Ladies, Your First Luxury Timepiece.

After almost 6 months of starting this blog, while adjusting the time on my Dior VIII on the way back from work, I realized that I hadn't done a post on what is sort of my home turf - Timepieces! (a more luxurious word to use while talking about your watch). As the most understated yet obvious object of social peacocking, a luxury watch is a prestigious investment, and one that lasts you generations. Having spent a few years learning what makes a perfect luxury watch for a lady, I'm sending you this post right in time to take care of your festive season indulgences. ;)

Once we have done the standard Casio, Swatch, Tommy Hilfiger, Armani rite of passage, there comes a time when we are ready to wear something more timeless on our wrists. It's a natural progression that remarks our personal coming of age and thus carries definite value. Watches are worldwide the biggest category of self-reward, and that goes to say that watches carry far more meaning for us than being a mere bearer of time. To begin with, it is the kind of accessory we literally live in (some of us wear our watches to bed, don't we?) compared to others that we use perhaps only once a day, week, month, or on special occasions only. Watches communicate our personalities, status and choices in life without saying as much as a word. They are just perfect for those who don't want to be too flashy about their 'possessions' because as much as we would not like to show them off, watches have high natural noticability without being superfluous. For women, in addition to all these attributes, timepieces also double up as beautiful jewelry, thereby giving them an opportunity to own something preciously utilitarian and negating the need to invest in the latter.
A timepiece is an accredited entry into the world of luxury.

So let's say you've decided to invest in a luxury timepiece and managed to keep some savings aside for it, what are the things you must keep in mind while deciding which one to get? In short, what exactly makes a luxury watch for a lady?

1. The brand or the watch's position in the timepieces universe : Broadly speaking, the major luxury watch brands of the world fall into one of the 4 categories in feminine timepieces with frequent overlaps.
a) Jewelry brands : Watch brands that started out as historical jewelers and eventually extended into the timepieces category. Cartier, Bvlgari, Chopard, Van Cleef et Arpels - these brands showcase their jewelry crafstmanship and gem-setting expertise in their watches and are known for creating bejewelled pieces.

b) Fashion brands : Watches that come from the houses of major fashion brands. Gucci, Calvin Klein, Versace and the likes. Though these watches carry design codes of the house, they are normally inferior in movements and quality of parts. Best to be bought as a part of a watch wardrobe and not as a single luxury timepiece investment.

c) Watchmaker brands : The top manufacturers based in the Swiss watchmaking valleys of Geneva, Lausanne, La Chaux de Fonds or Zurich. They are top notch in movements and caliberations and use in-house manufacturing expertise. These kind of watches often come with interesting patents and editions. Brands include 80% of the luxury watch industry - Jaeger Le Coultre, IWC, Breguet, Patek Phillipe to name some biggies

d) Luxury brands : Timepieces from the luxury brands. Chanel, Dior, Louis Vuitton, Hermes - People often confuse this category with that of Fashion brands, but the key difference is that luxury watch brands are 'Swiss-made' or have high technical and manufacturing expertise compared to fashion brands which comes from having their own factories in Switzerland.


2. The Heritage : Quite interestingly all watch brands and their major collections come with unique and awe-worthy origin stories and prestigious associations that give them a strong identity.  Breguet's Reignes de Naples was created for Napolean's sister, the Queen of Naples.. Panerai was the official timekeeper of the Italian navy. The first prototype of Cartier Tank was gifted to General Pershing during World War 1 before being made publicly available. Van Cleef et Arpels originated out of the love story of its founders Estelle Arpels and Alfred Van Cleef. Dior VIII is named after it Christian Dior, its founder's lucky no 8.  Every watch carries with itself a saga of valour, pride, royalty, ambition, achievement, passionate romance and when you buy the watch you personalise this story to make it your own. Finding a heritage story that resonates with you the most is indeed a good way to shortlist a favourite watch!

3. The time-keeping mechanism : Again, broadly speaking your watch would be digital (where time appears as numbers do on the weighing scale like Casio or Seiko for example), quartz (battery operated so you wouldn't need to wind it and it would be easy to use with a battery replacement whenever it runs out) or automatic (the watch would power itself, i.e. the watch movement operates mechanically through watch parts set by machine/hand in a typical Swiss watch way and come with a power reserve). Though there is definite merit in getting an automatic watch for the snob value and the bursting-bubbles-in-a-bubble-wrap kind of joy of winding your watch when it's out of power, getting a quartz watch is definitely an easier option for women as it is ready to use whenever and would be decently inexpensive than an auto.

4. Ladies v/s Men's brands : The luxury watch industry is by and large male dominant with a few Swiss players still manufacturing only for men. For the chunk of the rest, they started as men's watches brands and diversified into the women's category as the market matured. Which means that barring a few handful exceptions, most popular men's watch brands that make watches for women aren't experts in that category and their version of a women's watch is basically a male watch with diamonds on it or a large male dial-size with a glossy pink strap attached. Which implies that but ofcourse most of them look ugly and unsuitable on women's wrists in terms of fit and proportions. Thus a better idea then to buy a watch from a brand that is an expert in feminine timepieces to ensure you invest in a watch that is 'made for you' and feels right on your wrist.

