Shocks and Shoes

5 Commandments of Sale Shopping

8:52:00 pm

Dreading a Style Change?

5:47:00 pm

Have you ever met someone who’s wanted to change their style for ages, but just can’t seem to go through it? Well, what’s stopping them from taking the plunge? I did some analysis and number crunching (Okay, I asked a few people :-)), and here’s what I think are the top ‘style trappers’ holding people back from changing their personal styles:

Note: This post is not about the following:

The lucky souls who’ve got their style parameters all figured out and are happy in their place
The I’m-not-sure-what-to-call-them people who don’t have a clue what style or fashion is and who couldn’t care less about it.

Now, back to the style trappers :-)

Mental Block/Hesitation to try anything new – You’ve been having the same style for so long that now you simply can’t think of getting out of your comfort zone, even though you know you can do much better.

Societal/Peer pressures – In many places, people think that once you’ve had a kid you needn’t be fashionable any more. In others, it may be that your co workers/classmates are all badly dressed and you don’t want to stick out like a sore, albeit stylish, thumb.

Familial pressures – This is kind of rare, but trickier than the rest. You are dying to change your wardrobe, but your husband/mother in law/mother consider fashion as something for ‘shallow’ people and would not like you to spend any time or effort on something so ‘frivolous’.

Financial constraints – This is a no brainer. You’re having a rough patch with Mr. AccountBook and can’t really afford anything stylish for a while.

Body image issues – You desperately want to look good and get out of your old clothes, but you’re convinced nothing will look good on your hips/backside/shoulders/arms.

All of the above

Now, all of these are real issues to real people, and I don’t have an easy solution to any of them. However I do think that a way out of all these problems would be by going slow and taking it one little step at a time.

Image Courtesy: cartoonstock

Try to deal with the main issue bothering you, bit by bit. Rome wasn’t built in a day, so go at it slowly and sneakily, if necessary (applies to scenarios 2 & 3 mentioned above). And anyway, your style is something that evolves gradually; as you learn more about yourself, you also learn to love yourself more, and that confidence and positivity eventually reflects in the way you dress.

Image Courtesy: aaronshaver

As for me, I’m still a work in progress. Every makeover starts with accepting your body, figuring out what works for you and what doesn’t and going from there. It’s a long but fun journey. After all, you only get one life, so isn’t it better to keep it stylish rather than drab? Of course!!

My health resolutions are going fine this week, except for a couple of misdemeanors :-(. Resolutions for the next week are:

Meals and snacks at fixed times – even if not at home
Drink at least 1 litre of water every day, or even 1.5 (on hot days)
One cup of green tea every alternate day

That’s for next week. For now,

Image Courtesy: dazzlejunction

books

A Tiny Little Post - Kiddie Books

10:27:00 pm

Food

Recipe for the Week - Easy Fudge

6:09:00 pm

Social Issues

Not Fair. Not at all.

7:13:00 pm

I’ll jump straight to the question – do fairness cream ads bother you? You know the ones where the girl is dark and depressed due to a variety of reasons – she’s unemployed, or she’s being rejected by prospective grooms or she’s just having body image issues. And then, suddenly a well-meaning friend goes up to her and says, “Why don’t you try xyz fairness cream?”

Yeah, why don’t you? Why don’t you just go ahead and join the thousands out there to show your support to the burgeoning fairness cream industry? After all, let’s face it, you are kind of a loser with that complexion. Just apply a little of that magic cream, and voila!! You’ll be transformed!! Just like that!! You’ll immediately get a new wardrobe in multiple shades of pink, your hair will be perfect, you’ll have company head hunters and cool single guys all running after you and you’ll end up on a billboard/magazine cover. So what’s not to like??

Plenty. I can’t get the logic that only fair complexioned people can get jobs and get married. I mean does fairness automatically give you some kind of compatibility factor? Or does it indicate some skill left unsaid on your resume? Seriously, what is it?

Image Courtesy: makeupandbeauty

There’s this nauseating ad about a girl who has a crush on a guy who doesn’t give a paisa about her. Then she goes and puts on some cream which gives her a new style and great hair and all that, and now that MCP comes fawning over her. And she is flattered that her complexion got her noticed!!

