Comfort and Confidence are the three main things for me. If I can’t take an outfit from dawn to dusk then what’s the point? If I'm wearing a simple Kurti with a mesmerizing confidence, no one can stop me from being the showstopper. But don't overdress yourself by just trusting on what you see on social media. It’s very very important to know your body type, know your personality and your pocket. I always keep these three things in my mind, whenever I am buying something.
Retro Kolkata : First of all, thanks a lot for accepting our invitation for an interview. Please say something about you. About your career as a fashion Blogger & Influencer. How did you get started?
Kousani : Hello! this is Kousani Bhattacharyya. I am a software engineer in Wipro and modelling is my second Love. So, when I was in college, I was a bridal model. Since my childhood, I've always been fascinated by the glamour world and also done some tv shows in DD Bangla as well as I was a radio artist.
Suddenly one day, I got an offer from a very well known makeup artist in Bengal and grabbed the offer. Though I was in the middle of my semester, I went there and it turned out to be one of my best shoots to date. Then I continued doing the same. In 2019,I got the job offer from Wipro and my location was Bhubaneswar. I shifted there. But I used to come to Kolkata in every weekend and never gave up my passion.
When lockdown hits, shoots and all was stopped.
Then I thought of sharing my beauty routines , some makeup hacks, various saree poses on Instagram. Then I got someone who given me the idea of being an influencer. I was totally a naïve then, without his help and supervision, I couldn't be the one I am today. Then started accepting the brand collaborations started getting more loves from my audience.
Retro Kolkata : Tell us about your fashion mantra? Any fashion icons that you personally like or follow?
Kousani : Comfort and Confidence are the three main things for me. If I can’t take an outfit from dawn to dusk then what’s the point? If I'm wearing a simple Kurti with a mesmerizing confidence, no one can stop me from being the showstopper.
But don't overdress yourself by just trusting on what you see on social media. It’s very very important to know your body type, know your personality and your pocket. I always keep these three things in my mind, whenever I am buying something.
And also repeating the same cloth is not a backdated thing. If you are ashamed of doing that, try to give some new looks with the same outfit. And you'll bling.!
Retro Kolkata : How do you get involved with your followers and find the best way to give them the content they want?
Kousani : I always try to communicate with my audience ignoring the negative comments. And I always check the insights of each posts to know which is the thing my audience is liking. I always try to create something entertaining, something new, so that they don't get bored by seeing the posts.
Retro Kolkata : How do you select brands you work with? When was your first collaboration with a brand?
Kousani : Sonata watches was the first brand I worked with. I generally choose the brand which will help my audience. Like when I am promoting a beauty brand, it should be very clear about their ingredients, their target audience and so on.
And also, being a small business owner I also know the struggle of a small business owner. So I also select those businesses that are giving real efforts to make themselves known in this competitive world. There were numerous incidents where they sent me a product and if I suggested that it would not attract your customers and that you try something different, they trusted me and did so. So the effort and truthfulness are the main thing I check before accepting any collaboration.
Retro Kolkata : What has been your best fashion purchase ever?
Kousani : I am totally a saree person. So saree is always my best fashion purchase.
Retro Kolkata : If you had to name one thing, what would be your favourite thing in your wardrobe right now?
Kousani : Saree saree & saree. My wardrobe is full of sarees.
Retro Kolkata : What are your top five beauty essentials?
Kousani : Sunscreen, Moisturiser, Lipstick, Kajal & Compact.
Retro Kolkata : What three products do you always keep in your makeup bag?
Kousani : Compact , lipstick and Kajal.
Retro Kolkata : Who are your beauty icons?
Kousani : Swastika Mukherjee , Aiswaria Rai Bachhan & Hema Malini.
Retro Kolkata : Do you remember your first fragrance?
Kousani : Skinn by TITAN Amalfi Bleu
Retro Kolkata : When shopping for beauty products, what is important to you?
Kousani :It should be skin friendly and pocket friendly.
Retro Kolkata : Give us 5 fun facts people might not know about you yet.
Kousani :I can sleep at any point of time. 2. I always keep forgetting about my to-do list and end up messing everything. 3. I wear sarees even on hill station. 4. If I start laughing, I can’t stop it without any proper reason. 5. Though I am nonveg, still I eat veg in any invitations.
Retro Kolkata : We (Retro Kolkata) are trying to build one single stage for all the artists, because we believe that artists are the most beautiful creation of God and geographical boundaries can never break their unity and harmony. Please say something about our initiative and any special message for your followers.
Kousani :Lastly, I would really like to thank Retro Kolkata, who has given me this opportunity to hold up myself to bigger number of audience. They have really trying to build a stage for all artists to reach to a bigger number of audience. Thank you so much and best wishes for your journey. You guys rock!
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