At the start of 2017, I vowed that it would be my year for wonderful skin. While that worked marvellously during the nippy winter and cool spring, it wasn't quite the same during summer. As the owner of oily skin which has the temperament of a moody teenager, summer can bring its own set of challenges. Namely dullness, ruddiness and greasiness to rival an oil spill.

Since everyone, especially myself, would like to skip past that to the part where they look like glowing goddesses, this bunch of beauty products can do just that. Post a bit of research and usage, I narrowed down on 3 makeup and skin care picks to give me sun-kissed, healthy skin this season. Withstanding immense humidity and scorching temperatures are all in a day's work for these products as they've now made their way to my dresser as summer skin staples.

When I want to customise my makeup

When my recent search for a BB cream came to a grinding halt, I blamed it on high expectations. Maybe wanting medium coverage with a light texture was too much to ask. That's when I realised, it wasn't a BB cream I was looking for, it was a customisable skin cover. Lo and behold, I found that in the Cover FX Custom Cover Drops. With its pipette dropper and ability to blend with facial oils, moisturisers and primers, it's been a complete game changer for my beauty routine. Winning the praises of beauty gurus from across the internet didn't hurt its case either! Don't let its runny, feather-light texture fool you—a little of these pigmented cover drops go a long way. Its easy customisation also meant that it was the one stop solution for tinted moisturiser, barely there makeup or a full coverage foundation.

When I want a clean face

There's something so satisfying about feeling spanking clean skin between your fingers after you've just washed your face. If you have oily skin, you know how quickly that feeling can slip away. Thankfully, the St. Ives Fresh Skin Apricot Scrub brings that right back to me. The genius of this scrub lies in its granules which exfoliate away dirt without being abrasive. Its citrus fragrance and paraben-free formula is an added bonus. After working tirelessly to remove gunk and grime, this face scrub is now a permanent fixture in my weekly regime all through the year. If there's just one of life's simple pleasures that I enjoy, it's touchably smooth skin after a long week.

 Photography: Raynor Pereira // Design: Leo Alemao

When I want my cheekbones to pop

Whether you're a beauty lover or not, you're probably aware of ColourPop's cult-like following. While I didn't understand what made it so popular in the beginning, using their products changed that for me. Apart from their iconic liquid lipsticks, the ColourPop Super Shock Highlighter is proof in itself. 'Avalon' is an incredibly pigmented, glitzy copper shade—perfect for warm, bronzy Indian skin. Its velvety smooth formula melts into the skin like butter on warm toast. As the shade also doubles up as a blush and an eyeshadow, it doesn't really get more versatile than this one.


xo
Dayle

Perspective is a funny thing. Not 'ha-ha' funny but the thought provoking kind. From the time I was 14, driven by sketch-filled scrapbooks and fashion movies, I knew what I wanted to do for the rest of my life. I envisioned the hallowed halls of a fashion magazine replete with glistening marble floors and whimsical paintings on the walls. Women would be striding through the corridors in stilettos, designer spectacles and fitted blazers—and I'd be one of them.
Of course when I did actually join one, that changed drastically. While many of them did resemble my vision of the modern working woman, I just wouldn't have it. Blazers, stilettos, spectacles—I wanted none of them and yet, I couldn't seem to put my finger on what exactly I wanted to wear. Even back then, I knew that clothes were a lot more than just garments to me. Years later, with a little more perspective and redefined personal style, the mark of a modern woman became as clear as day to me. She was refined, confident in her own skin and never afraid to stand out.

1 Like No Other printed shirt | Marks & Spencer culottes | Steve Madden floral stilettos | Kazo dangler earrings c/o | Aldo bracelets | Soap & Glory Sexy Mother Pucker 'Punch Bowl' lip gloss | 

NYX 'Lady First' nail varnish

 Photography: Leo Alemao

The idea of boardroom chic dressing, with its pencil skirts and starched shirts always appealed to me. However, once I was in the throes of it, there was nothing I wanted less. With a change in scenery and the wisdom of my early twenties in hand, I learned that it wasn't the style of dressing that dissuaded me, it was my state of mind. So with the scorching sun as my backdrop, I decided to do a bit of physical and mental spring cleaning to give my version of the modern career woman one last shot. With new perspective in the right direction, this was my complete look.

Summer meant I couldn't stay away from pastels and so, I literally strutted in from top to toe. While culottes weren't always my cup of tea, this linen beauty in powder blue changed that for me. I even went all out with a glossy pink lip, a purple eye makeup look and on-point printed sandals to bring it all together. In a breeze, boardroom dressing went from stuffy and bland to sophisticated and chic. Now who would have thought it could look this phenomenal!


xo
Dayle

Being experimental with my hair has had its perks—I've found hair care products that do magic for me, I've discovered a comfortable length that works for my face shape and I've even found lowlights that are subtle enough to sport at work. However, not without its failings. While experimenting led me to my new bob a few summers ago and helped me find a friend in dry shampoo, it also led to some disastrous experiments that took place behind the scenes.

