Fairness overrated...!

So I turned on the telly the other day and was shocked when I saw 2 commercials (frequently repeated) ...both promoting fairness creams.... and BOTH ending with a marriage proposal .... (all of course after the girl becomes all 'fair and lovely' after using their products..and no they are not adverts for fair and lovely but another popular brand which I won't name)...

I am sure many of you have seen these advertisements and I hope are as concerned as I am about the message it is sending out in society....

Does it mean if you are not fair skinned, or have a few dark spots or some pigmentation on your face (very common with Indian skins) you are not worthy of marriage...? Or is marriage only for the fair and pretty ones...? Or is it that men in this society are essentially superficial and only marry women for their looks?.. Is that what it's all come down to... I don't know ... I know times are changing ... but this? It's rubbish non?....I am confused and a bit angry .. especially thinking about the kind of pressure this puts on the young girls out there and the consequences of that pressure on these girls who according to the advertisers are not fortunate enough to be born fair ... and hence not good enough.... why is white better than dark...? and who are these people who sit at their desks and come up with these ideas and actually think they are good....?! Mon dieu.... we live in India, we are indians and we are blessed with beautiful, dusky complexions... why can't we just learn to embrace it and start looking deeper.. beyond colour ..(would solve a lot of problems trust me...)

The West aspires to look like us - via tanning and we in the East like them - fair.... yes we know the grass is always greener on the other side... but just for this once - can't it be greener and stay green on our side.....?

A ranting Mulain x

Max Factor.....

Female farm worker from Yemen!

once said....' A woman who doesn't wear lipstick feels undressed in public. Unless she works on a farm' (see snap above)......Is that pressure for all you females or what? Mulain is sure that Monsieur Factor would have moved with the times and 'approved' of the world of lip decoration and lip choice in 2009 - gloss, balm, Vaseline, 8-hour cream, lipstick, lipsheers...crazy colours, divine flavours. Quite wonderful! But Mulain is concerned .....seems that the fairer sex is still always being told what to wear, what to do and how to behave......and by who? Men? The power-bodies who sit behind their desks and rule our lives and set trends, fashions, and all our social rules and ettiquettes?.....Are you girlies as free as you think you are? Ummm Mulain is not so sure....

I just want what is best for you all my darlings.....be free, feel free, think free and enjoy lipstick....if YOU want to....

Mwah Mulain x

Technicolour!

Without getting too technical my friends (afterall it's a weekend and the mind should be at rest) Mulain is just celebrating his love of the golden age of Hollywood and the joy of 'Technicolour'. Technicolour is the trademark for a series of colour film processes pioneered by Technicolour Motion Picture Corporation. Technicolour was the second major colour film process, and the most widely used colour motion picture process in Hollywood from 1922 to 1952. Technicolour became known and celebrated for its hyper-realistic, saturated levels of colour, and was used commonly for filming musicals like The Wizard Of Oz, Singing in the Rain, The Sound Of Music, period film like Joan Of Arc and animated films such as Snow White And The Seven Dwarves and Fantasia.

Being a huge fan of Rodgers & Hammerstein musicals I am going to sit down and enjoy an afternoon matinee of South Pacific and admire the wow-factor of Technicolour.......for all you film buffs and students of cinema you should know about this process and realise how different it is to the high-definition world of today. Zut alor....how times change!

From a 'Bali Hi-ing' Mulain.....

BP Portrait Award 2009

Jamchandra Je by Edward Sutcliffe

Photograph or painting....? What do you think...? Even on close inspection I would say it's a photograph.. but no mes cheries it is a painting...!... cCan you believe it...? I certainly can't .. it is quite literally an 'unbelievable' piece of work.

On display now at the National Portrait Gallery in London.... this piece of art is one of many more amazing works that are part of the Bp Portrait award 2009.

If any of you are in London .. please go and see this exhibition.. what a treat it will be... Mulain wishes he could be there. The exhibition will run till the 20th of September and admission is free.. so no excuses.

For those of you like moi who cannot make it to London .. you can see the exhibition online ..

http://www.npg.org.uk/bp-portrait-award-20091/the-exhibition.php

Enjoy mes cheries...

