To Wear ~ River Island Polka Dot City Shorts + Textured Peplum Jacket

I just felt like doing this today. Pair stuff, and add a wee bit of zing to a small River Island haul.

When I went birthday shopping, I wanted to buy some new outfits. I went to Topshop, Zara, H&M, etc, but I didn't like many things, except these 2 River Island items....

River Island Black & White Polka Dot City Shorts ~ So happy these are longer and not knicker-length like most of the high waisted shorts these days. I tried a pair at H&M one day, and I swear they looked like boyshort panties! The zipper part is the back, front is plain.

River Island Black Textured Peplum Jacket ~ I love the that it has a zipper, and it's long enough to cover the behind.

H&M Bustier With Gold Zipper ~ This is very cute! It has got ribbons at the back. Of course I won't wear it alone.

Accessories ~ Primark Clutch, Suede Mary Janes from Ebay, Accessorize Earrings, Forever 21 Key Necklace, Claire's Bracelet. 

What's missing? Black leather gloves. I'm want those short ones with snap buttons.

I'll probably wear black tights too. 

By the way, I'm no longer a Size 6.....

I've been upgraded to UK 8. Nando's & Greggs Chicken Bake went straight to my tummy & hips. Now I'm hooked to macarons too, so I'm guessing it's only UP from here on out... woohoo! =) 

Hope you liked this post, coz I want to do more!

A Girl Spat To Sorbet Shoes....

Friday, 24th May '13, 10:40 am:

We reached the train station. An hour later, we're supposed to be in Edinburgh. As we walked in, I saw a magazine shop, and decided to pick up LOOK Magazine. Mr.CZ went ahead to get the tickets. The shopkeeper was a woman in her late 20's to early 30's (I couldn't tell). She had an almost gothic rock star style- very short cropped black hair, maybe some piercings, she wore a black t-shirt with skinny jeans. I've always admired this style & find it fascinating. She was boyish, but petite. Maybe one size bigger than me, and a couple inches taller. 

I paid for the mag, and took out one copy from the middle of the stack, and not the one on top. It was a habit, you know. Usually, the copy right on top of the stack gets dusty & has probably been touched and flipped through by a lot people, maybe some people who don't wash their hands after doing susu & doodoo. It makes sense, because that way, it won't feel eww when you read the magazine in bed. Plus, this magazine didn't come with an outer sleeve.

 Boyish Woman: "They're the same thing." 

 Me: "Oh, I know. I just want one from the bottom.", I said nicely, and smiled at her. I thought she'd say, "Oh, I see! No problem, you have a naa-ice day now!" 

But she didn't.

Boyish Woman: "But they're the same thing! They're the same thing!", she shook her head wildly. Then she twitched her top lip to one side, and raised her giant eyeballs without looking up- like those male dancers with the heavy kohled eyes & smudged red lips (What are they called?) She kept mumbling, and hit her palms on the magazines. I started to walk away from the uncouth violent behaviour, and that's when she added:

 "S-c-h-t-o-o-p-i-d" (that is: Stupid)

For a second, I thought about ignoring it, but my inner gothic rock star chick didn't let me. 

Me: "What the hell is wrong with you? I KNOW they're the same! I just don't want one from the top of the pile, what's s-c-h-t-o-o-p-i-d about that?!", I looked her straight in the eye.

In that moment, she somehow looked smaller than me, and a question raced quickly through my mind: Could I take her, if she jumps over the counter and drops those giant eyeballs on my face? 

Then, instantly, she stopped mumbling and twitching, and just shrugged. I reckon she probably thought a little Asian woman was going to take it, and run away feeling ashamed. She went back to the counter, as some other customers approached the store, and I walked away with a tarnished mood.

I started flipping through the magazine as soon as we sat in the train, and my eyes landed on something that made me forget about what happened 10 minutes ago. On page 6, were these Primark Sorbet Strappies [£12  | Rs.1028]. My mood brightened up again. This time, in 3 very specific colors!

(If you're wondering why I keep buying the same style of shoes {you must have seen the black & red ones here}, it's because they're the only ones that fit my inadequate feet -thanks to the ankle straps. They've recently launched nude ones too, by the way.)

About 3 hours later....

In Primark: There was only one pair in 'Size 3' available. But for about 7 minutes, the right side was missing from the shelves, strangely. Only the left side was there. Usually, each pair is tied together with an elastic string.

Mr.CZ concluded somebody had stolen it. "But why only one side?", I asked incredulously. He said, maybe the person had the shoes, and one side got spoiled or something, so she came to steal one of them....haha! 

I wanted to cry! Then..... magically, like a Fairy Godmother, a SA appeared with the missing side of the shoe! 

....and the sorbet shoes and me....oh, and a bonus pair of coral Bold In Ballerinas [£.6 | Rs.514]....

 .....lived sorbetilly ever after. 

THE END.

Primark Shoes I Picked Revealed!

I put up a post asking you to guess which color shoes I picked from Primark (post here & in my Facebook Page). You know I like to play those games ;) Thank You to all who commented! You must know me quite well, coz none of you picked black/white =D

Yes, I picked the RED ones! They're red, right? Coz Mr.CZ and a few of you said they're coral. I don't know....I guess coral-red.

