Bling, Our New Obsession

Be it day or night, sequins can be luxe, as they shimmer on cocktail dresses and gowns or make for a bold style statement when worn as embellishments for tops, skirts or blazers. Ladies, sequins are one sartorial trend that is here to stay this season!

Styling can be a little but tricky, but we are sure that it is no trouble for a style savvy fashionista like you. Just err on the side of caution to avoid overkill…. sequins on an outfit or accessory is the ultimate bling so remember to wear just one sequined item at a time with minimal jewelry, maybe just studs in your ears and a statement ring.

Little sequins work over giant sequins as they look a lot classier. You can wear matte champagne or gold colored sequins instead of glossy ones for a day time brunch and work it with nude colors to keep the look classy and well balanced.

Another way to work sequins into your wardrobe is to go for the minimalistic look with skinny jeans and tee and pair it with a sequined blazer. The look is hip and young and will have you feeling like a super star!

Oh and ladies, an insider tip:  be sure to keep an eye out for these fun pieces at a Daaman store near you! In the meantime…. here’s a little preview for you: glitzy, muted gold capri pants!! ;) 

Looks From the Fall Runway 2012

The fall runways are awash with different make up looks and we here at Daaman absolutely love this season’s gothic romance look! It is all about shades of maroon and burgundy or a bold splash of red. And even though these can be a bit hard to carry off, we know there is a look here that you will find is perfect for you!

Goth Chic

The first look that we absolutely love is a soft gray smoky eye paired with a glossy burgundy lip. Choose a deep burgundy color of your choice, go for a swipe the first time and blot it off with tissue. Rich colors bleed a lot - and we really don’t want a messy pout! So take a lip liner and correct the outline and then fill it up with the lip color again. Using a brush is the best way to go as it fills in the color pretty well.

We want to keep the complexion smooth as deep colors tend to make the skin look very drained. Make sure you use a concealer to cover blemishes for breathtaking, flawless skin.

Blush

At Michael Kors and Dior runways, a soft pink flush bloomed both on the runway and off. It’s the look after a morning of skiing in the cold, cold weather, absolutely blushing!  Smudge red lipstick on cheeks, blending with a damp foundation sponge to get the same color as the lips. Concentrate the pink shade on just the apples for a youthful glow.

Crimson Red

Crimson lips add an overall brightness, again red also makes the skin look very pale so good foundation is essential and also some color to balance out the bold hue. Dab liquid foundation over bare lips to help set the lip color, then fill in the lips with red and blot with a tissue. Apply once more, and you’re all set!

The picture shows bare eyelids, but if you are not used to that you could even go for a hint of silver to play up your eyes or just use a liquid liner to enhance them along with some mascara.

With these looks try too keep the clothes understated, yet chic! And just remember: doing your make up should not be something you stress over, so don't over think it too much and try to have fun experimenting with your style! 

Summer Hair Makeover

Summer’s in full swing and if your long locks are bothering too much (or you are just simply craving a change!) we’ve got come choice picks for you to consider.

Ever wonder why the bob has been the go to hair cut all these years? There's a reason that every starlet worth her salt has sported a bob at one time or another — it's just so flattering! It can be chic, cute, and sexy. 

In addition to looking fab, a bob is also quite the functional hairstyle as well.  Its versatility helps to flatter most faces. We’ve got three fabulous versions of the chin grazing bob that you can try out, while keeping cool!

The Sleek Bob

Super angular bobs that are shorter in back and longer in front makes for a youthful, edgy and confident bob these days is the bob cut in the A-line style, as Keira's is cut here.

A-line means the back is slightly shorter than the front, with an angle that can be seen from the side. The A-line is also called "graduated bobs" or "inverted bob hairstyles".

The Mussy Bob

Mussy bobs are super trendy in 2012. To get this look, let hair air dry and then scrunch the hair in the palm of your hand as it dries.

It’s equal parts beachy wave and cutesy cut with teased edginess into an otherwise prim look. Strong jaws and some square face shapes might want to avoid the bob, but rounder faces should consider it.

The Funky Bob

Wispy ends such as these make a boring bob modern. Blow-drying with a round-brush or using a flat iron will leave hair smooth and shiny. 

Minimal styling products are needed in order to keep hair ends from looking too defined.

Now we know it’s scary to try out a different hair style – but ladies, that’s really the only way to figure out what really works well for you! So go ahead, take the plunge… and experiment!  

Fun With Block Printing

Block printing is one of the most ancient fiber arts in existence. Did you know that its origins actually lie in the Indus Valley… some four and a half thousand years ago! The local craftsmen used teakwood blocks and carved some astonishing patterns.

And it may be a dying art right now, but here and there we see some fabulous block print work: like in traditional sarees.

But guess what? Options really start to open up for you when you apply this method to fabric and mix it with interior decoration.  Consider a table runner, cloth napkins, or some tea towels in fall colors! And the pattern on a large throw pillow would add a great pop of color to a neutral chair or couch: what we love most about this are the endless possibilities that you can work with to decorate your place.

Here we share a very simple way to produce a type of modern print you might find in contemporary settings. When done on paper and mounted in a frame, these prints make fabulous wall art for a variety of room styles.

What you need: some yarn, paint and brushes, and a few blocks.

Begin by wrapping a small wooden block with yarn. Then knot the end and use some tape to secure it in place. If you don’t have a block, not to worry, all you really need is anything “wrappable” in a shape of your choice.  

