Chiconomical

Happy Monday folks! Are you in a post Diwali daze? It's Monday and my mind's turning to monochrome in an effort to make myself believe that the long weekend full of festivities is already over. If you're someone who thinks black blazers are one trick ponies then think again.

1. As a two piece suit with a pop of color


If you're a girl who thinks classics suit your personal style best then let me suggest adding a single statement piece to stand out. A classic blazer two piece with a white shirt can become unique by simply adding a statement neckpiece. If jewellry isn't your favorite thing, you can add a pop of color with a shirt or even your heels. One piece that's a representation of your personality. Remember, it's abut standing out even if you're wearing the same pieces as another girl in the office.

2. With a funky statement pieces




Yet another twist on the classic blazer set. Why not find all the funky pieces that you love and pair them with your formals? For instance, here I paired a hextie (totally borrowed it from my friend) with an all black outfit. A bold lip and messy hair and there's a look that's just the right mix of strong yet feminine. If you're so inclined, you can even add a bowtie and a pair of clear glasses to show off your nerdy side!

3. With Bright Separates



And the last bit of advice, and this is something I always give people when they ask me how to wear black to work without being boring is to pair it with bright colors. The beauty of black is that it works with all other colors and still looks completely put together. I'd suggest pairing it with your bright trousers or skirt. Extra points if you manage to pair it with palazzos or neon colors!

I hope this helps your Monday get a bit more bearable and gives you some direction to workwear dressing if you're in a post festive daze. Remember, always be yourself because you're the prettiest when you're most comfortable! Have a fabulous Monday guys!

PS: There's something MAJOR coming up soon, so don't forget to sign up for The Chiconomical Insider if you haven't already. There's some exclusive content that's going to be available only for the subscribers!

Diwali! It's right round the corner and I bet you're all rushing around to get your houses ready and shopping and finding new bits for yourself! I'd be lying if I said I wasn't a little excited but at the same time, completely frazzled with the idea of dressing up for Diwali. I think Diwali Outfit Ideas are something that get harder every year. I've shared some tips every year without fail and this year I simply didn't know what new things I could offer. So here's my take on it. What's one of my favorite things to wear? A maxi. So that's exactly what I'll be using to style myself and share some tips and tricks on refashioning your maxi skirts/dresses and creating a festive outfit.

Unlike most other Jewellry heavy posts you might see on other blogs, these looks are going to be rather fuss free and will focus on drapes and minimalism. Oh PS, in case you have any specific pieces your struggling with, send me a picture with #Chiconomical on any social media and I'll help you out! Anyway, let's get started!

1. Banjaran Batgirl





Okay, disclaimer time. Dad saw me shooting this look and said I looked like batgirl and I couldn't resist putting that as the title of this look. Now you're probably wondering, where the heck is the maxi dress in this look? Well, I had a button front maxi (which I got from Bombay Paisley) and decided it would be a good idea to wear it as a skirt. Then I thought, one isn't enough and paired it with yet another maxi skirt. I added a scarf as a headband and a single statement bracelet. If you're a banjaran at heart, this is definitely the look for you!

2. Modern Desi




Sometimes, the simplest things are the best. I decided since the print on this maxi dress was so beautiful, I had to do justice to it. Since even the extra small was still to big, I clenched it in at the waist with the scarf. This square scarf that's featured in all my posts has been in my life just for a day but it's quickly become an obsession. I think this is going to be seen in numerous posts

3. Desi Drapes

The thing about maxi dresses is that sometimes we're too afraid to mix things up. This look is exactly like the one before and has but one simple twist. I layered the maxi skirt from before and unbuttoned the maxi to switch up the neckline. Yet another fun thing that you can do is to wear your maxi skirt at your natural waist like this look. Created a paperbag waist by using, yep, the same scarf as the first one. A paperbag waist is something you don't always associate with Indian outfits but it's still very modern and if you've got a stretch waist skirt, I highly recommend you try it!

And that's it folks! I hope I've inspired you to try something new this Diwali. If you're still looking for more style inspiration, why not check these posts from some more style inspiration. There's a post for girls who don't like Indian outfits, and another that helps you dress up at the last minute for Diwali! Go check them out today!

Accessories can make or break an outfit! How many times have you heard this piece of advice? This may be a very good thing to say to people but that doesn't mean you can instantly figure out a way to wear those statement pieces! You might feel that while this is great advice, nobody is actually sharing the trick to style yourself. Today I'm sharing the style hacks I use to find the match made in heaven when it comes to statement necklace to outfit pairs!