5. The 3 primary design parameters : How a watch looks and whether it would appeal to you or not would comprise of the following:

1) Material : What is it made of? Traditional materials for watches are typically steel and gold. Newer materials include ceramic, sapphire crystal, titanium, carbon fiber etc. There are watch brands whose primary innovation lies in using impossibly high tech materials to produce watches, but a subject better covered in the male version of this post. The second important choice to be made is bracelet versus strap. Straps could be in rubber or exotic leathers like alligator, calfskin or crocodile in matt or patent. As a first luxury watch, a bracelet version is sort of a better choice as it is inherently more versatile and can mostly be replaced by a strap in a couple of years, most watch brands offer that flexibility. Depending on the bracelet or the strap, the watch will either come with a clasp or a buckle option.

2) Dial size : Watch dial sizes for women typically range from 19 mm to 42 mm, averaging between 32-33mm which is the most widely selling and suits most wrist sizes. When choosing the right dial size for you, keep in mind that its always more elegant when a bit of the bracelet/strap is also visible on your fore-wrist, apart from the dial so that the watch can be seen and admired in its totality. Market trends though are hugely towards chunky dials with the soaring popularity of brands like Hublot and could be an unconventional choice,

3) Dial shape : Watch dials are largely either circular or square, with very infrequently variations to that. Again, a strictly personal choice to decide the shape that looks good on you. Breguet does beautiful oval dials in their Reignes de Naples collection which I personally feel looks quite striking on women. Cartier released a watch called Cartier Crash, inspired by Dali's surrealist paintings in a very unconventional shape last year.

Cartier Crash - Inspired by Surrealism

6. Personal Style : As with all things luxury, I cannot stress enough the importance of personal style while choosing your timepiece. You can go for your favourite watch story and get a completely classic watch or something edgy and contemporary from a with-it in-the-moment brand, you can get a strappy sporty watch or a jeweled feminine one, you can choose a serene mother-of-pearl dial or a bright lacquered dial in blue, pink or green! The options are limitless, but bear in mind what would continue to appeal to you down the years and thus there are bona fide advantages of selecting a simple and timeless classic watch as your first major luxury buy. Also, you can always build a watch wardrobe as you go along, which is to say watches that go with different styles and hours of the day and ofcourse your all-important mood. Just remember that there is no point in thinking of watches as investment pieces as the era of watches having good resale value (barring a few Patek Phillipes and Rolexes) is now over and so your luxury watch decision can be 100% based on what you love only.

So now, here  are 10 personal favourites that make for fantastic choices for your first luxury watch featuring a combination of materials and can help you narrow down on your decision. These are all under 10,000 euros.

1. Bvlgari Serpenti 

The story - The signature Serpenti collection from Bvlgari celebrates the power and dynamism of the serpent
Watch type - Stainless steel, 35mm, quartz, crown set with ruby. Also available in steel-gold, full-gold, and studded versions
For who - Women looking to make an unmistakable bold and contemporary statement while wearing the eternity of a Bvlgari
MRP - 5.4 K USD
Founds on the wrist of - Carla Bruni
Find more at - http://www.bulgari.com/en-us/products/101911-e.html


2. JLC Rendevous Bicolor

The story - Celebrating pure watchmaking tradition with refined feminine beauty, JLC created this version as an India limited edition
Watch type - Stainless steel, 34mm, auto, mother of pearl, gold and diamonds, date indicator
For who - Women who (or pretend to) know their watches and watchmaking and are looking for something with a more festive feel
MRP - 10K USD
Founds on the wrist of - Diane Kruger
Find more at - http://www.jaeger-lecoultre.com/US/en/watch-finder/rendez-vous/15?case=Bicolor

3. Dior Blue Christal

The story - The first brand ever to use sapphire crystal normally used to make the watch glass case in a decorative way to make bracelets
Watch type - Blue sapphire crystal, MOP and diamonds, 33mm, quartz. Also available in deep red.
For who - Women who want to experiment with a versatile color and an offbeat material
MRP - 7K USD
Founds on the wrist of - Sharon Stone
Find more at - http://www.dior.com/couture/en_us/timepieces/timepiece-collections/dior-christal

4. Chanel J12

The story - Launched in 1999 and inspired by the sea, it transformed ceramic into a luxurious material in contemporary watchmaking
Watch type - Black hi tech ceramic, 33mm, quartz, diamonds. Also available in white ceramic.
For who - Women looking for a statement evening watch with a mysterious allure
MRP - 6K USD
Founds on the wrist of - Emma Watson
Find more at - http://www.chanel.com/en_US/Watches/j12-black

5. Cartier Tank Anglais

The story - First prototype gifted to General Pershing in 1919. Known for its clean, crisp art-deco aesthetic and a standard in classic women's watches
Watch type - Stainless steel, 34mm, quartz, blue hands. Also available in steel-gold, gold and studded versions
For who - Women looking for a true blue  classic from the strongest feminine watch manufacture
MRP - 7K USD
Founds on the wrist of - Jackie O and Lady D
Find more at - http://www.cartier.com/collections/watches/womens-watches/tank.html

