Glamour by Lakme Winter 2009

My darlings.....you know I am only here to help and to encourage you to look and feel fab, whatever the occasion. Mulain and the team are always on the look out for you and to recommend new products, brands, looks etc etc...so I 'ope that your trust is there with me.......Oui, bien sur!

Now we know Lakme is the most established cosmetics brand in India, from Kashmir to Chennai, Mumbai to Madurai, Lucknow to Leh, Pune to Pondicherry. Over the last few years with the help of Hindustan Lever and some lovely models (Yana Gupta, Indrani Dasgupta to name a couple) it has really moved with the times and now offers Indian women a good selection of up-to-date products at an affordable price (great for these hard times!). We at fat mu have always been fans of the Lakme liquid liner (easy to apply, long-lasting, cost effective) and nail polishes too come to think of it. But recently Mulain has been exploring the brand and likes the way it is encouraging women to play around with different looks. At http://www.lakmeindia.com/glamour_lookbook.asp you can go on-line and see a range of different styles and choose which one you like. The look-book section even breaks down a look for you.....from eyes, to face, to cheeks to nails.....guiding you for an ensemble look, also telling you top trends for hair and clothes, making you aware of your whole look. It's very approachable and fun. Do check it out and gear yourself up for the Winter Wedding and Divali Season.

Fat mu are not fans of the Lakme bases though (a little too fair and pink for us)......do watch that my friends....but for eye-liners, lip glosses/sticks, nails they offer fun and fresh colours and textures. So Mulain says go have fun, experiment, get inspired.

News from the MUs.....always busy, Natasha is in Hong Kong giving a seminar on Slumdog and Bollywood make-ups......Virginia is just back from Hyderabad shooting with the Deccan Chargers......Xavier is recovering after shooting back to back for the Taj Calendar and the new Raymonds campaign....phew....a leetle rest then back to work!

Caio for now....Mulain x

The ulitmate muse!

When Mulain thinks about La Marchesa Luisa Casati (1881-1957) he gets goose-bumps all over. I know she is gone from this world, but how she lived for the first three decades of the twentieth century, you would n't believe people. She triumphed as the brightest star in European society, not a mean feat my dears.....she is possibly the most artistically represented woman in history after the Virgin Mary and Cleopatra, the portraits, sculptures and photographs of her would fill a gallery. In her day she, accompanied by her pet boa constrictor, checked into the Ritz Hotel in Paris where it escaped. Her parties and appearances at others became legendary whirling through Parisian, Italian, London nightlife, making an unforgettable impression on all she met. Picasso, Elsa Schiaparelli, Cecil Beaton, Coco Chanel to name but a few, were in awe. And you can see why with nude servants gilded in gold leaf attending her, bizarre wax mannequins sat as guests at her dining table, some of them even rumoured to contain the ashes of past lovers. She wore live snakes as jewellery and was infamous for her evening strolls, naked beneath her furs whilst parading cheetahs on diamond-studded leashes. Everywhere she went, she set trends, inspired genius and astounded even the most jaded members of the international aristocracy. Without question, the Marchesa Casati was the most scandalous woman of her day and Mulain just loo-ves her! Mwah! Oh to have partied with her and just watched!

Born quite plain apparently - she grew to an amazing 6ft, dyed her hair Titian red and wore kohl heavily around her eyes as her trademark. This incredibly, unimaginable creature wanted to be 'a living art work'....and that's how she lived her life. Eat your heart out Paris Hilton, Lady Gaga this woman is irreplacable I think.....amazingly bold, a blazing creative light for many around her....Man Ray, Vivien Leigh, Chanel, Italian Futurists......what a life!

LA based make-up artist Napoleon Perdis has even dedicated his latest make-up range to her La Divine Marchesa.....Mulain has not tried these products as yet just loves the idea of it. Wunderbar! See link below.....
http://www.napoleonperdis.com/products/site/divine-marchesa.cfm

Anyone out there know of a better, more amazing muse? Please let me know....

