We love the Eighties!

"Her name is Rio and she dances in the sand - la la la"..... fat mu are having happy 80s memories at the moment and delighted that one, Francois Nars came out of retirement to design the look for Marc Jacobs Fall collection 09 and two, he went totally 80s in his looks.....Gravity defying hair, bright pops of colour for lips eyes - fabulous - retro magic with a modern twist - a mix of Blondie, Duran Duran, Kim Wilde and Banarama......Welcome back Monsieur Nars and uber respect for giving us an 80s flashback -http://www.style.com/beauty/backstage/032709_Marc_Jacobs/ - Mulain's tips for the looks....go for it and be bold! Photo 'ere is from an MTV fat mu promo with 80s make-up, model Lisa loving the look!

Mulain got hold of a photo from Virginia's 80s themed party a few years ag0 - see below ........shhh - don't tell her...she will keel me...

Narcissism now....

Diana Vreeland - RIP...

After reading our 'Pink is the navy blue of India' entry one of our avid followers noted it was said by the wonderful Diana Vreeland. They asked me what I made of one of her other clever sayings.... 'I loathe narcissism but I approve of vanity'......Well I would agree with the lovely lady (R.I.P).....as where would we all be without a bit of vanity in our lives - would n't the world be ugly, dull, benale, boring, tee-dious, no colour? A world without lippy, mascara and rouge? Terrible! Can you imagine? I am like my grandmother - never go out without my eye-brows on and a pair of heels.....and like anything my darlings, moderation is key.......vanity in moderation is ok by me. It is nice to have pride in one's appearance, making the best of ourselves. Narcissim however is to-tally not cool and is a pyschological disorder......she was right about the loathing part and I ask you, what would Madame Vreeland make of our world today? Vanity gone mad....it's a me, me, me society - think we are all bordering on narcissistic behaviour....facebook, twittering, constant status changes. Par example.....some people 'ave how many photos of themselves on-line? It is not naturale.....we are going from vain to insane.....so Mulain says take pride people and enjoy yourselves but leave the disorders in the clinic. Non?

Mulain x

Locations, Locations, Locations!

fat mu in London at the Slumdog Euro Premiere - Oh la la!

fat mu at the Taj, Agra for Slumdog...

On location in Goa for Honeymoon Travels 2006 - it's a hard life!

Today we are shooting in an old Maharajah's palace, outside Pune - delapidated charm my dears for sure, just fantastic....got Mulain thinking how lucky we are - the glamour side to being a make-up artiste ....to work in what we want to do and travel around, seeing the wonders of the world? What more could you ask for?....the MU's have shot in London, Delhi, Mumbai, Jaipur, Udaipur, Jodphur, Ladakh, Goa, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Gujurat, Malaysia, Tajikistan, South Africa, the Maldives....Madh Island!.....wonderful non? The joys of travelling and seeing the world - it keeps us alive and ticking and inspired.

Mulain is off now, as am on a night-shoot and need a strong cafe du lait.....all MUs working round the clock it seems - it's all go at HQ!

To keep you in the loop tomorrow mon amis we are discussing Narcissm and Vanity....and make-up colours of the season.

Bon Nuit!

Slumdog Millionth English Word?

Just when we think the Slumdog buzz is dying down something else crops up......apart from the Pussycat Dolls remix of Jai Ho of course.....Will Slumdog be the millionth word in the dictionary?.....think Jai Ho is also a front-runner. Mon Dieu! Do we have too much time on our hands people? Ummm.....

Mu-ving on....the MUs are delighted that Ben Nye make-up will be sold in Mumbai in the near future - such a fan of the brand which we have used on all our films and projects - great quality and super dependable. The MUs are in touch with the Nye family and hope to meet soon in LA or Mumbai to discuss make-up in India. Watch this space.

Mulain is a busy little bee so back to work......bye for now......x

Pink is the navy blue of India!

Mulain once had a t-shirt which said Pink is the Navy Blue of India!......I just loved it and it's a great way of saying colour rules in this subcontinent. We are so spoilt here with the most wonderful spectrum of pinks, oranges, yellows, blues, greens....just marvellous....colour everywhere you look! Sarees, flowers, fruits, elephants, foods, trees, cottons, silks - it's colour galore and I adore! Embrace it my darlings, let it lift your spirits and use it in your make-up palettes, on your eyes, on your cheeks, on your lips - it's there to inspire you. Non?