Mx

Mister Eyebrow!

We all dream of perfectly even and oh-so-natural eyebrows and Givenchy has developed the first transparent eyebrow-fixing pencil that's totally natural. Mister Eyebrow Fixing Pencil is listed on the UK Time's 'mu-st have' make-up products for this year people and it's easy to see why! Whether you are Mulain or Susan Boyle, your brows mu-st be tamed and this little wonder does the trick!

The tech side my friends....it is enriched with emollient, shea, and aloe, eyebrows are immediately and evenl smoothed. Achieve the right movement with only your finger thanks to selected polymers, which reinforce adhesion. A perfectly transparent shade for ultra-natural and subtl glossy eyebrows.

Voila - eyebrows are fixed in place come rain or shine - perfect for framing the eyes - so important for any look my friends!

Mulain x

Brush up...

.... on your brushes....!.... they are the tools of the trade my dears and so today I am going to tell you about a few of them that will help make your life a lot easier in zee world of maquillage and also give your look the finesse of a true professionnelle!

So no more excuses on badly applied make up... as you've probably 'eard the saying ...' a bad carpenter always blames his tools...' ... and we dont want to be one of those now do we...? So look closely at the ones I have selected below and pick the ones that suit you...

Foundation brush: For smooth and flawless application. Can be used with liquid and cream foundations.

Duo-fibre brush: This one's multi purpose. These brushes are great for an overall light buffing of the face after foundation for that glowing polished look... for a soft light dusting of powder or pigment... Perfect for bronzing.... and.. the smaller versions of these can be used to apply cream blushers for a lovely soft finish.

Concealor brush : Yes.. you can apply concealor with your fingertips.. but its good to have this brush to get into all the little nooks and cranny's ... plus its great for spotting concealor onto blemishes and spots.


Powder brush: A must have unless you prefer to press down with a puff. Powder is needed to set the make up so it stays on looking fresh and lovely all day long and of course to get rid of any excess oil and shine. No point having a beautifully made up face only to end up looking like and oil slick non ....

Blush brush:If you love powder blushers this is one for you.... slightly angled to sweep your blusher perfectly on to your cheekbones. Can be used to apply blusher just on the apples of your cheeks too and for contouring (sculpting) those cheekbones...( and jaw line if necessary...)

Eye smudger brush : Whether its smoky eyes you're after, adding a little definition into the contours of your eyes or simply just to blend your eyeliner... this is the brush for you.

Eyeshadow brush: Shadows can be applied easily with fingers too , but wether its a wash of colour or something more intense an eyeshadow brush can give you just the right amount of control and colour needed to achieve your look.

Eyeliner / Eyebrow brush: Dual use... great for eyelining wet or dry and for filling in the brows.

Lip brush: Dont you just hate it when your favourite lipstick is over only to realise that the beauty company has discontinued it...well don't throw away the 'empty' lipstick as there's still plenty left inside and this is one other time the lip brush comes in handy....(other than the obvious first reason which is for precise application).... scoop out the leftovers and put it in a pot and use the lip brush to continue applying as always till you find another perfect match to your old one... you'll be surprised at what a long way it'll go!

Insider tip - I personally also love using lip brushes for applying cake or gel eyeliner .. gives a great sweep and a lot of control- no wobbly lines....!... try it...!

Note: Most brushes are available at all cosmetic counters, for a wider selection try MAC (slightly expensive but worth it), Bharat and Doris and Vega ( cheaper and not bad...)

Mini brush sets are also available from MAC, Vega, Bobbi Brown and Laura Mercier to name a few.

Hope this helps...!

Mx

Scent of a woman....

.... or merely packaging....!?......it does'nt matter as long as its not Chanel no 5 you're after...

Harajuku lovers- the fragrances by uber stylish rocker Gwen Stefani are inspired by the street style of the Harajuku district in Tokyo. An ode almost to cuteness-something synonymous with modern japanese women...

The Harajuku lovers come in the form of 5 gorgeous dolls each with a different style and fragrance. From a mix of floral and fruity scents some with underlying notes of musk, vanilla and amber... the fragrance comes in both a liquid and a solid form.....

