Holiday Shimmer

The Holidays are here and its time to bring out the shimmer, sequin and shine! A lot of our Indian outfits usually tend to have a fair amount of zari, sequin, beading etc. to satisfy our need to glitter on occasions during the year. The holidays ( Christmas and New Years), though are that time of the year when wearing sequin is almost like a tradition here in the US of A.

However much I love the glitz one has to learn to tame it (glitz-tame...sounds like an oxymoron :)). Its easy to get carried away but knowing where to draw the line is what distinguishes a fab glam from a drag queen.

Check out a sequin outfit I put together for a party I attended recently. I went easy on the accessories (with a pair of dangling diamond-pearl earrings) and wore a set of cobalt blue suede shoes to add a pop of color. The rest of the outfit stays neutral with safe shades of dark gray and black.

The silvery-white pouch was to dump my cellphone, hair brush, chapstick and the works,  else if I had my way I would totally skip a purse.  I tried to avoid a clutch because its such a pain dancing with it so atleast with this one I was semi hands-free.

I am still working on getting better pictures but I hope you can see the little bit of what is visible of the earrings.

Gray sequin top: Forever21.com ($20)
Black skinny pants: Black Skinny pants: Papaya (Sale: around $10) seen here as well.
Cobalt blue suede shoes: Primark, London
Shimmer pouch bag: Gift
Earrings: Gift

HAPPY HOLIDAYS everyone!

The Pixie cut

Talking about hairstyles, growing up I have always always had a "Boy cut" (as my classmates would call it) or if you like, the "Princess Diana cut" (as my mom would fondly refer to it as). It was some thing I hated and promised myself that once I grow-up I will have my hair long and flowy and allow myself all the girly pleasures of 'The Tresses'.

I did pretty well sticking to my promise but I have to admit that some where deep down I am drawn back to my childhood's "Pixie cut" (that's what I would like to call it!). Every time I see someone adorn that look, I smile in admiration for her confidence. Its edgy, chic and yet so adorable.

British super model Twiggy blazed the trail for the Pixie hairstyle and since then there has been no looking back.

Twiggy's adorable Pixie

Rihana, Kiera Knightly and from the blogger community Karla (Karla's closet) totally own this look.

Rihana's sexy Pixie

Kiera's carefree Pixie

Karla's statement Pixie

I always believed that you need to have a great jawline or atleast one striking feature (eyes or lips) to sport this hairstyle. 
But check out the Genifer Goodwin. Not to say she doesn't have great features but with her roundish heart shaped face cut I think it takes courage to go for for a hairstyle like this but boy she made it work!

  

She looks so innocent and cute! Aah the many sides of the Pixie...

Enjoy!

The Not-so-Obvious Furniture

Whenever I see something quirky it instantly lights me up. It challenges how I view everyday things and inspires me to find potential in all that is mundane and lying out there. 

Check out these interesting pieces:

Suitcase Chair

Ladder Towel stand

Tree Book Stand

Tree wall-mural with shelves

To keep my creative juices flowing I randomly pick up an item from my closet and jot down all possible ways I could re-purpose it. Even if I don’t get too far it’s a good exercise.  It helps me shop smarter and better. Now I am not only focusing towards buying items that I need but also justifying the price I pay for if I know a particular piece is going to go a long way.

Although I do follow my repurposing guidelines more often than not but honestly even I do have my moments of impulsive indulgences, which I think are okay if its once in a while.

Hope you enjoyed...Stay charming!

The Indian Saree

There has to be something about this piece of cloth that drapes around a woman’s body so perfectly to enhance her best features and hide her flaws (okay there are exceptions to that statement…but then… there are always exceptions) that it has been written about a million times to date. 

I couldn't have been left behind especially since sarees are pretty high on my list of fab-classic garments, every woman (okay at least every Indian origin woman) should own.

Love the color! The net fabric and the beading details work great.

The combination yellow and pink is a such charming one. Bright but not loud.

I think the above picture may not be a saree but a lehenga-choli (long skirt with a blouse), but I still think its super pretty.

Yes thats me in the pink saree.

Go get yourself a saree!

Winter Layering

When I first moved to the US from warm and humid Bombay I simply dreaded winters! I would wonder how does one look fashionable when all bundled up and packed inside bulky jackets and coats. The thought of looking like an Eskimo for almost 4 months of the year would throw me into the blues.