So no Monday blues in Bombay - it's totally pink!...and green!...and orange!....and yellow!.....and red!.....and purple!....

Mulain x

Sharing a Sunday Snap

Bonjour! Today Mulain found a lovely shot of MU Natasha in Mumbai, working on Zoya's 'Luck By Chance' last year - what a great photo...and I wanted you all to see....Thought it quite apt seeing as she is working with the Big B too....

Hope all your Sunday's were good!

Mulain x

P.s - Did anyone else hear of the ugly rumour that Max Factor make-up is being phased out in America? Can you imagine...the Godfather of all of us MU's having his make-up line disappear....I am feeling quite faint...off to investigate!

Bollywood's wonderful wigs

fat mu's lovely Kailash-Ji at work...

The MU's have been whizzing around Mumbai today - de-lighted with the little morning shower which cooled the city for all of two minutes and then it went back to pure steam again, oof! We all have a permanent sweaty lip, where's the glamour people?!.......From Bandra, to Juhu and even up to Film city area we've been jet-setting all over town and today we saw our lovely wig-maker and general 'wig-man' of the stars (who must not be named), Kailash-Ji. His address book is packed with the Who Who's of Bollywood-land and top society la-dies and gents..... He has moved with his wonderful team to a new studio in Goregaon West - an air-conditioned sanctuary, with chai and his charming company - it's like an ashram really. What a lovely soul he is.....and wonderful work he does too.....so anyone wanting a hair piece, beard, moustache, wig - he's your man.

Mulain x

Mulain's Weird and Wonderful India cont....

Check out a wonderful discovery on the very streets of Mumbai that we live - these 3 jolly fellows were cruising along in a rick et voila a friend managed to catch them on camera - please watch....not to be tried at home!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MrmDdyBLXLI

Does n't the main dude look like Johnny Depp....in a Sadhu/Pirates of the Caribbean sort of way?

Mulain loves Mumbai x

What to do?

How sad...as much as Paa's security people tried to protect Mr.Bachchan's amazing new look, those forever hungry 'snaparazzis' managed to click a photo on the sly and put it on the front cover on all the papers. Shame non? Hopefully people will be so wow-ed with what an amazing job the prosthetics team have done that it will pull the audiences in my friends. Mulain is wondering is nothing sacred anymore?......It's a sad week. I am completely heart-broken without The Tonight Show with my favourite Jay Leno. Trying to get into the new guy....ummm....let's wait and watch.

You remember Virginia's little mention on the show.....her little 15 mili - second of glory with our lovely Mademoiselle Pinto!
http://www.facebook.com/inbox/readmessage.php?t=75589243122

Waiting for the rains to cool the city down! So hot my darlings - we are all steaming!
Any tips for cooling down, please let me know....fast....I am a little puddle in this melting metropolis!


Mulain x

News on the MUs!

Today I am just filling you in on what the MUs at fat mu HQ are upto. It's all go......there is the shooting of Disney's first feature which is being filmed entirely in Mumbai and around Maharashtra with a stellar cast, who unfortunately cannot be named at this point of time....secrets, secrets! The film is due for release in December this year so do watch this space. The fat mu team are surviving the heat on location and are ensuring the actors do not melt and look good! My MU Virginia will be re-joining the crew for a couple of weeks soon to check all is going well and to replace our darling MU Kamlesh as he is getting married! So 'appy for him...

Our lovely Xavier is helping on the Disney film and also doing his usual GQ shoots and weddings - a busy little bee for sure with that constant smile - we love you Xavier! Our lovely Natasha is flying between Mumbai and Delhi with the Bachchan special effects team - 'full on' airbrushing for her! She is currently M.I.A.....holed up in a studio/set...no daylight for her......make-up is not all glamour my dears.

Our lovely Reetu is entrenched with Disney and facial pieces! Probably dying for a bit of glamour.....Do not stress my dear - the bridal and party season will commence and you and the team will be back to the beauty and the glitz of weddings and fashion shoots! Cha-l0!