...and if its not just the cute dolls you're after you're probably best going for the liquid fragrances as they last longer.

For a little fun check out their website:

http://www.hlfragrance.com/

Mx

Alice in Wonderland

Mulain is blown away!! I have just seen the trailer of Tim Burton's Alice in Wonderland and it is simply AMAZING!!! 'ave a look mes cheries....http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_TfanDv5iRk

I cannot believe we have to wait till next March for this masterpiece to be released...!

Monsieur Burton you are truly a genius and Monsieur Depp... well words just fail me... I lo-ove you... and I especially love your look in zee film and that of your co-stars. We here at fat mu hope to one day get a chance to work with you... just looking at the trailer is so inspiring and it reminds us of the magic of cinema and why we do what we do...magnifique....!

Here above are the looks of Monsieur Depp as 'The Mad 'atter' (love zee eyebrows....), lovely Anne Hathaway as 'The White Queen' (very striking in that platinum wig) and the one and only Helena Bonham Carter as 'The Red Queen' (very queen of hearts.)..... simply fantastique....!

Inglourious Basterds

Mulain had to pop over to London town in the last week and got to meet one of his favourite film people...Monsieur Quentin Tarantino.......Yes, he signed my Inglourious Basterds soundtrack and I wished him well for the opening of his new picture.....what a nice man he is and so talented.....he writes and directs all his films.....j'aime le talent! And the mu-sic in his mu-vies is always too cool - Reservoir Dogs, Pulp Ficton, Kill Bill I and II.....great stuff. Sadly Mulain could not attend the London premiere as we was spending time with Maman Mulain.....family first my friends...

Can't wait to see to it though, out in August and get ready!

Mulain did enjoy London - checking out the fashions, hanging with the 'rude boys', 'emos' and the 'rockers'...sick man sick......that is the lingo my friends...do try keeping up...

Mulain x

P.s. - Mulain is too 'appy as his favourite mu-se is in Mu-mbai......Madame Nomita Morrison is visiting us and all the fat mu team are too excited - what a talent she is.....bravo!

Make up trends - part deux

..... and last but not least to complete our list of favourites from the Autumn- Winter '09-10 make up trends is our absolute favourite by none other than the genius and eccentric John Galliano... gracing the catwalks at Paris fashion week....

Not something we'd recommend you to incorporate into your daily make up routines but definitely something to take tons of inspiration from. A pure visual treat....

Mx

Make up trends - part 1

Good news my darlings... the next seasons looks are out and many of you will be happy to know that ANYTHING goes this Autumn- Winter '09-10 in the world of make -up.....!

From a complete bare faced no make up look to wild and bright 80's punk and everything in between...there is something for everyone and no limits to what you can do this coming season. So let your imagination run wild....!

Whether a strong mouth be your style or smoky eyes... pair them up... or wear them alone.

A retro 40's polished look perhaps...? Or maybe a complete 80's makeover ... take your pick....maybe even one for everday of the week...!

We at fat mu have picked out some of our favourite wearable looks from the season... take a look....and hope they inspire.....

Mulain x

Almost bare faced at Givenchy (sculpted cheekbones and slight metallic colour on the mouth)

Smoky eyes at Versace (note the blue pigment in the corner of the eyes)

Retro feel at Moschino

80's inspired punk at Marc Jacobs

Its all a bit spacey....

40 years ago man made history by landing on the moon. Today is its 40th anniversary and we're already talking of space travel not just for the likes of Monsieur Armstrong but for anyone who can afford it. Monsieur Branson has said his Virgin Galactic spaceships will be completed and ready by December of this year...! Technology....! Never ceases to amaze me.....!

