes inside the tub figured out, may we make a few other suggestions? For the love of all that is good, don't eat in there, no matter what Katy Perry says. We like tea (hot bath and hot drink? Ugh, just go with it), wine, and always, always water. You can even throw lemon, lime and orange slices in there if you really want to get fancy. We also like to crank up the dial and make the water near-scalding hot—nothing actually painful, but just enough to help us believe we're sweating out the bad stuff. Before stepping in, buff your skin down with a dry brush, making circular motions towards your heart and starting at your feet—you know, to get the ol' lymph nodes going. Have your at-the-moment binge show of choice queued up, light your favorite candle, step in and voila!

Credits:http://www.thecoveteur.com/baller-bubble-bath/

PHOTOGRAPHY: Jake Rosenberg       BY: Meagan Wilson

Handbag Industry Tightens Purse Strings to Cope With Slow Sales

Michael Kors Holdings Ltd., Kate Spade & Co. and Coach Inc. all topped analysts’ earnings
estimates for the past quarter after the retailers cut costs and reduced discounts.

Michael Michael Kors Autumn/Winter 2015 | Source: Michael Kors

NEW YORK, United States — Michael Kors Holdings Ltd., Kate Spade & Co. and Coach Inc. all topped analysts’ earnings estimates for the past quarter after the handbag retailers cut costs and reduced discounts to cope with sluggish sales.

Growth of the once-hot segment in North America has slowed to low single digits, Kors Chief Executive Officer John Idol said Wednesday on an earnings conference call. Young customers are still buying handbags and leather goods, but styles have shifted to lower-priced large wallets and small cross-body bags. To protect their brands and margins, companies are reducing discounts, adding new products and slashing costs.

“There’s been this myth that no one is buying handbags anymore, but really it’s a change in trend away from the big totes everyone was buying a few years ago to smaller bags that don’t cost as much,” said Dorothy Lakner, a New York-based analyst at Topeka Capital Markets.

Going Small

Traffic and sales at North American department stores are sluggish, leading to higher levels of leftover Kate Spade, Coach and Michael Kors products that will need to be discounted to make way for newer goods. And while international expansion has boosted sales, a strong U.S. dollar has hurt tourism sales domestically and taken a bite out of profits earned abroad.

Even after a restructuring, Kate Spade’s handbag sales still make up about 70 percent of its revenue, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. Since 2013, the New York-based company has sold the Lucky and Juicy Couture brands and streamlined its corporate operations. In 2014, it began a complete overhaul of management with renewed focus on e-commerce, which now accounts for 20 percent of sales. The retailer is also expanding into home goods, rolling out a 325-piece home-furnishings category last month.

The move to streamline expenses may be paying off. While Kate Spade’s $275 million in net sales in the third quarter fell short of the $281.2 million analysts expected, the company recorded profit excluding some items of 6 cents a share, topping the 4 cents analysts forecast.

‘More Scarce’

Michael Kors posted profit in the second quarter through Sept. 26 of $1.01 a share. That topped the 89 cents a share analysts predicted. Still, the London-based company forecast third-quarter revenue of $1.33 billion to $1.35 billion, falling short of the $1.4 billion analysts projected.

Results were similar at Coach, which said last week that profit excluding some items last quarter was 41 cents a share, exceeding analysts’ estimates by a penny. The New York-based retailer posted sales of $1.03 billion, missing analysts’ projections of $1.04 billion.

“You have to make products more scarce and have less inventory left over at the end of the year so you can get full price,” Lakner said. “Michael Kors is really pulling back on inventory in the department store channel. Similarly, Coach is reducing the number of discount events.”

Watches, Eyewear

While all three companies say they’re pulling back on discounts, they’re also looking to other categories to drive growth. Coach agreed to buy designer shoe brand Stuart Weitzman in January for $574 million to diversify its selection. It also hosted its first women’s runway fashion show this fall. Kate Spade introduced a home goods line last month, while Michael Kors is expanding its licensing agreements into watches, accessories and eyewear.

The handbag makers may look to a fellow retailer for how restructuring and cost-cutting can boost performance. One of the original lifestyle companies, Ralph Lauren Corp., announced a restructuring effort in May that will save $110 million annually when it’s completed in 2017.

Increased efficiency helped Ralph Lauren post earnings last quarter of $2.13 a share, excluding some items. That surpassed the $1.73 a share analysts had estimated. Still, comparable sales declined 6 percent, Ralph Lauren said in a statement Thursday. That’s more than the 3.8 percent decrease analysts had forecast.