Mulain x

Purple pout, lavender lips

Rihanna was sporting a lovely grape-inspired glossy pout and a luscious lavender lip look at the recent Paris fashion shows....this girl is setting trends wherever she goes, oh la la. For electric and luscious lilacs with purples that pop, go for MAC’s Lip-Glass: Cremesheen Glass in Ever So Rich or Max Factor’s: Colour and Gloss in Brilliant Berry, Bourjois's new: 3d effet Max lipgloss in Cassis petillant to start you off. Remember, it's a strong look so carry it off with confidence and a brilliant pout or smile.

Enjoy ...Mulain xx

Beautiful....

..... Is a little store located on Ambedkar road in Khar, Mumbai... and a make-up haven for all you girls and boys!

I happened to go there today and was surprised at all the wonderful make-up they stock! They have been around for a long time but I think the choice of the products available there is far, far better than its ever been. So any Benefit.. Laura Mercier.. Make-up for ever...Bobbi Brown... La Mer...Bumble and Bumble... you name it ... it's all now available there! And there's more good news.... don't see a product you like? Ask them to order it in... they take a maximum of 15 days to get it... all depending on which part of the world it's coming in from.

I of course am very excited with this and think it's great to know that we can now get anything we want from tout le monde in our very own backyard!

So stay tuned for up-to-date product info on what's hot and all the current trends from around the world brought to you right here from the fat mu HQ!

Mx

Lady Gaga does it again....

Gaultier Ga-ga

Bride of Frankenstein Gaga

Fright night Gaga

Mulain thought that he likes to change clothes alot but seems he has stiff competition with Lady Gaga. The MTV music awards (the same one that Kanye West was very rude to Mademoiselle Swift - terrible!) saw her in about 5 different outfits....not sure what's going on with the blood on the stage part though.....is it an influence from prom-horror movie Carrie? Not sure about this look Mademoiselle Gaga...but do love the Jean-Paul Gaultier black creation with the Phantom of the Opera mask. Crazy but cool....your one eye showing was done very well I must say, complementing your look, so theatrical and dark....gothic glam for sure.

So it's a cloudy day in Mumbai (not Bombay!!!) - have to be careful what we write, people are watching. Mulain is going to paint the town all the colours of Lady Gaga tonight.....god help this city...definitely going for the dramatic eyes and big lashes as have a bevy of Bollywood beauties to compete with. Mulain is celebrating a few things ce soir......fat mu's 3 year birthday, Rio getting the 2016 Olympics - how exciting.....and.... just because I can dress up if I want to, no excuses needed, let's live it up.

Enjoy your weekends my darlings, I know I will....Mulain x

Go Green!

Rihanna proudly sporting green nails!

New Brit beauty brand showcasing their green polish


One of Barry M's brighter shades.....Ummmm

Mulain's favourite green shade from Nars....dark, dark, dark



Another Barry M colour - mint!




...and the most famous is of course .....Chanel's Jade.

Mulain knows the whole world is going Green, including nail shades, but I am just not keen on green nails. Yes I know it's Chanel who 'ave set the latest trend.....and Chanel is Chanel is Chanel plus it was all over the ramps this year but am just not convinced by it my friends. Selfridges apparently have a huge waiting list for this polish.....for me it just reminds me of my childhood and getting ready for Halloween. Just not into any shade of it....mint, jade, emerald, fluorescent, pastel. However if you do like it but can't wait / can't afford Chanel's Jade no......then there are always the trusty highstreet brands......Barry M, Rimmel, No.7, Revlon....not sure it has hit the Indian shelves yet....am sure MAC Mumbai have some in stock.

Gandhi's birthday today people - so 'appy birthday Gandhi-ji - people are celebrating and remembering all over India and the world, even Obama! That makes Mulain happy.

Mulain x

80s is on!

No escaping it my friends.....80s fashion and hair and make-up is still taking over the ramps worldwide, the mannequins in the shops and the teenagers on our streets....80s hair, shoulder pads, leggings, quiffs, blues, pinks, leggings, ski-pants, batwings, jump suits. So let's embrace it....Mulain had bought a NYC blue trio eyeshadow palette a few months ago and is wearing the blue colours on my eyes...Boy George would be proud! Colour can be hard to wear, but it's really just confidence my dears......wear a nice blue on your lids, a navy eye pencil around the eyes and lots of mascara. You can also add a pink or purple to your eye if you get really adventurous.