Tomorrow is the longest solar eclipse of the 21st century...! It will last for precisely 6 minutes and 39 seconds... it will happen between 5:28 and 7:40 in the morning Indian standard time and I'm hoping to be up to see it.. the next one takes place in 2132... so really people it's now or never... Bombay will have a partial eclipse... hopefully its not cloudy and raining so we can witness this spectacular phenomenon....but if not...don't fret... you can see it live online ... just visit the following web site for details on how to -

www.mashable.com/2009/07/21/solar-eclipse-online/

Also as you can imagine all the astrologers are going mad...! And so for a little fun I have found this astrological forecast for all the signs as a result of the eclipse... check it out -

www.examiner.com/x-11705-NY-Holistic-Body--Spirit-Examiner~y2009m7d21-Total-Solar-Eclipse-July-22-2009-Predictions-for-all-12-zodiac-signs

Now on to more important things in Mulain's world and the world of Maquillage.... All this space talk has inspired me to think of futuristic, space age make up that we can incorporate into our daily routines... and I'm thinking metallics metallics metallics....

We can take inspiration from the 60's space age fashions or simply just create our own versions of what we want....Wether its a sweep of gold, silver or bronze across your eyelid, or even just a bright metallic eyeliner flick.... a bronzed lipstick on a dusky complexion...or a pale shimmery metallic pink a la the 60's...

Irridescent highlighters to bring out those lovely cheekbones and metallic pigments mixed with moisturisers to give that lovely angelic body glow....whatever takes your fancy my darlings.... the good thing is metallics never go out of fashion and NEVER fail to make an impact....! ..so go play my lovelies and remember to set your alarm to wake up and witness the most awaited eclipse of the 21st century...!

P.s. - We at fat mu have too many lovely metallic favourites to name them all here ... but the one that out shines them ALL is a lovely subtle champagne coloured metallic eyeshadow from MAC called ' Woodwinked '

A must have for everyone professional and non-professional... as it suits every occasion and skin tone... simply loo-verly...!

Mulain x

Semi-Permanent Lash Extensions

Recently I met a friend of mine after a couple of months and for some reason could not tear my eyes away from her lashes... those were'nt there before I thought... but was not sure whether I should ask... what if they were...? But my attention kept going back to them.. they were longer, darker, curved and gave the eyes a very doe like appearance... it just changed her look...! She's a pretty lady.. but that morning she looked particularly lovely and so I asked...I had to! And sure enough - ' lash extensions'....! Aha I knew something was going on.... well I have to tell you mes cheries Mulain was very impressed and immediately I wanted some of my own...

After talking to her I learnt that she had them done in Japan, but it's available in many countries in Europe, and in London and the US.

The process lasts about an hour and is painless... just a bit boring and you have to be patient, because they bond the fake lashes to your own lash by lash....! Don't worry it does not harm your own lashes ... I already checked.....Its semi-permanent... and the extensions can last up to 6 weeks or so and fall out naturally with your own lashes when their time is up...!

The results are amazing... thicker, longer, darker, curved, natural looking lashes.... and you don't need mascara....! Great for all you ladies but especially for the ones going in front of the camera... much much better than applaying those fake lashes all the time... this is a one off every 2 months or so and looks a 100 times better...

Pssssst - An insider tip - Naomi Campbell has them... and she does not wear mascara... doesnt need to because they are so naturally lush and gorgeous on their own...!

So I don't know about you but I am seriously thinking of checking this out on my next trip... will keep you informed..... Mulain x

Trials and 'Tribal'ations.....

For all you Fashionistas who love to experiment with colour... this fall is going to be your season..!

The experts at Shu Uemura have done it again... out of the box thinking that is... where fall make up trends are normally dictated by autumnal colours, namely browns, rusts, golds etc... (more subdued colours that is)... Shu Uemura has done just the opposite and splashed out on colour by taking inspiration from tribal art and paintings... bright yellows, turquoises and fuschias dominate this collection labeled 'Primitribe'... whilst still maintaining some golds and volcanic colours to balance out the tones...
Especially interesting are the multicoloured eyelash strips to complement the seasons look.. and add a touch of tribal funk...!

Not just restricted for the professional make up artist any more...the colours are out there for anyone who wants to play.... so get your goodies early and get experimental people....Collection hits stores mid- August...

Mulain x

... it's enough to make you blush...

Mulain loves 'rouge'...! Non.. not just because it is my last name but because it is the one thing when applied can add an instant freshness and dash of life and couleur to your face...an instant 'perk' me up...!

