Moody Vintage: beauty tip

By nature, I am selfless and always put on my positive costume. At any one time, I always sort of feel guilty when there is a shade of selfishness in me. In the world we live in now, you cannot help but to be selfish from time to time. There is a reason for that, though. You have to think of yourself first to put you in a position where you can take care of others better.
I have a wedding to attend to in the coming week, which I have mentioned in earlier posts. This is usually the time I take the given opportunity to do my job as a stylist. This is also the time for me to go shopping for my own attire that is saved for these weddings. Since I'm not that big of a spender, I never wear the same thing twice when it comes to these special events. I'm also wise in the decision of purchasing specific items. Remember, think long-term. For example, a blazer now will be used over and over again in a casual manner throughout the year. I obviously won't wear the article of clothing everyday so the quality of it will not deteriorate anytime soon.
I had the opportunity to continue sharpen my styling skills yesterday with a cousin of mine. Practicing on family is always a plus. I had to get my cousin a near complete make-over for his cousin's wedding (on his mother's side). I also had a non-official assistant with me. To sum it up, it was fun. As I stated on my Facebook status recently, my job is pretty much going shopping with someone else's money. It's addicting. I love my job. I am looking forward to next week because South Asian weddings don't just last a day or two...it's the whole damn week!

~ Ladies First ~
During the winter season, not only is it important to protect your lips from the harsh cold, it's important to keep them stunning at the same time. Fortunately, I decided to run into askmichaelcohen.com and picked up the top five designer lipsticks for Winter 11. (These are not ranked.)

Nars Little Darling Lipstick
Guerlain Rouge G Le Brilliant Jewel Lipstick Compact in Bee
Chanel Rouge Coco Hydrating Creme Lip Color in Patchouli
Dior Serum De Rouge in Soft Pink
Lancome French Touch Lipstick in Cherry Kiki

You cannot go wrong with these colors, ladies. They are the ones to look for and hopefully toss into your clutch for the next party you are heading off to.

- Gentleman Tip of the Day -
All of you know by now of my fondness to everything GQ. The latest feature puts down a list the editors have picked up and put on. And gentlemen, it's very affordable for the holidays. There's an entire list but I've chosen the ones I'd check off my list. Here they are:

Orlebar & Brown board shorts: These are for the fellas who are in the warmer climates. They are $245 (USD) each.

GAP Maximum Heat Tees - This is like the Under Armour for non-athletic use. You gotta stay stylish without looking too bulky. The Long Johns are around $25 (USD) & Tops are $25 as well.

Brunello Cucinelli pocket squares - At $90 (USD) each, these are perfect for men who pay attention to detail. It's not as formal so no need to fuss about anything, really.

H&M Slippers - Looking chic playboy status. Just imagine slipping your feet into these velvet (with a fancy crest) bad boys that will only cost you around $30 (USD)

Art of Shaving shaving set - All you really need is in this package. It's a $150 (USD) buy that takes shaving to a whole different elegant level. It is the art of shaving.

Tom Ford pocket squares - This man is one of the few I really look up to when it comes to inspiration. These pocket squares are for men with a swagger.

From Left: $145, $140, $155

Target fedoras - That's right, I said it. Target. These are just surprisingly perfect to add a little attitude to your attire. Mind you, this is only around $15 (USD) so keep the occasions casual or take it to work (if you are allowed to). These are for the younger guys.

WANT Les Essentiels de la Vie Tote - Not only is this ($195 USD) a perfect bag for the weekend it's professional to take it to work as well. Remember, canvas gets better with age so don't be afraid to let it take a beating as well.

Lacoste Polos - We are no strangers to the perfect polos. At around $80 (USD) each, these should be a staple to your wardrobe, if not already.

Ray-Ban Wayfarers - These shades are the top finish winners this time around in the sunglasses department. It's around $140 (USD) and they fit well with pretty much any face.

Remember gentleman, if you are unable to grab onto these items, search for those that are similar. Not all hope is lost because you still have online stores to go through. Stay stylish and keep warm.

beauty tip - 9:37 PM

That's Amore

B y nature, I am selfless and always put on my positive costume. At any one time, I always sort of feel guilty when there is a shade of self...

