Bling Sparkle: style guide
Showing posts with label style guide. Show all posts
Showing posts with label style guide. Show all posts

November 29, 2015

This Wedding Season, Stylize Your Phone
November 29, 20150 Comments
The phone you use says a lot about your style and I believe a stylish phone is the best accessory to complete any outfit, Bridal or not, so it is important to choose the right phone.

About 3 months back I was looking to upgrade my phone and after a lot of research I settled for the #Zenfone 2 from Asus . I must say I am loving the whole smartphone experience with Zenfone 2 which has an amazing camera helping capture fabulous photos even in low light and the battery performance is also very good add to that the phone is high on style and matches my fashion aesthetics well . 
Asus has decided to further up the style game for its Zenfone 2 with the Zen Looks Asus Incredible catwalk case series . This campaign kicked-off in Southeast Asia and features model-blogger Kim Jones who traveled to 7 countries in 7 days to create 7 incredible #ZenLooks. Here are the looks she created in Vietnam, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Philippines, Indonesia and India.
Inspired by Asus Zenfone 2 and Incredible catwalk case series we at BlingSparkle created this lookbook.
Pink is all time favorite, pair it with the gorgeous Zenfone 2 and you get something simply irresistible! The above look is inspired by ASUS's all time famous Pink-blue-red hues wallpaper. In this pic, I have tried to bring out the world a woman carries inside her bag. :)

The look below defines ethnic elegance. It's what you would like to wear on a Dining night out with friends or family. You can also wear it on your Mehendi or the day before your wedding.
Contest:
Asus also launched an online creative contest called #ZenLooks for fashionistas wherein they invite you to design a #zenfone 2 case cover . Look around and take inspiration from your culture, national colours or textures you come across to design your own ultimate gadget accessory, a Zenfone 2 case cover. The best designs stand chance to win attractive prizes.
The ZenLooks competition is running on the brands facebook page from November 9 and last date to submit your entries is December 6 2015. If the contest interests you then visit the #ZenLooks Apps and share your case design NOW http://bit.ly/1Q1ohRK

Here are the Zenfone 2 case covers that we created and submitted as entries to try our luck at the contest:
Like one? Do share your thoughts :D 
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November 25, 2015

The Ultimate Guide to Style up for an Indian Winter Wedding
November 25, 20150 Comments
Tips for Indian Winter Wedding
Winter hasn't exactly arrived in Bangalore, it is cold and weepy and wet. You can call it Bangalore delayed rainy season but it is already beginning to get cold over most other parts of India and so I came up with this pretty warm idea of putting together a style guide for Indian winter weddings .

On a dull winter day, attending a winter wedding wearing a saree with sleeveless blouse or a lehenga with low back choli would mean freezing yourself to death and adding a sweater or a woolen shawl to your ethnic look means fashion disaster. But here iam going to guide you into staying fashionably warm and making a style statement without compromising on comfort

Most of the outfit ideas on this post are inspired from Sonam Kapoors Prem Ratan Dhan Payo promotional tour which saw sonam wear high necks and full sleeves . Sonam even gave lessons on stylish layering of ethnic outfits of which I am going to talk in detail in this post.