6. Rolex Submariner Date

The story - Iconic divers watch since 1953, but perhaps the only divers watch you can wear with an LBD
Watch type - 40mm, steel, auto, chronometer, green dial with rotatable bezel
For who - Women passionate about exploring the unchartered wearing green
MRP - 9K USD
Founds on the wrist of - All cool men
Find more at - http://www.rolex.com/watches/submariner/m116610lv-0002.html

7. Omega Constellation

The story - Featuring Omega's renowned co-axial movement, Constellation collection is characterised by its famous claws and striking dials
Watch type - 27mm, MOP, matt finish steel and yellow gold, quartz
For who - Women looking for an economical luxury buy in popular steel-gold combination
MRP - 5K USD
Founds on the wrist of - Cindy Crawford
Find more at - http://www.omegawatches.com/watches/constellation/

8. Chopard Happy Sport

The story - Chopard's signature moving diamonds since 1973, recently celebrated 20 years
Watch type - 36mm, circular dial, steel and diamonds, quartz. Also available in alligator strap
For who - A free spirited woman with a love for chunky dials
MRP - 8.9K USD
Founds on the wrist of - Vanessa Paradis
Find more at - http://www.chopard.com/watches/happy-diamonds


9. Dior VIII Montaigne

The story - Dior's signature line, Dior VIII was launched in polished stainless steel in 2014 with its iconic cannage bracelet and an ergonomic design
Watch type - 32mm, pink sunbrushed dial with diamonds, auto Also available in blue.
For who - Women whose favourite color is pink and are looking for a shiny, feminine timepiece
MRP - 8.5K USD
Founds on the wrist of -
Find more at - http://www.dior.com/couture/fr_fr/horlogerie/collections-horlogeres/dior-viii


10. Luminor Panerai

The story - The Florentine watch of the Swiss watch world, Panerai watches have a distinctive design appeal and the clain to fame of being the official watch of the Italian navy
Watch type - 44mm, black dial with luminous numerals, calfskin strap, auto
For who - Women who would rather buy a cool men's watch
MRP - 5.9K USD
Founds on the wrist of - Salma Hayek
Find more at - http://www.panerai.com/fr/collections/collection-de-montres/luminor.html


11. Apple watch Hermes (bonus! but ofcourse)

The story - Possibly the best luxury-tech collaboration of our times, the trendy Apple watch with the legendary Hermes stirrup style strap is a must-have
Watch type - A smart watch with 3 delectable strap options
For who - Women struggling to find a good looking Apple watch
MRP - 1250 USD
Founds on the wrist of - Anna Wintour!
Find more at - http://www.apple.com/in/apple-watch-hermes/

Hope I have taken care of your decision of spending less in 2016 by spending more in 2015. Do write in comments below should you need more details about any of these watches or a free private consultation. :)

Happy times ahead!

Sneaker Couture - Your Definitive Lust List

Disclaimer - There is a mighty overuse of the word 'cool' in what you are now going to read.

I bet you all have noticed the sneaker's phenomenal and monumental rise from the street to the runway and the red carpet. If there is one accessory that has seen a giant transformation in design, context and even philosophy over the past decades it is your humble sneaker, now innately stylish worn with a slim suit and totally proper worn to work. Let's take a moment here to hail the triumph of the fashion sneaker.

Bill Cunnigham shoots designer sneakers on the street

Few wearable accessories transcend their basic utility to become steeped in popular culture and embody youth spirit the way sneakers have done down the ages. Converse is to sneakers what Levi's is to jeans and and if denims saw their designer transformation in the 70s, sneakers are coming of fashion age as we speak.

So what has led to the soaring popularity of designer sneakers and made it perhaps one of the more perfect examples of little luxuries? Because I am a sucker for lists, I'll give you 8! :)

1. The dichotomy of a sneaker, an everyday pragmatic wear as an object of luxury is innately cool to begin with. An everyday part of our lives, made luxurious yet accessible.

2. They help you push the boundaries of your otherwise understated sartorial style and signal a sense of experimentation and irreverence when you wear them. Sneakers are all about keeping it cool.

3. They are definitely legit work wear now (thank you Zuckerberg!) and speak of your cool, new age profession when you wear them at parties.

4.Yet they look a bit off duty- the unassuming glam of the uniform of someone who is too busy to think about their clothing. Exactly what you feel when Marc Jacobs or Phoebe Philo (Celine) do their post-show runway walk in their Stan Smiths. Or when fashion editors do their fashion week running around in them.

Phoebe Philo, Creative Director of Celine, always in her Stan Smiths

5. You can wear what your favourite sports idol or designer or CEO is wearing in less than $200

6. They make you feel inherently athletic, even though you haven't been to the gym or the track since cicadas chirped.

7. They fit in seamlessly with the now prevalent normcore trend. Normcore is essentially highly-comfortable-grey-sweatpants-and-dad-jeans kind of anti-fashion statement. And sneakers are right on top with the subdued luxury of something very utilitarian.

8. They go with everything! Yes they do! Even suits and dresses when worn right. Then they are a bit like hats, they look cool only on the genuinely cool.