All the MUs are busy, busy.....Virginia in and around Juhu, prepping for an ad next week, Natasha and Xavier in the Taj working with Design Temple. Mulain met an artist who is doing a four day performance art skit in New York and Bombay and is going from himself to a Louise Brook's flapper look.....fantantic....so meeting him next week to show him how to do a 20s make-up! Great fun and strangely bizarre.

M x

The Wizard of Flaws!

Mulain has been trying out UK Beauty Brand Soap and Glory's 'Wizard of Flaws' - a light-reflecting concealer that is easy to apply and is lightweight on the skin. Mulain is a slave to Benefit's Highbeam and has been closed minded to trying out new highlighters.....but....actually I did like this product....for a day-time, pick-me-up glow it's good. Great on the cheekbones and brow bones - but not for undereyes as it has too much glitter.....Mulain loves Le Glitter but at really only at night, parties or fancy-dress not necessarily for a 9-5 look. Great packaging, like Benefit...good retail therapy not sure it actually promises the world though....as it says on the box.

Love the name of their lip-plumper - mother pucker! What fun...now I mu-st try that.

Mulain x

It's calendar time 2010!

Natasha is busily prepping for the Taj Calendar shoot 2010! Above is the September 2009 image that MU Natasha did last year - fabulous locations, great creative team - a good time was had by all in the Maldives and Rajasthan. This year she is teaming up with super-talented Adhuna (from B:blunt), super-stylish Arjun Bhasin (GQ's Fashion Editor) and over-seeing it is Design Temple's Divya Thakur...am sure it will be an awesome shoot! Mulain is melting in the Mumbai heat.....watching the MU's prepping, shooting, teaching.....desperately trying to get my hands on that new vibrating Maybelline mascara too. Maybelline are damn good for sure....off on a mission to find it.

Ciao bellas......Mulain x

Carine Roitfeld

Vogue Paris's Editor....fashion A-lister Carine Roitfeld

Mulain was checking out the fashion A-listers from the London and New York shows the other day, who gets the front row seats at all the shows? Who are the big players? Obviously Anna Wintour was there but Mulain feels she gets more attention and is more 'infamous' in her reputation than Editor of Paris Vogue, Carine Roitfeld, who is equal in power and prestige and slightly more approachable to people. Both women are extremely successful and powerful in their positions and have legions beneath them dying to be in their Manolo Blahniks. What Mulain likes about Madame Roitfeld is her trademark sexy, smokey eyes and a sweeping of hair always falling on her face, day or night....sexy. Again my dears....helps being French helps, simple and chic. She keeps it simple and sexy and I think as we get older and more comfortable in our skins we all have our little trademarks in our make-up, clothes, hair.....it shows a coming-of-age I feel, a comfortable acceptance and confidence that you know who you are and that you are proud of it. Mulain thinks Carine Roitfeld exudes this....Bravo madame.....you think she uses Benefit's Bad-Gal liner to achieve her look, it's tres cool.

So Mulain is asking today.....what is your trademark people?

M x

How to steal a million....

Madame Hepburn getting on set checks

While flying back from London to (a melting) Mumbai last night Mulain happened to catch comedy classic 'How To Steal A Million' with the lovely Audrey Hepburn. Super film, shot in my favourite city, Paris, and full of the most amazing hairstyles, costumes and make-ups. Every scene sees Madame Hepburn in an array of 60s delights....shoes, hats, sunglasses, eye-lines, beehives, glittered eyelids, pale coral lips. I was in heaven. Classic film and totally inspiring on how to wear outfits with accessories.....please see the trailer from 1966 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UPStHOzjQWU ....it really encompasses the 60s style so well, a tremendous show case.