Make-up is so much fun my lovelies and never dull....fat mu are dabbling in one of their passions...Le Theatre! Designing the Hair & Make-up for Anuvab Pal's new play, which opens end of this month. After co-writing Loins of Punjab, The President's Coming and Chaos Theory this play will definitely hit the jack-pot with audiences. It has a great cast, Sophie Choudry being one of the actors involved - the MUs have to create 6 different looks as she plays 6 characters in the play. We loo-ve the challenge!

So its a total mix of film, television, fashion, theatre and of course not forgetting our lovely wedding belles. That reminds me...am off to meet a bride now can't be late!

Love you all - Mulain x

The Perfect One-step Facial Cleanser?

Friends - we know the world is falling apart as we speak, bomb testing to our right, missile testing to our left, bankruptcies galore not to mention diabolical human rights atrocities not far from our very shores....but amidst all this boom, doom and gloom Mulain has made a wonderful discovery!.....Please don't think of me as shallow my darlings but Mulain is so happy to think he has found the perfect facial cleanser and is to-tally excited by his find....Oui this little beauty I swear removes Bombay from my face everyday, leaving my skin looking and feeling fab-ulous! It suites all skin types, smells yummy thanks to the extract of orange ingredient and is a 2-in-1 delight so saves us on time, effort and money.....brilliante, brilliante and brilliante. You just need some soft cotton-wool, shake the bottle and off you go 'chalo'....urging you to try as it's too good. It's name is Clarins, Demaquillant Tonic Express available all over the world from Paris to Shoppers Stop, Mumbai!

Do let me know what you think - Mulain x

We love Bobbi B!

One of my favourite make-up designers Madame Bobbi Brown says "Platinum instantly highlights and gives the face a fresh, modern edge," and Mulain totally agrees. With this in mind, seems she has designed a new selection of summer make-up called The Platinum Collection. This includes velvety, long-wearing cream shadows, some luminous lip glosses and the gorgeously shimmering, fragranced body oil which is packed with pink and platinum pearls, can you imagine my friends? Just de-lightful! And the icing on the cake for me is the Platinum Pink version of Brown's ever popular Shimmer Brick - featuring five bars of softly sparkling colours from golden coral to pretty rose for a subtly radiant glow. Available at Bobbi Brown counters and http://www.bobbibrown.co.uk/.

We love you Bobbi!

Mulain x

Toxic Beauty!

Lip watch....

Mulain is aware he keeps you up-to-speed on what's hot and what's not....but it is also my gentleman-ly, ethical duty to keep you in the loop with the safety aspects of la macquillage. Oui...again the 'too much lead in lipstick' levels are being discussed and thrown in the air. Most big beauty houses do follow the guidelines of what is allowed and noone is out there to knowingly poison you my darlings...but it is tres importante to be aware of what you are putting on your skin at all times....everything gets absorbed into you - weird and strange notion I know. So when you buy....ask your sales person questions...they should know about ingredients of their make-up, it is your right as a consumer. Mineral make-up is trying to be as natural as possible so that is a good route for you to explore if you are concerned with toxic make-up. Don't panic though....make-up has never been 'safer' I feel.....just do a bit of homework and try before you buy.

Be sexy and safe....Mulain x

Be happy...

What faces! characters! expressions! I love! Ok - today the lesson is short and sweet so listen up! Mulain is concerned.......are you all happy? Do you like yourselves?....Think I am having an Oprah moment here but my darlings.....everyday I get asked....How to look beautiful? How to be beautiful? How to feel beautiful? Mulain always has to remind people.....you ARE beautiful.....Such a cliche my dears but so true.....don't fall into the trap of not fitting into the conventional beauty box....we are all different and that is just wonderful....imagine how boring life would be if we all looked the same....Mon dieu!

Don't focus on the negative and don't be fooled by the mazazines that photoshop people into plastic dollies and unrealistic puppets, read the following link on the retouching of celebrities from the New York Times.....http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/28/fashion/28RETOUCH.html?ref=style....it is all plastic my lovelies and a big business.....so don't get swallowed in! Love everything about yourselves - your nose, your hair, your hips, your tummy, your character lines....keep fit, be nice, don't focus on yourself and the rest will fall into place....Make-up is there to enhance what you are....not mask you.....Live life, love life, laugh as much as you can, dance like noone is watching and please keep your perspective on things....Mulain is truly preaching today n'est ce pas? Just want you to be happy....that is all....and there endeth the lesson.

