The Swing Dress: My summer favourite!

Hello beautiful world! It’s the crazy summer time, and I love making the most of it especially when it comes to clothing. Also, the divine revelation as to what is going to be a hot favourite this summer. So this time it’s the swing dress. I am totally crazy about this silhouette, not only coz of its casual appeal but also coz it naturally makes me wanna swirl. The best ones I guess usually come in light fabric and are unlined which make it so easy to carry and a a perfect daytime outfit. And when I find these swing dresses in florals, they become totally irresistible. The trouble is when I like a style, I could go on buying it till I find another cut or shape to go crazy about. I have picked up too many this season from my favourite girly brands like Forever 21 and Lulu’s. This one is from Tobi.com. I just loved the brand since the time I discovered it and the best part about this California based online retailer is that it has no international shipping charges!! So it actually free shipping to India as in no minimum order requirement.

This is an unlined dress so I had to be careful how to wear it and I followed what the model had done on the site. Simply wore it with cut-offs underneath it. And trust me, I didn’t feel uncomfortable at all. Few years ago, I would never dare to wear an unlined dress, but as I am getting bolder in my dressing, I need to devise means and measures to wear them with utmost ease. I frankly think it’s a good idea to go for shorts beneath the dress as it gives the sense of a top to the dress. I have successfully worn many tiny dresses with the absolute safety of denim shorts underneath them. Of course a cover up in the form of a jacket or a shrug is a must to avoid feeling uncomfortable if the dress is too transparent. This post was shot in the morning of March so I threw over this warm crochet and fringed jacket which complimented the swirly dress. Boots are no summer choice and specially in this city. But I just love boots with short dresses. My leather bag had layer of lace which looked super pretty with the crochet of the jacket.

So I am certain I am gonna be wearing a lot of swingy dresses this summer. They are one of the easiest outfits to throw over and no denying that I love their flowy and swirly ways. So have a great summer and keep swirling!!!    

Dress: Tobi; Jacket: Only; Bag: Marks & Spencer; Boots: Steve Madden; Cuffs: Forever 21; Neckpieces: Accessorize; Hat: Accessorize        

Skirt with Suspenders

The last time I wore a skirt with suspenders I was probably eight!! So when I spotted this on the Urban Outfitters site, I was very sure I was gonna pick it up the moment it goes on sale. And everything went just as I thought. It not just gave me immense pleasure wearing this but also took me years behind as I tried to recollect all my skirts with suspenders that I owned as a little girl. It just felt so sweet to reconnect with that part of the past that is so tender through this piece of clothing.

   

Skirt: If I find a brand that fits well and defines my style sense best, I would stay hooked to it forever. Urban Outfitters is one such brand I can never get enough of. Every piece of clothing is unique with the perfect mix of femininity and elegance. The material is always the finest quality and with the very first touch you know that it is worth the money. This maxi skirt can be best described as made with a soft woven material with a slight A-line silhouette. It’s very figure flattering and fun at the same time. It also has the perfectly hidden zip closure on the side.

Shirt: No plaid is more classic than a black and red and that thoughtfully transcends into a well fitting button down shirt. I picked it up from one of my favourite thrift shops. But honestly, the real reason for choosing this shirt was to well complement my footwear. This is again a fun shirt with press buttons and I love to team it with black bottoms be it a smart black knee length skirt or a pair of black shorts. Rolled up sleeves give the much needed casual punch to a classic plaid.

Boots: These are the red suede boots from Asos that arrived on Valentine’s day!! They were the last remaining piece on the site and available at an irresistible discount and in my own UK 5. It felt so awesome as I took it out of the neat white box. They were better than they looked on the site. This is also my first online footwear purchase and my experience was totally awesome. These are pure bright red suede boots that look even brighter in the daytime. Another thing that makes these boots one my favourite is the lace up. Sitting down cross legged on the floor and putting together these laces right felt such art work! Guess what? I have to do that every time I wear them. Another thing of the past.

Bag: This very graceful outfit was best complimented with a shiny hobo perfect for woman like me who loves to carry her whole world along with her. With a maxi skirt combined with a full sleeve shirt and those sturdy boots, I was sure I was gonna use an oversize bag to best complement my outfit. This bag is very special as it is also a gift from a dear friend!  

