Author Archives: Shloka

3 Tips For Looking Your Best In Every Photo You Take

READY FOR YOUR CLOSE UP

If there’s one thing that EVERYONE asks me, and when I say everyone I mean friends, families, you guys, everyone, it’s how did I learn how to pose for photos. Trust me when I say I was no expert when I started my blog. I had no idea what I was doing and I would constantly be wondering how all these amazing bloggers got so good at posing in front of the camera. Over the past three years, I have been able to pick up quite a few tips and tricks which means that when we go out to take photos now, I am much quicker than I was when we started. All of this is because I learnt these three tricks to always looking good in photos.

THE PERFECT SMILE

Long ago when I was about to go for my first school dance, my mum taught me a trick that I have never forgotten; the trick to getting the perfect smile in every photo. Take your tongue and stick it behind your teeth. I know that sounds totally bizarre but by doing this you avoid making your smile too wide for the camera. I know it may feel really odd when you try this for the first time, but trust me it always works!

THE GO TO POSE

Did you know that your left side is often more flattering than your right? I always naturally tend to go towards my right side but the left side is the way to go. More than that, it’s all about knowing what to do with your body when you are in front of the camera. One of my favourites poses to get you started would be to put one leg in front of the other. Standing this way automatically puts you in a photogenic position. Keep your arms relaxed and your head at eye level! You can also try crossing one leg in front of the other. As you start to get more confident with this pose, you’ll start to get more comfortable with trying others.

THE ANGLE IS KEY

You could have gotten everything right from the perfect spring outfit, to a great smile and that killer pose, but the photo will be nothing unless you know the angles that work for you. For some girls, they prefer it taken from above, for petite girls, we need a lower angle. Experiment with taking the same photos from all the angles to understand which one works best for you. The difference is insane and once you find the one that works for you, you’ll never go back. (PS: I always ask for a lower angle, that’s how I always look tall in my pictures!)

So, do you have any questions on how to nail your pose in photos? Comment below!

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How To Style A Denim Jacket Now That Spring Has Finally Arrived

DENIM ON DENIM

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This post contains a gifted item (sunglasses chain) and affiliate links. This does not affect you in any way and all thoughts and opinions remain my own.

Photos by Alise Jane

Now that spring has finally arrived, we can start thinking about the perfect spring and summer outfits! As you start to move into your warm-weather wardrobe, a must have is a cropped denim jacket. It doesn’t matter if you prefer yours to be a classic blue denim or a distressed embellished, a denim jacket is the perfect spring companion! Here is how I’m wearing a denim jacket this season…

I love the idea of creating denim on denim outfit, especially with different shades. I paired my Topshop cropped denim jacket with a denim white mini skirt. I love the idea of stripes especially when the weather gets warmer and my Claudie Pierlot sleevless striped top was the perfect piece for this look. I wanted my outfit to look more chic than casual so I added in my Dior saddlebag and my Dior kitten heels for an ultra-luxe look!

I wanted my accessories to be luxurious but still fun. My evil eye sunglasses chain is the perfect way to stay hands-free this summer while still looking fashionable. I also added in my baker boy hat; still a very cool piece to rock! I would love to know how you are styling your favourite denim pieces this summer! If you haven’t gotten your hands on some ultra cool items though, I’ve linked to some of my favourites below including a newer version of the cropped jacket I’m wearing here!

STYLE TIP: Cropped jackets are perfect if you are petite! They won’t overpower your figure.

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Maje Leather Jacket (similar here)

Maje Pleated White Maxi Skirt

Isabel Marant Cowboy Boots

Gas Earrings (similar here)

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What My Battle With Acne Has Taught Me…

THE ACNE STRUGGLE

The acne struggle is real but there’s always a way to come out of it stronger. Here’s my story.

The eve of my birthday celebrations and this breakout appeared. Not very well timed right? Totally stress induced.