Once your printing block is ready, take a brush and apply your paint. The yarn can be pretty absorbent at first so you’ll need to experiment with how much paint to apply on a practice sheet of paper. It’s also a good idea to brush on the paint in only one direction so the yarn fibers lay flat.

And once you have your technique perfected, start stamping. To add interest, layer on some orange paint for a few of the squares as it gives the print some nice depth in real life.

So if you’ve got a little time this weekend, spend some time working on a little project such as this and create some art! Not only will you have a good time relaxing, but it’ll be something that you can use to accentuate your room with.

And remember: have fun with it!! 

Know When It’s Time to Throw Away Your Makeup

Getting rid of your beauty products can (and should) come at any time of the year. Disposing of beauty products such as mascara and lotions may come naturally to some; others might not realize the importance of cleaning out one’s makeup bag in order to maintain a fresh collection of products that are helping, not hurting us!

Just knowing how to apply makeup is not the only important thing, but you should also know when to toss your makeup and when and how to clean your products.

Remember: your makeup has an expiration date as well! Keep the below few points in mind when you are deciding toss away stuff.

Throw away cream blushes after one year and get rid of powder blushes after 2 years.

Powders generally can last a year to 18 months.

Toss your cream and liquid foundation after using it for 6-8 months.

Throw away concealers and cleanser after 6-8 months of use.

For mascara, toss after six months - Tip: For fake eyelashes, dispose after one use.

If you are sharing eye shadows you can get eye infections, you can spread pink eye back and forth from cosmetic to cosmetic, so be careful! Tip: Be sure to toss your makeup if you have an eye infection.

If you are a fan of liquid liner you need to remember that it needs to be replaced every three months.

Regular lipstick can last six months. However, lip glosses last less than that.

Test nail polish to see if it goes thin: If you take it out and it's clumpy and thick and drags through the nail, it's time to discard it. If you look at it, and there are rings of color, it's time to discard it.

Dump your lip pencils after 18 months of use.

Before you think about throwing away your brushes, wash your brushes with your shampoo.

Any change of color, smell or texture? Get rid of the item stat! And lastly, your makeup bag! If it's in good condition, put it through the washing machine; if it's seen better days, throw it out and buy a new one. Try to stash your beauty goods in a clean, dry area for the best results.

Splurging on longer lasting items is the best way to go and make sure you don’t buy too much makeup that you won’t even end up using! 

The New Black

Ever wonder how one day you wake up to find that pink is the new black?? How does the fashion industry flip on a switch and push something so blatantly onto us? Is there a science to it or just some fashion Svengali’s whim?

Well… there is actually a job designation termed ‘color forecaster’. That tangerine orange, that’s so on trend right now? Predicted by Pantone, the quietly ubiquitous American company that maintains color standards for publishers, designers, and the fashion world two years ago for the color of summer!

Color forecasting is almost as old as the fashion industry itself. In the late 19th century, color cards issued by French textile mills were snapped up by their American counterparts, eager for ideas and direction as to what might be the next color of the season.

In fact:  color forecasters get together twice a year in a super hush-hush meeting at the Pantone HQ with colorists that have traditionally worked with textile companies and others to set color standards. Over two days, these ‘colorists’ will each pitch a palette concept, organized roughly around a theme that has been chosen in advance.

The debate results in finding something more concrete: a story paired with a color and based on the cultural diversity of the forecasters who pick up on local trends that are seen on the streets and merged together to give a more global outlook.

And in case you are wondering: the results are published in Pantone View, a publication that is purchased by companies across a broad consumer landscape, from fashion designers to supermarket chains to the floral industry (yes, you read that correct: the floral industry) to see what word on the ‘new black’ is. A fine art, indeed!

Oh and while we are at it, enjoy this marvelous clip from Meryl Streep’s the Devil Wears Prada and the color cerulean!

It's Tiramisu Time!

We were really excited when our design associate Mehreen decided to delight us with tiramisu, probably the most famous Italian dessert and the coolest trifle, we'd like to add. I mean cream AND coffee together? Mmmm...we don't think it gets any better!

So roll up your sleeves and prepare to surprise a loved one with this sweet and bitter treat.

Ingredients:
- Cream Cheese - 1 box
- Cream - 300ml
- Vanilla Essence - 1 tsp
- Sponge Fingers or sponge cake (You can find the... fingers at large supermarkets like Aghas by the name of Vicenzovo)
- Coffee - Brewed (Strong)
- Icing Sugar- To taste
- White sugar- To taste
- Brown sugar- To taste
- Cocoa powder or grated chocolate

Method:

- Brew very strong coffee in a coffee press or on the stove, using approximately 4-5 heaped tbsp of ground coffee to 3 cups water.

- In a food processor or mixing bowl, add the cream, cheese, vanilla, and icing sugar and beat till soft peaks start to form

- Use approximately 300ml of cream to one box of cream cheese (the taste should be slightly sour, the sweetness depends on you)

- Add in approximately 3 tbsp of white sugar and 2 tbsp of brown sugar to the coffee; maintain a bitter sweet taste

- Once the coffee has cooled, dip the sponge fingers and start layering your dish with them

- Pour a few spoonfuls of the remaining coffee over the sponge fingers

- Top off with a thick layer of the cream mixture

- Dust with cocoa or grated chocolate. Let set in the fridge for a couple of hours before serving!