Choose the fabric carefully : When buying a winter wedding outfit keep an eye on the fabric used and give more preference to thick fabrics like velvet, raw silks , thick Georgette, brocades and skip delicate stuff like net and chiffon unless there is lot of layering and thick lining involved. Fabrics like velvet will keep you warm and also look royal .
 I attended a wedding last year where the bride wore a marsala velvet lehenga with double dupatta  so If you have always wanted to wear a velvet lehenga this is the time to try it out . Velvets in dark blue, marsala and black all will look great this wedding season. A velvet jacket with silk lehenga or velvet half saree are also good options to try. I also got myself a red and purple velvet chudidaar suit with embellished georgette dupatat which is just perfect for winter weddings.
Indian winter bridal wear
Embrace High necks and long sleeves : It makes no sense to wear sleeveless cholis or strapless blouses in winters. Go in for a regal or a royal look and opt for high embellished necks and long sleeves. India's top designers like Sabyasachi are churning out high neck , long sleeve leghengas and blouses whhich are the perfect way to dress up for winter weddings. If your high necks are not embellished then add in a neck piece over your blouse . You can even layer jewelry as winter is the best time to flaunt your accesories without sweating out even a bit.
High necks and full sleeves tend to look a bit mature on young women so take care to keep your make up and hair playful or soft to balance out.
Take inspiration from Sonam Kapoor here on how to dress in long sleeves and high necks.
Indian Bridal wear
Go for Jacket or cape ensembles : Jackets and capes with ethnic wear are the latest trend and the best time to rock it is in winter . Pair a long jacket with your saree or a short phulkari jacket with your anarkali. Even your sarees can be layered up with a classy phulkari jackets to give you a layered regal look. Capes can be a tricky deal but who doesnt want to follow the latest trends? Skip the sheer capes and opt for embellished ones to go with your outfits. Floor length capes are also a big thing these days, try some color blocking with silk capes for a comfortable and trendy ethnic look.
Ridhi Mehra showcased cape jumpsuits recently and these could be great options for a winter wedding
Indian bridal wear
Indian bridal wear
Shawl it up! : Shawls today arent restricted to grandmothers!  Velvet shawls in contrasting colours with embroidery or kundan embellishments are best way to grab eye balls and stay warm too .  Take inspiraion from Anushka sharma who wore this mint suit with a red velvet dupatta to a wedding . You can even use a kanjeevaram silk dupatta like a shawl and add to your outfit for some warmth.

Indian bridal wear
Play with hemlines:  High necks and covering up means you cant experiment much with your  necklines in winter so to add a slight edge to your outfit experiment with hemlines. Go for asymmetrical hemline anarkalis, high low salwars kammez or ruffled lehengas and peplum blouses.
Indian bridal wear
Opt for Jutis: When it comes to footwear avoid open toe heels and bring out your traditional warm embellished juttis which will keep you warm while blending in with your ethnic look. You can even go in for booties to keep yourself warm if you are sure they wont show up too much under your floor length lehenga.
Indian bridal wear
Thermal leggings or camisoles: If it very cold you can wear thermal leggings under your lehengas to keep you warm but make sure these are of 3/4 th length so they don't show up . If your top isn't deep cut add a thermal camisole too .

I hope this post helps you style up for a winter wedding , please do leave your comments if you need help implementing any of the above ideas

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September 20, 2015

8 Types Of Shoes Every Woman Should Own! #TrendAlert
September 20, 20150 Comments

8 types of shoes every woman must own

Aside from diamonds, we're pretty sure shoes are a woman's best friend.We all have heard the true saying ‘A girl can never have enough shoes!’ I completely agree with this and although that may be the case, not everyone is lucky to be super rich or even have a closet build only for  shoes to own every pair in trend each season!

I myself being a self-confessed shoe addict, I simply cannot stockpile shoes more than my closet can hold. I confess my shoe closet is overflowing with shoes and hence I now store my shoes in boxes on my cupboard :P Its really a difficult task to choose as to what should be  given away in order to make space for new shoes during my shoe closet cleaning ! :p No matter how many people tell you that one can never have enough shoes , t is also important to keep the space and budget in mind! So read on the fool proof list I have listed below which will act as an easy to go guide to help you out and if you follow this I assure you that you’ll always have a pair you need for any outfit. Also next time you are closet cleaning you will know what are the essential shoes and invest only in them.

Keep reading to find out which are the 8 must have shoes to save yourself from what-to-wear moments and also some painful blisters when the time calls.

1. CLASSIC PUMPS

black basic pumps and nude heels

Beginning with THE must-have shoe, the classic pump. We can easily label them the LBD of the shoe world! YES !  Talking about classic pumps the two of the basic pumps basic classic pumps would be Basic black pumps and Nude pumps ! A black pump is perfect for office wear be it either with a crisp white shirt and black trousers, or a sheath dress, suit or a pencil skirt . As for the Nude heels they are treasure as they give length to your legs when worn and make your appearance as of a Greek Goddess Winking smile  Whether paired with skinny or ripped jeans, a dress of any color, or an outfit of any color and any shape, this is the pump you want to make sure you have in your Shoe closet!