If you struggle with acne, then this is for you. If you are looking to get rid of acne, then this is also for you. The other day I was sitting at lunch and I overheard a conversation between two ladies next to me. “No one ever shares their struggles on Instagram, you land up just immersing yourself in a pile of supposed successes.” I couldn’t help but agree. How often do you actually see someone open up on social media and share that behind their perfect coffee shot, was a really hard day?

For me, I struggle to open up about my skin. I have had countless of mornings and nights where I have cried physical tears about the state of my skin and this is not a new battle. One day my father looked at me and said “Shloka, you need to take this into your own hands. Don’t rely on anyone else to fix this and once you do fix it, because you will, you can share your journey with everyone else who might be struggling”. Something in that moment clicked for me. I suddenly realised I’m not alone in this. There are thousands of girls out there just like me who experience the same feelings every day. This is not forever, and most importantly, it’s in my control and I can do something about it. Over the past year I really took the reigns with my skin and I’ve come out of it a little bit stronger, albeit with a few battle scars (man, that acne scarring right?) and with a few key lessons on not only how to get rid of acne, but an overall more positive approach to the whole thing.

Editors Note: I wrote an entire post about the products that really helped me in the beginning to get my acne under control. Read about that here.

Don’t rely on anyone else to fix this and once you do fix it, because you will, you can share your journey with everyone else who might be struggling…

It’s A Work In Progress & That’s Okay

I can be quite an impatient person when it comes to wanting results and I am no different with my skin. Having struggled with pimples since I was 12, I feel like now that I’m 25 it’s high time they went away right? The number one lesson I’ve taken away from this whole experience is that there will be great skin days, and bad skin days but you are not alone in this. Everyone has ups and downs in every aspect of their life and skin is a work in progress. It doesn’t take away from how beautiful you are, or how good you should feel and it’s okay to have a day with a few pimples. I’m not saying I don’t have moments where I haven’t broken down about it. In fact, the night before my birthday, I broke down right before my party. I had the most humongous breakout, totally out of the blue and I actually cried. But I wiped my tears, I pulled myself together, I put on my dress and I walked out the door and I still had an amazing night, surrounded by amazing people, and I still felt great! Don’t let one bad skin day get you down. Instead, stay positive and focus on the solutions!

Pictured here: The HORRIBLE reaction I had last year on my skin that drove me crazy but also drove me to take control of my skin.

You know your skin best.

Speaking of solutions, one of my biggest struggles was finding the confidence in myself to treat my own skin. It can be quite intimidating to find the right product, to go through the trial and error process and to not be influenced by the thousands of “experts” out there. I’m not saying that this is the case for everyone, but I found that when I took control of my own skin, did my own research and did not blindly follow what someone had to say, my skin was at it’s best. Of course, I still feel nervous when I get sent product to try because it’s quite unnerving to think that you might put something on your sensitive skin for a second and have a reaction that lasts weeks. But I’ve done so much research on what ingredients work for my skin type, what products go together and what to avoid, that I can gauge pretty quickly now if something is worth it or not. Essentially what I’m trying to say is, take control of your own routine. Understand what you should be doing to fix your skin and don’t be afraid to go ahead and do it! Plus, if you ever need any help, I’m always around.

Pictured here: My skin recovered really well after the horrible break out of last summer, when I took control of it! I remember feeling amazing when I took this photo.

It’s not just about what you put on your skin

A year ago I had one of the worst reactions ever. I felt helpless and sad and I couldn’t figure out WHY it happened. This is when I learnt that it’s not just about what you put on your skin, but it’s about what you put inside your body; what you eat, what you drink and how you live! I’ve noticed that when I eat badly and eat a lot of dairy, don’t drink enough water or don’t exercise enough, my skin suffers. Remember that a lot of the time your skin is a reflection of what is happening inside your body. You can actually acne map your face, which shows you what part of your body to pay attention to depending on where on your face you break out. Treat yourself well!

