July (Theme- Monsoons)

Ah, yes! We all love the monsoons. That first shower after what seemed like endless scorching summer days is a joy like no other. The smell of the wet earth, the dry leaves dancing with joy at the first taste of the showers- yes, it is indeed godsend. However, fickle and hard-to-please as we humans are, we soon tire of the rains, and yearn for cloudless skies again.

We complain about our clothes and shoes getting dirty, we complain about the multitude of insects that seem to be on a mission to overtake the world, and we wish the monsoons were over. But it'll stay for a couple of months, and I'm here to tell you how you can take maximum advantage of the situation. Stay in, cozy up with your boyfriend watching movies, drinking wine, while the raindrops keep falling on your roof. And if you have to venture out, be armed with the cutest rain gear I'm going to tell you about.

So, have fun this rainy season, throw house parties, with lots of fried food, and put your most stylish foot forward.

Change of Pace

I've decided to do things a little differently from now on. Every week, I will be uploading articles, on topics as varied as book and movie reviews to fashion and feminist issues. I want to make this a one-stop-shop for women like me- smart, successful, intelligent, with a little bit of a frivolous side.

We date, we party, we have fun, and we work, we read and think about serious issues. Society often leads one to believe that women have to be one or the other. Well, we're here to prove them wrong- we do it all, and we do it with élan.

Summer 2013 Trends

We're talking only about clothes today. We'll deal with accessories, hairstyles, makeup a little bit later.

What in this summer:

• Bermuda shorts
• Short skirts
• Sheer 
• Lace
• Black and White
• Neon
• Peplum
• Stripes
• Polka Dots
• High waist (shorts, maybe pants)
• Cigarette pants
• Peter Pan collars
• Jumpsuits
• Graphic prints
• Maxi- dresses/ skirts
• Full skirts

Here are some looks and ideas you could use.

  

Looking Good

What is this pressure that society puts on good looks? Why do we feel the need to look good? To make ourselves feel better, or so that people like us more? Why is it that women seem to care more about looks than men? Is this societal pressure to look good imposed only upon women? Well, I don't really agree.

I think we put the pressure on ourselves. And I think men and women both should feel the need to look good. By that, I don't mean get plastic surgery (that's just for people with self-esteem issues, bad scars, or bad make-up artists). Thing is, I believe, everyone should put in a little effort to look their best. Because, it shows you care. You're not just some sloppy student, who's up studying all night. You're clean, healthy, and have an idea as to what works for you.

While great beauty is genetic, and can't be helped, little things here and there can go a long way in making a person look great. And here are my top tips for always looking great:

• Get a good haircut

This is the most important factor if you want to look good all the time. Get a good haircut, and keep your hair nice and clean. You'll be surprised how good you're always looking. By good haircut, I mean those expensive ones, in the fancy salons. They are worth it. For the next 2-3 months, you'll be looking fabulous.

• Be well groomed

By that, I mean, wax, get your eyebrows done, get your facial hair removed, or bleached, etc. And if you haven't had the time to wax/shave, please, please, never wear clothes that'd show the unremoved hair.

• Get in shape

What's the best way to look sexy, if you're not beautiful? Get in shape. Wear sexy clothes, and very soon people will forget your face is not all that beautiful.

• Dress well

Get your own style. See what works for you, be it geek chic, classy lady, or tomboy cool. If it matches your personality, chances are you'd be able to carry it off well.

• Learn how to do your own makeup

This one requires a little practice, but try out different looks and see what suits you best- a natural, sun-kissed glow, a bronzed look, a pale, delicate look, or a dramatic look. Match looks for different occasions, don't be afraid to use colour, but always make sure it's not too over-the-top. 

• Accessorize

One of the most important things in completing a look is your accessories. Get a cute hair clip, a casual satchel, sky-high heels, or ballerina flats. Team them up with some cuffs, neckpieces,  earrings, and you've changed a mundane store-bought ensemble into a runway-worthy look. Mix and match accessories, but don't go overboard. For example- never wear earrings, bracelets, and necklaces, unless you're wearing a really simple dress. Too much going on everywhere.

• Shoes

Your shoes will make or break your look. Buy shoes from good brands, and make sure they're always clean and polished. Have a vast variety, so that sometimes pairing different shoes with an outfit can make it go from day-to-night wear.

• Remember the occasion, and the weather

Tank tops are not cool in winter, and neither are wedges. Likewise, layering is not really the ideal choice for a really hot day.

 

Weight Loss 101

Weight loss is a dilemma that has plagued us forever. We're never happy with our weight. Even if we are, it is so fleeting, that a couple of weeks later, we're sighing about how perfect our bodies once were. While too much obsessing about your weight can make you go insane, a little bit of worrying is good.

