everyday style

When you inadvertently find yourself twinning with Sunny Leone…

everyday style, fashion

In work mode again, and as always last minute rush to get out of the house–of course I am the person who never ever plans out what she will wear until she actually has to pull it onto her body.

So for this interview with the very lovely Sunny Leone for SheThePeople.TV’s BOLD series, I pulled on my standard lifesavers, blue denims, a black vest and topped it with a Bhutanese black and copper Kira with gorgeous sun motifs that my sister in law had picked on a trip there. I don’t pin the Kira like it is supposed to be, but prefer to wear it like a regular jacket, though undoubtedly it would look much better worn pinned together.

And to my surprise, Sunny was dressed in a black biker jacket and jeans too, with a red t-shirt that completely stole my heart, emblazoned with ‘Feminist’ across it.

And more denim…

everyday style, fashion, Flat lay

Another no think pull it all together quick look for a casual day out, where you want to look just that bit put together is this all denim look. Mid wash jeans in a comfort fit, a soft denim shirt, roll the legs up to expose your ankles, roll the sleeves up to your elbows. These are old, old clothes I’ve had forever but never tire of, although by merit they should have been handed their golden watch and sent into the happy vales of retirement by now.

I prefer to combine denim with brown and tan accents, and that’s what I’ve done here. Add a tan rough stitched belt, a pair of high shoes, and a structured brown bag and you’re good to go. Yes, this is a laptop bag that I end up using as a regular bag most times–because I don’t ever work on a laptop–blame it on the dinosaur I’m, or the klutz I am, end up dropping it, spilling stuff on it, leaving it behind most times. After having lost a couple of laptops in the distant past, I now steer clear of them gadgets outside of the house, except for my phone, which I soon hope to be able to do without too, and switch to an ancient clam shell, push button version, so to finally get offline when I’m offline.

What is your go to full denim look?

Archna Singh shares her fave looks

everyday style, fashion

Look 1:

This floral off-shoulder top from Aeropostale is one of my favourites because it is both versatile and flattering. Be it a casual gathering with friends or a formal dinner on a cruise, it fits right in. I also love the fact that it takes the attention away from the belly area and highlights my shoulders and collar bones, which happen to be well-toned 😉

Here I’ve teamed it up with a classic pair of black ankle-length trousers from Charter Club and comfortable black sandals from Clarks for an easy-going yet formal look. Since I find it difficult to carry large, heavy earrings, I wear my hair short and jazz up my outfits with statement necklaces, scarves and bracelets. This silver neckpiece was picked up from the street markets of Bhutan. Also, I wouldn’t be caught dead without a bright lipstick. The one I’m wearing in this picture is a beautiful pinkish-peach shade by Estee Lauder called ‘Rebellious Rose’.

Look 2:


This look has an interesting story behind it. The orange and gold banarasi brocade dupatta was a gift from someone, and I completely fell in love with it. The floor-length anarkali gown was custom-designed by Alka Anokhi Designer Studio in Aashiana, Lucknow to go with the dupatta. I needed something nice for a winter wedding in the family, but I did not want to wear the clichéd winter colours—hence the choice of soft pastel green in cotton silk. The golden chequered fabric was patched on the cuff to break the monotone and make the outfit dressier. Since the colours are vibrant, I have gone easy on the accessories and thrown on a simple 18-carat necklace in Italian gold. The pinkish-orange lipstick (‘Jealous’) by Estee Lauder completes the look.

(Archna Singh, 59 is a pathologist, trained classical singer and a fitness enthusiast)

As pullover season fades away

everyday style, fashion, Flat lay

A simple light cable knit pullover from H&M, soft old broad leg denims from Old Navy, so old actually that the Old in the name is actually God’s own truth, tan wedge heels that are good for running around while giving me the precious few added inches that I need, and a small white bag of indeterminate ancestry because I’ve had it forever and ever. This is a look that works in a rush for a casual evening out, and is comfortable and practical. Keeping the palette neutral and pastel works. The make up stays low key for this one–light brown liner and a nude lipper.

Don’t grudge me this last ditch bid to pretend that we have a winter in Mumbai.

Of monochrome

everyday style, fashion

I was most excited to meet the very wonderful Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni the other day, on her whistle stop tour of Mumbai for the launch of her latest book, The Forest of Enchantments, based on the story of Sita, or the Sitayana as she likes to call it.

As always, when I’m in a bit of a rush and too confused about what I should wear, I picked up a black and grey animal print chiffon shirt, and wore it over cropped black trousers, layering on a black waistcoat for modesty. On my feet I had a pair of black espadrilles, the most comfortable pair ever, from Clarks. Jewellery and accessories, I’m terrible about, just had my usual stuff on, the cameo pendant on a gold chain I wear everyday and my gold rings and bracelet. Someday, I will get organised enough to keep changing my jewellery with every outfit, I promise.