Be positive & discipline

Treating yourself well doesn’t just mean eating well and exercising. It also means self-love. A lot of the time our breakouts are due to stress factors. Try and remain positive, and continue to flood your mind with positive thoughts and actions. Negativity has a way of festering and a lot of times it erupts on our cheeks and foreheads. Be discipline as well; which means if you know something doesn’t react well with you, then don’t put yourself through the pain of having it. I have a sweet tooth but instead of indulging in dairy all the time, which I am intolerant to, I try to cut it out of my diet. I never go to sleep with my make up on and I always make sure to use products that suit me, not just products that have a hype. Encourage positive habits and see positive results!

Pictured here: This is recent. The aftermath of my break out right before my birthday! The recovery process isn’t pretty but at least it was getting better.

Remember, that beauty is within.

The final, and most important lesson that my journey with acne has taught me, is that beauty is not defined by your skin. Your acne does not define you. Your skin does not define you. Your beauty is not what is on the outside, real beauty is on the inside and that is what we see. Always remember that and never let any issue with your skin make you think otherwise.

Pictured here: No filter and I remember feeling like my skin actually looked really good here! Trust that it’s possible to combat acne!

Do you struggle with acne? I would love to hear your story.

25 Things You Didn’t Know About Me

MY 25TH BIRTHDAY

This post contains affiliate links but this does not affect your experience in any way. All thoughts and opinions remain my own.

Photos by @alisejane_photo

Over this weekend (more specifically on the 7th of April, feel free to mark your calendar :P) I turned 25. I was so happy to be able to celebrate this moment with my family and friends and I gave you guys a front row view to the whole weekend on my Instagram Stories as well (It’s in a highlight now so you can see the whole thing unfold, just click here). I was planning on writing a post on how to create the perfect birthday outfit but then I stopped and thought to myself, that isn’t as fun and it supposed to be my birthday. Instead, I want to share with you guys 25 things you didn’t know about me to celebrate my 25th birthday. Here we go:

1. I’m one of those people who LOVES their birthday. I still get excited about it and stay up till midnight and I still wake up with that extra special feeling in my stomach. Just can’t help it!

2. Regardless of loving my birthday, I’m actually an introvert. I can be quite shy when it comes to large group events and that’s why I find large networking events to be difficult but I’m working on getting better at that.

3. I’m a total goof. I dance around and make strange noises around the house and the more you spend time with me, the more you notice it. This occurs even when I’m alone.

4. I love to cook and bake. My first attempt at baking was a massive fail (red velvet cupcakes…ouch) but I vowed to get better and now I’d say I’m actually pretty good. I focus on cooking and baking healthy things but every now and then something indulgent will pop out of my oven.

5. I’m a perfectionist. I get very agitated when things aren’t just right and I usually try to strive to be the best at everything I do. It’s taken me a long time to see that sometimes there is a balance and you don’t have to be the best at everything.

6. I am a board game fiend. I LOVE to have a games night and my favourite games are Taboo, Snatch, Scrabble and Codenames. Yes, I can be very competitive but you’ll probably win if you’re on my team.

7. I used to very athletic in school. I was on my school’s football team and played varsity for all my high school years. There was one year when I didn’t make the travel team in the 8th grade and I still remember that horrible feeling. I also trained in a dance company and almost decided to dedicate my life to dance. I obviously didn’t and I don’t ever regret it.

8. I struggle with my weight sometimes. I fluctuate with it up and down but since my days in dance, I have always been very critical of my body. I’m working on showing myself more self-love and care.

9. I think my two favourite foods in the world are dim sum and pasta. My soul dim sum is probably a Xiao Ling Bao or a custard bun. I’ll let you decide.

10. I love Buzzfeed quizzes and I tend to take the results very seriously. It provides great entertainment for everyone around me.

11. I hate avocado. I have said it and admitted it. I have always found it really gross but somehow I like guac… not sure how that works but it does.

12. I love mystery novels and Agatha Christie ones are my favourite. Growing up I would read Nancy Drew like it was going out of style. I still watch Hercule Poirot on TV.

