Online Shopping Checklist

As more and more people prefer to shop online over the ol' brick-and-mortar option (which I still personally love more), I decided to do a blogpost dedicated to the things you should definitely check off in your mind before making your next purchase.

These are lists purely from trial and error and copious amounts of shopping online that may or may not have been done in the past year or so.  There are a lot of extremely deceptive little tricks that the smaller and even a couple big retailers do to fool you into thinking you're buying some high quality product which will turn out to be one really sad piece of clothing or a cheap looking piece of jewelry. My cousin recently had an incident where she thought what was embroidery on a kurti turned out to be this weird looking foil print. Not nice.

There are tonnes of options when it comes to retail sites and although I have my favorites, I would definitely try shopping at a few new ones soon!


So. Let's get into it.

Things to look out for:

1. Sizing charts : This is the number one reason that people return clothes that they buy online. Because they obviously haven't tried it on, there is no way to tell how something will fit, unless you've tried the exact same item at a store and it's merely on some special discount online. Check the measurement chart ALWAYS. S/M/L means different things for different brands. There is also the matter that UK/US/AUS  etc sizing runs very differently. So please, always check the sizing charts and keep a tape measure handy!

2. Color Options
Sometimes sites do not have those tiny icons which let you view the same item in different colors; it takes a significant amount of scrolling to figure this out. It's extremely annoying but I cannot count the number of times I see the same dress that I didn't want in blue but see in red a couple of days later and is already sold out in my size because I didn't check properly. It takes a while but don't give up! Make sure you've checked the whole site exhaustively. Of course, after you've narrowed down the search. Don't scroll through all 44,834 items, please :P

3. Returns Policy
Most sites offer 30-day returns. But in reality, how easy is it to actually return an item that you don't want? Make sure you check exactly what the terms and conditions of these policies are. More often than not you won't get your money back, only store credit.

4. Legitimacy of a Site
MAKE SURE you're going on a site that is legit. Maybe you can check if it has a Facebook/Twitter page where you can see other customers' feedback and issues. The 'Customer Testimonials' are more often than not written by the person who owns the site. I've seen many, many instances on Instagram where girls are just losing their sh*t and spamming the comments section of these Instagram pop-up shops because items haven't been delivered, but they've paid the money. Which is completely unfair.

5. Price Comparison
Because a lot of sellers retail the same brands, it's always good to compare prices on at least FOUR sites before you make your purchase. (Take into account the delivery and shipping charges too!)

6. Tracking?
Check if they have a decent tracking system. Ask around. This will make your life easier, especially if you want it delivered on a specific date.

DO NOT BE FOOLED BY:

1. Materials/Vague descriptions of materials
 A few of the bigger online shopping sites do have extremely comprehensive photos of each product from around ten different angles. And sometimes, on a model too, if it's clothing/accessories/jewelry. Zoom in to see what kind of fabric it is. If you can't zoom in that much, just pray that there's a decent description of the material content. Otherwise, it really is an at-your-own-risk thing. Do not be fooled by vague descriptions of materials such as 'Flowy green top'. Really? What is it even made of :/? You may expect a nice chiffon top but in reality, it might be jersey knit (the thin material our t-shirts are made out of) and hang very awkwardly on your body, in the most un-flowy way possible. Also, if the clothes aren't on models or really really well laid out, I'd really suggest not shopping at that site. Too much of a risk.

2. Detailing 
Sometimes you'll order a bag, or a pair of shoes, or even a top, expecting decent quality trims (buckles, rivets, buttons, zippers, embroidery) and you'll end up with some really cheap looking, questionable stuff. Especially with jewelry - more often than not I've bought a piece thinking it's metal and it ends up being plastic. Fail. Make sure you gauge from the pictures what exactly you're dealing with. Sometimes what you think is a pretty embroidery detail on a dress will end up being a flat print.

3. Sizes of Jewelry/bags/other accessories 
At your own risk. If measurements/pictures on a model aren't provided, be prepared for it to be any size, really :P Maybe use something as small a stone, or a link/clasp on the chain to kind of put the whole piece into relative proportion. Because you know how big that'll be more or less, so it'll work itself out. Same with bags - look at the buckle or a zip.

4. Shoes - the soles and straps
A lot of the cheaper shoes online have cardboard, yes, cardboard in their soles. Watch out for these! And always check how the straps are held in place, if any. If you can tell it's shadily glued in place - then please do NOT buy them. It'll last you a grand total of three days. People who street shop in Delhi/Mumbai a lot - you'll know what shoes will and won't last and more often than not - THE EXACT SAME ONES ARE SOLD ON THE SITES TOO.