There was an article that I read online about the top 10 reasons to get married on Askmen.com. I, reluctantly, clicked on it by pure curiosity. As much as I love being a bachelor, I wanted to see what these reasons had to be. Most of them are legitimate reasons and make sense but none of them actually convinced me enough to lean towards marriage.
One of my little sisters got engaged not too long ago to her high school sweetheart. Here I am thinking to myself how can people just commit like that? I've never had any actual commitment issues but that's a whole different level of responsibility. That's easy for me to say, coming from a man who hasn't been in a relationship since May of 2005. As I have mentioned plenty of times before, I love to be in the company of women. Does that mean I'm some type of player? No. I simply love women and whenever I have the chance, I dive right in for a stimulating conversation. By the way, you can actually be a successful 'player' by being a gentleman. True story.
I've designed my habits in order to feel numb to the fact of having a relationship. I work out regularly, eat healthy, get the 7-9 hours of sleep, and drink plenty of water. It's a strict code of self-discipline just as it is to stay single and not tempt yourself in getting into trouble. As I see so many of my friends and acquaintances getting engaged/married or having children, I keep thanking God I'm still single. It may be beautiful to those couples (and it is in many aspects) but I feel I can live my life without those 'wonderful' moments. I can create my own 'wonderful' moments. I'm still in my mid 20s so give me a break, I have plenty of time to having the life I have now. Just the thought of marriage makes me cringe but I'm sure somewhere down the line, perhaps 15-20 years, I'll seriously think about it then. (wink, wink)

~ Ladies First ~
This may seem a bit embarrassing for the ladies, but it's still a problem. Chest acne can be a problem, especially when you do not take care of it right away. I hate to borrow a tip from Cosmopolitan but it's something that needs to be addressed. If you are planning on wearing a low-cut dress, those zits on your chest need to be gone. The usual and normal thing to do is follow the same process you do when trying to get pimples off your face. Seriously, don't be embarrassed or ashamed. That is how you can get rid of those irritating zits.
Although for a quick fix, there is a slight recipe to that problem.

Crush two aspirin tablets - which has acetylsalicylic acid that dries out the pimples and eliminates inflammation.
Mix the crushed aspirin with a drop of water and a drop of honey to create a paste.
Take the paste and apply to the area you want and leave it there for about 10 mins.
After the 10 mins is up, rinse it with cold water.

Simple easy steps, isn't it? If you still need a little extra, just use a oil-free concealer or powder and it will cover it right up.

- Gentleman Tip of the Day -
The wristwatch is the only jewelry for a man. Not all of us can pull off wearing diamond studs in a clean designer suit like David Beckham or Kobe Bryant. Therefore, stay away from any other jewelry and keep it safe and classy. I'm not talking about those calculator watches we used to wear back when we were kids, nor those GPS watches - they are simply tacky.
As so many other things for a man, there should be a timepiece for the casual times and the watch of the formal occasion. For the suited up look, you always stick with the leather (black or brown) belt and classic dial. For the casual, go with the steel bands and whichever color dial you fancy; although, make sure you are still color coordinating. Mind you, a quality dress watch will cost you over $1,000. The reason why they are so expensive is not just because they are hand-made, but they will be besides you for the next couple of decades. If you take care of it in the proper manner, a classic timepiece (the ones that cost over $10,000) will be handed down from generation to generation.
The best way to get a legitimate wristwatch (steel band or leather) is to go to an authorized retailer. There are online retailers as well but the best experience is to walk straight into a shop, just like any other important purchase. There are also some important points when shopping for the right timepiece:

Most mechanical watches use a intricate system of gears and springs that rely on mechanical energy to operate. You will know that the specific watch is a mechanical one is by the ID on the back of the watch (case back). It will also be identified in the watch's instruction manual.
Quartz watches are the more affordable purchases for us who make above minimum wage or our salary is still around the five digits (not in the high 70s +). These watches use the good old battery to operate. These aren't considered sophisticated by the timepiece connoisseurs but let's face it, we are always conscious of how thick are wallets are. It's OK to go ahead and purchase a quartz.
Nothing is as prestigious as a Swiss made (Swiss Movement) watch. The best of the best come from Switzerland. Do not settle for anything outside those borders.
Most well-known brands are now producing automatic movement watches. This means that the watches wind themselves by the movement of the wearer.
Keep up with the brand names. There companies you want to stay away from and there are those you should be closer to. Names like Tag Heuer and Movado are over-rated, you are better off. Rolex? To be honest, you may feel they are played out but they are still a major status symbol. The secret here is that Rolex get away with a slight hint of inflating their prices. Yes, they slap on a very high price tag; it's a price tag much higher than the actual worth of the watch. Stay away.

There are much more that goes into buying the right timepiece but keep these points in mind. The top of the mountain in Swiss watches include names like Patek Philippe, Audemars Piguet, Vacheron Constantin, and IWC (along with some others climbing the hill). They may be the most prestigious watchmakers but it doesn't mean those are what you should be aiming for. Not unless you are a millionaire or earn 6 figurers a year, you are safer going with brands you can afford in the range of Omega watches or even Tissot. And remember, brands like Cartier are more about flashy/flamboyance through diamonds and gems rather than the actual art of movements and the sophisticated pieces within a watch.

beauty tip - 12:29 AM

I Do? I Don't!

T here was an article that I read online about the top 10 reasons to get married on Askmen.com . I, reluctantly, clicked on it by pure curio...