13. Speaking of reading, I also love Harry Potter. I have a very strange obsession with everything to do with the magical universe and my first celebrity crush was Daniel Radcliffe as Harry Potter. I also LOVE Princess Diaries.

14. My first concert was INXS. I didn’t particularly like the band but my friends and I were just excited about attending a concert for the first time.

15. I’m quite forgetful. I have to set lots of reminders but sometimes I leave things in random places around the house and I just can’t remember where.

16. I write everything down and have an obsession with notebooks and stationary. Any excuse for a notebook is fine by me.

17. The first time I ever went into the ocean was on my trip to Bali… in 2014…Yes you read that right. I actually had a fear of water growing up but not anymore.

18. My teeth may look great but I’ve had 5 root canals and countless cavities. I don’t have enamel on my teeth so they had to put veneers in.

19. The other reason I probably had so many cavities is because I have a massive sweet tooth but one day I just decided to take out refined sugar from my diet. That was.. tough.

20. I went through a phase in my life where I would eat cupcakes for breakfast every Friday. Red velvet cupcakes…not healthy at all.

21. My drink of choice is either wine, whisky or a vodka soda.

22. I am beyond loyal to my friends. It takes a lot for me to get upset and someone must have had to really rub me the wrong way to make me angry.

23. I love candles. I am a massive homebody and love to fill my space with beautiful smells. My favourites are Baies and Tube Rose from Diptyque and Wood Sage & Sea Salt from Jo Malone.

24. I can’t watch TV shows and movies without knowing the ending. If the ending is on wikipedia I’ve read it. It actually makes me enjoy it more.

25. My favourite flowers are Peonies, Babys Breath, Tulips, Roses (NOT red) and daisies.

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Ba&Sh Floral Dress

Gianvito Rossi Heels

Flower Crown

How To Do Winged Eyeliner With This One Game Changing Trick

BEAUTY ON THE GO: WINGED EYELINER

Welcome to a brand new series on The Silk Sneaker; Beauty on the Go (BOTG). Through this, I want to share quick beauty tips that I’ve picked up along the way either from friends, family or from the pros at fashion week or my experience with different brands. If you ever need a tip about something beauty related, send in a message and I’ll be sure to include it in this series. For example, if you’re looking for a homemade pimple treatment, check out my post on it here. For the first instalment of Beauty on the Go, I decided to answer the age-old question of how to do winged eyeliner, especially if you are a beginner.

Now there are tons of winged eyeliner tips and tricks out there, including this one that I usually use myself. Recently, I went to the Code8 Beauty Counter and their head makeup artist shared an even easier trick with me. All you need is a hand-held mirror and your eyeliner of choice. When I say handheld mirror, I mean a beauty mirror on a stand like this one.

All you do is place the mirror down on a surface. Make sure it’s below you. Tilt the face of the mirror upwards and look down into it while standing above it. What you will notice is that you can see the shape of your eyes clearly, making it incredibly easy to draw on your eyeliner.

Now that you’ve got that down, draw away! Not sure about how to perfect your wing? Check out my post on it here.

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Tie Dye Is Back! How To Wear This Summer Trend & Look Chic

TIE DYE

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This post contains a gifted product from & Other Stories.

Photos by Alise Jane

In my opinion, one of the toughest trends for spring summer 2019 to wear is tie-dye. Although it’s made a name for itself among the fashionistas of the world, tie-dye is one of those things that you can wear and either look very trendy or like you’re permanently attending some sort of music festival. Needless to say, you don’t want to be the latter. Now, you guys know that my style is all about mixing high and low fashion, and it’s also all about mixing more relaxed trends and pieces with more tailored ones. It’s always about contrast and in this case, the secret to wearing tie-dye and looking chic is exactly that; creating a contrast.

