Coulda Shoulda Woulda

When looking up fashion magazines, blogs and the umpteen facebook updates one has subscribed to- you often wonder whether any of them even work. Personally, I look up a million outfits, decide they are absolutely perfect for me, save the images for future reference... and 7 minutes later, I forget. 

Then there's the investment issue. Its not that clothes are too expensive, its just that you often wonder which is the right look to invest in. If its a great color, it'll stand out each time you wear it.. if its a certain cut, the coordinates are restricted. There's always that question- Whether you can carry a look, whether you should invest in it and finally- would it even look nice?

In the words of one Ms. Bradshaw- Coulda woulda shouda?

I've ignored the Maxi dress for a long long time- until this easy, pleated one came along. the simple ivory white gave me the exciting opportunity to turn it around every time I accessorize. Few things to keep in mind if you buy a Maxi:

• Make sure the hemline is not tooo long- that makes you look like a curtain
• Short Girls dont need to shy away- just invest in a light pair of wedges, or be crazy like me- floral pumps!
• In case you're a little chubby or stout- DO clinch the dress on your high waist- it gives the impression of long legs.. Take cue from Scarlett Johansson and Adele, you'll always see them clinched at the waist

Out of all the trends I haven't given heed to- Print on Print is the funnest!This summer is out of control I tell you- mix and match all those prints in a playful manner! Things to keep in mind though:

• If you're wearing prints, DO NOT over accessorize. The accessories have to be a subtle, one color. Its about having fun with prints, not going over board.
• For the fainthearted and careful, start with basic prints, Polka Dots with stripes, strong prints with prints-hardly there.. take it slow
• Even though its fun to mix them up- take a moment to set a contrast and coordinate colors. 

I wouldn't even come close to a girly, frilly/peplum sort of top. Just not my thing. But considering this one was Topshop and the color was sort of endearing, I decided to take it up. When you wear a certain genre that you're not too fond of- mix it with genres that you like.. my bohemian beads, casual shorts and chappals a plus- I think this is my favorite look of them all!With a top like this, be careful NOT to:

• Do girly earrings/ an interfering necklace.
• Belt up to ruin the shape

The all white, splash of color look. Frustrating to achieve and coordinate but just so Zen like if its a success :) Quite frankly, it was the beads I was dying to wear- the white on white clothes are just a coincidence. When planning a white look, keep in mind:

• The lining of the dress/outfit. There is nothing more embarrassing than your chaddis going peek a boo 
• CLEAN WHITES. period
• Instead of the safe nudes and browns for accessories.. try lime/neon/coral to dress it up

These are just ideas that I decided to experiment with- there are a MILLION other looks you should try on! In case we're actually dying this December, you might want to live a little.

XOXO

(Okay maybe that was too experimental)

Because I’m slouchy and oh so sloppy

I’ve had many people ask me why I just stopped writing, why there weren’t new pictures or posts. So here it is, I plead guilty. I’m lazy, I got lazy and I will continue to be so J

The good news is that I’m back and I’m going to start this time, with a tribute to the lazy girl- the procrastinator, the fuss hater, no comb no pin dresser.I ganged up with fanciful Kadambari at a playground in Gurgaon, our nutribars and us, dressing up, talking endlessly and clicking away.

Reversed Cape dress

A cotton cape I bought a year later is now a shift dress, clinched at the back in a no fuss way

Cape: Sarojini

Banjara Jewelry: Lane next to janpath

Shoes: Kadambari’s personal collection; Forever 21

Not so prim, prim skirt

We all love Ms. Berry’s feminine style on Glee, but face it- you can’t walk prim that way in scorching Delhi. Time to swap her holiness with a simple, casual tee.

Tshirt: Zara

Skirt: An erstwhile dress from Sarojini

Belt: Forever New

Earrings: Forever 21

Pastel Perfect Pyjamas

When you think pastel, you think sheer dresses, cute jumpsuits and those dainty accessories. And then you think Pyjamas, airy, breezy PYJAMAS. The rest is self-explanatory.

Ganji: Sarojini

Pastel pyjamas: Sarojini

Feather necklace: Forever 21

Metallic mix ups

This has to be my kind of statement piece- mixing oxidized silver and copper gold. The green dress has an over exposing cut, and hamaare India mein toh nahi chalta. So I layered it with a matching kurta for a tunic look. Love the colors on this style!

Dress: H&M

Kurta: Cottons

Jewelry: From all around Delhi

Boring Black

I can hardly remember the number of years this black shirt sat in my closet. I loved the oversized classic shirt, but you can’t help but sense its moroseness. Lack of many options called for desperate measures and the shirt was soon dressed up! My dad’s cotton scarf bow made a gentleman out of the shirt!