          

Jewellery and Hat: I was so sure about this look that I had to keep the accessories minimal. I went for a statement necklace, nothing but a metal chain. With its rough and edgy texture of the necklace, I chose black cuffs which gave out a paint chipping off vibe and classic black studs composed of a single ball.

The look: Some of my friends feel I have totally nailed it with the plaid and a full length skirt. I am happy that I have created a look which is so graceful from head to toe and elegant at the same time. I am wearing to office on a Saturday. Lets see!

Skirt: Urban Outfitters; Shirt: Jennyfer (Thrift) Bag: Benetton; Boots: Asos; Earrings: Pieces; Cuffs: Promod; Neckpiece: Forever New; Hat: Forever New 

Maxi Madness

Hello again! It has been a crazy time since my last post. Well this is a very important post for me as I am introducing my photographer Shreya through this one. When universe works in magical ways, you find someone who totally believes in you, shares your thoughts and supports you. That is Shreya to me. She is fun, focused, super talented and a lot more. It’s amazing how we gel and it has been such an awesome experience starting this post itself. More importantly, she is around whenever I need her. Works around my busy schedule!! So she is going to be my photographer for the next few posts!!   

You can find her on: preciselypicturesque@gmail.com; https://www.facebook.com/PreciselyPicturesque and contact her at 9819889974.  

So for now, I am totally thrilled about introducing my first maxi dress here as I have been kinda obsessed with them since the time they became a rage. And truthfully, its been quite a love affair. Generally about maxi dresses, I think its that piece of clothing which is great with all body types and there are so many ways of wearing them making it ideal for any occasion.

I personally own many and now I feel certain types have got too common. As a result, I have become very selective about the types that I pick up. Trust me, this is also my way of not completely losing interest in them by owning too many and not really knowing how much wear I will get out of them.

Dress: This is the first maxi dress on my blog and the reason I have titled the post ‘Maxi Madness” is because this is no ordinary maxi dress. It’s got unusually long slits on either side which also somehow gives it the feel of a long top. A top inevitably calls for bottoms underneath it. You can see that the dress has an inbuilt inner. But I was certain I was not going to stop at that for the fear of it cropping up after any movement. So I decided to pair it with a light, short and well fitting pencil skirt.

Skirt: This is a Ted Lapidus skirt that I picked up at a discount a few years ago. It’s a weightless black skirt with white florals so flimsy that after buying I had no idea how to wear it. I usually ended up wearing it over opaque tights and teaming it with a sheer white shirt. But I never let it go thinking I will someday put it to a more fruitful use than that. So when the dress arrived and I tried it on for the first time, I paired it with two other little black skirts that I tossed later as it was making the overall look unnecessarily bulky. That’s when I ended up going ahead with this one. The whole idea of the right inner clothing is to take enough care and caution to prevent even the slightest possibility of the overall outfit going wrong. Anyways, I felt this skirt was the right fit. And since I have put on so much weight it fitted perfectly and I was absolutely comfortable. 

   

Bag: This is actually a bag- pack from this adorable online clothing and accessories brand called 20 Dresses. I checked them out after I read about them in Economic Times! What an intellectual forum to discover fashion. Of course, they were featured in an article about online startups in the fashion world along with a few other amazing on- line fashion sites. The material is quite soft and came with the perfect fringes finished with funky metal skulls. I added my own twist of using it as a sling and not the bag-pack way to better complement my outfit.   

         

Hat: The hat was an integral part of this outfit right from the time it was conceptualized. I happily went about hunting for the ideal hat and found it at Forever New. A woolly woolly hat perfectly complimenting the knitted fabric of my dress. However, I have very well factored it into my head that I will not be using it a lot except in those months which faintly, very faintly have a resemblance to winter in this super hot city. 

Boots: This wonderful pair has got components that I really love. Be it suede or the criss-cross lace up. Sturdy, comfy and adorably black. The good thing about an outfit with a slit, such as a dress or a long skirt, is the amount of attention you need to pay to your choice of footwear. And if my outfit is unique, I am not gonna spoil it with the wrong foot wear. Well in this case, these black suede boots just fit the bill. 