To make sure that my tie-dye outfit was street style worthy, I paired this Zara hoodie with a pair of tailored high waisted ecru jeans. I loved this pairing because the loose and relaxed feel of the hoodie paired beautifully with these more refined trousers. To make my tie-dye look even more chic, I added my Dior kitten heels to really make the look more luxe. The final touch was my beret.

Essentially, the outfit formula here was a lot of tailored classic pieces, with one trendy relaxed piece. It’s the kind of formula that works super well with fashion trends like this one and makes tie-dye even more wearable for you all through spring and summer. Is this something you would wear for your next summer outfit?

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Zara Tie Dye Hoodie

& Other Stories Ecru Jeans

Dior Sling Backs

Black Beret (similar)

Essentially, the outfit formula here was a lot of tailored classic pieces, with one trendy relaxed piece.

Get My Look

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Zara Tie Dye Hoodie

& Other Stories Ecru Jeans

Dior Sling Backs

Black Beret (similar)

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What’s In My Makeup Bag For A Destination Indian Wedding: Udaipur

MAKEUP TIME

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This post contains affiliate links but this does not affect you in any way. All thoughts and opinions remain my own.

I recently attended a friends destination Indian wedding in the beautiful city of Udaipur. Known as the Venice of the east, Udaipur really is a place that everyone should visit at some point and it’s a place I know I want to visit again. I have been able to attend a lot of Indian weddings and over time I’ve picked up some great tips and tricks for the perfect makeup products when you are the guest at a wedding. What’s important when you’re packing your makeup bag, is using products that are multi-purpose, flattering, and that will photograph well. Sometimes our favourite lipsticks or primers just don’t work for such special occasions, but my checklist is tried and tested and will not fail you no matter what you have planned:

To see how I used all these products to create a glamorous look, check out my IGTV.

Primer: Hourglass
This primer is amazing because it truly helps to keep your make up on your face through all the parties. Indian weddings have many functions and often there is more than one in a day, that starts in the evening and see you partying all the way to the next morning. You need a primer that is going to keep your make up on your face and that is also sweat and waterproof.

Concealer: NARS Radiant Concealer
This is my everyday concealer and it never fails me. I am obsessed with how this concealer has a radiant glowy finish but it also blends with my skin perfectly. The formula is light but still provides the coverage I need, especially under my eyes.

Foundation: Dior Backstage Foundation
I’ve tried and tested so many foundations but at the end of the day, I always fall back on my trusty Dior for a special occasion. It has a more dewy finish and lasts for ages.

Highlighter: Cover FX Custom Enhancer Drops: Sunlight
On a daily basis I don’t usually use this highlighter because it’s so pigmented but for special occasions, and especially for photographs, it works wonders. A little will take you very far and you only need to apply on your cheek bones, bridge of your nose and above your lips.

Blush & Lipstick: Code8 Miss Saigon
Multipurpose is key! This pencil is a blush and lipstick in a lovely dusty rose. For some occasions, I even used it as an eyeshadow that I enhanced with my palette. Perfect for on the go touch ups.

Bronzer: Guerlain Terracotta Shade 2
I have spoken about this bronzer so much. I actually use it as a blush to enhance the colour on my cheeks and then on the bridge of my nose for more definition. It’s subtle and natural!

Eyeliner: Chanel Stylo
I love the long lasting formula of this eyeliner and I also like the design of the pen, it makes it easy to hold and easy to draw onto your eyelids. The perfect tip for a cat eye as well! Pro Tip: Place a small mirror on the table and look down into it to be able to see your eyelids properly.

Eyeshadow: Charlotte Tilbury La Dolce Vita
I have a lot of favourite eyeshadow palettes but when I am travelling I always travel with the same Charlotte Tilbury Palette. It has every colour you need to create either a natural look or a smokey eye.

Finishing Spray: Clarins Fix Make-up Spray
I have spoken about this so many times and it is my favourite setting spray ever. It’s good for your skin and makes you seriously glow in a really beautiful fresh-faced sort of way. A must have in my opinion.

