COLOUR ME GREEN

beauty

As soon as August begins, small stalls and kiosks – selling Pakistan flags of all sizes, jhandiyaan, badges, T-shirts and other accessories – start popping up in every nook and corner. You would hear national songs playing in restaurants, parks and even in schools. As for our special outfits, a white shalwar kameez and a lush green dupatta has been a standard 14th August outfit that we all have probably worn throughout the years. Sadly, we are still braving through a pandemic so wouldn’t be able to celebrate with the same vigour. But just because we are going through a pandemic doesn’t mean we can’t dress up for the occasion.

This week You! brings to you a style guide for your 14 August makeover that you can rock on Independence Day…

Get your outfit ready

While the classic outfit remains the white shalwar kameez and green dupatta, we are going to expand that zone and delve into something different for this year. When selecting an outfit, the vibrant green hue is the perfect option. Besides the fact that it offers you endless options and a variety of shades to choose from, it’s also super complementary for most skin tones. The good news is that there are plenty of great Azaadi sales happening for every brand – online or in-store, which gives you a lot of options to choose from. You can either opt for a light colour green suit or a nice green kurti to go on top of neutral-coloured trousers. You can also opt for a monochrome outfit and throw a green scarf on top of it. To add a little twist to your attire, opt for more traditional cuts like angharkha or Anarkali frocks.

Let’s talk makeup

Green is a tricky colour when it comes to makeup. It can either look amazing or it can look downright messy and unflattering. Green borderlines into the smokey eye category so you have to be clear on what kind of look you are going for. If you want to try something matte, it’s a good idea to apply a green shadow on top and add a chocolate brown colour in the lower lash. Paired with a black liner and kohl, this look is not only easy to do, it’ll also complement our desi skin tones. If you want to up this look, try adding some shimmer to the mix. You can either add some chunky green glitter or some green liquid shimmer to the centre of your lid to highlight your eye makeup.

If you happen to have work that day – online or in office – but you still want to make it special, you can do so elegantly with a green liner. You can use a green lip pencil or a green eyeshadow as well. Prep your eyelid with a tiny bit of primer, less than what you would usually use, and the coat it with a transition shade, a light brown or a vanilla shade. Line your lid with a green liner – start off with a thin line to make your shape and then add onto it. If you are using a green eye shadow, spritz your brush with a setting spray before you dip into the pan and then follow the same step. Apply a thick liner on top, a thin on the lower lash and line your waterline with kohl.

Pro-tip: When selecting accompanying makeup colours, opt for light grey or beige hues. A neutral lip colour will give you a beautifully understated look and work well with a bold eye.

Moreover, pearl-coloured highlighters are great for contrasting and illuminating your features.

Accessorise it

Accessories are the most fun part of any makeover. It is the easiest way to make a statement if you aren’t in a mood to put in a lot of work. The best way to accentuate your accessories is if you wear a plain outfit, preferably in monotone. Since we are doing an Independence Day theme, a plain white, beige or any pastel colour would look flattering.

Green jewellery is trending a lot nowadays, whether it’s for daily wear or bridals, which makes it super easy to find something to go with the theme. You can opt for studs with green stones and zircons or a pendant which will look chic. Chunky, beady green necklaces can be a great addition to your collection. Moreover, there are also plenty of floral and leafy themed jewelleries that will look cute with your outfit.

Another accessory that truly reflects our desi style are bangles. You can wear white and green plain bangles with your outfit – like our flag, wear some white bangles and then add double of the green ones.

If jewelleries aren’t your thing, green sandals and bags are also a great way to make a statement. A dark green bag or shoes will add the much-needed oomph and green to your makeover. Last but not least, a manicure is also an accessory. While you can do a simple green polish, you can also get creative and make a crescent and a star, or you can do a green french manicure, a style that will be forever in-vogue.

Mask on…

Last but not least, get your masks on! The pandemic has given us a new accessory to play around with, so why not have fun with it. When stepping out, most of our face is covered with a mask, and there is no reason to wear the boring old surgical masks. Many brands are offering matching face masks with suits and there are also brands like Khaadi and Gul Ahmed that are offering some exclusively as well. You can easily get a nice green mask online and in stores. However, if you really want to add a personal twist, you can create one yourself. You can either paint a white surgical one and/or choose a cloth mask with your design of choice or stitch one up with a fabric that you really like. There are many YouTube tutorials that will help you make one!