But then gradually I learn the art of LAYERING and realized the numerous unique outfits you can come up with using the same pieces of clothing and still look chic and charming. It was like an “aha” moment when I figured this out…and since then I eagerly look forward to this time of the year to experiment with my pieces.

But then as destiny would have it, not that I am complaining, I moved again...this time to Sunny California!

Although, northern California is not as warm as the south but its pretty cool and I love the change in seasons without the need to experience the extremes.

The pictures below are from one of my trips to snow covered Mt. Rainier.

 

Layering is all about mixing colors, lengths and textures. Layer it such that each piece is visible. There is no point in wearing a cropped print top only to be covered with long polo neck sweater.

Layering allows you to adapt to the varying temperatures during the day. Its easy to throw off the jacket, gloves and cap like I have, as it gets a little warmer during the day and put it back on towards the cooler evenings.

 I love printed socks! Simply adorable.

Beanie : Borrowed
Military green jacket: Primark (£13)
Yellow Sweater and socks: Forever21 ($11 and around $1 respectively)
Black sweater top: Ross (don't remember)
Blue Cami: Forever21 ($3)
White Shoes: Local Store (Nu Pair) ($10)
Lavender bead necklace: Corning museum of Glass. (don't remember)

The lace skirt

You may not see me in skirts as much as I would be in jeans, slacks/pants or leggings but once in a while I go the extra mile for 'The Skirt'.

When I bought this one I was in love with it. This is one my favorite skirts! I love the black lace detailing on magenta silk. The slight bloom with a pair of those pockets is sweet.

This is a great example of incorporating animal print. Since the rest of the outfit is pretty much one color, the leopard spot scarf, not only adds visual interest but also has room to stand out on its own.

 A pair of black leggings and thigh high boots completed this look.

Lace Skirt: Forever21 (Sale: < 10)
Magenta Dress Top: Forever21 ($11)
Scarf: Love Culture ($3)

Shades of Brown

Growing up, the only two colors I knew in the neutral family were black and white. I would consider the browns, khakis, beiges, grays etc. drab and boring. I would obviously avoid them and judge those who adorned them as frumpy. I know! That was absolutely stupid and naive of me.

But I think with time, exposure to the wider world and diverse cultures I have found a new appreciation for the “Neutral” category. In fact I think I am gradually falling in love with them. Their versatility, simplicity and subtlety are worth noting. I believe they effortlessly balance outfits and add the touch of sophistication and class.

Below I have combined shades of brown with a slight pop of pink.

Brown Sweater: Forever21($11)

Pink Top: Local store ($7)

Brown and Gold Belt: Primark (£3 I think)

Brown Skinny Pants: H&M ($12)

...these are a few of my favourite things.

Besides raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens, there are these quaint things that catch my eye and make me feel all warm and fuzzy inside. Then I just want to get hold of them and save it forever, so that whenever i revisit these pictures they make me smile and brighten my mood.

Sharing some of them here:

Beautifully wrapped gifts

The combination of apple green and baby pink, the big bows and bird print together quench my thirst for pastels.

Tea light candle lanterns

Candles and flowers, you can never go wrong with them.

Cheerful mini flower bucket made with candy

Don't you just wanna pick one of them up and bring home? This is such an adorable idea to take a simple lollipop to a whole new level.

Fresh and Bright Yellow flower centerpiece

Yellow, the color of the Sun. It just lights up the room, bringing with it the warmth of summer and freshness of nature.

vintage clocks

Reminds me of an old movie, the simplicity in life in a bygone era, drama and mystery.

Hope you enjoyed this as much as I do. Stay charming!

Incorporating animal print.

I never realized when animal print left and made a re-entry, but since it is back on the block and making appearances in all things possible, I couldn’t have been more pleased.

Animal Print Fashion by deeptipatil17

There is something about this design of nature that adds that extra oomph to any outfit. Although, like anything that has such immense power, controlled use is advised. Too much of it and you run the chances of crossing the line from sexy, confident to garish.

Basics of adding animal print to your outfit:

1)   Start with just one item of animal print and start small to get comfortable with it. Something like scarves, sunglasses, belts, bracelets etc.

2)   Try to keep the rest of the outfit neutral for your animal print piece to stand out. You can never go wrong with black.

incorporating animal print by deeptipatil17
 

3)   If you want to take it another step further, try mixing animal printed garments with solid colors like baby pink, grayish blues, lavender etc.  You want to be careful with bright colors like Red, Yellow etc. The idea of using color with animal printed garments is to divide the focus and in some way bring down the effect animal print has. If you use bright colors with a strong animal print, you are doubling on the bold aspect and… not in the right way.