So the ladies who guessed right are:

• Bhumika

• Narindra Evah

• Sukanya

• Miss Bo Peep

• Poorva

• Wajiha Sajid

• RJ

• Geetz

• Adaa

• Preeti Kaur 

• Malavika Gadiyar 

Congrats! =)

To the others who guessed Pink/Black pair: There was a 90% chance of me picking them over the red ones, BUT..... 

The buckle is a little different from the red & black pairs. See, it extends way to the front, so they didn't fit well- too loose. 

MIA Beauty Blogger & The Curious Little Boy

Hey Everyone,

I apologize for being MIA for a week. I'm in my hometown, and am always busy with friends & family....plus..... 

I got the Tata Docomo dongle, but Tata has pulled out of here, so it doesn't work! I'm posting from a friend's dongle.

I'll be back next week. Hope you're all doing well.

Have a blessed Good Friday & Happy Easter. 

 

Curious little boy is my cousin. He also wanted to peek inside my bag. He knew there's a little secret in there ;)

Shoe Shopping Quiz! Which Pair Did I Buy?

One Important TIP before I forget: When you're going shoe shopping in winters, make sure you wear socks & not pantyhose tights/stockings. I had thick tights on under a mini woolen dress, and I had to take them off to try on the shoes. It was awkward, but thankfully there weren't people around to witness me struggle to pull them down without lifting my dress.

So on to some Friday fun! First of all, *jumps and down* Primark Size 3 shoes fit me...well, not all of the size 3's, but these do *jumps higher*

I bought two pairs:

First ~ A black pair in the same design. They're not showing coz they're behind on the other side. 

Second ~ You Guess. It's either Red, Black/ White or Pink/Black. 

Btw, they're for £12 (Rs.980) ONLY! =)

I put this pic up on Instagram (@CZloves) & Twitter, to ask for help while I was in Primark. I just couldn't decide! Seeing what other people would pick really helped, and though I was alone, I felt like I was shopping with friends. Thankooo!

Do comment below with your guess. I'd also love to know which pair YOU would pick for yourself! 

How well do you know your beauty blogger? Don't worry, I won't be upset if you don't get it right. I like all 3 pairs almost equally ;)

Okay, bye bye! I gotta pack & do 20 other things. Talk to again soon....from NEW DELHI! =D

Makeup For Shoe & Bow Addicts

WE WANT! WE WANT THEM ALL!

Physicians Formula Sexy Booster Sexy Glow Blush

Physicians Formula Sexy Booster Sexy Glow Bronzer

Physicians Formula Sexy Booster Sexy Glow Glossy Stain

Physicians Formula's new products all look very tempting. Fabulous designs & packaging! This is surely one drugstore brand to look out for.

♥ Cynthia Z *.*

Black Platform Mary Janes ~ Ebay Shoe Shopping Experience

Shoe shopping is a wild goose chase for me- most of the time. I was so frustrated that one night I decided to go hunting for size 2 shoes on Ebay. I found these and ordered them within minutes. I planned to wear them with my Valentine's Night Outfit, but they didn't reach on time.

There's nothing quite like the thrill of going into a store and trying on shoes. For me, extra the thrill when the shoes actually fit. But if you've been to all the stores, and you can't find anything.... China is the answer. So risky, but worth a try.

Date Night Outfit & Cute Surprises

After Valentine's Day, all the muscles in my body ached. No, no, it's not that! I was just so exhausted from doing so many things that day, and it's just been a stressful week. I almost didn't click these pics coz I don't like indoor night time photos (esp when not clicked by myself), but I asked an equally tired Mr.CZ to quickly click a few. I must have forgotten to turn on the flash. We are a very stressed out couple, that's why date nights once in a while are much- needed. 

We had a good time that night. Italian food & wine at Prima, then we went club hopping.... danced a lot.....reached home after 3 am. I couldn't walk in those shoes anymore!

Outfit Of the Day, Mini Haul & Some Very Thoughtful Gifts From The Man

One: Posing in that position (maybe 7 times to get it right) will make your thigh muscles very angry at you. Going down the stairs was a pain even after 2 days! >.<

Two: I ended up sitting in most of the pics because the camera kept cutting my head off.

Three: Please excuse the messy background. We always think about tidying it up, but it's always raining & wet. Sheesh, I didn't even notice that stick branch on the ground until I was editing these pics.

Random Life In Pictures ~ Closet, Home, Snow, Etc

Hope you're having a nice Saturday. I had one of the worst days yesterday, but whatever....it's over now.

Life is so unpredictable right now. I don't know where we'll be living next year. Maybe in the UK, maybe in another country..... but one thing's for sure- I'll be in New Delhi for some days around March-April...woohoo!

My Closet: Sorry for the bad lighting, it's very dark in the bedroom. I'm very very lazy when it comes to organizing my closet, so it's easier for me to show you a non-messy one when I don't have much clothes. I need more hangers. I have not filled most of the shelves. Definitely need more shoes =D I don't keep the ones I've worn outside on the wetness & mud in here, so I have about 5 pairs near the door downstairs.

