Chiconomical

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!

• Look for structure and clean lines. This means not wearing all those kurtas with too many layers of chiffon or ruffles. I've found that cotton clothes instantly lend a much more formal look. 
• Ironed! This is something I'm guilty of skipping at times too. However, if you want to wear Indian outfits to work, you need to iron them. There are so many outfits that are perfect for work, if only they were perfectly ironed. Seriosly, don't skip this step when it comes to workwear. 
• Monochrome outfits work best to make you look put together. Just like the outfit above, the easiest way to make Indianwear look office friendly is to keep the look monotoned. A monochrome outfit not only works well for office, it also makes you look much taller!
• Keep the print mixing to a miminal. Too many prints may make you look frumpy especially when it comes to Indian outfits. Since these have multiple separates, look for solid colors with prints used as accents for a more complete look. 
• Finally, make sure you look for comfortable silhouettes! The simplest way is to pick your favorite Indian piece and build your wardrobe from there! Remember, if you feel good you'll look good instantly! 

This is the last part of my outfit round up of 2013. I'm a little sad, a little happy and quite excited to say buhbyee to 2013 and a big hello to 2014! Its been a rollercoaster. I've started Uni again, done fairly well, cursed quite a bit about how rubbish my life was in the last few months and still managed to enjoy myself. I have a few resolutions lined up for the coming year. Do you have any yet?

Winter goodness is here. This definitely means that its time to bust out the tights. Oh how I love saying that! Well, in all my excitement, I'm giving you two looks that you can rock this winter (read two days of dipped temperatures) without a lot of effort! Here's the first one.






I love wearing all those 'a little too short' dresses in winter since they're made more work appropriate with a pair of tights and maybe a jumper. Dress too low uptop? Why scarves are great for giving you a little warmth and preserving your modesty at the same time. All in all, you get way more options to dress with a little effort.

What do you wear during the winters? Talk to me in the comments below. You can also find me on Facebook and Twitter.