1. Under a Collared Shirt


Let's start with the simplest first. This look first appeared in a post that I shot ages ago. While its dramatic look, you can easily wear this outfit by switching out the maxi skirt for a pair of fitted pants and take it to the office. The idea is to find a shirt in a solid color and pair it with a complementary necklace. I'd say look for pieces in muted gold or copper for the office. Anything that makes you squint your eyes is too shiny for the office and is best kept for parties.

2. With a similar Neckline


A smart way to add drama to an everyday outfit is to wear a statement necklace that has a shape similar to the neckline of the shirt you're wearing. The idea is to make the look seamless and have all the right shapes. The seamless neckline gives you a very crisp look and is a super easy way of looking put together without a lot of (read: no) effort. More casual the tshirt, greater the leeway to play with bolder necklaces.

3. With a Monochrome Outfit





The best way to add a pop of drama to a monochrome look is to add a statement necklace. Monochrome outfits are super easy to style and the smart way to make them look different every time is to pair them with different types of statement pieces. A scarf, a statement necklace in a bight color, these are some super easy ways to make you stand out without investing a lot of money.

4. Making a Bold Statement



5. As a Headband

Happy Monday folks! Navratri is over and if you're like me you're probably wondering what on earth you're gonna do with all those festive clothes. Read on if you need an answer to this problem!





In my book, the hardest thing to reuse is the flashiest blouse you've got. It's short, its embroidered and it's got a low back and all of these things equal big no-nos for the office. So of course I had to bring you a look that makes this complicated piece perfect for the office. Here, I paired by embroidered blouse with high waisted trousers. I added a long jacket to hide the low cut back and add a bit of structure to the whole look. Together, this look is perfect for the office and is perfectly polished and put together without being overly dressy.

If you've got a dressy blouse lying around in your closet that you think is only fit to be worn on festivals, think again. All it needs is a bit of imagination and you've got yourself a unique new outfit! If you've done something similar why not share it with me? I love to see how you use the ideas shared here. Go on, share with me on Social Media, you can reach me on Facebook or Instagram! 

It's the final day of Navratri! Are you happy about nine days well spent? Or are you sad it's almost over! I'm at that bittersweet point where I'm super happy we have a long weekend right around the corner, but I'm also a little sad I have no plans for it! Somehow all my close friends are working and the rest already have perfect getaways planned! Anyway, let's get back to the post instead, this is something I am super excited about!

If you have just stumbled onto the blog and have no clue what I'm harping on about (no weekend plans excluded) then let me fill you in. This post is part of a nine day series of 3 ways to wear different colors during the festival of Navratri. You can go check out the previous posts here : Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3 | Day 4 | Day 5 | Day 6 | Day 7 | Day 8

Right! Back to the lookbook. Now purple is something I struggled with right from the time I realised I had to create three looks in this color. I don't own a lot of purple pieces, I especially don't own pieces that can be mixed and matched and so the struggle was very real. However, a bit of logic and a whole lot of luck meant I still managed to pull it off so read on to check out the looks!

1. Purple Reign


This look wasn't supposed to be on here. I had something completely different in my head but then somehow I ended up loving how festive and formal this whole outfit was at the same time. The top is actually a kurta that I bought on sale years ago from Globus and it makes for a great top. The skirt is new from forever 21 in the sales and the overall look is super twirly (always a good thing) and has just a hint of festive in it. Perfect for the office!

2. Simple Pairings



This outfit has been worn multiple times before. From Diwali parties to friends' weddings, I've taken this look pretty much everywhere. It never made it to the blog in this avatar and this was a good thing because it gives me a change to share it today. The outfit does all the work really. Don't want to take too much effort with styling for festivals. I suggest hitting the sales post diwali (yes, that's the right time to get the best prices) and stacking up on pieces that make a bold statement. The only time you take any effort is when you look for them, the rest is all a cake walk!

3. Purple Pyaar


Finally, the last outfit had me stumped till I saw my Pyaar top tucked into a forgotten corner of my closet. The clashing asthetics of this look make it quite interesting to me. Bold fonts paired with traditional pieces. My nod to the pop art phase that the whole world is seeing right now. Of course, there's always scope to spread love and that's exactly what I want to end this series on.

Thank you so much for the love you've sent my way over the last nine days! I'm so grateful. When I started this series, I didn't think it would be so well read and loved and it's all because each one of you has stuck with me! So thank you and have an absolutely fabulous long weekend!!

PS: Worried all your Navratri clothes go waste for the rest of the year, I'm putting together a guide to reusing them by fusing these pieces with your everyday wardrobe. If you want in then I suggest you go sign up for The Chiconomical Insider right now to have all these styles delivered straight to your inbox!