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