I hate all the bullshit when everyone says, we want to lose weight because it's healthy. That is what all websites would want you to believe, even websites advocating crash diets and crazy workouts. Everyone knows that the only reason most people (and by that I mean people who are not obese) want to lose weight is to look better.

When we were growing up, we were never really fat. In fact, I was super skinny. That's probably because we were always running around, and our moms ensured we were eating healthy. Then the weight slowly sneaks up on you, until one day you realize your jeans size has gone up, you always seem to be holding your tummy in, and half the things in your closet are not very flattering any more. Then you start the scramble for weight loss routine. Well, here's my take on it. How do I know, you ask? Because I've been there, and I've done it.

Forget all the workouts, and start a diet NOW!

No matter what anyone says, diet is the most important factor when it comes to weight loss. Exercise can help you only a very little bit. It's great for maintaining your weight, but it's not so great for losing weight. A probable cause is that once people start working out, they use that as an excuse to eat whatever they want. The sad truth is, that you need to eat less calories than you burn, in order to lose weight. So ditch the burger, and fries and start eating healthy. And not just eating healthy, but eating smaller portions of healthy food. 

Here's what to avoid, or limit to a very few times a week-

• Cold drinks
• Sugar (in any form, even with tea or coffee)
• Refined flour goods (like pasta, white bread, etc)
• Processed goods (like biscuits, chips)
• Fatty foods (Oily, fried food, butter, etc)

Another thing that's important when it comes to dieting, is not to feel as if you are dieting. For that to happen, you must change your eating habits significantly.

• Snack on fruits, roasted peas, vegetables, etc.
• Don't eat because your watch says it's time to eat, but because you are hungry
• Don't eat 3-4 hours before going to bed
• Have a glass of water or green tea/coffee if you are feeling hungry. If you're still hungry later, then eat. (This is a very good technique to eat less)
• If you're trying to lose weight fast, skip some meals (preferably dinner or breakfast).

Do some mild exercise everyday

Yes, I know I said that diet was the most important factor, but exercise while dieting will definitely help too. You don't need to work out in a gym for hours everyday. There are small things you can do at home, or small changes you can make in your life. 

• Take the stairs
• Walk to the market/ bus stand, etc
•  Walk faster than you would normally

Now, if you really want to lose weight fast, then there are some exercises that you can do, that have proved to be very effective.

• In my book, the best is Swimming. It's good cardio, and it strengthens your muscles. A month of swimming 6 days a week, and you will definitely notice the difference- provided you are eating right. 
• Skipping, or using a jump rope is another great exercise. It's better because you can do it at home, and probably for 5-10 minutes a day is enough to see some difference. 
•  Burpees- This is my personal favourite. There is no exercise that will kick your butt so much. But do 20 minutes of burpees for a week (with breaks in between- of course), and the difference will be substantial. 
• Running - This is the best exercise for getting in shape, but it often requires more time, and many times we are just not comfortable running outside.

Crunches, pushups, situps, etc are all good for toning your muscles, but they don't get your fat to burn off. That is only achieved when your heart rate goes up, no matter how much these other exercises make your muscles ache. So, first do cardio (and at high intensity), to burn off the fat, and then go for toning.

A great tip is to work out first thing in the morning. Your stomach is empty, so whatever you burn comes from your bodies stored reserves of energy, aka fat.

Hello World!

I am a girly girl. Not a stereotypical bimbo, who loves pink, clothes and shoes and hates sports, geeks and science fiction. I am a normal person. Yes, I do love fashion and shoes, and I'm not very good at sports, but that is pretty much where my similarity with the stereotype ends. I am also a feminist, a writer, a geek, and an aspiring fashionista. This is a blog for normal women everywhere. Some of us like to read, some like to write, some like solving puzzles, and some love playing sports. Most of us love shoes, and most of us want to lose some weight. We all go a little crazy sometimes. We're all different, and we're all a little bit alike.

I call my blog "The Princess, the Witch and the Wardrobe", because the three things represent things very important in our lives- the wardrobe, of course is self-explanatory. The Princess and the Witch are the two roles that society long ago defined for women. Not the princess and witch per se, but the more recognized "good girl" and "bad girl". Truth is, we are both, and neither. We are trying to find a balance between the two that suits us best, and we'd like to call ourselves non-conformists. So, let's be the path breakers, let's do whatever we want to do, and let's not stop to think about what others would say- because that is freedom in it's truest sense.

In this blog, I'll be talking about different things everyday. For now, I've come up with some topics we could discuss, and some stuff I'd like to talk about. Things that are important to me, things that have probably been talked about a lot already, but things on which I'd like to shed my own personal brand of lighting. Things like fashion, shoes, books, feminist issues, weight loss, appearance, relationships, friendships, food, drinks, parties, movies, sports (maybe), hot guys, Tv series, and everything else I can think of. So, ladies, this is for you.