Destroyed Denim

A well-fitted pair of light wash skinnies with a vest and a long cardi is my go to outfit when I’m in no mood to wear color. In this look I threw on a shirt dress (unbuttoned) instead of my cardi to add a flirty fabric, and nothing does the work better than light and airy crepe. The sun is up and shining and it’s only going to heat up more on the island so I’m all about ripped jeans and sleeveless cotton tops.

Complete with a peach vest, ripped denims by Quiz and strappy sandals, I couldn’t be more relaxed for my casual lunch date with the girls! A monochrome semi-structured bag was the perfect match to my sober weekend style.

On another note, I’m off to Dubai for a few days and won’t be posting as much on here, but you can keep up with my posts on instagram @askthstylecouncil and even on my crazy snapchat @ashwathysk

Ashrafs - Not your typical Electronics Destination

I recently had the chance to visit Ashrafs renovated flagship store that I once thought was all about electronics.To my surprise, the store carried some amazing products and brands, some of which were Faces, Lalique, Dantelle, Deschamps, Sony and Tommy Hilfiger Home, to name a few. While I used to think that Ashrafs wasn't really my thing- a place that I wouldn't really shop at, at the moment (seeing that I'm unmarried and not setting up home yet), I never really paid attention to the store. 

After my visit and discovering all the great corners of the store that covered electronics, beauty, home wear and their very own cafe, it actually made me realize that they had so much more to offer than just gadgets.
What surprised me even more (apart from the lovely cafe ) was the fact that they had an exclusive Wedding Registry which makes it simpler for friends and family to buy the perfect gift to celebrate one’s big day.
Every area of the shop is segregated by brands creating a shop-in-shop concept, making it easier for customers to find their target and shop. Obviously, I was drawn to Faces and also a beautiful corner in the shop that carried really girly and cute home accessories.

While I was under the impression that Ashrafs was a shopping destination for older men and women , including newly married couples, It's actually a store that even a teen can walk into to pick out accessories for her bedroom or even a hot spot for a bunch of college kids to hang out (at the Ashraf's Cafe).
Whats also great about the place is that unlike a crowded mall, you actually have the luxury to shop in a less crowded store and have a rich shopping experience that takes care of all your needs.

Magnolia

 Last season’s obsession was crop tops and although they’re still on my hot list, so are cold shoulder tops. I absolutely love the off shoulder look and because the market hasn’t over- killed the trend yet, it’s the perfect time to style one.

This chiffon number is by Quiz and I love the delicate print and the fit. Perfect as a summer staple, it sits back beautifully with almost everything from denim to palazzo pants and maxi skirts, I paired it with a traditional black skater skirt to break away from the lightness of the top.Dusky blue sandals, a straw hat and my mini black handbag added the finishing touches.

Quiz has some hot new styles in store, from Crop Top lace sets to body con dresses and prom-esque frocks, they've got you covered for party season!Apart from this, they also have a sale section where you can find great pieces at great prices! Quiz is located in Bahrain City center and The Center Mall Nuwaidrat. Alternatively you can also check out www.quizclothing.co.uk to browse the latest collection!

Cropped Could Shoulder Top: Quiz

Turban Tales

 Turbans have been in style for a while now and although one needs to have confidence to pull it off as a style staple; the Middle East is the perfect place to find millions of street style inspiration. From Kuwaiti fashionistas and chic Dubai ladies, the turban trend has come to stay. A modern and chic accessory, there are so many ways you can rock this headgear. A la Carrie Bradshaw in SATC , with a one shoulder flared frock or like Kristina Bazen with her signature sleek straight hair, the turban style, I’m thinking, is perfect for all the Ramadan Ghabgas coming soon and a great way to up one’s style quotient.

They can be worn casually through the day or even dressed up for a glam night out, depending on the style of the turban. I have so many beautiful pieces by The Future Heirlooms Boutique and cannot wait to style my velvet embellished turbans for Ramadan. Until then, stay tuned and shop the latest collection at www.thefutureheirloomsboutique.com

Alternatively you can check out their collection on instagram @thefutureheirloomsboutique . They ship worldwide. so browse and simply follow the order instructions on the website!

Turban : The Future Heirlooms Boutique

Testimonials- Gloss Salon and Spa

We recently hosted a contest on our Facebook Page in collaboration with GlossSalon and Spa, where one lucky winner had the chance to get any free service of his/her choice. As always, the contest was a success and we had a lot of entries! The winner was announced a few weeks back and she chose to get the Brazilian Blowout treatment at Gloss.