9. Gisele has posed nude in them for Vogue Paris. I rest my case.

Gisele in Stan Smiths, Vogue Paris 2004

The history (sorry for this- I have tried to make it interesting by making the entire history shoppable!) of celebrity collaborations in sneakers (Rise of the Sneaker Culture- an exhibition dedicated to the sneaker's exonerable rise is now playing at the Brooklyn Museum)  started as we all know with Converse's Chuck Taylors All Stars in 1930s and haven't stopped since, thanks to the brand wars between Adidas and Nike. It was Nike that took sneakers in the realm of fashion with Nike Cortez in the 70s milking the twin trends of conspicuous consumption and fitness obsession of that time. At the same time Adidas collaborated with Tennis star Stan Smith to launch the eponymous Stan Smiths. Gucci launched the first official designer sneaker in 1984 (year of my birth, so luxurious!). Nike's Air Jordans ushered in the cult of the Sneakerhead. Run DMC made sneaker hip-hop culture mainstream with the Adidas SuperStars. Then in 2002, Adidas again upped the game with a proper designer collab with Jeremy Scott. And this was just the beginning. In 2004, Hedi Slimane dropped all-white hightop sneakers on the runway at Dior Homme and we all knew that the rules had just been broken. These days collaborations can be a lot more demand-driven marketing gimmicks - only 5000 pairs of Kanye's Nike Air Yeezys were launched in 2012 to propel exclusivity and sneaker heads lapped up the collection in about an hour. Kanye swiftly moved to Adidas then and his Yeezy Boss 350 launched this August sold out just as quickly.

Take your Kanye West designer sneaker pick!

So now that we have logically concluded the rise and dominance of sneaker couture and you are all lusting to get your hands on a pair, I present to you my 11 favourite designer sneakers :

1. Raf Simons for Adidas

    Launch date: SS 2014

    MRP : 427 euros

    Why : Bold colors and contrasting materials, these come with mesh, leather panels and silicone 

               details

    Buy it here : Most sold out but you can find a few pairs here.

2. Jeremy Scott 'Wings' for Adidas
    Launch date: June 2008
    MRP : 220 euros
    Why : The sneaker with wings
    Buy it here : The cut out version is available here.

3. Louboutin Louis Black Stud High Tops
    Launch date: 2011
    MRP :  800 euros
    Why : Studs on anything are fierce, and luxe when they come with red soles
    Buy it here : Also available in all white ;)

4. Gucci Vintage Low Top Tennis
    Launch date: 1984
    MRP :  440 euros
    Why : The first ever luxury sneaker
    Buy it here.

5. Rick Owens for Adidas
    Launch date: 1984
    MRP :  402 euros
    Why : The deconstructed sneaker with 2 separate soles, in uber luxe black and white leather
    Buy it here.

6. Tom Ford Glam Sneakers

    Launch date: 2014
    MRP :  967 euros
    Why : Russel leather high top sneaker with a understated white sole - Made In Italy
    Buy it here.

7. Nike Air Yeezy Red October

    Launch date: Feb 2014
    MRP :  220 euros, and a resale value of 2000 euros
    Why : Perhaps the hardest to get sneakers EVER.
    Sold out

8. Valentino Camo RockRunner Sneakers

    Launch date: SS 2013
    MRP :  840 euros
    Why : Camo becomes Valentino chic in this one in a range gorgeous colors and stud details
    Buy them here

9. Buscemi 125mm Leather High Tops
    Launch date: 2014
    MRP :  800 euros
    Why : Rich leather in edible colors including gold, golden padlock with keys and more out of stock                than on shelves. They don't advertise.
    Buy them here

10. Giuseppe Zanotti 
    Launch date: 2014
    MRP :  475 euros
    Why : In crocodile leather, all white and all black lace ups with gold metal hardware, widely worn
               by hip hop bigwigs
    Buy them here

11. Saint Laurent Court Classic High Top Sneakers

    Launch date: SS 2013
    MRP :  795 euros
    Why : Because when Mr Hedi Slimane sends something down the runway whether for Dior
               Homme in 2004 or YSL in 2012, we know we gotta have 'em. This one comes with fringe.
    Buy them here.

Sneakers today are fore-fronting our modern day shoewear evolution and surprisingly are dominating in the men's category by far compared to women's. Sneakers are to men today what handbags are to women. And just how when men were boys they always cared about who had what sneakers, the rise of the designer sneaker will ensure that this illogical relationship and adult love for one's sneakers is a a phenomena that continues!

We'll always have Lipstick.

After lipstick sales doubled post the 9/11 tragedy, economists coined an interesting term called the Lipstick effect, which in essence means that in times of despair and recession, people are more likely to buy less costly luxury items. It's a bizarre phenomenon how when major luxury categories are struck bad by economic downturns, cosmetics remain largely unaffected. Women's love for lipsticks is a certified Investopedia index and its importance is summarised appropriately by some oft quoted quotes by Elizabeth Taylor who said that if you have had a bad day you pour yourself a drink, put on some lipstick and pull yourself together. Or Coco Chanel who recommended that if you are sad, just add more lipstick and attack. Lipstick is power. And even while you can still indulge yourself with one that costs a 100 dollars, it remains a universal little luxury.

Color on the lips is a bold declaration of one’s inner assurance. Lipstick signals an underlying tilt of power, by the manner in which it transfixes the audience’s attention to a minor detail on the cupid’s bow, making it in that instance far more significant than any other worldly matter and thus forces a surrender of power to talk or think about anything of real importance. Lipcolor is brash seduction, meant to translate seamlessly a woman’s intentions in the boardroom or the bedroom, at an interview or at a night out at the club. So much personality in a little color stick.