Rouge or blush as it is more commonly known in today's world has been around for centuries... ladies through the ages have applied various potions of the so-called blush on their beautiful faces to achieve this look .. whether by applying the juice of crushed rose petals or simple pinching ones cheeks like in the Victorian days.

Why so popular you may ask?... Because its amorous mes cheries... it has always been associated as a sign of love, health and happiness... a look we can now get so easily from a tube, a pot or a bottle... in liquid, gel, cream or powder forms...

There's enough on the market today to make you blush and here are a few of our fat mu favourites...

LIQUID BLUSHERS

An all time favourite with the fat mu team... this lovely smelling potion made from crushed rose petals can be applied to the cheeks for a very natural flush that lasts through the day. It can also be doubled up as a lip stain...
After benetint came posie tint... lovely for that 'English rose' look... great on fair skins to achieve that peaches and cream look!

GEL BLUSHERS
Gel blushers! we especially LOVE these... so easy to apply and great for all skin tones for everyday use... adapts to your own skin tone to give you that lovely natural blush that lasts all day long.. perfect for that no make up look! can double up as a lip stain too but can be a bit drying .. so remember to put on your lip balm once the stain sets in.

Screen Face in London does a lovely one called ' Barely blushing'.

CREAM BLUSHERS
Especially good on dry or older skins... but great on anyone wanting a smooth creamy finish... available in various shades....Bobbi Brown, Shisheido, Nars and Stila do some of the best ones on the market. Easy to apply as they glide on... and some come with shimmer too to add a lovely subtle sheen to your skin.

POWDER BLUSHERS
Good 'ol powder blushers.... great for oily skins or if you just want to go for that matt look... can look as subtle or made up as you like... whether its a flush you want to add to the apples of your cheeks or simply to sculpt your cheek bones.. this is the one for you...

So come on ladies ... now lets see you blush....

Mulain x

Spa with a conscience

Mulain is glad to know there is still some good left in this world. Today I discovered a gem in the Metta foot spa tucked away inside lovely and quaint Pali village in Bandra.
My need for relaxation and worry of spotting what might be a varicose vein (can you imagine anything uglier.....!) drove me there on a recommendation by a friend.


It is run by a lovely lady called Joanita Figueiredo (sounds very exotic) who started to train the blind in giving foot reflexology and head and body massage...however, even after they were fully trained nobody wanted to employ them and so Joanita decided the best thing would be if she started a spa and employed them herself... and so she did! Bravo....! What a wonderful thing to have done Joanita- we here at fat mu applaud you ... and wish more people would take you as an example and use their talents to help those in need.


Priced extremely reasonably at Rs 200 for half an hour and Rs 300 for a full hour which includes foot, head and body massage it is a real treat and real value for money... and all profits are equally divided amongst all who work there.


Mulain highly recommends this place to anyone who wants to help all these people by spreading the word around of a really good massage for a really good price...

The spa has now been open for just 6 months with a high success rate and is soon opening their new branch at Worli...!

To read more about it ... visit...
www.mettafootspa.com/verve.htm Tel: 9870719923


Start making your appointments people and let Mulain know what you think... x

Reality Bride!

Call Mulain old-fashioned but I am just not understanding this concept of 'find your life-partner on TV and let your fans pick for you!'..... Am I stupid?.....Would love to meet with Mademoiselle Rahki Sawant and ask her to explain to me what, why, who, when, how? So many questions - yes she was made into a celebrity on Big Boss and became a national conversation piece for her blunt, up-front personality (amongst other things) but does she feel she has to up-the-game to keep in the limelight.....there must be other routes for her other than the 'reality tv' one.

Maybe I am too harsh - afterall....she has no sugar-daddy or Bollywood godfather behind her - she is doing it all by herself in Bombay, not an easy feat for sure. We do 'ope you or rather your fans pick you a nice groom ma cherie......a life-time of the wrong reality-tv decision is a long time. Am I being too negative?

I wonder who is doing your make-up for the big day? fat mu have n't had the call.......Madame Lulla is doing your frock and Madame Khan your very expensive jewellery - maybe you did n't realise we do 'wedding belles' as well.......Yes Ms. Sawant...fat mu not only do film and tv and theatre and personal events but we do dip into the 'shaadi' zone.