5. Material 'claims'
Be smart when you shop. If there's a wallet or a purse that's INR 200 and it says 'GENUINE LEATHER' it's probably very low grade leather not at all. And some sites do not literally mean 'Leather sling bag' for INR 400, they mean imitation. But they'd rather NOT put that out there.

6. Deceptive Photography
Be very wary of highly edited pictures. They probably have something to hide. GAUSSIAN BLUR - YOU'RE NOT FOOLING ANYONE.

7. Buying Makeup/ body products (especially on Ebay)
Make sure it says brand new. And the picture doesn't look shady. Of course, they may just put up an existing photo of the product in it's prime, but look at the seller. Make sure they're trusted.

So now you're ready to plunge deeper into the world of shopping for lazy-girls. It's ridiculously addictive :P

End of the day, however, I am Team Brick and Mortar. That satisfaction you get when you're home after a day of shopping is just unparalleled.
P.S Any suggestions to new sites or sellers will be welcome :P
Sigh.
Happy Tuesday!

Purchases: A few new buys (for fall)

Well yes. I am one of those people who cannot stand the A/C below 24 and the moment the monsoon rolls in, I bring out my sweaters. I am useless. But I am a true Chennai child. I need my warmth.
And I exploit that five degree temperature drop we get after August. I call it 'fall'. My parents laugh but I really enjoy layering clothes and buying darker colored lipstick/nailpolish.
And that is just what I did.

I also managed to try out a site called everstylish.com. I saw some really cute jewelry on sale there so I thought I'd give it a go. I will give you my honest opinion on that too.

NOTE: The sweater in the picture is not something I got recently although for those of you who like that kinda stuff - Mango and M&S do some adorable sweaters, both thick and thin.

The three pieces of jewelry that I picked were all very different. One of them was statement-ish, one more subtle and one because it had a freakin' skeleton hand. Enough said.
As with all online shopping, you can never really tell the quality from the photo. You can never tell if it's plastic or metal. But, once you've shopped around enough (I'm not proud of it) you know what to look for to tell the difference. Also, they're on sale now so if you want to pick some stuff up - go here

1. Braided gold chain pendant (INR 499)
    I really loved this piece. Possibly my favorite from the lot. It was exactly what I expected it to be, all       metal. The chain was really good quality too. Can see myself wearing this a lot with plain tops or collared blouses.



2. Silver and black statement necklace (INR 399)
 A nice, bold piece to wear with both Indian (I definitely think so) and regular clothing. Very versatile. I was a bit disappointed though - the chain was metal but the pendant pieces were plastic. It still looks like metal though so I don't mind so much.




3. Skeleton hand necklace (INR 199)
This one was an impulse buy. It was purely for the pendant more than anything. I could tell the chain was plastic from the picture itself. I probably will switch up the chain for a black leather strip or thick thread.
The pendant itself is a lightweight metal. Love the detailing on it. Phew.


Overall, I thought this site is a big hit-and-miss and has a lot to do with luck. I am not a fan of the pretty-yet-deceptive photography. Also the range is pretty small. But some of the pieces are very unique (lolita-esque wrist chains, hamsa pendants and a couple of really nice statement pieces that are all under the INR 500 mark). I'd give it a 3/5.

And now to the two 'fall' make up items.
I got away with the first one using the 'it's my birthday soon' excuse.
Story of my life.

4. L'oreal Color Riche Moist Matte (phew) in Arabian Nights (INR 899)
Holy crap. This goes on like a dream and sets into your lips SO WELL. You can hardly tell that it's matte. Doesn't dry out or look cakey. I am no beauty guru but this lipstick is the bomb. Vogue thinks so too, it won the Vogue Beauty Award for the shade Raspberry Syrup in the same line (check that out too)
It is a very flattering berry-plum color that reminds me of MAC's Rebel. I honestly think I prefer this one. If you're in the market for a color that isnt the regular red or pink, I think you should look at this one. Don't be fooled by the lipstick itself - it looks really dark. But when it's actually on you, it's a lot more subtle. If that's what you like.

5. Maybelline Color Show nailpolish in Crazy Berry (INR 75)
This was literally SUCH an impulse buy. I walked into Health and Glow with my friend, needed 200 to swipe my card, saw this near the counter, grabbed it and billed. I didn't expect it to be anything great. Looked like a run of the mill purple. Credit goes to said friend for picking the color.
BUT NO.
On my fingers, it looks like this vampy-sexy-malificenty-vixeny color that is a very good alternative to black.
P.S Not a fan of the name. A lot of the names for this line sound like they were just thought up overnight. By a 7-year-old.