Shirt: Hand me down

Shoes: Forever 21

Denim shorts: Kadambari’s pair

Hope you girls are as excited as I am! waiting to hear from you on the new post x

Two owls and a gold(en) fish

Tiny florals and tiny details make all the difference when it comes to dressing up. Invest in these pretty pieces that can dress up a basic pair of jeans or solid colors. Let me know what really interests you so we can go shopping to give you a list of where you can get variations in the same accessory. 

Love 

DASTAK'ART NATURE BAZAAR: For a Quirky weekend!

This time round, as I kicked out my sheer procrastination, I really dug deep into what Indiestylerush was initially all about. After weeks.. ahem, months of introspection, came along my answer, the ever so inspiring Dastakar Nature Bazaar.

What started as a mandatory college field trip 2 years back is now an annual quirky date. The nature bazaar is a mélange of interesting people, creative NGO pursuits and eclectic, colour crazed India. For years I’ve had people asking me where I got my ‘haathi’ earrings and camel leather laptop bag. This is it people.

Date: 8-19th October 2011. Venue: Crafts Museum, near purana quila (metro station: pragati maidan). 
Time: around 11-7pm

What should you be looking for in this craft bazaar? Color. Out of the box collectibles and environment friendly alternatives. Other than that, here’s what tops my list of must buys.

Walk the walk

At the UUMPCL store, find accessories ranging from collectible notebooks, wallets and funky chappals.

Kullu Karishma

That what they call themselves at store no. 78, which is the brainchild of a scientist in Himachal Pradesh.

Color Chameleon

At store no. 180, find Lakshya, an NGO supporting young boys and empowering them with skills to create eye popping, quirky products.

Swell Jewels

Throughout the bazaar, if you look closely, you’ll find interesting silver, bamboo, ethnic and exquisite jewelry.

Tips to a good experience:

1. Carry water

2. Make sure you have atleast 2 hours to spend at this bazaar, you really need to dig deep to find the stars. If you do find them, it’ll take you ages to decide on what to finally buy!

Largely foreign nationals visit the Craft Bazaar, so once you hear the MRP’s make sure you bargain a bit.

3. At the end of the day though, most of these products are the results of dedication and skill of beautiful craftspeople from various states and NGO’s, so make sure you don’t haggle too much either J

This is what I looked like at the Bazaar

Tshirt: Sarojini (Rs. 100)

Cuordroy stretch pants: Forever 21 (Rs. 1400)

Oxfords: Forever 21 (Rs. 1700)

Sunglasses: Raybans (Gift)

Handbag: Forever 21 (Rs. 1500)

Peacock Feather Earring: Sarojini (Rs. 10)

Have a fabulous weekend and let me know what you ended up buying!

Five ways to wear the seventies Flare

You’ve to start letting go of those fitted trousers and jeggings this year, love. Ignorance might be bliss, but this one’s going to take over casual dressing before you know it.

Wide legged pants and flare jeans are back on the streets and are here to stay. It might be the need for change or just the ease that comes with this shape; these airy pants and lines are an easy alternative to your current favorites.

So here’s some ideas on how you can style a basic pair of flare jeans. The size of the flare can vary according to you and how dramatic you are J

Casual Nautical

Hip Hipster

Ethnic easy

Dramatic Dressy

Elegant evenings

For more ideas, find your doppleganger (celebrity look-alike in terms of body shape and size) online and see how she puts on wide legged pants or jeans.

The belt and buttoned up shirt- look is a classic when putting on flares. Now that the sales are on, go find these interesting lowers to go with your winter wardrobe. Go now!

Keeping it simple

There are days when we try super hard to look interesting and well put together. Then there are days when we just don’t feel like making an effort, yet the outcome is pretty interesting. Here’s some of my experiments and some styling serendipity J

Cute denim dress: Sarojini (After hours of treasure hunting)

Graphic scarf: Germany (A friend’s gift)

Necklace: Forever 21

Flats: Aldo (Last Season)

Ethnic inspired coordinates J

The ‘friends & coffee’ look

Shirt: Sarojini

Shorts: Pantaloons

Flip Flops: Lifestyle

Wooden Bangles: Sarojini

The office/lunch out look

Top: Cottons in (GK I N Block market/Metropolitan mall Gurgaon)

Pants: Zara

Brogues: Aldo (Last season)

Necklace: Agra (but can be found in Delhi Haat)

Wooden Bangles: Sarojini

To a light summer

When you’re walking out in the heat, that too, Delhi’s super explosive summer heat- colorful hotpants and dresses are the least of your worries.

To save yourself the sun burn, its much more ideal to put on something easy that is not only chic, but less stuffy and covers most of your body. Make it a point to play with color, cotton and easy accessories in this style.

Here’s some inspiration J