Buy Classic black pumps in Black here and in Nude HERE (Limeroad)

2. BALLET FLATS

sexy ballerinas must have for every woman

I love love LOVE my heels (OH YES I DO) but I love my feet more so Sad smile  Sometimes a girl needs to let her feet rest and don a pair of bellies to look adorable in a pair of ballet flats. But hey you know what’s the best part of owning a pair of ballet flats? It is the endless choices we women have with styles, materials and colors to choose from .Really, the sky is the limit! Speaking of sky, ballet flats make me feel I am walking on a floating cloud ;) Giving everyday wear and jeans a chic Parisian flair, ballet flats  is a must own women! They are a life saver when you have walked for hours I dangerous heels for over an hour and want something chic and comfy for a night out! Now if that doesn't make this a type of shoe every woman should own, I don't know what does.

Buy these cool pair of black bellies from Carlton London here and these gold glitters from here

3. STATEMENT PAIR

statement heels that will make you the star of the party

A statement pair  or what I also like to call "Smiling shoes" are in fact just an outrageous pair that transform an otherwise boring outfit in to a jaw dropping look ! Lemme explain ! A statement shoe has the ability to lift your spirits  and turn a bad & awful day in a happy one!

Every woman needs a pair of shoes that will make people have a double take. Bole toh ‘Eak baar se dil nahi bharta mud mudeke baar baar dekho wala’ moment happens ;) Whether you opt for a vibrant colour pump, sexy tassel shoes, bizarre shape  or a statement print, these shoes paired with any look will instantly make you feel sexy !

You can buy these statement Heels on limeroad from here and here

4. COMFORTABLE OXFORDS :

lovely oxford shoes buy

Slip into your comfortable oxfords on those days when you’ve really got your hands full. You’ll be comfy and look chic. Well if sneakers are not your style, oxfords in colorful prints are a wonderful alternative. There's just something about a pair of Oxford shoes that makes me go wheee! I love the vintage look oxford shoes exude along with their masculine vibe . Summing up in two words ‘Pure Bliss!’

5. THE FLAT SANDAL

tredy sandals

While we're still at summer, here’s another comfortable pair of shoes a girl must have in her shoe closet!  A lovely pair of sandals ! The ubiquitous summer shoe to pair with everything from cut-off shorts to a floral maxi dress!

6. SEXY BLACK BOOTS:

Black sexy boots every woman must own

Whether you prefer the cool knee-high BOOTS, or the sexy over-the-knee style, or ankle length boots in black,sleek black leather boots, Boots in black will take you places in this world.. quipping it up one can never go wrong with a black pair of boots.

7. HAPPY GO WEDGES :

wedges trending

Coming to my favorite pair – Wedges : which is a preppy-wardrobe staple! I love wedges which have a zip closure behind ! If you are up for some shopping at the mall or in pot-holed Indian streets or want to go to a brunch, you simply cannot don a pair of stilettos or heels but sometimes even flats won’t do either. That’s when happy go wedges come into the picture! Summer wedges are daytime shoes with a fab nighttime attitude. Super love them because they are so easy to walk in, look fantastic with practically anything and are the best of both worlds. Do we need any more reasons to label this as an essential pair of shoes every woman should have? I think not. Plus wedges lend a lot of height and a lot of style *wink*

Buy these gorgeous wedges on Limeroad from HERE and here

8. Block Heels

Block heels essentials of every shoe closet

You simply cannot wear those pointy heels every time you want to step out. Sometimes a woman needs height plus style plus comfort which can be fulfilled only by a pair of summer wedges !! Wedges are now slowly turning into a quintessential pair that will always be timeless. Every woman must own these pair as they add instant sophistication to any outfit!

shoe quotes

So these where my eight MUST HAVE shoes every woman should have in order to be stylishly pulled together no matter what the occasion. Do you have any other pair of shoes in mind? feel free to share what your must have shoe list reads . I’m always looking for new ideas. :D

Until next time

Love

Najmun Nissa

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August 09, 2015

Tassel Hangings: Addicted To The Latkan Accessory ? #TraditionalTrends
August 09, 20150 Comments

Addicted to latkan trend, 2015 trends

Tassels or Latkans have a way back in history from being a staple part of outfits for Mughals to being embellished in ramp walk collections by Indian fashion designers in almost all of their ethnic outfits!