What are your makeup bag essentials?

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TSS Update: April

Happy

Happy April! Spring has finally sprung and I feel like all across the board everyone is happier when the sun is shining. Don’t you agree? As some of you might know, I’m an April baby and my birthday is on the 7th of April. This year is a big one for me and I am so excited about it! Being an Aries, I do have a bit of a fiery side. Are any of you Aries babies as well?

Last mont I suffered from a bit of creative block which forced me to take a step back and really take a much needed mental break from what’s been going on with Instagram and content creation! I am so glad I did that and I was able to come back and look at things with a fresh mind. At the same time, I also traveled to India for a quick trip for a dear friends wedding! Did you happen to catch all my photos on Instagram from my trip? The wedding took place in Udaipur, which is considered to be the Venice of India. It really is a beautiful place and I do hope to go back and visit again soon.

In other TSS news, I also found a fabulous intern. Her name is Natasha and she is such a sweet heart! I love her commitment to everything we do and you’ll be seeing a lot more of her on my Instagram.

For those of you asking what I’m doing for my birthday, you’ll just have to wait and see! I have a dress already picked out and an outfit I can’t wait to share more about with you all! Who’s excited?

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Last night in my newest outfit. Is it obvious that I felt pretty glam in this? Never let anyone dull your sparkle ladies! Always shine ✨Wearing @mmalhotraworld #manishmahlotra

A post shared by The Silk Sneaker (@thesilksneaker) on Mar 30, 2019 at 3:59am PDT

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Growing up I used to hate putting my hair up. I was so self conscious about my acne and my nose that I used to always have my hair covering my face. Over time I’ve dealt with my acne, and learnt the importance of self love; we all have days where we might feel self conscious but never forget the beauty you have within you. Oh, and here’s a closer look at this outfit ✨

A post shared by The Silk Sneaker (@thesilksneaker) on Apr 1, 2019 at 9:42am PDT

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What I’ve Added To My Closet

The High Street Find

Strappy Sandals

The Luxury Must Have

Gianvito Rossi Metallic Sandals

The Beauty Buy

Chantecaille Perfecting Powder

The Must Read Pieces You’ve Missed…

The Best Nude Lipsticks for Brown Girls

The Trends To Actually Wear for Spring Summer 2019

How To Wear White Elegantly This Summer

What do you have planned this month?

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How To Be A Stylish Traveler

TRAVEL IN STYLE

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Here are all my tips to always being a stylish traveler and nailing the perfect airport outfit!

Photos by Alise Jane

I’m kicking off my travels for the year and if you’ve kept up with my Instagram you will know exactly where I’m going! Something a lot of you ask me is what to wear to the airport and I think that this is an occasion where you can be stylish and comfortable (in fact, it’s a must!) The perfect airport outfit is one that makes you feel comfortable but also effortless. Here are my three tips when creating the perfect travel look:

1. Sneakers all the way
When travelling for a long haul flight, don’t overthink it. Stick to your sneakers! Sneakers look cool and are easy to get on and off especially during security. I travel in my Adidas NMD’s because they are by far my most comfy pair of sneakers!

2. Comfort can also be stylish
I always travel in track pants when I’m taking a flight that is any longer than an hour. I know that sometimes people think track pants look quite frumpy, but its all about finding the right pair. I found this INCREDIBLY soft pair from Topshop that is high waisted and looks so cool. The light colour immediately makes it look more chic.

3. Layer up!
I always feel super cold on planes so I pay particular attention to my layers. I like to add some colour to my outfit which I did with my jacket. I love that this jacket is comfortable yet colourful which makes my entire airport outfit look so cute right? It’s also an easy layer to take off if I feel too hot or snuggle up with if I feel cold!

What is your go-to airport outfit?

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Urban Outfitters Jacket

Uniqlo T Shirt

Topshop Track Pants

Adidas NMD Sneakers

Louis Vuitton Duffle Bag (vintage)

Prada Bum Bag