For those who don’t know, Brazilian blowout is a straightening treatment, and one of the safest treatments for hair smoothening. The service starts at 100 BD depending on hair length and transforms unruly hair into a smooth, straight and glossy texture. With the right products, maintenance and care, the BB treatment will last you up to 8-10 months!

Gloss has a team of internationally-trained stylists, and you can expect the very best from them. As I draft this post, senior stylist Carine is attending a Haircut workshop in London at the Sassoon Academy.  They only get better, trust me!

Our contest winner, Bina, recently visited Gloss and truly enjoyed her free treatment. She loved the service and had only good things to say about her experience. ‘It had a clean and relaxed atmosphere and patient and dedicated staff’, she says post her Brazilian Blowout.

A big shout out to Bina who admits she will definitely be visiting Gloss again.

They say once you experience the best, you can never settle for anything lesser. That is exactly how I feel about Gloss. Ever since my first cut and color with them, I have never turned back. From manicures, to hair treatments and facials, Gloss is my “go-to” salon. Knowing that I will step out looking amazing is what keeps me going back. 

If you haven’t had enough of all the amazing things I have to say about Gloss, here are a few testimonials from women who have visited Gloss (and some even regulars at the salon!)

“For the fact that it was free*, it was done very patiently. Nabil indeed is very talented and a master at hairdressing” - Bina Bhatia

*contest winner

“Davines products are my favorite, but I won’t buy any unless Nabil recommends a range for my hair type. He’s my hair genie.” – Suaad Mohd Fairouze

“I walked in, looked at Carine’s hair and knew I had to get my hair cut & styled by her.” – Ruksheeda Maqbool

“I went to Gloss to buy the Davines hair treatment recommended by Ashwathy. The staff was very attentive and the stylist analyzed my hair and gave me the perfect shampoo and treatment for my hair type. I was very happy with the service and product. Would recommend Gloss to all!” – Rachna Bhatia

“I loved it there…I cannot thank you enough for letting me know about Gloss” – Neha Bhogal

“I truly love the salon experience at Gloss…and it’s not all about looks. At Gloss, they have fused their focus on great styling and masterful coloring with a conscious choice of products. Whether it be a cup of coffee to sip on, magazines to flip through, a good conversation or  just relaxing when my hair is being transformed from unruly to fabulous…I always leave Gloss with an improved outlook and of course, great hair!” – Mitthi Charley

“Carine has been my hairdresser for the past two years. During that time, her creativity, friendly, down to earth approach and the quality of her work, especially her knowledge about dealing with my kind of hair (curly) has ensured that I will keep going back to her, again and again. I trust her completely when she suggests a new style, product or color and have to date been only overcome by how wonderful and special she had made me look and feel! – Priya Shanker

Bollywood Glam Tutorial

As most of you know, I absolutely love getting all dressed up for Indian weddings and events. Right from my outfit to my makeup, hair and accessories, I put in a lot of thought about how to stay true to my style and keep it unique. Breaking away from the norm, I try to mix up different pieces  to create something new and exciting every time I attend an Indian function.I love dramatic makeup for Indian wear and so I’ve put together an easy, go-to look you can recreate yourself. Swap shadow and lipstick and colors to what you think would suit you/ your outfit better and you’ve got yourself an easy look you can sport with your ethnic outfit!A few things to remember:Crease colors are always darker than the base color.Invest in a good quality brush set- Blending brushes are very important!Use a primer before anything. It will help hold the product in much longer and make make-up application smoother.

To watch the full video, click HERE.

Olive

Green is one of my favorite colors. Emerald green in particular, but somehow all the shades in the green color family appeal to me. Be it mint green, olive green, forest green or richer jewel tones, they all speak to me louder than any other color.

Although this olive green shade is more fall than summer, the style makes it so apt for the current weather situation on the Island. I’m all about side split tops and this version is one of my favorites because of the color and fabrication.

Perfect for summer, side split tops can be worn so many ways , depending on your style. Over jeans, shorts or skirts, the peek-a-boo hip bearing style is so popular and an easy, fuss free look for weekends or simply running errands.

I paired it with ripped cropped jeggings and my precious rose gold sandals. I absolutely love rose gold and to find shoes like these on sale was a celebration for me!

On another note, I’ve got some great new summer makeup tips coming your way, so stay tuned for that! These are all tried and tested methods and my current routine has me looking flawless all day and I cannot wait to share it with you guys!