4) If you do want to mix a bright bold color with an animal print, you want to follow rule 1, which is: balance it out with the size. Go with a small piece that has a hint of animal print in it. Red blouse with black trousers and cheetah print shoes. Works Great!

My personal favorites are the spot prints (cheetah print and the leopard print) and then in stripes I like the ones with the brownish undertones (tiger print). I think twice before I get my hands on a zebra print (unless it’s a really small piece).

The recent reptile printed garments give me the creeps, but I can handle reptile prints on accessories.

Gray Cheetah Print with Teal Blue Sweater

Animal print paired with black and White Ballet flats

Gray cheetah print leggings: Forever21.com ( < 10$)
Ballet Flats: Primark, London
Teal Blue Sweater dress: forever21.com (Sale item)
Gray Jacket: DD's discount ($12)

Necklace & Bag: Gift

Bringing cozy outdoors

For someone who appreciates all things charming how could I not fall for these super cozy outdoor settings. I simply love how the designers have managed to create that comfy, snugly ambiance outside the home. 

 The ambient light from the candles, the fresh white flowers ( I can almost smell them) and those red-white-yellow cushions (that balance out the purity of white), make such a perfect setting for a Friday evening wind-down. I know its just Monday yet, but a patio set-up like this will surely drive away those blues for the whole week.

I love the romantic string of lights that hang from the bark of the tree. The cane lanterns and over-sized recliner mattresses definitely add character to this open-air movie screening. Don't miss the big bowl of pop-corn.

Enjoy!

You sure do Pay-less!

Jewelery has an irresistible drawing power on me...almost so much that even though I intend to shop for something specific I somehow always end up near the accessory section checking out these shiny objects.

Accessories - My favorite section in any store!
...even if that store is best known for their shoes - Payless.

With BOGO 1/2 sale going on (which is perpetually on :P ), I found these:

Silver cuff bangle and gold chandelier earrings

 Total =18$

Grand total = $18
But guess what??
I paid only $4.87 with taxes :) yay!

I believe the bangle was on sale for $3 and so were the earrings... and since BOGO applies even to sale items....yup yup... you have yourself a bargain!

I think the trick at Payless is to use the BOGO only for sale items to get yourself the best deal.

Will keep posting more of my fab finds as and when i bag them. Till then stay charming!

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Day 2 London

Some more outfit posts while I was in London. I had carried 1 pair of boots, 3 pairs of heels and 2 ballet flats, but ended up wearing the flats most of the time. Infact I regret not ditching my heels completely for more flats.... but you learn with experience :P

When you are visiting a new place and want to explore it thoroughly, most of the time, on-foot would be your best bet...And yes, thank god for ballet flats, I think I manged to strike a balance between the choice of struggling with high heels on the streets of London or looking like one hellava toursit with sneakers and a camera.

 

Pearl necklace: Forever21 (Sale: $8)
Coral lace top: Charlotte Russe (Sale: I think it was originally for 20$, one sale for 15$ and during the happy hour it was on 30% further discount :) )
Black Skinny pants: Papaya (Sale: around $10)
Coral bow ballet flats : Ross ($15)

Taking the Plunge!

A big hello to all the bloggers and readers out there! I am a tiro on the personal/fashion blogging scene but excited to be doing this.
I have been contemplating for a while but then I thought what the hell, I'll just go with it. :)

I think what tipped me over to the side of blogging was the vibe i felt in a recent trip to London. Central London, the buzz, chic outfits, confident and effortless styling, the snooty but enviable attitude...ahhh.. it was a treat!

Sharing some of my pictures from the trip..

Yes, I can surely work on the picture quality but till I find a better alternative...

With the unpredictable weather there, I tried my best to dress in layers, without looking like I am in winter wonderland. Since it was early September and surprisingly pretty pleasant, I think this outfit and the upcoming ones worked well for me. Cooler, early in the day and late evening and warmer mid-day.

And it finally rains :), afternoon walk in chinatown, London.

Scarf: H&M (i think it was 6-7$)
Shirt Dress: H&M (Sale: $10)
Denim Jacket: umm..I don't remember
Bag: DD's discount (12$ steal :)) )