Wednesday 22 July 2015

HUGE 15 Product Beauty Giveaway! Are You In?

So as you may or may not know.... it's GIVEAWAY time!

On my Instagram page I am hosting a huge beauty product giveaway, perfect for treating yourself this summer.


All you have to do is make sure you're following me on there & comment on the giveaway pic with an emoji to describe the products! Good luck :D xo

ENTER HERE!


Open to US/CA/EU/UK residents only. Only 1 entry per person allowed. Applicants must be 18 years or over. A significant attempt to contact the winner will be made however I reserve the right to choose another winner should this be necessary. 

Sunday 12 July 2015

Charles Gross: The Uber Fab YouTuber I'm Obsessed With!

So as of late, I've been obsessed with watching YouTube videos since university is over for me right now. There's one channel I've been a little bit more than the rest though and that is.... Charles Gross.

What I'm a huge fan of is I find him to be a lot more relatable than other YouTubers. Firstly, he's my age and a huge fashionista, very well-spoken and oozes class as well as maturity. It's hard to find people around my age to watch who aren't selling out to the young obsessive 14-15 year olds and therefore tone down everything into this sickening candy-filled PG-rated world.

@CharlesGross on Instagram
Charles, on the other hand, provides quality videos every single time. You can tell that he's being genuine as his vibrant personality shines through in all his videos.

Oh, and to top that, he's extremely knowledgeable when it comes to designers especially in the handbag field as he was once a handbag reseller. From the vids I've seen, he also has lots of experience in the industry with his professional photography as well as doing photoshop retouching. So basically everything he says is based on someone who actually knows what goes on & wishes to share it, unlike a lot of holier-than-thou fashion people who seem to lead this oh-so exclusive lifestyle where nobody without a Birkin can enter. Save me the crocodile tears (& crocodile leather).

Take a look at one of his videos, you'll see how contagious he is...


(I've watched this like 5 times already. It's actually hilarious & extremely accurate, no?)

He makes a lot of vids about designer trends, handbags, advice, first impression videos and a few get-to-know-me's. What I absolutely love are his blogs... I literally play them when I'm doing something in my room like sorting out my wardrobe because I feel he's sitting with me having a conversation because he's so down-to-Earth and believable. Although his videos are immaculately lit, I get the impression that they aren't too overly edited or forced in any way... they seem spontaneous which is always the best in my opinion. 

I watch him so much that I just had to buy one of his 'Get Yourself Sorted' tees because I can just pop this on whenever I'm around basics (talk about next level shade). Here, I'm just wearing it with some pyjama shorts which don't do it much justice but it's so comfy that I had to throw it on.

Bought it because it's super cute but also I wanted something of his because I feel like he really does go that extra mile with his channel. He always puts out regular content, replies to comments, listens to viewers etc. I don't know about you but I don't find many people like that on YouTube nowadays.

T-shirts: http://charlesgross.spreadshirt.com/
Just to let you know, these are all my sincere thoughts. We don't even know each other, just briefly talked via YouTube comments. I've been meaning to mention Charles on my blog for a while now but things have just been super hectic. Anyway, do go check him out & let me know what you think. I'm sure you'll be just as hooked as I am to hear about his latest shopping dilemmas or hilarious high-school stories!

Monday 6 July 2015

Stitch Three Coffee Morning: How Your Fashion Cravings Can Save Orphans...

If you're like me, you often have moments of complete sadness thinking about the state of the world, especially when it comes to the welfare of children who are suffering in poverty. It's awful to come to terms with the idea that children can be born into a life of hardship without asking for it. I think sometimes it's easy to forget and more so easier to distract yourself from the real issues. I do it all the time... it saves the feelings of guilt....

However, we can't always run away from the issues at heart. I think all of us can be doing things to help out people in need, whether its donating to charities, volunteering every so often or setting up fundraising events. Not only is it rewarding but it actually makes a big, big difference as I've learnt with my experiences (although I could be doing a lot more too!)

Anyway, I thought I would share with you an exciting event coming up where you don't actually have to do much at all, aside from maybe purchasing a few beautiful pieces!

Nida Azwer Iznkik 
I know it's a little short notice but if you have the time, why not pop down? 10% of all proceeds will be donated so you can shop a little more guilt free!

South Asian, high fashion studio and retail concept, Stitch Three, will be hosting a Coffee Morning in association with NGO, SOS Children’s Villages Pakistan, where they will be presenting a seasonal curation of the latest collections from some of Pakistan’s most lauded fashion houses.

SOS Children's Villages Pakistan works for the welfare of orphaned children, providing them with loving care, security, higher education and job training. 

It's taking place on Wednesday 8th July, 10am – 2pm at a South London location. Please RSVP to info@stitchthree.com for further details.

Saturday 4 July 2015

Opulence & Grandiose Luxury: Anjalee & Arjun Kapoor Take the UK by Storm!

Walking into the new Anjalee & Arjun Kapoor store at East Shopping Centre for the first time was absolutely jaw-dropping. I felt like I was in a dreamland... the space was elegant & an air of opulence lightened up the room, yet it didn't feel intimidating... more so welcoming and peaceful.

As I walked around, I noticed these fabulous designs all around me, fit for the crème de la crème of society. Each piece was unique in its own way, it was like looking at works of art. These weren't just clothes or garments, they were paintings.

Interestingly, as you walk around the shop you can definitely see the transitional themes that are going on within the collections. With concepts such as The Phantom of the Opera & Persian Fantasy, this is no ordinary designer... what I can assure everyone is that you will be getting exceptionally unique pieces that are created with out-of-the-box concepts in mind.



The space is open & airy with lots of room to view all the designs & chill out on the golden furniture. You could tell that everything was immaculate from the designs to the setting. It felt so regal, unlike any other store I've ever been to. 