If a dress is simple a hanging tassel or a latkan with embellishments or a studded latkan can add the required needed grandeur to that dress !

Latkans embelished in blouses

Latkans have now become  major part of Indian outfits. Be it heavy lehengas, cholis, blouses or dupattas – Everything is now adorned with latkans ! Ever since the Anarkali trend overtook the Indian fashion Industry by a storm , latkans were used to decorate these dresses in every possible way !

Accessories to accesorize lehengas and skirts   Latkan trend

Latkans come in different shapes, colors, materials and sizes ! Garments in India are embellished with a variety of latkans. Latkans ranging from INR 5000 per piece to lakans at INR 50 per piece ,people have a thousand choices now!  Not to forget latkans coming in Judas or bangles !

Indians are addicted to tassels! Latkans are made of sequins and fringes including metal, moti, wool, feathers, beads,kundans , crystal, pearl, velvet , studded and beaded !

Lovely tassels or latkans

Girls at my place shop for latkans at exclusive stores and get them stitched to their kurtis, blouses and anarkalis. It’s a trend caught up with all the leading fashion designers in India. Gone are the days where latkans where a part of home décor. My favorite ethnic wear brand ‘rain And Rainbow’ has introduced the concept of latkans in almost all of their kurtis and anarkalis.

Latkans in bangalore

Hanging tassels/ latkans Fashion Trend has been a rage ! Bollywood fashionistas flaunting their dresses with latkans in them have caused the girls to follow up their steps. Women all over India continue to embellish their outfits with Beads and stones hanging from the ends of the tassel of dupatta or the bodice which do wonders to adorn the bare gaps in the back of an anarkali or a blouse. readymade garments are now coming up with unique and quirky patterns in latkans that will be adorned on the garments. 

Latkans in ethnic wear

The tassel at the back of dress or attached to a sleeve or a lehenga  prettifies the whole outfit! The latkan tough adds the grandeur touch to an outfit altogether ! Ensembles that are adored with this amazing piece of attraction are mostly found on the four ends of the dupattas, the end of the back string of a blouse, at the back attached to the tie ups in an anarkali or salwar kameez, at the front attached to the tie ups in designer suits,in long skirts,  in a belt at the bottom of a lehenga or the two ends of a saree pallu.  But with the innovation, ‘latkan’ or a tassel can be in any shape or size.

Entrepreneurs have even started selling these colorful accessories online.  the Latkan trend is no longer limited to the younger generation. Many women in their graceful 40s and early 50s are also accessorizing their blouses with these beautiful tassels.

Trend alert : tassels

I myself have a dozen plus outfits with grand latkans embellished in them and  have shopped like crazy for latkans during my elder sister’s marriage. I love the whole idea of customizing a dress with the help of accessories and one best favorite accessory to add glamour to an ensemble is none other than hanging tassel !

colorful latkan accessories

So have you shopped for latkans or tassels or are they part of your favorite ethnic ensembles? Temme !

Until next time

Love

Najmun Nissa

Note: Pictures other than the watermarked ones are from pinterest.

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April 24, 2015

Style guide: What to Wear to your Mehendi
April 24, 20150 Comments
Mehendi is an important pre wedding ritual in indian weddings where the bride is put intricate heena patterns on her hands and feet  . Mehendi ceremony for the bride can be a tiresome and long process  but it is also the most fun ceremony where the close family and friends of the bride gets together as they sing, dance and celebrate.

Comfort should be the first thing you should look for in your mehendi outfit  as you will have to sit for 5-6 hours in a fixed position as the mehendi wali gets the designs done.. also since the mehendi will be applied over your elbow length it is better to go for sleeves less or short sleeved outfits. Most mehendis these days are combines with sangeet ceremony so if there is dancing involved then go for flowy flared out silhouettes.

Yellow and green are considered the best colours for a Mehendi outfit but since Mehendi is a fun and a colourful event you can get experimental and choose any colour you love .  I suggest brides to avoid  Black and whites and go for a bright contrasting mix of 2 or 3 colours in their outfit .