The most scarring of them have been bad haircuts. Yes, I say haircuts in plural because were multiple times when my hair looked like something Edward Scissorhands would have been responsible for. I've had a too-short fringe that belonged on a 60's pin-up poster, a shaggy crop that made me look like a teenage boy and a fantastically styled 'do that unravelled minutes after I left the salon.

Even for someone who isn't very attached to her hair, they cut deep. However, through the awful cuts and awry trims, I learned that it is possible to get a good haircut and it doesn't just depend on your hairstylist. Yes, a truly good, 'makes-me-want-to-kiss-my-reflection' kind of haircut. It took years of hair trials and tribulations to create the list of how I did it, which you'd want to know about of course—what self-respecting beauty lover would you be if you didn't!

Know your hair

Before you step into a salon, understand you own hair. Is it straight, wavy or curly? Is it prone to breakage, split ends or frizz? Is it thick or thin in volume? These are questions that will shape your hairstyle. Next, find your face shape and the hairstyles that suit both, your shape and texture. Together, they'll help you form an idea of what you want when you speak to your stylist.

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Find the right hairstylist

When it comes to this one, the struggle is real. Hairstylists can be intimidating to the extent that you come out looking completely different because you got coaxed into a hairdo you didn't intend. They can also be extremely uninvolved and just eager to get it over with. Unfortunately there's no easy to way to find the right one other than testing and trying them. Ask everyone you know with covet-able hair who they go to and try a trim with them for yourself. If you're pleased, go in for the whole shebang. Find out what area of expertise the stylist specialises in; short crops, styling, layers etc so that you can select them based on their speciality.  Exhausting, I know but what works for someone else may not work for you. Play the field for the right hairstylist and with a little luck, you'll find them.

Expensive need not be good

I've come to learn that a high price being equated to an excellent service or product is the most illogical belief. While I say this from my experience of surprisingly spectacular restaurants and budget beauty products, hairstylists also fall under this category. While a more expensive hairstylist is meant to be more experienced and knowledgeable, this isn't always true. I've actually noticed that the more I shell out for a chop by the creative director/head stylist/other fancy designation, the less attention my hair gets, which results in a strictly mediocre cut. Regardless of whether a stylist is fairly new to the hair game or has been in it for years, don't let price be the sole factor in choosing them. Look for someone who understands your hair and is receptive to opinions.

Stand your ground

When you're finally in the stylists chair, it's very easy to get lured into their recommendations. They throw around words like layering and glossiness which can easily intimidate you. They may even recommend an exorbitant treatment or unnecessary colour job which can make you look ridiculous. Save yourself the horror and instead, stand your ground on what you want. While it is important to take your hairstylist's input into consideration (they are the experts after all!), don't let it persuade you into doing something you aren't comfortable with. You're paying good money for a hairstyle you want so politely take their recommendation and assert your choice because you'll be the one sporting the style for the next few months.

Don't let styling fool you

Between the whirring of the blowdryer and wafting fragrance of fancy argan oil, it's pretty easy to think that your hair looks great once finished. But don't be fooled by the guise of clever styling. You'll be amazed at how a simple blowout can leave you thinking your hair looks a Victoria's Secret Angel. Unfortunately, that may all change a few washes later. While styling is great to add flair, at its base the haircut needs to be well done. Once it is, whether styled or not, it will look fantastic.

xo
Dayle

My obsession with a good TV show always follows the same stages. It starts with curiosity—snippets begin popping up on my newsfeed or my friends discuss it over lunch. Next is trial where I give in to societal pressure and watch an episode. Finally, I realise its incredible and binge-watch it for 12 hours over the weekend or disappointing and stop soon after. Goliath fell in the former category. I caught a glimpse of it on the Amazon Prime tab and soon enough, I was pressing play to the next episode. No surprise here but I finished the legal drama; rather unhealthily, over a single weekend.

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Besides my obsession to desperately find out what happens in the next thrilling episode, there was one more thing that caught my eye in Goliath—the fashion. Since much of the season takes place in the plush office of an upmarket legal firm, the Goliath girls were chic, prim and polished. Especially if you work or study in a formal environment with a dress code, this can come in handy. That's why I've compiled a list of the workwear inspired tips I learned from the girls of Goliath.

Trust the staples

I believe it's incredibly important to have a couple of trusty looks in your pocket which you can pull out on rushed mornings. Like Callie's staple red pout and side parted bob, I turn to winged eyeliner and a swipe of lip gloss when I'm blanking. It's a fail safe way to still look presentable and pulled together, even though your mind may not feel the same way.

Basics needn't be boring

If one thing's for sure in Goliath's first season, it is that Michelle McBride is remarkably well-dressed and has the most stunning house. She's an easy breezy kind of lady who manages to look like a million bucks with only a Birkin and beachy waves. Michelle's consistent pairing of gentle pastels with relaxed neutrals is the perfect summer uniform for any office environment as it stays formal without being boring, something I can't wait to try myself!