Mulain recommends Bobbi Brown's Eyeline Gels (in black or sepia), MAC's Fluidlines (in black or dark brown) to achieve those feline eye-lines....also invest in the right brush to get the shape of line correct....full-on lashes are also required for this glamour look....available from good old Boots to MAC to Selfridges.....no excuse for not finding....just practice the application....

So the retro-chic look of eye-lines and lashes is still rocking it seems....perfect for giving you lots of time to get those lines / looks down to a tee. It's all in the flick of the wrist action sweeties....."Chalo" my dears, "Chalo".

Mulain x

Deepika P

Mulain has seen a lot of nude fashion faces in London town this week.....nude is the 'new nude' it seems......fresh, flawless skin never seems to go out of fashion but it's not just London that is showing skin. Mulain has noticed that Bollywood A lister Deepika Padukone likes to always wear a very fresh look.....optimizing her complexion with a flawless finish and giving a natural feel rather than going for a more typical 'filmi' look...ie heavy liner, sharp contouring, pinks on the eyes. Mulain likes her gentle, understated glamour and how she does play with different looks on her eyes....bravo Mademoiselle P.....looking forward to seeing what your next project is and the fat mu team would love to one day 'paint your canvas'.......but we know you like your guru Monsieur Contractor.

Mulain would definitely love to use Benefit's High Beam or Moon Beam on you just to give you a glow and highlight to enhance your look...with possibly a touch more rouge of course.

Mulain

The Dandy is back!

Mulain hopes you have been checking out La Roux....latest kids on the pop block....we at the fat mu hq love the mu-sic...influenced by 80s electro / synth sound....too cool for school....watch out Madame Gaga this duo are hot on your platformed heels. Mulain especially loves singer Ellie's look - hair and make-up....an androgynous dandy. Mulain was observing the return of the dandy....(possibly thanks to Russel Brand?)....on the New York ramps .....great quiffs of hair for lady dandies too....so hope Victoriana is heading our way. How much fun. Do watch this space...

Mulain x

How to age well.....

.....we should really ask Madame Leslie Caron...Mama Mulain is off to London town tonight to see a special screening of 'An American in Paris' and the star of film Leslie Caron will be there in person doing a Q & A, so exciting. La Caron is most remembered for her role as Gigi. She is the most amazing dancer and has remained one of the world's most beautiful women. She also starred in Chocolat with Johnny Depp. Lucky lady, always had lovely leading men. She is elegant and stylish even into her 70s...Mulain thinks it 'elps being French. We should all learn a lesson from her....her make-up is light, simple, well-balanced and compliments her age. She uses lovely lip colours and glosses to enhance her mouth, some rouge in her cheeks (of course) and as always smiling lights up ones face and takes years off.....so please do my darlings.

Mulain sadly missed the London Fashion Week due to a terrible super-bug...Oh la la....just terrible.....not to worry catching up with the latest trends from the ramp and will keep you posted.....did hear the description of a 20s blue-smokey eye look from the Charlotte Tilbury camp....sounds interesting non? Off to investigate.

An 'on the mend' Mulain x

360 degrees

A quick tip today from Mulain....how many of you look at your face or front when you leave the house and don't take in your back-view? Just checking my friends.....as so many of us check our faces....are our lips on ok? Is my mascara looking good? Shine under-control? ....Easy to forget there is a back of us too......do check the back of you aswell my dears. Not to encourage self-obsession and paranoia but what is the point of going to so much trouble on the face if the rest does n't compliment and support your look? So quick check is all it takes to ensure that you look good 360 degrees......not just at 45! You can be your own super-stylist!

Mulain x

Big, bold and beautiful at London Fashion Week!

Big is beautiful with Beth Ditto!

Mulain loo-ves a bit of gossip.....seems that after knit-wear designer Mark Fast used size 12-14 models at the London Fashion Week, some stylists walked out and complained they were too big. What a mad industry.....I know for a while the fashion folk 'ave felt bad at sending literally girl-twigs down the ramps and they know it's causing illnesses to be that thin and sends out a bad message to the non-fashion folk...so now a minority group are trying to break that mould and putting their clothes on curvier women.