And then there are the dimensions of playing with the boundless range of color lipsticks bestow us with. The rainbow on our lips. We can differentiate a hundred shades of deep red, even though we might not wear anything red in a lifetime. There is a color for every season, every time of the day, every mood, every occasion, every location, everything and nothing. Afterall lipsticks made nude a legitimate color. And it is miraculous how these colors transform us, we can go from girl next door to glamazona, from dainty to diva, from pompous to pared down, from trendy to timeless and from sexy to subtle all in a matter of 30 secs. If a woman normally has 10 different personalities at any given moment, with the help of lipsticks she can develop a 100!

My lipstick journey started with some hand me downs from mom because through most of my adolescence I was too cool to be a girl. Putting on lip color just didn't go with the rest of my lanky, crew cut tomboy self and I would constantly write it off as 'too feminine' (I find nail paint too feminine even today) and would rather die than being caught wearing some outside of my own bathroom mirror. And then one fine day, MAC happened. Then one by one they came marching - the bright pinks, the light pinks, the dark browns, the natural browns, the glossies, the matts and the various shades of red. Today i am the proud owner of 44 lipsticks, out of which I use about 6. And these 6 are those timeless go-to saviors who have seen me through many a days of lip-biting stress and many a nights of pouty partying.

These are in random order and the ones you can order online without trying, applying or batting even an eyelid:

1. Nude - Chanel Rouge Coco Shine no 89 : A hydrating sheer lip-sheen that slathers on your lips smoothly and wears on like second skin all day long keeping that natural tint.

2. Natural pink - L'Oreal 101 Rose Melody : This is perhaps the only lip gloss I use as I can't stand how sticky glosses feel on the lips. Rose Melody is liquid lipstick with micor-oils which makes it a balm as much as a gloss, enhancing and reflecting the natural color of your lips beautifully.

3.  Bright pink - Dior Addict 865 : This high impact, weightless lip color comes in the most lustrous shade of fuschia and is a must have to every season and everytime you want to brighten up your look.

4. Oxblood : MAC Diva : Oxblood is my go to color for all things Fall and this deep bordeaux in matte shade is the quintessential old school vampy glam work best sans makeup.

5. Pinkish red : Estee Lauder Envy 350 : Hydrating, sculpting and smotheringly gliding, Envy has a super smooth lip application and a flirty magenta pink overtone making it perfect for bright day lips.

6.  Red : Tough one to choose but I'm gonna go with a classic Rouge Dior 752 - a vivid, oomphy Marilyn Monroe mattish red with no fushcia or orange undertones and a satin smooth finish. This is the typical make an entrance kind of red.

Lipsticks, beyond choosing the right color are also equally about application so here are some personal tips on how to select and wear them better :

a. Use balming and moisturising lipsticks so that your lips are cared for as long as they look pretty. If not, feel free to apply lipcolor on lips over nude lipbalm.

b. Depending on the brightness of your lipcolor, pare down the intensity of the rest of your makeup, especially the eyes. Not all parties are costume parties.

c. As subdued glam as they look, matt shaded doesn't go with all skin tones and lip shapes so use discretion while choosing a matt lipstick. Same goes for tones like oranges and corals.

d. Avoid matching your lips to your dress/top color. It's a bit 80s. So much fun to play with contrasts and surprises.

e. Always better to use a lipbrush to apply lipstick to spread color effortlessly and seamlessly and totally when the lipstick is running out!

f. Personally I don't use liner because I'm not quite from the high-definition makeup school. Nicer to shape lips directly from the lipstick for a natural, a tad smudged worn in look, then use a concealer wherever you go off and a highlighter wherever you need more prep-me-up. And oh my god it's way faster!

g. Choose, keep and wear all the time a signature red- the only shade where a signature shade adds more character and well, memory.

h. Exfoliate your lips with sugar, lemon and olive oil regularly to hydrate and retain their natural color.

i. And my favorite, to avoid lip stains on glasses, discreetly lick your lips before taking a sip!

Happy playing with this slip in your plam little luxury. Pick your favorite colors for every mood and give everyone a run for their words when you talk in them. And remember that one rule, every woman deserves a man who will ruin her lipstick, and not her mascara.

Bisous!

What would a French girl do?

Hello everyone and désolé for the hiatus. :)

Well I got a bit bored (..umm basically out of topics) of doing those erudite posts on little luxuries and decided to break it up with some shorter, less meaningful and more fun How To posts for much needed inspiration here and there. And this is for you, my dear ladies!

We have to admit, no one carries off that je ne sais quoi vibe as well as our ladies in France. It permeates all age, social class and other demographic and is recognisable from as far as the corner cafe where you see them go by as you sip your espresso. If I could sum it up in one phrase in English (although je ne sais quoi is by far the most apt description), it would be - I have cared a hell lot about my I-couldn't-care-less look and well hello, the rest is because I was born French. What does that even mean? The French, with their carefully cultivated passion for the slow and good life, quality over quantity and the ability to genuinely appreciate the petite pleasures of natural living, are actually a little less bothered about the real pressing concerns of the world than the flavour profile of the saucisson (artisanal sausages) bought at the neighbourhood boucherie. This certainly adds in good measure to their alluring charm to an unsuspecting audience too consumed with his routine, boss, parents, relationship status and other trials and tribulations of life. It's simple logic, focus on the little things and the larger ones will take care of themselves. Cute no?