               

Jewelry:  You know I was clear about one thing that this outfit is gonna remain grey and black no matter what. And since silver to me is nothing but some sheen on grey, it was totally cool to have it along. So I assorted three different bracelets that included a complete silver, a complete black and lastly a braided black and silver together. Since, my fringy bag had those skulls hanging at the ends, I thought I’ll let my jewelry have a grunge coordination. My skull ear studs, a black skeleton pendant and a dark heart added some sense to this aspect. 

The look: I love how comfortable maxi dresses are, but I wanted the one that will turn heads and this one achieved that for me. I loved how the slits make it float and fall with every tread of mine. We totally loved shooting while trotting all the way through the bye-lanes. The trouble with this dress although was the really long length and the filth that it gathered along with it at the bottom. I was careful though, lifted it wherever possible. I only have to be careful with every step I take or while climbing up the staircase as it tends to get smashed under my foot. But I guess that’s the price I would have to pay for glam that it offers. The outfit was perfect for an evening of coffee with friends and did not hurt as it erupted into drinking and dancing later. This outfit was simply my dream come true of a head turning maxi. I am now going keep it away for some time and take it out for some special gig on a Saturday night. I am hoping its deep house or drum & bass!!    

Dress: Urban Outfitters; Skirt: Ted Lapidus; Bag: 20 Dresses; Boots: Forever 21; Earrings: Miss Flurrty; Cuffs: Ayesha Accessories; Neckpieces: Accessorise; Hat: Forever New    

Sequins in the Summer!!

Hello beautiful people! Apologies for taking so long in bringing you another post on this blog that I so deeply missed updating. Anyways, I am back again in my favourite time of the year, summer!

There is no denying that I am more of a day dressing kinda person and that’s because of my eternal love for florals and pastels which usually include casual floral short dresses or floral skirts or all sorts of casuals in pastel colours. In short, clothing that is more appropriate to daytime needs. Even while shopping, I am very quick to pick up stuff that make up for good day dressing as against night time clothing. As a result, my wardrobe started filling fast with these day outfits and I didn’t pay much attention to the fact that I am really short on night clothing especially clubwear until I suddenly transitioned into a night animal and became regular on the clubbing scene after many years. So after careful consideration, I started updating my wardrobe with pieces that comprised embellishment including sequins, shimmer and even a bit of mesh.

Having done all of this, my love for day dressing still remains intact and that’s when I thought of turning this very night outfit into a day one with the most doable add-ons toning down the whole night effect and creating a look that can even be carried during the day. To me, a denim shirt as a cover up and a tan bag with woolen weaving provided the much needed daylight feel. I totally love the concept of an unbuttoned denim shirt as a cover up and lately I have been trying it a lot with different outfits. Works well.    

  

  

I put on these awesome strappy wedges in gold that is most certainly in line with the club look and optional with the day look. The flip-flops are my back up for the day look.

With a sequined outfit, it is only most logical to go easy on the accessories so I go for a long chain in gold and my favourite bracelet from Miss Flurrty, a brand of jewellery that I am currently crazy about.

 A gold and silver assortment with a right blend of tan and denim helped me easily pull this look off which I will most certainly repeat.  

I know many won’t wear sequins during the day. Atleast not until they open their mind a bit! Till then, I’ll go rococo with sequins in the summer!!

Shorts: Benetton; Spaghetti Top: Promod; Shirt: Tally Weijl; Wdges: Guess; Flip Flip-flops: Roxy; Neck piece: Pieces; Bracelet: Miss Flurrty; Shades: Nine West   

Sweetheart, Spikes & Studs

My killer studded envelope clutch from Nine West and metal spiked pumps from Zara add a rock edge to my simple sweetheart-neckline American-eagle dip-dye dress. Spikes and studs are actually new entrants to my wardrobe and I feel they can be overwhelming at times so I cling to the safety of shoes and bags for starters. Taking a usual day look to night is what it eventually does. I love sweetheart-necklines so much that I don’t feel the need of a necklace. Just leaving it bare with all its sweetness and subtle sexiness. I also find them figure flattering, feminine and wearable unless daringly low. Will wear this look again…very soon!!