Mulain loves the nerve of high-street clothes shop Evans by casting 'large' Beth Ditto to launch their new collections.....funnily enough Mulain heard it was Kate (I was born beautiful) Moss's idee.....ummm brains and beauty for you Mademoiselle. Bottom line is we are all shapes and sizes so let's be cool and accept our lot in life.....you are all loo-verly in God's and Mulain's eyes.

Mulain is off to London Fashion Week tomorrow to check it out for himself and also plans to drop into some exhibitions and make-up shops.....so much to look out for.

Mulain x

P.s - after seeing the Ukraine's 'Got Talent' winner Mulain is thinking he wasted so much time in his sand-pit as a child.....how tragic......maybe we are all super talented in that way just blocked upstairs......let's get unblocking non?

Ukraine's Got Talent!!!!!!!

WARNING: Watch at your own risk... you may feel completely talentless after watching this.... I know I do....!

Kseniya Simonova has just won Ukraine's Got Talent and it's no surprise. This beautiful 24 year old girl has a talent for sand animation and nothing I could say could do it any justice... Using sand as her medium... a light table and dramatic music to match..... she chooses to tell a story that unfolds as she draws (and flawlessly I may add....!). The combination of this results in a narrative that manages to touches every nerve and emotion... and leave you reeling after....AMAZING... like I said I cannot do it enough justice so please watch for yourselves...Enjoy!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vOhf3OvRXKg

Mx

The Age of Stupid

The world is getting ready to roll out the green carpet for the global premier of 'The Age of Stupid'. Climate change affects and involves each of us and the only way we can combat climate change is by taking responsibility for it and by each of us doing our own little (or big..) bit... so let's start by showing our support and seeing this film where ever in the world we may be. The premier will be held at the same time across the globe between the 21- 22 of September. In India the premier will be held in Delhi (refer to picture above for details) and in Mumbai it is being screened at the Blue Frog at 7 pm and admission is free.

Hope to see you there!

Mulain x

Cause for a celebration...

A double whammy today....!... Not only is it the 25th anniversary of London Fashion Week but also one of my favourite cosmetic brands - Make Up For Ever...!

A great time for all you artists and fashionistas out there to gain tons of inspiration from... London has always produced some of the best and most cutting edge designers in tout le monde... so Mulain cannot wait to see their creations on ze catwalk and also what trends they predict for spring / summer '10...(mon dieu... where does the time fly...! ).

Also to celebrate the silver Jubilee of London Fashion Week... on display at all London undergrounds are 25 works of art that have been commisioned by people who have helped shape British fashion.. what a great idea... I love ze British for this.. (even tho i am french...!)... so if you are in London make sure you don't miss it....(actually highly unlikely that...)

... and in the meantime here are some uber inspiring works of art from the experts at Make Up For Ever to get your very own creative juices flowing....(I know mine are.....!)

So get inspired and start creating..... M x

Pat McGrath

Mulain loves her use of colour!

Final touches on a Pat McGrath design

A McGrath face on the ramp

Pat McGrath in action!

What a talent......Mulain is in total awe of make-up artist Pat McGrath. Called the most influential make-up artist in the world by Vogue she leads the beauty and fashion packs and creates influential looks that totally wow and inspire other makeup artists to launch trends. The McGrath way is to combine radical innovation with expert makeup artistry, which makes her a favorite among today's top designers, models and celebrities.

She is avant-garde, has a creative vision second to none, unparalleled. She began 17 years ago, and since then her renowned, cutting-edge work has been showcased in international fashion magazines and runways. The world fell in love with her as did Mulain. Her defining moment occurred in the mid 1990s when she signed on to create the makeup concepts for Prada and Miu Miu, a collaboration that continued for 10 seasons. Her hallmark has been dewdrop skinned faces, irradiated with light and moisture and now, today, La McGrath designs catwalk beauty looks on anybody who is anybody, working with the most sought-after designers and is a favourite among Hollywood stars, like J-Lo, Oprah and Madonna.

Have posted some of her work - so amazing and so much fun - hope you are as inspired as I am.

Mulain x