There’s this even more infuriating ad which prompted me to write this post in the first place. This girl (who could already give Snow White a complex) is thinking about a guy and she actually says, “Maybe he’ll notice me if I get rid of my dark complexion”. And you really want such a shallow dude? Aaaargghhhh!!!!!!

Everyone knows what the standard Indian matrimonial ad says. Maybe now they’ll also mention – “Bride should be at least a level 2 on the fairness meter, as seen on fairness cream packs”. Then it’ll be easy to grade all prospective brides based on this wonderful meter. Ugh!

God, this is disgusting. But the fact is that all the major cosmetic brands are coming up with their own versions of fairness creams, the nomenclature varying – whitening, pure white, natural white, light, white perfect – white, white, white!! That’s when I wonder if no one else is getting offended and annoyed by these ads. It’s a simple matter of genetics. Your skin color is inherited just like the color of your hair and your eyes. Sigh!

Image Courtesy: hubpages

Are you bugged by the ads for fairness creams? Or are you okay with it? Do tell me!

Fashion

Staying Stylish with Kids

6:29:00 pm

Anyone who’s had kids will know that going shopping/running errands/visiting, in fact simply going out with them is no easy task. And, you have to be stylish while at it. Sounds impossible? I used to think so too, but after several tantrum-ridden outings with a boisterous toddler, I have learnt some valuable lessons. Staying stylish isn’t something you put on hold just because you have kids. You need to adapt a little, that’s all.

Image Courtesy: Shutterstock

Disclaimer: All the tips mentioned here are completely from my wide, varied and noisy J experiences….you can easily cut/copy/delete/add according to what suits you and of course, your little bundle of mischief J. So here goes:

Let’s start with the clothes – the comfier the better. Jeans are a good bet, and with a comfortable, stylish tunic/top/kurta, you can’t go wrong. Its best to avoid skirts/tops/dresses that are too short or tight or that’ll have you pulling here and tugging there all the time.

Image Courtesy: Styleceo

Long flowy skirts/dresses also pose a problem; there might (rather, will) come a time when your little Usain Bolt will suddenly decide to make a beeline for the neighboring kid’s balloon, and you’ll have no choice but to follow. A long peasant skirt isn’t the best companion here.

Fussy clothes with lots of tassels, adjustments and the like are also best avoided. Its no fun adjusting your dupatta all the time if you have to pick up the teddy your son is determined to fling about.

Colors aren’t a big problem here, though its better to keep in mind that darker colors hide spills and stains better.

Bags. Okay, even if you don’t have to lug a diaper bag around now, you’ll still need to carry a lot of kiddie supplies, so liquids are a given. Hence, it makes sense to keep your expensive leather or vintage bags at home and bring out the canvas totes. They come in such funky designs and bright colors now, it would make perfect fashion sense too. I’m also fond of bags from Baggit – they kind of hold well under such situations.

Image Courtesy: Madaboutbags

Again with bags. Though shoulder bags are good enough, a cross body bag is the best kind of bag to carry around when you have really mobile active kids with you. It leaves your hands completely free, with everything you need within easy reach. Bags with short handles are very cumbersome when you need to do a million things with your hands.

Image Courtesy: bagsbags1

Shoes. I don’t need to explain why high heels are a no-no. All the reasons mentioned above apply. It also helps to have anti skid soles. At one time my son had a special hobby, stamping on my shoes, leaving his footprint on it. He thought it was great fun, and having embellishments/bows on my shoes would add to it. So now you know what shoes to get.

Image Courtesy: kaboodle

Jewelry. Big, chunky neckpieces always bothered my son whenever I carried him. If you know you’ll be using the stroller all the time, then this is not a problem. Also dangling earrings can be quite tempting to kids whose strength cannot be underestimated when they are pulling away at your delicate ear holes. Again, not a problem if with a stroller.

Makeup. This is a relatively safe area, with little chance of things to get messed up, though I would advise caution with shiny/sticky lip glosses. Somehow they always end up on clothes unlike the good old matte lipsticks.

I hope this doesn’t make it look like kids are little terrors just waiting to pounce on everything around them. (That’s only true sometimes J). Kids will be kids, and they will be curious, inquisitive, impulsive and at times, destructive. But its all a part of growing up and eventually they’ll outgrow this phase. Till then, hopefully these tips should help, so here’s to all the stylish mommies out there!!!!

Some celebrity moms for inspiration J:

Nicole Richie