So how do you bring on this cool French appeal wherever you are and whatever you might be doing? With my 5 essential tips that follow which will cover all aspects of mastering it - the clothes, the make up, the hair, the lifestyle and the attitude, and improvising on how you lead your life as much as the on way you look.

Alors, on commence :


1. The Clothes : Black, black and black. Black over black. Head to toe black. Black in multiple textures. There is no such thing as too much black in not just a French, but any self-respecting wardrobe. Intersperse the blackness with :

• The Breton - you know the sailor tops with horizontal blue stripes
• Finely knit grey cashmere pulls 
• Sheer white tops/tees - made of great quality cotton, and perhaps some lace and crochet
• Distressed cropped blue denims
• A fantastically fitted black leather jacket 
• A fantastically oversized camel coat
• A fantastically well cut navy blazer
• A colorful, preferably silk, prerferably Hermes scarf
• Ballet flats in black, blue, camel or a tres shocking fluoroscent 
• Pointy heels 
• Black booties with stud accents

Pin-up French woman for fashion : Vogue France Editor Emmanuelle Alt is the perfect embodiment of this classic French chic and a personal style icon and barely stirs away from the elements mentioned in the list above.

Pin-up French fashion quote : Having just a handful of clothing items that fit perfectly is better than having a whole closet full of items that aren't all that great.

The Vogue girls after show with Alt (second from left) - Get the drift on black?

Pin-up French fashion quote 2 : Androgyny is forever trés chic.

2. The Makeup - Au naturelle all the way. French ladies are big time believers in good skin being the essence of good looks and hence don't really use too much makeup, despite being home to the world's largest beauty major - L'Oreal! When it comes to skincare, they rely on good pharmacy or pharmacosmetic brands - Avene, La Roche Posay and Nuxe to name a few and average in the top 5 women nationalities in terms of daily time (and euros- a staggering 2.2 bn per year) devoted to skincare. A French woman's bathroom mantle is full of a dedicated battalion of hydrating creams, serums, sunscreens, night creams, cleansers, toners, peels, masks and essential oils to be used religiously and starting at a startling early age. Self care is an absolute top priority and no wonder French women are known worldwide to age really gracefully. You can use this damn useful link to guide you through French pharmacy skincare wonders and buy them rightaway!

The makeup thus acts only as an accentuation to the really fabulous skin and normally consists of only  the following:

• A light, well blending, moisturising foundation
• Cream-base rose-tinted blush for a pretty pop to the cheeks
• Some highlighter on the cheekbones and under brows
• A line of black mascara for nicely defined eye lashes (French women are not too big on eyeliners)
• Soft natural pink or strong red lips

Pin-up French woman for makeup : Marion Cotillard, the Oscar winning French actress and Dior ambassador at large. Her makeup at any red carpet appearance is the perfect case study of looking naturally beautiful and radiant and never ever overdone.

Marion Cotillard at Dior SS'14 show looking barely made up.

Pin-up French make up quote : Invest in great skincare and let your natural radiance shine through your makeup.



3. The Hair - Carefully unkempt. Heavily blowdried or perfectly straightened is just not a French. thing. Leaving home without brushing hair is. Hair must look and be as natural as the skin with the wave and the out-of-place strand right where it's supposed to be. Yes we are talking the 'I woke up like this' bed-head. French women never die their hair, never use a hair dryer, never shampoo their hair daily and never leave their house with wet hair. Most women rock their natural brunettes without any hair accessories except perhaps a dash of perfume to make sure you and your hair smell seamless.

French women normally leave their hair open but if you must try a hairstyle, opt for a messy French braid or a messy French chignon (bun) and go from day to night.

Pin-up French woman for hair : Caroline de Maigret, need I go any farther? Naturally tousled, messy hair with those perfect bangs that are styled exactly the same way no matter where she is. She has also recently authored the instant bestseller - How to be Parisian Wherever You Are and is these days your go-to French babe on all things parisienne.

Caroline de Maigret and her perfect 'rough night' mane.

Pin-up French haircare quote : I just had some great sex.



4. The Lifestyle : It has long been a topic of debate and endless frustration that French girls eat all they want without ever wanting to or needing to go to the gym? Is that true? Well yes. French women walk (and talk, especially during meals) a lot and shed their pain au chocolats as they traverse the rues on the way to work every morning and evening. French women spend tonnes of time outdoors. They also smoke a fair bit (how is one ever supposed to pull off a je ne sais quoi look without blowing a stylish puff?) and we all know that helps us stay gloriously thin!

A French woman has her portion control down pat, and she knows that a little baguette and brie never killed anybody but any foodly overindulgence is promptly followed by a day of conscious eating. Petite isn't just a dress size but a serving size as well. They love to eat farm fresh, organic foods as much as possible (going to the sunday marche is national obsession and a thoroughly gratifying experience for all senses) rather than mass produced supermarket snacks. French women love cooking their meals with fresh market buys keeping natural flavours high and seasoning low. And finally the trick is in savouring every bite (quality over quantity as we spoke of earlier) thus by by all means eating well.