Blaze of glory

Did a sudden meeting crop up? Did mustard from your sandwich spill on your collar? Are you looking for a way to revamp your summer dress? If you answered yes to any of these questions, the solution lies in a blazer. Like the lady bosses of Goliath, there's no trouble too big for a blazer. It'll uplift any drab dress, hide any gruesome stain and have you commanding a room the second you step in it.

Polished and prim

If you've have days when you've barely managed to get out of bed; let alone down your coffee and get dressed for work, remember you aren't alone. We've all been there, sometimes on consecutive days in a week. Since your limited time and patience won't allow a full face of make up, aim to look natural yet polished like these lovely ladies from Goliath. Groom your face, tie your hair and throw in an accessory—no one will even be able to tell the difference!

Borrow from the boys

And I'm not talking about plaid shirts and snapback caps—we're women for pete's sake, not teenagers. Especially if yours is a fashion centric work environment, a touch of androgyny will be welcomed. Whether she's commanding a courtroom or overseeing an office meeting, Callie flaunts her androgyny to perfection! So make like her and set your eye on a suave male closet, dig out a fitted coat, slim tie and a white shirt. She'd be beaming with pride!

xo
Dayle

It's safe to say that I love the sea. I've mentioned it time and again, to the extent that you've probably wondered if I'm on a coastal management board on the side. Well no I'm not, although that does sound nice. I've shot posts by the seaside, I've watched it while dining under the stars and even been inspired by it when all I could see were waves from afar.
 

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Although I now make a mandatory trip (or two) to the sun-kissed beaches when I'm back home, I didn't always feel the same way. Owing to a few wave-washed tumbles during my toddler years, I've been told that I refused to even step inside the water! With such contradictory feelings being experienced over the years, I've always tried to pin-point where my sentiments changed so drastically and how the adoration washed (hah!) over me but, to no avail. All I know is that it happened like Hazel Grace and Gus' sappy romance; slowly and then all at once.

I don't believe that questioning its origin will help me find answers. I mean, we've all had absolutely irrational crushes or weird clothing stains that appear without prior notice. Some questions have no answers so all you have to do is accept their occurrence. Same with my sea struck affair. Like a whirlwind romance, I didn't know where it began and why, all I knew was that I had to savour every second of it.

And so it began. Picnics on the sand, straight out of an Enid Blyton novel. Soaking up the waves, even before eating breakfast. Midnight walks on the seashore with the only audible sound being the waves crashing against the rocks. A large chunk of both, my camera roll and long term memory have been formed there.

 Photography: Raynor Pereira / Style File

But it isn't just a few pleasant memories that carved the sea into my being - it was also what I learnt from it. I learnt that salt water, be it tears or crashing waves, heals all wounds. Just like a glimmer of sunshine and calm water after a night of rocky waves, I learnt that a new day always brings new hope. I also cannot deny the fact that no beauty product has ever been able to give me the beachy waves that a morning soak in the sea can. A happy place is a wonderful thing. Some find it in a designer store, others in a corner office. Mine is on a sand bank, with the approaching waves caressing my toes.

xo
Dayle

Cultivating your sense of style is extremely personal; something like discovering your favourite type of wine. You may have to step out of your comfort zone and depend on good pairings but when you find your fit, you'll wonder how you lived so long without it. It's funny how similar my realisation of a crisp glass of white wine being my spirit animal was to my journey of finding my personal style. To my good fortune, Style File was born during my prime experimental years. While it's always nice to see where my sartorial tastes came from, it can also be proof of a train wreck of an outfit.

Fresh from the years when Serena Van Der Woodsen and her brat pack ruled the Upper East Side, my teens were a time when I brought out my rare bohemian side. Fortunately for everyone surrounding me, it transitioned when I began my first big girl job at a fashion magazine where I thought I'd want to wear pencil skirts and top buns for the rest of my life. That faded shortly and soon enough, in the midst of trial and error resembling Macklemore and imitating Audrey, I realised that my style was more about me and less about the world. It wasn't in a high street store window or a hot trend off the runway. It was all me.

 

Marks & Spencer plaid shirt | H&M glitter tulle skirt | Zara red pumps [previously seen here] | Accessorize mini messenger bag [previously seen here] | Forever 21 sunglasses | Accessorize necklace | L'Oreal Paris Pure Reds lipstick in 'Pure Scarleto' [review here] | OPI nail varnish in 'Ink'

Photography: Leo Alemao / Style File

I soon discovered that my style falls somewhere in between a dainty ballerina, yoga fanatic and preppy cheerleader. Like the fresh intermingling of flavours in a glass of Chardonnay, my personal style too has grown into a blend of femininity, minimalism and refinement. It may have taken a few years, but it finally evolved into that of a post-show prima ballerina; girly without being frothy, chic without being extravagant, athletic without looking like an gym trainer.

This look is an extension of it. Polished plaid contrasts magically with frilly tulle and is tied together with a collared necklace and chunky sunglasses. For the makeup, I couldn't see past a classic red lip and highlighter that is poppin'! I gave the underliner eye makeup trend a try which gave the eyes a hint of colour without taking away from the look. Personal style can be conflicting, ridiculous and brilliant at the same time; all you have to do is listen to it.

xo
Dayle