That 70's show

You must have heard this all over till now- if you haven’t, let me tell you- the seventies are back! As we all know fashion reinterprets itself every season, with different trends recycling themselves in different interpretations.

I am a crazy fan of Boho-chic, which is a sub influence of this trend. It is a style of female fashion drawing on various bohemian and hippie influences. Think Woodstock, think Abba- think absolute dressing Love <3

It’s easy, breezy and so convenient in the Indian summer to carry off a boho look. Also, it is super easy to spot these coordinates all over the city- in Sarojini, Zara, Janpath and what not. Here’s what I’ve planned to buy this summer to get the look!

Maxcolor

Vibrant shades of color are what you can expect this summer- with maxi dresses, fun jumpsuits and interesting skirts- don’t hide away in the white/black/gray noise. Speak up!

Pattern please

Skip to Boho chic J welcome to the world of prints. Tall/skinny girls don’t wear very intricate or small flowers- makes you look gigantic. Healthy girls, stick to the smaller florals- they look cute on you.

When shopping in janpath, experiment a little and get some interesting wrap dresses, sheer (translucent) maxi dresses (the dresses that come till your ankle) or cute tops. Florals also have an elegant look to them so you CAN WEAR THEM TO OFFICE- if paired with a classic jacket/vest.

Stars and stripes are back- do follow the rules though. No horizontal stripes if you’re short/ healthy. Make sure you don’t buy a very busy top with too many patterns- it confuses the eye.

My favorite pattern for this summer is hearts J it sounds super girly- yes I know. But if worn in faded colors or simple blues it could look very interesting. There are many patterns out there- polkas or stripes-whatever they are should talk about your style.

Flaring Fun

Believe it or not, the time has come when you’ll have to start saying bye bye to skinnies- I couldn’t be happier! Bell bottoms stand for free fabulous fun!

If you’re very short- make sure you don’t wear a big flare. Keep them straight and try dark shades with a solid color. The amount of flare can increase with an increase in your height.

Girls with big bottoms- these jeans will make you look amazing!

Girls with no bottoms- you can also try ‘boyfriend’ jeans which are loose fitted on the top but tighter till the ankle- these look great when paired up with an interesting belt. (look at the pants on the extreme right)

White rose

Think lace, romance, airy and fresh. White sheer kurtis/ long shirts will be a pleasure this summer- almost like a dream.

When you go to buy your favorite one- make sure you try it on because the silhouette should be to your liking. You must NOT compromise on the shape of this top- make sure it compliments you and your skin color.

The right white top can make all the difference in your wardrobe. Imagine just putting on a simple billowy top and basic jeans- HEAVEN J

Here’s a basic idea of what you can accessorize with

Hope you enjoyed this post as much as I did writing it- there is alot to seventies fashion that I haven’t covered in detail- disco, jumpsuits, clogs and wedges. But I’m definitely in the mood for something simple- after wearing so many layers this winter, I’m ready to shed it all off for some airy comfort- what about you?

Dressy or not too dressy?

Monotonous and limited were the two words that defined workwear or formal wear in the past. You were supposed to blend in, feel comfortable but NOT be comfortable. Heels or no heels seemed like the biggest debate of the century. Dressy or not too dressy?

Come 2009, with Vogue’s most celebrated Workwear issue, these worries are a thing of the past. Workwear is all about dressing like yourself, being comfortable in sharp attire and letting everyone know what you’re about. If you’re still confused about how you can look like fun in at office or a model united nations conference, here’s how.

Ps. No bare legs or red heels I promise!

Also, for those of you who want more on how to funk up your classic casuals, Im working on that for next week! So keep reading J

A pair of Chino pants or straight fits can easily be worn when going formal. For those who have big hips like me, go for Chinos, the ones Im wearing in the picture.

The Tshirt znd pants are from ZARA, pullover is a hand-me-down from mama and the brogues (shoes) are from ALDO. Brogues and Moccasins are the easiest way to look sharp yet casual at work without getting into the ‘jhanjhat’ of heels/wedges/sandals. They look super adorable and are my favorite!

StyleTip: Go through your mum’s wardrobe and take out all those vintage pearls and brooches she doesn’t wear anymore. These accessories add a very classy touch to what you’re wearing.

The jacket is one of the few things Ive ever bought from Benetton and the shirt is a hand me down. The jeans are from Incense, Yes Incense! They have the best fitting jeans for thunder thighs like mine. Their store is in Sarojini, GK and DT City Center in Gurgaon.

StyleTip: As workwear classics, I would suggest that you buy one well fitting jacket and 3 pairs of pants along with Brogues. These classics can be worn with anything from your wardrobe!

When buying a shirt, try getting interesting buttons on it. Wearing it straight out, the buttons add an interesting touch as well as make you look taller- it’s like a vertical line that refines your posture.