Wine is paired (not poured) with meals and is had as more as a meal accent. Sugary sodas are avoided while sparkling water guzzled by the gallon essentially to to feel more full without pounding the excess calories. I still remember my American boss at L'Oreal ate a bottle of sparkling water and a few springs of rocket leaves for lunch everyday enviously eyeing the 5 course meals of all French girls ate in office. Life sometimes is unfair!

Besides, strict hours of lunch services closing at most restos force them to not delay lunch while store services closing promptly at 7:30 pm every evening forces them to have dinner on time, sleep on time, wake up on time et viola that's great well being right there!

Pin-up French woman for lifestyle : Garance Doré. A fashion photographer, illustrator and writer known for her eponymous blog, Garance Doré on fashion, beauty, travel and culture.She is charming, witty and just the perfect picture of cool elegance combined with cool job. A creative polymath, she shuttles between Paris, NY, Milan and London capturing it all on her blog with genuine anecdotal stories, inspiration moodboards and slice of life episodes straight from her friends, a gang of cool French girls who along with Garance, embody the live the good life attitude. Garance herself and her blog offers daily French girl secrets on eating well, working out and simply being beautiful while leading a very active life.

Garance, doing what she does best - being totally herself.

Pin-up French lifestyle quote : Mangez bien, riez souvent, aimez beaucoup. (Eat well, laugh often, love abundantly).

5. The Attitude : The ultimate art to be truly French girl lies in improving our day to day attitudes towards things around us and more importantly towards ourselves. Here are a few places to start.

a) Be self-indulgent - French women love themselves and are unabashed about cooking themselves a great meal, buying themselves flowers or spending weekends together simply taking care of themselves. After all, you are your own favourite!

b) Treasure the small pleasures - A freshly baked croissant from the bakery, fresh roses, an espresso at the cafe, good cheese, good olives, good meat, good wine, good music, good conversation and including all of the above, picnics. It is these small things that make our lives deliriously happy or the joie de vivre.

c) Let light in - Don't underestimate the myriad powers of the sun. Keep your room, your house, your office and your demeanour light and airy.

d) Old is beautiful - Wine that has aged well, smell of old furniture from your parents, postcards you send to friends, the cheque you write at the supermarket in France and the heritage lift you take to your office are all quaint joys that make life a wee bit more interesting.

e) Vacation more - Take your vacation time very strictly and don't compromise on its quantity (3 weeks at the minimum) or quality (Corsica or Portofino?).

f) Be culturally evolved - Always good to know your Proust from your Plato, your Merlot from your and your Montepulciano, your Monet from your Matisse and your Fauvism from your fashion. Visit gardens, museums, churches and cemeteries with the ardent vigour and surprise of making a discovery about yourself everytime.

h)  Create the balance - In work, love and life let there be spaces in between.

i) Be natural - Take all your time to be moody, melancholic or reticent on a not-so-good day or week. But then also always look your best, invest in your beauty and own your body. In life as in art, original version is the real masterpiece.

Pin up French girl for Attitude : They are everywhere.

Girls at a cafe in Paris the 1920s, as in today.

Pin up French attitude quote : Change your life today. Don't gamble on the future. Act now, without delay. (Simone de Beauvoir)


Have fun working on your French-itude ladies and here's an amaze Nouvelle Vague playlist to slip into the night!

La vie est faite des petities bonheurs.
 Paris, 2013 avec Valerie Bucek

Shady Business

This has been a 'Sunglasses and Advil' kind of a weekend, and hence the context for this post.

I'm sure just like me, a lot of us would not look presentable on Sunday brunches if not for our shades hiding away the debauched stories of Saturday nights. Sunglasses = instant swagger. They beat both high heels and red lips when it comes to making an instant statement or projecting a certain personality or mood. We remember Audrey Hepburn less for her Givenchy LBDs in Breakfast at Tiffany's but more for her signature Oliver Goldsmith sunglasses, just as trendy almost a century over and available here. Patrick Bateman's penchant for Oliver People's eyewear in the movie American Psycho or Maverick's classic gold rim aviators in Top Gun, there are sunglasses that have created iconic movie characters. Esquire mag does a cool round-up of cool movie eyewear and thank god you can still get your hands on all of them.

Audrey Hepburn in Olivier Goldsmith two-tone wayfarers in Breakfast at Tiffany's

So let's break down the psychology of why sunglasses are so popular and make for a post on little luxuries. Sunglasses rule out the need for eye contact and that is singularly how they can heighten any human interaction. At a subconscious level they give us an easy edge over the person we are talking to, signalling a cool confidence and some sort of human elevation, as if we were seeing the world with the casual disregard of an outlander. This then translates into a hint of brashness in personality and we tend to rattle the bars of our social cages a lot more while we are conversing with our sunglasses on making our conversations more exhilarant. They ofcourse make most people look better if not great and some people I know should definitely wear them all the time. They signal trendiness, a passion for glamour and the good life and just how much we love our eyes. Sunglasses make people more interesting and RayBan summed up this prophecy damn well with its long-running and iconic Never Hide campaign.

Some people cannot be imagined without their sunglasses. Karl Lagerfeld.