Mulain x

The laughing MU's on Hallmark's King Tut!

On-line tips and tricks

Confused by make-up? Too many colours and textures and trends....don't panic people - with the assistance of the fat mu gang, moi and people like Lauren Luke on-line - you will be able to design your own make-up and personal kit like a true champ. With Mademoiselle Luke there is the continuing theme of the year - the under-dog rising against all odds and succeeding. Hurrah! Mulain thinks this 27 year old, single maman from England is to-tally inspiring.......Lauren Luke is the most popular site on YouTube UK and it's all about make-up, looking good and making the best of yourself - log onto www.bylaurenluke.com/ to check her out - Lauren seems like a lovely, normal mademoiselle 'oo does make-up tutorials on-line and tells you how to do different fashion and beauty looks. Now she has her own line of make-up too and is set to take-over the States. Well done Ms. Luke, we shall keep watching you at fat mu HQ - just shows that anything is possible if you try my friends.

fat mu HQ will also be doing some fun things on YouTube - fun tips and tricks will be coming your way soon.

Mulain x

Lashes like Ash's....

....... Lashes are the icing on the cake for your eyes my friends, and we all could use a little help and advice on design and application. So you will all be pleased when I tell you that one of my good friends, a certain Monsieur Uemura is introducing a pop-up make-up bar in London's Selfridges throughout the month of December as a preview to its official launch in the department store next year - now how cool is that? If you want your lashes to look like Ash's then The Tokyo Lash Bar is the right place for you....it will be offering make-up sessions using the brand's trademark avant garde cosmetics and false eyelashes, ranging from a lash application lesson right through to a full makeover with one of Shu's senior make-up artists. Starting from £10, it's available at Selfridges, 400 Oxford Street, London. Call 0800 123 400 to find out more. Get with the programme people and get yourselves booked in and check out his world http://www.shuuemura-usa.com/ .......don't forget to tell Shu I said hi!


Mulain x

India's Weird and Wonderful!

Isn't he a delight my friends? You know in India - one just never knows what is around the next corner. It's a mix of the mad, the bad, the sad, the weird, the wonderful, the exotic, the kitsch, the whacky, the rich, the poor, the 'in-betweens', the holy men, the cows (MUU!), the old, the new, the forgotten, the discovered, the good, the glamorous, the forts, the palaces! All in all - it's just fab-ulous! A sensory treat for all and a constant kaleidoscope of inspiration for all at fat mu HQ....... I just LOO-VE it.....never a dull day in Mulain's Mumbai world.

My lovely MU Natasha spotted our friend above while filming for Salaam-e-Ishq in Rishikesh. Just wonderful!

Speaking of wonderful - I am having a super-relaxing Sunday in the city - watching my mango tree sway in the breeze and watching the Monsoon clouds slowly building up - thinking that the rains are coming soon my lovelies and also of all my MU's up to their eye-balls in air-brushing, prosthetics, facial hair, making up hundreds of extras....busy little bees.

Mulain is exhausted just thinking of it all, so off for a masala chai and a much needed little cow-nap.

Mulain z z z z z z z x

Michelle ma belle..

Michelle has brains !

Tout le monde is having a love affair with Mrs. Barack Obama, Michelle...Mulain's belle of the day. I think this loo-verly lady has got all the boxes ticked my friends - she is her own person, has her own style, seems to be kind, compassionate. Quietly confident, understated in her style and an impeccable decorum to boot. I applaud you Michelle...what a wonderful role model you are for us all.....and of course 'oo can forget you hugging the Queen at the G20....you and only you could have pulled that one off....and seems Madame Windsor was won over too.....

Michelle has compassion !

So carry on the way you are and we will hopefully watch you and your loo-verly family blossom in that big White House of yours....Mulain would love to come for tea?......

Michelle has style -her own!

So Mulain will take inspiration from today's mu-se and try and tick all his boxes......charm, finesse, style, kindness....charm, finesse, style, kindness...let's see how I get on....rushing off for a wedding by the Arabian sea with dancing and cocktails - and then off for a leettle partying in a sizzling hot Mumbai.

