That messy corner in my room.

Hey guys! So I finally got back from my one month vacation in India. It feels so good to be back home, in my room, with all my shoes and clothes and bags. Sigh. How I've missed them all.

Anyway,Here are a few of my closet confessions:

• I keep all my flat shoes out on a shoe rack in my room. That way, it's easier to pick out what I want to wear once I've put on clothes.I do not wear heels everyday. They're in my shoe closet on the other side of the room, some boxed up and kept away only for occassions.However, I do keep 2-3 pairs of my comfiest heels out because I usually start the week in heels to work.
• I have a bag tree.It was a gift from my sister on my last birthday.Yes. It looks messy and cluttered. But thats just how I like it. These are only half of my collection. They're what I like to call my "everyday bags".
• I keep all my accessories out open. It's easier for me to look into a box and decide what I'm going to wear for the day. I do,however, box up all my silver and gold.

P.S: I'd love to do a closet tour, but guys, You wouldnt want to go in there. Trust me. Lol.

xxoo

A Love Letter...

Its been a while since I've started blogging, and I've never really dedicated a post to all those people who have made this page such a huge success, and hence today's post, dedicated to some wonderful people.

They say if you want to do something right, do it yourself. But in this case, I beg to differ. If it weren't for certain people pushing me and encouraging me towards my passion, I would never have come this far.

What was once a hobby is slowly starting to feel like my job and honestly, I'm loving every single minute of it. So for getting me this far, I have to take a minute to thank TSCT crew, you guys are simply amazing and I don't think I could have achieved any of this without you guys being a part of my team. 

In the past I've said "you know who you guys are" and left out the names, but this time, a heart felt thanks to Nisha (Sister/Photographer), Suaad (BFF/Photographer), Muji for the brilliant conceptualization and photography; Sarika, Rachna and Shereen, for being the critics and not sugar coating the feedback you guys give me and last but not the least, my amazing readers! You guys truly are one of the main reasons I've come so far and I love that you always push me to blog better. I have so much exciting news which I cannot wait to share with you guys. 

But until I reveal that, Thank you all once again and I do love each and every one of you.

Lots of love,

TSCT.

Facebook:The Style Council Taash

Twitter: @Ashwathysk

Instagram:@askthestylecouncil

                                                                            

A few new things...

 I'm sure I'm not the only one who does this. Come on ladies, back me up when I say that women get super excited when they purchase new stuff. I get a little too happy. 

Be it shoes, clothes, jewelry  makeup and in my case  even books, I love the feeling of something new on my dressing table. This week I purchased more accessories and a hot pink lipstick by Rimmel! 

Also whats even more exciting is that I paid peanuts for the accessories.I have an eye for things that are cheap yet chic. Its a gift. :D Cannot wait to wear these pretty things over the weekend.That, and watch Iron Man. Rober Downey Jr. Sigh. the only thing that gets me more excited than caramel popcorn <3 .

                                                                                          

Cruelty Free Beauty : Leona Lewis X The body Shop

Have you visited The Body Shop recently? If you have read about all the good things I had to say about the Strawberry dry seed oil from TBS on my Facebook page, I'm sure you guys would have made a trip or two already, as most of you have shown interest in the product that has worked wonders for me.

Moving on, the latest collection has finally hit stores in Bahrain and it's a whole new line of Cruelty-free beauty products in collaboration with none other than the glamorous Leona Lewis! 

As if the posters and banners aren't attractive enough, these products are amazing and super yummy.From summery shades of pink and orange lip glosses to heavenly scents, it's a great range to own this summer.

Leona has put her name on an exclusive cruelty-free makeup and fragrance collection, the Limited Edition Collection by Leona Lewis. Featuring 100% vegetarian cosmetics in fashion-forward shades, the Limited Edition Collection by Leona Lewis features quirky packaging with a floral deer motif, celebrating the fact that The Body Shop was one of the first beauty brands to use cruelty-free, man-made musk instead of musk derived from the musk deer. The Limited Edition Collection by Leona Lewis is available at selected stores in Bahrain from April 25, 2013.

Leona Lewis says: “I’m passionate about beauty and I’m all about animal rights. As a result, I’m really conscious of where the products that I use come from. The Body Shop sells cruelty-free, ethical products containing amazing Community Fair Trade ingredients. The collaboration is a natural fit!”

Let's hear more about these amazing products from Leona herself, who talks to TBS in a exclusive interview about the collection:

Tell me a little more about the new Limited Edition Collection by Leona Lewis?

All The Body Shop® products are cruelty-free, and the Limited Edition Collection by Leona Lewis was created to raise awareness of cruelty-free beauty. It features trend-led makeup and a playful musk fragrance, all presented in super-stylish packaging with a pretty, floral deer motif. I chose two wearable colour palettes that would suit all skin tones from fair to dark; a playful, feminine pink that is going to be a key trend this season, and a sun-kissed bronze which is perfect to help give skin a glow this spring.

What was the inspiration behind the Limited Edition Collection by Leona Lewis?

The Limited Edition Collection by Leona Lewis is a playful, fashion-forward collection that’s perfect for spring, bursting with free spirit and wearable shades for every skin tone.

How involved were you in the making of the Limited Edition Collection by Leona Lewis? 