I will do a post showing how the lipstick and the nailpolish look on me as soon as I can, if this can help a few of you out :)

DIY: Heel Resurrection AKA My Battle with a Glue Gun

I've been seeing studded heels everywhere and I think they're the easiest way to add a little rock'n'roll to an old pair of shoes that have seen better days.
So I brought out the old glue-gun (yes, it is pink) and decided to use up some of my leftover studs from my design collection.

This is great for those shoes in which a bow or a little detail has fallen off. You can't replace it so you may as well rip the other one off and cover it all up with studs :P
(Mine had a ginormous bow on the front that fell off the left heel)


You will need :

• 1 woebegone pair of shoes that have seen better days 
• A gluegun or very strong adhesive from a hardware store (no fabric glue or fevibond please, these are shoes, and it'll come right off)
• Studs (I got mine from a place in Perimet - people who want to stud up their jeans or bags or shoes or whatever, go explore that place. It has everything. Studs, spikes, rivets, chains and buckles)

I feel like instructions for this are laughable/redundant and would be insulting my readers intelligence  but here are a few tips :

• Start by cleaning the shoes as best you can. It'll help the studs stick on better if there's a clean surface.
•  Studs stick on suede really well as opposed to any other kind of material purely cause it's a rougher            surface. 
•  If you're using a glue-gun, put the glue on the shoe, and then press the stud onto it.
•  After you've finished the design, carefully put Anabond or Fevikwik inbetween the studs to set it all in    place.

Tada! Here is the finished product :



Good luck!

IMHO: Best Budget Perfumes

Personally, the biggest compliment I get is when people tell me I smell good. I get all warm and fuzzy inside. It's a little bit sad, actually, but I put a lot of effort into it.
Although my brother tells me I smell like liquorice, it's fine. I like it :P

I tend to go for fresher, lighter smells in the summer and frutier, sweeter smells during the winter   monsoon. God I wish we had a proper winter in Chennai. No snow and all, just nippy cold winter.

Between me and my mum, we have quite the perfume arsenal. From the Victoria's Secret splashes, to the Cerrutis, the Diors and the Elizabeth Ardens, there is probably something for every mood and occasion.
They range from around a few hundred rupees to disgusting amounts that I'm sure neither of us is proud of (most of them are presents so it's FINE.)

I completely agree that the higher end ones have a ridiculous lasting power and sillage (this is basically the trail of scent that you leave that makes peoples heads turn and go WT*) but I have uncovered a few which are all under 1000 INR and I think are very good quality for the price and definitely last quite long.
So if you're just starting out your perfume collection and don't want to go straight into Parcos and drop a few thousands, these are some lovely ones that you can dabble with before you're ready to buy your big girl perfume :)

(I am going to do a men's perfume one because god, if all men smelled as good as some I know, the world would be a happy, happy place)

NOTE: Perfumes smell different on different people because of body chemistry, so I recommend always trying a perfume on your wrist, leaving it for a few hours and wander around the whole mall OR come back the next day and buy it so you truly know what it smells like on you. Never go by the papers test that they do especially if you're buying an expensive one. Paper isn't skin. 


1. Zara Silk - INR 890

The first perfume I bought from Zara. When I saw the price, I thought there was a 1 missing at the beginning. Or that something was wrong. 890 for 75ml WHAT. I grabbed it. Ran to the counter and asked the guy five times if that was the price. They started looking at me so weirdly after I asked them third or fourth time.
Anyway. A nice, light daytime perfume. A fresh floral scent, not to sweet.

Staying power: 4/5 It lasted a good 4-5 hours but did wear off almost completely after that.


2. Zara Tulle - INR 890

From the same line as Silk, comes this little beauty. This one is a lot sweeter and the staying power is considerably more than Silk. The top note is apparently melon, so that explains the fruityness. It's definitely not overpoweringly sweet, so I wear this pretty much all the time in the day.

Staying power: 5/5 Lasted all day. And my clothes smelled of it the next morning. WIN.

3. Marks and Spencers Sunny Daze mini - INR 700 (Approx)

I love the M&S minis. Some of them they get really, really right and you can just carry it around in your purse and keep spritzing. A real lifesaver for college and work. Some of them are really weird smelling, I'm not going to lie. But I love Sunny Daze. It literally smells like it sounds - a sunny, happy day. Sweet notes, reminds me of sunshine in a bottle. Cue Natasha Bedingfield :P. Well that's pocket but you get the idea. I am not sure if they've discontinued it ( they had another lovely one called Perfection) but DO go to M&S and check out the minis they have this season - they're really good for the price point (all under INR 700).