No discussion on eyewear can be complete without mentioning Luxottica, the world's largest 50 year old eyewear company controlling 80% of world's major eyewear brands. This Italian behemoth manufactures its own brands, your household names in the eyewear game like RayBan, Persol, Oakley, Vogue as well as licenses the eyewear category for the world's top luxury brands - from Armani to Chanel (yes I'm sorry to break it to you, Chanel does not make its own sunglasses). Luxottica also owns all major eyewear retail brands like Sunglasses Hut and Sears and thus is perhaps the foremost example of great vertical integration in the luxury space. Wherever and whenever you are buying a pair of shades, Luxottica is basically adding more euros to its 5.6 bn euros in annual sales.Well if not Luxottica then either of the 2 other Italian behemoths, Safilo (licenses Dior and Marc Jacobs) or Marcolin (Tom Ford and Zegna). Eyewear as you may notice, is an italian job.

However if you are the indie type and prefer cool niche brands and not be a part of this corporate trio poly here are a few brands you could consider :

1. Illesteva - Launched in 2009, this NY based custom eyewear brand produces its frames in Italy. Using offbeat materials like titanium and bamboo Illesteva takes classic shapes like the wayfarer and rejigs them in unusual colors and exaggerations. The Leonard is a popular version and you can lay your hands on some cool fashion forward but vintage designs for less than $200.

The Leonard -Illesteva

2. Cutler and Gross - These guys are from London but their frames are manually cut and hand polished at their family factory in Italy. Cutler and Gross does limited production and became popular almost entirely by word of mouth and designer collaborations. The brand comes with a quintessential British style and is known for some cool vintage frames.

Cutler and Gross - vintage eyewear from London

3. Selima Optique - A fusion of French sensibility and NY style, this brand was started by designed Selima Salaun who is a trained optician focused on creating eye-protecting eyewear that would flatter a wide variety if face types. Her iconic designs include 'Onassis' and 'Chad' and reflect the vibrant personalities of its core customer base, design editors and fashion bloggers.

Ryan Gosling wearing 'Chad' sunglasses in Crazy Stupid Love

So now a little cheat sheet on how we can exercise a little more discretion in buying our next pair of sunglasses rather than getting coaxed by a pushy dealer making margins at Sunglasses Hut.

1. The brand : You can easily translate your overall luxury brand preference to your eyewear, being assured that it will be ultimately be of an Italian-make. Brand-led decisions rely on what your favourite logo is or whether you prefer a double G, double C or capital D on the temples besides what shape looks good on your face.

Gucci's SS 2015 eyewear campaign

2. Face shape : Most of us do not pay enough attention to whether a frame suits our overall face type and there are some easy ways to do this. Face shapes can broadly be divided into round, oval, heart or square and depending on that you can choose a style that either accentuates or sets off your face type to create a seamless look. Below is a cool infographic on how to shortlist styles based on face shapes.

3. Frames: When deciding the eyewear frames, you can go for signature or trendy materials depending on whether you are more classic or fashion forward. Acetate in colors or textures work great for a more en-vogue vibe while metal certainly brings more chic. Another good point to consider is your skin tone and hair color to select a complementary frame color. One of the most iconic frames you can get your hands on is the Persol 714 worn by the patron of cool, saint Steve Mcqueen in The Thomas Crown Affair.

PO 714 SM from Persol

I'm personally going through this major love thing for sunglasses with sweat bars and hoping to get my hands on these Raybans Outdoorsman aviators in green with a cute pink brow bar. Hello August, come soon! :)

4. One or many? : Interesting point to consider when it comes to sunglasses. Must we opt for a signature look or should we add more variety for seasons, utilities and moods? I used to be a patron of the former and considered myself to be a 'Wayfarer' person till some Portuguese stole my beloved pair enroute Bordeaux a few summers back. I hurryingly picked up a pair of oversized Alain Afflelous in the city next morning to realise that I was totally loving my change of look and falling in love with the new ones all over again. So I conclude in favour of building a sunglasses collection, just like fragrances. Once you have determined your face type, go wild in choosing shapes, colors and materials that augment your personal sense of style and mood, and try to evolve both with time. I now own 3 Aviators, a Wayfarer, a Clubmaster, an oversized and a cat eye and love picking, pairing and playing with them when going out. There is no such thing as too many pairs of sunglasses. But remember, a strong pair of sunglasses can define your look so make sure you keep other frills like jewelry, accessories and makeup tempered down.

It's always fun and uplifting to wear sunglasses, no matter what we might be upto and how we might be feeling. So go ahead entertain yourself and exude your celebrity swag in your favourite pairs of shades whenever you want as long as...you are not wearing them at night. That just seems kind of douchebaggish unless you are Anna Wintour or Jay Z.

Expert tip 1 : Get yourself a pair of Dior So Reals in bicolor - easily the most futuristic looking pairs designed by Raf Simons last spring summer and perched on all celebrity eyes these days.

Olivia Palermo in Dior So Reals

Expert tip 2 : For more insights on whether you are an Aviator or a WayFarer person, check out this awesomely witty GQ survey!

And now what a great time to create a pic collage of my photos wearing different sunglasses. Weehoo!!

Many moods, many shades and a lot more to come! ;)