Sumangla is a very dear friend who worked with me at The Danceworx and is currently my colleague at Suneet Varma Design, where Im interning. She follows a very simple dressing rule:

MONOCHROMIC KURTA+ MATCHING TIGHTS+CONTRASTING/FUN STOLE= EASY ETHNIC WORKWEAR

I love love love this colorful double stiched stole that she got from a handicraft exhibition- its very fresh and can go very well with most of the things in your ethnic wardrobe. Try and look for interesting dupattas so that you can repeat the same kurta churidaar with a completely different twist.

That’s all from me today! Hope this post helped you a bit. Let me know what you think. Pretty please J

Love to you

Most Wearable Spring Trends

We all know that the stuffed up metro and dilli ki ‘roads’ are no place to strut your chic. Most of your high street purchases lie at home as our fashion worries on the streets of Delhi. Worry not; girls- I’ve personally handpicked 8 looks that you can’t go wrong with in this crazy city!

So hear goes- most wearable trends this spring, where and how you can get them.

1. Traveling pants

For all the no nonsense girls, this one’s my favorite. Casual khakis from Janpath, a loose t-shirt. Pair it up with interesting tie-ups or chappals. The most important thing in this look is the waist of the pants- they should be well fitted and defined. Tie a loose plat to compliment the look.

Dress it up!

-Introduce a basic belt with a buckle with stone details- pair the colors of the belt with the footwear

-For really slim girls, replace the tshirt with a ganji or a short crop tshirt like Rachel Green from Friends

-Add color to the look. Create contrast with accessories

-Indian Ethnic? Just wear a simple chikankari kurta and juttis

2. Shoddy Shorties

A peasant top+a basic ganji+ hot pants= bliss. The key to trumping this look is having a good sense of color and knowing your body type. Best paired with flip flops- this look will sooth your body off all the stress you settled for in workwear/uniforms.

Dress it up!

-Fat legs? Replace the hot pants with a flirty skirt

-Heavy lower body+ Super slim upper body? Replace the shorts with cargos (Yes, Cargos!

-Get a nice pair that fits you WELL) and team it up with a dressy leotard top (ZARA) or a lacy top.

-Those uber cute hair accessories from F21 are to die for. Mix and match your bangles to add to this look.

-Indian ethnic? Get a kurti top from Cottons (GK1 N block, MGF Gurgaon) to go with the shorts

3. Sheer style

Take out all those sheer dresses that you got rid of after a beach holiday! Pair them up with old scarves from your mum’s closet as sashes and voila! You’ve got a truly indie look. Sashes are very in as of now and they do wonders for refining that baby fat. Remember, this look is off shoulder, but you can work with any silhouette as long as it suits your body type.

Dress it up!

-Going for lunch with the ladies? Put on nude heels and a classy bucket or a panama hat.

-Something more relaxed? Try flat sandals with a straw hat for some fun.

4. Come-ono

Pick up a interesting Kimono. What is interesting? Try a large geometric print or beautiful florals and sport it with clogs or wedges.

Dress it up!

-My favourite look would be pairing this airy kimono with a sharp hairstyle and a statement necklace. Keep the accessories very edgy to contrast the relaxed, casual kimono.

-Thunder thighs? Wear a matching pair of tights to guise it.

5. Cute Kitsch

My favourite out of all the ones listed- I absolutely love designer Duro Oluwo’s printed dress. Im going to try stitching the slits off my interesting kurtas to create this look this summer. Hope it works out well. Let me know if you got around something this funky.

StyleAlert: Teashades sported by the model are the coolest thing on the runway. Also known as "John Lennon glasses" or "Ozzy Glasses", this is a type of psychedelic art wire-rim sunglasses often worn, usually for purely aesthetic reasons, by members of the 1960s counterculture

6. Classic workwear

Marc by Marc Jacobs has got to be one of the most amazing diffusion lines in this day and age. This look can be carried out very easily.

Styletip: You can pair your Trend#1 Khakhis with brogues/ loafers to get this look

Dress it up!

-Dig out old brooches from your mother’s wardrobe to go with this look.

7. Colorstory

Move over mixing prints, become your own painter and mix various hues. Add hints of popping colors to a classic look or if you really want to experiment try blending different colors together. A very tricky trend, this can make a lasting impression if carried off right.

Styletip Keep the accessories very basic and try not to add too much to the same look

8. Not so midi-ocre

A blessing in disguise for all us Indian ladies, the midcalf hemline is the most feminine yet conservative way to spend the evening outside. A very complimenting silhouette for most body types, this look is here to stay.

Dress it up!

-Footwear is very important in this look- so keep it cute or feminine. Carry contrasting clutch accessorize.

-Indian Ethnic? Midi skirts at Cottons and Fabindia are a treat to the eyes.