Staying power: 4/5 Lasts a good 5 hours. And the mini size makes it really convenient to carry around and re-spritz if you need to.

4. Victoria's Secret Fragrance Mist in Pure Seduction - INR 675-775 (Approx dollar conversion) or INR 700 - 1000 (Flipkart/Jabong)

I sent one of my close friends to VS in Singapore last year to pick one up for me and he came back with two (aw, bless him). I think you can judge the strength of your friendship with a guy if he's willing to avert his eyes (or not) and brave the raw sexy that is a Victoria's Secret store and come back with a body mist for you.
I LOVE THIS SCENT. I CANNOT TELL YOU HOW MUCH. As you can see, I'e used it a lot. I thought I would never love anything more than the Strawberries and Champagne one but god this is a close second. It smells like fresh berries in a bottle. I used to wear this all of last year in college and a couple of my classmates knew I was in the room purely by the scent. If you have someone in a VS retailing nation - please get this one. Or Strawberries and Champagne.

You can buy this one here (125ml) (it's on sale!) and the full size here (250ml).

You can get more of them here: http://www.flipkart.com/search?q=victorias+secret&as=off&as-show=off&otracker=start


Staying power : 4.5/5 It does vary though, I've had people who've said body mists do not last on them at all. But I tend to have it last the whole day. Tip - spray it on your skin more than your clothes. I find that it doesn't cling to fabric.

5. Bath and Body Works Fine Fragrance Mist in Sky - INR 840 (Approx dollar conversion) or INR 825 - INR 1300 (Flipkart/Jabong)  I was fortunate enough to get it on sale for, wait for it, the equivalent of INR 180.

Bath and Body are an another company that do great mists. I love this one which is basically violet and lily. Super fresh and summery. It smells like a perfume. The staying power I feel is a bit longer than the VS ones, and they tend to stick to clothes a lot more.

You can get them online (for less than 1k!) : http://www.flipkart.com/all/bath-body-works~brand/pr?sid=all 


Staying Power : 5/5 Again, same as the VS one. Varies. But if you're in India you obviously can't test but for the price you really can't go wrong. I recommend them :)

Well that wraps this up.
I do know that Westside, Fab India and a couple of other smaller brands also do body mists but I haven't really tried them out to know the staying power but I definitely will soon. If any of you have found alternatives, please comment and tell me where you get them from, cause I'd love to try them :)

Have a nice weekend :D

Make Up Essentials for College/Work

I am in no way someone who wears a lot of make-up, but I do believe that a little war-paint goes a long way.

When I was in college, I would sometimes have to meet people after a day of work, or stay over at a friend's. So I constantly had a trusty make-up bag with me, holding all the essentials I may ever need in case of an emergency.
There is nothing worse than being without the mascara-kajal-chapstick pick-me-up and somewhere to go. I was the source of some flack from my friends (they thought I was being high maintenance) but when they started borrowing stuff off me for their own emergencies, somehow, I was praised more than blamed. (You girls know who you are :P)

Also, I get quite a few questions from friends who want to buy their make up basics, so I thought I'd share what I personally feel would be a good starter kit. All of these are available in your local Health n Glow, or department store or even your Selvam/Kannan/Murali stores. I sincerely advise you to physically go make up shopping instead of buying things online (unless you're repurchasing). You can never actually judge colors or textures otherwise.

So grab a make-up pouch and start filling it in!

1. Powder 
   I may as well start off by saying I do not wear powder unless I'm going for something along the lines of a wedding or a sit-down dinner. Here in namma Chennai we tend to have make up melt off our faces within the first ten minutes unless you're guaranteed an A/C venue. Even then. The walk from the car to the entrance may destroy you anyway (you know I'm not exaggerating). But I do recommend the L'oreal True Match powder. Any Loreal counter should stock this (I think Shopper's Stop or Lifestyle may have it). It's extremely blendable, doesn't look cakey on your skin and has pretty good color matches.

2. Blush
I feel like a good blush can really make you look healthy and awake. Most people I see tend to think that darker blushes work on darker, Indian skin. And then they proceed to the Lakme counter and pick out some shade that looks like powdered brick. NO, LADIES. A healthy 'flush' is something that is a coral, or a rosy pink. There are so many brands with so many different light shades that we Indian women shy away from because we think it won't show up on us. They will!
I have currently been loving Pearlescent Pink by Wet n Wild. A US purchase. Works wonders for dusky and fair skin. VERY versatile. If you have an uncle/aunt/brother/sister/boyfriend/cousin in the States, ask them to go to their nearest Wal-mart or drugstore and pick this up. It is $2.99 and according to the make-up gurus, a real dupe for the higher end blushes that cost ten times more.