Jane Norman Belted Woolen Dress ~ Best buy & most-worn! Got in on sale for £15 (Rs.1300). It can be worn as off-shoulder or cowl neck.

Perlini Faux Fur Leopard Print Bag ~ Old. Got it years ago from Singapore.

Booties ~ Vincci   

Ideal Everyday Handbag & The Most Comfortable High Heel Shoes

So I found my ideal black everyday handbag. Finally! You can imagine my face when I saw IT. I also wanted to show you the last pair of shoes I hauled from my hometown. I mentioned the haul here. You have seen the mustard pair here

Outfit Of The Day ~ Suspender Tights, Frills & Bows

You'll either love or hate suspender tights. Although I absolutely hate some styles, I bow to the genius who started the trend. I just adore the girly-looking ones, like this pair right here.

I almost froze during this photo shoot. It was so cold & windy that day, I couldn't feel my hands anymore by the time I was done.

*All self-timer photos, so you'll see some odd & blurry shots.

DIY Bow Shoes [The Continued Story #Confessions]

If you were waiting for this, my sincere apologies for the delay. You know I've had other commitments. For those of you who have no idea what I'm talking about, please read my previous post here.

Hey, I see you're still here. No, please go and read that one first, and then come back here! =D

I'm going to show you a kind of creativity propelled by my inadequate feet - a very very simple way to prettify a plain pair of high heel shoes.

Sayonara ~ OOTD

Shoe Haul Preview & Where/How To Shop In My Hometown

I'm NOT supposed to shop. We all know that, since I'm moving & am carrying only 2 bags to England. But come to my hometown, Shillong, and you will go c-r-a-z-y! This is OFFICIALLY the best place to shop fashion in India. If you can't afford Bangkok, come here, okies?

Color: They are fuchsia pink, they just look reddish in photo.

Size? 34. Little bit loose, but once I put insoles in the front, they fit. Not sure if I'll be able to walk properly, though =D

How much? Rs.1600 ($29.00). I think it's quite cheap (since I'm used to city prices), but some of my friends still think I was ripped off a little. Original price- Rs.2300.

Where to shop in Shillong? I've been asked this many times. Best places are Glory's Plaza & Tibetan Market (opposite Glory's Plaza). Both in Police Bazaar. For more shoes, also go to Daluja's complex. There's a store called Shoe Emporium there, which sells trendy & formal shoes. In the same complex, there's a shop called Exotica for jewelry. For more formal clothes, visit Body Basic in Laitumkhrah. they sell dresses, gowns, shoes, etc- brought from Hong Kong, Bangkok, and similar places.

Tip #1: Always- always - cut the price in half, or less, when bargaining here (in shops where there are no price tags). They say 1500, you say 600. Then increase bit by bit when the saleswoman/man shakes head like you're about to rob them. You say 620-650. They will normally agree at 700-800. If the rascals still act pricey at, say, 750, you shake your head and start to walk out of the store. They will call you back- in most cases. A little drama usually helps =)

Preview of how many shoes? Three. For now. Staying here for another week. But ya, I probably won't buy anymore ;)

Happy Weekend, everyone. Talk to you again tomorrow. 

Oh, I'm currently obsessed with this song.....

It has inspired me to do a Nicki Minaj-inspired look when I come back :) .....

......*googles nicki minaj wig*

♥ Cynthia Z *.*

Retro OOTD

Something you don't know about me, my heart is old. I'm fascinated with 'Olden Times' & 'Vintage'. I like everything black & white, I listen to Madonna almost everyday - Holiday, Vogue, Like A Prayer, Get Together, Get Into The Groove, Papa Don't Preach. When I listen to these songs, I feel....Alive, simply put. I truly feel I will fit better in the 60's- wear long gloves to the airport, wear red lipstick everyday, bake pies, wait desperately for my soldier husband....and maybe be like one of the women in Mad Men. Oh, and I really really want one of those vintage tring-tring telephones, for some reason.

That's why this Retro OOTD was at the top of my to-do list. 

Oh-My-Shoes! Nude, Aqua & Black Peep-Toe Pumps

I was at a shoe shop last week - after a long long time - and this is how it went (If my Hindi is bad, please excuse.) :

Me to Salesman: "Yeh sabse chhota size dikhao" (Show me the smallest size in this)

Salesman: "Madam, 34 sabse chhota hai" (Madam, 34 is smallest size)

Me: "Haan, dikhao!" (Yes, show me!) 

I try the 34 and it's still a little bit loose.

Me: "Bhaiya! Size 33 dikhao please", I made a pleading face...okay, desperate face. (Brother! (We call all salesmen 'brother' in India) show me size 33 please)

Salesman: "Madam, 33 nahin milta" (Madam, we don't keep size 33) 

Me: "Bhaiya, aagar 33 hain toh mein sab colors khareedoongi!"- with a dramatic hand gesture (Brother, if you have size 33, I will buy all the colors)

Salesman looked stunned for a 3 seconds, then he told me to sit down. He asked for some black spongy things from some boy, stuck them to the front & back of shoes (refer to pics), then told me to try them again. They fit! Opera 'aaahhh....' in my head.