Meeting the Brains Behind it All...

All thanks to Bliss PR, I had the pleasure of meeting Anjalee a few days before the big launch. She was bubbly & full of life, very on-the-ball, welcoming & ready to talk me through her collections. As soon as she spoke, I could feel the energy & passion that she has for her babies. As I walked around staring in awe at the vibrant colours & rich materials, Anjalee mentioned her love of using silks, lace & Swarovski crystals which is fairly unusual in the industry. Some were very heavily embellished with crystals but they still looked so classy & glamorous, designed to make any woman in them light up the room with her presence.

I also noticed her use of sheer materials & pieces that looked more like gowns. With such dazzly pieces, it reminded me a lot of the huge trend going on right now on all the red-carpets as we've seen the likes of Beyonce & Kim Kardashian rock these show-stopping dresses with crystals everywhere, fitted to hug their silhouettes which is a point that Anjalee really focuses on a lot. 

It was apparent that there weren't too many typical pieces here. The lenghas had a twist to them, many with very intricate details inspired by Persian themes including their carpet designs. The anarkalis were far from standard... more like red-carpet gowns. 

'Why make something standard when I have the capacity to do something different', said Anjalee. 


As we discussed her big break in the UK, Anjalee mentioned that she has had other international stores but with her UK branch, she wants to stress that she will adapt to all her clients individually and does make hybrid Western clothing as well to meet everybody's needs. It was apparent that Anjalee puts her pride & soul into her work, as demonstrated when I was wrapping up. A bride-to-be came in for a consultation and I managed to have a nosy glimpse at how interactive the whole experience was. It was like watching something out of a movie. Anjalee was there discussing all her needs & as the bride came out, everyone just watched her transform into a princess & her family were   completely taken aback.

As I'm 20, I think it's fair to say I'm far from the marriage stage but when that big day comes, I would 100% want to choose somewhere like this store where I feel like all my needs are being catered to. After all, every bride wants that special treatment.

Aside from the glamour of the store & consultations, I noticed that the Anjalee & Arjun Kapoor photoshoots were absolutely phenomenal.

'We recently shot in Mykonos, Greece alongside the crisp blue waters. It was a stunning location and I wanted to do something different to shooting in a studio', she mentioned. 

How gorg is the shot below?! I just had to bring up these photos because I felt like they really made the clothes come to life and I love the element of adventure & spontaneity within these shots.


Unexpectedly, I was in for another treat during my time at the store. I had the privilege of watching Anjalee sketch a design in front of my very eyes. It was absolutely incredible.

From someone who just sticks to the writing to save people's eyes from my horrors, it was so fascinating to see the beginning stages of a design. Just like that, she was able to devote herself to a new creation & immediately she was able to say which gradients of colours she would use, where she would place the embellishments, what type of draping... just wow. Just remember, we brought it you first! Who knows, this may well be a sneak peek of the hit new design to be seen on Bipasha ;)


If that wasn't enough, I then went on to be styled in one of her exquisite designs. Admittedly, coming in with my ever-so casual clothes, it was a bit daunting to try on something so grand but as soon as I put it on, I realised how much of a difference such luxurious clothes can make to your whole demeanour. A boost of confidence came over me & I was stunned to see myself in something so beautiful. This is one of her wrap-around sarees and I must say, I was expecting it to be a lot heavier than it was. 

Surprisingly, it was very light & easy to manoeuvre in which is an absolute must on your special day. You don't want to be worrying about being uncomfortable, you just want to shine & radiate confidence which is inevitable in something like this. 

As Anjalee & I both agreed, to see these designs on the rack is one thing but to experience wearing one is an entirely different experience. I found her designs to be very well-made. As intricate & delicate as they are, they are made for women to enjoy being in & to ooze power & boldness. 


Anjalee & Arjun Kapoor regularly dress A-list Bollywood celebs like Bipasha Basu, Anushka Sharma, Kangana Ranaut, Katrina Kaif, Hema Malini, Mallika Sherawat, Lara Dutta & lots more.  

'One thing in common with all the Bollywood actresses in our designs is that they have all had lots of experience walking on the ramp & modelling. They have the star factor & they all share grace in their poise', Anjalee pointed out. I think we can all agree on that one...

Bollywood actress Neha Dhupia
So before I left, I just had to get Anjalee's thoughts on the new digital age & advice for young people like me:

'Social media is very important, I take it very seriously. People just don't have the time to read newspapers or watch TV like they used to. They want fast information now with the likes of Instagram, Facebook & Twitter. Social media is a must for branding yourself & if you want to get into the industry, be sure to stay focused on the goal and you will succeed if you have the knack for it. Make sure to market yourself correctly as marketing is everything.'

It's Show Time!

I had a 10/10 experience with Anjalee & Arjun Kapoor and I would recommend their designs to anyone looking for outstanding pieces for special occasions, especially weddings. Just pop in & you'll understand the true meaning of luxury, I promise you won't be disappointed.

Now I'll stop yapping & let you enjoy some images from the launch...


East Shopping Centre: A mecca for all things high-end Asian in one well-maintained, spacious building.
PC: Monir Ali 
Posing with Anjalee herself, as she wears one of her flattering foam gowns.
One of the oh-so feminine fairytale gowns that caught my eye!
Model rocking a gorgeous aquamarine outfit with gold accents.
Model working this lavish piece that embodies couture to another level.
A room filled with press, bloggers, models & fabulous people.

Further Info:

Address:
East Shopping Centre, 232-236 Green Street, 
London, E7 8LE.

Anjalee & Arjun Kapoor Facebook
Anjalee & Arjun Kapoor Twitter
Anjalee & Arjun Kapoor Instagram