Chiconomical

Layering is my favourite thing and winter is the perfect excuse to try this out! If you live in a tropical country you'll know that the temperatures can change drastically from one city to another and that means you definitely need some form of expertise with layering especially when it comes to random weather. Today's post is super specific to what I personally think is a great piece to layer. The jumper. Now I know that while all those bloggers look really cool in their layered #OOTD instagram posts, in reality, you'd probably look like a sack because let's fact it, we all have lumps and bumps and real life isn't an instagram still. That's why I've created this post to help you figure out how to layer jumpers over dresses like a pro and look great even when the camera isn't on!

1. The Side-knot



Okay, this is a trick that is my all time favorite when it comes to giving myself a little bit of shape. The trick is to knot the jumper over your dress so that it hits the smallest part of your waist. This literally takes about a minute to do and it will definitely change the outfit from shapeless to giving you an imaginary waist.

2. The slouchy layer



Okay, so I wish we were all cool enough to make this look as great as it does on instagram models but I'm not ashamed to say I'm not. If you don't feel brave enough in the winter to knot the jumper, this is another trick to add a bit of waist. All you need to do is wear the jumper normally and then add a statement belt or a bumbag(?) on top. I always just turn my sling bags into a belt. The smaller ones work great as stand-ins for the fanny bags that seem to have come back in style (and how!). All you need to do is wrap them around your waist, knot it at one end and simply tuck it into the bag. Yes, simple yet still very stylish!

3. The belted croptop


Finally, this is possibly my favourite way to wear a jumper. This works for jumpers that are not very chunky if I'm being completely honest (for super chunky ones you'd be better off sticking to the second style in my opinion). For this look, I folded the jumper and used a statement belt to hide the fold. This look works well for when you don't really want to invest in a cropped jumper but still want to pretend that you do. I like how the belt gives me a bit of extra defined waist to be very honest! I've worn variation of this look several times during my stint in a cooler city for work. Trust me, this trick can give you a waist even if you don't have one!

And those are some of my favourite ways to use a simple jumper and dress combo to work for you. Looking great in several layers is a task that we've all faced so I hear you girl! I hope you can use these tips to get some more use out of your wardrobe and if not anything else, just add a few fun twists to an otherwise similar looking outfit.

Stay tuned for next week's post with another #ThreeWaystoWear with this gorgeous maxi dress. I'm giving you all the scoop on how to make a maxi dress work for you in winter.

Don't forget to follow me on my Instagram for a few more shots of these outfits. I try my very best to keep the images unique to each social media platform so you get closer look at it and yes, even the ugly blooper shots we're all a little scared to share with the brutal online world!

Outfit Details: 
Jumper: Rs. 499, Vero Moda Sale
Maxi Dress: Rs. 899, Shein
Boots: Rs. 1199, Zara
Belt: Rs. 299, Koovs sale
Bag: Gifted, The Label Life
Bamboo Bag: Rs. 899, Bought second hand from Elanic

Happy Diwali folks! Honestly, I've had a rough few weeks and this lookbook is literally coming out on Diwali day which I know isn't ideal but I hope it helps all you guys who are like me and have been working like crazy while trying to keep healthy at the same time. Or if you ended up with five hundred diwali party invitations for the week and can't actually afford to buy new outfits for every single party, this post is going to help you mix in your Diwali pieces with everyday clothes to create new, interesting (well, atleast for me) outfits! So with the festive spirit, let's dive into this post.

1. Shirt with a statement skirt



We're starting off with something that is super simple and uses two of my favorite things, a simple white shirt (and you KNOW I absolutely love it!) and a denim jacket. This look is for breaking up and using your regular office pieces. I added a denim jacket simply because I think that's a great addition to the regular look. If you're looking for an outfit for a house party, this could be the look for you.

2. All Monochrome Look



This look is for people who like minimal Diwali outfits. One thing that I always notice when I see the crazy expensive celebrity Diwali outfits is that they are actually quite minimal. If you're trying to look put together but still not worry about looking too loud, wearing a monochrome outfit makes you look well dressed and actually doesn't require a lot of effort. Just match shades and you're good to go!

3. Saree as a skirt/Maxi Dress



While I love wearing sarees as half-sarees, this look is actually highly inspired by something I saw on a draping website and think it looks so fierce. Draping has so many variations out there at the moment and I just had to create this look as we cannot not include a saree in an Indian outfit roundup. However, this look can be done with any plain saree too, you don't need an expensive fancy saree (the one I'm wearing is Rs. 1313) and just add the pleats to make it look good. I layered it over a plain black jumpsuit and the overall look is simple but striking!

4. Crop top and skirt as a flared kurta



This is yet another thing you've seen before. I've actually seen Komal Pandey show this with a ridiculously heavy lehenga and girls, I have my doubts on that if we're being honest but I like the idea. I added a simple maxi skirt to a full sleeved cold shoulder t-shirt and added a belt to make sure the skirt is secure in place. A pair of trousers masquerading as leggings and a black dupatta and you have your very own DIY anarkali. If you aren't a dupatta girl, you can most certainly skip it and wear this outfit the way it is with a pair of statement earrings and a whole lot of twirling!

5. Denims and a Jacket



Finally, if you're someone who cannot NOT wear their denims, even if it is the festive season, this look is for you. You can turn an uber casual outfit into a dressy look by simply throwing on a statement jacket. I'm using a jacket in a jacquard fabric that does all the work. If your statement piece isn't as long as mine, you can definitely wear what you have. Anything with an ethnic print or even a button down with an ethnic print or a shirt dress in something earthy works just as well. The trick is to add those pieces as layering pieces that can make your look go from everyday to boho chic.

I hope this post isn't too late for you to get some last minute inspiration for Diwali. Since we've just finished Navratri, I've actually reused a lot of pieces I wore for the Navratri style series since I firmly believe that you should be able to get the most out of the super expensive outfits that you buy for festivals and special occasions. If you enjoyed this lookbook please don't forget to comment down below with your favourite looks. I love hearing from you and it means a lot when you take the time to tell me your thoughts!