And yes, the first pic is the offspring’s valiant attempts at photography given that he and I are still learning this pose and shoot business. I sometimes feel he clicks my best photographs and perhaps it has something to do with the softness with which I look into the camera when he’s clicking? What do you think?

Red checks and denim

everyday style, fashion

I’ve always been a great fan of the red check and denim look. I think I’ve always owned a shirt with red checks, forever and ever. Oh well, ever since I was in college I think. The style is resolutely the same, a red checked shirt with tiny buttons down the front, fitted a bit. I wear these with either tan corduroy jeans or plain medium wash denims. Sometimes, I throw on a denim jacket. If the jeans are ankle cropped skinnies like these from Only, I will wear my high clogs (from Catwalk), or risk looking like something on a toothpick. This is a safe look that always works for a casual day out, without too much thought going into it.

And, as always, big sunnies, and a bigger smile, if I don’t hate everyone on and their grandparents on that particular day.

Swati Rai decodes her preferred evening looks

everyday style, fashion
As a blogger, a corporate trainer, Teacher-trainer I have events , workshops and commitments that require me to dress according to the occasion on multiple events. I am a great believer in dressing according to the event and mostly, the dress depends on my moodboard!
Fashion for me is inherent happiness and physical fitness, vigour or call it what you will- boils down to how you carry yourself, be it in the plainest of garment. It is a definite plus if a touch of your personality is reflected in your sartorial selections!
look 1
Look 1
An evening with a slight nip in the air mandated a cover up- a royal blue ensemble was chosen with a warm poncho over it but not without my touch of buckling up with a wide leather belt. I found, the drape worked well for contouring, without compromising  the warmth or the style quotient- easy-peasy look for a cold Delhi formal do! Threw in extra blue liner and mascara, left the neck bare and slapped on some danglers for a little bling!
look 2
Look 2
Who and how can you go wrong with a saree? A regular concoction of different textures of chantilly lace, net, in the baroque vintage style, got me a saree innovatively put together that gave it a designer look, without costing me a bomb! Black and grey is also  combination that I heart- finished with a  silver choker and I was ready, as ready can be!
(Swati Rai blogs at http://theinsiderviews.com)

Bring out the boots…

everyday style, fashion

flatlay4

What is winter worth its sliding mercury without one getting the chance of bringing out the boots? In Mumbai, wearing boots is honestly more of an act of bravery than self preservation against the elements given how hot and humid it is for most parts of the year, but a few days in December and January can have you bundle up a bit without people looking at you like you need to count your marbles for the few missing.

This is what I find most easy and comfy with these boots. Skinny fit light washed jeans from Only, a Cubus striped round neck full sleeved Tshirt, with my all time favourite grey suede jacket that I wear everywhere and with everything. And yes, a pair of nice small sunglasses that don’t overpower your face with this.

 

Jeans and shirt-style

everyday style, fashion
blogfashionrichaBombaywaali
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Of all the looks I love, jeans and a shirt must be right at the top. I find it a style that can be dressed up or dressed down as you wish, and is good to go everywhere possible, except perhaps formal work situations and black tie events.

Here I am, at an edition of SheThePeople.TV’s Bombaywaali last year, where I was chatting with the very fab Richa Chadha (Catch her in the forthcoming biopic Shakeela, where she plays the title role based on the life of the sultry siren from the South). A bright orangey red Zara crepe shirt with gold buttons, a pair of old Gap jeans, in a completely unfashionable NOW straight leg fit, so prehistoric that I am surely we’d all just climbed out of the primordial sludge when this came off the assembly line, not in picture but had worn these with my old fave brown platform heels, and of course, my ever favourite gold and stone choker which I have now realised I WEAR WITH EVERYTHING. And it was a rasta find! Talk about VFM, I’ve sure extracted that from this choker. What is your go to look with jeans?

Oh, for a dress with pockets…

everyday style, fashion

anujanandme

I’m not much of a Biba fan, and haven’t really bought or worn anything from the brand, but this dress with its lovely print, and the fact that it had pockets changed my mind.

I love long dresses, as I’ve said before, and I have a particular soft spot for florals. I particularly fell in love with the flare and the colour combination of this one. I had already packed another outfit for the Women Writers Fest Bangalore, in 2018, but a flight delay meant extra time at the airport and this is what happens. Picked this up on an impulse and loved how comfortable it was. Yes, it is a size larger. In other circumstances, I would have preferred a higher heel with this, but had packed these trusted beige Tstrap Bata wedges so these are what I wore.

Here with the very wonderful Anuja Chauhan whom I was chatting with about her books at the event.

Photo courtesy: Fandom at Gilly’s