3. Liner
Eye liner is something that can really define your entire look. It is part of my holy trinity (liner, mascara, kajal) and I almost NEVER leave the house without my little cat-eye (or big, depending on my mood). Experiment with your liner to see what shape suits you most and stick with it.
I think every single girl I have ever met has the ridiculously cheap but awesome Lakme Insta Liner. I've used this from the time I was 14 and have never looked back. Only problem is, it isn't waterproof AT ALL. It's okay. Reapply through the day if you need to.
I do own a couple of more expensive ones, but I think if you're carrying this to college or work, stick with something that you wont cry over if lost/stolen (personal experience here).


4. Mascara
Mascara is a staple for that 'I'm wearing make up but not really' look. It requires no time at all to apply, and can really open up your eyes. You can even do away with liner and kajal sometimes, and just put this stuff on and run to college. You'll still look put together. I recommend waterproof in the summer but a regular formula post August.
I use the Volume Million Lashes by Loreal. A little pricier than your average Maybelline ones, but worth it. It does what it says. As someone who has average lashes (not too sparse, not too thick) this makes me look like I'm wearing false lashes sometimes. Best part? It doesn't clump. I recommend also Maybelline The Colossal Volume Express Mascara (thicker, more dramatic) and Lakme Iconic Curling Mascara (a more everyday one)

5. Kajal
Every Indian woman knows the power of this item. All my late nighters are followed with a copious swipe of kajal under my eyes in the morning. You can double this up as an eyeliner, too. It truly is a lifesaver.
I prefer the thin twist ups over the fat pencil variety purely because they don't need sharpening. But I do know that they don't last very long. The day that they make a long-lasting twist up, I will be the happiest person alive. I recommend Maybelline The Colossal Kajal and L'oreal Paris Kajal Majique.

6. Lip Balm
Hydrated lips are extremely important. Nothing is worse than well-done make up and chapped lips. And they're actually a make up essential for me. When I don't want to wear lipstick, I feel like a bit of lip balm sheen still makes you look put together. I swear by the Himalaya Lip balm. It costs a grand total of INR 25 or so and when I have chapped lips, this fixes it in 24 hours and makes them soft and supple. When I want something with a little bit of color, I've been loving the Body Shop Born Lippy chapstick in Plum that I spoke about in my last post.

7. Cream Eye Shadow
Why cream eye shadow, you ask? Because they're awesome.
Powder shadows in single cases or in quads are all well and good when you're getting ready at home, but when you're stuffing this in the bottom of your college bag or handbag there are very high changes of it shattering and staining your make up pouch (again, personal experience). I find that my blush never shatters, funnily. Maybe because it's bigger? No idea.

I think a single, neutral shade of cream eye shadow is something that you can swipe on with your fingers if you ever have to go out anywhere directly from work or college. The Maybelline Color Tattoos (I'm using Pomegranate Punk) or the L'oreal Infallible 24 hour eyeshadow (a powder-cream formula) are an absolute godsend (I wish I had used these in college). My lovely friend gave one of the former to me and I've been carrying it around in my bag ever since. Cream eye shadows stay on your eye a fair bit longer than powder ones do, so any impromptu nights out/clubbing plans can be saved by this and this alone. Smoke it out with a bit of your kajal and there. You're ready to roll.

8. Lipstick
I could do a whole post on just how much I think lipstick can change your life. But that's another story.
I think that even though you may not wear the lipstick every day, all day, it doesn't hurt to carry around one with you. It's such a pick-me-up, it can make you feel like the sexiest woman alive. Lipstick honestly changes my mood. I carry around a couple with me and depending on what I need I either go full-on, or sheer it out by mixing it in with a bit of my balm. In my bag currently is MAC's Russian Red and Revlon's Ruby. The former is an in-your-face matte red and the latter is a shinier, more cool toned one. Love them both.

9. Moisturizer
I cannot emphasize enough on the use of a good facial moisturizer. Especially after you've washed your face. It helps restore the balance of your skin and prevents drying. I carry around the age-old, tried and tested Olay Moisturizing Lotion which is good for face and body.

So that wraps up this post, I hope you guys find this helpful.
Contents of a make up bag is just like a wardrobe, you have to build it. Don't go out one day and buy 7 or 8 essentials all at once. Spend time hovering around the counters especially for lipsticks, eyeshadows, blushes and powders which are all skin tone specific.I strongly advise again buying these items on the internet for the first time (unless you're sure of the shade and it's cheaper online). Check that you're not allergic to powders/blushes by patch testing it on the inside of your wrist.

And most importantly, ALWAYS take your make up off before you go to bed!