Here are some outfit ideas to inspire you




1. Fun Colourful Lehenga : A colourful but light lehenga with latkans is the best mehendi outfit . make sure the choli is sleeveless or short sleeved. Lehenga means you can get mehendi on your legs easily done just by lifting it a little and it will flare out nicely if you have a little dancing involved later on in the day. You could choose from designer creations like nishka Lulla or just get fabric in net or Georgette and get a tailor to stitch up a lehenga for you .


2. Saree: Saree isnt the most comfortable pick for your mehendi but this is the most cost effective option as you can just get a plain saree ombre dyed in 2 or three colours and wear with a sequined or brocade blouse. If you have worn a saree before and are comfortable in it go for it. But make sure you arent wearing a saree for your wedding or reception this way you will have variety in your looks


3. Plazzos with long kurta : This pakistani silhouette is very popular these days and you could get variety in your bridal looks by adding plazzos for mehendi. opt for plazzos in raw silk but if your mehendi is a small event you can go for plazzos and kurta in multicoloured crepe .





4..Ethnic gown or floor lenth anarkali:   Ethnic gowns are very popular these days as they are very easy to handle . You can even skip the dupatta with this and dancing the night away also looks fabulous in a flared floor length kurta. But go for this option only if you arent wearing a gown on your reception .


5.. Short lehenga choli : Wearing Lehenga is a good option but it has a lot of scope in spoiling your mehendi on feet so better to get a knee length lehenga stiched with a short sleeved choli. This option is a risky affair and is for bold experimental brides only.

6.kurti with short pants : Have a colourful anarkali kurti ? just pair it knee length pants and you are good to go.



7. Peplum cholis : Peplum in ethnic is fast becoming popular and if you have waist for it go for it. for more on peplums check here

8. Dhoti Pants : Dhoti pants are super in these days and they also make for fun mehendi wear . wear a pair of silk dhoti pants with a bright tulip cut kurti and viola chic mehendi look

9.  Lehenga or gown with a knee high slit :  If you are up for it then a sexy gown or lehenga with a slit is the best option for your mehendi. It adds the required flare yet gives you ease for getting mehendi done on feet without compromising on style factor. If you dont want flare you can just have a straight cut lehenga or gown. Also if the slit seems too daring for you go for a pair of brocade or a rich fabric cropped pants .


 10. Hi low hemline anarkali top: I love asymmetrical hemline and this is my personal favorite option. Hunt for a good flared out anarkali and wear it minus the chudidaar bottoms.




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11. Draped saree gowns: Draped sarees are very comfortable and that is exactly what you need for a mehendi ceremony.
12. Dhoti saree: Sonam popularised this kind of a draped dhoti saree with cape when she turned up in one at cannes last year and you could try the same iZifferent preferable more brighter colour

13. crop tops : Crop tops in ethnic are super in everyone from payal singhal to ridhi mehra are embracing them . Pair crop tops with plain lehengas, plazzos, short skirt or sharara pants . The best thing about crop tops is you can reuse them later on .




14.Try off beat motifs: If bright clours arent your thing then add fun to your mehendi outfit via quirky motifs or prints like fans, dragon flies, and parrots .

15. Embrace huge floral prints : what betetr way to do bright ethnics than florals? go step head and do them huge . Surendri by yoges choudari and many other designers are churning some very peppy huge floral prints perfect for mehendi.

For more Mehendi Outfit Inspiration have look at our Pinterest board here  
for mehendi jewellery ideas go here 

Mehendi Style Tips: 
*Avoid hand or feet jewellery as it may get your mehendi smudged.
*If you want to add a DIY outfiit touch to your wedding ,Mehendi is your best bet, bring out your creative hats and design away. (go here for inspiration)
*For Mehendi  people go with fresh flowers in decor and jewellery so keeping your make up light and natural is a good idea
* When planning your hairstyle for mehendi keep in mind that you will have to sit for hours with your heena laced hands . Go for a bun or braid . Make sure you pin up your hair in the front
* Skip your precious or imitation jewellery for mehendi and opt for trendy floral , lace or gota jewellery. this will help your mehendi outfit stand out and it will not look repetitive when you see all photos together in your album.
*floral wreathes are super in for mehendi these days you could try it.
If you need help wth mehendi style do mail us and we will be happy to help out

Keep it stylish 
~ zooni.
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