Multicoloured Haze All Around...Part II

The Summer may be showing nothing but contempt for us British folk.  While this rain is making all the plants very happy little sessile organisms - the grass is greener than ever and flowers are in full fertile blossoming mode - we are trapped inside, unable to enjoy the outdoors, missing all the beautiful scents and colours.  So, on a rather tempestuous day I decided that I shall bring the colour inside by painting my nails, dyeing my hair and painting my lips a random mix of colours.

Lavender Dip-Dye Hair - Shoreditch Bitch Style:

Don't be fooled by the camera - it was indeed raining outside...

Purple tips & purple lips:

YSL goth purple

Pretty Pink Kisses...Mwah Mwah Dahling:

God, I love posing for the camera...

And now, Ladies and Gentlemen, it's Nail Time:

This nail art is inspired by some of beautiful Hindi (Bollywood) films from the 1960s.

It's so much easier to work on nails that are not mine - the index and middle finger falsies are shown.

And I thought I should include some clips below featuring the exquisite beauty Madhubala - a huge Bollywood star during the 50s and 60s.

Madhubala

An absolute icon, who tragically died at the age of 36 as a result of complications arising from a congenital heart disorder.  I have recently been obsessed with her performance in the epic Mughal-e-azam (Eng: The Greatest of the Mughals).

The film was originally released in black and white.  And while the story, acting and cinematography are all captivating, it is something else with colour.  The colours are so intense.  Indeed it was the director, K. Asif's intention for the film to be released in colour.  Unfortunately that was not possible in his lifetime with techni-color being added later.  There is a beautiful dedication to K. Asif at the start of the film.

...

...Captivating...
...I love it!...

A Sign of the Times

People's spending habits are often an accurate reflection of the state of the economy - when times are hard, such as now, people budget for and spend only on essentials - the iPad 2 isn't on most people's shopping lists (apart from mine) - sad news for the world's largest company, Apple.  It is sensible behaviour as the economy is still recovering but it makes shopping a lot less fun.  Boo-hoo!  Especially as the new season (A/W) approaches - although it seems that Autumn and Winter are already upon us in England - bringing with it some awesome new trends:
* The futuristic take on the vintage glamour of the 1940s (@Marc Jacobs - video below) and 1960s (@Prada & Burberry Prorsum)

Prada A/W 2011

* The 18-hour dress vs. The Tomboy - hourglass vs. tailoring.

L'Wren Scott vs. Paul Smith

But these are all way over budget for those who are still feeling the pinch.  So the best way to update your look for A/W 2011 lies in your make-up bag - no need to buy more products, simply adapt what you already have.

* Make your make-up work harder by multi-tasking - use the same product on lips, cheeks and eyes.  Steer away from green, purple and blue.

* Following the 60s revival, coat your lashes with mascara but avoid clumping.

* Blush can be applied below the cheekbones to give an outdoorsey, healthy glow.

* No need to visit the salon for your fortnightly eyebrow wax, brows are bigger and bolder in-line with the tomboy look.

* But if there is one thing you should give into it would be brightly coloured, glossy lips - reds, purples and pinks.  In fact, Reuters states that  "When times are tough, women still treat themselves to a new lipstick" - in the US, lipstick sales have increased by 13% since the start of 2011.  And analysts can now use lipstick sales as an economic indicator to gauge the mood of the consumer.  Whatever reason you buy it for, it is a great way to stay on-trend without maxing out the credit card.