How many times have you (first-hand) seen or experienced for yourself a woman serenading a man? I had an interesting visit to the barbershop today. My cousin needed a haircut and, of course, as the stylist I told him what would look good on him and that's the way how the cut went. I could have done a little trimming myself but my personal barber was out of town so I just decided to get a shave instead. My shave was done before my cousin's haircut and shave. I decided to wait for him outside near the front entrance (near the counter). Behind me sat a an older woman in her decked out sari with sunglasses and all. I'm not really sure why she was there as this was specifically a place for men - the womens salon was right around the corner. Regardless, I was messing around in my BlackBerry and suddenly the woman starts humming a tune transitioning into the actual song.

Kareena (left), Katrina (right)

She was quite flamboyant from the way she talked and her singing. It really didn't hit me at first until later on. She had actually been sitting there for a while before I actually reached the front counter. All of a sudden my appearance switched her entertaining side on. She called one of her friends (I'm assuming) and started saying all kinds of hilarious things; I tried not to laugh. She was quoting lines from 'Bollywood' films and sure enough, she started singing one of the songs from a film as well. Again, I kept my composure. She discussed things like how she lost 20 pounds and needed to burn 10 more to have a body like Kareena Kapoor and Katrina Kaif. And as beautiful and sexy as those two Indian actresses are, this woman was nowhere near the figures the two gorgeous actresses posses. The entire scene was too funny for me not to share on this blog. You have to remember that not only do I give relative and worthy advice to women and men, I also give a little bit of me to my audience (the readers). I'm sure the serenade experienced earlier was directed towards me cos the woman kept on glancing over at me while she was "spittin' game" on the phone. I applaud her for her carefree nature and appreciated the serenade. I couldn't help but to laugh out loud as I stepped outside the barbershop on my way home.

Heidi Klum (left), Gisele Bundchen (right)

~ Ladies First ~
Ladies, I know you dread those moments where you suddenly get a hint of illness. You start to sneeze and soon enough your temperature rises. The worst of it all...you have a special event/occasion to attend. I've always been an advocate of natural beauty and only apply very light amount of makeup but in this case, it is very important to take the right steps and to apply certain products in the correct manner.
I read this perfect article for this type of problem on Style.com. The entire blog post discusses how to camouflage those rough spots on your face from dozens of tissues being wasted from you being under the weather, etc.

Friction created around the nose area from tissues can be solved by a tinted moisturizer.
Those Rudolph nose moments can be fixed by "any yellow-based concealer or powder".
Battling cracked or dry skin is taken care of through exfoliation and moisturizing.
Dry lips should be cared for applying lip-balm every night and later applying lip gloss.

You can find more in-depth answers to those common problems and a couple of more points that aren't discussed in this post. I assure you this is for every woman who need to be prepared to battle the harsh cold that will be creeping up this winter. Read the entire blog here: Beauty Counter at Style.com

The last thing you want is to look like you went 12 rounds in a heavy-weight bout with Mike Tyson.

- Gentleman Tip of the Day -
It's time to coordinate, gentleman. There are rules when it comes to matching shirts and tie patterns. These are in the somewhat more advance knowledge from the basics of fashion for men. For example, choosing which color to wear all depends on your skin tone (which I'll discuss later in a different post). After getting the basics out of the way, these are the rules to always follow to look sharp and spot on.

Repeat colors in each pattern - before matching anything choose which shirt you will be wearing first. Once chosen, you must take notice which color is more dominate in the pattern. Afterward, you can choose a tie that has the same accents as that dominate color on your shirt.
Outward perspective - the rule here is to wear a shirt with smaller checked prints and make the tie have a larger print; as in, the prints are wider in space on the ties. Once again, make sure the colors are similar and matches with your trousers.
Weight of patterns - it's very important to avoid prints that are the same size. To make sure the look is spot on, you have to lean towards the shirt having a heavier pattern while the tie is more on a lighter side. It looks too busy and the idea of making a statement will soon vanish. The aim here is to make it easier on the eyes.
Small patterns with large patterns - as discussed in the other steps, your shirt and tie should play off each other; they should compliment each other. If your shirt has a small pattern, your tie should have a larger one and vice versa. But if your shirt is a neutral color like black, gray or white, you really do not have to worry about keeping the tie in the same color family.

This is only a small yet important knowledge for men in the world of fashion. You can play it safe and stick with solids but a gentleman who can coordinate and play with colors is a sign of savvy image marketing. The currency may be different but your goal is to let everyone know that you definitely know how to present yourself. Sell yourself in a way where your clothes do the talking and all you have to do is slap on that charming smile.

beauty tip - 3:47 PM

Sway With Me

H ow many times have you (first-hand) seen or experienced for yourself a woman serenading a man? I had an interesting visit to the barbersho...

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