So wish you well for your big day - remember it's never too late to say 'oh my god - what am I doing?'.....am sure there are people who will love you regardless.....and watch out for too much lip-gloss and over-contouring.......you might end up looking like Posh Spice meets Latoya Jackson....not a good look but your choice of course.

Bon chance and remember you can always call the fat mu bridal team.....we will be on stand-by for you.

Mulain x

No my dears....

this is not another tribute to Michael Jackson! This is a moisturizing glove, or should say gloves from The Body Shop. Mulain has bought them for his mu-ther as a gift but thought I would tell you all about them. Firstly.....having a 'green', socially-aware mu-ment....one of our followers posted us a Vivienne Westwood link which shows her talking about climate change and the environment and how we ALL mu-st care! And it is so true my loo-verlys.....c'est trop importante we all do our leetle bit non? So today Mulain went to The Body Shop which really does try and help communities who need fair-trade and support. As you put on these cotton, organic gloves, realise they are Community Trade made. Your pack will inform you that you are helping 130 people in Mauritius working for Craft Aid - workers with hearing and learning difficulties.

Now these gloves aim to lock in moisture - you mu-st cover your hands in your favourite moisturizer, slip on the gloves and while you sleep your skin will be deeply and intensely moisturized and left feeling super-baby soft!....Mulain is wondering do they do one for the whole body....that would be fab-u-lous non?

So ....will gift them to Maman Mulain and let you know what 'appens.....and remember....and this is a tribute to MJ....'Heal the world......make it a better place'.........

A green Mulain....

P.S.....Hope you all turn off electricity when you don't need it - don't keep things on stand-by.....you are using up power!!! Turn off your water when you are brushing your teeth!! Share that car trip.....share, care, think and act.....it's all up to us....

P.P.S - Ok checked - no moisture body suites to put on at night - but booties are there for sure.

Monsoon Madness

Is that a road you may ask? River? Road? River? Road?....Our poor cars and feet!!

Mulain is very frustrated with the system today.... the skies have opened up and how... so much rain....! Which is a good thing... Lord knows we need the water... but....can someone please explain to me why Mumbai can never seem to deal with the monsoon? It's not like it comes as a surprise non? It's been visiting year after year at the same time for as long as we can remember and yet... it is always the same story....flooding and roads turning into rivers...traffic jams, cars drowning, people having to wade knee-deep in water... sometimes falling into open manholes... why? Will someone please tell me why this city is STILL not equipped to deal with it?

We are working people and need to get jobs done - the MUs are packing for a shoot and risking our lives and car (poor Jezibel Swift!).....Sounds like we are moaning my darlings, but a leetle rant is to-tally necessary....we pay taxes non? Ok.....Enough - will pretend we are in an old MGM, techicolour picture with Gene Kelly and we'll all pretend we are loving the rain and tap-dancing away......Mulain has put his rose-tinted specs back on......

A very wet and cross Mulain x

Thank you Monsieur Kelly.......

Bruno!

As a complete movie buff, I 'ave been anticipating the opening of SBC's latest creative offering Bruno. Although it has been opening to mixed reviews people are still flocking to see what this latest embarassing, shocking, boundary-breaking character is all about....Bruno assumes the persona of a gay fashionmonger, the self-proclaimed "voice of Austrian youth TV." Originally part of Cohen's cult television series Da Ali G Show, the character of Bruno, cleverly costumed (and wigged!) takes the opportunity to highlight the absurdities of the fashion industry by interviewing unsuspecting fashion icons and other haute couture hangers-on. Mulain just can't wait to see.......the thought of a gay Austrian fashionista running all over the US of A is just too much to imagine.....Mulain is blissfully cringeing already. Apparently Bruno attempts to seduce a onetime presidential hopeful, adopt a black African baby and provokes a near riot at a caged boxing bout in Texas. I think for die hard Ali G / Borat fans only this one......Mulain loves the disguises - what fun and how funny.

Hoping your Monday's were good my friends - the rains have started again in Mumbai.....we were wondering where the Monsoon was......Mwah from Mulain x