Enjoy your Saturday night people and tick those boxes too!

Til next time...

Mulain x

Let's b:blunt

Mulain asks are you hiding behind your hair?

Photo: Arjun Mark / Make-up & Hair Design fat mu

Mulain was 'appy to see his fellow MU with a fabulous new hair-do. Virginia had her hair cut today by the fabulously, talented Adhuna from b:blunt.......she cleverly and deftly snipped away her tired, Bombay-withered locks to achieve a sexy bob with an edge. Today my friends I am simply underlining to you the importance of you and your hair.

The power of hair - amazing what you can do - use imagination my friends! Mulain x
Photo: Arjun Mark / Make-up & Hair Design fat mu

Make-up and hair do not work in isolation - certainly not! No use getting your make-up right if your hair is terri-ble. And ladies - we know you hang onto your length as it feels safe....but ask yourself honestly ....what is it doing for you? Are you hiding behind it?...... Face your fears and get a style that suits you!.....Let the confident you inside break out......as my dear friend Hubert de Givenchy said..."Hair style is the final tip-off whether or not a woman really knows herself". Think about it people ....C'est vrai!

"Get inspired I say" - Mulain x
Photo: Arjun Mark / Hair & Make-up Design fat mu

Mulain says if you're getting snipped or styled in London try Adam and his team at Cobella, High Street Ken +44 20 7937 8888. In Mumbai we love Adhuna and her team at b:blunt in town 022 65980370 or Juhu 022 26285309.

Hope you have a hair-raising week-end my darlings - speak soon....

Mulain x

fat mu's 2-in-1 delights!

Mulain just loves Benefit!

Right Gals and Guys - listen up....the fat mu team trawled the shops and world wide web yesterday - facing the sweltering Bombay heat for all of you, searching for products that will make your lives easier in these busy, recession hit times.

So the word on the street is...

The new Stila website is up and running http://www.stilacosmetics.com/ with some fantastic 2-in-1 delights....Stila's Convertible Colour fab lipstick and blush-in-one is a must-have in your handbag for a quick fix, it brightens cheeks and lips with creamy, translucent colour...and with a couple of dabs and taps of your fingers you have rouged your cheeks and popped your pout - great colour range too.

And there's more....Stila's Contouring Trio - enhances, defines, shapes and soften your features - Mulain is convinced this little show-stopper is a make-up artist in one little box! Each compact comes with 3 shades, light (a high-lighting powder), dark (a low-lighting powder), flash (a soft neutral shimmer), and simple instructions on how to paint / structure your face. To quote Madonna 'strike a pose'!

An all-time favourite brand at fat mu HQ is of course our fabu-lous Benefit! www.benefitcosmetics.com. We always say that Benefit's Benetint is a marvel in a bottle - a beautiful tint for your cheeks and lips - so natural, one resembles a work of art...the Posie tint is also de-lightful and a pleasure to have around.

When on-the-go or in a mad rush you can also always rely on Benefit's Bad Gal black liner.....it is ahead of itself people.....you can get lots of looks out of this steal....slight smoke, sexy smoke, indulgent smoke, 60s smoke.... inside our eye or outside....also draw it on your lids for a cheat to shadow, smudge away and you can transform from Schiffer to Bardot to Alice Cooper! Meow.....Also great is the Benefit's No.10 - cheek bones in a box I tell you....'ighlighter and shadow in one little package - two sweeps with the enclosed little blush and you are chiselled to glory - Naomi eat your heart out.

For a rather topical 2-in-1 option.....there is a Bronzer + flu beater all in one!..Yes my friends seems they 'ave thought of everything - for those of you who are concerned with piggy 'flu and want to look 'Cannes-tanned ' at the same time then this may be the product for you.........Alva Couleur bronzer..... It contains a natural powder derived from yeast called Wellmune, found to help support the immune system. So while you're glowing on the outside, this will be absorbed into skin to protect you on the inside, too. Mu-st try that one.

So for you busy people of the world - hope our 2-in-1 product tips help you and keep you ready for action - wherever you are globe-trotting.

Mulain x