“You have to focus on newness in products and keep inventories tight,” Lakner said.

By Lindsey Rupp, Christie Boyden; editors: Nick Turner, Mark Schoifet.

Credits:http://www.businessoffashion.com/articles/news-analysis/handbag-coach-kors-kate-spade-earnings

Here's How To Shut Down Makeup-Shaming Haters

For something as fun as makeup, it tends to be at the center of a lot of controversy. Women who choose to wear it are sometimes accused of "lying," while others are viewed as lacking confidence. It's a sad reality, but these kinds of accusations often shame ladies from layering on the foundation and mascara that might make them feel a bit better about themselves in the morning (or that they just straight-up love). Beauty vlogger NikkieTutorials is here to set the haters straight, BuzzFeed reports. 

“I’ve been noticing a lot lately that girls have been almost ashamed to say they love makeup,” Nikkie states in the beginning of the video above. “Because, nowadays, when you say you love makeup, you either do it because you want to look good for boys, you do it because you’re insecure, or you do it because you don’t love yourself. I feel like, in a way, lately, it's almost a crime to love doing your makeup."

Inspired by an episode of RuPaul's Drag Race, she applies makeup to only half of her face. As she dolls herself up, she walks us through each product and exactly why she's using it — like picking up a brow pencil because she loves brows, but "doesn't have them naturally" or brushing on some eyeshadow because she wants to make her eyes look bigger and more awake. The way she openly talks about her insecurities is both comforting and relatable. Toward the end of the video, she makes sure to express that makeup isn't something you should hide behind: It should serve as a means to help you feel like your best self. 

"By no means, I want to say, if you have insecurities, that you should just slap makeup on and feel better and just never be content with your own self," she says. "I just want people to know that makeup is fun... If you want to go for a red lip and crazy-bold eyes, do it. There are no rules to makeup. [It's] there for days when you just wanna look hella good.".

credits:http://www.refinery29.com/2015/06/88927/nikkie-tutorials-youtube-vlogger-power-of-makeup-video

5 Beauty Commandments To Live By

Growing up, YouTube vlogger Deepica Mutyala frequently played dress-up with her friends, as many young girls do. But instead of getting to play the character she wanted to, she was often assigned the role of the one person of color in each scenario simply because she is Indian. "I always wanted to be Posh Spice, but by default, I was Scary Spice," she writes on her blog. "I always wanted to be Kelly Kapowski, but I had to be Lisa Turtle." And as far as Disney princesses go, she was always Jasmine.

"To be completely honest, I always wanted to be Jasmine growing up, but looking back, I think it's because I felt like it was the only option," Mutyala tells us. "I felt like being anything else was out of the question because of the color of my skin, which is a big reason why I wanted to make this video." The video, above, is a part of her #BeYourOwnPrincess project, through which she encourages ladies of all age groups to be whoever they damn well please.

The vid opens up with a text conversation between Mutyala and her friend, in which they're discussing what they're going to be for Halloween. When Mutyala mentions that she wants to go as a princess, her friend responds, "Who knows... Maybe you'll find your Aladdin this year ;)"

"The text conversation is very real, and I think the concept behind it is something people can relate to — that feeling of assumptions being made about you based on your skin color," Mutyala says. And her message isn't just for the girls and women of color; it's for anyone who has struggled to be accepted. 

THE TEXT CONVERSATION IS VERY REAL, AND I THINK THE CONCEPT BEHIND IT IS SOMETHING PEOPLE CAN RELATE TO — THAT FEELING OF ASSUMPTIONS BEING MADE ABOUT YOU BASED ON YOUR SKIN COLOR.

DEEPICA MUTYALA

The video continues with Mutyala transforming herself into Cinderella, Ariel, and, yes, Jasmine. But also, into a prince. "I will be the first to admit that I'm not a pro, but it makes me sick to my stomach reading about all the bullying happening to the transgender community. I hope this video helps a kid out there feel comfortable being his or her true self," she writes on her blog. "I also hope it helps parents out there let their kids feel comfortable being their true selves. You can be whoever it is you want to be, no matter what you look like on the outside. It's who you are on the inside that really counts and defines you."

While the project is titled #BeYourOwnPrincess, it goes way beyond that. "The deeper message is something that's general to life, and not just about what to be for Halloween — be your own person, no matter what society tells you. When I decided on the name...my thought process was that 'princess' is really just a placeholder for person," Mutyala writes.

credits: http://www.refinery29.com/2015/10/96381/be-your-own-princess-deepica-mutyala-youtube-video