I worked with The Body Shop team to develop the collection and the pattern for the cruelty-free deer logo which is featured on the packaging, which I love!

What was the inspiration for the deer logo featured on the packaging?  

Traditionally, musk fragrances were obtained from deer. The Body Shop was one of the first beauty retailers to use man-made musk in their classic White Musk fragrance. The logo celebrates the freedom of the deer and the cruelty-free ethos of The Body Shop.

Can you tell me more about each product in the collection?

Shimmer Palettes – I am a huge fan of The Body Shop® Shimmer Palettes so I couldn’t resist adding them to my own collection featuring the cruelty-free deer design! Super versatile, Shimmer Palettes complement all skin tones and are great for highlighting and contouring. I chose two shades; a pretty Blush to give a lovely flush of rosy colour and Bronze for a sun-kissed glow.

Blusher Brush – This super-soft brush is tailor made for the Shimmer Palette in my collection and is brilliant for sculpting, blending and dusting.

 Lip Gloss – Shiny lips continue to be a big trend especially for spring, so Lip Gloss was definitely a must-have product in the collection! I chose four fresh, sheer shades with shimmer-free finishes, which give a gorgeous glaze. These glosses are amazing and have a yummy minty flavour too!

White Musk Libertine - I wanted to incorporate a cruelty-free musk fragrance into my collection to celebrate The Body Shop® White Musk®, one of the first fragrances to use man-made musk. A playful  scent, White Musk Libertine definitely stands out from the crowd. It’s an intoxicating blend of musk, Turkish delight, baby orchid and Chantilly cream.

What is your favourite product in the Cruelty-Free collection? 

The whole collection is amazing and I adore them all. I'd say the White Musk Libertine is such a gorgeous fragrance and has a great 'cruelty- free' message around it, so it really stands out for me. Cruelty-free musk is a signature scent of The Body Shop and a must have for all us ladies!

To know more, try on and shop the range, visit The Body Shop at Bahrain City Centre or Seef Mall today! Hurry!

Closet confessions

If you've been following me on Instagram for a while now, you'd know how obsessed I am with accessories. I have collected them over the years and have maintained them well, which is why they might seem like a lot. This is not even the entire collection, these are the accessories I keep outside the cupboard because I pick from these on a day to day basis as opposed to the more extravagant stuff I only bring out once in a blue moon.

Anyway, I love to hang my neck pieces so I use this...umm...socks hanger or tie hanger (I don't know what exactly) to make it easier to pick out once I've gotten dressed. 

Also, the perfume is my sister's department. The same way I'm all about the accessories, she loves perfumes!

Tip: Don't throw away the empty bottles! Get rid of the lid and keep the open bottle in your cupboard,shoe closet or even the lingerie drawer!

                                                                             

Cheers to red lips and Computer nerds.

I have nothing much to say really...except that red lipstick is awesome and so are computer nerds. I'm super irritated and cranky trying to figure out how to convert files for a tutorial I'm supposed to be uploading and if weren't for someone helping me out with this, there'd be a hole shaped of my head on my computer screen.

So cheers to red lips and super smart people ! 

P.S: You know who you are.

xxoo

                                                                                     

Testing...

The Blogger app on my iPhone at midnight, under the covers.

Oh, and here's the start of a beautiful sketch I did yesterday.

:)
xxoo

Escape

Whenever I want to escape the crowds and noise of my usual hangout spots, I simply hop into the car with my sister and BFF and go spend the day in Amwaj. I'm always hanging out at the Tea Club because its just so pretty.And of course they have some unusual but delicious flavors of tea. 

I opted for a caramel chai this time and again, it didn't disappoint.

On another(and completely different ) note, my DSLR pics are always blurry when I turn off the flash.So if anyone knows why I'm so stupid about this, Help? Please? :D

Dress, Tights and sandals:Monsoon, Cardi:Aftershock, Bag:Gifted, Belt:Tape a loeil

                                                                                  

Boots in the summer- Hot or not?

NOT. 

Although it really depends on how hot the weather is, boots in the summer, and especially summer in Bahrain is seriously uncomfortable. I'm saying this because I've been there. Remember my post on shopping in kidswear stores ? The day started off cool, but towards the afternoon it got very hot and I was so cranky in the boots I was wearing.
Even the sight of a woman in knee high boots in the summer makes me uncomfortable and all I can think about is the bacteria building up inside, with the leather shrinking and moisture build up. Gross, I know.

However, there are a few boots you can wear when we're transitioning in or out of winter, or whatever that chilly season is called here in Bahrain.

•  Ankle boots, Chelsea boots, low calf and anything that doesn't go up high is fine, as long as you are wearing a good pair of anti bacterial socks.
• Heavy suede/leather boots are a complete no-no.
• Stay away from knee high boots or anything tall.
• Opt for ankle boots or cute cut out booties.
• Denim fabricated boots are okay.
• Forget about wellies and lace up knee highs.
• Use a cooling foot pack 2-3 hours before wearing any kind of boot during the summer.

Its always best to let your feet breathe during the hot summers so my suggestion would be to avoid fully closed shoes as much as possible.

Now if only all of us could afford these Balenciaga babies... SIGH.